I deliberately rode Ace at 6 o'clock this evening because I was pretty sure that it's his least favourite time to work. He is expecting to go out about an hour later and he's had a lazy day schlepping around with his pal Radar in the barn.
I was right, and he didn't want to be caught - in fact I caught Radar instead and took him out of the barn. Ace followed so I put Radar straight back in and then Ace was on his own on the yard and easy to catch.
He did his usual 'fear of pain' thing when I got on and quickly realised that nothing hurt. He offered canter before I even asked for it. At one point he jumped about a bit in one canter transition. I decided it was time for a real test and gave him a good boot in the ribs. Two days ago he would have exploded. Today he just cantered on properly.
That gave me much more courage to ride him out of his lack of forwardness, so I sent him on in trot until he started to release and bounce a bit. Canter figures of eight through walk in the change of direction got him popping even better and then we tried some proper figures of eight in trot keeping his shape and impulsion right through the change of rein. We finished on some medium trot and I was very , very happy.
I have been able to push him to work better today than he has since several days before he blew up. That will be two weeks tomorrow, and what a two weeks it has been!
C
Another good test completed. And the boot in the ribs without a bad reaction is a good addition to the hated riding time. Sounds to me as if the meds are the right option.
ReplyDeletePain memory lasts a while. Hope that too is a thing of the past in short order. I am happy you have your good horse back.
We are all three of us happy about it Jean, you, me and Ace.
DeleteC
:-) :-)
ReplyDeleteThe relief!!!
DeleteC