Gorgeous day for an Ashland day

 The ponies got their coggins drawn this morning so they were a little cranky at having to stay in for an extra 20 minutes or so. But I turned them out after and let them meander for a bit. Just a bit though because then I went and got Dan to go to Ashland for a nice ride. 

   

We got there and tacked up and went for a spin around the little lake while we waited on Kelli. Then she decided that she wanted to do an arena ride instead of a trail ride, so we did that. (I was going to do both.. it just didn't matter which I did first). 

 

Dan warmed up with some walking and lateral work and then we started trotting. He felt pretty decent but took a few lame steps here and there. After about 15 minutes or so, Kelli wanted some help so we stopped and watched her and Marvin go. Then when she was done, she watched us. Dan had been sitting for a good ten minutes so I had to pick him back up and put him back to work, and he wasn't quite as soft. I was telling Kelli that he feels like he's going well under saddle but his neck tells a different story. And I wasn't sure if I was just not getting him like I thought I was... or if it was his saddle... or just his poor stifle couldn't hold up.... or ??? So she watched us go a bit and said that he is just a bit too long and he's bracing in his jaw. He's nice and forward and out but he's not quite loose. He's holding himself up with his underneck and bracing. So, I asked him to go a bit more round, and he got better. She said he let go and started swinging. And I could feel it. But then he'd curl behind the vertical and/or shut down some. So it was a delicate balance. But I managed to get him in the nice swinging spot a good bit of the time. I picked up the canter and he was much rounder in the canter, even his hard way. However, he couldn't turn very tight to the left and we kept spiraling out of the arena. I'm not sure he could have pulled off a 15 meter circle. So we'll definitely have to figure out which tests we are going to do at the July horse show. Anyways... I was able to get him fairly consistently round in the trot without curling and Kelli said that he was using his neck correctly then and lifting his back and his footfalls got lighter. So yay. Maybe if  I can remember to keep this up, his neck will start changing. I think I need the eyes on the ground to help me develop my feel better. Because while he feels good, he's not always as good as he can be. So, maybe I'll start doing pivo rides again.. if i can keep my phone from overheating!.

   

After that we chatted for a bit longer and then I took Dan on a cool down hack to the lake. He splashed around a little bit and then we headed back home. We passed a lovely black snake on our way. I'm not sure Dan even saw him. But we didn't step on him so that was good. And he was quite polite to let us pass without getting all angry. 

 

So all in all, a good day and a good ride!

 

Oh, and I forgot this gem from last night. Ha ha...  But then tonight he was silly and making faces at me when I was sitting there on my phone while they finished eating... okay fine... you earned cookies :) 

Quick Ride at home

 It was Lyrics turn to go hack, so she went this morning. Then I had my chiropractic appointment. Hopefully I'll be straighter now! I definitely have a shorter left leg. (Which is confusing as to why I want to shorten my right stirrup, but... who knows!). Anyways, when I got home I was debating on going to Ashland or just staying at home. I was leaning towards staying at home but... Kelli wanted company if she went and she wasn't sure if she could go or not. She was almost ready to go but then the weather showed some storms popping up and the kids came home and wanted dinner at the usual time, so.. .she bailed. Which was great because I was already on Funny at home. ;) My plan was to sneak in as quick of a ride as I could and then if and when she was ready, get off and swap out for Dan and meet her at Ashland. But I'm kind of glad she stayed home because I'm tired and it was much quicker to ride both at home than to haul to Ashland again. And then Mike and I got to go to dinner. 

 

So anyways.... I rode Dan at home. I almost didn't, because it's hot and ... it's hot. But I wanted to check the fit on a potential new breastcollar that one of my clients made. Sadly, it's a bit too snug and not quite the right color turquoise, but it was pretty! And then since I had him tacked up already, I figured I might as well ride. Even if it was a short one. So we did. We headed up to the arena and played a bit. He was a good boy. We worked on our downwards and using his core. We got a really really nice round canter too!! Especially to the left. The right canter wasn't bad, but wasn't exactly super round. But it wasn't bad. We ran through the first level dressage test too. And then we finished with the gate. We did the reverse gate... which took my brain a minute to figure out. So then we went back to the regular gate and then did the reverse gate again and he nailed it!! He's really getting the hang of the gates. And not touching them. I am trying to let him "close it" at my arena gates so maybe he learns the difference. Kind of like "free horse" in the water. :) He's smart.. I bet he figures it out. 

 

We hacked back and he got a nice long rinse because ... dude, it's hot!! No issues from the bridge incident. But he does seem a little more ouchy on his stifle today, so... I should have shockwaved him tonight but I was starving and Mike was waiting so I'll do it tomorrow after I volunteer at the show. And then it'll be perfect because he'll get his last one two weeks later, which will be good timing for the "maintenance" quarterly shockwave for Lyric and then I'll go ahead and do Funny's stifles too and they'll all be on the same page to go to quarterly shockwaves. 

