Certainly summer

Whew it's still hot and dry and sunny here, day after day. We haven't had a summer like this for five years or more. I bless the fact that we live on a hillside and always have some breeze. I find the boys in the barn at nine every morning when I go out, sheltering from the sun and the flies. It makes me laugh that some people think it's unfair to keep them in to keep the sugary grass out of their systems. They certainly don't seem to be complaining about it themselves.

I did 25 minutes of long and low with Ace.  He continues to spook at the blue barrels, but with less conviction every day, as if it is just a habit which he feels he has to do, but can't quite remember why. I got on without lunging today and he was fine. Then he asked to trot, so I let him, and then he cantered and I let him, and then I got what I deserved for being so lax about the discipline - a wheeeeeeeee skippy hoppy canter. I should have sent him on but I didn't have the guts. So I pulled him up and took him back to trot and had no more issues for the entire session. We worked on transitions when he was well warmed up and he did them well.

Radar is settling to walk quicker and better lately, so again we got to trot today. He was trying to run away with the trot and throwing his back end all over the place to keep from being controlled, so I put him on a square, where every corner makes him sit, bend and then straighten up. He fought it like crazy for about four squares. Anyone videoing me would have got some footage of what looked like some very ugly riding. Then suddenly after four or so, he drops his head and does the exercise really nicely. Turn around to go the other way, and you get a repetition of exactly the same performance.

He was dripping in sweat when I finished and needed his shower, which he loves. Ace was standing at his door while I did Radar, so I sprayed him too. He could have moved to the back of the stable, but he didn't, so I guess he likes it too. He's the only horse I know who will deliberately position himself so the spray goes up his nostril, then switch to the other nostril - it's very funny to watch.

I need to go and let them out and soak tomorrow's haylage now.

C