Under the Weather

Sick pony falling asleep on the crossties

When I got back, the first thing I did was send D a message to find out how my boy behaved while I was away.  Apparently he was "bratty" at first, which I have no doubt since he would've had about 4 days off by the time she got to ride him, but then she told me that he went good for her.  She did tell me, however, that on Sunday morning he wouldn't eat his breakfast so she called our barn owner down to the barn to check on him.  Our barn owner assured her that he was just having an off day and she could ride him, which she did.

I went out to the barn excited to see my boy today and got there when my trainer was feeding the other horses.  She told me that one of the lesson horses had a cold, which she thinks he got from one of the new horses who had the cold a couple weeks ago.  He didn't have a runny nose or anything since they are all up to date on their shots, but he is an older horse so he was having a hard time breathing and was also not eating.

Of course, I could tell something was wrong with Walker immediately.  It's not like I was expecting him to bound towards the stall door like a puppy excited to see me, but I expected a little more pep from my normally peppy pony.  Nope.  He was super quiet on the crossties and then the sneezing happened.  I rode him anyway, but when I put him away, he barely touched his supper.  So it appears that my baby is sick also. :(

He is also in the throws of shedding.  I had this naive hope that while I was away, D would happily get all the hair off him for my return, but alas.  I am glad he didn't put on a crazy thick winter coat!

Note to self: never wear black in spring

Some of the glorious hair

It may have just been the lethargy, but Walker was super well behaved today.  I could tell immediately that D had been a good influence on him.  When I asked for a jog, he gave me a beautiful Western Pleasure jog, which I haven't been working on lately since we've been jumping (and which I haven't been successfully getting since we started jumping).  It's amazing how it only takes a few minutes to realize the difference in your horse when someone more talented rides them.  I really devoted my ride today to emulating D's success.  I made sure to really ask for every movement perfectly, especially since Walker was too sick to work hard anyway.  

I have to say that despite Walker's sickness and obvious exhaustion, it was one of the best rides I've had in a long time.  There was no muss or fuss which I really attribute to D, and I let him be a Western horse (in English tack) so that he could really shine.  I'm still thinking about that gorgeous jog of his.  

Of course, just when I start to think I might be able to hazard the jump lesson despite my own chest pain, my pony gets sick.  Jumping is probably out of the question tomorrow but at least I'll try for another sweet ride!

Walker's Justin Bieber hairstyle