Dare and Mandros-lesson

I had my lesson yesterday but it wasnt much of a lesson. I was practicing my test and about 1/3 way through the first test, I asked him to canter, and he wouldnt. I tried and tried and he wouldnt canter to the left, he was fine to the right.

The owner got on and couldnt make him do it either. He kept wagging his head and neck. It looked like what it would if the rider was seesawing the bit, but she wasnt. He kept trying to throw himself on the forehand. She was finally able to get him to canter, but it was a struggle. I got back on and was able to get him to canter but had to really collect him to do it, and REALLY push from his hindend.

His owner thinks that his arthritis might be acting up. He was fine two days before, but the weather has changed some, so who knows with an old horse. You couldnt tell anything was wrong from the ground. He was x-rayed last year and the arthritis didnt show up, but it did when she bought him 8 years ago.

The show was canceled because of the hurricane, so its probably a good thing. We'll see how he is after after this storm passes. I know it seems like Mandros is always hurt but its because he has had a really hard life. He used to be a grand prix jumper, then he hurt his back, and he was sold and then trained for dressage up to grand prix, so he has been there, done that.