Envoy's 2012 boarding school tales

Envoy looks like he's feeling much better. He's picking up his back legs and taking bigger steps. I think the injections were money well spent. Tomorrow, we'll find out how he feels when I ride.

Excellent news! How did he do today?

He did really well. We have 3 days of light riding, so I didn't do much but walk and trot. But, he seems much more willing to put his feet under his body. I think it was money well spent.

Great news.

Today, we had a FORWARD pony. This is a good thing. Envoy was really willing to push up into the bridle and go comfortably with a lot of power. It was a great feeling that I haven't had in a long time. Continued success. Yippee!

Rock on Envoy

I'm so glad he's feeling better! from me, too!!

He comes home this afternoon. He's been at the trainers for his recovery time since traveling would have been hard on his legs. So, he and Casper will be able to play again. I know Casper will be happier and I'm sure Envoy will enjoy seeing his family again.

Today's homecoming came with an adventure for Envoy. My friend brought her horse (in my trailer) for a lesson. Envoy had not met her mare since our evacuation experience last year. They rode together in the arena, and then shared the trailer ride home. At first the little mare made squeals and funny mare faces, but she settled down and they were downright friendly by the end of the ride. Envoy kept making cute faces as if he were asking, "Don't you love me? I'm lovable!"

Makes me wish you had a camera in the trailer.

I can just see Envoy charming that mare! He's one smooth operator.

That he is! He had a rest day today. It rained (THANK GOD) for the better part of the day, so I thought I'd just let him have the day off. The rest of the week is supposed to be filled with terrific weather with very un-August temperatures. We will be able to have some great days for riding. The farrier comes on Thursday, so he will have nice new toes for the weekend.

He and Casper are palling around the pasture. They won't admit it, but they're happy to see each other.

Envoy is a charmer for sure...shame you didn't have a video camera to capture him in action.

Today was a great day to have an indoor arena available. It started out sunny and beautiful, and when we arrived at the trainer's, the sky clouded up and thunder rumbled. As we were grooming in the barn aisle, a HUGE lightening bolt snapped down close to us. I put Envoy in an open stall, and waited out the worst of the weather in the house. It passed pretty quickly, and so we rode during plain old rain. Envoy did great. He is trying to figure out his newly comfortable back end. He losers his head and shakes it around while he canters. He isn't threatening to buck. I think he's just trying to find a comfortable place. He used to go around with his head in the air like a giraffe. Now, he wants to carry it lower. I need to be comfortable allowing him to stretch more.

Sounds like he's telling you what he needs. Y'all will work it out.

Yeah, you're like a horse whisperer, and you understand them too!

I don't know about all that. You should see me ride. I really do have trouble trusting at the canter. Maybe I'll have a couple glasses of wine before our next try.

That might help you relax but make sure you don't have enough to make you fall off!

What don't you trust at canter, Becky? For me, that's the sweet spot of the ride!

Envoy and I had a rough start. He used to leap around during the canter. Sometimes, he'd switch directions in midair. He's a totally trustworthy guy now, and he has a beautiful canter. I just need to RELAX. Finding the sweet spot would be cake if I'd let it just happen. Wine it is!

How long has it been since Envoy tried to be tricky? Trust is earned, I certainly get that.

Skip the wine, trust horse and try a round pen. Not for Envoy but for you.

I will have to stick to the indoor. I don't want to stress those stifles with a smallish circle. I can do 20 meter circles in the arena, so that should be good. We will be fine.

Brave Envoy! Today, we were riding in the front pasture. The neighbor's dog (a nice black lab) came down the street with his new friend, an obnoxious pit bull. The pit started growling and barking with his hackles up. Envoy stopped -- ready to run. I told him to hang on. I got off with my riding whip in hand and told the dog to leave. That prompted more barking and growling. Envoy followed me (since I was holding the reins), and we chased the dog. He turned to confront, and I smacked him with the whip. He took off for home. Envoy did really well. He didn't panic, and he stuck with me even though he was confronting a predator. Good pony!

I'm thinking of calling animal control. There's no reason for a dog to come on my property and threaten me. Pit bulls are known to be aggressive, and if one threatens me on my property, I kind of feel like I have the right to have it removed. I would talk to the neighbor, but the obnoxious dog belongs to their son, who is kind of a scary person. I don't want to have run-ins with him. Chances are that I or my animals will get hurt. I'd rather just have the officials take care of it.

Good for you Becky. I've been known to charge dogs while mounted. I think you're spot on calling
animal control.