I haven't updated lately because 1) I have been really busy, but also 2) we seemed to be having issues :( Don't worry though, this posts ends on a good note!
Since Shorty had those several days where I wasn't sure what was going on...whether he was trying to buck or crow hop because of excess energy, discomfort, or whatnot, I had found out that he went much better in a different saddle pad with my western saddle. The pad I was using was missing a couple layers in one spot because the squirrels got to it this past winter. They did not manage to eat through it, and I didn't think it was enough for it to make a big deal, especially since I was using a Navajo pad over it.
Anyway, I asked a friend if I could try her saddle pad and that night we had a FANTASTIC ride. He had also been going into a fast trot instead of going into a canter and usually when he does that I think he is having a bad day. That was Sept. 2nd.
There was a tack sale at a local arena last weekend where a LOT of used tack was going for some really decent prices. I got a Pro Choice 20X pad (used of course) for $20. It looks great on him and he seems to ride well in it.
Then, even more recently, he began bolting away from me when I lunged him on the line in the arena. He did this only at a canter and only going to the right it seemed. He has always done this occasionally since I have owned him, which is why I have never trusted cantering him in an open space with other people riding unfortunately. We found out that he would only really pull away if the line was long enough, and so keeping him on a smaller circle when asking for the canter kept him from even trying. He looked fine, and especially with draw reins, doing it this way has made our latest lunging sessions go just fine. I think he just got my number here, and did it because he knew he could get away. He would even start out going really nicely and all of a sudden just rip away from me and go galloping to the opposite side of the arena, snort/blow towards the other horses, and then start walking back. There was one time where he kept galloping down the long side back a forth several times before I convinced him to come to me.
He has also been eating from a slow feed hay net at night. He has to kind of poke at it repetitively to get the hay, and even though his hay lasts longer, I decided to put his hay back on the ground for him to eat just in case it was not good for his neck for him to be eating it that way every night.
Tonight, we got to ride down into the big pasture because the night horses hadn't been turned out yet. There's a new subdivision of houses going up on the other side of the fence, people walking, and cars driving by. He did well and he always enjoys getting out and looking around at new sights.
In the arena we did some 20m canter circles and he popped right into the canter from a walk. We did some trotting at the end of our ride and he was quite rushy so we worked on finding a good tempo and keeping it. He actually broke into a canter a couple of times like my last horse used to do. We would be trotting along and then he'd just break into the nicest canter. I know there are issues when he doesn't want to canter or when he is lazy. He was neither of those tonight and was nice and forward in both directions - yipee!
He got a carrot and nice cool rinse down after the hot day. He is such a good boy and he makes me so happy!!
