The barn is surrounded by hunting property and all you can hear are the gun blasts all around the area. Therefore, even with the outstanding weather, the horses need to be kept in their stalls. I've been trying to get the boys some exercise and a pick of grass to keep their sanity. Toby seemed to have strained a tendon in his front right leg and turned out to be very lame yesterday. After much cold hosing, liniment and an itty bit of bute to make him a little more comfortable he's shown a bunch of improvement. He absolutely loves the attention.
I took Hola out to the sandy outdoor arena last evening before it got dark and let him stretch his legs. He squealed and wheeled and ran lap after lap after lap after lap after lap. I sat down on the mounting block and watched him let his "inner thoroughbred" out. I was so bummed I didn't have a camera because he put on a good show. However, it didn't help to slow him down today for his lesson.
Betsy earned every penny today. Hola had nothing on his mind but "go" today. His back was humped up to start and he had his nose in the air like a giraffe. Betsy yells out to me, "I think we may have to walk a really long time today until he decides to relax!" He was a total pill looking for any excuse to take off on her. But he never did. Good boy! Eventually the hump in the back relaxed and he began to listen to Betsy.
He was busy playing with the bit the entire time. It seemed he was on the verge of "chomping on the bit" to "go" but thankfully he kept it to "I'm playing and chatting with you through the bit." He was drooling the entire time.
He worked himself into a little bit of a sweat and spooked at anything he could find a couple times. But otherwise, under the circumstances, I thought he did really well. Eventually he became round although he did a lot of counter bending but Betsy is incredibly patient and positive so that he did improve ever so slightly.
I actually like that we had a difficult day with him because these kind of experiences are when the learning is the most. I think he did well under the conditions (in the stall too much, lots of energy, having to understand that he was at work and not play when under the saddle).
And in the meantime, I'm counting down the days till hunting season ends...
Where I used to live, I hated dove season. September 1. Dawn. Every year. Ack.
ReplyDeleteI lived on a cherry ranch -- yes, that's what they called it -- and the owners' dogs were very gunshy, so invariably when I opened the front door of my rental apartment, I'd be greeted by a pack of dogs anxious to "visit" for a few weeks. Now it's funny, then not so much.
Ollie looks wonderful. Good wishes for The Tobe-ster's quick healing.
Every time I see Ollie, I think he's a pretty boy. You haven't taken a bad picture of him.
ReplyDeleteYour hunting season is really late... ours ended over a month ago.
Lovely photos of a lovely young horse; looks like he did GREAT, under trying circumstances or not!
ReplyDeleteHe is just beautiful!! Really, I'm jealous. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your grooming with him as well. Do you blanket him, b/c I see no winter coat on him..I have heard grays throw a short coat anyway. Love his neck bends and a foaming mouth is a happy mouth, no? I would love to hear more about HOW Betsy and you, get him to relax at the walk on a long rein, when he's uppity, giraffe like, etc? Half halting? What's a good tip?
What a stunning boy! I can't stand hunting season:(
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