DAY 61, 62, 63, & 64 - Riding Again

That Thursday morning, we did postpone our weekly walk to Friday morning. By that time, the rains had slowed down, but it was still overcast and a light drizzle was falling off and on. I knew Donna wouldn't be able to bring Big Mack along for the walk because she would have the baby in the stroller, but I decided that I just had to bring Possum along. Ten minutes before ten, I led him into the stall and brushed him lightly and picked his hooves. Then Donna and the baby came along, and off we went. Possum seemed content to get out of the paddock for awhile, and I was happy, because I knew I wouldn't have time to ride him. He got the rest of the day off again, and we took off around 4 for a gig in Portland. When I got back later that night, he was relaxed in the stall and still had plenty of hay to munch on.

Saturday morning I got going early, as we had my brother and our friend Dwight scheduled to come up from Mass. for an afternoon and overnight. I fed Possum and cleaned his stall and paddock, then took a shower and drove downtown to pick up groceries for the dinner. I got back by 11, and I knew the guys wouldn't be here until between 12 and 1, at the earliest, so I decided to go for it and take Possum out for a spin. The sun was out and the air was mild, and Possum was very mellow. I led him into the stall and gave him a quick, but thorough brushing, then tacked him up. He was game.

We went out to the paddock to mount up, and he was happy to walk right out of the gate! We took a left out of the driveway and walked all the way down to Dr. Doyle's. We trotted from the pipe to Micheal's house and back again. Both times, he had a nice forward and straight trot. He was happy to be out! We walked a short way down New Road, then turned back for the hill, trotting for a bit at the bottom, then walking with only a few stops the rest of the way. When we got to Dad's driveway, we picked up a canter! And we cantered all the way to Holly's driveway! I did have to use the bat on him lightly a few times to keep him in the canter. Then we walked up to the Dodge farm, and went out to the field (after saying hello to Big Mack first, of course.)

In the field, we trotted around in each direction several times, and I tried my best to work on the different trots, but it isn't easy.. However, he was being very agreeable, so that made me happy. We also cantered in each direction for a short way. After that, we walked down to Lenny's and into the field across the street, were we did a little bit more trotting and even a short "lope" or two. That was fun. He was so good.

Visiting Mack on Saturday morning at the fence line.

We got back to the barn after about 50 minutes, and I was so pleased that we were able to get out and ride on such a beautiful day. After I got settled, and the guys still hadn't shown up yet, I took him back out with the lunge line and let him graze for about 45 minutes in the back yard. The sun was out, and he was just so relaxed.

Finally, the guys showed up, and Possum enjoyed the extra attention he got with our visitors. It was a good day.

Sunday morning, after Nat and Dwight left around 10:30, I quickly cleaned Possum's stall and paddock, then led him into the stall and gave him a light brushing. I tacked him up, and off we went. Back down the hill, via Dad's back yard and the path behind his house, down to Dr. Doyle's and back up. We quickly visited Big Mack, and made the rounds behind Lenny's house, then came back home after about an hour. Before leaving for my Sunday gig, I left him lot's of hay and he got his "Sunday Suppah."

Ride on Sunday morning.

Monday, "Day 64," once again, Possum was mellow. Though it was overcast, there was no rain, and the temps crept up from 40 to a little over 50 degrees. Walking back through the paddock after a quick visit with Dad, I came upon Possum laying down in the paddock, so I took a few photos of him. It was then that I noticed that he had reopened his old scar on his left front cornet band. GRR!

I led him into the stall, gave him a good grooming, then went into the house and brought out a bucket of soapy warm water and the wash cloth. I cleaned his abrasion well, dried it off, and applied some of the orange stuff for good measure (can't remember the name at this moment!) Then, I tacked him up, and off we went for another spin around the neighborhood. I could tell Possum was in a spooky mood, and our first obstacle of the day was an orange "tree work" sign that was sitting halfway down the hill. The guys from Lucas Trees had been working along the lines all morning, and I was pleased to hear that they were finished for the day by the time Possum and I got going.. however, they had forgotten to pick up the sign. Anyway, there it was, and Possum was quite sure it was going to eat him! We pranced and snorted and pricked our ears as far forward as we could, sure that we were going to have to run for our lives! I nudged him with my leg, and spun him around back to the killer sign, and soon enough, he touched it with his nose, and then it fluttered, and once again, he jumped.. Then he realized, I guess, that it was not alive and would not hurt him, so with a wary eye, we walked on.

We went on to Dr. Doyle's, with a sluggish, short-paced trot to Micheal's house, then when we turned to head back for the hill, I noticed that the Lucas Tree truck was coming back down the hill, presumably to pick up the horse-eating sign. I turned Possum away from it to stall for time, then we trotted back to the pipe. The truck had stopped just around the corner, and we walked by it. I let him stop and take it all in, and one of the guys asked if we needed to get by, and I said, No -just looking.. And then I asked him to trot up the hill a ways. Then we walked the rest of the way, and when we got to Holly's driveway, our next obstacle was Jeff coming down the driveway in his golf cart. Jeff stopped and we approached, and while Jeff and I chatted for a while, Possum enjoyed sniffing all around the cart and trying to nibble at Jeff's giant, hay-colored beard.

Visiting with handsome Big Mack Monday afternoon.

Then, we moved on to Big Mack's paddock, and I let them touch noses for a bit until Big Mack squealed his big "I'm the boss around here and don't you forget it!" squeal, and then Possum and I worked in the field for a few minutes. Then we went back to the road, and said hello to Donna and the kids as they were coming back from somewhere in the car. As we walked by all the commotion in her driveway, I made Possum walk up and down the steep banks across the street from their house. That was fun. Then we went home, after being out for almost an hour.

Later that night, after his pellets, I let Spooky the cat out for awhile, and I while I kept an eye on her round makings, I raked some of the mud and left over hay down on the hill in front of his stall door, and scooped a few more poops. He likes it when I hang out with him, just lumbering about. Then, I closed up the barn, and left him more hay, and went in for my supper.