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!
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