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!