Cob Jockey

I've now ridden Connor a few times - you'd think I'd be out every day the week I finally started going out again, but the laundry room is going to steal some barn time from me for a while.

In SERIOUS need of a spa day

It was six weeks from my last ride to this week, and he's...fine.

Except that he's not really sure he's into this whole "riding horse" thing anymore

It's really a testament to this horse and to my barn staff that I left him for six weeks during the peak of crazy blanketing season, and "when do I put a muzzle on this horse" season, and colic weather season, and he's...fine. Literally fine. In case I was wondering if I'm essential to my horse's care, I'm not, and that's a GOOD FEELING when you're a paying boarder at a not-inexpensive full care barn. I'm getting what I pay for.


He's lost a little topline, but it had the net effect of making the new Dressage saddle fit even better, and our big show for the year was canceled yesterday, so I'm completely not bothered by it. If I cared, I would've scheduled training rides, but I don't. We're not going to the Olympics, and his topline will come right back.


So far I've mainly done a lot of walking with him to build him back up slowly. Lots of walk/halt transitions. Lots of "hey buddy remember you're a Dressage horse that doesn't get to splat forward". Not asking for collection at all, just asking him to stop splatting. I think he was getting used to the retired horse life, haha.

Hank enjoying the long, gorgeous, extended bug free spring we're having here in Indiana

I've had some interesting biomechanical revelations too - namely that for whatever reason I'm now able to separate my core and glute muscles in the saddle for the first time ever - but that's a topic for another post.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!