A week off = Silly Pony

Once Skate gets used to thinking for himself, he prefers to keep it that way. He had a week off due to a death in the family so getting back into the swing of things is going to take a few rides. Last night he was rushy, tense, spooky, and on his forehand. Ugh. Good times! On the bright side, it really made me work on myself - I spent a lot of time really sitting back and deep trying to get him to engage his hind end and quit trying to dig a hole to China with his front hooves. My back is sore from having to half halt his front end so his hind end would catch up. I don't think its unreasonable to think he can canter down the long side without speeding up. We do not need to circle constantly! I spent a lot of time telling him to "get it together!"

Of course he was so opposed to listening to me, he tried to opportunize on every distraction...old rattly trucks seemed to be conveniently driving by all evening. Last week a biker went by and Skate cared less, what's with the fear of rattly trucks? I know he's totally just used to thinking for himself and I've got to reinforce that I'm the driver of this team!

I have always thought that the reason the horse was so bad after time off was b/c he was full of energy - last night I realized it has nothing to do with that. It was hot as crap, humid, and Skate goes out in a huge hilly pasture for 17 hrs a night...he is not full of energy. He was totally trying to control the situation. When he is worked regularly he is used to following my lead on the ground and undersaddle.

This weekend he'll certainly be worked regularly. I'm signed up for Pony Club camp, which includes two lessons a day in dressage, gymnastics, and XC (remains to be seen whether I'll actually be brave enough for this), plus trail rides each night of Friday through Sunday. Chubby Skate is going to boot camp! (Yes, he's actually getting his food cut back as he just slid over to the high side of the Henneke scale).