I think that because I'm riding so much more than in past years, I've really noticed Bestie's heat cycle this spring.
Over the last few years, she hung out most of the time, and our rides were not very structured. Whether or not I rode was dictated by how I felt when I got to the barn, and how much time I spent with Dude. Pretty irregular. Pretty short rides.
But now that I've got a routine to my riding days, I've realized that when she's in heat her plan may not really match up with mine. Understatement.
Like yesterday. Typically I don't ride on Saturdays, but yesterday was gorgeous - sunny and 70 degrees. Since it's only early May, we haven't had many days like yesterday in northern Vermont yet. I thought it would be a nice day to ride down the path, circle the outdoor arena, and head back to the barn. Just a relaxed 15-20 minute walk to get us both outside - we spend so much time in the arenas.
The horses had been turned out all day, so Bestie seemed pretty calm and happy to see me. I didn't notice much of anything while I tacked her up, and she went out willingly enough to the arena so that I could hop on from the mounting block and then guide her out the open door.
She even started off down the path happily. But a few steps in, she whinnied - a huge, body-shaking whinny - and then whinnied again when a horse back in the barn answered. We kept walking down the path, but she was super alert and moving along at a good clip. Not exactly the mosey of an outing I was hoping for. And the whinnies kept coming, which put me on edge.
About three quarters of the way down the path, I stopped her and we stood for a moment, then turned back. I just had this feeling that things were going to go awry at some point.
We went into the arena and did about 15 minutes of circles and she was quiet and responsive. It wasn't the ride I had planned, but we ended on a good note.
Today it poured, so there was no turnout. When I got to the barn for my lesson, Bestie was anxious to go outside. I grazed her for a bit hoping to take the edge off before my lesson, but once tacked up and in the indoor, she was still really "up." I think I even said something to Paula about needing a really focused lesson. Probably said with a nervous laugh.
So that's what we had. Paula got the lunge line, and clipped it so that it ran over Bestie's poll. And for 58 minutes, we did circles, me in the saddle, Bestie on the lunge line, Paula at the other end of the line. Small circles at the jog, working on getting her to bend. One way, then the other. Then a bigger circle to stretch her out, then back to small circles.
Bestie was pretty well behaved doing the small circles, but whenever we tried to go down the long side and give her some room, there's be a bit of escalation - she'd increase her speed and throw her head up. When that happened, we went back to small circles. At the end of the lesson, I got off, and walked her around the perimeter a couple times. My legs felt like jello. I think we both heaved well-that's-done-and-I'm-tired sighs at the same time.
From a really helpful article about mares in heat - "Consider focus-type lessons, such as ground poles and changes of speed and direction."
Yup, words of wisdom.
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