...didn't happen. It rained buckets all day long so Mitzi's sense or lack of it was a non-issue. So we have time to get our act together again this week--if it ever does stop raining for five minutes...

Last week, between the rain and the new physio exercises getting to me, I wasn't at the barn nearly enough and when I was we didn't do much. So by Saturday I knew I had to at least longe Mitzi or Lease Girl would have a crummy lesson.

It was cold and windy and Mitzi not only spooked at bits of paper coming into the barn, she actually shook on the cross-ties because she was so hyper. (With that said--the spooks were the old "Eek!" ones where she didn't do anything, and she stood still and shook. Credit where it's due.)

Anyway, I got her wrapped and booted and we went out to the ring--

--where we discovered the gang of local teenage boys who work around the barn (in exchange for garage room for various project cars, as far as I can tell) were shoring up the arena fence over by the driveway. There was much shovelling, hopping over fences with shovels in hand, and some flinging of dirt.

Mitzi completely forgot that these are the same young men who give her hay most evenings, and it took a while for her to stop imagining they were going to chase her down and eat her. I had to get after her to stand still while I closed the gate, because ooh! Scary! (Mitzi, as you may be aware, has a vivid imagination.) Anyway, she did the tail-in-the-air snorting thing, the I-want-to-run-in-circles-because-I-feel-safer-that-way thing, and the drop-and-spook thing for the first few minutes.

She got a lot better when I started singing "Happen Now" to her. I'm just sayin'.

And in case you're not familiar with that song--here you go.

The physio clinic called a little while ago to cancel my appointment for this evening, due to the physiotherapist being ill. I've been doing my exercises faithfully, and though they are wimpy little exercises they seem to be working (the physio thought my spine felt better.) They are also kicking my ass, and I think that's why I'm so sore this week. (The last couple of nights have been rotten, I wake up around two and painkillers and liniment do nothing to help.)

So it's probably okay to have a few extra days to acclimatize to doing the stuff I'm already doing before anything else gets added. With any luck I'll get to the barn tonight and at least try to longe and maybe do a few little carrot stretches.

And then of course I'm going out tonight, but I might as well, considering if I stayed home I wouldn't be able to get to sleep anyway. Also, I need to look for cushions for my kitchen chairs, since all my other seating options are really uncomfortable right now.

Might be time to bite the bullet and replace my older-than-me family-heirloom (;)) couch, too...

Lease Girl and Mitzi had a pretty good lesson this morning--although it's about time to break out the fly spray. Afterward Mitzi was so sweaty we decided it was also time to address bathing in the wash stall.

The wash stall at our barn is completely enclosed, and in common with other Fearful horses (or so I am told) Mitzi can be claustrophobic. The actual stalls in our barn are open-plan, with wire mesh between horses instead of solid walls so she hasn't had much practice with enclosed stalls lately. She accepts being hosed off but I've always thought it would be best to do the wash stall thing when there was someone else around to wield the hose while I held her.

We've practiced walking into the stall and she followed me in without hesitation, then stood there blowing and gathering her nerve for a minute. I got her to lower her head, Lease Girl got her some peppermints, and after she'd stood there for a minute or two Lease Girl turned on the horse and directed it at Mitzi's feet.

She didn't exactly like it, but she didn't object, jump around, or try to get away. The water was lukewarm and seemed to feel pretty good. I did make sure Lease Girl was always in a position where if Mitzi freaked out, Lease Girl could bail out and leave me to deal with the horse. It didn't turn out to be necessary. Mitzi even let Lease Girl spray up under her belly and her udder.

And then, of course, when we turned her out in the sunshine she found a good dusty spot for a roll. Well, of course she did!

Even so. Good girl!

Do you have a pet who reminds you of a famous human? Who?

I could say that Coney reminds me of Lester B. Pearson but that might be exaggerating.

However, back when I got Mitzi, whenever I told someone about my gorgeous new horse I would say, "She looks just like Audrey Hepburn, if Audrey Hepburn had freckles! And, um, was a horse."

And It's true! It's totally true!

Ahem. Anyone else?

