Heart of Gold!

 Despite the crankies ;) 

We got up early this morning. Me, earlier than Dan. ;) 

Our lesson was at 7:45, which... oooof, early, but... helps get us done before it gets too hot and lets me lesson two and ride a third. And... apparently, bush hog too. He was filthy as of last night, and still filthy this morning so I knew he would need a quick rinse off, so we did that and then headed to Ashland. Unfortunately I didn't have time to go for a warm up hack so we just went to the upper arena and warmed up there. I adjusted him last night and put butacort on his stifle, so I was hoping he was going to feel better today. And he did. I didn't feel that uneven feeling. So yay!

 

Kelly asked how things were going and I ... kinda slumped and sighed. She said I looked so defeated. I told her.. no, actually, but I was worried that he was hurting more than he was letting on. She gave me an awesome pep talk and basically said that I would know when he was done. He would tell me. And that while he didn't look super buff like he did 3 years ago.. neither did she. And she said he didn't look as bad as I thought. His hind end wasn't undermuscled compared to his front end. His gaskins weren't huge and his forearms weren't huge from dragging himself along. And while his upper neck was puny, his lower neck wasn't horrible. She said she would watch him go and tell me the truth, but she suspected that he was doing okay and since he was game and having fun, enjoy the ride. He'll tell me. So that helped alot! And he felt pretty darn good. There were a few steps here and there, and he obviously wasn't a fan of loading that right hind and tried to not do it, but he didn't get naughty or even try too hard to not do it when I insisted. The big thing I noticed though was that he fatigued. Towards the end of my lesson, he was requiring a lot more help from me. And Kelly saw a few funky steps here and there... she saw that he needed my help more. And then, after my lesson, I tried to go for a hack and he just... didn't want to. He kept stopping. And after a few minutes, he was fine and carried on but he was definitely not speed walking and was slow. We did just a very short hack and by the end he was much more like his usual self, although still slow. So, I think I just need to recognize that he may need some rest after he works and that my hacks probably need to be before my arena rides or on separate days. And Kelly pointed out too... don't back off on what I ask, but give him lots of rests and breaks to recover from the fatigue. So... we'll do that and see if that helps him out. 

 

Anyways, back to our lesson. He was really good. He was much happier to stay rounder today and had some nice balance. We worked on really getting him round and stretching so he was stepping up and under with the hind end. Kelly pointed out that it is hard for him but to think of it as a stretch more than loading. Because while he is loading that right hind, he's more stretching the hip and lower back and he needs to do that. So get it.. and then let him have a break, but don't let him cheat because I'm worried about him. Tracking right he wants to fall in, so I have to almost ride him haunches out. And keep a steady connection with my outside rein so he can have the support. He got quite nice! Tracking left he bulges that right shoulder so I have to ride shoulder in. But both ways we got some lovely bend. I need to make sure that when I'm posting, my elbows remain mine but also that I don't "bounce" out of the contact by being too soft with my elbows. Because when I do that, I lose the elasticity and just bounce in and out of the contact and that makes him look lame. 

 

We played with the serpentine and he gets quick instead of bending, so... I had to make sure that I ask for bend, but keep his tempo the same. And it works, when I can coordinate my aids. Then we played with leg yields and he sort of cheats. Kelly said he gets nice and floaty but he's on the verge on not leg yielding... more of a diagonal line. His body is positioned correctly but he's not really crossing over. Ahhhh... So at home, I need to practice keeping him moving sideways and not getting quick but not letting him get hollow and shut down. So, if I need to bring him down to walk and really insist he go sideways, then go back into the trot, do it. (At home while schooling.. not in the show!). And I should aim for more steep lines to make sure we're going sideways. 

 

We did a tiny bit of canter but were running out of time. But, Kelly said the canter looked quite nice anyways, so yay! Our upwards are still a bit of him slinging himself into it with his front end, but his downward was better. And his canter felt quite nice today.. very round. I still have to ride his shoulder in going left and ride his haunches out going right, but he was quite nice today. 

 

So yay! He felt good and looked and felt happy. He was a tiny bit funky here and there but usually only one or two steps and then back to good. Kelly said she saw nothing other than a little bit of fatigue at the end. And she said he looked happy and willing. So yay! But yeah... then we went for a hack and he was like "I'm done mom..... I'm tired!". So.. we sat for a minute... then we walked.. then we grazed.. then we walked.. and then we were walking okay again. But I kept it short. Later today though he was cantering around in the field when I was bush hogging... and I think he started it! So.. he can't feel too horrible. Although I am going to surpass his stifle for a few weeks I think... and hopefully the osphos will arrive soon. I'll call tomorrow. And then I'm going to call and schedule Dr. Barrow for an appointment soo to see. Maybe he needs double dose noltrex... or maybe he needs steroids.. or maybe it's not the stifle (Although I can't imagine it's not not the stifle). Unfortunately I think the earliest she has available is mid July... but hopefully we can sneak in before we go to the beach so he can recover while I'm at the beach. And maybe... it's nothing... or just a little foot sore and needs shoes... or ??? I don't know. But I'll do my best to find out and make him happier. Because... he is trying his heart out and I am grateful but also don't want to take advantage!