Our biggest challenge was getting her heart rate down.  Once she pulsed below 60 BPM, we walked over to the vet station.  One look at the vets and her pulse rate jumped 20 BPM.  We walked away from the vets, the pulse dropped, back to the vets, the pulse increased.  I imagine this will get better with experience, she doesn’t see the vet very much unless it is something traumatic or for coggins.  I do all shots myself (in 6 month intervals because we are at a crowded city barn and travel frequently) and have found between two horses that it saves me a few hundred dollars a year.

Prior to the ride, we had invested in a biothane breast collar, a rank bitless bridle, and an endurance pad.  Casey got the pad for my birthday, and was adamant that everything matched perfectly… which it did.  I’ve never had matching gear before, but I do now for the very first time.  Here is the picture of Aurora and her new gear, minus the bridle:

Note that she is still wearing her Dressage Saddle, although we recently ordered a Specialized Saddle Fit kit and hope to try out a Specialized Saddle soon.

If you wish to follow Aurora’s progress, “like” Aurora’s Facebook page!