Ride 89

I only got this one picture.  Hubby was on his laptop and Chrome wanted to see him so we went over there.  Then Chrome started trying to play with the laptop.  I think he wanted to do some Christmas shopping!

I almost didn't ride today.  It was a long day with a cranky boss and I got held up late.  By the time I got home it was already getting dark and I just didn't feel motivated to ride at all.  Then I reminded myself that I haven't been able to ride the last two days because of being busy after work and that this evening I had nothing else to do.  If I didn't ride it would be a week, then two weeks, then a month, etc.  When I start talking myself out of one ride it eventually becomes all the rides.  It's not because I don't want to ride, I just can't find the energy sometimes.

So since I was feeling tired I just hopped on bareback (helmet on me, halter on him).  I set up the Endomondo to track my ride because I was curious how much we actually move around when we're riding in the yard.  Here's a screenshot.

I did finally find the horseback riding under the activities.  The reason I didn't see it the first time is because I was looking for the word horse, not plain old riding.  Then I noticed the icon of a little person riding a horse and rolled my eyes at how dumb I can be lol.  Thanks for cluing me in Saiph!

I think my average speed was so low because I did a bit of standing around...  The only thing I can't figure out is how to make it show the top speed like it did on the running and biking.  Does it not show that for riding???  I can make it show current speed, but not top speed.  I carry the tablet in a bag on my back so I can't really look at it while trotting to see how fast he's going... I don't want to risk dropping it.  I did find this graph though...

So if I'm reading that right our top speed was close to 6mph?

Anyway I started out riding in the yard.  At one point I trotted down the driveway and as soon as we went from the fine gravel to the coarse gravel he slammed on the brakes and walked slowly out onto the big rocks.... so his feet are sore apparently.  It's been muddy, nasty and soft here so I'm going to treat him for thrush and find something to toughen his soles back up.  He was totally fine on the small gravel, on dirt and on grass or leaves.  He had his big, ground eating walk and trot going there, so it's just the coarse gravel right now.  Normally he trots and gallops across it without a second thought so I know he's tender.  Dang wet weather!

Since he was acting tender I didn't want to trot him on the driveway even though he acted totally fine on the fine gravel so I took him out into the pasture.  As soon as I asked him to go through the gate he balked.  He hates riding out there!  I guess it's boring because he lives out there.  So I tried to mix it up with walking, trotting, weaving around trees, going up and down the dirt hill, etc.  At one point I trotted him around the round pen for longer than we've probably ever trotted at one time lol.  He did awesome!  He never tried to stop or slow down.

The only issue in the pasture was his barn (gate) sour attitude.  He didn't want to go away from it and wanted to hurry back to it.  When he started bracing and trying to dictate our direction I did a one rein stop.  It only took once to remind him to listen to me.  After that he would brace sometimes, but he responded when I asked him to give through his jaw.  Yay!  I think the lateral flexion is a big success!  I didn't do any cantering and I didn't go into the back of the pasture because we were bareback and I was being a weenie (didn't want him to take off or something).  I probably could have after we had our flexion reminder and been fine, but I'm telling you I was feeling lazy tonight.  I did have some major thigh burn going on with all of the bareback trotting though hehe.

So all in all he was a really good boy.  We were able to work through his issues about being ridden in the pasture and had fun.  I'm very glad I decided to go ahead and ride!