Sick but Proud Horse Mom

So I have had this nagging cough for the last week or so. And anytime I try and exercise in any way, I start to basically hack up a lung. Well this is frustratingly similar to how I felt a couple years ago with pneumonia. I went to get checked out by the doctor. Luckily no pneumonia. Unluckily, its bronchitis. So yay. The doc said I'd be fine to be out in the cold, but should probably keep the exercise to a minimum to avoid an infection. Which basically means little to no riding for at least a week or so.

Well what do you do when you can't ride?

The answer is play with your pony on the ground and buy new pretty things. Or play with the things you recently bought.

First off. Lets look at pretty, new, shiny things that my pony just NEEDED (or so I justified)

Heavy weight Freestyle Weatherbeeta blanket in navy/grey. Such a great fit. Nice snap on the front. Perfect weight for the cold front we have coming in. Love the fleece lined neck.

Bonus: Comes in our favorite colors!

And then we actually decided to do real work.

Okay that's half true. I made him do real work, because more than just walking makes me have a wild coughing fit.

When I bring him in from his pen, I always pull his blanket off, and let him have a romp around our indoor, and a good roll. And then we either tack up and ride, or goof off bareback, or sometimes play with some free lunging.

With me trying to die, we have been doing a lot of free lunging lately, and he has gotten really responsive to my cues and body language. So today, we did our normal thing, and after his little romp, I started to ask him to pay attention to me. He did very well, as always, and was being a little extra exuberant, but still respectful, so I was happy. We usually just play around with him doing some trot and canter circles both directions, and his voice cues on coming in/stopping.

Always a poser

Today, during our normal workout, he offered something that he has never once offered before.

A stretch in the canter

Charmer has always had a very loose, floaty, open trot that allows him to have beautiful self-carriage, as well as a beautiful stretch, since day one. It has made his trot one of my favorite things in the world to ride. But never before has he offered to stretch in the canter. Not when I am riding, or on the ground, or anything. I was shocked.

Horrible quality picture, fantastic quality trot

It was rough, and not polished in any way, and I still love his trot stretch. But he offers the trot stretch almost daily. Not once in nearly a year and a half of owning him, has he offered a canter stretch.

Until today

I'm sure that this seems like the most ridiculous accomplishment in the world. I mean I wasn't even riding him at the time. But for him to start to be comfortable enough in his own body, and in his own skin to actually offer a stretch in the gait that he struggles the most with, was absolutely mind blowing to me. I cannot wait to ride it under saddle soon!

Stretches

None of it is perfect, but it is a start, and this gives me something to work with, for when my lungs decide I can ride again!