DAY 33, 34 & 35 - More Goodness

Friday, the day after our excellent lesson with Ryan, we started the day by meeting up with Donna and Big Mack at 10 for our weekly walk. The boys were a little hesitant to start the walk, but with some gently persuading, we got them going and they were both very good. After our walk, I led Possum out to our back yard and let him graze for awhile, then I let him back out in the paddock and went in to rest up, shower and call Marianne to let her know I was coming by for another truckload of hay.

I got over to Ring Farm around 1:30, and knocked the 23 bales down from the giant stack in the shed at the farm and loaded them all by myself. I tied them down, left my check in the drawer, and met the riding teacher at the farm, Jane, who was tacking up a nice chestnut named Major for a lesson with a young teen boy. I got back to my place around 2:30, and Don came out to help me stack the bales in the barn. It's about as full of hay as it will ever get, and if my calculations are correct, I think I only need about 8 more bales.. but, just to be safe, I'll probably go back over to Ring Farm next week and pick up one more truckload of 22 or 23 bales. I'd rather have too much than too little!

After the hay was stacked and I cleaned up the truck, I quickly changed into my paddock boots and led Possum into the stall to tack up. We went out for about an hour. We went around the path behind Dad's and back up, then down past the Dodge farm and around the field behind Lenny's house. What a beautiful warm day it was, and once again, Possum was very agreeable.

In the field behind Lenny's on Friday afternoon.

Saturday, I wanted to get Possum all set up early in the day, as we had to leave around 3 for a 6-9 gig in Portland. So, after feeding and my yoga routine, I brushed and tacked him up and started our ride around quarter to 11. It was very warm, so I didn't want to work him too hard, but, after walking around our backyard, we did walk all the way down the hill to Dr. Doyle's old place, then trotted back towards the pipe. Then, just for fun, I decided to try this old logging path that we've never dared to explore before. It went on for a little bit, but it was very mucky and messy, and I was getting worried that he might lose a shoe in all of that muck, so we turned around and got back to the road unscathed.

Then we walked back up, Possum needing to take a breather here and there, then took the right back onto the path behind Dad's. At the bottom of the loop, we trotted a little ways up, then walked the rest of the way to the field behind Dad's house. Then, we walked into our back yard again, and I worked on a few trots and a canter or two, concentrating on our lessons.. straightness, balance, collection and forward downward transitions. We even trotted over the little cross rail (and he only trotted over the jump), then we walked back over it and went back to the barn. We had been out just a little under an hour.

Walking down the hill Saturday morning.

I led him out for some hand grazing after that, then left him alone in the paddock for a while. I left him almost a whole bale of hay spread out in the paddock, and his pellet ration in the stall just before we left for Portland at 3. We got back around 11:45, and he was still munching on hay, but I did throw one more flake in the stall manger just before I retired around 12:45 in the morning.

Today, it is another beautiful and balmy late September day, and it is Sunday, and we have a gig at the opening day of the Fryeburg Fair from 5 - 8. I'd like to leave a little early so we can get settled in time, and possibly have a chance to walk around a bit, so I'm going to give him the day off and treat it like any other Sunday. He'll have his early "Sunday suppah" just before we leave, probably around 2:30. I may take him out in a little while for a short walk and some grazing.

DAY 30, 31 & 32 - Good, New Challenges, and a Lesson

Okay, so it's been a few days, so remembering the exact events of Tuesday (day 30) is a tough - but I do know that Possum and I had a good one hour ride. It was windy again, and we made the usual rounds, up and around the neighborhood.

The next day, Wednesday, I woke up from a dream about riding in a horse show and getting my riding outfit in order, so I went with that and decided to ride in my breeches and the brand new field bots that I got from Brad. However, once I put the boots on over the breeches, I realized that they were too tight and too tall for me to ride comfortably, so I took them back off and went with my old brown paddock boots and the new half-chaps.

I tied him up in the stall and gave him a light brushing. He was a bit fussy, but I kept up on the correcting and soon enough we were tacked up and ready to go.

Out to the road out of the driveway, we went right and walked down towards the Dodge field. At their driveway, I ran into Donna, who was just heading out, and we chatted for a few minutes. As Donna and I talked, Possum got a little impatient, so I circled him a few times, then said goodbye to Donna and walked out towards the field.

We worked on the top part of the field right behind the house. A few trots in each direction, focusing on impulsion, collection and straightness. Then we cantered in each direction for short stints a couple of times. He was pretty good!

After that, I asked him to trot back towards the barn and around the side past the paddock and towards the road. Then we walked right onto the road and all the way down the big hill. I let him pick his path, and he walked left to right all the way down. At the bottom, I decided to try something new, so we crossed the road and walked left down Hancock Pond Road. That was fun for him!

We looked at each new obstacle along the way, and took our time along the way. We saw Sonya's chickens, mailboxes, porch furniture, firewood piles, and more!

We took a few detours onto little roads, but sadly, their wasn't too far to explore. I opted not to continue past the corner and on the Luanne's place.. I didn't want to be alone with a big horse greeting (she has four, and I knew she was probably at work.)

So, we turned back, with several cars/trucks going past us on the way. Then we took a left and walked over to the cow field, but their were no cows in sight, so then we crossed back and started making our way up the steep hill.

Oh, no. Really? At the bottom of the hill.

Ugh! We have so much more to go!

When will we get to the top already?

Less then half way up, I took mercy on him and dismounted. I rolled up the stirrups and loosened his girth, and gave him plenty of rest breaks on the way. I think I'm in better shape than he is!

Back on top, I led him over to a stone wall on the corner of Lenny's front yard and got back up. Then we walked around behind his house, and walked around a few little obstacles just for fun. Then we walked around the back of the barn and took a right back onto the road, where I asked him for a canter, then transitioned back into a trot. Up at the Dodge barn, we walked, and continued walking all the way back to the barn. We had been out just a little over an hour.

Later that night, I took him out for a half hour of hand grazing, then brought him into the stall and pulled the top part of his mane. That was fun.

Today I got up a little earlier than usual, and gave him his pellets and morning hay by 7:30. Around quarter to nine, I put on his halter and brought him into the stall. I gave him another light brushing, then I tacked him up and led him out to the paddock to mount. He was very calm and cool, and the weather was fairly mild and sunny.

