What's Up Wednesday

 

This week we're just doing our thing! We didn't have anything exciting planned and it was lovely because I've been able to really just focus on the horses. Especially Al. I'm enjoying this less insane version of him. And I've been pushing the buttons to see what we can do before setting him off. And so far, nothing fully sets him off. He still hates the places he's always hated, but he's allowing me to use the whole ring with only minimal attempts on my life. So I consider that a win. 

He's still a little unreliable on the very windy days. But I mean, he is who he is, ya know? At least for now he's handling the breezy days which he wasn't before. The gas pedal is still very sticky, but the longer we ride the more forward he gets. I'm sensing a pattern... seems all my horses are like that and perhaps this is a training issue I have caused. Or maybe it just takes them a bit to get all the parts loosened up. Maybe a little of both. Something to keep working on anyway. I won't say that we're having magical and amazing rides together, but we're having pretty normal rides, which is a huge change. I can walk trot and canter both directions, pretty much all the way around the ring. There's still one corner that is apparently suss (to quote the kids). We can also make circles without him panicking that I'm going to run him into something. (I swear, the only time we ever hit something was when he spooked at another horse at the old winter barn and ran himself into a jump. I DO know how to steer. Even if Al doesn't think so.) We haven't really graduated to doing real lateral work or anything that exciting because of the gas pedal problem. But I feel like we're working towards that stuff. It's definitely all still in there, I just need impulsion to get it. 

Don't need much impulsion to jump less than 2' though...

Oh he did talk me into a day off on Saturday. Friday night when I did night check, he was chewing a little funny, but had finished all of his dinner and dinner hay. And he was eating his night check albeit a little slowly. No quidding or anything, and no signs of colic or anything equally emergent. So I figured I'd just see how he was in the morning. He seemed fine by morning. Ate breakfast, ate hay outside, all good. But then when I went to tack him up he had a tough time chewing his tummy gummies and I noticed some swelling on his cheek. Checked in with the vet who seemed not too worried about it given he was eating everything else well and where the bump was located was too high to be an in the mouth problem. I had a feeling he might have been stung by a wasp. I keep seeing them around, but can't figure out where they're living. I opted not to ride him Saturday because who wants to wear a bit with a sore mouth? By Sunday he was perfectly fine, so he did work that day and he's been fine ever since. I think perhaps he just wanted a day off. Dude isn't really used to all the work he's suddenly doing! 

He nearly dropped me yesterday. Twice in about 40 seconds. But that was just when we were first starting and then he was an angel so we're going to pretend that didn't happen. And today we did some little jumps. It wasn't great. He was behind my leg, and definitely distracted, but it was still nice to pop over a few small things. 

Our new trainer had a death in the family, so I'm not sure when we'll have our next lesson. I feel so sad for him, and hope he's doing okay. We look forward to cheering him up when he's ready! 

We did have an adorable visitor last week though, and Al was so sweet and gentle with her. I was so proud of him. 

He loves kiddos. Which tracks since he's a giant forever child himself.

Our adorable visitor also enjoyed a ride on Shiny. 

Her mom has horses too, but no ponies. So she's sat on a few before, but she's never been on one that's moving. She walked many circles on Shiny with absolutely no fear! She loved it, and I think now she needs a pony. Hopefully her dad will come around on that... 

Shiny's been putting in good work lately too. I didn't do a second jump school on anyone last week, so I have no jumping photos of her or Eros for this week. Her regular kiddo is coming tomorrow and Saturday so she'll get plenty of fun jumpy time in then. But we've been focusing more on flat work. I think I've been settling for good enough, but there's more in this pony. She's just not terribly motivated, so I need to do my part to bring it all out. We had a few moments of amazing trot work today in which she lifted her shoulder and her back and really stepped under herself and used her whole body. It felt amazing but was difficult to keep. I imagine it's pretty hard for her, so we'll just keep plugging away at it so she can get stronger. 

I also need to keep plugging away at SHORTENING MY DAMN REINS!
And maybe keeping my shoulders back while we're at it.

For Sunday Funday this week we "trail rode" around her paddock and then around the back and side yard. One of these days I really need to take her on a real trail ride. 

Eros is doing just fine too! I'll probably jump him a little bit tomorrow, but the first part of the week he's been putting in some good flat work like his sister. He's kind of like her in that he'll only put out what he really has too, so unless I get a little demanding, his work is mediocre. But once I insist and do my part, he also feels great. It just takes some coaxing to get there. Today he worked in his equibands for a little extra difficulty. 

He preferred his Sunday ride in which he pretty much just ate grass while I sat on him bareback. Solid Sunday if you ask him! 

We have doc coming back Friday to rescope Al and also have a recheck for Eros. I'm hoping now that he's finished his doxy that maybe we can get him off the robaxin too. He also might be coming due for his hocks. But we'll see what doc thinks. He's getting both changes pretty reliably which usually we lose the right to left when he needs them done. But we're coming up on a year, so I dunno. We will know on Friday! 

That's it from here. Any fun plans for the weekend? We don't have anything on the docket since we'll see how the visit goes on Friday. But regardless, we'll have a fun weekend I'm sure!