Yesterday / Early to rise!

First up, yesterday.

The weather was quite cool and overcast. I walked to the barn and groundworked Fon and Sully.

Peggy suggested Python lifts for Sully's slightly-swollen leg. He didn't pay very much attention but his leg is noticeably less swollen today (almost, but not quite, back to normal). I also did belly lifts, caterpillar, heart-girth and other shoulder + neck exercises. He does better with the support of the outside rein. He is still head-high, but halts nicely (easy and square).

Fonteyn was in a super mood. I ended up only doing groundwork in the halter, as I'd done the yield-to-trot a couple of times, then some out/in in trot (which meant *I* was trotting, too, haha!). I also did sliding caterpillar and the slide-in-slide-out exercise Trisha showed me a couple of months ago, to keep the oscillation in the line on the out as well as the in. Fon also needs the support of the outside rein, especially going to the left. In general, though, she is much more settled and "within herself," and is tossing her head much less when my hand is snugged up on the halter during groundwork. Karen watched a little of the work & agreed that Fon and I are in a good place.

Today..

To fit in with Lana's plans, I got up at 7, ate, packed my lunch (sandwich + some grapes - for someone who is used to leftovers, I've been surviving well on sandwiches and salads...) and departed the house on my bike at 7.50am. I was at the barn by 8.10am. I did walk up the first steep hill, and biked up another one that I walked last time. I also biked up the barn drive, which although short, is steep and covered in gravel. It was hard work but more uphill stuff than I managed last time so I'm happy :)

Side note: Lana laughed at me. She's lent me a reflective vest as part of my route is on the highway. It's large enough that I can fit it over my backpack and still do up around my front ;) I thought it was pretty clever of me, as I'm more visible than if the vest was only over my bag, or done up around me.

As it looked like a scorcher of a day, I decided to ride Chico first, so that he didn't get forgotten. I warmed up with groundwork in his bridle - just a little - as he was in a very good mood and responded well. Under saddle I played with leg yielding on circles in walk and trot, a few walk-trot and trot-walk transitions, and softening by doing small arcs to each direction (a bit left, a bit right). I wove figure-8s around the trees at the end of the field, to help him get used to being down there (it's right at the edge of the property, next to a more heavily-wooded place, so can be a bit scary). I also worked on his rhythm in trot.

I'd already decided Fon could have today off, as she's been worked every other day this week. Instead I took Sully's halter out to the field and did about an hour with him. He was much more present today and thus much softer and able to do gentle exercises at a halt. I also did some leading, heart-girth presses, shoulder delineation and caterpillars. Then he put his big chin up on my shoulder for a cuddle so he got some chin rests on both sides ;) before he went back into the paddock.

Lana picked me up after I had done some mucking out and talked with Karen while she was cutting brush which invades the pastures like gorse does down-under. Luckily it's not a spiky plant, but it spreads quickly.

I've just put a lamb roast, sweet potatoes (like our orange kumara - unfortunately, can't get the purple one here) and carrots in the oven. My room (upstairs) smells like rosemary and garlic. Delicious! I'll put the tiny Yukon potatoes in after everything else has cooked for a while.