The Good, the bad, and the rainy!

So a few highs a lows over the last week or so with Mr C.

He is as jolly and bright as ever... in fact even more so! He has recently be entertaining us with his acrobatic moves in the little chip paddock. Its amazing how high he can rear and I am still giggling about the fact that every time he feels fresh and has a little buck he farts at the same time!

The low at the moment is he is back to restricted turnout. With the recent rain we have had it has changed everything back again. The small chip paddock is saturated and too wet for him to go on for long as it will wreck the chip and the fields are too slippery for him so he can't use those as either turnout or to for us to hack on. It means he is now back to an hour or so in the chip and hacking up the track and back. I am so frustrated by it as movement is key to his healing and strength and even through his stable gives him extra freedom it simple isn't equal to being able to potter for five or six hours a day.

I have upped his in hand work with more long reining which he is becoming a total pro at and ridden work. I have started to introduce a little leg yield in walk plus transitions and.... a little bit of trot! He is still being lovely and forward in his ridden work although as always (its just how he is) he still has the tendency to drop off my leg and forget what he is doing. Interestingly I haven't once carried a stick with him since he has been back at work and can honestly say not once have I missed it. I wouldn't get on him without one before whether it was a jumping lesson or a short hack up the road now leg just has to do!

Carats and the fabulous Equilibrium Pad

The three of us at our little yard (Myself, Jo and Pip) have invested in an equilibrium back pad for the horses. Its a fabulous piece of kit and Carats is having is regularly on his back. I know with PSD horses as they have had pain in hinds they have nearly always got sore backs so I am hoping with this along with the fact he has now been saddle free for six months his back is having a good chance to rest and rebuild muscle without the restrictions of saddles and boosted by a good back thumping a few times a week.

Oh I have also just realised I have not properly introduced you to my lovely yard friends Jo and Pip! With their permission I think my next post will be a little intro to them and their ponies.