I have fabulous news. My back is better enough for me to start riding again! I'm still not feeling perfectly well, and I have to rest a lot inbetween rides so far, but I'm hoping I'll be able to build up those muscles again to the point where it won't hurt so much. I'm already seeing improvement.
More good news... Rei has stopped cribbing so much, and she only has to wear her collar at night! Hooray! She's gaining weight a lot better now - I just compared her old photos to a picture I took of her the other day, and she's looking a looooot better. I can see the progress and it's heartening!
I've started to go out more since I got a new car and my back isn't keeping me in bed, and we've started back up working on polishing her manners and teaching her new things. I've gotten to where I can walk up to her in the field and touch her shoulder and get her to walk off after me, stop when I stop, and pay attention to where I'm going without even a lead rope around her neck. It's lovely!
Lookit how cuuuuute!
So Reina shares her field with 2 ponies, and, naturally, she is the boss. Jeff owns the 2 ponies in question, Lily and Abby. They're super adorable! But Jeff is 6'2 and I am 5'1 so... he asked me to ride said ponies for him! Lily's my favorite; she's super sweet, and really super cute mover, and has a great mind. I'm going to make her into a little hunter show pony! I'm so excited!
I've ridden her twice and she's already getting better with her canter departures.
Rei cribs while I ride the ponies to cope; she needs a new coping mechanism... she's such a diva. She's just about fat enough to where I'll feel comfortable riding her again, and I can't wait! I think we'll start off in the roundpen a little bit to get her back into working and then I'll start riding maybe once a week or so. She's amazing, and I have faith that she hasn't really forgotten anything... she's really good about that.
Isn't she looking better!?
So... yes! All good news. I'm really excited about Rei's progress and she's still such a good girl, really. I'm so proud of her. She's like a completely different horse - do you know that the barn owner had to put her in a stall the other day, and Rei went in and stayed there, totally relaxed, didn't crib or anything!? When I told her she used to not be able to go into a stall without freaking out she was completely shocked.
Well! That's about it for now. I'm away for a part of winter break and made the mistake of seeing War Horse while I wasn't within driving distance of my girlie. Amazing movie; but be sure you have horse access after it!! I miss her even more now, lol.
So, yup. Back better, new car, Rei still being amazing, and I get to get myself back into riding shape to start training Rei again by riding an adorable little pony. :)
Life is good!
