Finally Believing

I waited to write this post because I did not want to jinx anything. Part two of the weekend deals with Comrade.
With the heat and humidity mixed in with the storms, my Comrade rides the last two weekends have taken place just before dark. Not a problem for me as I love that time of day. Two weeks ago I changed Comrade's bit from a 5" loose ring 3 piece snaffle to a 5.5" 3 piece loose ring KK. I was not sure if the KK would work, but I knew he needed a larger bit. Immediately after putting it in his mouth,he really started playing with the bit and chewing. The KK is much heavier than the other bit. Plus the middle peanuts are a little different.

old bit on left, KK on right

So our first trial ride was bareback, since rain was threatening. I was surprised to have a working pony underneath me. He felt really invested. Comrade did not seem to have any issues with the bit and had so much foam, giving sugar was sticky. We were both dripping after our ride but I was starting to be excited. The next day was a repeat. This time Peggy was there to watch and she saw what I was feeling. The boy did not seem blocked, he was flowing. He did one canter transition so smoothly and quickly he caught me off guard. Who was this Pony? Was it the new bit? Was it because we were bareback? I decided to see how he was the next weekend.
Saturday I put the saddle on to answer that question. Well I can say he was still moving really well. I pushed him hard during this ride. We did more canter work than trot work, but he did not protest. Canter bell curves worked a little counter canter and made him move out to the rail. That was really tough, but only once did he buck and I think that was more a tool to push than a comment. We did shoulder in to canter both ways. A little bit of walk to canter transitions, mostly to outrun the horse flies. With all this his canter was awesome. He had push behind and lift through the shoulders. The dam that has been holding him back for so long seems to have burst.
Finally on Sunday, Mom came out. She looked at the bit and gave approval to the fit. Due to time, I was once again bareback. Comrade showed  Mom his long open trot and lofty canters. Even after the tough ride the day before he gave me everything I asked for. Mom rode him a little afterwards and felt that Comrade was finally comfortable with his body. He believes that the pain is past. I am so glad to feel this new level of work coming from Comrade.
I have wanted to bring him to a CT so much this year, but a niggling feeling kept me from sending in the entry. Looking back now, it was that blockage I was still feeling from Comrade. Now after two months on Corta Flex and dropping some weight he is a different pony. Maybe now is the time to talk to Peggy about a show.

Magic 8 or Joint Supplement?

Now for the rest of our busy Sunday.
Our ponies were so happy to see us, especially when we started stripping hair off them. Always a quick way to make up to the ponies. Peggy we could tell had done some already on the girls by the piles of hair in their stalls.

DaVinci's contribution, snow piles

 We changed out heated buckets for regular ones officially ending winter :) Of course that meant the boys had to remember where the summer location is for their water trough. We did not have time to ride any of ours, but made plans to ride Monday. It was enough to hug and scratch on them.

Before our barn and before Swayze, we went to Peggy's. I tacked up the fuzz ball and wondered how Comrade would be in the warmer temperatures. I got a surprise when we got to the arena, Peggy had gotten landscape timbers (a cheaper option than wood poles) while we were gone. Comrade knew right away that those were not PVC and would hurt if he hit them. After showing them to him and moving him over some, I hopped on. He was ready to go. Forget about walk warm ups, he wanted to trot. Okay I went along with it. Then he smoothly picked up canter. It was an awesome canter. I did not package him, just let him go on a loose rein and loosen up. What surprised me was that his right lead canter was just as smooth a transition and just as awesome a gait as the left. If you have read my blog you know that his right lead has been an issue.
So I had super go-go pony. Time for fun. I added a few of the jumps, which were much nicer since they were made with the wood poles. I changed directions and got flying changes that did not change the rhythm at all. Some changes were helped by Shadow, the German Shepherd, nipping at his heels. He also bucked at Shadow, but he kept moving forward. Now that he had burned some energy, Mom had me increase the challenge. In the corners where he likes to fall in, I added 15m circles. That was tough, but he stepped under and finished. He ended with some long trot work and a lovely soft neck.
Maybe turning 8 the day before magically made him feel wonderful. We can hope. Then I remembered Peggy had started Addie, her cob mare, on joint supplement. I asked her if she had put Comrade on it too. She had. Bingo, I think that made a difference. Ever since Barry's xrays came back looking 10yrs younger than his actual age, I truly believe in joint supplements. We even give Roscoe a small dose. Comrade felt the best he has ever felt in the almost 3yrs I have been riding him. I will be interested to see how his work will be once she gets the supplement refilled. She used Corta flex pellets and we use Corta flex liquid for our horses and our dogs.
Our animals work hard for us, so I try to provide the support they need. It is not cheap but longevity and peace of mind helps make the expenditure easier. Seeing results help too.