We walked around the paddock for a minutes, and he was very agreeable about that, then we went out the gate and took a right to head down to the Dodge barn. Ryan was lunging Big Mack just outside of the paddock as Donna was holding Kyle, looking on. We said hello and I walked Possum all around the big field until their time was over. Donna got on Mack and walked and trotted around. That was nice to see.

Watching Donna and Big Mack in their lesson.

Then Ryan worked with me and Possum. We built off of our studies of impulsion, straightness and carriage, and we also added the concept of keeping his downward transitions "forward," as apposed to sucking back into a jolting downward transition (going from the trot to the walk, for instance.) We didn't bother cantering today, and that was fine, because their was plenty to work on with the walk and trot and back to the walk again. She said he looked remarkably better than our lesson two weeks ago! So cool!

Then, I asked her to hop on him, and she rode him around for a bit, and I got to see how things look from that angel. It's very helpful for me to see how things look on the ground, with someone who has seen me ride him.

So, a great morning, then we both got the rest of the day off (well, he did, anyway.)

After today's lesson (photo by Ryan)

DAY 28 & 29 - Windy And Good

Well, Possum is becoming a mellow dude. Not that he doesn't have his quirks, like any horse, but it's nice to see him so relaxed.

Sunday went as planned. We left at 2:20 (early, to get to the club ahead of schedule) and Possum got his pellets and a bale of hay spread out around his paddock and in his stall. When we got back around 9:30, I never even saw him until I retired around 12. Monday morning, I got my chores done and went down town to the market, and finally got around to spending quality time with him around 1:30 or 2.

It was windy as all heck out, and I was dreading taking him out because of it. So, I put his halter on in the paddock and did a few ground work things with him, then asked him to free lunge a bit. Well, despite the wind, he was not in the mood to run around, so I bagged that and tied him up to the outside cross ties and groomed him. Then I led him into the stall to tack up, then mounted from the stump in the paddock and walked him around the paddock for a few minutes. I was expecting trouble, but he was actually not too bad.

We rode down the rode with only one or two little "looky hops," and rode down to Dr. Doyle's old place and back, with a couple of little trots during the good parts of the road. I talked to him a lot as we rode along, and he seemed to appreciate that in the windy conditions.

We came back up the hill and visited with Mack, then rode down to the field across from Lenny's and rode around there a bit. Then we rode back up to the Dodge barn and talked with Donna for a few minutes, then rode home, having been out for about an hour. I was really surprised at how good Possum was in all of that wind!

Today started calm and fairly mild, and after feeding him and cleaning the paddock, I spent the rest of the morning cutting back irises and such, then took a break before I went out to play with Possum. Around 2, I went out and put his halter on (he was hanging out in the stall, ready to play), and gave him a light grooming. He was a little testy, and tried to nip once or twice, but seemed to behave after I corrected him.

Tacked up, I brought him out to the paddock to mount up. I was pretty annoyed that the wind had picked up again, and Possum was reacting to that a bit, but we got going and he was fairly agreeable. We detoured down the hill through the path behind Dad's house, and I made sure to make him walk up the hill out of the dip. We walked the rest of the way down to Dr. Doyle's old place, then picked up a trot on the way back. At the pipe, we turned and picked up a trot again half way down, then turned and trotted back again.

At the hill, we walked, then trotted a bit, then went back through the path behind Dad's. This time, I let him trot, then canter, up out of the dip. Then we walked up to the road and all the way up the Dodge house. I waved hello to the Mister, who was out puttering around in his front yard, then we took a left and walk up the cleared lot for sale. We walked back down and took a left on the road and walked down to Lenny's.

Down in the field behind Lenny's house.

We walked down into the field behind his house, all the way down to the bottom, and slowly worked our way back up, trotting a couple of times. Then we walked back up to the road, trotted on the road towards the Dodge barn, then walked home.

Out for an hour!

DAY 27 - Happy

Yesterday was a little bit warmer, but overcast, so it still felt a bit raw.. I had thought about giving us the day off, but we ended up going out for a bit anyway, because Possum seemed to want to do something.

I had made plans with Donna to meet her and Big Mack up at her paddock to assist her in another riding session. As Ryan has said, a lot of good riding is "muscle memory," so for Donna, who has not ridden much in the last couple of years, the more times she can sit on her horse, the better.

Before I walked up there, a little after 11, I cleaned Possum's paddock, filled his water buckets, and fluffed up his stall. I noticed that he had shavings in his tail yesterday morning, meaning he laid down in the stall for the first time since he's been back. I like that. He seems to really enjoy it when I spend time just hanging out in the paddock with him. It brings him comfort when I'm out there puttering around, picking up poops and pine cones and branches and raking things around. After the chores, I put on his halter and secured him to the outside cross ties and gave him a full grooming. His eyes were very soft, and I made sure I was extra gentle around his ticklish parts, so there was no kicky and nippy behaviors. He was very relaxed and good. I applied some Sure Hoof to the outside of his very long and overdue hooves (I've managed to snag my musician / farrier friend Tommy to come by next week to trim him up... this year, I'm going to go one more round with the front shoes, too.) Then, I took his halter off and let him go again with another flake of hay, and walked up to Donna's.

She and Big Mack were already out in the paddock, and she had been lunging him for about 15 minutes. He looked very good and calm.. I'm so impressed with how much confidence Donna has gained with him! We readjusted his saddle and she put on her helmet, and I took a hold of the lunge line. Following the lesson plan with Ryan on Thursday morning, Donna got on the "mounting block" (a big, overturned muck bucket), and I led Mack up to it and we had him stand square. She mounted and made him stand still, then we walked off. I was just there in case anything went awry, but she did all of the controlling from his back. She was looking much better, and we worked on her form (heels down, eyes up, fingers closed), and also concentrated on keeping Mack's head up and not dragging. Then, we trotted a few times and halted in each direction, then ended on a good note. So cool!

