I don't want to and you can't make me

Paddy's rehab has been trucking along. I've lost track of how many minutes we're trotting now, but we've been doing mostly straight lines out on the trails, at a very slow pace. I think we're supposed to start cantering in a week or so, but we'll see how things continue. If Paddy's leaping, bucking, and galloping out in the pasture is any indication, we'll be fine.

Heading out on the trail.

Last night, we went over to one of the flat fields where we work sometimes, so that we could actually trot some big circles and I could ask for "real" work. Problem is, certain Haffies have been off "real" work for going on three months now, and apparently they have no desire to be anything other than a trail-riding lawn ornament.

Look over there! It's a bird! No really, it's a bird. WTF.

Me: Ok, inside bend, check. Now, trot, Paddy!

Paddy: Trotting like a western pleasure Haffieeeee.

Me: A little more forward please.

Paddy: Too much effort. How about I hang my tongue out and put my nose on my chest? Nyaaaaaaa!

Me: (As giant glob of Haffie slobber from aforementioned tongue whapped me on the knee) FORWARD.

Paddy: NOPE!

Me: *pony club kicks*

Paddy: FINE. IMA RACING HAFFIEEEE!

Giant culvert is not scary but that's the path home. Just FYI.

He tried running, he tried sucking back. He tried throwing his head, he tried pulling me out of the saddle. Everything (i.e. nothing) was more interesting than me, so he couldn't possibly focus on what I was asking for more than a second. He fell in, he fell out, he threw his butt over 5 feet when I asked him for a little bend. Anything to get out of working properly. I kept my hands down and quiet, elbows relaxed, leg on, and owned the inside rein. We quit when he was able to give me a decent circle in each direction.

Normally we canter this stretch.

It's kind of funny how many evasions he can think up - he KNOWS what I want, but apparently coming up with the wrong answer is much more fun than doing it right. And his evasions are never dangerous, but they sure do keep me on my toes!

It's a good thing he's basically the most adorable thing ever. Otherwise I'd be posting a for sale notice.

60 seconds of awesome (aka Paddy trotted!)

Yesterday, my vet cleared Paddy to trot under saddle. We've been a bit conservative with his rehab because he's been struggling with a proper landing on his RF (remnants from that damn thrush), but he finally seems to be making progress.

So yesterday, after a long walk warmup, we trotted. He felt great, although somewhat put out that I actually expected him to do something OTHER than walking.

Because you can never have enough Haffie ears.

Vacation's over, buddy!

Tackwalking! So excited to be doing something so boring.

Paddy got cleared for tackwalking!

He's not 100% sound at the trot (8 m circle, hard ground), but given how much trotting and cantering he's been doing on his own, the vet reassessed him and said he's looking good enough to start getting a bit of exercise.

We went off on a one-mile walk the other night, and man, was it ever good to be up on him again. I'm grateful to be able to ride Taran and Brego, of course, but there's nothing like a Paddy.

Because who doesn't ride their horse who has been off for a month in a halter and lead down the street at dusk? With no stirrups either, because I was too lazy to put them on my saddle. I did wear a helmet though - what do you think I am, crazy?

WE CANTERED!!!

Last week, we got clearance from the vet to start cantering and "bring him back into full work" again.  On one hand, that was super awesome news, but on the other hand, I was actually a little sad. Our trot work has been coming along so well, I sort of didn't want to add another element to the equation. Alas, we have to canter if we actually ever want to do a dressage test again, so after over three months of not cantering, I cued him for a canter...

... poor guy was so confused! He eventually picked it up after I said "canter" and asked, but it was kind of like he had forgotten he could do that under saddle, lol! 

We are now a week in to our canter work, and while I'm not asking for much, our last ride was much nicer. Yeah, he's unbalanced and a bit rushy, but he feels good and stronger than he did before the injury.

Flat and on the forehand, but not too bad.

More balanced and together (and I'm not leaning forward, lol)

We still have a long way to go before we're back to cantering 10 meter circles, but it's a good start and he continues to feel great!

Awesome Haffie is Awesome!

Paddy's been doing super amazingly well with the addition of corners and big circles to his workout routine. He's 110% and hasn't taken an off step yet, so I breathe a little easier every time we have a sound, successful ride. Fingers crossed that things continue!

Haffie is not impressed about being 110%.

The first few rides, we just did laps around the arena at a walk and trot. I counted carefully - two laps walk, two laps trot, change direction, lather, rinse, and repeat. Y'all, rehab is SO BORING. Ohhh how I wanted to do a circle. Maybe a teeny lateral. Shoulder fore, even! ANYTHING. But all of that was strictly off limits. Besides, I had my hands full with getting Mr. Haffington to do something between mach-one-Haffie trot and Western Pleasure Haffie trot. Seriously, the boy has no rhythm whatsoever. And also, he'd like his rider to hold him up, please. So much easier that way!

