Got on to ride today for the first time in about a year. Had knee problems that made mounting difficult, riding painful and dismounting dangerous. Knee gradually got better, but I had projects to do, and it was hot, and there was a kid that was riding the horse regularly so he got worked, etc., etc...

Karma


Finally got back on and it felt great. I didn't lose my rhythm or balance in the time I was off, so I was able to just get on and go. Fantastic day with a nice breeze.

Gave the old boy a good bath when we were done, and a German Muffin (heavy, sticky molasses and oat muffin) which is HIS FAVORITE THING EVER!

Good day!

The herd; Fernando, Karma, Storm Trooper and Magnum.

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The herd; Fernando, Karma, Storm Trooper and Magnum.

Nice looking horses. Good you got back in the saddle!

Beautiful horses. Magnum is a very appropriate name for him.

Thanks! Magnum is a great great grandson of Secretariat, and when he lights the burners, it's really something to see.

I have never been on a horse. It is on my bucket list.

Is that Magnum on the right, the sorrel? Here I was thinking he was a quarter horse and a darned fine looking on too. I guess my eye isn’t what I That it was. Some fine looking horseflesh you have there regardless of breed.

Good lookin' bunch of molasses thugs there...

Now how can you not feel good after seeing a posse like that!

I dated 3 different girls who all had horses, but for various reasons I never got a chance to learn to ride and I've always felt like I missed out. One of the girls once put me on her horse and he figured out pretty quickly that he had a rookie on board and tried to use the awning on feeding station in the field to knock me off. Kinda feel like a cowboy without a horse.

Used to love to feed apples to horses when I was a kid and a few years ago, when a friend of mine and his wife were delayed returning back to the state I got an emergency call asking if I would drive to his place an hour away to feed his horses and check on them...and I was only too happy to do it.

Glad you were able to get back in the saddle and thanks for sharing the pics!

My left knee hurts when I mount up (from a mounting block} but I take both feet out of the stirrups before I dismount.

That first picture of Karma, I mentally captioned "Ehh, what's up, Doc?"

I like the looks of Storm Trooper; one white foot and no other white anywhere else. His head is like a Skipper W horse I once owned.

Yes, Magnum is on the far right. We use a mounting block, fence, or stump to mount. These horses are all fairly large; Karma and Fernando are 16/2 hands and Magnum is 15/3. I can ground mount a quarter horse no problem, but these guys are a long way up. I also drop out of the stirrups before I dismount. Don't want to go ass over teakettle if my left foot is still in.

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That first picture of Karma, I mentally captioned "Ehh, what's up, Doc?"

Yup! That's pretty much what that was.

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I like the looks of Storm Trooper; ...

Troop's a good boy. Thoroughbred, and can be a bit skitchy, but still a good boy.

After a year, was the horse as happy about the ride as you were? I'd think they'd forget how it felt and might resent getting back to it. (But I'm not a horse. . . .)

flashguy

Yes, he was happy to go. He was ridden regularly by my partner, my daughter, and a local high school student, so he was in proper shape for it.

Plus, believe it or not, horses like to have a job. They are happier when they work, and if one is ridden and the other's are not, sometimes they show signs of jealousy. They like the attention.

Great day to ride, glad you could get out!

Beautiful horses Artie,how’s the price of hay in Fla.?

We pay $13-15 for T&A or O&A, usually imported from Canada. A 600lb. round bale of coastal is $45-$65 depending on quality.

Fortunately, our place is on a lake, and one of our fields keeps some pretty good grass cover, even during the dry season, although we got pretty thin this year until the rains came about 10 days ago.

We have about 18 acres of pasture and only 4 horses, so we are able to keep them on grass year round without stripping the fields.

We supplement with hay during the winter (dry season) and feed a flake of alfalfa daily until the grass comes in good. Once we have good pasture, we only keep enough hay and alfalfa on hand to get them in and keep them munching during thunder storms. The rest of the time they are free to roam and graze.

Unless we have lightning, our guys are out 23 or more hours per day, coming in only for grain twice a day, morning and evening.

Beautiful animals and I love watching them when i am around some locally. My one riding experience ended with me on my back in the dirt, so I stick to things with engines now.

They’re gorgeous. Happy you were able to get back in the saddle. May I ask why you chose Karma over the others?