DAY 81, 82, 83, & 84 - Medications and Light Riding

Thursday, "day 81," I already don't remember the details, but I did take Possum out on the "rounds," up and around the hill. I knew I'd kick myself for not writing everything down as soon as it happens.. but - anyway, Possum has been excellent! Feeling better and getting back to normal.. I did take the time to hot pack his tick bites later that day.

On Wednesday night, I think it was, I had given him his pellets laced with his medications, and he tipped the whole bucket over! He managed to nibble most of it back up, but I learned my lesson.. So, from then on, I have been standing there, holding the bucket while he eats his medicated pellets. This is working.

The medication collection and assorted sweeteners!

Friday, "day 82," we woke to the season's first snowfall - about 3 inches. Donna and I had re-scheduled our weekly walk for this day, and at the last minute, she sent me a text to say that she was going to bring Big Mack along, as her husband was home to stay with the toddler. So, about 10 minutes to 10, I went out to the paddock and put on Possum's halter.. he was all like - "hey - I'm still eating my morning hay" - I brushed off his coat and picked his hooves, which had already developed the hated "ice balls." I tried spraying some cooking spray on the bottoms of his hooves - but I remembered from last year that not really working very well.

I led Possum out of the barn and into the driveway, and Donna and Big Mack were walking towards us.. this is when it was clear that both horses were feeling very fresh this morning! Between the colder air, the fresh snow, and just getting out with the other horse, we had a little spinning on Possum's part and some charging ahead at the walk on Mack's part. Donna had put on her nylon "natural horsemanship" halter, with the 10 foot lead attached, and I just had Possum's old loose purple camp halter on him, with my black lead with a chain. Halfway down the hill, I decided to put the chain over his nose for awhile. I didn't have to "use" it, but it helped to keep his manners in check. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the hill, and around the corner at the base of one of the driveways, Donna decided to just lunge Big Mack right there for a few minutes, because he was just so fresh! Possum and I watched as Mack went round and round, trotting, cantering and blowing snorts - finally, he settled down and we went back to our walk.

After turning around and getting back to the corner at the bottom, Possum was finally relaxed enough for me to take the chain off his nose. Then, Donna's toddler and husband came walking along- creating a new stir for Possum! The baby had a hunter's orange cap on his head, and Possum was pretty freaked out about that! So, more spinning around and head craning and eye bulging.. I thought it was kind of funny, actually. It really just all stemmed from the cold and snow and excitement. Nothing to take personally. I remember Mr. Dodge said to me, "He's not usually like that, is he?" And I just replied, "Well, no, but he can be!" (Because he's a HORSE!)

We walked up to the Dodge home, and I let Possum graze for a few minutes on their lawn (thankfully, the snow was already beginning to melt away.) Then, we went home. Much later in the afternoon, I went out to pick his paddock and stall, and the wind had picked up, and Possum was being silly, so I thought to myself.. hmmm, maybe I'll just blow off riding him.. it's getting late...

But, when I finished with the chores, the wind had died down again, and even though it was getting later in the afternoon, I said - forget that, we are going for a little spin! And, I'm so glad we did, because once again, Possum was very good. I decided to just keep him on the road, as the snow had melted there. We went all the way down to Dr. Doyle's old place and back, then back up the hill and down to Lenny's and back. We did a bunch of little trotting sets and even a canter or two. Felt great to get out for 50 minutes. It's so cool to have this trusting relationship with him now!

After I pulled off his tacked, I threw the little blue cooler over his back, and got the tub of hot water mixed with betadyne and hot packed his tick bites for a little while. He was very good for that.

Saturday, "day 83," I wanted to be sure to get him out one more time before his Sunday day off, plus we had the band coming over at 12:30 for an afternoon rehearsal. I got the barn chores done, which now includes a bit of extra work now that the temps are hitting freezing.. Ice in the metal paddock water tub, and another thin coat of ice in the bucket I leave in the stall. Luckily, I have already had the 5 gallon electric bucket plugged in just outside of his stall. By 10:30, with the air cold but the sun shining, I hopped on just outside of the barn door (trying to avoid the little spots of snow and snow packs in his hooves,) and off we marched, left out of the driveway and down the hill. Once again, Possum was happy to get out and about.

We skipped going straight down to Dr. Doyle's, and instead went left at the bottom of the hill and walked all the way to the end of New Road (with a few sets of trotting on the good parts of the dirt road.) On the way back, we cantered once, then down to a trot and a halt. From the halt, we trotted, then another halt. That's fun to work on.

Stopping at Dad's to check out the view Saturday morning.

By the time we got all the way back to the top of the hill, he was nice and loose, and we did one more working trot up to the Rhoad's driveway, marching right past the barking Newfoundlands. So good! Then, we turned around and headed back to the barn, having been out for just about an hour. I tossed the cooler over him again for a few minutes, he sipped on some water, and I brushed him off and checked his hooves one more time, before letting him loose in the paddock with fresh piles of hay. The band arrived, and we were occupied all afternoon with that. I fed him his pellets with his Doxy and one last dose of Bute. He should be all set with that now.

Sunday morning, once again I had to deal with ice in the water buckets, and frozen poops. But at least the sun was shining. By 11 or so, I tied him to the one tie outside in the paddock, and gave him a full grooming. Naturally, one of the first things he did was reach down and pick up the basket I keep the brushes in, dumping all of them out onto the ground! Funny pony. He finally settled down, and when I was done with grooming, I led him out of the paddock and up towards the Dodge farm. He walked at a very nice and respectful pace with me. We walked past Big Mack without visiting nose to nose, but they saw each other. Then we walked into the big field across from Lenny's old place, and I let him graze there for about 10 minutes in the sunshine. Most of the snow was melted in that field. We waved to Donna and her kids driving home from church, then I pulled his head up from the grazing, and he didn't fight me too hard on the walk back home. We took our time and stopped one or two more times for nibbles on the side of the road, his strong lips whisking back the snow like a broom to get to the good stuff.

Grazing in the sunny field Sunday morning.

Back in the paddock, he seemed content, and I finished up the barn chores and went back to the house to get ready for work. When I got back at 9:30, the house was cold, so we spent an hour or two getting the wood stove cranked back up again and having a snack, then I went out to visit him around 10:30. He had been mostly hanging out in his stall anyway, looking out into the darkness. I caved and gave him a "cookie." He always loves that. One more big flake of hay or two at the stall door, and I said goodnight.

Today is Monday, November 17, and it is snowing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get out to ride today. Good day to clean his bridle and breastplate!