What did you do this perfect Maryland weekend?

[Flash44]

FINALLY!!! Some great weather!!!

I rode, did some housekeeping chores in the barn, cleaned tack, and limed the last paddock! Oh, and picked up rocks too. And I have a great start to my tan because once again I am claiming title to the President of the Mow Your Lawn in your Bathing Suit Club (no matter how bad it looks!).

[cranky]

Well, I'm not in Maryland, but it was gorgeous here in New Hampshire too.

It was the perfect weekend to start to get to know my new horse. I took her on a couple of trail rides and also did some ring work. It was like Summer here, so I was able to wear short-sleeves all weekend long too. A real pleasure after the long, hard Winter we had (and months of endlessly circling the indoor). This really is the perfect season to start with a new horse.

[Trakehner]

Played hooky on Friday and took a friend up to Lebanon PA for the Martin's Carriage Auction.

Saturday, carriage driving and getting ready for Sunday.

Today, 5 of us did a road trip to the Woodstock Equestrian Center for a road trip. Had a great time even though it was 90!

[M.K.Smith]

It was TOO HOT for me to do much!!! It was 90 degrees today... too hot for me this early... it is April, right? Of course, I've got A LOT going on right now... I basically QUICKLY fed the horses because I was worried about my 9 mo old being out in the heat too long!

[Lori B]

Too hot for me too! I can't go from 50s to upper 80s in a single week. I melt.

I was mostly stuck indoors priming, caulking, and painting the frame of a new living room window. But yesterday and today managed to escape long enough to play w/ horse for a bit. Mare is rehabbing from a suspensory injury, so we ace, do a short walking ride, and then hand graze. The hand grazing at dusk is the best part in the spring....

[Nylar]

I spent Saturday at the Hunt Cup with some friends, then ran home and tore the dress I'd been wearing off to go to the barn. Taught a lesson, packed the trailer up, and then spent yesterday at the HCHSA Opener!

And I must admit, I much preferred yesterday's heat to last year's opener where it was 30-something and wet. Having a rocking start to my summer tan was a bonus to a spring horse show day!

[BridgettePony]

Ditto - spent all day at the HCHSA opener - had a wonderful picnic lunch and while it was hot, there was a breeze for most of the day. A beautiful start to the local show season. Bridgette Pony Mom

[Susan P]

Yuck, I heard that it's going to reach the 90's today. :no: Yes, April.

Do you remember a few years ago when the same thing happened, we went from winter straight to summer and weatherwise bypassed my favorite season, SPRING! :cool: Do you think that's what's happening this year too? :(


It was TOO HOT for me to do much!!! It was 90 degrees today... too hot for me this early... it is April, right? Of course, I've got A LOT going on right now... I basically QUICKLY fed the horses because I was worried about my 9 mo old being out in the heat too long!

[Sing Mia Song]

What a terrific weekend!

After a ridiculously stressful week at work, I turned off the BlackBerry, mowed the lawn, cleaned the house, weeded the front garden and went to a wine tasting. ;)

Sunday I rode early and had a great jumping school, came home and unloaded feed and took a nap in the hot part of the day (probably my favorite thing to do in the summer). Got up in the evening and puttered in the tackroom with a glass of white wine.

Ahhh, summer!

[Beverley]

Well, I actually WAS in Maryland Saturday, enjoying the MD Hunt Cup for the first time since 1995 while it was snowing at my house in Utah! Too hot for the race really, but an exciting one it was. It was 90 degrees when I boarded the plane at Dulles late yesterday afternoon to return to Utah! But nice to see the redbuds and dogwoods around where I was bunking in VA...we don't have those hereabouts!

[hessy35]

I have to say I didn't think 95 in April was GREAT weather. I was a little dissapointed. It was just too hot for this time of year!

[theoldgreymare]

Well I wasn't IN Maryland this weekend unless you count driving through on the way to a show that was in DE. It was HOT (90) and humid. Susan P....I hate when we bypass spring and jump right into summer too. Here in my part of VA, it's going to hit 90 again but there is a nice wind out. Temps are supposed to drop later in the week for us.

[awm]

A crew of 3 came from western NY to the Maryland Hunt Cup, we come every year & so
enjoy the spring budding that is 2-3 weeks away from NY!
The Race was great for the 2 game finishers, & just *one of those years* for the rest----
On Sunday, we toured some farms, checked out a couple Irish Draught stallions, re-united with a couple horses that had been sold into MD, than drove home into 50* weather that I
welcomed!
Thanks for another lovely visit, Maryland!

[bdj]

Sadly, nothing horse-related...
Would have been perfect weather for the bath that I've been itching to give Min, though!
Anyone else still trying to get rid of the winter woolies? It feels as if Min's been shedding for weeks with no end in sight!

I did spend ALL day outside on Sunday at an agility trial in Millersville, though - I thought I was going to melt by the end of the day, but the pups did just fine under the tent and shadecloth, with three fans!
80 degrees at 8am in April is a bit much for me - I'm hoping we get a couple weeks of nice 60s and 70s before we dive into full-on summer.

[arabhorse2]

It was hotter'n Hades here in Virginia, but I did manage to ride yesterday.

Spent last evening pulling ticks off myself and the horse..... :dead:

[Susan P]

My farm is just a couple minutes from the state line at Fair Hill so it's close enough but being close to Fair Hill also puts me close to DE, a real tri state area. So I just barely entered MD. Sunday afternnoon I was in DE for a Forgotten Cats event. I'm sure if you were in DE for a horse show it was lower DE, nothing but pavement in the north except for near the PA state line there are a couple of barns and at least one has shows on Rt. 202/Concord Pk. Just curious, where in DE was your show?

