Bath Weather and Whale Watching

The weather lately has been good for baths and not much else: heat indexes in the high 90s with super high humidity as well. I've been struggling to not feel sick in this heat just walking around and cleaning Charlie's stall, let alone think about riding.

Yesterday I gave Charlie a full bath. Although he's been getting groomed and/or hosed off daily, his face was white with salt from the sweat so I figured why not cool us both down with a bath?

I figured it would feel really good but he wasn't too keen on standing still. I think he thought I was bringing him in for dinner...how dare I make him stand still and get sprayed with the hose and not get any grain for it! I'm such a mean mom. Charlie did settle right down as soon as I took out the fly spray, though. He knows what that's for!

Post-bath, all shiny

Goofball

After his bath I let him run around a little in one of the grass paddocks, which he enjoyed immensely. I chose one of the smallest paddocks so he couldn't get too crazy but I did have to stop him after about five minutes so he wouldn't get me in trouble by tearing up the grass.

I also stopped at Dover yesterday to pick up some more fly spray since all Farnum sprays are BOGO right now. I had been using Bite Free in combination with Bronco since Bite Free was meant to only be applied once a week or so (I am always afraid of chemical burns from overuse) and Bronco is fairly harmless for daily use, but it doesn't work great alone. This time around I decided to try Endure since it was getting really good reviews online. Plus you can't beat that deal! I'm considering trying a dietary fly control supplement if all else fails. Poor boy is so miserable :(

One a different note, today Kate, Kenny, Dan and I went whale watching in Cape Cod. It was fabulous! We had gotten a Groupon deal but even without it would have been well worth the money. We had a great time. Here are a few pictures:

Catching up

Sorry for the huge lapse between the last post and this one. There's actually been quite a bit going on but I've been getting home from work so tired I just can't bring myself to turn on the computer and type an update. Anyway, here's the basics:

1. Last week I fell off Charlie for the first time. No harm done, got right back on, was actually very proud of him because (a) he started putting his foot down but lifted it right up and didn't step on me when he bucked/reared/I-was-forced-to-practice-emergency-dismounting, and (b) he stopped dead in his tracks as soon as I was off and didn't run away....new experience for me! 
2. This past weekend Dan and I spent at home visiting my parents in PA. We had a house full of dogs (Emma, my parents' two Goldens and our friend Connie's new labx puppy, who they were babysitting) but it was so relaxing and nice to spend time away with no "plans". Definitely needed the time away :)
3. While at home I got to visit my favorite place: Equine Exchange. It's a huge consignment store and I could easily spend hours in there (much to the dismay of Dan and anyone else non-horsey who is dumb enough to volunteer to come along). This trip I was determined to find extra-long reins (check! $30), bath supplies (check!) and a fleece girth (double check! Thick fleece with velcro that can hook right into my Professionals Choice girth...$10. Score!)
4. I finally got my act together and transferred my PA car registration. Now I am $120 poorer and my little Mazda is outfitted in shiny new RI plates...bittersweet :/

Today, Charlie was super amped and put on a nice show for the poor mom whose daughter was there for a pony lesson after only having started riding a few months ago. He was quite sweaty afterward but that's ok, I had planned to give him a bath anyway.  It was a gorgeous day, in the high 60s and sunny, perfect for the first bath of the season. Oh, I had also bought him an ear net because of the flies but, alas, his forehead is a bit too wide and ears too big: it popped off one ear within a few minutes. We'll have to sew in some velcro or try something else I guess. Here are a few pictures until I get a chance to post videos:

Sharing an ice cream at Lapp Valley Farm, New Holland, PA

Taking the dogs for a walk

So fresh, so clean....mmm! grass!

Poor pony, his ears and forehead are too big for the ear net :(