Just to make sure the story is clear--Mitzi is only difficult to catch under the specific unusual circumstances of being turned out in a big field with the herd. Normal daily turnout at our place involves small paddocks, and when she's turned out there, with her usual small group of buddies, she usually comes to the gate as soon as she sees me. I actually think if she was in the big field enough for the novelty to wear off she'd probably learn to come to me, but as it is... it's much more funny than annoying when she takes off like a little kid sticking her tongue out at me.

Yeah, something I should work on, if and when I have time.

But on the other hand, except in exceptional circumstances it's also something I can work around.

And I am still impressed to bits about the lady I originally posted about, who's had her horse for about a month and can catch her in a field. That's cool.

Well, not really.

But earlier today I was involved in a discussion on someone else's journal, in which the someone (a much better rider than I am) talked about recognizing her shortcomings and getting down on herself and then shaking it off and going back to work.

Me, I am such a lousy rider that I can hardly relate, except intellectually. But I'll tell you what makes me feel inadequate right now:

Over on equestrian someone just posted a link to a series of photos in which she walks up to her mare in a big beautiful pasture, snaps on a lead line, and walks her back to the barn.

That sound you hear in the background? Is the beat of Mitzi's fleeing feet if I were ever to suggest such a thing. I mean, I accept that she thinks I am more fun than hanging out in a boring old stall, and sorta more fun than hanging out in a small turnout paddock... but I am nowhere near as much fun as being out in a big field with all her friends! (This is a fact. We've field-tested it.)

Now, at our barn the field is a periodic treat, not an everyday thing, so it's possible if she was turned out in a big field all the time she might eventually get bored with it and prefer my company.

But I wouldn't bet the rent on it.

(I don't really feel inadequate, but I admit to a feeling of respectful envy!)

Lease Girl had her second lesson with Coach Girl on Sunday. Photos and video are, of course, in the offing. (I'm uploading the videos to Photobucket even as I type.) I'm a little rushed today but a couple of things stand out enough to comment on right now:

1) Lease Girl not only worked on canter in two-point, she also worked on trot without stirrups. And Mitzi, not in the least disconcerted, assiduously minded her own business and let Lease Girl work on her position. I am reminded of the day last summer when I found myself offering advice to an overfaced kid for about half our ride: Mitzi went along minding her own business while I concentrated on helping the youngster get her act back together. If I haven't said it lately, Mitzi really is a very good girl.

2) She is not, however, always the most sensible girl in the world, so this one is especially worthy of note. Coach Girl has a standard poodle who is ordinarily a great around-horses dog. But Coach Girl worked some really long hours last week and the dog was sooky and clingy and overexcited and pulled one of those amazingly dumb moves the very bright sometimes do: he got into the ring, which is unlike him, and on his way out as Mitzi went by he made like a border collie and darted at her heels.

And Mitzi completely ignored him.

I'm not sure, but I think her reasoning was this: she knows the dog and isn't a bit scared of him. He made no secret of where he was--he was dashing around with his collar tags jingling so she always knew exactly where to expect him. And she wasn't afraid he was going to actually bite her. So, as long as she wasn't taken by surprise, she felt she had no reason to spook over a little thing like him jumping around her heels.

I was deeply surprised and very impressed with her, and then I hauled the dog out of the arena, snapped a longe line to his collar, and made him sit with me and eat peppermints until the lesson ended.

( Photos are here. )

( And here are the videos. )

I reiterate: so, so cute.

One canter-related element that was pretty good were Mitzi's downward transitions. Coach Girl encouraged Lease Girl to use her voice in this getting-to-know-you stage (because the voice commands are already familiar from longeing) and possibly partly because of that Mitzi had a second to get organized before the cue. She sometimes rushes canter-to-trot but didn't seem to last night. And canter-walk is quite strong: Mitzi kind of stops herself behind and comes down pretty softly into the walk. Which she did last night.

So that's something.

So last night was Lease Girl's second scheduled lesson with Mitzi. It was supposed to happen at 6:00. I left work a little early but it was still twenty after when I got to the barn, and as I drove up there the two were, in the arena.

