Back to reality

Toby has been back in 'work' for a week now. Although we had done a fair few trail rides, that didn't mean he had any cardio fitness so he's been finding trotting for anything longer than 20 seconds at a time difficult. I started at 20 minutes lungeing, 5 minute blocks each direction, 20 seconds of trot, 40 seconds of walk. Now we're up to 30 minutes, same trot interval but more of them and more walking. Another week or so of that and I hope to be able to start gently under saddle.

After I warmed him up yesterday I turned him loose in the indoor and let's just say I felt humbled. The bucks and flings he threw out were impressive and I was reminded how privileged we are that horses let us ride them! 

I'm also very proud of how happy and confident he is. The person who transported him to my trainer's barn walked right up to him in his stall and stuck his hand out, like you would to a normal horse, and Tob just said hi, acted interested and polite and cute. He even complimented me on how friendly he was. Now I automatically hold my breath when new people approach him because for so long he would run to the back of his stall or fling his head up if he saw a hand but he really is learning that life and people can be nice and whilst firm discipline will happen, it's not a question of 'is this person going to hit me' all the time. I'm so proud of how far he has come it makes me quite emotional! I'm a sap.

Hey guys.

Being back in work is way harder than being a professional pasture object: