Playing his Games

 That's right! I'm a doctor! I'm smart too sir!

I caught Dan today and had multiple carrots. I did sort of bribe him back to the barn but sadly I ran out of carrot pieces about 1/4 of the way left. He was acting totally chill and fine... and then started to chew on his snap.... I should have caught it ahead of time, but he was so chill I trusted him. And then.. he was gone! Oooooh you bum!! Of course, he let me catch him again. Because... it's a game! I really don't think he was upset today. I think today, he remembered that he could get loose, so he tried it again. For fun! So... I had to outsmart him because I didn't have the chain with me. I caught him again and he quickly went to pop up again and I yelled at him. And then I tied his leadrope in a loop and walked him right up to the jump and hopped on! That's right sir... what are you gonna do now? Except... don't do that!! ha ha.. We walked towards the barn and you could just hear his little wheels turning.....  We got to the roundpen area and he very briefly thought about throwing his shoulder to the right and ducking left... but I caught him and leg yielded him to the right, so he behaved. Ha ha. We made it to the gate, I slid off, and then we walked politely to the trailer. Haha!! A win for each of us today. 

Poor guy though... that little bit of running he did... he was sweaty already. It's not quite as hot as it has been, but he's already got his winter coat coming in. He's beautiful, but... it's a bit toasty. I'm guessing I'll have to clip him asap if it doesn't cool off soon. Which... it's just barely almost September, so... I'm guessing he'll get a haircut soon.

I put the saddle back on and we headed up to the arena. We did some walk work and then some trot work. He felt.... kind of lame today. Like... legit lame not just sore or weak. Except... not lame enough to not keep working. I suspect it is his right hind stifle and it's just sore from his galloping the other day. But I don't know. I'm bummed. I just... want to be able to move along with him... Like.. I really want to try a second level test at the halloween horse show in two months... Or try him in some ranch classes. But... his right lead canter today felt awful again. Which, isn't surprising given how his trot felt. At times he felt pretty good though... and he did haunches in both ways and shoulder in both ways without any fussing. And no tongue. So... I guess that does really make me think the tongue is more anxiety than pain...  

I did shockwave his right stifle tonight. It has been more than a week but not quite two weeks, but since I signed up for a lesson with Kelly Eaton tomorrow with him... I figured it might be a good idea. I'm torn though... I'm wondering if I should take Funny instead. Or Lyric. But... I really kind of want to see what she thinks. And... it's hard because if he just needs to keep stretching it out... but I also don't want to keep working him if it's sore/injured still. 

Oh well. Guess we'll see what he feels like tomorrow after the shockwave and get Kelly's opinion. 

Assuming he lets me catch him. He's smart! He may get creative!