Quick Walk Avoiding Aliens

Today was a good day. I was feeling a little defeated. A little worn down. A little tired. Tired of waiting... But... I went out for a nice hack with Dan and it cheered me up. We didn't spend a ton of time on the trail because I wanted to make it back in time to watch Kelli and Karen show. So, we took a quick spin. Apparently we almost got abducted by aliens...

We made it back just in time for me to hose him off, give him snackies, fly spray him and put him in the trailer. I walked to the arenas right as Karen went in to show. It was nice to see them and catch up with them and some others.  Then I headed home and Mike and I did some dumpster dumping :)

Riding with Julie and Jezebel

Nice long walk. Lots of bugs...

Lazy Walk and Bath Day

Ugh... it's hot. So hot.... I slept in because of a migaine pill and I'm just tired. So our ride didn't get started til 10:45, but... we tried to stay cool in the woods. We went to the special part of Ashland and just soaked up the magic and the healing. We saw the heron on the people lake. We saw some friends. We splashed a little. It was a nice ride.





















Then I gave both boys a quick bath when we got home. Guess how long it took Dan to roll? 14 seconds. Guess how long it took Fleck to roll?? Well.. he didn't! He tried to twice before he was done, but once he was done, he went and ate alfalfa like a good boy. Ahem.... ;)

So Hot!

We have been so blessed this year with the weather. Not much else, mind you, cause.... 2020 has been just a weird weird year. But the weather... top notch! Until July. Now it's your typical miserable hot humid nasty Georgia summer weather. Ugh. Good thing we're just walking and I can wear shorts :) 

Poor Dan was already sweaty and sticky before we even started. I attempted to groom him, but it wasn't accomplishing much other than smearing dirt around, so I gave up. I decided to try the nylon bridle today, and probably should have done the bitless, but I've allowed him to graze so much that I figured if I didn't have a bit, I'd never get his head out of the grass, so I put the one with the bit in. We had a nice ride. We walked up to the jump arena and walked over some ground poles and a tiny cross rail or two. Then we went to the XC field and then to the lake. He didn't swim today, just splashed a little. Then we headed back. Nothing exciting, but that's okay because it was hot!

Back to work!

Hee hee. Not really. BUT... today I actually put on pants. Sigh.... I mean, they are riding tights, but still. And boots. And gloves. And a SADDLE! Sigh.. Actually, it was fun. :) It was hotter than heck, but... since we were just walking, not too bad. I wanted to use the equicube. Because while Dan may be resting I'm not! I've been doing Insanity trying to stay in shape and I figured I might as well make him use himself today and make myself work on my core, so... we used the equicube. It wasn't bad... til now..... I can barely hold my arms up. Dang!

Sadly, I also had to clean the mold off my stirrups. Gross! But... oh well. I desperately need to clean all my tack but I keep making excuses. Anyways...  we had a good ride. We went into the arena and walked around on a loose rein for one lap. Then I picked up the equicube. I kept the reins long because... if it is his neck... I don't want to crank him in, and the whole point is to rehab him to use himself properly. So the reins were fairly short. We started out somewhat hollow but with patience.. he actually started using himself quite well. I took the reins up a teeny bit once he went into the contact. It was quite nice though how well he went with the equicube. I mean.. obviously I can't be handsy and crooked with it, so.. for sure, he should be better. We did our walk, then a 20 meter circle, then a 15 meter circle, then a 10 meter circle, then a shoulder in, then a haunches in, and then a half pass. We did leg yield. We did rein back. We did free walk. He was great! It's especially helpful with the lateral work as I want to tend to cross my hands. :) 


Then I put the cube down and picked up the trot. I just wanted to see how much was still there... after the original injections.... and then after we changed his shoes. It was the shoes!! At his last farrier visit last week, we took the wedge pads and pour in pads off his front feet and put him back in regular shoes. Well, equilibrium shoes, which have a nice easy break over. He's MUCH happier!!! Then we did the Denoix suspensory shoes behind. So... tracking right he felt amazing!!! Then we went left and... it's still there. But subtly again. So... maybe it shouldn't be there, with him having had all that time off, and being on previcox for a few weeks now, but... we still haven't done any treatment to the stifle or the neck so... I have faith. And I'm thrilled that he's already better than he was. :) I just did one or two circles each way and then we got nice downward transitions. Then we went for a short hack, because... he needs to heal. And he felt a little tired. Which, fair enough, as we haven't been riding in sand footing for a bit and I also did some lateral work and made him use himself. So we walked around the small lake and then he got a rinse off and we came home. :) So... I'm still trusting that God will fix him and he will be able to go and play and do the things he wants to do and comfortably. 

Best Day Ever

TOO MUCH FUN!!! Today was a good day. :)

Seriously... Danny and Indi are ridiculous together. They are like long lost friends/brothers. We met up with Missy and Indi today at the lake. They beat us there so Indi was already in the lake when we got there. Dan was so excited and marched right in and they instantly start playing with each other. Lots of bitey face and grabbing ahold of each others bridles. Then they had splashing contests. They were hilarious. At one point, Dan was rubbing his head on Indi's butt and almost pushing him down. Then Indi kept trying to lay down and roll. He must have gone down about 12 times, but never did roll. Then Dan decided to go for a swim and went under water. I was up to my chin! When he came up, he had pulled his bridle off somehow. (I think the combination of no cheek piece, slippery ear bonnet, large crown piece, and oily fly spray...just makes it slide right off). I was trying to keep my phone dry and I had to hold it because all of my pockets were now soaking wet. And I had his crop (to beat bugs away).... and his ear bonnet was floating in the water... but at least his bridle was hanging around his neck. Hee hee. I managed to get his ear bonnet with my crop and then we rode out to the grass and I hopped off. I put his bridle back on and then we went back to splash some more. :) Then we went for a short trail ride where we ran into Elizabeth and Ash and Krista and Bowie so we all chatted and Indi and Danny went to playing again. Hee hee. Dan was so sad when I had to turn and leave. Poor guy. He seriously has so much fun with Indi. It was an awesome day!









 

Dan almost got his ear bonnet for me :)

Then I realized I put it on wrong so I was trying to fix his noseband. I had to get off. His dang neck is too long. ;)

Brothers from another Mother. :)