SundaySunshine

Sunny Sunday. I went for a typical visit/groom session and wouldn't you know it but the warm sun, the Fall colors and my snoozy puppy dog of a pony lured me into a quick ride.

I.just.had.to.

It was like "Uh, OK stars are aligned...I'm doing this"

I had promised to not ride when alone but I just couldn't pass it up. With Fall in Michigan, it goes from glorious to wet/cold in a day, so I carpe diem'ed that shit and did it!

I just told Laz, "Pony...take care of us" and thought good thoughts. But more so, he gave me the vibes that all was going to be well. 

 I threw on his bitless and his bareback pad and hopped on.

At 29 weeks, (7 mths) my hop is a little heftier but my stoic pony just STOOD there....love this fraggle rocked maned of  a horse. Damn.

I'll tell you the dismount is MUCH harder to slide off when there is a hard belly in the way. Sorry baby that I smushed your face, but I think you enjoyed the ride too.

 We just walked around. Ambled really, it was lovely.

It felt good for me, and he seemed to enjoy his little job as well.

Jump, one day...in our future...one day....

 It was so quiet and peaceful during our ride. You can hear the squirrels running about, and the leaves gently falling, and Laz's big happy exhales

 #yesifilteredthecrapoutofthis #so

 I swear, I am the pregnant one....

Focus on the pretty leaves in his fat shadow instead

 Pokertown pony. My favorite....

 It's amazing how a ride, no matter if an amble or a trail ride, can just lighten my soul up

This may be my last ride until birth (early Jan??)....I don't know, but I thoroughly enjoyed it

 My sweets waiting after untacking for his cookies for his Rolex performance

I'm smitten for him. 

The obsession just doesn't quit...Le Sigh

***

On Monday, Laz got floated

He goes along so well, doesn't hardly move and all without sedation.

Thanks for Miles's Mom for giving us this Equine Dentist's name years ago! He's the best

During his jaw breaks, Laz was walk towards me like "uh saves me....??" it was quite funny.

More positive hoof changes took place but I'm going to allow a bit of time to pass before posting so I can hopefully show some dramatic growth changes

Keep your fingers crossed for us

A damn good ride

This boy.

He has been worth all the struggle in the past. He is just a damn great horse.

There was something in his eyes, years ago, that told me how sweet he was/is. More so, IS.

He has turned to be very loyal, trusting and loves to seek loving affection.

A far cry from the antsy, nervous, dancing pony I had even just a few years ago.

Patience is key. And turnout ;)

Tacking up for a much needed ride in the pasture

Laz just ground ties like a champ. I never use cross ties with him. Not that I can't, but he doesn't need it and it's great to not be limited to one section of the barn area.

Him just being curious and turning around to smell/touch things. Love him

Standing still as a statue for him as I mount up, lazy ears

Our sun bleached hair matches...what can I say?

Just loving on this guy

He has been so sound and fluid lately, it's great!

Stretching/snorting during a trot

This is why I ride with crazy long reins, I love to allow him to stretch down and release his back muscles

Opening up his trotting stride 

I love how Laz doesn't care if the other two are out grazing while we ride. In fact, he's focused and happy

Working on our canter a bit. I love his neck below. I hate how I curled up like a perched frog lol

My forever bad habit below, leaning forward, pulling knees up. UGH.

Good boys get good pats!

Definitely need to lower my stirrups a hole...

but look at my beautiful chunky boy

It was a lovely, relaxed ride for us both. Just what I needed and I think, him too

Not bad for an OTTB who took his momma and his future brother (I'm 5 months pregnant) on a fun little ride

I'm so lucky to have this ponyface boy and so is our future baby.

I can't wait to have him give pony rides as well as trail ride again (next year).

I've got some girls (that I trust immensely) lined up to ride Laz this Fall for when I get too big so he can still go out and enjoy trail rides.

Ahhh April

Oh, Hello April!

It's nice to show your 40-50 degree sun-shining face

I've been finally able to get back into a real routine

Laz and I hit the roads.