Then, I walked home, and though I had been thinking about giving Possum (and me!) the day off, I could tell he wanted to go out and do something, so I put on my paddock boots and brought him into the stall to tack up. I mounted from the stump in the paddock, and then we walked around there a minute or two, then walked out of the gate and up to the road. I decided to take him up the path across the street this time, for something different, and he was very cool as we walked all the way up to the furthest point of the trail. At the turnaround, I asked him to trot, and then we turned at the end and trotted back again. We came to a halt, we turned, and trotted once more. He was very good.

We took a short detour down another little logging path before walking back down to the road. At the bottom, we turned left and picked up a trot again up to the barking dogs in their giant pen, then we walked down to the Dodge field and worked in there for a bit. Some big long trots around the back field, both directions, and then some canters in each direction. One canter was really nice, collected and rocking, then another one was a little more discombobulated, but that's how we roll! After one more forward trot, I let him stretch his neck, and we walked past Big Mack and down the road a bit towards Lenny's.

Behind Lenny's place on Saturday afternoon.

Donna's son was down there with his dog (I think he was "running away" or avoiding something, because a few minutes later, Donna drove down in her car and picked him up and they drove off), and Possum had his head high in the air and his ears pointed forward as we approached the boy and the dog. We said hello, then I took him for a short spin around the field across the street from Lenny's, then back down and walked around behind the house. Then, we got back on the road and did one more big trot up past the barn, and then walked home. We had been out for about 50 minutes, and Mr. Possum seemed very content.

After I took off his tack and brushed him down, I clipped on the lunge line and took him out to graze for a while. When we came back, we hung out and stood in the driveway talking to Don for a bit, as he was splitting some firewood. I was amazed at how calm Possum was, just standing there, eyes all soft, just enjoying being part of our little family.

I think he's kind of happy! Today is Sunday, and I am going to give us the day off from riding, but I will go out soon and do chores, brush him a little, and take him out for a hand walk and some grazing. I think he'll like that. Then, he'll get his "Sunday suppah" at 2:30, and we will leave him be as we go off to our afternoon gig.

DAY 26 - Amazed

A chilly morning, mid 40's, and I got Possum fed by 8, then left him alone for most of the morning, getting laundry, phone calls, yoga and grocery shopping done. By 2, I got out and cleaned the paddock and cleaned out and refilled his water buckets. While the big bucket was getting filled, I put on his halter, to let him know that we were going to get busy soon.

After putting on my paddock boots, I went out to greet him with the lead line and the dressage whip. I clipped the lead line on, and played with him a bit with the whip, rubbing him and letting him chew on it a bit. I also did a stretched his neck a bit in each direction, made him walk, halt, back up and stand square a couple of times. Then took the lead line off and free-lunged him in the paddock. This was the first time I had done this with him this year, and he really enjoyed it! I clicked and asked him to trot, but he went right into a bunch of canters/gallops and bucks. I had had a feeling about today.. even though he was acting fairly mellow, it was fairly chilly last night and even all day, and he had a bunch of energy to get out. He ran around a bunch, galloping, cantering, bucking and blowing off steam, and I was glad I was not on his back for all of that!

After about 10 minutes or so, I let him rest and "join up," as they call in Natural Horsemanship. I believe that is just a term meaning that the horse stops and turns and comes to you, and begins to follow you. That's what he did, so I let him chill a bit, then I clipped the lead line back on his halter and led him into the stall to groom and tack up.

He was still a bit "looky," but I was glad I had run him around a bit. I gave him a good grooming, and he his nippy/kicky antics were remarkable less. By the time he was all tacked up, he was much calmer, and we walked out to the tree stump to mount up. I had to circle him one time after I tightened his girth because he had walked off, but then I set him up and got on, but had to ask him to whoa once I did. He obliged, then I let him walk off.

We walked around the paddock for a minute or two, and then we headed out the gate. We took a left out of the driveway and began the walk down to the bottom of the hill. He was cool.

At the bottom of the hill, we walked past the scary pipe (and again, he paid no mind to that), then when we got to the good part of the road, I asked him to halt. From the halt, I asked him to trot, and we trotted for about 15 paces, then I asked him to walk, then halt. Then we repeated that. We got to the bad part of the road, and walked down to Dr. Doyle's old place, stopped and looked, then walked back. Then we repeated the little exercise. Halt, trot, walk, halt. Trot, walk, halt, then walk. He trotted straight and balanced every time, so I was pleased.

Then, we walked back up the hill, and took a right onto the path behind Dad's. Today, my plan was to walk down the dip and walk all the way back up. As fun as it is to trot/canter/gallop back up from the dip and into the field behind Dad's, I wanted to make sure he didn't think that was something we were going to do every single time~!

So, at the bottom of the dip, he started to gear up for a trot, but I asked him to halt, then did a tight circle, then we walked on up the hill of the dip, and he was great! We continued walking all the way up the path to the back yard behind Dad's, then took a left and continued to walk up to the driveway and on to the road.

When we got to our secondary driveway, I took a right and we walked down that path, and around the little cross rail jump. We walked well past it, then circled and halted. Then I asked him to trot, and we trotted up to the jump and he trotted right over it, then we halted. We turned and trotted back over it in the other direction, and again, he just trotted over it, which was fine with me. Then we turned, halted, transitioned into the trot, and this time he actually jumped over the cross rail. We halted at the end, then walked back out onto the road.

We took a right, and I tried to get him to canter past our house, but instead it was just a big sloppy messy trot! OY!
I gave up on that, and we walked by the Rhoads house. He spooky jumped a couple of times from noises coming from their driveway, but nothing too bad. Then we walked onto Dodge yard, and worked in their back field a bit.

We trotted a figure eight several times, working on balance and keeping his head "up" and my body tight and controlled, then we worked on cantering for half circles two times in each direction. At the last canter, we transitioned down to trot and trotted around the top part of the field a bit. Again, he was excellent.

After that, I let him stretch his neck and walk low over to Big Mack, who was grazing in his temporary paddock, and we said hello to him. Then we walked out of the field and back to the road and headed back to our place, saying hello to Donna's daughter and two of her friends on the way back.

Visiting Big Mack this afternoon.

Instead of going back to the barn, though, I asked him to walk past our driveway and go back into the back yard through our secondary driveway. He did want to go back to the barn, but was game.

