Using what we got

It's been a weather nightmare lately.

Wind, WINDS, snow, sleet, rain, WINDS and cold...did I mention, windy?

Brrrr

So I haven't been able to ride since Wednesday, which is OK, because I enjoy our ground work and firmly believe that a lot can still be done in terms of training, healing, rehabbing, exercising and mental work.

Saturday was a no go...I drove an hour in the rain to basically groom my wet soggy boy and watch him eat his hay.  Doesn't matter, he was happy so I was happy.  Drove an hour home.

Today, I managed to get a couple of hours in with NO rain! 

Victory!

Windy, yes, but whatevs!

I grabbed my brown boy and was aching to let him play and stretch it out in the large arena.

He went straight to rolling.

 And rolling...

This boy loves to roll in cool sand, or mud, or muck, or dirt....sigh

 He proceeded to pop straight up from his roll with the loudest fart and buck.  

How can you not laugh?!

Instead of grooming him first, I went right into free lunging and let him blow off STEAM.

Which he did for a good 10 minutes and was having fun.

I brought him back in and groomed him thoroughly.

Applied skin ointments to his herd bites and his hock sores and instead of free lunging, we then switched to some long line work.

Trotting ground poles.

Worked on w/t/c on long line and then did some Parelli games.

I took him down to the far end of arena and worked on circle game, having him move his shoulder or hind end away when asked (believe it or not, Laz HATES to move his shoulders/head/neck vs hind, so I work on that frequently-it's a brat thing, not a lame thing).  He actually did great with that today!

We had a couple of explosions where Laz decided he either was done, or didn't quite understand my request and was extra panicky because we were working in the 'scary zone' of the arena.  He blew up when I asked him to change directions on the line, like a trot, reverse direction, trot.  

He struggles with this on days where he's UP...he wants to STOP, SPIN, FLY, REAR, BUCK and be defiant.  

No, I'm looking for a soft but attentive turn, thank you

Looking back, when I started this work in November, that was the point that I would freak at.  

I felt out of control and that Laz was dominating me....which he was.

When Laz becomes BIG,  he gets BIG (and dumb, lol).  

Now, I seriously laugh it off and have a better idea of what to do, to bring him down and get him attentive and back in control of body/mind.  

I asked him "Find your brain...."

"Pick it back up"

"Good boy!"

I basically match his energy instead of shrinking back, I raise up to show him that "NO...you need to listen to me and it will be OK"

I maintain asking for reverses and circles and dont stop until he shows signs of releasing and calming down.  It really only took a couple of minutes 

He did calm down and went back to understanding and respecting.

"Ohhh, you want me to turn....see, haha, I thought you wanted me to rear and be a stallion Mom....ooopsie!"

His work ethic is truly so great, that when he does blow up, it usually means that he isn't understanding or can't quite process it and needs a minute, a reminder, and time to work it out.  I also, have to be aware if I'm asking for something correctly, as well.  

***

And, the BO's are adding on to the barn, extending lean to off stalls so now our herd of three will have a shelter for during the rain, hot summer days, etc, instead of having to stand in their open stalls.

Love it!

And I'm happy to report that the minimal application of the Animax on Laz's unknown hock irritations, are doing well and healing with fur growing back.

Picture above is from today, and picture below is from last month