Ride 97 - Finally got back on.

 Yay the weather finally straightened up enough to ride!  It's mud city, but that's okay.  Here are the ride stats.

I just rode around the yard.  He was a little frisky, but not out of line.  I've also learned one of the benefits of blanketing your horse!!!!!  He was clean!  Yay!  His head, ears, neck, mane and legs were coated in mud so I'm very happy he had his blanket on hehe.

 Itchy ears!  Notice the brushes on his back?  Hehe.

 Brushing the mud off of his ears lol.

 I'm on!  I have to admit my heart was racing as I went to mount up, but once I was on I was fine.

 I forgot to take the Christmas decorations off of my reins so it stayed on for the ride lol.

 Zeroing in on the straw...

 Checking out my straw bales that I use for target practice with my bow.

 So we set the bales up and I walked him over them.

We even jumped it!!

Ignore my horrible riding.  I was riding a bit defensively.  It was fun though!  The little dork only trotted over it after that.  He's already learned that the low stuff isn't worth the effort of jumping hehe.

We did some trotting.

 We even cantered.

His canter was still fresh (he leaped into the canter as soon as I asked instead of taking several strides before transitioning) and I got defensive and jerked his face off because it felt like he was about to explode and crow hop.  Hubby said he wasn't crowhopping, but it sure felt like he was about to explode into full on bronc mode.  I feel bad for correcting him, but he didn't want to stop either so he was ignoring me enough that it made me nervous.  So I only cantered him that one time because I didn't want to push our luck and his stifle gave out three times during the ride (at the walk and trot).  He definitely doesn't do well with time off.  I have to work those stifles consistently.

After that we just walked and trotted around some more and then I worked on asking him to move off of my leg.  I only did my right leg to start out with because he gets confused if I switch back and forth.  Once he does well with it I'll do the other side.  I was having to tilt his head to the right a bit, but he was doing well crossing his hind leg over as he yielded his haunches.  I don't think it will take long for him to figure it out, especially if I get the clicker back out.

So it was short and simple, but I wasn't afraid (except for the huge canter, but that was normal before the fall so no big deal, we will work through it).  I really don't feel like the fall has effected my confidence all that much.  The canter is iffy, but it always has been.  I am excited that we can continue our progress (weather depending)!  I still might do some of the longeing and long lining when the ground allows it.

There is one thing left to mention.  When I was untacking him I had him ground tied like I always do.  The little punk walked off.  I chased after him (he trotted away), grabbed the reins and spun him around..... which sent my saddle off into the mud because I had already undone the girth.  Grr!  I was pissed, but hubby reminded me not to act in anger.  I put up the saddle and switch to his halter, then led him back to the car.  I positioned him back how he was, held the very end of the rope and stood around the side of the car.  Within ten seconds he started to walk off again and I scolded him, spun him around and made him back up.  Then I put him back.  That time he did not budge an inch.  He looked up at the road, then looked over at the pasture, then sighed and dropped his head.  He's been so bad about walking off when ground tied or when I mount, so I have to stop letting him get away with it.  I'm proud of him that it only took one reminder for him.  This was all in the halter by the way, I wasn't jerking on the bit.  After that I put him in the pasture, removed his halter and spent time rubbing and scratching his ears and face so he knew we were still friends.  He stood at the gate watching me until I disappeared into the house so I don't think he's holding a grudge.  Thank goodness for hubby to remind me not to get angry, even though I was extremely upset about my saddle ending up in the mud.  So I'd call it a successful ride/training session.  Love my pony!