Not Always Perfect

TC's hives were much better by Friday morning, but I decided to give him another dose of the meds and then wait until the evening to ride. He was NOT pleased with that. I mean he likes food, but by the time I got there on Friday night he was a bit beside himself. He was trotting back and forth in his paddock screaming at me. 

Lucky for him, his hives were all the way down and all that remained was crusty skin where they all had been. I felt terrible, thinking that it might be that he's allergic to the new fly spray I got. But there's nothing I could do in that moment, except let him get his energy out with some work. 

Wandering

TC has been so good lately, I almost forget what it was like when he was not good. I mean sure we get the occasional bolt, but that's usually caused by my riding (if I get too tight in my hips or put too much pressure on him) or his energy + "scary" thing nearby. I was definitely prepared for the ride to not go well. He was in a mood because of his skin being sensitive, but still very energetic.

We walked around the ranch a little and everything seemed fine, but then he saw his neighbor who was riding in the clinic. He normally doesn't care what his neighbor is doing, but he was really distracted by the neighbor and then was a little upset when I told him that he had to walk past the arena and go into the covered. It was getting dark. 

I had to get off and turn on the lights when we got there, then hopped back on at the mounting block. He wanted to trot off right away and I stopped him and told him that he had to wait. I put on some music, then put my leg on. Apparently stopping him was THE LAST STRAW. I had no idea we had so few straws that day (he wasn't in pain, probably just uncomfortable, keep reading). He flipped his head up and started shaking it, backing up and turning on his hind end. 

His mane needs to be trimmed... ugh

I put my leg on again with some spur but then got a rear threat from him with more balking. So I turned him in a circle and tap tap tap-ed with the whip until he was walking more forward, then kicked him up. He picked up the canter and we cantered until he had less feelings. 

After that he was great. He settled right into work. His canter felt so soft and connected. It's finally getting to the point where I feel like I don't have to support him so much and can just ride him in it. The trot (when we finally got to it) was really springy and well connected. It was one of the first days I rode with the mirrors in a while (been in the court a lot) and he looks so much less like a derpy young horse and more like a real dressage horse. Go pony!

I of course didn't push anything. We kept it fun with a lot of praise and breaks. After the initial meltdown, we had no more. I think he was just feeling uncomfortable and sensitive mentally. Those moments are becoming fewer and further between as he matures, and our ride on Saturday was a hundred percent back to normal (except I got him back boots and he really struggled with them lol). 

This is what happens when you are
a boob, you get to do 9 minutes of canter
before you start trotting (this is half way
through the ride)

So a good reminder that the horse isn't immune to idiocy. But I'm not upset for a couple of reasons- a) he was so justified in his feelings being probably itchy and frustrated by lack of work and b) it didn't scare me. I could see how in the past it was scary to me, but at this point I just know this horse and I do trust him, especially at home. 

Plus he was back to normal and gave me some great work by the weekend. Good pony!