You know...sometimes God really shows you that He's listening! And He has your back. Phew!! After I had my little meltdown I started to realize how much God was helping me out. This weather has been glorious lately and for being into May, it's just now starting to get hot and humid. And it's not even that bad yet. So thank you God for that. Then, I've been brave and told a few people no and most everyone has been super kind and supportive about it. Phew. Thank you God. And then, I've had a couple of random openings that have stayed open. Like this morning.... last night my client that lives in Buford, right across the street almost from Mom Searls place (which we were at yesterday) texted that she had to cancel for tomorrow. YAY! I mean... I hate to say it, but... Yay! That meant that I didn't have to drive almost 2 hours in traffic to work on their 3 horses and dogs and then drive 1.5 to 2 hours back to finish my work day. And... while they are great clients and I love them, they are also moving, so... hopefully I can get them rescheduled but I don't feel super duper guilty if I can't make it work. Although maybe I should feel more guilty, but... I don't. Thank you for that too God! So I didn't have to get up early... I could sleep in... I could catch up on a few things... I could ride... I could do lots of things!! I really needed this. The multiple little "breaks" that He has tossed my way has made a huge difference in my outlook. Just that little extra bit of breathing room... has made such a big difference. So yay. Anyways... really long way of saying, I had the whole morning off and didn't have to leave for work til 1:30!! So that meant I could ride!
I was a good adult and ended up taking the recycling in and then picking up my prescriptions. And then I did the dishes and a load of laundry and tidied up the house a tiny bit. And then I rode Dan! Well, first I went up to the arena and set up some obstacles. I looked up measurements and set up 5 single slalom standards and then added 2 of the double slalom standards, so... we could do the 5 singles or the 5 double slaloms. Then I put the 3 blocks as my 3 drums. Then I pulled out the two big semi-broken wooden wings to make my "gate" and put my lunge line on it as the rope gate. I'll figure out how to make a wooden gate soon so that we can practice that. And then I put out a raised side pass pole. So then I got Dan and tacked him up. I ended up putting on my paddock boots and my english spurs and the bosal. I wanted to see if this would be better at getting bend without making him so upset. So then we headed up on foot.
I did a tiny bit of backing and then we side passed the pole without me on him. He actually did better today than I expected. So then I hopped on and we did some walking. I did some 10 meter circles because Judy had told me that Kelly told her that 10 meter circles at the walk were very good for suppling without the torque on the stifle. So.. noted! And I did like him with the spurs. He felt a little more willing to lift his belly and use his topline and soften his neck and was a bit more bendy. So then we did the rope gate a few times and he was pretty darn perfect! Then we did the sidepass pole and... he actually did it really well to the right... and then not so great to the left the first time. But we came back after a little bit and if I thought more about leg yielding him over it, vs halfpassing him over it, he was good. Even the hard way was great! So whooo hooo!! I think we can be acceptable enough that by the time we move up to novice, we'll be good enough at that. Good pony.
So then we did some trotting and he did feel more bendy. We played with the slalom's and the drums and did some general suppling work. And.... I got annoyed at him. Poor guy. UGH! I need to remember the whole reason for doing this... to find something fun that he's comfortable to do. But, I get carried away with wanting to be good and... expecting him to be able to do something because he used to be able to do something. Like... bend around my leg for the slalom sir!! So I got handsy and then spurr-y. Sigh.. and he kept trying, bless him. He didn't seem quite as agitated as he did with the bit, but maybe it's just because the bit makes it more obvious when his tongue gets stuck over it?? I don't know. I'm so mad and sad at myself for getting sucked into my ... competitiveness? My frustration??? Like... why can't I just relax and remember that he is trying and it's hard for him and this may be his new normal?? Ugh. Although, maybe, to a certain extent... he is just being lazy and doing as little as possible. Because it probably is hard and not as comfortable. But I don't know if it's just that he doesn't want to because it's hard work... or if it hurts. I am going to have to pray hard that God also helps me have more patience with him. And I also wonder if getting his stifles injected will help him feel better and be more willing to bend and sit.
His canter did feel better today though in ways. He didn't want to turn very well but he was better on straight lines. Although, once, on the right lead, he did get stuck out behind and fell out of the canter. I'm sorry buddy! We finished on a good note and I told him I was sorry and was proud of him for trying.
Tomorrow we'll do a nice fun trail ride and then go get his stifles looked at. And then, hopefully when he can get ridden again, I'll remember that he is trying and to be kinder to him... I can still ask for more bend and more sit and push but I do need to be more sympathetic to his tries and not expect it to be 2nd level worthy just yet. Or ever! Ugh.. no wonder he's a cranky pants all the time.
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