Sunrises and Sunsets

 This past week, I babysat the barn. Two a days, I call it. I fed in the am/pm and it's the best way to start/end the day, even if it means it's 2 hour round trip x a day.

We barter and I got board off, so it's a win/win. They get to travel and I get to take care of the babies.

Side note; I found this little delicious gem at Trader Joes

"Pedigris"...and yes, it'a a racin' poneee

 I started on Saturday, and I decided Laz was DEFINITELY sound enough to ride that evening

We've had gorgeously cooler weather

 Joking around on my crazy, out of control OTTB...someone stop him

 Quick family photo

 Yippppeee, bareback pad, hunter boots and capri yoga pants

Yuck on my over using my inside rein, what is up with that?!

Turnout the next am just after sunrise..those two take off galloping down to their large pasture

Evening, galloping up

"YAyyy Grainie grainz time!"

 Mason my am pup

 Mason my pm pup

Early daylight...

 Sleepy am pony

 Turned out

 Rainy faces waiting to come up for dinner

 Am turnout

 AM Doe peeing...who ever sees that?! I guess we do...???

 PM grazing along the fence line

 My last day of feeding, I also had my trimmer coming, so I had a few hours to kill

I chose to make it a special day, and took Mason to Kensington for a swim play date

 He was SO excited..I need to do this again!

 Made quick friends with a boy scouts troop on a lunch break. They fed him turkey jerky, just look at that otter tail in side/side swing action

 Back at the barn, drying off holding his toy

 Happy boy

I can't believe I've had this face chosen as my baby since he was two weeks old...

He's pretty much the greatest chocolate lab on earth

 The two Princes who chose to nap in their open, shaded stalls while the farrier came

Laz got re casted (double casted actually, we wrapped his equicast on his hoof, and then used my cheap Korean cast on outside to hopefully keep on for longer than 2 weeks) He's been moving SO beautifully again. 

When we were done, Laz galloped the fastest I've ever seen down to his pasture along with a squeal, feeling great. 

I look forward to our next ride 

Big boy pants

Saturday; sunny mid 40's and zero wind=great riding weather so my fellow barn boarder and I set a date to meet. I decide that Laz was looking quite sound and was ready. We had been doing every other day hand walking and he was fine.

Pulling up to the barn, Laz trotted up to the fence.

Now, I've also been feeding him his soaked beet pulp which he adores, so this is more "YUmmz treatz ladee is hur!" than anything else

Groom session for drama llama 

Don't you love how Laz ground ties HIMSELF lol

So, E and her spotted wonder X Justin, Laz and I headed out to our trusty trail loop-down our dirt road

Laz is Mr. I LEAD ALL THE TIMES pony now

Sunshine!! Bliss

Photo opt. I'm annoying at documenting all the goods but I just can't help myself.

Look below, he's even RESTING on his RH-score.

I don't boot him anymore on our trail rides (the ground is totally good/fine for his hooves)

 Below is E and Justin, who are total rockstars. 

Her boy LOVES to jump-they should totally do XC I tell her all the time!

There are many fun downed logs but not for Lazaroo and I

We just admire and watch and take photos which is fine with me.

Maybe one day..?! 

 

So, I tried to track our riding but for some reason my Endomondo kept disconnecting which was SO annoying because we did some trot work, canter sessions and RODE. I wanted to see how fast we went and how many miles.
After about 1.45 hr we decided the day was today.

TO CROSS MILFORD ROAD to get to Kensington Metro Park

It was quick, un eventful and the horses acted like they do this all the time.

It's just a QUICK red light-so you have to cross QUIIICK, with anxious drivers so I'm not 100% comfortable but we did it and it was fine.

I love riding with E because she's chill and funny.  She helps me a lot with my road riding confidence!

And look at this scenery!!

The boys were SO funny. They started getting so excited to ride somewhere new and broke out into a trot and then a full Calvary charge!

We literally laughed the whole time and I said "These boys know us too well"

Along side Huron River

Laz below, showing his ants in his pants

We traded for a bit so Laz could remember how to follow and he enjoyed the mental break and turned into a hound dog sniff sniffing everything

Photo Opts! E and Justin

Me and Laz

What is so great about Kensington is you get to experience (on one of the 4 trails) open fields as well as trails

Laz was very interested in the campers

We walked down to the river...

 Laz locked in on it right away. It's been a year since I took him here

 He immediately started pawing  repeatedly and playing in the water

 I thought "Hey great, ice cold water for his legs mid ride---perfect!"

 Silly boy playing away, then the next thing I knew...

He ROLLED!!!! 

More so dropped down as I was literally saying "Watch him roll (sarcastically)" and he dropped like a calf and laid in the river and I promptly stepped off into knee deep water!

It was actually hilarious!

Fatty was hot and wanted to play in his kiddie pool!

 After our swim lesson, Laz was 10000% recharged!

He was FEISTY!

Here he is saying "NO MOR PICKTURRRRS"

I kept calling him Mule because..well, he was acting like one

We can normally ride 80% of our ride on the buckle but after the river swim, he was ready to FLY

In the field we trotted back to the trails because both boys wanted to RUN and Laz made it clear by squealing and tossing his head that he wanted to really be galloping but he kept his cool after a few stern "UH NO!!!"

 

These two boys love to ride together!

 

 Someone was quite pleased with himself!

All ended well, he remained sound and no re-swelling of tendon.

The next day I cold hosed and put his medicine on just as a precaution 

HOORAH for trail OTTB's

It's a non jumping version of cross country fun!

Right??! ;)

It feels so good to be back on him again!