Spring Fever...how many of you??????

[sam]

So I know I (and my horses) definitely have SPRING FEVER!!!!
Today is officially the first day of spring--YEAH!
So here's my question:
How many of you (that DON'T ride all winter long) just hop on in the spring and GO!
OR
How many spend a few days doing ground work and desensitizing before you hop on and go?

[sam]

I prefer to work them for a couple short sessions first from the ground. Nothing extensive, but it gives me an idea of how buddy sour they are, how fresh they are, how good our relationship is and if they still see me as a worthy leader, and to make sure they don't think every little thing is a boogy monster. It gives me a bit more confidence to do it this way.
I took 2 days this week and worked all 3 horses for about 15 minutes each from the ground. Tonight I added some desensitizing.
We're ready to ride!

[ATMKathy]

I just hop on and go. :-)

[xpButtercup]

I do a few slower, close to home rides to feel them out, but both of our boys are pretty solid. One is more buddy sour, and one is less than thrilled with slow work, but they did great out together last weekend. Didn't have to work too hard to keep Titan in a "walk" (that's a Western jog for most of ya *G*) and Zeus didn't spook at much unless he took his head out of Titan's tail. ;D

[horses4me]

i do round pen work and some desentizing before i hop on! That way i can get the "kinks' out of my horse and help him get in shape.

[paintsnpalos]

first sign of warm weather I just hook a lead rope to a halter and jump on and go..........that's their warm up to let them know it's getting real close to saddle time..........LOL......50 yrs old and still doing it the same way I've always done it........it works for me!

[jdocpony]

I ride in the round pen for a bit... then it is out we go... this year I am taking him to Waterloo after 6 home rides... I think it is time... his first time there... how fun is that... I hope I can keep up... his lazy but is going to be in shock!

[SunshineAcres]

Hop on and go. Shorter rides around the farm then off to the trails. Already been to Yankee Springs and Russ Forest.

[magicwoman6]

Well still being fresh in the saddle and a little live and learn, I do a little ground work first. I have been riding off and on over the winter but took her out last weekend and she was quite sassy, so lots and lots of ground work and we ride a little and do it a few more times and hopefully off we go.....I think my girl use to be used primarily for a trail horse, follower, so she gets frisky if she thinks she has to go off alone, so we are working on that. Anyone could ride this horse in a crowd of other horses but riding her alone can be a challenge....She sure is teaching me alot!!!!!LOL!!! I think this was her first winter with grain also, she was an easy keeper, I guess, at her old home, but my vet said she really needed the extra goodies, so ,I am sure she has the extra get up and go now too!!!!

[Brooke]

This weekend I saddled my horse up and hand walked him for about 20 minutes until he calmed down enough to hop on. Good exercise for us both!

[CrazyHorseFarms]

bLISS IS Broc horse before i ride i let her free longe then off i ride her
now my PP hop on and go..

[quarterchic]

We hop on and go! I've only ridden like 3 times this year...I've been trying to get all of my yard work done early. Trimmed trees, and the hedges, raked around the house, the flower gardens have been weeded now to just make a new grill patio and flower bed this year cut down one pine tree that has an awful lean towards my house we will have yard work done by mid to end of April! Then all my free time can go into riding again. YAY!

[gypsywolf59]

i,ve been 2 times on my buddies draft cross, now i get to go out on my new horse friday. will post some pics of her i need to find a name for her

[Jess - MEL]

I just hop on and go, we do take slow rides for the first month or so to help condition back up. If I had a green horse though I would do some groundwork first after having a winter off.