Now for the riding report. I'm leasing Maija (pronounced Maya, like the South American group). First, I rode Dixie. She was lame, and I didn't want to have to coddle another chronically lame horse, as I did Penny for years, so then Deb suggested I try Maija. I was leery of the fact that she has to be longed before one rides, but she was very good on the longe line, obviously knew her business, though she did offer a few small bucks when cantering, and once Deb urged her to go faster than I thought was good for that small a circle. Maija was good about grooming and seemed to enjoy the attention. I rode her around the indoor ring, just walk and trot, and she was good, not at all speedy, though the horses all seemed slow today. Probably the humidity, since it's not all that hot. Still, it's warming up a bit from that chilly spell we had. I'll give Maija a try for a month, anyway, then decide. I think she'll be a good horse, and she already knows a little dressage, so maybe I'll take dressage lessons if I can get a good instructor to come out here. Maybe Karen's instructor? I think I'll just ride for a couple of weeks and get a good feel for the mare before thinking about a project like lessons.
Maija is for sale, but I'm not going to
buy her, and Deb said if we work out together, maybe she'll take Maija off the market so I don't have to worry about her disappearing.
The lease agreement is that I pay half board, and pay all of the vet and farrier, and Maija probably should have her teeth floated. She had her spring shots, so I don't have to pay for that now.
Do any of you remember the photos and portraits I did of Maija? I guess I should post photos of her again for those who don't remember or didn't see them before.
She's an appendix quarter horse, though I guessed a thoroughbred when I saw her. She's in her teens, maybe about 15. She seems to have had some good training along the way somewhere.
