However, my out of shape horse had a different idea. Instead, he did a super fast extended trot. I didn't get a picture but it looked a little something like this:
He'd lope a few strides, then break back into that extended trot. He's never been a big loper on the longe line. Bucking, yes. Loping, not so much.
I don't wanna lope, Pony Girl!
My horse had flaring, drippy nostrils. Don't you just love the smell of a warm horse? The sound of them huffing and snorting to clear out their lungs during the cool down walk?
After he cooled off, I worked on touching around his head and ears. You can see how he tenses up. He's not consistent. One minute he'll bury his head against you so that you can rub the itchy spots around his ears. And when he's eating treats out of a bucket, I can practically turn his ears inside out and he could care less. Other times, such as when I'm grooming his head, he acts as if you are going to cut them off.
Finally, he begins to relax. I can lightly use the pressure points on the bridge of his nose and on his crown to ask him to drop his head to the ground.
After I put on his new shiny green breakaway halter (his other one lost a chicago screw) I left him staring after me at the gate.
Ironically, this horse, looking longingly after me like he wants out of that pasture, is the SAME one that also ran away from me and gave chase for 5 minutes before letting me snap the lead on his halter!
But really, could you resist this look?
I went up to the feed shed to load his new bag of grain into it's can, refill his joint supplement tub, and put the grooming tools away. Then I grabbed a few more cookies (he'd already had a handful and a sliced apple after I brought him out!) and took them back up to him.
Spoiled rotten!
I just toss them in his grain bucket. Yes, he may be spoiled rotten, but he will not learn to bite the hand that feeds him!
I guess they have good days and bad days just like the rest of us. It's a very satisfying feeling to massage a horse's head and get it all woozy and relaxed.
ReplyDeleteMy goal is to spoil both my dogs and my horses!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good day with your boy. It is hard not to give them just one more cookie!
ReplyDeleteI love to see you enjoying your horse like that!!
ReplyDeleteI love Spoiled Rotten!! He is so cute with his ears forward, hoping for some more treats. And those good work outs are great. I love them, for my horse. I guess I could use some more on my end!! Hee hee!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day with your boy. Wasn't the sunshine on Saturday beautiful!? We are back to frozen fog again today, can't wait for warmer days...and yes, I absolutely love the smell of warm horses. The stuff should be bottled! I think spoiled horses are ok, as long as they are respectful and spoiled. I would have gone back for seconds on the treats too. What a face!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pic's as usual. As you know PG, my Dusty is ROTTEN! I do the same thing. When I leave the stable he always gets apples,carrots,and cookies in his stall. Lately I have been bad and give him some after I put him in his turnout. He is really PASSIONATE about his treats!
ReplyDeleteLike everything on my place including me...spoiled rotten. Or as the husband puts it, just well loved!
ReplyDeleteI would not be able to resist that face either! Of course he is spoiled -- he should be! Our horses are spoiled too....they all deserve it! We have brought them into our lives, and they depend on us.
ReplyDeletePoor guy, that is pitiful! So neglected! :)
ReplyDeleteHi there! About my camera, it is a canon powershot SD450, just a tiny point and shoot, nothing fancy! I love to take pictures and my dream camera right now would be the Canon Rebel-if you can afford it, I'd go that route!! Thanks again for stopping by my blog and THANKS for posting my blog button!! :)
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a really good boy - you're lucky to have him and he's certainly lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteYeah, and it's a shame he looks so thin and pale too -- NOT! Of course, if you were to ask any of our horses, they'd swear we're starving them to death!
ReplyDeleteYou really had me going with your first photo! I like your sense of humor! What a cutie he is! I love his soft eye. I know what you mean about nostrils flaring....my mare took longer than usual to cool down after a round pen lesson. I didn't even lope her much on the first day from being off for almost two months from any real workout because of her hooves (we had a farrier that gave up on her and she nearly had all her hoof broken off). I had quite a day today, you'll have to go to my blog to read about it, long story. I worked Romeo and his mom Teya in the round pen. They were all wound up. Right now we have a mud slide going on!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos of your boy - he has THE most expressive face I've ever seen on a horse.
ReplyDeleteI love your boy he is so cute!! you can tell he has a personality. Megan
ReplyDeletehappyheifer
PonyGirl, your boy is sooooooOOOOOOOO cute. Look at that face.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh about the chicago screw- I have to keep extras in my tack box because I manage to lose parts all the time. whoops :)
I thought I saw that spotted boy loping in the arena yesterday! I almost couldn't believe my eyes! You go boy!
ReplyDeletehi Pony girl,
ReplyDeleteI posted a new post. would love to hear your thoughts since I can tell you are a real cowgirl. Christa Lynn
You're right... he does have that look! The one with those big brown Precious Moment eyes just looking at you... I would have caved in too and given him oats and a good rub too.
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled on your post! Thanks for your comment, and I'll certainly be back! Congrats on your journey back into the horse world.
Cowgirl (Stuck) in the City
http://irishamy.blogspot.com
Wow. You are brave to wear fleece during shedding season. How much hair did you bring home with you? ;)
ReplyDelete{Liz}~ Funny you should mention the shedding hair, I DID have hair stuck on my fleece! I actually thought of taking a photo of that for this post (the sign of a true journalist blogger, no doubt! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell I know that I couldn't resist his face...lol!!! I second Liz's comment about wearing fleece right now too. Our horses are shedding like crazy right! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of feed do you feed and what kind of supplement?! I am asking around to figure out some changes for my mare. thanks!
ReplyDelete{Amy}~ Send me an email at ponygirlridesagain@gmail.com and I'll send you the feed scoop (no pun intended! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are so diligent in working with your My Boy. Do you think he is not consistent because of something from his past? I love to hear the work you do with him and I love the pics as usual.
ReplyDelete