This past Sunday it was low 20's and just beautifully sunny!
I had actually blanketed Laz the night before. The temps had dropped to around 13 degrees with high winds so I figured he would appreciate his winter blanket.
In all actuality, he would have been fine without it.
I'm S.L.O.W.L.Y trying to be 100% natural vs my knee jerk reaction of knitting Laz a head to toe pajama set with matching hoof mittens.
At any rate; I decided to work him out a bit. His energy level was up so he seemed game.
The cut on his back still showed some signs of 'ouch' so still no riding.
I brought Laz out to one of the Spring pastures where the grass was left long so it's nice and cushy for footing. Not icy or slick.
We started with BIG circles of walking...
Allowing him to warm up and stretch out
And moved into a nice little trot
Lots of snorts, head lowering and neck stretching...
Lots of snorts, head lowering and neck stretching...
He gave some great fluid moments of very sound looking trots!
HOORAH!
Using his back..
Mixed it up with walk, slow trot...
extending his trot a bit..
Then, he started to get really fired up.
Not in a "I'm having FUN way" but more of a frantic mixed with pushy OTTB way
He got a little rude and unruly
Started to blow up and yank away at the lunge line, buck and gallop around.
PS I HATE my lunge line..I want a heavier rope one. This one is so flimsy, craptastic and just blows in the wind.
PS I HATE my lunge line..I want a heavier rope one. This one is so flimsy, craptastic and just blows in the wind.
"LEEEMMMMEEEE GOOOOOOOO"
Bucking around
Then trying to evade my 'reverse' request which promptly got him yanked back down to a WHOA and we started over.
Mental check; HI, put your brain back in your head.
and right back to a CALM trot
Which when he went to canter a bit by choice instead of the harder gait of a trot...I wondered "maybe he's trying to tell me, ENOUGH trotting"
With rehabbing, it's so important to listen to your horse.
Laz is pretty smart and has a great work ethic, so I think I may have missed his ask of "OK, enough." It may have been enough mentally, it may have been enough physically. He is NOT a lazy boy, so if he seems like it's enough, it's because he's already given me 110%
Laz is pretty smart and has a great work ethic, so I think I may have missed his ask of "OK, enough." It may have been enough mentally, it may have been enough physically. He is NOT a lazy boy, so if he seems like it's enough, it's because he's already given me 110%
It was just a vibe I got.
So, we switched to walking on the lunge for 10 minutes of good behavior, and then back to hand walking and my sweet boy returned.
Due to the fact, that even after 35 minutes of walking, Laz was still a tiny bit damp, I sheeted him. The temps were to drop back in the teens with some high winds so I wanted to shield him a bit. I yanked the sheet off the next morning and he still remains...NUDE!
Weather currently is low 20's...I may opt to blanket him Thursday when weather will drop down to 10 with winds.
Weather currently is low 20's...I may opt to blanket him Thursday when weather will drop down to 10 with winds.
We had a trim Monday evening with our awesome farrier and all hoof things are looking great!
I always love hearing about other solid citizen horses getting a little out of hand on the lunge... and I think you're right - some of that may be their way of telling us how the work is feeling to them.
ReplyDeleteLaz's winterizing is fabulous. Seems like most of Val's extra hair is on his chin. ;)
Good horsey mommy for listening to your boy. They tell us so much but we are often deaf.
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot to say how cute Laz looks in those photos!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you listed to Laz. Sometimes it's hard to tell if they're trying to tell us something or if they're just being silly. That's where knowing your horse is important I guess! Or being able to read horses in general.
ReplyDeleteSavez gave me some crazy out of the blue on the lunge yesterday when I was calmly, quietly asking her to maintain her gate in a circle and jump a small obstacle. It came out of nowhere. It seemed like a fear response. So I started walking with her, allowing her to buck and canter in big circles around the arena. She calmed down, snorted, and regained her composure. I just never know when she's going to "hear the voices" ha ha.
ReplyDeleteGood for you listening to him! That's awesome. Over time he'll learn how to say enough politely and you'll learn to recognize it. Keep up the great work. He looks fantastic!
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