Last week on Wednesday Amy and her ducklings came over to my barn to take advantage of the jumps in the indoor. Perfect timing too since it was POURING outside.
It actually hasn't stopped raining since, and I have a feeling it won't for some time either. Poor ponies have been stuck in, but at least they're nakey! Almost overbite I've come to the barn, B has been asleep, and I feel bad about waking him, but sometimes ya gotta horse.
B kept up his streak of impressing me with his horsey adulting during the ride Wednesday. He stood still while the crew jumped all around him and he jumped everything I pointed him at, quite willingly.
Not from Wednesday, but still cute |
Amy's lovely children were my jump and video crew for the night, (so spoiled by them) and we focused on working through the grid that was set a few times, raising it a few holes each successful attempt. He knocked a rail once on the last oxer, but I am pretty sure that was my riding and not his error. Regardless, he was an angel and didn't fly through or knock down the entire exercise like he used to! Progress. So much progress.
Considering that he used to refuse everything repeatedly, or jump like a deer, I think its safe to say he's really starting to enjoy and understand his job.
Inbetween Wednesday and now, I rode every day, just continuing to work on basics on the flat, or hacking out. Combined with gym time, work and school, sometimes *I* have zero energy or too sore from CF to make a real ride of things and just focus on transitions or adjustability in gaits. Also important, but usually short sessions and rather boring. So, not much to report there but continued calm and willingness from the baby.
Saturday he was a bit sassy for our flat session and kept hauling on my left arm. Granted, going on 2 weeks of being stalled, it was sideways raining and there were FIVE horses in the ring...I didn't really blame him or get too mad.
However, one silly head toss too many, I did lose my patience with weaving inbetween horses jumping and being lunged that I said fuck it and chalked the day up for a loss. I also had just come from an absolutely BRUTAL and savage gym sesh that included a 3 mile run, broke up into sprints with burpees and lunges and I just didn't have it in me to focus my remaining energy on great transitions and wrangling a semi-hot OTTB.
Still not a terrible ride, just really didn't get past warm-up.
Sunday Funday did not happen, I was so sore and when I arrived, B was sleeping and I felt bad making him get up.
Eventually he did, but I just spent the time grooming him and primping. His mane and tail now look less "wintery" and he seemed to enjoy it!
I always treasure any barn time I have, and I wasn't mad about either visit this weekend.
Here's to a new week though!
Dat tail
ReplyDeleteYour progress with him is amazing. :-) You almost make me want to jump C again. You know. When it's like a million degrees out.
ReplyDeletei'd definitely say he looks like he understands (and enjoys!) his job now! so super exciting :)
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of his luscious tail.
ReplyDeleteI love that video. B looks awesome!! Those look like some fun grids you guys had set up. :D
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