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Until recently, my husband, John, and I trained together which was 
great, because it was nice to ride together and it made my horse work 
harder.  Kidd has a laid back attitude and likes a walk or slow trot 
better then a extended trot or canter, while Toby would rather canter 
for 20 miles and hates to walk anywhere. We get to train on our road 
so we don't have to trailer anywhere.

Recently John has developed neck pains (we think a herniated disk) so 
he has not been able to ride until we get it fixed (soon I hope).  So 
I am having to condition two horses by myself now.

Riding Toby, John's horse, has really made me a stronger and better 
rider. It is also interesting to ride two horses with such different 
personalities, styles and body types.  I also want a faster horse now 
that I have ridden one. But it does take more than twice as long to 
condition both horses.  I usually saddle and ride Toby first, while I 
am stronger, do whatever distance I have chosen for that day at a 
fast pace, then come back in, wash him down, and saddle Kidd.  I do 
the same loop at a much slower pace and with more spooks. Kidd 
notices all the horse eating armadillos and deer when we ride alone. 
When we ride with Toby, he doesn't even notice any of those scary 
trash bags, signs, beer cans, and dead deer.

I don't mind riding by myself.  It gives me time to relax and enjoy 
the scenery and views, but it was nice to ride with someone.  Also I 
am more aware of what can go wrong when you ride alone.  I rode Toby 
first last Friday morning.  It started out great, very nice 
controlled trot for about 5 miles, then all of a sudden he decided he 
wanted to run all the way back home.  I have never been so fast on a 
horse before.  It really challenged my riding ability and all I could 
think of was don't fall off.  He just would not slow down for at 
least 2 miles, though it felt like 10. Needless to say I did not ride 
Kidd on Friday after racing the morning away on Toby.

Hope to see everyone at the conference in San Antonio.  I will be 
working the registration desk on Friday morning, so please stop by 
and introduce yourself.  Be prepared for all kinds of weather in 
Texas.  Yesterday it was 68 in the morning and 84 by noon.  Today and 
the rest of the weekend the highs will only be in the 40's with 
possibilities of freezing precipitation.
--
Suzy Ticer
Johnson City, Texas

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