We're Riding Again

Whisper and I had an excellent session yesterday. I started him on light round pen work last week and put a saddle back on him on Thursday. He also finally got to try out his new bit – that was kind of a nonevent but made me feel better to have him in a bit that fits. I had big plans to ride him on Friday. Hah, no one told Whisper the plan. Seems he’d been practicing his avoid the mounting block routine while he was off. Every time I picked up the reins he’d move his butt away. Took a bit of fumbling on my part but Clinton Anderson saved me again. One of his favorite techniques is to work the horse then let them rest beside a scary object. I initially moved him in small circles back and forth around the mounting block. This didn’t seem to work so well – at least it wasn’t accomplishing much. So I said the hell with it and sent him around the round pen at a canter – about 5 circuits in each direction then stopped him and led him to the mounting block. If he stood still he got rubbed and told he was a good boy. As soon as he moved I sent him off at a canter again. Pretty soon I was able to climb up on the block, pick up the reins, step in the stirrup, and lay across the saddle. We did this for maybe 45 minutes. I never did get on him, just went thru the motions. When we were done I tied him in the round pen to think about the lesson. Saturday was a day off. Yesterday we started the same way -circuits then he stood by the mounting block. Only this time he never moved. I sent him off at a walk a couple of times then seriously worked on standing in the stirrup, sitting on him and dismounting without having him move. On and off, on and off. Finally we set out and worked on walk/trot and whoa. Afterwards I tied him in the round pen to think again although what he actually thought about was how to untie himself. He was wandering around when I brought Spice up. I’m just glad he didn’t roll with the saddle on. As of right now I’m confident that he is at the same place he was when he was injured. Later this week (work does interfere) we'll move on to the arena. The really good news is that the endurance and show seasons are over and I should be able to get some professional training help.

On the adoption front I still don’t have his papers but those are apparently in the works. Once that is finalized I’ll have to give some thought as to whether to continue his blog. EOI has declared the venture a success – their definition of success being adoption. Although training is ongoing the initial goal for him has been achieved - he has certainly joined the ranks of working equines.

He's Back - and the Decision is ...

...It’s time. I knew when I started this project that this could happen – and probably would. When my husband said (more than once) that he thought Whisper was the best horse of my three (he’s knows little about horses but in general I respect his opinion – especially when it coincides with mine); when he said wistfully ‘Whisper is my favorite but Doc is my charge,’ I knew that Whisper would be staying with us. The logistics are difficult. Board for three horses isn’t cheap. Training for Whisper isn’t either but I don’t have the expertise to teach him the fine points he needs to know even to be a competent trail horse and I still hope that he will be more than that. Keeping three horses ridden and in decent physical shape is definitely a challenge although Spice would be perfectly happy to be fat and out of shape. Her goal in life is to be a pasture ornament. So, I’ve decided. We will go from two horses to a small herd of three and have relayed this intention to the appropriate individuals. I'm assuming a pro forma response but haven't heard back yet - ok, it's only been an hour or so.

ETA I emailed the request at 9:54 am; at 9:57 am I received a message indicating the official paperwork is being drawn up. Guess I should go buy celebratory apples all around.

On the injury front – Whisper is back in his pasture with his buddies. It took him about 90 seconds to re-establish his “I’m in charge and that’s my hay pile’ credentials. I watched with some amusement as I haven’t seen Doc & Spice move with such alacrity since Whisper first joined them. Spice is such a suck-up. She was soon munching hay right beside him. Doc decided to pout for a time at the top of the pasture but was soon moving Spice to another pile so he could claim hers. Maybe this will help my slightly chubby charges become a little more svelte.

The plan now (I know. I have a new plan every time something changes) – is to work Whisper for 20 minutes every day for a week to get him back into shape mentally as well as physically. He’s gotten used to being a fawned over pet in the past six weeks. The injury to his leg caused only minimal lameness and he is showing no sign of lameness now but I think easing him back to work is best.