Sunshine and Smiles!

 Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!

 

Today was a glorious day! It was 62 degrees and the sun was out! Minimal wind. It was glorious! I injected Lyric this morning and then Dan and I headed to Ashland for our virtual saddle fitting and a trail ride with Sharon!

 

We did our saddle fitting with the 'card" system and Dan should be getting his fancy custom Western saddle in .... 5 months. Ha ha! But it should fit him well! Although he is quite narrow. He's basically getting the narrrowest tree they make! Now to figure out all the trim options and color (a soft milk chocolate brown or a darker deep brown) and whether I want a quote on back or not. Sharon joked that I should find dinosaur leather stamps and have the back say "rawr". ha ha!! But no... Although it did make me smile! I am looking at celtic trim and maybe a celtric cross. But I don't know. I may just stick with the pretty little flower and spiral trim. But it was nice to have Sharon help me with the fititng because Dan is a wiggle worm and it was nice to have her hold the phone and Dan's head so I could measure. Then we went back and double checked Baylor. 

 

Then we tacked up and hit the trails! I went bareback because we double checked and Liz's saddle is too wide for him. Plus, I love bareback. We had so much fun! Dan was so glad to be out and wanted to play with Baylor. He was walking slow and kept stopping to let him catch up and then he'd try to get him to say hi. But Baylor tends to squeal and strike so we tried to not let them do that. Then because Dan was a slug, we let Baylor lead and then Dan kept trying to stick his nose on his butt and I was afraid Baylor was going to kick him. But we managed to avoid any misfortunes and just played musical leader so both ponies were happy. We even splashed in the lake! It was chilly but luckily he only splashed a bit and didn't take me for a swim!

 

It was so nice... to be back on his back... to see how happy he was to be out... and to enjoy the sunshine and company. Ahhhhhh.... Totally made my day. And reminded me how grateful I am for this... just this. Even if it's "just this".... this is good enough. 

He's such a goober. This is what he did on the ride home. :) 

 

 

 

 

Cheated...

 Well.. my plans changed a bit. I had a crown replaced this morning and then Jacel was coming to teach me at noon and 2 pm here, because Jean's out of town so she had to teach the interns here. Plus, yesterday the arena's were still closed at Ashland. So great... and then I planned to take Dan to Ashland for a hack. But then.... the arena's opened up and I debated taking Funny for my lesson there. So I rode Lyric first and asked Jacel and she said it would be better to go to Ashland for Funny, so we did. But then I also had to get gas so then I didn't get home til 4:45. So... no Ashland for Dan. Heck, no ride even for Dan. But.. that's probably not the end of the world. Except he's already eating blankets, so.. he needed to do something. 

 

So... I snagged him and we headed to the roundpen. I set the poles up in a zigzag and then we had the two alternating raised half cavalettis'. So we did that 10 times. Then we did some "high fives". He was pretty good. We even got a few trips through with him totally relaxed and soft in his neck and topline. Because.. ugh.. he's lost so much muscle. 

 

Hopefully after the holidays I can get back to a program... I think Funny will get a breather and we'll focus on groundwork and core strength and physiotherapy for all of them. And just trail ride, but taking turns. 

Celtic knots and saddles

 The sailor’s Celtic knot, characterized by its infinite loop, symbolizes loyalty, friendship and the continuity of life. Historically, sailors would weave these knots as a keepsake to remember their loved ones while at sea, symbolizing their hopes of reunion.

This knot serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the unbreakable bonds that hold us together, even across great distances.

Oh Daniel....

You sir... are a heathen! Ha.. This is why we can't have nice things!

Today's weather was awful. That light misting rain that doesn't really get you wet but... makes you feel miserable and cold and dreary. So Mike and I put up Christmas lights this morning and I did some chores. It finally stopped long enough that I took Lyric to Ashland. Then when I got home it was still not raining again so I grabbed Funny and headed to the arena. It was sloppy! We noticed that Dan was entertaining himself. 

Poor Lyric... 

He is such a menace! But, by golly that velcro is STRONG!!! Her neck attachment is still fully attached! Although he did eat a strap off Funnys yesterday. Now I now how! 

