In the clear and plucking along!

Poncho seems to be officially over his virus HOO-RAY! He's been off his medicine since Monday and no fever, only minimal cough (only when we first starting "working" in the ring and kick up dust).

On Monday I hacked him around the ring in his hackamore just to get him out and about. He was a super star of course. He was quite pleased to be finally going back to work. Tuesday I gave him off because it would be his only day off for the week. Go me for working this week!

Wednesday he was freaking super duper star in the ring. He was so forward and soft! He got his canter perfectly on the left lead - I was beyond ecstatic!!!!!!! His trot was to die for and he would stretch all the way to the ground and lift his back. SWOON!

Thursday my knee was k-i-l-l-i-n-g me so I just hacked Poncho up and down the driveway for about 20 minutes. Nothing spectacular by any means.

Yesterday it was so rainy and yucky. I got to the barn and Poncho had rolled in a puddle with his sheet on and gotten thoroughly soaked through. So I spent forever trying to dry him off enough to turn him back out. That lasted about an hour. I wasn't planning on riding but I came out of the tack room after getting my drink and guess what...Poncho was standing in the crossties like "hellooooo let's get to work now!". So of course I couldn't say no to that face! Off we went. Just walk and trot since it was so wet and goopy. He was also quite spooky but that wasn't a huge deal. He was however so nice and forward!

Today I failed epically! I pushed him too much. I knew once I got on I should have just hacked him out today. But I prevailed. He was good for his trot work and canter work on his right lead. However when I tried for the left lead we completely fell to pieces! It was horrible I could not get it today to save my life. We tried and tried and finally got a glimmer so I called it quits immediately. I have several theories that led to our demise (it could just be wishful thinking though). 1. his feet. He's currently barefoot and wearing his feet unevenly all of the sudden so maybe it's making it difficult to canter on the left lead. 2. I mentally made him do to much in the ring so he fell back to this bad habit. 3. my thinline pad. I haven't been riding with it lately and just started again, possibly it's too much padding? Who knows. We'll see.

We're going to hack for the next two days and then re-evaluate where we are. Fingers crossed!!

An interesting turn of events!`

On the day I clipped Poncho was his first day back from "vacation"! I was pumped! And to top it off we had a fantastic ride. He was like a freaking dream. On the bit. Forward. Supple. Everything I could have ever wanted in a ride.

Then on Thursday the wind picked up. Poncho lost his mind! We were just hacking around the field on a nice long loose rein, when out of no where...he throws a huge buck. Spins and bolts (and man can this horse bolt) across the field. While he's bolting we're bucking and hopping about. I somehow managed to stay on and got him back under control and listening. But clearly this was not our most productive ride.

Friday was even windier. I was delusional enough to think I could a productive ride in TODAY. However I had several clues on the way to the ring that should have told me to turn back. I did not though. So once we finally got to the ring I got on and didn't even last 5 minutes in the saddle. Not because I was thrown but because he lost his marbles completely and there was no way to turn it around. Even in hand he was bucking and rearing, just generally freaking out. So yet another failed attempt.

Saturday I couldn't get out to the barn and Sunday I managed. We headed down to the ring again to attempt to rectify our last ride. I only rode for 10 minutes and kept it at a walk. Mainly because he was still on edge but listening. So I wanted to make sure I got off before it all went south!

Today it's raining ALL day long. Boo. I did go out to the earlier today and change the ponies into their Medium blankies since it didn't warm up like it was supposed to. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Poncho vs. Bogart and a hack in the field.

Yesterday Poncho and Bogart got to officially meet. They've seen each other from a distance. But I let them get up close and semi-personal yesterday.

 

 

As you know this is Poncho!

And then there's Bogart...

with his evil little grin!

It started off I was stopping by the barn to put on Poncho's medium blanket after work and had Bugman with me. He was barking non-stop (he didn't like being left for the big creatures) while I was attempting to blanket Poncho. So once I finally managed to get Poncho to realize I could blanket him whilst there was that god awful noise I took him out to meet "The Noise". Bogart was a bit concerned with Poncho closing in on the car. But he didn't freak out. He sniffed at Poncho through the crack in the window and didn't seem repulsed. So I rolled the window down a bit more so Poncho could get a good look at him. Naturally Poncho stuck his head in the window with out a second though. Bug was shell shocked and just sat there in awe. Of course once we walked away Bogart barked and Poncho tried to bolt off. Oh well it could have gone worse.

Today was Poncho's hack day! We've gotten up to 30 minutes of work in the hilly field. We even had a nice little canter. Not to shabby for my man. Once we were done he decided he was going to help me clean my tall boots off and proceeded to trot back and forth with me as I got my supplies. Then once he realized there was no yummies involved he promptly left for some grass. Silly man. 

A little of this. A little of that.

So due to my work schedule and dumb hurricane Sandy Poncho got a week off. BOO. Oh well not much I could do about that. He weathered the storm well so we'll consider it a win.

Thursday I scooted out for a quick ride. Just a little hack around the field. I wanted it to stay positive after last Friday's. Success.

Friday was a repeat of Thursday.

Saturday PonyMan got clipped for the first time EVER. Not a major clip by any means. He was a tad reluctant about it since I was using different clippers than he's used to. It didn't take long at all and we was back out in his field running amuk.

Today we got down to business. We headed to the ring whip in hand - just in case it was needed. The wind finally laid down so I would have assumed we'd have a calm pony-o. However it seemed all the deer in the area we running around the perimeter of the arena/paddock area. Go figure. However he was still able to focus. Our canter was 10x better than the last time we were in there. I actually only need to whip to persuade him once! He however couldn't focus quite enough to be forward and soften to the bit. It was one or the other. By the end we had some progress. He was also a bit crooked. But with the deer popping out left and right I can't say he didn't have a valid reason to be determined to be a look out. Overall I was super happy with how he was given the fact our last "work" ride he was a bit pig headed.

I don't even know where to start at this point.

Wow! Have I missed a lot or what?!

In summary Pony Man has been fairly fantastical lately. We haven't been doing to much because of some unforeseen circumstances, enter lost shoe and abscess. Booo hoo. However with the lost shoe we were still able to do some work.

We stuck to mainly walking and trotting we have cantered a handful of times. He had some mini bronc sessions very mini. But overall he put his game face on. He's been going on the bit fairly consistently - more than ever before. HECK YESS! I've been pretty much staying out of the ring. So it's all mainly been in the field and the trails. Which leads me to PONCHO has decided he likes trails. The other day he WANTED to go out on them.

As far as the abscess goes it popped out his heel. Poor dude he had been on and off lame a couple of times. But when I say on and off I mean like for 10-15 mintues on two different occasions. So I had no clue. He's not to pleased with wearing his little wrap and makes it known when I'm putting it on.

ALSO dude got a new rain sheet. Since he's outgrown all of his and they have been given to Midnite. He's getting a new wardrobe. So far we have his new Rhino Wug.