What a day!

Whew what a day! The vet came out to evaluate Versace's foot and check on some other horses for me. He doesn't think its an abcess. He thinks that Versace stepped on himself and caused a hematoma and that is why he is sore. He also thinks that I should be riding him at the walk while it is healing. The vet wants me to keep soaking it though and rub ichthemal (or however you spell it) on the swollen part of his coronary band.



He has really grown up since he got here. His manners are really coming along and he will stand tied for a long time and even stands with his foot in the bucket and not move while I do chores.

It rained most of the day. I went out to feed this evening and it had stopped but you could feel the storm coming. It was cool with low humidity and the wind was blowing strong. It was PERFECT spooking weather. Since I'm a no-excuses kind of teacher we tacked up anyways. I wasn't going to let the wind stop me from taking advantage of a dry hour. I tacked him up like I would any of my other guys. I don't tip-toe around babies....it only makes it harder later on.

Sadly I didn't have a photographer today. Hopefully I will tomorrow. We did a little of groundwork before I stepped up on him. He stood fine and we started working on bending. He is an over achiever so he wants to over flex instead of actually giving and moving the way he should. We did this until his back relaxed.

Then I realized how sucked back he was and how he wasnt forward at all! I don't talk while I ride. I use my aids to do all the communicating. He was sticky at first and then got the hang of it.

We worked on steering, moving his hips, giving to pressure, moving his shoulders, and the most important of all....STAYING IN MY AIDS. If he looked out or bulged he got corrected. He was forward, straight, and relaxed when I had him between my aids. He did fabulous. All we did was walk and that is all we needed to do. Until we tackle all these issues we can't go faster.

He didn't want to stand at all but eventually got the hang of it. He had to stand while I got on and off. He moved while I was getting off so I got back on and waited until he wanted to do what I asked and then I got off. He stood while I chatted in the arena and then was very well behaved while I put him away.