It's stinking hot again today here too. It will drop a couple degrees tomorrow then Wednesday the heat wave is over. I hate hot spring weather. It just ruins spring. We've had rain, rain, rain, cold, cold, cold now a heat wave.



Well I wasn't IN Maryland this weekend unless you count driving through on the way to a show that was in DE. It was HOT (90) and humid. Susan P....I hate when we bypass spring and jump right into summer too. Here in my part of VA, it's going to hit 90 again but there is a nice wind out. Temps are supposed to drop later in the week for us.

[Trevelyan96]

Great weekend, even if it was HOT!

New guy had a GREAT lesson on Saturday with trainer, he was a perfect gentleman! Rico seemed to be suffereng a bit from the heat, so I left him alone to adjust, he's still got a lot more winter coat than his little bro, although it seems like he's shedded out 2 entire horses worth. Kind of worried, as I don't think he drinks nearly enough water. :(

Opened the pool! Yay! It will take a little while to warm up, even with the heater, but hey, its almost time! Makes summer chores so much easier when you can dive in for renewal and refreshment.

Lots of yard work, weeding, mulching, etc.

Finally, after finishing up in the barn last night, jumped in neighbors hot tub for the first time with a glass of wine and some munchies. It was a perfect way to end the weekend before the Monday morning 'back to reality' check. And OMG, my lilacs smell heavenly!

[matryoshka]

I took my little Arab mare (freebie due to having training issues) to Fair Hill for her second solo ride. We met dogs, bicycles, other horses, etc. All went very well until we were in an easy hay field, no spooky things, and she threw a buck. The first one. I stayed on, even when she tried to bolt after I landed awkwardly toward the back of the saddle. She got to do much more trotting than I'd planned after that and also earned her first truly wet saddle pad, too.

Because of her extra gymnastic trick, I decided to ride her through a tunnel instead of hand walk her through. She did fine. So apparently, we only have problems when there are no environmental challenges.

Hmmm.... ;)

I enjoyed the warmth, except for today. I had seven horses to trim, three of which were verrrry overdue, two with arthritis. Working on tough horses while unaccustomed to the heat took a toll, and I'm wiped out. Still, I'm not complaining about the heat. I'd rather sweat that freeze!

[Melzy]

I judged both days at PGEC. I excused jackets because of the high temperature so early in the season.

[Bank of Dad]

I rode 15 miles on my new seasoned, well-trained, semi-retired endurance Arab. Looks like its going to be a good year.

[Susan P]

Please rest, when you get to my boys you will see overgrown. See you this weekend, so glad Jess will be there. Today was another real stinker. Tomorrow should begin to cool a bit and then it might feel like winter by comparison but actually just like a normal spring day probably. I can't wait to see you and get you to help my boys, they really need you.

I guess you need to keep that little mare challenged at all times! :yes: Just to ride safely. Maybe she just needs constant stimulation. Maybe a flat out gallop in open spaces, just so you get out of them quickly and on to scary places so she behaves. :lol: Seriously, you are brave. :winkgrin:



I took my little Arab mare (freebie due to having training issues) to Fair Hill for her second solo ride. We met dogs, bicycles, other horses, etc. All went very well until we were in an easy hay field, no spooky things, and she threw a buck. The first one. I stayed on, even when she tried to bolt after I landed awkwardly toward the back of the saddle. She got to do much more trotting than I'd planned after that and also earned her first truly wet saddle pad, too.

Because of her extra gymnastic trick, I decided to ride her through a tunnel instead of hand walk her through. She did fine. So apparently, we only have problems when there are no environmental challenges.

Hmmm.... ;)

I enjoyed the warmth, except for today. I had seven horses to trim, three of which were verrrry overdue, two with arthritis. Working on tough horses while unaccustomed to the heat took a toll, and I'm wiped out. Still, I'm not complaining about the heat. I'd rather sweat that freeze!

[Sparky Boy]

I showed at PGEC and would like to thank Melzy for excusing jackets :D

Great day but was it HOT!

[matryoshka]

Your boys won't even be close to what I saw today. It'll be just fine, as long as it isn't pouring rain or something.

I haven't even cantered Roxy yet. I'd entertained the thought that we might have our first canter along that hay field. Then she bucked, just the one time. She's also in season, so I'm hoping that was part of the problem rather than it being my riding. As you know, I've got a bit of a history with buckers. I sure hope my riding isn't the common denominator there.

Please rest, when you get to my boys you will see overgrown. See you this weekend, so glad Jess will be there. Today was another real stinker. Tomorrow should begin to cool a bit and then it might feel like winter by comparison but actually just like a normal spring day probably. I can't wait to see you and get you to help my boys, they really need you.

I guess you need to keep that little mare challenged at all times! :yes: Just to ride safely. Maybe she just needs constant stimulation. Maybe a flat out gallop in open spaces, just so you get out of them quickly and on to scary places so she behaves. :lol: Seriously, you are brave. :winkgrin:

[Beverley]

A crew of 3 came from western NY to the Maryland Hunt Cup, we come every year & so
enjoy the spring budding that is 2-3 weeks away from NY!
The Race was great for the 2 game finishers, & just *one of those years* for the rest----
On Sunday, we toured some farms, checked out a couple Irish Draught stallions, re-united with a couple horses that had been sold into MD, than drove home into 50* weather that I
welcomed!
Thanks for another lovely visit, Maryland!

Sorry I missed you...I did get some video of the race, maybe tomorrow night I'll see if I can make it pretty and post somewhere...