RUDE!!!! Bad Flecky!

Bad Flecky

That's better

BRRRRRRR

So... by the time I got to get on Fleck, it was getting super cold and I couldn't feel my toes, my nose, or my fingers. I did get on bareback and that warmed up my thighs. ;) But that was about it. So we had a very quick ride... to the lake, and back, and around the other lake. Then back to the trailer and home we went. But it was still a ride. :)

First Ride of the Year....

And we are off to a great start!

Fleck was Rowdy today!!! Lots of wanting to trot and even canter. We trotted more than we have in a long time. :) It feels much much better too. The left lead canter feels pretty nice but the right lead is still funky. But he was at least able to get it today without cross cantering or falling out of it.

:)

Last ride of the Year

And it was glorious!!!!
  
Kelli and Peri and I met and had a wonderful time. I started my ride on Danny and it was sleeting a bit. Eeeks. It wasn't bad but then it turned to a heavy drizzle and it got cold! We all went for a hack once Kelli and Peri got on and then when we were done, I hopped on Fleck. 

Since I was freezing, we rode bareback and he warmed me up. :) We didn't stay out too long since since they had already ridden and we were all wet. But... Fleck felt good!! Dr. Brown looked at him and we determined it was still trochanteric bursitis with some sciatica too. So he injected his bursa. And I didn't get a chance to ride til now. But he really felt good! He started out much less crooked and wonky and felt like he was pushing more. And that morning when I went to get him from the pasture, he was striding out pretty impressively with his hind end. :) 

After our hack, we ended up in the XC field. I was itching to try Fleck out at the trot to see how he felt and despite being cold and wet... since the rain had stopped, no one seemed to want to be done. So... I did a little bit of trotting. He felt better, but... there was still some uneveness. Only now it felt like it might be in front. I felt like one foot was hitting heavier than the others but I couldn't tell you which one. Kelli said he just looked stiff overall. I'm wondering if today he felt good in the hind, but his front was bothering him. But he still seemed to feel better in general and happier. :) 

So then.. I was itching to try a canter. I had barely gotten the words out of my mouth and Fleck turned and bounced and picked up the left lead canter. Wheee!! It was actually a VERY nice canter!! He lifted his back and was round and bouncy! And sure, maybe it was porpoising more than being round in his back, but it felt GOOD!! Ahhhhh... it made my heart so happy. I tried the right lead and it was okay. Still felt pretty wretched but he seemed more willing to keep it. 

So.... we did a little more trotting and then we decided we really should head in. 
Ahhhh.... perfect way to spend the last day of the year!  

 

Pony Rides

Fleck's gotten quite a few rides in recently! We met Peri and headed out for a short hack. She rode Roux and I rode Fleck. We just walked but did a long walk and lots of hills. Flecky was feeling a bit rowdy in the beginning and was power walking like a beast! Peri had to keep trotting to keep up. Of course once we hit the lake he settled down. And by the end of the ride I could tell he was struggling. :(

 Then another day Kelli's pony had a swollen leg and Kelli desperately needed a ride. I finished work early enough to get out there so I met her with both boys. She rode Fleck and I rode Dan.

It's soooooooo hard for me. So hard!! I just... love that horse so gosh darn much.... I hate to give up the ride on him. And I know I'm possessive... no one can walk MY dog... no one can ride MY horse... but it was hard. She did good with him though and Dan and I had fun.

It was cute because normally on trails Dan has at least one or two antic filled moments and we tend to get really far ahead of other people, but... he loves his Flecky. He kept it to a dull roar and we stayed just far enough ahead that Fleck didn't have to get worried and struggle. :) Awwww.....  :)

And then on Christmas day I HAD to ride the Flecky! We had a nice long walk trail ride with Kelli, whos' horse was feeling better. It was a shorter ride as I could tell the multiple rides in the shorter time was taking a toll on Flecky. Plus I had acupunctured him the day before and did electroacupuncture too and he was super leany when I did it. But it was a nice way to spend Christmas! Especially after my cry fest that morning about Roany. I knew it was coming... I knew it was the first Christmas in 24 years without her... but it hit me hard that morning. I sat by her grave and cried for a bit. So it was nice to get to ride and snuggle with both boys.

Spectacular!!!

I rushed home after finishing work to try to sneak in a ride. Even though it was supposed to be my day off. Sigh.. Anyways, I finished and got home and was going to be at Ashland at 4 pm, but... when I went to grab Dan I noticed he had ripped half his shoe off. Sigh... So I got his shoe pulled off and flushed out his foot where he cut it and threw him in the stall. At this point it was close to 4:30. I debated staying home, but ended up taking Fleck. I'm so glad I did!!

It was pretty darn cold but I rode bareback and stayed warm. We just did a walk hack with Kelli but I did almost the entire ride with the reins tied in a loop over his neck and only used the neck strap. :) We finished with the sunset and went back to the trailers. 

About 2 minutes after getting off and getting his bridle off and my boots and helmet off I looked back and saw the spectacular sunset. And I said "oh man.. I've gotta get back on!". So I hopped on with just his halter and we trotted out to the field to see the sunset. It was AHHHHMAZING!! The photos don't do it justice. My lead rope wasn't long enough to loop so I basically only had the one rein. But Fleck was great and we just continued with our bridleless riding. :) 

Soooo amazing! I sort of needed that. :)