As you can see this is great footing (no really, it is) vs our pastures which are too soft right now

For a barefoot horse, this terrain is awesome to help condition and build a hoof vs standing on soft snow/mud/grass 

 Laz's eye says "Cookie?!"

Nope, just a photo of us enjoying our first ride this Spring!

Sir Laz is dropping fur in massive amounts

***

 Another day, we hit the roads and I didn't have Mason so I went a little further.

Mason turns 11 soon and I limit our distance for his comfort when he joins our rides.

 On this ride, Laz was a bit spooky. I am trying to use more approach/retreat for his comfort instead of push/push/push.

There were kids playing, dogs barking, people out in their yards working...so it was great exposure.

He got lots of pats, and treats 

 I can't blame him, he's been stuck in his pasture due to this crazy amount of snow for months!!

 Back home=hog heaven

 ***

Another day I came to alternate my riding with ground work.

I found this snoozing ponerton.

Put a bow on it!!

I couldn't resist curling into him for some napping photos

 The photo is the best..not sure what each of us is doing, ha!!

 Off we went on a walk to 'play'

I want him to think his rides are fun, as well as working on ground work

I've been encouraging water play...

 It's going well.

 He's learned that if he splashes, he gets a cookie, or a 'good boy' or a pat, or all 3

 By the way, this puddle was actually a HUGE pile of snow two days earlier.

It's dried up now...

 Mason rolls in snow enjoying the last of it

 Our muddy toes and reflection

Polar vortex again...

Sigh, this winter has been trying.

On the 'good days' when I have a bit of mid work week time, this is what we do. It's still productive but it's HARD walking through the 2-3 ft of snow piles and ice to get to the snowy summer pasture.

Oh well, as long as this fuzzy angel face is having fun...I don't really have a thing to complain about 

ZOOOOMIES

and then La la la la la la

What a funny boy. He has such talent..I'm going to try to do something more with channeling it this spring/summer

The puppy brothers snuggling in for a warm mid day nap

Greek holy water that you take home to sprinkle on your family and home.

(and dogs and horses)

Another mid work day, time enough to check on fuzzy (that temp was about 14 and he was doing great sans blanket) and stuff both the boys with hay to get out of the wind

SPOILED...as we like it ;)

***
Saturday morning, waiting out a snow storm before our barn visit. Mason could care less that I had made lemony Dutch baby pancakes with powdered sugar and black tea with coconut milk

His eyes say "GET DREZZED IN UR STINKEE HORSIE CLOTHES AND LESSS GO!!!"

So I did.

I drove out to the barn in a white out. I didn't even care. I just wanted to SEE my horse and not be pressed for time. Snow, windy, whatever, I was going.

It was windy and cold and snowy, but temps were in the 20's so I wanted to yank his blanket and allow him to run free and naked. It was snowing SO hard I doubted myself. I took him inside the barn, yanked the blanket, groomed him and when I walked back out 10 minutes later...

Sun and no snow! I literally ran back in the barn, grabbed my bitless bridle and helmet and decide to hop on bareback. I didn't care if it was for 15 minutes, I was going.to.ride!

It felt so good. Like soul feeding good.

The snow was powdery, the wind stopped, the sun shone through...hello and thank you horse gods!

 We did a couple of trot sessions but between his BIG lofty snow trot and the slippery ice underneath, I didn't push it. I didn't want to bounce off or have him slip and hurt himself. So we just ambled around making patterns and riding softly. I probably rode for 25 minutes, but it was so good.

 Cookie face afterward. 

I stuffed him full of cookies for 

A. allow me to scramble up on his back bareback when I was needing about 18" more in height to get up

B. Listening under 'bareback'

 This boy is food motivated like a dog

 This little French munchkin is healing really nicely and I'm happy to report his bad breath (like a shrimp boat) is gone!
He is such a good little patient

My best boy for late night cuddling and my barn co-pilot

Stay warm!

Laz is currently blanketed and I can't wait to yank it off him tomorrow!