We walked and trotted a bit more in the back field, then I walked him down the back loop and through the little path. Then we cantered back up the hill, and back to a walk and to the barn.

I am so happy with how well we are getting along!!!!!

DAY 24 & 25 - Tired, But Good

Yesterday, Wednesday,  I got the boy going early afternoon, and despite me feeling kind of tired, he was still an agreeable little pony. I don't remember the exact details, but I think I took him right out of the driveway and walked up to the Dodge barn. We worked in the field a little bit, and then we went down past Lenny's and took a left down the hill into the big field. The grass and weeds are high, and it's a lot of work for him to wade through it all. We got down to the bottom corner where there is a tree line separating the field, as well as a not too deep ditch. I thought I'd test him and see if he'd be willing to cross that ditch, and just like last year (when I pushed for it much harder and he reared a few times in rebellion), he refused to cross it. This time, I didn't push the matter too much, as I just didn't have it in me and, really, what's the point?

From the bottom of the field behind Lenny's

So, we walked through some more muck and under some branches and got to the bottom part of the field and walked around there for a bit. He was still being very good, despite me feeling a bit lazy with riding.. Then, we went back through the branches and muck and marched back up the steep hill of deep weeds and grass (he taking every opportunity he could to grab at the tops of weeds..)

We ambled back up the road past Lenny's, then cantered and trotted a little bit up to the Dodge barn. I think we went back after that, and we were out for about 45 minutes.

Waiting for this pellets Wednesday night.

Today, I got up very early (for me, 7 a.m.), and gave him his pellets at 8. Around 8:30, I walked up to the Dodge barn and observed Ryan give Donna and Big Mack another lunging lesson. At the end of the lesson, she had Donna get on Mack, and while still on the line, she worked with Donna on her position, and also on transferring the work she has done on the lunge line to being on his back. She even trotted a few times! It was all very interesting to watch, and I'm so excited for Donna and Big Mack to finally be on their way!

Checking out a porcupine early this morning..

After the lesson, I walked home, and 20 minutes later, Donna and Big Mack came down the road and met up with Possum and I. Then we went on our 2 mile walk to the end of New Road and back. The boys were very good (though Big Mack did stall a few times at the top of the hill.) When we got back to our place, I let Possum graze in our yard for a while, just to transition him from the loss of his "pal." Today, he did not run around and whinny when I let him loose in the paddock, which is nice. I think he finally gets it!

Hey, what's that?

I gave him a couple of flakes of hay, then took a half hour rest. Next, I got in the truck and drove down to Ring Farm in Bridgton to load the truck up with another 23 bales of hay. Their were a few ladies working there, and it was nice to get their help! I tied up the hay and got back within an hour, then I stacked the 23 bales into our barn. PHEW!

However, the day was not over for me yet! I changed into my paddock boots, and brought Possum into the stall and clipped him to the tie in the stall. I was a bit dubious, as the wind had picked up, and I was wondering how this would effect our ride, but I decided to go for it anyway.

Possum this morning

Well, I lucked out. For the most part, he was very good, and seemed happy to get out again. He seems to really like our little "making the rounds" time! We walked back down the hill, and took a left onto the cleared Berube property. We went as far as we could go, then turned around and went back to the road. We took a left and picked up a nice little trot, then walked to the Doyle place. On the way back, we trotted again, then we walked to the corner and down the road a bit. Then we walked to the bottom of the hill and continued walking up to the path on Dad's land. We walked through the woods and I made him walk down the dip.. then I let him canter back up. As we went along, he really opened up and actually GALLOPED for a few seconds! Of course, with the gallop came a couple of bucks, but I just kicked him forward, and even used the bat on his rump a couple of times to "punish" him for bucking. Usually, I let him walk at the field behind Dad's house, but because of the bucking, I made him keep cantering all the way around the garden and back up to the road. Then I let him rest at the walk.

Running! This morning, with the porcupine.

We walked past our driveway, where Don was out splitting wood, then we trotted all the way past the Rhoad's driveway.. barking dogs and all! Then we walked to the Dodge barn, and took a short detour to visit Mack, who was happily grazing in his makeshift grazing paddock. Possum was jealous, I'm sure!

Then we went back to the road and walked past Lenny's. There was a man working there, and Possum tried to spook a little bit when he walked out of the door, but we kept going, taking a right up into the field across the street. We walked around and then up to the top, then back down and past the big old Maple tree, crossing the little ditch back to the road. Funny how he'll cross the ditch, but not the one down in the other field.

We picked up a trot and marched all the way up to the field, then walked back up to the road, where we stopped and chatted with Donna, Jonathan, and Luann, who was picking up her son.

Then, we walked home, I took off his tack, and then led him out back to graze for a while. I was really proud of how good he was today! Wind, SHMIND!

DAY 22 & 23 - A Very Good Pony

Yesterday was Monday, always my "tired" day, but I got up and got my chores and errands done and picked up a bowl of fish chowder from the health food store to snarf down before I got down to business with Possum. I picked his paddock and filled his water buckets first, then I hitched him up to the outside cross ties to groom him. He was pretty good for that. Then, I led him into the stall to tack up.

I mounted from the paddock stump, and he stood rock still. We took a short walk around the paddock, and then headed out the gate and took a left down the road. We walked all the way down to the bottom of the hill and took a short trot on the good stretch towards Dr. Doyles old place. We stood and looked at the house, which has a big chain across the driveway with a "private" sign on it, and wished we could walk around back and head out into the fields behind the house, like we did last year while it was still on the market.

Then we took a trot back towards the scary pipe, and he did not bat an eye at it. We cantered a short bit up the hill, then slowed to a trot and then a walk, and took a right onto Dad's land and through the path behind his house. At the bottom of the dip, we transitioned into a canter and rode all the way up to his field, then walked the rest of the way up to the path at the back of our land. We walked a bit to catch our breath, then rode up to the little cross rail jump and hopped over that. We took a right back onto the road and walked up to the Dodge barn. We said hello to Big Mack, and then walked over to Donna, who was refilling her big water tub, and we chatted for a bit.

