Gosh - a trot

radaR actually got to progress to a trot today! The walk was not as difficult as it has been so far and so he got to be allowed to trot. A couple of the transitions were more like the start of a turbo charged drag race when the red light goes green, but we repeated them until he realised we were sk-ooo-llll-ing, not hunting.  Some of the trot was really smashing but I have to focus intensely on keeping the rythmn with my own seat. When he puts his body to work he has a trot to grace any big warmblood, he just can't hold it together mentally or physically in an arena environment. One day soon, though, I hope to get to canter and still be in control in a snaffle :-)

Ace is sound today. I could not see anything on the lunge this morning and I have just opened the gate to let them into the field this evening and he trotted down a very rutted and uneven slope with no trouble at all. The last time he did that he looked almost sound on the lunge but was very unsound on that bit of field. If the weather is really bright tomorrow then I plan to walk him down to the flatter piece of road at the bottom of the hill before I get on. Then ride for about half a mile, ten minutes, then dismount and walk him back up the hill again. If the weather is not spot on then I will delay until it is, I want no risk of any tantrums due to wind or rain.

His hock is still a bit swollen, but it was an nasty kick and I don't expect it ever to go back to the size it was. It won't be noticeable unless you look for it, and it doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother him.

C