Ok I know I said I wasn't going to update much but ...

I RODE MY MONKEY TODAY AND SHE WAS SOUND *SQUEEEEEE*

/excited 5 year old.

For some reason I always start off with the big horse. Richie was super today, did his lunge line work like a pro even though there was harrowing and hogfuel spreading going on. He was having a frisky day, which means he threw in one little *toss head and throw forefeet*. He didn't get quite as much trot on the lunge line, but did throw in a few steps of suprisingly balanced looking canter. Then we moved on to the undersaddle work, which involved one more trot pole than usual. It only took him 4 tries to get through the 4 of them without falling on his head. And the last time through I think he had a lightbulb moment. He trotted through them and did not touch a rail. It felt fabulous and he was allowed to be done after that. He's funny, he seems to think that as soon as I say "good boy" he's done and can stop. Which means that currently I cannot walk him out and give him big pats at the same time. Hopefully I will be able to break him of this, because I really like to walk my horses out, instead of letting them stand. Not that he gets worked overly hard or anything ...

The grey horse had an Off Target day, despite being a total a$$hole about coming in. Apparently it is that difficult to walk through a puddle that he has to literally be dragged through it. Or alternatively snubbed to the fencepost and beaten from behind (I'm seriously not kidding). One might think that maybe he doesn't want to come up to work, but coming up to work also means getting to fill your face with Alfalfa Grass hay while you wait, and a bit of grain when you're done (because it's a long walk to the back 40 where my horses live, I generally bring them up 2 or 3 at a time, ride, and take them back. Saves me a bunch of walking). That and he pulled the exact same stunt when I went to put him back in the 10 acres of ankle-deep grass.

Fortunately though, it did not affect his work ethic, and he lunged properly. He even started to figure out the Chambon and give to it near the end. I rode him a bit as well, and through the trot poles which involved an *ohmygodmommytheresthingsonthegroundandyouwantmetogooverthem?!?* moment, but he did them after a little encouragement. He also didn't have his neck as stiff and shortened as he usually does, which I like. Finally starting to drop some of the Pony Horse bad habits.

Then I went out and got the girls. I rode Miss Fruity first and she was good. She even did the trot poles a couple of times. Not bad for her second week under saddle. Got to love Standardbreds.

Her "melting" aka rain scald is finally healed up and growing hair back. Just in time for rainsheets! Like I said earlier, she didn't take to being thrown in a field like a horse after being a pampered racehorse for 5 years. Her coat burnt, she got covered in rainscald, and lost a bunch of weight and condition. I started playing with her just to get her looking less than totally depressed, but she seems to be enjoying it. I figure to just take it slow and make sure her foot doesn't cause her any discomfort and see where we end up. I'll definately be setting sights on the Standardbred Show 'n Shines next year if she continues to improve (Richie too, don't worry!).

I hacked the fat mare around a bit. She didn't seem too impressed at first, but I didn't make her work too hard. Just a little trotting around and stretching.

And then, just for shits and giggles (and she wanted to come too when I went to catch Fruity and Joey) I tacked up Sara and hacked her around. Now, she hasn't been ridden in oh, 3 years probably. She looked at me like I was off my rocker when I put the saddle on. Now when she was first diagnosed with navicular we shod her with bar shoes, and she grew a proper heel. Then she got turned out in a field notorious for pulling shoes, and the shoes kind of got forgotten. But we kept trimming her with the same angles, and making sure the heel continued to grow well. I've seen her several times fooling around in the pasture, and at the beginning of September jogged her out aiming for a Sport Horse show (and she was sound).

So anyway, I hop on and walk around. Pick up my reins, and a trot (her call). She was feeling very frisky, and I tried not to encourage her, but she felt so good. The horrible stabbing gait was gone, and she actually lengthened her stride a couple of times under my efforts to keep her from breaking into a canter. She remembered her frame and how to come off my leg and everything. I was so extatic after our ride I jumped off and gave her a huge hug and lots of kisses.

I think I'm going to talk to my vet about re-x-raying to see if her Navicular bone has deteriorated any further. And about Navicular Bursa injection, which is fairly new but seems to have good results so far. I'm not expecting big things mind you. It would just be nice (since she's so young) to be able to do more with her. I'm going to start off really slow, like once or twice a week. I know her though, and I may be tempted to go for more. She's a horse that has always preferred to work sore than not work at all.