Today was lesson day, but I had just enough time to take Dan for a hack. It wasn't ideal as it meant I would be hauling to Ashland three times today... but, I also didn't want to bother riding at home. It was just going to be discouraging. I suppose I could have ridden around the neighborhood, but...he gets weird sometimes. Plus.. no hills. So I said "screw it... let's do it.. it's only time and diesel". So we headed out.
When I pulled into Ashland Dan was shaking. I didn't know if he was cold??? I mean.. it's chilly this morning but still 70 something degrees. And he was clammy. Ooooh.... he was freaked out. I don't know why. There were no sprinklers going. They had driven a truck and trailer down and had some water tanks draining from it but that was well after we unloaded, so... it couldn't have been that. I couldn't figure it out. But I brushed off the saddle area, threw the bareback pad on, bridled up and hopped on. I figured he would be better once we got moving. He was POWER WALKING away from the arenas... so we went to ptyerdactyl lake and looped around to the big hill. He was still power walking. Then we headed down by green lake to the magical path. We avoided the school because he was still nutted up. But he was starting to relax. We made it to the hay fields and he was breathing again so we did a little trotting. And then he finally chilled and so we just meandered around. Then Jacel texted that she was having to cancel lessons because one of the kids was sick. So... I just let him pick his path. I am still feeling very hormonal and blue and depressed, so... I asked for a left lead canter for a little bit in the hay field. And he obliged. We had fun. Ahhhh... I needed that. So then we walked some more and then trotted some. Then I asked for a very short right lead canter for a little stint. I don't know... part of me thinks that I should step it way back and build him back up... part of me thinks I need to power through and stretch things out and build him up via the canter. I don't know. But, I opted for a right lead canter. And he obliged. He picked it right up and it didn't feel quite as icky as it has been. Of course he was also on a loose rein and able to stretch out. It was not collected at all!
Then we went back to walking and headed around the lake to do those hills. After that right lead canter though, he was struggling on the hills. He did not want to push with his right hind. ugh... I'm sorry buddy. He didn't want to go home either though.. (or maybe he knew I was planning on doing a tiny bit of arena trot work... no lateral work.. just trotting and trotting 10 meter circles). He kept picking the path that led away from home. So I let him have his head for a bit. But then I decided we should head back. I told him I wouldn't do the arena though, because it was obvious that his right hind was struggling up the hills.
We did go to the cross country field and there were a ton of geese! Multiple little herds of geese. I forget what they are called... ganders?? And... without prompting... Dan started towards them... almost herding them. I clucked and he picked up the trot and chased a few off. Unfortunately my camera misbehaved and I didn't record the good part. I felt kind of bad so I pulled him back to a walk but then we chased them a little bit longer (so I could record) and then they went into the water complex. So we had to follow them in there. I did make him trot a few circles each way. Because I'm a mean mom.
Then we headed back home. No arenas! I promised! Unfortunately he was so sweaty from being nervous and then also being ridden. So I did have to give him a rinse. I was hoping he wouldn't get too chilly on the way home but he was fine. Although he's been pawing and anxious as we pull into the neighborhood lately and he did it again today. But then he seemed fine otherwise.
He was extra cuddly tonight at dinner and even snuggled a little. I adjusted him and did some k-taping for his stifle. But he's back to resting that leg all the time again. (not just today.. the past few days). Sigh... I'm sorry buddy. I'm really sad that Funny nailed you right there...
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