( LOTS about last night's session, which went off in an unexpected direction. )

So. That went much better than I thought it might, which gives us another option for more rides by Lease Girl. My leg was great the whole evening at the barn but then I woke up three times during the night and had to get up early, swearing, so I don't know how long it'll be before I can ride my own horse. This is beginning to really piss me off.

Also, I have no plans to learn to jump over things in spite of heckling by various barn kids, and I'll probably keep using the western tack because it's comfortable, but... the whole slow-jog thing? Is abandoned. Mitzi has a big stride for a very small horse, and I've already noticed she tracks up naturally to the extent she now wears bell boots all the time, and if she has the potential to have a big booming trot I see no reason to try to teach her it's wrong. It's not like she's just rushing off, the potential is there for a genuinely nice big reachy trot.

Canter, we'll work on. It's pretty good on the longe line but she needs to get back in practice and back in shape.

Ahem. Me, too. In the meantime, thank heavens for Lease Girl!

Finally! Lease Girl and Mitzi had their first lesson together today. I've been longeing Mitzi regularly to try to get her ready to be sensible, and whether it was that, or Lease Girl's endearingly easygoing surfer-girl vibe (best description I can come up with), or Coach Girl, or just the fabulous spring weather (which we have earned, thankyouverymuch) my horse was good and the kid was terrific with her.

I naturally took a boatload of videos, which I'm uploading to Photobucket even as we speak, on the hopeful theory that they might load to that platform a little bit faster than they do to YouTube or Google Videos. I also took some pictures (a few with my camera and a bunch with Lease Girl's--if she send me copies I'll certainly post them!)

( Lesson notes, pictures and some video behind the cut. Not as much fun as riding myself, but still... fun! )

As I say--not as much fun as getting to ride myself, but it was a lot of fun to watch them together!

As a sign of spring, I finally took Mitzi's purple winter blanket off over the weekend. Which naturally meant that I had to swap out her lilac halter for her pink summer one. As more than one person has pointed out, my horse is far more stylish than I am.

( Longeing session. )

And later when she was in her stall I put the stall guard up and set on the stepstool to write some notes in the notebook Lease Girl and I are going to keep, and Mitzi sniffed at me a bit and I rubbed her jaw, and then she just hung her head out and was sort of quietly sociable. She really is a sweet girl.

I don't know if Lease Girl's lessons begin tonight and I don't get off work in time to go watch (just as well, probably) but I think they'll be all right. Fingers crossed!

...my only defense is that I am pretty sick of it myself.

(Incidentally, on Friday I had a meeting with a very nice medical student who needed some help with an assignment, and because he is very nice he asked about my leg and pretty much confirmed my impression it's the sciatic nerve.)

However! I keep saying that I'm making progress, and I believe this to be true! Yesterday morning I was supposed to meet Lease Girl at the barn at about ten AM. I got to bed at three, which meant I was tired when I woke up BUT! I had only spent a few hours lying down, so my leg wasn't all seized up the way it gets when I try to have a proper night's sleep. (Honestly, if it isn't one thing, it's another.)

Last week I found that when I was at the barn I'd get really sore and tired very quickly, especially standing grooming Mitzi. Yesterday I was walking back and forth with Lease Girl and sitting on a stepstool while Lease Girl groomed, but I stood by the rail during the longeing session and I shoveled out my stall while waiting. And when I left the barn my leg didn't hurt much at all.

Mind you, it stiffened up again later in the evening, but even so I consider Sunday mostly a win.

Right now I am sore as hell from sitting too long but I should walk out of it. Bus seats are really uncomfortable, but barring a real setback I think I'll go to the barn and longe tonight. Lease Girl is supposed to start lessons tomorrow. I suggested that she and Coach Girl might consider incorporating longeing into the first couple, just because the horse is in pretty soft condition at the moment anyway. But (fingers crossed) I should be myself again in another week or so.

I hope.

