....On hold....

Charlie and I have been kind of on hold the past few weeks. I've been alternating between riding him bareback and in the western saddle, but I'm really missing having an english jumping saddle. The hunt is on for one in my price range, and I have a few leads, but I also have to figure out what to do with the Toulouse....

What's going on up there?

In the meantime, bareback or western it is! I like bareback because I can really feel what Charlie is doing underneath of me and it offers a good workout on my end, but what Charlie really needs right now is lots of work on long and low and trotting with impulsion. Bareback + big trot = not comfortable or sustainable for either of us! I can push Charlie into more of a workout in the western saddle, but it continues to stay hard and stiff, even though I keep oiling it. Neither myself nor Charlie like that so much for long periods of time.

Added the draw reins again yesterday, with moderate success

We have done a lot of little trail rides, even venturing a little bit down the road. There are lots of deer out right now. Good continued desensitizing for Charlie. We saw two bucks on Monday and a doe with her little fawn this morning.

In other news, Charlie the Cat had to have a cystotomy just about two weeks ago. Poor guy had a huge bladder stone :( Luckily we have pet insurance through PetPlan (best decision ever!), so financially it was not an issue. Now he's essentially back to normal, and I've already gotten reimbursed for the bulk of the payment, which is nice.

Ouch!

A "Get Well Soon" card from Gran

Also, my sister got a job in Indiana. Since the start date was less than three weeks from when she accepted, I took a few days off last week and drove out with her to look for apartments. It ended up being quite the whirlwind tour, but all in all we had a great little trip and found a place that I think will be perfect for her.

This weekend I'm heading down to Maryland to cheer on my best friend in an Alumni IHSA competition. I almost signed up for it myself, but ultimately decided I'd rather save the entry fees for something else since I haven't jumped a course in...well...a couple of years (!). I just wasn't sure it would be worth the gamble to see whether I've still got it in me to jump an entire course on a horse I've never ridden, after having so little recent jumping practice. Emily has stayed competitive, though, so I'm anxious to root her on!

Summary of the last two weeks

Last week went pretty well riding-wise. We did some basic flatwork western-style on Monday, including a little cantering and a trot pole, lunge work on Tuesday, English walk-trot flatwork Wednesday.

Why do I have to work in the mud?

Charlie seems less stiff overall each day, which is good, but his feet have been bothering him with this soft wet ground. I've been treating them with Farrier's Fix and thrush medication on his front right (it's a pretty minor case, and my farrier cut away most of it when he was here, but Charlie is still tender on that foot). I plan on getting some Farrier Barrier, as recommended by my farrier, soon to hopefully help with the moisture issue.

My jury rigged bareback pad with a butt strap to encourage tucking worked surprisingly well

I've also been able to isolate a small problem spot along Charlie's ribs on the right, right around the girth area, that is definitely sore. His right side has always been touchy, but previous physicals didn't show anything. I'm thinking he may have gotten himself kicked at some point in the past month or so and is still healing. I wouldn't put it past him. Or maybe he sleeps on that side more than the left and gets achey. The vet is coming next week for spring shots and I'll make sure to mention it to him.

April 2014 conformation. Not horrible for having the whole winter off.

The highlight of last week, though, was definitely trail riding next to a couple of deer. We came across them after exploring the back field, and though the two deer shot out from behind a brush pile not ten feet from us, startling both myself and Charlie, no one took off for the hills.

The initial staredown

Actually, we calmly watched each other for maybe a minute before Charlie and I decided to continue down the trail. We had to walk directly toward the deer to go home, and they sidestepped a few paces but weren't really spooked, opting to parallel our path and study us instead, ears flicking and nostrils going crazy. At one point they let us get within ten feet or so. I'm sure they were trying to figure out what that weird growth was on Charlie's back. It was kind of surreal to get that close without them running away, and I'm not used to a horse that is this ok with deer!

Unlike last week, this week was kind of a loss. Upon returning from vacation it has been nothing but rainy and miserable outside. I managed to squeeze in one ride yesterday in the middle of a light drizzle, but that was it.

Misty, rainy mess

Charlie has become extremely good at standing while I work around him