Then I walked him out to the part where we've had our lessons, and I cantered him in each direction for half a circle. Then I directed him up to the flat part right behind their house and trotted around in each direction a few times, concentrating on my form and keeping him straight and up. Harder then it sounds!

We said goodbye to Donna and then took a short walk down to Lenny's old place, and then up to the field across the street from his house. We stopped at the top and took in the view, then walked around and back down to the road. Another short trot up to the Dodge barn, and then walked home. He was very good, and we were out for an hour.
(Taking in the view and listening to the crows at the top of the field across from Lenny's old place.)

                                              

Playing around with Possum in his paddock on Monday night. :)

Today there was light rain all morning, and I was expecting the chimney sweep guys sometimes between 12 and 2, so I used the morning to pick his paddock, fill his water, prepare the trash to go to the dump later in the day, and go through my yoga routine. As it got closer to 1:30 in the afternoon and the guys still had arrived, I put Possum's halter on and clipped him up to the outdoor cross ties to give him a good grooming. By this time, the rain had stop and the sun was beginning to come back out, and Possum was very tolerant of my grooming, only threatening to kick once. He stopped after I corrected him. It's mostly a ticklish thing, not a nasty, mean thing.

Then the guys showed up, so I spent the next hour dealing with them, as they cleaned our chimney and then I let them into Dad's to clean his. Dad is down in Cambridge today checking out a senior living apartment (though he sent me a text to say he probably wasn't going to move there..)

After the guys left, I changed into my boots and led Possum into the stall to tack him up. We went out to the paddock to mount up, and walked around the paddock a little bit, then back out the gate and left down the road again. I could tell he was happy to be out and about, making the rounds.

We went into Dad's driveway and took the path to the side of the house towards the big path in the woods. At the bottom of the dip, we trotted back up and then took a left down the road. Instead of going straight to Dr. Doyle's today, we decided to walk all the way down New Road, trotting a couple of times where the footing was good. He was being so good!

When we got to the end of the road, I turned him right onto the back property of the Downing's place, and walked him along the tree line and onto the path behind their house. Hopefully, we won't get in trouble if they ever see us on their property.. I don't think they'd be too upset, though.

We walked along the path, with all of it's twists and turns, and eventually trotted back up to the road and headed back. At one of the good parts of the road, I kicked him into a canter. We trotted a bit halfway back up the hill, then continued straight up to our house. I was going to go up to the Dodge barn to visit Big Mack, but I saw Don out in the driveway, and so instead, I asked him if he would video me jumping Possum over the little cross rail jump. We didn't really end up jumping, it was more of a trotting over the jump, but it was fun anyway. I'd like to try that again sometime..

Walking back to the bottom of the hill.

                                              

       (Trotting up the hill towards home today.)

                                              
                                                 Trotting over the jump (excuse the swearing at the end.)

                                              
                                                             Trotting over the jump (third time.)
Then it was time to finish, and Possum was happy to get his bridle and saddle off and go out to the backyard for some grazing. We had been out just a little under an hour, and I'd say he was excellent today!

DAY 20 & 21 - A Day Off & Spunky

Saturday morning I fed him as late as I could stand, a little after 8:15 I think it was, because I was thinking ahead to later when I wouldn't get home in time for his 4:30-5:00 feeding. As it turns out, just before leaving for the gig, I called Dad and asked him to come over and feed him. I set it up so easy - all Dad had to do was dump the pellets and water into his feed tub, slide the tub under the fence and walk away. So, that worked out well, and I was able to relax coming home from the gig.

It is quite amazing how quickly the autumn chill has come around, and Possum is feeling it. His coat is getting fuzzier by the minute, and the wind and cold makes him just that much more snappier. Yesterday morning (Sunday), I knew I had to get him out before I took off for the afternoon. I cleaned the paddock, fluffed the stall, and filled the water buckets first, then I led him into the stall and just gave him a light brushing. I didn't feel like dealing with his kicky and nippy, before-riding mood, so I thought I'd give him a more thorough brushing when he was relaxed after riding.

After tacking up, I led him out to the paddock and mounted from the stump. He walked off a little, but I asked him to whoa, and settled into the stirrups. We started walking around the paddock, but I was not surprised when he made his first attempt at rebellion with a head toss, a squeal and a hop. I scolded him lightly with the bat and and my voice, and he tried that a couple more times. He just really hates the whole "warm up" thing, especially walking around his paddock.

We walked out the gate and up to the road and took a left. He did not protest.. I was alert for any sudden moves on his part, and we marched down the hill, weaving left to right a bit to keep his mind somewhat active. When we got to the bottom, there was another big spooky in the woods, and he flared his nostrils and raised his head in the air, but I made him keep walking. When we got to the big evil pipe that is still on the side of the road, I made sure we walked up to it a few times and almost stuck his nose in it. We got to the end of the road and looked at Dr. Doyle's old place, then turned and picked up a snappy trot. At the pipe, I made him circle and go back in the same direction, where a much less snappy and straight trot commenced. I asked him to whoa, then we turned and repeated the exercise a couple of more times. I tried to even out his trot and keep him straight and balanced.

By this time he started blowing and snorting in a good way, so we walked by the pipe and turned down New Road for a short ways, then turned back for the hill. At the corner, I kicked him into a canter, and up we went, then into a trot and finally a walk. He was blowing a bit, but we did not stop to rest.. we just kept walking straight up the hill, past Dad's driveway. Then we took a right into our secondary driveway, and we walked over the little cross rail jump in the path. Then we turned and trotted over it. We hopped over it both ways one more time, then continued on up the road towards the Dodge farm.

Visiting Big Mack Sunday morning

By this time, he was much more relaxed and happy, and after saying hello to Big Mack, we walked over to the field and walked around, then trotted a bit, and cantered once in each direction. After that, we walked back to the road and walked behind Lenny's house for a bit. I even decided to hop off him for a few minutes and, together, we hung out by the detached screened in porch. It felt good to just hang out in the sunshine.

The view from behind Lenny's

Relaxing at the screened in porch

Selfie at the porch!