Sadly I didn't have time to play with him because once I finished with Funny it was sunset. But... he tried to beg for cookies anyways. I'm sorry buddy... they're all gone!! But thank you for being cute and friendly and not cranky! (By the way... WHEEEEEENNNNN is his CBD going to get here??? I ordered it Nov 26th and it's still "processing"). 

 

 

Same old song and dance

 Well damn... the blues are creeping back in. I was doing so well too. Maybe it's the multiple dreary days without much sunshine.. maybe it's the hormones.. maybe it's just... Dan's roller coaster of life...

 

I worked a half day today (playing catch up from my back) and was supposed to meet a friend to ride at Ashland. She was going to let me borrow her DP western saddle to try on Dan. Yay! But the weather was miserable and there was a mild chance of rain. Luckily it skirted around us, but she bailed at the last minute because of health issues. (totally fair... and I was half tempted to bail myself). But I went anyways. I tossed Liz's western saddle in the truck because I figured I could try that one.

 

So we got to Ashland and no one else was there. Luckily I noticed on the way (thanks to the camera!) he had pulled his halter off before we made it even off Dixie road. Whoops! So I was able to put it back on before I unloaded him. Which was extra helpful because he was amped up! I'm not sure why he's gotten so spooky lately. There wasn't anything to be scared of. But he was shaking. He wasn't quite as petrified as he is with the sprinklers, but... I was able to groom him and pick his feet and get him tacked up. But I cannot figure that saddle out. My thought was that they should sit in front/on top of the shoulders.. not behind the scapula like English saddles. So I pulled it way up, but then it slid right back behind his scapula. And then it looked too far back. And that girth is WAYYYY too small, which is interesting, as it's supposedly Party's and G's and if anything.. they have a bigger belly than Dan. I made it work, but... I wasn't entirely sure it was going to hold. I did manage to get on and ride a small circle in the area in front of the arenas. But... given his alertness, the fact that I wasn't sure it fit him right and I didn't want to hurt him, and the fact that I wasn't sure the girth was going to hold... I decided ot take it off and swap it out for his bareback pad. 

 

We headed out on the trails and he was still a bit high headed and on alert and even startled at a squirrel. Buddy!! You're not this guy! Luckily I was chill and calm and didn't get upset and he settled down pretty quickly. When we got out by the small lake, we noticed the dredging equipment and they were banging metal so... that may have been what he was reacting to. So we opted to go the other way. We had a nice ride. I trotted a tiny bit.. because I don't know... to feel him out... because maybe it'll help him heal? I don't know... he's not exactly stall resting and he's been cantering some in the pasture, so... maybe some trot isn't the end of the world? I'm not exactly sure it'll benefit him any.. maybe stretching some of the scar tissue? Maybe encouraging him to use it properly vs buck wild? Or maybe it is what it is and short of putting him on stall rest he's going to broken forever? I don't know. I was doing okay and we were having a decent time. And then I thought... "oh, let's go get a photo of the Christmas tree". And then... I spiraled. I tried not to. But I did. We were rehabbing his suspensory surgery this time last year because I remember that I wasn't supposed to be riding him for that long but I wanted to see the tree and didn't think it would take us that much longer than our alloted time, but then it wasn't where I thought it was and we ended up doing a much longer ride than we were "allowed". And... that just kind of broke me. A little bit. I mean... why should it? His whole life practically has been rehabbing from one thing or another. It just.... feels more final this time. Because.. it is. And I just... felt so sad. Especially because he's not even really "pasture" sound. I mean.. he's fine.. he's walking and trotting sound, but his canter is awful. Bloody awful. And he hurts...because you can see it when he canters.. he wants to. So badly... and he does, but then he struggles. And he seems a bit more depressed to me. Maybe he's just finally maturing, but... he seems like he's kind of giving up too. And that's just not fair. He's fought so hard, for so long... I just want him to be comfortable. So I cried... a little. I tried to pray. It's just... I can't seem to hear what God is saying.. not directly I guess. What do you want me to do for him? What does our future look like? What do I need to learn so that my pony can be happy and comfy? And... my brain can't quiet down enough to hear anything. So I'm just left with all these closed doors... and sadness... and repeating the same process over and over again, because I can't learn. I was thinking that my western plan was a good one because I had felt peace at giving up on eventing and dressage... but maybe.. maybe even that is too ambitious. Maybe I should just be smart.. not buy a saddle... wait until he's cantering on both leads happily in the field and in the bareback pad before I even consider buying him a saddle. Maybe this is me getting ahead of myself and not learning patience. Yet again. Sigh... I just... dont' want to give up on my friend. But am I making his life more miserable because I'm too stubborn to give up... I don't know. 

