Day 2, Ride 2

 Well, 2nd day of the year and 2nd ride of the year on Dan. :) He gets tomorrow off. 

I debated going to Ashland but honestly... it was getting late and I didn't feel like hauling. So after I finished with Funny, I just walked out into the pasture with the bridle and grabbed Dan. I had to interrupt his twirling. ;) But it's okay, I had cookies. 

I hopped on and we walked around the pasture and then headed to the arena. I did some lateral work today. I tried to keep his neck as long as I could and as straight as I could, with the softest of connections. And I think it worked. I didn't see his tongue come out. He got a hair chompy but that was it! We warmed up with a long stretchy walk. Then we did leg yield from the quarterline to the rail each way. Then I did half the long side in haunches in, then half in shoulder in, then half in half pass. With breaks in between! Then we did turn on the forehand for a half circle each way and turn on the haunches each way. Good pony! Then we did another long stretchy walk and then we headed out and hacked to the lake. He snacked a little bit too. :) I ended up walking him into the lake area and we walked through the "beach" so that we could challenge his suspensories a tiny bit. We just did one pass through and then one pass back. Then we headed up the hill and back home. 

 

 

Good pony! 

But... no smiles for our selfie.. just spit bubbles ;) 

 

Ringing in the New Year Right!!

 Ahhh.... this is how you spend New Years day! Not working... riding your best pony!

   

Dan and I headed to Ashland for a hack. We were sort of planning on meeting Kelli and Celeste and Louise. I got there a little early and was ready and they had just gotten into the arena to warm up their ponies, so... Dan and I headed to the XC field. I figured I could do some water treadmill therapy. And honestly... I was sort of tempted to go by myself. I just felt like it might be more fun to have it just be me, Dan and God. But... it would be fun to ride with them too. 

   

They got it together and came out to join me fairly quickly so I had just finished doing 3 laps each way and a pass or two through the middle. So we hacked around the lake. Dan kept stopping to look back at his two new friends. Move it along sir. ;) We had some snacks too. It was a pretty day, but chilly!

   

We let them go back into the arena to play and we headed home. But clearly Dan didn't get enough energy out because when I brought Lyric home from her ride he was FILTHY! And then he was pawing in the water trough. Dude! It's CHILLY! But he had his whole right leg (I think! so yay for rehab) in the water trough splashing away. And then he had his head in there slinging it. And then he was chewing on the hose. Then when that got boring he found his old long limbed dog toy and was twirling it. Hee hee. I love you, you ridiculous fool!

He did get blanketed tonight because BRRRRR It's gonna get chilly!