He does love me

I'm not sure if it's just that I've had time to rest and breathe for a bit.... Dan's getting older and more mature (Ha!), I've been learning and able to reflect on things with the other horses, or if it's because Dan is now really enjoying his current job... or all of the above.. but, I'm feeling the love. 

And I know... I know he loves me. But his crabby cranky faces all the time really do start to grate on one. But lately, he's been a little less cranky... a little more snuggly... Even at the show last weekend he was letting people pet him without making faces. Although he also made faces too at other horses sometimes. And he still makes faces at dinner, but... he's been friendlier in the pasture. Maybe it's just all the cookies. I don't know. But... I'm reminded today that he really does take care of me.... Almost every time I ride one of the girls in the arena, he will eventually meander up to keep an eye on us. And okay.. maybe it's his herd instead of of me, but... there are many times where he and the girls are way far apart in the pasture. So I'm gonna pretend it's me. :)

And he was so good on that bridge and didn't panic. So yeah... I'm glad he loves me. :) And I love him! Which, is easy to do. 

As an aside... today I was cleaning out the water troughs since they get so hot and slimy quickly with the heat and humidity. And I had my little scrub brush and he was so curious and tried to grab it. I brushed his teeth with it and he let me. Hee hee. What a silly sir! I'm grateful that we found our happy place. And I feel a little guilty that he wasn't happy for so long, but... Liz reminded me... it wasn't for lack of trying. And there was a time when he was very happy eventing too. So hopefully I've managed his pain well enough now and picked a job that doesn't make it worse. 

Eventful Day!

Well that was an exciting ride! So much fun. I could totally be a trophy wife stay at home horse mom! I'm digging this staycation :) 

   

We rode with Kelli today. Marvin can do a short walk so we met and tacked up and put on our dragonflies. :) (They made me and Kelli both so happy... watching them bee bop around as we walked. hee hee. FUN!) Then we hacked down to the lake. Dan splashed and played around and then almost took me for a swim! I really thought he was going to. I was torn... because I really didn't want to have to dry out my saddle and saddle pad, but... someone said "take it in the lake to stop it from squeaking!" ha ha.... And I do love a good swim! Luckily (I guess) he turned around before we got too deep. Then we hacked back up the hill to the trailers and said bye to Kelli and Marvin. 

  

 

Dan and I headed back out and we went around to the cross country field. It was such a pretty day! We trotted and cantered in the field and we practiced the water complex. The August WE show mentioned that they would likely use the cross country field and have us do the water and the bank, so.. we practiced walking the water without snorkling and walking the bank. So hopefully we can get our "eventer points" there and do it like a good WE horse instead of an upper level event horse. He was good though. After we walked through it without snorkling twice, I walked him up to the edge... very obviously dropped the reins and told him "Free Horse"... ha ha. I got that from Liz. She said that one day when she was letting her dog "off duty" and I giggled. But why not? He's smart... he can learn that "Free horse" means you can push the gate open, you can splash in the water, you can frolic......  and when I don't say "free horse" you have to work. :) We'll see. Worth a shot anyways. 

   

We popped over a few small logs too for funsies and he wasn't quite as wild as he can be, so yay. Then we went for a little canter in the field. He put his head down and got slightly bucky for a bit. I called him a cow. Ha ha... Then apologized as he wasn't that rowdy. 

  

Then we headed out and did some hacking. He tripped a few times on roots or sticks but nothing major. However, when we crossed the higher bridge at the beaver dam, he fell down to his chest almost. Well, probably his knee but he felt like he almost went to his chest! He got up and carried on. Seriously dude!! You've got to pick up your feet! But maybe he slipped because those wooden boards can get slick with the rain. I turned to look and see and holy cow!!! The bridge had rotted and his hoof punched through the board. He fell through to his knee at least and somehow managed to pull his leg straight back up and out without doing any damage other than a mild scrape on the inside of his knee. His shoe was still on!! Okay.. sorry buddy...  you are amazing!! And a saint! He carried on like it was no big deal. I was a little afraid to do the second bridge as that second bridge is usually closer to the water than the first one but we did fine. When we got to the cross country field I picked up the trot and he was sound. Phew! Yikes!! I texted Adam immediately since I had seen him earlier that day. (Side note... he was very glad Dan was okay and the next day I saw Lucy and she came over to see how Dan was. I adore them!). 

   

We finished our ride and he got a nice hose off, because he was nasty and it was hot. I checked him over again and really... just a tiny little superficial scrape. Thank you God for protecting us! On the way home I was talking to Liz so I couldn't try to catch it on video but as we were turning onto Dixie road... he was looking at the trailer camera... and then his nose got closer and closer.. and then he opened his mouth and all I saw was big gaping maw with teeth and tongue. Ha ha.. Do NOT eat my trailer camera sir!! Haha. I was cracking up. Luckily he backed off or realized it wasn't going anywhere cause he didn't eat it or knock it off and he didn't try again. Silly boy!