Fun pony day. But I can't get this thing out of my mind.

Looking good in grey! Despite the ghetto pens behind us.

So me and the other two musketeers had a fun pony day on Sunday. The day didn't start off too great (I now hear fuzzy radio songs playing and water running when there isn't anything actually playing or running, and still suffocate myself awake when I finally do fall asleep) but it ended pretty well (minus the hour long drive it took to get home instead of the 20 minutes it should have taken).

Um, can we say FANCY?

We played with Lindsey and Prisoner first. They busted out some sweet and relaxed dressage in the arena and then showed off in the pasture for funner pictures. Needless to say, he is looking quite marvelous and even better than the last time I saw him go. Lindsey also never fails to dress to impress on her little pony boy. We also got to play with her new client project horse. Super green but also super cute and snuggly!

Look at that kissable face.

Next was Bacon. Or should I saw "Swamp Monster". I gathered the creature from the irrigated pasture/swamp and began the 15 minute soak down so I could ride it. It looked like chocolate milk was pouring off of her. Ew. Forelock, ears, everywhere. She still ended up looking pretty great when all tacked and I got on.

All of the PS.

Swamp monster was also a bit fidgety and tense and not the normal Bacon I get to ride, but that was ok. She usually goes to work, and she certainly did after a bit of a warm up. We tried trotting some circles and Lindsey entered my brain and told me to try and leg yield in and out to get her to focus on me. It helped a bit, but I brought her back down to a walk and tried some shoulder-in and that kind of loosened her up and got her listening.

Pretty pony! Leg touching horse, toes in.

We went back to trot and got some decent stuff out of her. We worked on my foot position in the stirrup to help keep my calf completely against her and toe in. It was kind of amazing. Of course, it would creep away, especially in the canter work, but it was a start. I have trouble hanging my leg and putting weight down through my leg into my stirrup. I just kind of clamp and go. Aimee took pictures for me, while the goats stalked her. Goaties love musketeers.

Goat friend Reaper!

Goat friend Mayhem! Eating the photographer's shirt.

The canter work was alright. Our transitions were pretty iffy, but we didn't work on those too much. Once we got going in the left lead, I struggled to ride the choppiness of it. I still think she needs some more body work, but there is also a major player that could be the greatest factor. Once we were done cantering, I brought her to a walk and the pony was pretty damn lame. Right front. She took some major head bobbing steps. I stopped her. I walked her again, she was ok. I stopped her, started her again and turned and she was lame again. She would take a iffy step here and there during our ride, but not like this. I have so many large sharp rocks in my arena, and sometimes I wonder if it is just her hitting those. But my gut tells me no. And this is all I have been thinking about.

Don't ask about my hands. I just like to t-rex.

Her right front was the same leg she went super lame on a couple years back. It is also the same leg that she has been on and off on throughout this spring and summer. Of course, my mind starts to think of all of the most horrible things. Could it just a sensitive foot/sole? Could it be navicular? Bone in her foot fractured? Will she have to be dressaged only? Lightly ridden? Retired? She dies?

Leg starting to lose contact with horse, but still better than usual.

I tried to put it out of my mind when I put her away. But it is still there. We put all ponies and goats away and then went for food. I kept troubling my friends with questions on mare. Because damn.

We know these faces. They run the internet.

After food, we went and played with Aimee and Papa. We all know how good they look and how sexy Papa is, but it is always fun to watch them go around and work through their ride. Plus Aimee got to bust out her pink polos on him and her Red Barn bridle and that is also fun. Oh, and stole Lindsey's pink browband. I also found a helpful way to make Aimee look ahead, but I will let her tell you about that ;)

Papa winning at stretchy trot!

Overall, it was a wonderful day. My friends know how to have a good time and my horse made me really happy, despite her tense start and lame ending. I called my vet this morning to schedule a  lameness exam for the Bacon, hopeful that he will take payments. Until then, I will try not to worry, but no promises.