What's on the griddle??

Just a few items...

1.  Pete has these bug bites that become large scabs like dirt bumps 
mainly below his knees.  He has about 5-6 of these on each lower leg. 
Never saw anything like it before.

2.  He's going to a four week shoeing rotation.  Needs it.

3.  Man is the rehab over!  Tonight, he was cantering HIMSELF around the 
ring just staying under my center.  I was just steering him from core 
alone.  I was not using rein and he was not running and he kept it 
together from seat alone.  My instructor has been doing a bunch of work 
getting him to stay under the rider's center of gravity.  Of course this 
works only as well as the rider can provide a "target" for the center. 
She, of course, provides a target all the time.  I, of course provide a 
target only some of the time  I can do this with him at walk and canter 
for the most part but not consistently at trot though I feel him trying 
to find me at trot.  It is the coolest feeling.  Mommy's boy.  :)

4.  In canter, he still needs to start out in a horizontal, huntery, 
long, large-strided frame but then can round from that.  He did that 
with me tonight and my instructor said she lets him do it because she 
feels he needs to start that way (though it isn't a strength thing if I 
understood her).  He did come round after a bit with me but I could not 
start him that way.  After riding him I understand why she says it isn't 
a strength thing but I don't know what it is then.  I saw him canter the 
fence line when I drove up and it was sort of that same large long canter.

5.  He has developed this thing were he doesn't like to get his feet 
wet.  He did it on trail and in the ring.  Very strange.  I asked my 
instructor to get him out on trails as often as possible and work thoguh 
anything like that.

6.  I rode without the fly mask tonight and it was fine.  Better than 
with the fly mask.  I think he was having some difficulty seeing with 
it.  And there are plenty of jumps in that ring so maybe he was worried 
about hitting something.

7.  Speaking of jumps, my instructor has started jumping Pete a bit 
because we both think it might do him good.  He at first stumbled over 
some cross rails but then did better.  His previous owner jumped him a 
bit but I never did.  I will continue to let her handle the jumping...
heh.

8.  He's been working very hard and is now getting 3/4 of a cup of 
pellets, up from a half a cup.  :)

9.  I have been doing some schooling at walk, something I have never 
bene allowed to do before.  :)  TOH, TOF, etc. whilst not losing the 
quality of the walk or straightness and staying out to the bit, etc. 
etc.  It's the most mentally taxing thing I have done with him in a long 
time.  By far.

10.  Our wonderful saddle fitter guy is out of pocket for the next large 
while.  So my instructor and I are on our own with the new saddle 
search.  It's an unfortunate thing but my instructor is up to the task. 
  I'm still riding in the Albion and it is very easy to ride in but not 
as comfortable as my Forestier and I want a new saddle soon.

11.  I was talking to another boarder recently and she made a comment 
about how her horse seems to love our instructor.  I told her I have 
been saying the same thing!  And she doesn't even use treats to buy 
love!  The horses just like her... she is so fair and empathetic and 
perceptive.  Pete can have two mommies for now.

sharon