Day 93

Harry was still limping today. The farrier had already left to go to the airport so he couldn't test Harry. I took him out and lunged him a little bit but he wasn't doing very well clockwise today. We decided to give him the day off. We put him in the small paddock and took out Brie and Nina to brush them outside next to Harry's paddock. Brie was happy as a clam eating away at all of the grass she wanted.

I finally got to ride her today!!! I rode for quite a long time too. We worked inside like normal and then I tried a little bit of a canter with her. Out of three times she picked it up right on cue once. I was happy. We ran a hit in the outdoor arena and then my brother, Nina, Brie and I went out to trail ride a bit. We were doing well until we decided to do some serpentines around some trees. Brie had a meltdown. We stayed standing there for a couple minutes and then hopped back over to the barn. I corto'd a bit inside and then largo'd back in the outside arena. She got a good workout today and even though she had a little meltdown I was so happy. I miss riding Brie all the time for a long time because now I have to train Harry. I really hope he gets better soon and this can work itself out.

Now I have to read up on training Pasos for dressage!

Day 92

The farrier came out today. We weren't there for when Nina got her hooves done, but Paco said that she was really good and that what we did with the bucket a while back really did help. The farrier got the other two horses done really quickly.

I wanted to go right out into the outdoor arena, so my mom and Nina and Harry and I went out. As usual so far, we still need to work on the lunging but he got through it. I got on as usual and wanted to walk around the arena first but he seemed a little excited so we did circles. That's when the worry started. He went well one way, clockwise, but after a few turns counterclockwise he started bucking really hard. I lost my stirrup and was seriously considering jumping off when I finally got his head to the side and at a standstill. This little spectacle really threw me off track because if he wanted to dump me, his preferred method has so far been by rearing. He never bucked before. So my mom said she'd walk Nina along side me and we would just walk the rail.

It went okay until we got to the end of the ring where he started getting excited again. I did clockwise circles in the corner and when I asked for counterclockwise I felt him getting ready to buck again. I got off and lunged him. Seemed to be no problem. My mom suggested letting him get it out of his system in the round pen, but on our way out of the arena he started limping really badly once we hit the rocks. Even Ray seemed concerned and said that we should ride inside because Harry might be sore from the farrier. So I walked along him until I noticed his limp went away and got on. With the intention of just going once each way and then letting him rest, he started bucking me again when I went to reverse counterclockwise and when I got him to stop I felt him getting serious in his intentions to dump me: he started dancing in the front so I hopped off and just lunged him a couple times then went in.

Now when I was brushing him I noticed a scratch on his back right leg, still kind of red, so I put some wound spray on it. When I went to touch it after I untacked, he held that leg up. But then again he did the same on the other side. Could that be part of his problem? Or is it just hoof tenderness? Then again, he did have a little limp at the state fair. Could it be just his hoof as a problem or something further up his leg, if not the scratch? When I talked to Jane about it, she said it may be an abscess. Taco had one and it lasted him for 6 weeks. It's a result of a stone bruise, which may be possible in this case because we did spend two hours of rearing while trying to get him in the trailer for the fair. Tomorrow we're going to have the farrier pressure check Harry. Maybe he'll even have the heat check instrument.

I hope Harry's okay and that it was just tenderness from bring trimmed. We never used to ride on trimming day until recently. I think we should start that again.

As a result of starting that precaution again, Brie lucked out. She got a total spa day, carrots included, and was perfectly fine with it. When I visited a stable yesterday, I got an idea as I heard them talk about their dressage school horses. What if I trained Brie for dressage? She wouldn't have the anxiety of seeing other horses in the ring since they test individually. She already does a sidestep pretty well as her preferred way to return to the barn from a trail ride. The only thing I'd have to really work on is the thing I'm most nervous about: teaching her to trot. I'm afraid that it might screw up her flawless gait that Andre worked hard to ensure. I could possibly ruin her both ways if she ends up not being any good at dressage. I have to find out for sure if teaching her to trot will affect her gait. If it won't, then I'll have dressage dreams on my mind!