Dino is now living out over-night and in for a few hours during the day. I think he’s happier in himself, but the sudden change to *lots* of grass from nothing really has left him a bit bloated and gassy. They are only allowed out over-night when the summer fields are open so they’ve been in a new field that’s been resting all winter for the past two weeks. I hope the bloated will sort itself out soon – he’s much happier out but it was a bit of a shock to his system I’m sure! Unfortunately the summer fields brings with it the midges and he had sweet itch last summer so we’ve been sending him out rugged up to the eyeballs. Here he is doing his best ninja impression:
Meg took a pictures of our first ride in the FlexEE – it was a bit of a mixed bag I have to say. I remain unhappy about my own riding but he’s coming along ok. He’s beginning to step under a bit better and use himself properly, although we’re still having issues with contact.
This was quite a nice looking moment:
This was ok, although a bit on the forehand:
This however not so good! It’s almost like I have no idea how to trot! :cc_confused:
And, here’s Dino at the end of the rainbow 😀
We had a lovely hack down the bit of bridle path next to the yard on Wednesday. He can be quite nervous outside the yard, even though we know this stretch of path very well but he was super chilled on Wednesday and it was perfect weather. Gave out later of course, but the morning was nice!
Things not so good with Pico at the moment. He’s back on strict box rest and a higher bute dosage. As fast as it looks like his leg is getting better he somehow tweaks it again, or pulls something else compensating for it. 🙁
So, it’s been a while since I’ve updated and honestly that’s because I’ve been pretty fed up about Things. Work has been really hard, I injured my elbow somehow and then the other week injured my ankle, I’m exhausted and I felt like we weren’t really getting anywhere with the horses. Dino, being still very green, is a bit one step forward two steps back and Pico is in a bit of a state right now with some traumatic ligament damage from when he broke his splint that’s taking a long time to heal. Add the weather to that and frankly, the last few months have been pretty trying. 😥
Shortly after I posted the last update M took some video of me riding and I that sent me further downhill and sad about things. My legs are all over the place! 🙁 I’m going to put it here, not for comment, but so I know where it is when I’m looking back at things. My aim for this year is definitely to make some serious improvements to my riding.
Recently things have improved though! In a further minor set-back we had Lou out to fit Dino for a FlexEE and discovered that he’s much more uneven that we’d realised which was causing us to sit to the right – something the FlexEE can’t cope with too much. It was just about tolerable for me but it didn’t suit M at all which was disappointing as I really wanted a dressage saddle to ride in and thought it helped my position and my legs a lot – but it didn’t seem worth spending £400 on a saddle for one of us to use (currently we’re using Pico’s vogue on him which is fine – although now heavily shimmed) so I was going to leave it for a few months and see if we can even him out. However it turns out Heather has a prototype that should fit him! I don’t mind spending £150 on a saddle for one of us so I’m pretty excited to get one!! :yahoo: Just waiting for a call from Debbie to arrange payment and delivery…
Dino is coming on well under saddle. He’s much more balanced in trot (which you can see in the vid above even with me hampering him with my riding!) and he’s had a couple of under saddle canters. Not with me, sadly for me, but he’s coming on. He’s beginning to accept the bit again a little which is good. This week I long-lined him for the first time since the Unfortunate Event and, after an initial moment of panic, he was brilliant! 😀 Yesterday we rounded out the week having some fun free-jumping. He’s a bit of a Dino jumping montage! NB: I usually take the sound out of these videos to save you all from the ridiculous range of sounds I make at my horse. I didn’t this time, please don’t laugh at me too hard 😉
I particularly love the bit at the end where he tries to step on the fence! :doh: He’s so lovely though – and he makes such a lovely shape over a fence :wub:
Last weekend we had a pony birthday party for him and Pico (6 and 22 respectively). My brother-in-law, who is a semi-pro photographer but has never done horses before came along and took some lovely shots. My favourites are below.
Awwww Muuuuum! Stop kissing me in front of strangers!!
Such a handsome chap!
(http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v94/p1580034290-3.jpg) (http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/p68833962/e5e2d68f2)
I can totally do this standing still to be mounted thing:
(http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v82/p1580034578-3.jpg) (http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/p68833962/e5e2d6a12)
I was just looking at some of the really early vids from October last year and you can clearly see how much weight he’s lost and where he’s beginning to get some muscle in this one:
(http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v92/p1580034382-3.jpg) (http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/p68833962/e5e2d694e)
Very much a work in progress of course but it’s coming! He made me very happy yesterday by cantering across the field to him when I called. :wub: So I think we’ve turned the corner. I’ll be happier when I get a canter (although I’ll probably make him fall over the state of my riding at present – I’ve not cantered in over a year) but it’s all going the right way. Soon he’ll be out more (we’re hoping to have him out 24 hours a day through the summer) which will do Good Things for his head I think – now he’s been consistently out again every day he seems to have remembered that being in the field is fun and stopped hanging out by the gate the whole time. I think he’s beginning to enjoy his work under saddle a bit – he’s definitely gone through a phase of not enjoying it but I think we’re just about round that corner too. Here’s hoping for a dry summer! :rofl:
Can’t leave Pico out though! Here’s my favourite Pico shot from last weekend:
(http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v87/p1580034346-3.jpg) (http://bcphotography02.zenfolio.com/p68833962/e5e2d692a)
