Wednesday

On Weds I went out to say goodbye to Ashke and Nicole. Michelle had come to the barn to fit Cali with gloves, so we can trail ride again. Michelle said that hundreds of barefoot horses across the front range are having issues with tenderness because of the moisture we've had this year. She took one of her tools and showed Nicole how soft the sole of Cali's foot was and how much movement in her sole there was when any pressure was applied. Cali ended up needing 1.5 W on the front and 2s on her backs.

I pulled Ashke out of his stall and we wandered around a bit.

It did not go well.

I'm blaming Cali.

She was in heat (squirty kind of heat and was teasing him) and although he wasn't acting like a stud, it was obvious he wanted nothing to do with leaving her. He was very snorty. Twice he shouldered into me to turn me around and the third time he tried I stopped him, making him stay to my right, which really pissed him off. He reared up and spun around, wrapping the lead rope around the top of his neck and pulling back against his halter. He didn't freak out, but stood and waited for me to untangle him. He was still being a complete nutcase, so I asked him to move out into a circle around me, thinking I would work a little of the yah-yahs out of his system.

He did two and a half circles and then reared again and spun, throwing his left leg over the lead rope.

All hell broke loose. Guess I need to work on the rope stuff some more.

I let go rather than have him throw himself over backwards into the creek. He turned and raced back toward the barn. I followed him in disgust, yelling "loose horse" through my cupped hands. He went right back to Nicole and Cali.

I took him to the round pen and ran him around in circles for a while. Little bugger.

Thursday we went on vacation. Cassandra will be working him every other day in the training system. Ha!