Just off

Woody was just the tiniest bit off this morning on the lunge. It was barely visible, more in the flicker of his ears than in any obvious head nod, and not noticeable at all when looking at his legs. I think many horses would be exactly the same if lunged straight from the stable after a night in, and it wore of very quickly and was only on one rein, so I am not going to change anything about his training because of it. He is due a hack tomorrow, and judging by the weather forecast it's going to be a very wet one :-(  

Unfortunately for me, Radar must also work, but if it's really terrible then Ace will either not get ridden at all or we will be back in the barn again.

Ace's nose is really out of joint now, because Radar likes Woody so much. I turned them out this morning and watched as Ace turned on Woody and drove him away. Radar immediately came over and put himself between Woody and Ace. He then drove Ace away  from Woody and clearly took Woody under his wing and said, "come over here with me lad" and shepherded him away down the field. I feel sorry for Ace but if he would stop trying to tell other people what to do they would accept him, but he's a troublemaker, always nibbling and interfering, and it makes them cross.

I am kicking myself for not getting video of how Woody was walking with his hind legs when he arrived and after a couple of weeks. It's impossible to believe now that he went through a spell of screwing his feet around as he walked, and then a week of twisting his fetlocks out sideways. He now looks straight. He isn't, of course, it's just that he has built himself feet that reflect his lack of straightness so now he does not need to twist his feet or his joints to walk well.  He looks a little bit freer in his action every day.

C.