   

So then I just... stopped thinking about it. Mostly. I tried to think about other things. I don't want Dan to feel my sadness and think it's his fault. I let him snack on all the green grass. And we trotted little spurts here and there. And we chatted about nothing... 

 

When I got home I saw something on FB about how horses just want to feel safe... and I was sort of proud of myself for not losing my cool and getting frustrated at him for being scared today. And just being there for him. Like the article said good horseman do... they just instinctually get that by being self regulated and calm and steady and there, the horse feeds off us and realizes they are safe. But then I started thinking about how maybe that is why he's angry and grumpy and guarded. Because I'm not always the same. I'm tempermental.. I have good days and bad days and some days I'm over reactive and some days I don't care and some days he gets yelled at and some days he doesn't. Or maybe it's because he hurts. Or maybe.. it's just because he's food protective and nothing more. I don't know. I'm tired... so tired. I just want him to be happy and comfortable and for him to love me. 

 

Stupid weather. Stupid hormones....

 

 

Bored Brother

 Poor Dan. I think he's bored!

He didn't get worked on by Lexi yesterday... and he didn't get ridden yesterday (no one did) or today (both girls did). I turned Lyric back out tonight and he went running off! He's been cantering a good bit, but... mostly the left lead. However, he did the right lead today but ugh.. it's so pogo-y and awful looking. He definitely does NOT want to use that right hind at the canter. It's staying very straight. I don't know if I should have Dr. Barrow look at it again or just keep waiting... Probably should keep waiting... 

But he did make me smile today because after he ran a bit, he did this while I was trying to get him running on video. :) 

 

And tomorrow... I'm meeting Deb and Arwen and she's letting me try Dan in her DP western saddle to see how I like it. :) Yay! Which also means Dan gets to go for a ride. 

Bonus Groundwork Day

 December is always a tough month, with lots of cancellations at the last minute. And it's aggravating because it throws my schedule off and I don't get paid unless I work... but today, I chose to be grateful for the last minute mid day cancellation. I went to the first barn and did three horses and then was able to come home. My first client made me some delicious frittata's that I ate for lunch. And then, the weather was cold but not awful so I headed out to play with the ponies. 

I decided that I would do groundwork with them and since they were all up by the arena, it was easy to fit all three of them in! Yay! Lyric went first and then it was Dan's turn. 

He was cheeky today and chompy. But he stayed engaged and we were able to do a full 25 minutes without him pulling away or getting loose or tearing off. Yahoo! We started with pillars and then we walked some poles. I had set up a fan so we did that. He has a much bigger stride in general than Lyric so he was a bit tight even in the middle. We did try to shorten him to fit him in the narrower side, but it was hard for him. We also walked the poles with the ends raised. We did that a few times. 

I also made him weave in and out of the poles, like a maze, to help work on lateral suppleness. His hind end swung out a few times but he also managed to bend for most of it. We played with the shallow serpentine over two poles end on end too. He's pretty good at that. We did some leg yields in hand too. 

I did also try the side pass over the pole. He was pretty good side passing one way... (why is it so hard to remember now.. it's only been 5 hours!) but pretty resistant the other way. I think going right is the hard way. I'm guessing it's his stifle? I did get a nice side pass going the other way and the we did manage to get a short side pass going the hard way. He can do it without the pole so then we added the pole back in and he got it. I didn't push it too much because I figured it's because it hurts. But I did want to push him a tiny bit to help strengthen it. In theory. Hopefully I didn't screw him up. We then went back to all the other games and he was fine. 

Then it was time for Funny. But when I tried to bring Funny into the arena, he reached over the gate and took a big ol' chomp out of her blanket! No sir! So rude. I think he was mad it was her turn to get cookies. 

No photos other than equilab unfortunately. But yay for getting to do some work with them!