Day 17

Well, today was a good day. I cleaned Baja's pen earlier in the day and he was his usual curious, mischievous self. He was trying to drag the manure bucket around by the handle and dump it. This afternoon I groomed him, and then saddled him up. I guess with all the surcingle work, the saddle was a non-issue to him. I worked on the mounting block on both sides with him, having me above him is his biggest issue right at the moment. After letting him wear the saddle around for awhile, I went back in and put the bit and reins on him, did some bending and steering work with some ground-driving. Then we worked on the mounting block/high up stuff again until he started accepting it better.

After that I took the saddle, bit/reins off of him and decided it was time for him to get out of the pen and go for a walk. Getting him through the gateways/doorways was the biggest challenge, otherwise, he was really good. He just was real hesitant at going through them. I took him in and walked him around in the indoor arena first, then we visited Chester at his stall, went out through the far hallway to the outdoor arena, back in and up the back hallway, across the concrete to go visit Angel at her stall, and then out the front and back to his pen. He was really very good, curious, and a little hesitant when things were close in. I think the biggest riding issue we will have once I get him over the me high-up thing will just be getting him moving. He tends to be low energy.

Also, he was a bit limpy again today after a hard day of ponying yesterday, so please continue to pray for his legs/feet.