Today I hacked Dino down the bridlepath bareback in just a headcollar 😮 He was very good :wub: :wub:
I hate not being able to really ride him as I can’t put a bit in or a proper cavesson on him. He’s clearly sore, keeps yawning and is a little bit quiet. Headcollar doesn’t seem to bother him though so I figured I’d be brave (although bareback so I could hop off easily if something went wrong!) I think he enjoyed the variety as we’ve been stuck in the indoor all week as it’s the only place you’re allowed to free school.
Well, he’s booked for surgery on 9 June. They will do a general and take all the tooth and maybe some of the tumorous bone out and hopefully this will fix it once and for all…! He was very happy in himself today although the jaw is bothering him (he keeps yawning, but he’s eating just fine). We did a bit of a free jumping and had a wander down the bridle path.
I’ve decided to only do one of the two exams I’m supposed to next week and concentrate on passing that one – I think if I tried to do both now I’ve lost a couple days more revision I’d probably fail both of them so I’m going to give myself a bit of a break and concentrate on just the one.
From today:
There’ll be jumping ones later when I’ve sorted out the devil’s eyes (had to use the flash…!).
Note for myself really: the first thing they do when you check in at RVC is pop them on the weigh bridge.
626 kg yesterday :-[
That’s too heavy…!!! Means he’s put at least 26 kg on since the fields changed but probably more as he had lost a bit since he was weighed in March. (I’d like him around 580 kg but definitely under 600 kg)
It’s all been going so well….and today his jaw is really really puffy around his lump. Terrified the benign tumour might be spreading although the bone doesn’t seem any bigger. Vet out tomorrow although not our usual one (who I texted and has put the fear of God into me about it). Hopefully he’s just got an infection some how and some Norodine will sort it.
So didn’t need this right now- have ACCA exams next week which I’m woefully ill prepared for. Tomorrow was my first day off work to start revising and I was due to have a hack with my friend Claire first thing.
Please don’t let it be anything more serious than an infection. 😥
So this week has bought the big switch from the winter fields to the summer fields…and with it a glut of new grass and one bloated pony..!
Here he is going out with some of his mates for the first time into the big field:
This means he’s been pretty lazy in the school! He even refused a treat on Wednesday as he’s so full… I hope they eat some of that grass down soon. I’d quite like my better Dino back!
We had our first visit from an actual barefoot trimmer yesterday and I’m really pleased with her work. His feet are pretty good, the only problem we have is a lot of flaring (feet definitely came from the Clydesdale side – they are like dinner plates and very flat) but she’s done a nice balanced trim and will be back to see him again in a few weeks.
I did get M to take some video of me riding yesterday. I’m not very happy with it. I was a bit frustrated with him being much more lazy than he has been and I don’t think my riding’s very good at all…!
Feel free to make constructive comments. The canter in particular is awful – in my defence I hardly cantered Pico at the best of times and not at all over the last 2 years of his life so I’m very out of practice. Also, my back has got too arched again and my legs are not very still. *sigh* I think he’s improve a bit though. [I left this video processing so if you can’t see it right now come back a bit later…]
For reference:
Me riding Pico in 2011 – think this was the video we did before the sim course:
Not proper video but we had a little canter up the bridlepath the other day (excuse the random noises – he was having a lazy day and needed some encouragement!!)
I’ll try and get some actual video of us very soon!
Another small confidence boost yesterday. After some nice work in the school – we’re getting a couple more strides of canter on each rein every day I think – we popped out along the bridlepath with Claire again…and we went in front. Not only on the road in trot, past the scary dog (he was fine!) but also in front having a little canter back along the bridlepath. I’ve cantered him plenty on his own up there but never with another horse (quite a cross horse who’s used to being in front and didn’t think we were going fast enough!!!) behind. Dino was perfect – more forward with someone running up him bum but came back when I asked and trotted as soon as I wanted. So a small victory but I’m adding it to the collection here so I can find it again in the future if I should need reminding….! :db:
