Sunsets and Sass

 Perhaps she was a bit chilly, because.... SASS! I had taken her blanket off around 2 pm because the sun had come out, the wind was gone, and it was quite pleasant in the sun. Of course I was also wearing fleece pants and a fleece shirt and a vest and a hat, but... still.. she has a coat! Not a thick coat, but she does have hair. 

 

I got home from riding Funny and it was about 4:45, so I grabbed her real quick and tacked up. She got the back on track saddle pad and I got on and we headed up the drive to the arena. When we got there one of Jean's interns (I can't remember her name now!) was riding so I asked if I could join her. She said she was almost done and didn't mind so we headed in and did a walk warm up. I did haunches in and shoulder in and... it was better! Still not great haunches in left but better. Shortly after that they left and it was just us but Dan and Funny were up by the arena and Jean's other horses were up by the gate too. 

 

We did some trotting and she was pretty good. She felt more lifted in her back and was softer in the contact and not nearly as bracing. She also wasn't as rooty or chompy. She did give a few little bucks every now and then. And I didn't even touch her with the whip! But it was in response to my leg. Well ma'am... move over then! We got some nice work and even trotted the fan poles successfully and even the raised poles. We did some leg yields too and those were nice. She lost her hind end very softly a few times but not horribly at all. And she didn't even feel like she was losing it necessarily as she just felt like it got "left behind" or "off line" some. Not as bad as she did awhile back, but... still not normal. 

 

Then I went to pick up the canter and I was half expecting it... she threw out a kick and actually connected with the four board! And then tried to buck but I had her head so she didn't. She then settled and gave me a decent canter. And then when we were trotting past the water puddle (for the 100th time) she "attacked" it with her front feet. Ha ha. Like she punched at it with both fronts. Silly girl!  But luckily when cantered the other way she was fine. I did some more trotting and then cantered again a few more times and one of the upwards was even quite lovely and smooth. Not her usual weird running into it thing. So yay! We finished with some nice trot and serpentines and then another leg yield and called it quits. We walked back along Jean's driveway again because her christmas lights were up and they were pretty!

 
She felt pretty good despite the spicy! I suspect that was mostly because she was a bit cold. Lexi worked on her yesterday and got a lot accomplished. She said her lower back still felt tight but not locked so that was good. And she did some neck and poll work too. And I do think she felt pretty nice in her body today! So yay!


 

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