So we have been working on rhythm. Lots of sitting trot for me (with posting mixed in so I don't get stiff), lots of half-halts, transitions, and reminding myself to let go of the left rein, dammit. Paddy is very sneaky about changing rhythm too - you'll be going along nice and light, and then one step later you realize he's tucked his nose an inch in toward his chest, and you're being run away with at the trot. HOW does he DO that?!?! Big half-halt with seat and hand (and LET GO DAMMIT), then leg and back to the nice rhythm. Wait till he tries it again, only this time try to catch him before he actually succeeds.

Sneaky Haffie, I tell you.

This is a sneaky Haffie. Really. Even his EARZ look sneaky.

Now, after almost two weeks, I feel like we're getting somewhere. I've added 20+ meter circles in, and I've been asking for more push forward without rushing. The last two rides have just been beautiful - I feel like he's really coming over his back for 5-6 steps at a time, like he's finally relaxing and moving more fluidly. I'm also trying to be very cognizant of my body position and relaxing, and damn if he doesn't move better when I ride better. Strangest thing ever, I tell ya.

I wish I had pics or video of how he's going right now, but I apparently am the only person who rides after work or in the early morning. Lauren's schedule and mine haven't coincided this week, so no pictures to be had. Hopefully in the next week I'll be able to get some - I'd really like to see how he's going from the ground.

You will have to make do with this silhouette of us. His butt's not that big in real life, I swear.

Tomorrow, I'm going to call the vet and ask if maybe we can canter. Maybe please?

Paddy goes to rehab

Two posts in one week! Gasp!

In my quick drive-by reader's digest post of what's happened in the last three months, I mentioned that Paddy is recovering from a soft tissue injury. I'm pretty sure it happened during a ride where he INSISTED he wanted to trot at mach one-Haffie for about 45 minutes... we were out in a field, of course, not in an arena, but we blasted around and the next day he was head-bobbing lame at the trot. Several hundred dollars' worth of flexions, blockings, and xrays later, and the diagnosis was a soft tissue injury in the back of the foot on his right front. Mr. Paddy-pants got a month of stall rest and small-area turnout, followed by a month of unlimited tack-walking (in straight lines, on the road), followed by a month of trotting (in straight lines, on the road), starting with 5 minutes and adding 5 more minutes each week, till we were up to 20 minutes. 

On the road again... I just can't wait to get off this damn road again....

This month, the vet wants us to start adding gentle corners and big circles - which we obviously cannot do on the road. And she recommended that we use an actual arena* with actual flat footing, instead of our usual riding areas which do not have any improved footing.

*Yes, we plan to build an actual arena. We just don't have one yet, dammit.

I considered hauling out a few times per week and paying to use an arena, but the nearest one is a 30 minute haul and there's a $10-20 arena fee per use. Add in the cost of diesel, and it's not a cheap endeavor. So I looked at boarding. Um, when did board become $600+/mo with 3 hours of turnout/day? I should seriously charge myself more, lol! And then Lauren over at She Moved to Texas was all, "Come board where I'm at!!!" Turns out, they had an individual pasture board spot available for about half as much as most places charge for stall board! There's a decent sand arena and a nice grass arena as well, plus the place is huge and you can "trail ride" up and down the paddock rows. Lauren also offered to help ride Paddy if I can't get out there as much as I'd like (still gotta take care of the boys at home, lol). Of course, it's a H/J barn and I'm the only person there riding in a dressage saddle, but whatever. Paddy's cute and makes up for all my faults. ;)

I took him out on Wednesday, and Simon was there to greet us.

Herro BFF PADDY!!!!

I rode him right after we got there. He was a bit looky (not surprising) and very forward but happy to walk on a long rein and look around. We did a total of 8 minutes of trotting in 2 minute sets, with lots of walking in between. He was hot and sweaty after that, even though at home we're up to 20 minutes of trot - working in any kind of footing is harder than working on the road, lol! But the best part is...

HE'S SOUND!!!!! Totally sound and happy to work. HOORAYYY!

And also he's totally rockin' the tousled beach-boy look. We just need to add some water to the sandbox and he could do the blonde surfer dude thing.

I was a bit worried we might have overdone it, but Lauren rode him the next day and reported that he was 100% sound and er, very forward. That's my boy!

I'm hoping that things will continue in this vein and we'll be able to do 2-4 weeks of trot with corners and big circles, and then the vet will give us leave to canter. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, Paddy is already building his fan club at the barn, lol!