DAY 42, 43, & 44 - Busy

Sunday morning was rough for me, as I had only retired at 3 a.m. before rising a little after 8 to feed Possum. I managed to go back to bed and rest for another 45 minutes until I got back up and dressed and got Possum prepared to be led up to the Dodge barn to meet up with Butch. I brought Possum into the stall and gave him a light brushing, picked his hooves and brushed the pine needles out of his tail. Then, I closed him in the stall and turned off the electric fencing and made him hang out while we waited for the text from Luanne. Butch was at her place doing her four first, and she promised to send me a text when Butch was wrapping up down there. Finally, around 10:45 I got the text, and I led Possum up the road. We met up with Donna and her kids and their cousins playing a game with a ball out in their driveway, and we waited around a few more minutes. It was a lovely morning.

Finally, Butch's truck appeared, and we got down to business. Butch is a wonderful person, intelligent and passionate about horse's and hoof care. It's fun and interesting to spend time with him, and I love how much he really loves horses. Possum started out a little bratty but settled down soon enough and stood like an old pro.

By the time we got back, it was pushing 12:15 or so, and I knew I had not enough time to ride (plus, I was too tired!) I cleaned out his paddock and refilled his water tubs, left him some hay, then showered and got ready for the afternoon gig. Just before we left, I spread out nearly another bale of hay and left him his pellets in the stall.

Monday, I was refreshed and looking forward to getting Possum out as early as I could muster! He was quite agreeable as we went through our routine of a full grooming. I put on his tack, and we went out to the paddock to mount up. He walked off again (I really have to get better about correcting him with that bad habit), but I was just as anxious as he was to see where our ride would take us. After a short walk around the paddock, we went out the gate and took a left out of the driveway. He was happy to be out and about, I could tell, and we zigged and zagged down the hill all the way to Dr. Doyle's old place. We picked up a gentle trot for a bit, then walked a little ways down New Road, then turned back up the hill. At the top, we picked up another trot, past our house and up the the Rhoad's driveway, and he was calm as the two Newfie's barked loudly at us.

When we got to the Dodge barn, Big Mack was out grazing and Donna and her baby boy were out in the paddock picking poops. Possum was very interested in all of that, and as we began walking around the field to practice our ring work, he was a bit reluctant. He kept "sucking back," and even putting his ears back and shaking his head a couple of times when I asked him to trot away from the paddock area. I finally broke down and used the bat on his bum, and after that, he moved forward a little better at the trot. Still not as good as our lesson day, though. Then, we cantered in each direction, and I know that will be something we will have to work on with Ryan again.. His transitions are inconsistent.

On our ride Monday morning.

I knew he wasn't in the mood, so after that, we went down the road some more and walked around in the field across from Lenny's, trotting up hill a little bit and stopping at the top to take in the view. Then back down and around behind Lenny's, then back on the road, where I asked him to canter. It started very small and choppy, so I kicked him forward until he opened up his stride for a few lengths, then we popped into a nice little trot, then walked the rest of the way home. Out for an hour, and he was happy.

Later that day, I took him out to hand graze, as my father and his visiting cousin from England, Sandra, walked over to meet Possum. He had a mellow night, I can tell.

So today is Tuesday, and the plan is for us to meet up with Donna and Big Mack up at her barn. She's going to ride Big Mack today out of the paddock and down the road with Possum and I! It's a bit overcast, with rain expected, and there is a slight wind, so hopefully we can get the ride in before the weather turns for the worse.