Testing, Testing...

1, 2, 3...is this thing on?

That's how I felt in the beginning with Ernie this morning. Today is the first day I got on him in over a month, and the first time since he's been ridden after his chiropractic work on Tuesday. For the most part, he was wonderful. As always, we had to go over (and then go over again) the "horsey TV" (AKA the big sliding arena door that allows full view of the paddocks, driveway, parking lot and all other distracting barn activity) and the fact that listening to me is WAY more interesting than what's going on outside. Ernie doesn't like that end of the arena, never has, but he usually gets over it pretty quickly. Without fail, however, we start every ride going over the same thing: the big door exists, there are things moving outside, get over it, and listen to the lady upstairs (me).

He felt *gasp* GOOD, though. He felt nice and loose and swingy over his back and through his hips. He was taking nice, big strides, almost to the point of tracking up. Once we got past the horse TV issue, he settled really nicely. I was quite happy.

Short story: If I ever had to ride a scored dressage test with Ernie, heaven's forbid, his walk would probably be the lowest scoring thing on the test. I don't even know how to describe it...he's never truly tracked up for more then a few strides, and that's when he's actually fit. He'll stretch down all day long, but as soon as he goes into a frame it's hard to keep him moving forward. He tends to equate "frame" with "short", and thus his stride gets shorter and less free. It's a lot of work to push him forward and ask him to really work from behind while maintaining the frame.

He also tends to walk kinda drunk. Ernie doesn't do straight lines, at least not anymore. He just lacks the strength (and I tend to overcorrect, which makes it worse) to go forward on a straight line without the wall or rail to support him. He also, technically speaking, doesn't have a "pure" walk anymore because his right hind tracks shorter than his left ever since his suspensory injury. It's not a lameness or unsoundness, just a compensation and a guarding mechanism he's had since then. His entire hind end got labeled "drunk" by an old riding instructor a couple years ago; sometimes it seems as though it's wandering all over the place, not quite catching up with his front. It's a lack of muscle and strength, I think, more than anything else.

But, this morning was good. We walked on the buckle, more or less, for about 10 minutes. He seemed nice and forward, so we did some walk on contact, which he appeared very pleased to do. I think he's happy realizing he's got some job security. We even had a couple steps of leg yield. I'm not so regimented with him as maybe I should be, but I'm also trying to learn to read him better at the beginning of each ride.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.