Then I mounted again from the porch, left Lenny's yard, and picked up a short canter into a trot up to the Dodge barn. We waved to Donna and the kids coming back from church and walked back to our place with the reins at the buckle. We had been out one hour, and he was a much better horse for it. After I took off his tack, I was able to use the curry comb on him without him acting like a kicky nippy baby pony colt on me, and after his grooming, I clicked the lead line onto his halter and we went out to graze for about a half hour. By this time, his eyes were soft and sleepy, and he was much happier than before.

Before leaving for my afternoon gig, I spread out a bale of hay in the paddock and stall, and then gave him his "Sunday Suppah" at 2:35, just before we drove off.

Today is cool again, but sunny. I'm going to get him out at some point, as tomorrow it might rain.

DAY 19 - Winter Possum Has Arisen

Well, today was much cooler than usual, and the dreaded WIND.. Which makes Possum "CRAZY!"

I eased him back from yesterday's 7 a.m. feeding time and moved it back up to 7:30 a.m. The wind was already gusting, so I knew it was going to be one of "those days." And it was, and it still is now, at a little before 8 p.m.

Donna and I had pushed our weekly walk to today because of our early morning lessons with Ryan and the rain. She was not able to bring Big Mack with her, because her hub was working and would not be able to watch the little one, so she brought along the baby and I brought along Possum. I knew that a good long walk would help calm his nerves, and it did.

The wind was much worse up here on the hill then it was down on the bottom. He was very good out on the walk, and I was so glad he was able to get a little more time out before I tacked him up to ride later in the afternoon.

After our walk, I ran my errands, and then got the barn chores done before riding. Cleaned out 20 piles of poops and cleaned out and refilled his water buckets. Then I put on his halter and brought him over to the outside cross ties to groom him. He was fussy, and tried to kick out once or twice when I brushed him on his off side near his backside. I smacked him a few times.. not even sure if he was only shifting his weight.. but, I don't want to take any chances with the little guy!

After his grooming, I led him into the stall for tacking up. He was better for that. I think he was ready to go out and do something. I led him out to the stump to mount, and made him whoa when he started to walk off, remembering my conversations about standing still for mounting with Ryan yesterday. We started walking around the paddock, and he was good, but then he did do a little spooky jump at one point. I made him keep walking around to settle him, then we headed out the gate.

We walked around back of the house, then down the path and over the stone wall to Dad's back yard. We walked down the path, and he hopped and wiggled his head a few times, but I marched him forward. I made him walk down the hill in the dip, but then let him trot back up. He huffed and puffed a bit after that, and then we turned left on the road and walked down the hill.

The big scary pipe was still there, but today he barely batted an eye at it. I made him walk up to a few times, circling and halting in front of it. Then we did a little trot towards Dr. Doyle's old place, walked a circle at the end, and picked up another high-headed trot going back. Though he looked a little at the pipe, he did not spook, and I petted him when we slowed back to a walk.

Then we headed back up the hill again, and I kicked him into a trot. He was good, and when we slowed to a walk, he was huffing a bit again, but we kept walking. I did let him stop at one point to rest. We walked up to Dad's driveway, where once again he wanted to spook at something, anything! But we kept going up the hill, and when we got to our place, Don was out chopping wood, so he took the opportunity to jump at that a little. It was just his mood today, thanks WIND!

We kept going, and trotted a bit more, and got to the Dodge barn. We visited with Big Mack, who was happily grazing in this field, then we went over to the other side. We worked in the lesson area on walking, trotting straight and level and forward, and cantered a half circle each way. Then we left the field and walked down to Lenny's and around the back, and trotted out and up the road back towards the Dodge barn. By this time, he was much more relaxed, so I let the reins drop to the buckle and we ambled back home.

After the ride, I took him out to graze for 35 minutes, and then brought him back to the barn and fed him at 5. The wind is still wild, and he's been pretty spooky all night. I've given him extra hay and reassurance, and that's the best I can do. He is a horse, after all.

Tomorrow he'll get the day off, as I have to leave by noon and won't be back till after 7. Nobody is going to come give him his 5 p.m. pellets, so he won't eat pellets until I get home. Hopefully, he will survive!

DAY 16, 17 & 18 - Lot's of riding and a Lesson

I can't remember the exact order of riding events for Tuesday, but I'm pretty sure we made the usual rounds, and I think we also did a lot more trotting and cantering than usual. I remember cantering up through the woods on the path behind Dad's, and also cantering up the path across the street. I even had to use the bat on him a few times to keep him moving! We were out for a solid hour, and he was very good.

Tuesday afternoon, behind Lenny's house

Yesterday, I got up extra early, in order to prepare us for our 9 a.m. lesson time today (Thursday.) I fed him by 7:30, and took care of his paddock by 9 or so.. I think it was around 10:30 that we were all tacked up and ready to go. He was a bit cranky during the grooming process.. ticklish around his belly and loin areas, and swishing his tail and threatening to kick.. he also tried nipping a few times as I walked beneath the tie. I corrected him with my voice and a smack or two, and he behaved after that. I am never surprised when he is grumpy during the grooming and tacking up phase.. it's just how he rolls. He is always good by the time we finish with the day.

I could also tell that Possum was in the mood to be spooky. He was all looky looking at things.. but we marched on down the hill towards Dr. Doyle's old place. The town road crews had been working on clearing space for water run off down there, and their was giant, rusty old pipe laying on the side of the road. We walked by that with no problem, but by the time we had turned around at the end of the road and were heading towards it again, it had turned into a big, scary monster that was going to kill him. So, he snorted, he raised his head and perked his ears, and threatened to unseat me with some fancy side-stepping action.

So, I immediately went to work. Remembering what Clinton Anderson wrote about how to deal with a horse that spooks on the trail, I kicked Possum into a trot. We trotted away from the pipe, then stopped. Then we turned and trotted towards it. Again, he acted like it was going to kill him, so I kicked him into a circle, and we trotted away from it again. I repeated this for about 6 or 8 minutes, all the while getting a bit closer to the pipe. Soon enough, Possum began to tire of this, and realized that it would be a lot easier for him to not be spooked by the pipe and walk by it. Pretty cool how well that trick works.

