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.