The many faces of Laz

So, my blogging schedule has just been off. I'm working more, riding more, playing more, etc...less time for blogging. I assume this winter I'll blog a bit more.

Back to the riding! Last Wednesday, it was 50 and gorgeous so I rode. It was relaxing, lovely and Laz was perfect. In our new saddle and bitless.

 It was blustery but gorgeous

 Cow chewing face to the left...

 Horse chewing face to the right

 Saturday, it was cold. Like 20 degrees but sunny and no wind so actually very pleasant for riding. Billy came and Mason got his exercise and Laz and I played in the pasture and ended it with a family road stroll.

I had been telling Billy how Laz has been fiesty and playful but also quite full of himself lately. On Saturday, NONE of that came out, just a gentle fat lazy pony...

Some videos from Saturday:

Came home, relaxed and glittered up our home with Christmas delights and twinkle lights 

(why can't we have twinkle lights year round?!)

Then today, Monday, the BO and I had planned for a trail ride.

The weather was cold, low 20s and very windy. Like 25 mph and overcast. Not a pretty day.

 Yet any day is a better day when you can ride!

Laz was a FIRECRACKER!!! 

From the start he was telling me, "I'm trying,  but I'm having a VERY hard concentrating because I really want to run and run and then run some more followed by more running, ok?"

However, Pito was relaxed and chill so it was a delicate balance. In hindsight, I should have lunged him?? But I didn't so I just rode through it. He got more excited as we approached the trail so I'm not sure lunging really would have helped.  He was frisky and excited and it just happens.

He was anticipating at ever turn to RUN, so he started jigging and curling his neck, and doing baby bucks followed by grabbing his bit and running and acting a bit nutty in general. I needed to get him on the trail and let him trot, so we did. He was so cute, trotting and cantering and great big happy snorting and breathing out...goood boy!!! As long as he behaved, I didn't care, just move forward and not UP. It was a short, cold trail ride and we turned around and Laz didn't want the ride to end...I really feel he just had more energy to WANT to get out and he love love loves trail riding. So, we asked for a trot (Laz was already jigging and squealing and feeling VERY fresh and fancy and collected/coiled with spring-like steps and bounce..like where is that horse, normally?!!) but..I  had him moving and was nicely  trotting and then he moved into a collected canter/buck which was ride-able but there was definitely room for it to get out of hand, when Pito who was calmly trotting, let out a tremendous left hind buck and tossed his Mom in the snow/frozen ground! UGH!

I immediately stopped Laz and dismounted and grabbed her horse (not that he was going anywhere, he seemed as shocked as all of us...like "Uh, oh shoot...I forgot you were up there...sorry...")

She was fine, just shook up and took her time to get her breath (she was launched) and vision back. We mounted up and ended the ride by just walking and ironically so the two fresh boys seemed very sorry for their antics and didn't take a mis step the rest of the ride.

Isn't it hard to determine when to get that trot going to get out the willies vs holding it in vs letting it all rip out?! 

Silly ponys!!!

It made me realize the strength of Laz and what he's capable of. He was very strong in our ride today (and he was bitted) but really tried his best to listen despite his body getting out of control vs some of our ambling rides that I can ride him with my pinky finger...

I respect his strength and willingness to listen and be soft, yet today I also respected his need to be a silly pony and act up. We all have those days. Just happy no one was hurt and we ended it all on a good note.

Winter willies!