So, we walked on, and back up the hill. We took the trail behind Dad's house, and cantered up to the back of the house. Then we walked up to the road from the secondary driveway opening. He was looking for more things to spook at, but I kept him marching. Then, we turned right onto our secondary driveway, and we walked over the little cross rail jump I had set up on the path the night before. Then, we turned around and trotted over it this time. I surprised at how much jump the little guy gave! That was fun.

I didn't want to push my jumping luck, though, so we continued on up the road to the Dodge field. I let him say hello to Big Mack, then we worked in the field a bit. I feel much stronger in my seat and core, so that's good. We did a few trots and a couple of short canters, I believe, then we walked down to Lenny's and behind his house a bit.. (I think, getting hard to remember!) Here's a video of us trotting back from Lenny's:

                                               
We had been out for a good hour, and once we got back to the stall to take off tack, he was much more relaxed and happy. I put off hand grazing him until later that night, after his supper and before ours. He got a good half hour, and was very respectful of me.

This morning was my second riding lesson with Ryan, so I got up early and had Possum grained by 7 a.m. I wanted to give him plenty of time to digest and eat hay before we got ready. I quickly cleaned his bridle, bit and breastplate, not wanting to show up a total mess, then quickly pulled my messy bed head into a clip and washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then, it was out to the barn to groom and tack up. Rain was threatening to come, but we managed to get the whole lesson in before it came.

I mounted him from the paddock and we ambled down to the Dodge field. Ryan and Donna were lunging Big Mack out in his paddock, and he was looking really good. Possum and I said hello and then we walked all around the big field for awhile. We trotted a few times in circles, too.

At the end of Big Mack's lunging session, Ryan went over the time and had Donna grab her helmet so that she could work with Donna on mounting Big Mack. It was good to see Donna on Mack again! Ryan led her around a few times, then she had her dismount and mount again.

Then, it was time for Possum and me to get some work. Today, we talked again about keeping him forward and straight, and also that I am not doing Possum any favors by letting him lower his head below his croup. So, that was a new insight for me. She reiterated that Possum moves best when we keep him moving forward, not sucking in. So, click and kick first, then use the bat. If one swat doesn't do it, then swat him until he does move forward. So, at the trot and then at the canter, we tried that, and it really does make a difference!

Ryan said I looked stronger and that I am riding him a lot better than this time last year! We talked a lot about Possum, his future, and keeping him a happy, fit horse. So totally worth getting up so early for! She knows Possum the best, and it is fascinating to me to get her perspective on him and the process of riding him well.

We were back to the barn by 10 a.m., and Possum got a well deserved pile of hay. I cleaned his paddock and cleaned and refilled his paddock water tub before the rains came, and he has the rest of the day off. Can't wait to ride tomorrow and work on riding him straight and forward!

                                              First 12 minutes from my first lesson with Ryan.

DAY 13, 14 & 15 - Busy!

Saturday, I was booked to play a show an hour away from noon to 4, so the most I did with Possum was take him out in the morning for a short hand graze and a quick grooming. I cleaned his paddock and fluffed the stall, and just before I left, I loaded up the field and his stall with flakes and flakes of hay. Donna had gracious agreed to come down in the late afternoon to feed him his pellet ration. Later, I found out that just as she and her two boys were just about to leave my barn, a blast of rain came driving down! Her smart daughter had run down here with two umbrellas to save the day.

We had driven down to the Tailgate for the going away / welcoming party after our afternoon gig and played another one hour set, and finally headed for home after a few hours, arriving back around 8:30. Possum was content, munching away in his stall. I could see the effects of the driving rain, as there was run off in the driveway all the way down to his paddock.

Sunday morning, though fairly sleepy, I got him groomed and tacked up by 11:30. We had a pleasant amble down to the bottom of the hill, stopping at Dr. Doyle's old place, and turning back with a short trot around the corner. We wandered back up the hill, with a little trotting, and back past our place up to the Dodge barn. We visited with Big Mack, but he was way more interested in his hay then he was with visiting~

Visiting with Big Mack on Sunday morning.

 I took him for a spin around their big field, and even threw in a few trots and canters in circles both ways. He was pretty good. Then we ambled down to Lenny's, and I found a hole in the stone wall that led through the open pine trees. We walked up the hill, but there was no opening in the stone wall up there, so we had to turn around and head back the way we came. Then walked back up the road, waving to Donna as she and her kids drove by on their way back from church. Possum was excellent, and we walked back home. I took him down through the back behind his paddock, and we picked up a trot and hopped over the little fence, then walked back to the barn. We were out for an hour.

Enjoying the view behind Lenny's on Sunday morning.

I brushed him off and dosed him up with fly spray and took him out for some hand grazing. Soon I had to get ready for my gig, so I let him loose in his paddock with plenty of hay, and he seemed content. He got his early "Sunday supper," and off we went to work.

Yesterday, Monday, I was still pretty spent from the busy weekend, but I got going early and ran my errands and was back by 1:30. I got out to the paddock and decided to pick up the poops first, as well as scrub out and refill the water buckets. Then, I put on my boots, tied him to the tie in the stall and gave him a good grooming.

Once he was all tacked up and I had my chaps and helmet on, we walked out to the stump in the paddock and we walked around for a few minutes. He was ready for action. We turned left out the driveway and once again, headed down the hill. I'm hoping to get him conditioned, if anything, by all of the up and down hill walking.

We walked half way down New Road, then turned back, throwing in some short trots here and there. I even attempted to sit the trot for a bit.. thinking, all along, about Denny Emerson grilling his mantra about being able to sit the trot without bouncing.. easier said then done! I sat quietly for a few strides, then starting flopping again like a rag doll, so I went back to posting so I wouldn't kill his back!

We walked up the hill, then took the right onto the path behind Dad's house. I tried to get him to canter back up from the dip and on into the field, but he was a bit more sluggish today and only trotted. We took the path behind the wild raspberry patch and cut across Dad's driveway and turned out back to the road from the secondary driveway.

We trotted up to Holly's driveway, then marched right past the loud, barking Newfoundland's without batting an eye. We marched past Big Mack, who was grazing in a makeshift paddock Donna had set up, and then ran into Donna and the baby in the stroller, who had picked up her daughter from the bottom of the hill. Instead of driving down to pick her up from the school bus, she walks down and back! Nice.

