Drove, then rode...

I went out to the barn determined to ride tonight! I did everything I could to make it a good experience (for me!). Lucas had his free time in the arena with me 'playing' with him (even though hes back on 3/4 day turnout the footing is still better inside for him to run) I then got my boots and helmet on, and Lucas got his saddle and driving bridle on and we went out and drove for 20 minutes. Lots of changes in direction at different gaits, varying the speed of his walk and trot, basically keeping it interesting but challenging enough that he got a bit of a work out.

I got on him (On the FIRST try!!!) Normally hes a bit of a dink, and backs up a step or two once I get up on my mounting block. Its not outright disobedience but its become a pain in the butt when he does it. I backed him up to the gate today (about a foot away, but close enough he couldn't go back words) got my block into position and climbed on. I have one of the big 3 step plastic ones which I love, its very stable, but light weight enough that I can move it around.

Our warm up of walking circles and figure 8's went good until it was time to trot (like usual) he's just a jerk about it. Hes not dangerous, he just stops and stamps his feet. Some days a good hard squeeze will get him out of it (like last week), some days pulling him with an open rein will get his feet moving and get him out of it. Today I had to feather or bounce my legs off of him (calf only, no spur) till all he wanted to do was for me to stop, so he went forward. He did this 2x tonight, once he's out of it and I get 5-10 strides of a trot, hes done, and he wont attempt it again. He really needs a swat in the hind end to get him out of it, Im just worried I would get more than I bargained for if I did that!

We really worked on some figure 8's and me keeping him round though the body with my body and trying not to over influence his position with his face. We did some transitions as well to mix it up. My legs are dieing from all the rising trot and I didn't even do much! I guess we both have a long way to go to getting fit for the next show season.

I will say that the driving has really helped me with him having a softer mouth. I drive him in a sweet iron D snaffle, and when I started riding him again I put him in a mild twisted wire. Hes going almost too well in it, and I may put my french link into him next time. Again, if he went like I know he could go, I would have put it in him long ago, but every once and a while I need something that will give me the upper hand. Thanks to my fused wrists I have no strength in my arms, so he needs to know he cannot be heavy. Tonight he was excellent (once he started trotting!) And he was really lifting his shoulders when I sat up and lifted with my legs, which is such a nice feeling when you don't need to help it with your hands!

I think my biggest challenge for the next couple of months will be building up my fitness (the driving is helping me too!) and to keep Lucas from becoming board riding in the indoor.

Pony rides

Well Lucas is feeling much better today. He got his back fixed last night and now all the heat is out of his front right as well. I took him for a couple of walks today in the indoor and his was much sounder today. We'll give him another day before starting some low level work done again on Tuesday. He was much happer today and walked around the indoor on his own (and had a good roll).

We had a young family in today at the barn. They were purchasing one of the weanlings and the little girl was 'in love' with Lucas. Since he was feeling so much better, we thought that he could handle her. So she got lifted on and the BO held onto her while I lead Lucas around. Once he got over his "OMG you are putting someone on me without a saddle??", and "A little person, on ME??" he was great. Then she and her mother fed him some apple, which he really liked! Next weekend is the barn christmas party so we did some decorating to get ready for it as well.