Unseasonably Warm

Spots got worked yesterday, Annie said he was a bouncy helium balloon, but after long lunge session on side-reins he found his brain and they ended on a good note. She got on and rode him in the round-pen and he was fine at the end. Hopefully her "real-job" hours will allow her to get over to work him more often. It will help as the days get longer also. I can't wait to get him back to "ridable" status!

Back In The Saddle

Annie had a good session with Spots and rode him a little at the end. She reported he was bouncy on the ground, but happy to have her attention and was eager to have her aboard again. She said he clearly wanted to go explore the fields and get back to work doing interesting things again.

In addition to work Spots, Annie is going to continue the training on Britches, a small Appy gelding staying at my house and owned by a family member. He had 30 days with a pro trainer so he very green. Both are planned to attend the Chief Joe next summer so they need to be very trail-savvy. Annie will have plenty of training to do!

I'm looking forward to seeing Spots in the show ring this spring/summer and then wow them on the Ride!

Back to work!

Spots had 4 ribs out, his hip out, and his poll out so he had a bad headache. He is all fixed up now and Annie will ride him today for the first time since he put himself out of whack, which was about 6 weeks ago. He has NOT enjoyed his "break", he much prefers being fussed over every day.

Yey For The Accupressurist!

Spots got his back worked on today. He was biting Annie's foot when she tried to put any right leg on him which is definitely not normal. So he's been waiting about 2 months to have his people-mommy find money to get him seen. Today was the day! Stephanie said he had FOUR ribs out, his hip out, and a headache. So he's all fixed up now and Annie will return him to work tomorrow! We will be back in the show-ring and attending trail rides as soon as things start in the Spring, so they have some work to do! I'm very excited to see how it goes!

Where Did We Go?

We will soon return to regular posting. Spots has been on rest with a rib out and the accupressurist is scheduled to come fix that Monday. Other than that, we are behind on posts because my mother-in-law died in a crazy horse-related accident which really threw the whole family for a loop. She was leading her little gelding and he apparently spooked at a dog and pulled back, the reins she was leading him from broke and she fell backwards and hit her head on a rock and was gone, just like that.

Spots will return under-saddle next month and will be on trail-rides and in the show-ring in the spring and summer, ending the summer with his debut on the Chief Joe with his rider, Annie, aboard. Should be lots of fun and tons of great pictures.

I am now working full-time, so I won't be able to photograph every session, but I will try to get picture updates as much as I can. Stick with us, we'll have a great Appy journey in 2012.

Weather Change and Upcoming Clinic

Spots has had two injuries in the last few weeks, neither serious and both unrelated, but he hasn't gotten to be ridden much. He did great on his last ride Monday. Sunday he will be in a lesson with Annie aboard at a clinic with Jim Briggs. Should be exciting. I won't get to take him to see the arena ahead of time, so I plan to haul in early and let him see everything before the lesson. Hopefully that will be enough to have him focused and calm. I will take pictures and video, so that will be online next week! I'm very excited to see him debut in the Dressage community here.

My First Ride!

I rode Spots all by myself today! I tacked him up and got on, no warming up by Annie or pony-rides. He was good! We walked, trotted, walked over some poles, and CANTERED! He is FAST. But he has a great stop and it wasn't unsettling at all. He is learning to stretch down and go on the bit on cue. I worked on leg-aids and he seemed to improve even in just the one session.

We rode out in the field with Michelle on Dan, an Arab gelding a friend owns. Dan was screaming for Michelle's mare, but Spots was not bothered at all and we just walked around nicely in the field. I was very proud of him.

He thinks he is SO grown up. It is really amazing to be riding my "baby" horse! He is such a good boy.