After chatting with them for a bit, Possum and I continued down the road and took a left behind Lenny's again. This time, we walked further down into the field and enjoyed the beautiful view on a beautiful afternoon. We walked back up the hill through endless milkweeds, and Possum did his best to nibble at everything he could as we walked. Then back to the road from the other side of the house, and up for a quick visit with Big Mack, who once again, was really not too interested in seeing us! He had grass to graze!

It had been about an hour, and so we turned for home. I sponged him lightly with water and took him out back to graze for half an hour. He got his pellets by five, and more hay, and he was happy. He loves it, too, when we hang around the stall area. Even miss Spooky is getting more comfortable around Possum.

I'll see what happens today. Thursday morning, I've got another lesson with Ryan. 

DAY TWELVE - An Easy, Hot Hack

Another blissfully, hot day, and I wanted to get Possum out one more time before the weekend. So, a little after noon, and a snack of an egg and half piece of toast, I changed into my breeches, paddock boots and half-chaps, and groomed and tacked up Possum.

We headed out to the paddock and I mounted from the stump. He walked off, but I was too lazy to correct it, and we walked around the paddock a bit, then headed out the gate and around to the backside of the house. We took the loop in the back yard, and then banged a left over the stone wall to Dad's house. I had heard some noises coming from over there and was hoping to run into him, but, no dice.

I steered Possum towards the path behind the house, and we walked through the woods and trotted back up the hill out of the dip. At the road, we turned left, and ambled down towards Dr. Doyle's old place. We trotted a little bit on the good stretch, then took a look at the house (which is getting a new tin roof put on, though nobody was present), then picked up another trot towards the corner. Possum was pretty mellow, and I had to kick him a few times to keep him moving. Meanwhile, I worked on my position, feeling a little bit stronger than before.

We slowly walked back up the hill, then took a right back onto the path behind Dad's house. When we got to the dip, I let him canter up and we continued cantering all the way to the field. I rode him up to Dad's basement door, but I could hear that he was listening to something on his computer, so I didn't bother him. Instead, we took the path behind the wild raspberry patch and got back up to the driveway and onto the road.

Then, we went left up to the path across the street. Half way up, I asked him to trot, and again, he was dragging his ass! Then we walked for awhile, then I asked for a trot again, and we trotted to the right of the fork almost the whole way. He was a little more peppy for that trot.

Riding back down the path across the street today.

We walked up to the abandoned camp, turned around, and went back the way we came. We trotted again to the corner, then walked all the way back down to the road. Then we walked up to the Dodge barn and visited with Big Mack, who was hanging out in his turnout shed and really, had no interest in coming out to say hi. Then Possum and I walked the whole edge of the Dodge field, and trotted at the last part over to the shady area of the paddock gate.

It was hot, and we had been out for almost an hour, so we turned for home.  I sponged him down with some water, and then took him out back for some grazing. Once again, I had no need to put the chain over his nose.. he's been so chill!

I finished up my chores with him, and now I'm getting ready to take a shower and get dressed for tonight's gig down in Westbrook. At least it's an easy one, plus, the food! Yeah!

Tomorrow, we head out early for a 12-4 gig up at Mount Abrams, and then we zip over to the Tailgate in Gray for the going away/welcoming party. Not excited about that, but, it's good for biz. Donna and her son Jonathan will come down and give Possum his dinner pellets.

So, tomorrow is his official day off, and maybe I'll get in a quick ride on Sunday. If not, no big deal.

DAY ELEVEN - A Lot Of Hills

Thursday mornings are the day Donna and I get together for a 2 mile walk up and down the road, and last Thursday, I brought Possum along, and yesterday, we added Big Mack to the group! He was just coming off of a lunging lesson with Ryan, and I was told he was much better than Monday.

So, off we ambled, down the hill, not without Big Mack and Possum stalling a few times. When we got to the bottom of the hill, their was a town bulldozer and big town truck doing work, and then man was very nice and turned his machine down as we walked by. Big Mack has the stride of moose, and Possum and I were constantly behind a few paces. It was an excellent experiment, though.

Once Big Mack and Donna walked away, and I put Possum back in the paddock, Possum got upset for a few minutes, running back and forth and whinnying. He settled down after a few minutes, though, and I went in and cleaned up and did some chores.

Around quarter to three, I tied him up to the tie in the stall and gave him a good grooming, sprayed him down with more fly spray, and tacked him up. I mounted from the stump in the paddock, and we walked around there for a minute or two, then headed out the gate and around the back of the house. We did the small loop in the back yard, then down over the stone wall to the back of Dad's house and down the trail. When we got to the road, we turned right and walked/trotted back up the hill.

We trotted for a few minutes past our house and then ambled past the Dodge barn. Possum asked if we could go visit Mack, who was grazing in his secondary pasture, but I insisted we keep going down the road. We walked, very slowly, all the way down the steep hill, then crossed the road and went straight down Heads Hill Road. We said hello to the three cows hanging out in the back corner of the field, then walked past the abandoned house and barn and into the cool woods. The path is nice and wide and grassy and runs alongside some streams. We got as far as the bottom of the hill, where it begins to get too rocky to safely continue (though we did amble up and down that last year.. I didn't want to take the chance this time, however), then we turned a tight turn and ambled back. We trotted briskly at a few points, and Possum had his head up high and his ears pointed straight ahead when we arrived back at the abandoned home and barn. We walked past the cow field, crossed the road and ran into Luanne at the bottom of the hill. She and I discussed a plan to go riding at the trails around her place, then Possum and I started walking up the hill.

Riding the path behind Heads Hill Road

 Half way up, I decided to dismount and hand walk him. He was huffing and puffing, and I let him stop and rest a few times. Finally, we got to the top, and I remounted him at the corner of a stone wall in front of Lenny's house. Then we walked home.

I gave him a soapy wash down, rinse and scrape, then sprayed him with some of the coat polisher for good measure. Then he got about 25 minutes of hand grazing. We had been out for a little over an hour. He got his pellets at 5:30 and lots of hay and fresh water. He was very good and got in a lot of exercise to boot!