After what seems like a ridiculous amount of back-and-forth trying to get Lease Girl together with Mitzi, this morning we finally met at the barn and Lease Girl did a longeing session with Mitzi. I think Lease Girl was a little nervous at first with me watching (which is exactly why I thought she'd be better off in a lesson with Coach Girl) and Mitzi was frankly confused at the fact I was there and yet someone else was working her, but they eventually got it together pretty well.

Here's a short video of Mitzi trotting and then cantering for her, and considering Mitzi hasn't done a lick of work since Easter weekend, the fact her only nonsense is a little head-tossing as she strikes off on her first canter is pretty good. (She does that when she's fresh, but only on the longe line and she quits when she gets worked in better.)



After they were finished I asked Lease Girl to get some video of Mitzi and me doing our no-lead leading thing. We obviously haven't played this game in a while so she's certainly been sharper and I've been less fussy, but you get the idea. I'm pretty sure she's humouring me.



And man, it was nice to get playing around with her again! My leg hardly even hurt!

It's definitely improving, only now it's at the achey stage where the I limp noticeably, but rarely gasp with pain. So I look worse than I am.

However, over the past week I've discovered that when you cough or sneeze, your leg muscles get involved. This morning I had to tell a coworker, "Don't make me laugh! It hurts my leg!"

Mitzi's stiff hip also seems better now (see: last ride entry) but I didn't push our luck much over the weekend. I did get her to free-longe in the pen and she was pretty good, considering it's a full-sized arena and not a round pen. But I didn't push her because it was all snowy and slipping seemed likely.

If spring ever comes we'll be in good shape, though.

Well, of course I spent a big chunk of the weekend at the barn. I was (and am) a little gimped up for mysterious reasons--one day last week I noticed my right leg (I nearly wrote "right hind leg"--okay, it is the back of the leg) hurt, and I've come to believe I may have pinched a nerve or something. The only explanation I can think of is that at some point when I was zooed on NyQuil last week I may have gotten into a twisted position trying to avoid a cat and stayed there too long. The leg is fine as long as I either have it bent (I'm in no pain here at the office) or am bearing weight on it (once I get moving I walk out sound, and can even stand on one foot to put a sock on) but it's darned painful when I try to bend down or get into the driver's side of my car.

( But! I am not entirely lame! )

So: less accomplished than might have been wished, but I could not ask for a nicer little horse. Win!

For anyone who's been wondering about the black mare situation, the barn owner's husband let me know yesterday that she's going for training at the end of the month. She'll be with the same trainer who did Mitzi so much good a couple of years ago, and I sincerely hope the kid takes advantage of lessons as part of the package.

If she doesn't show drastic improvement, the mare is not welcome back, and even if the barn owner is inclined to get wobbly on that edict her husband (the nicest man in eastern Canada, I swear to God) will dig his toes in, because as far as he's concerned a horse you can't lead nicely in and out of the barn is a horse he doesn't want around. And this is a guy who is endlessly patient when Mitzi has one of her brainless "eek-a-wolf" moments.

So: Whew.

And also: yes, this is a leased horse. I have no idea what, if any, option they have to actually buy her.

( And a bit about Mitzi as spring approaches. )

So I went to the barn and checked Mitzi's legs. They are perfect, thanks. And then... it was a nice evening and I figured there was no telling whether it's stay fine so I figured I'd longe her again.

We were just working nicely on the right rein when the snow started.

And now it's storming like a bastard, frankly. Cripes!

(Although I am pretty sure last year we had at least one bad storm in April, but I am afraid to look it up.)

Anyway. Mitzi worked well despite having a WTF? look on her face. And I got safely back to Clayton Park. But now I think I had really better pick up my holds, head for the drugstore, and go home.

The bad: this cold is definitely getting worse. That suggestion of NyQuil and whisky is sounding better all the time.

The good: having dithered around the scene I'm writing, I recently realized that the reason I wasn't getting it written was I had it structured wrong. So now I can move forward.

The ugly: have you seen me with a cold?

So: leaving work soon, will pick up gallon jug of NyQuil, but first I had better run out to the barn and make sure Mitzi is suffering no ill effects from tripping over her own feet last night. Usually I am the clumsy one.