Went paddling on the regulating reservoir yesterday with some friends, and then went to see Apollo and say goodbye. He was as usual very calm, taking it for granted that what will happen will be good, and I hope he takes it for granted too that I will be back. Yes, I know (I assume!) animals do not think that way, but…

Rode him for the first time in the bit two days ago, and I have so much to learn! Got a good pep talk from Rachel, who told me that the rein connection is not so much to give aids, as to complete the circle of energy as rider and horse go forward, and as an extension and support for the aids given by the body of the rider. If I’ve gotten any of that wrong, Rachel, tell me!

Meanwhile, a good reminder on the road:

The vet appointment went very well. I like her, she likes Apollo, and she says he likes his life, his feet look great, his weight is good, his heart and digestion sound good, and of course that he is beautiful. She did some good chiropractic work on him, and wants to do more.

Four weeks until I come back.

Yesterday I let Apollo decide whether or not he wanted to come to me— and he did! I stood at the gate, and he came over from all the way in the back.

Tomorrow is his vet appointment with Dr. Tia. I will ask lots of questions, and I am eager to have someone who knows more than I do— and whose knowledge I trust— take a look at his feet. I read something Dr. Tia wrote a few years ago about barefoot trimming and I liked what she said. Also will ask if she thinks he is too thin, and that I should arrange with Brian to give him extra hay while I am gone, and if she thinks I should also keep him on the B-L solution as well.

I am curious to see how he will do without his herbs and chia and flax meal for four weeks.

Meanwhile, we had an excellent bodywork session the other day. Quite by accident, I stroked along the rounded muscle of his neck with the mane and tail comb, and he yawned and yawned, moving his jaw side to side, and the yawn went all the way to his eyes, as it does sometimes. Very nice!

Yesterday, as his left hind seemed to be bothering him a little bit, I did some work on it out of the wonderful Jack Meagher book, and then improvised some, and finally lunged him with the bit-halter combination, and his leg was better. So good to see such a clear result, and I do think the Myler bit is helping him lift his topline and telescope forward with his neck.

The roosters are learning to keep their distance, but I may have to start all over with them when I return. I have heard that birds have ultra short memories.

A view from above— eyelashes!

I lunged Apollo in bit and halter again today (third time), and I have no pictures from the last two sessions because I was attending completely to what we are doing. Good! And I think I am learning how to make a connection with him through the long line.

I practiced tapping each of his hind legs as he brought them under his body, also tapping his belly— both of which I have seen both Jillian Kreinbring and Manolo Mendez use when they are working in-hand, to encourage the horse to lift their legs, lift their back.

I still think of Jilli when I lunge Apollo, because I try to channel that wonderful measured-looking alongside lope she often does when working a horse on a line.

Today Apollo picked up the trot easily, transitioned down to walk easily, stayed at a walk (instead of halting on the down transition from trot), and halted easily, without turning in towards me as he has done.

The nasty rooster came at me a little bit today, but I tossed a couple of rocks in his direction, and ignored him, and he went away. When they all came later, while I was doing feet, I just flapped my sweatshirt at them and they scattered. Thank you, eagles and other large birds of prey! That’s my guess, anyway.

In two weeks I leave for 23 days. I am anxious about being away from the pony. This is the longest separation since September 2009, when I took Greyhound to Quebec for one last night at Caraway Connemaras before driving to Vermont with Chris.

September 18 of 08, four of us drove from MA to Caraway [chick road trip!] staying overnight two miles by road, half a mile by land, in a stone cottage that looked like the cottage in a postcard sent to me years ago picturing a stone cottage in France. We had Chris over for a loaves-and-fishes dinner, where a meal materializes from a bare larder in an unfamiliar place, and we talked ponies. I mostly listened.

When I spoke of my yearning to relocate, a friend told me I seem rootless. Yes, that is so. Luckily she meant appealing, even if not emulated.

My Save Edge rasp has gone dull. That’s about two years of one horse, and a lot more in the past year, when I’ve been sole (ha ha!) trimmer.

Went trolling online of course for a new rasp and almost ordered the Radius Rasp, but decided to go with a Friedr. Dick 12-inch, and ordered a sharpener for the hoof knives as well, and a better handle for the rasp.

Yesterday Apollo was easy about my running him around at liberty, but watching him move, I think he is a bit stiff. I am calling his possible vet today, to see if she can come out and see him before I go away later this month. She does chiropractic adjustments…

Today we are getting a foot of snow. There is a little flock of robins eating something dangly off the snow-laden trees. I am staying at a friend’s house while she is away, doing chores. Later I will sit by the fire.

Apollo with his Level Three Myler bit, in the headstall made for him by Ron Zbinden, down Wylie

He’s been wearing the bit in for a few minutes at a time, just walking around a little, but not working. Today for the first time I lunged him with the bit in.

I was so intent on getting a picture and some video of him moving, that I was not as attentive as I want to be to his movement, and to how what I do, and the contact on the line, affects his movement and carriage.

Got some video and pics to send to my teachers and see what they might have to say. I think he is looking pretty good, and the bit is not bothering him at all.

He is ever more responsive, and I know it is not just that I might be getting clearer in my asks. I believe that as our relationship gets closer, he is more and more willing. We are connected!

Good bodywork afterwards.

Finally combed out his mane and tail, which meant two trips to Murdoch’s, because of course I couldn’t possibly get both Cowboy Magic and a comb the first time around. What a beautiful boy he is.

On State Highway 434, returning from Freezeout Lake