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I know it's been a while since an update. Tob is pretty much on an extended break. I'm still waiting for visa news and there's no point going back to my trainer's barn and working on everything stressful if it's for nothing.
I'm keeping him at a friend's barn and they have acres and acres of land to go on trails, a new corral that isn't too icy to walk and trot in and a nice non-heated barn with cows and pigs and chickens so Tob has met plenty of new friends.
I'm still stumped on how to safely integrate him with others. He's not mean but he's still studdy and whilst he's met all the horses either over a pasture fence or stall wall, when he's in the mood he strikes hard with his front legs and has that stallion wither bite thing going on. Plus he's not averse to mounting a mare in heat.
So, we're keeping it gradual.
What I really wanted to write about today was that it's been lovely and springlike for a couple of days now and I managed to ride yesterday, just a gentle walk, trot and jog and he was a DREAM. If I asked him to slow down, he slowed down. No grabbing the bit, no tension, just 'ok'. When I asked him for a little flexion right and left he could hold it. His whoas were superb and I even asked for a few lope strides, just to get a transition and they were smooth and calm. I love my smooth and calm pony. When we took a break, after each good thing he just stood and stretched out his shortass neck and yawned and breathed deeply.
Then today, he was out in the corral sunbathing so I went in to give him a brush and take off some of that wonderful shedding coat. He blissed out, eyes half closed, head down, enjoying the grooming. I took off his miracle collar and gave him a good scratch and he smooched on me, sniffing my hair and face, breathing on me and generally not being afraid of me AT ALL which made me super happy. There's a very smart, very cute horse in there somewhere, who just needs to know everything's going to be ok.
I hope I can keep making it ok for him.
