What's Up Wednesday

 

What a week! Sheesh... Last week we enjoyed fake spring, and it was GLORIOUS! Eros and Shiny rode outside nearly every day and Al even went out a few times too! The ring at the boarding barn is ENORMOUS, so I do worry some the first few times out there about potentially dying. Or you know, getting run away with. Fortunately, none of them offered up such nonsense, and it was SO AMAZING to be outside again! Pammon got to walk outside a little, but for now we're still trotting indoors. 

Alas, this week it's been cold again. Highs only in the 40's and Tuesday the wind was absolutely insane. So for the most part, we're back inside this week. I did take Eros out today when the sun peaked out for a bit though. Tomorrow is supposed to be a total rainy washout and then more cold weather through the weekend. Hopefully spring comes back again soon!

Eros was a superstar in his lesson last week! The course that was set was mostly single jumps, which honestly is better for Eros. He just gets ridiculously excited about related distances. I'm not sure why really... He won't say. Anyway, the single fences were great for him, and we were able to string a whole bunch of them together without him dragging me around. Baby steps! We'll see what tomorrow brings. I have a feeling with the weather Torpedo Eros might make an appearance. But maybe not! You just never know with him. 

The most awkward Al photo to ever have been snapped...
Why does he look so little?

Al was AMAZING this week in our lessons! For both, we did the flat part outside, then went in to jump. (No jumps in the outdoor just yet, but probably soon!) I think warming up outside was really helpful in getting us more forward thinking. Because when we came in to jump, he was right there for me. I didn't feel as much like I needed a nap mid course as I usually do. I'm still pinching myself that this is my horse. He's just exactly what I would pick if I could punch my wants into a computer program and print out a horse. I mean, I might have made him a LITTLE less spooky, but hey. You can't have everything. 

In other Al news, I finally contacted the Butet rep to see about finding him a better fitting saddle. She requested a bunch of photos of two of my current ones on him and now we're trying to figure out a time and day for her to come out. 

Eros' saddle. Not great.

Pammon's Saddle. Better in some places
but too narrow.

The tricky part is that the boarding barn is a CWD barn. The owner said I could have the Butet rep out, but on a Monday when the other clients won't be there. Of course, this rep doesn't work on Monday... so I'm not sure how this is going to work out any time very soon. Might have to wait until I have some horses home, and then bring him here for the appointment. But I'd really like to have a saddle sooner than later. Nothing is ever easy! I would expect a saddle rep to have a somewhat flexible schedule, but who knows. Maybe this is just a side gig for her. 

Shiny had a great riding week. She's still protesting picking up the canter the first time. And by protesting I mean first refusing to do it, then kicking out, and then finally sighing heavily and just doing it. Once she gets going, her canter feels amazing. So I'm not entirely sure what the dramatics are about. I did let her have a relaxed bareback meander outside on Sunday, hoping that might reset the grumpy pony for next week. Unfortunately, she decided she wanted a longer reset as you read about yesterday. Her foot is doing as well as can be expected. She's on a broad spectrum antibiotic for now and we're flushing and re-bandaging daily. Once she seems more comfortable we can hand walk and even turn out (with a boot on the affected foot, so waiting for that to arrive). She's been a very good patient though, so hopefully this time it will resolve a little more quickly than the last time. 

Pammon was supposed to start rigging this week, but selfishly I decided to wait. I'm down a pony to ride so I don't want to give up another! Even though it will just be once a week for now. I'm also a little nervous about him being on a lunge circle still... I may hold off until his next recheck. We've upped our trotting to 12 minutes this week though! So things are getting pretty serious. When we get to 15, he'll have a recheck and see what the next step will be. 

Last week when the weather was so incredible, I made sure to get the pups out in the yard for a wander around. 

Rita isn't the biggest fan of being on a leash, but she's getting better. Her recall is pretty good MOST of the time, but she's already been hit by a car (before she was mine!) so I'm just really nervous about letting her off leash. My property isn't fully fenced for doggos, so I worry. I'm so glad the rope harness I had gotten for Artie adjusts enough to fit her though! She's so tiny!

I didn't hang on to P the whole time because she doesn't get around so fast anyway. I could surely catch her before she got herself into trouble! Plus, she can't walk as much as Rita. We still managed to over do it out there, and she needed her overnight pain meds a little earlier in the evening. Noted. Will definitely not let her walk as much next time! It's tough with these old pups. They don't realize how much they can and can't do. On the positive side (for me anyway) she slept the WHOLE night that night! I got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep! It was glorious. 

That's about it from here. How was your week? Is spring really happening where you are?