#zeebear

[brodudepants]

It was windy and there were sounds so zee pulled back and broke my break away halter...again 😂 guess I'll need a back up again so I can keep the break away as a spare

[brodudepants]

Idk what horse I rode and what happened to the Zee I had last time, but I hope it sticks!

Beautiful ride today! I mean like, I have never had this good of a ride without being in the show ring, or warming up for one (I’m of course referring to the amazing warm up and competitive ride I had at Scottsdale in 2014) so that was awesome

I started with turn out in the small arena while I got my tack ready. Then tied him up and ended up talking to another boarder for probably 10-15 minutes (like 10 feet away). Despite the basic shenanigans (bobbing his head, chewing the rope pretending to pull back; but stopping when I didn’t run over there 🙄, and swinging around to the other side of the tie rail) he hung out and didn’t get stuck so…better than some days 😂 I went to shed him out some more and his “pants” came out! Lol at least he’s sleek looking now…almost all the way at least 😂😂 At this point I tacked up and went back to the small arena to ride. Once I got him to line up he didn't wiggle around. He didn't even try to chew on the reins on the walk over so I kinda felt a good day coming on. Got on, he wiggles a bit there, but I've always had that issue, so not stressing. I get those double reins sorted and away we go! Walking. Not even asking or pushing for a trot. It's amazing We go past the *~scary~* side of the arena. It has a small log on its side, TWO pvc and wood saddle racks AND a shipping container tack room with the door often open (half of this stuff is a good three feet away from the fence line and all of it is outside the arena) but he only spooked at the horse turned out in the other arena..the rest got a side ear once, and never again! It was amazing just walking around and the worst thing he would do is push a little to the inside. We trotted and did circles in the corners, a little in balanced but still keeping pace, only once picking up the canter unasked and even then it was even and a lope like pace. I mean honestly I was in shock So then we canters after trotting for a while and could STILL do circles in the corners (albeit larger and with worse balance..) he never really tried to take off with me, only a few times tried to buck, I'm guessing either my saddle slid too far forward at one point or he keeps expecting it to be painful/me being sloppy so like..only thing to do is just keep transitioning to the canter to show him he's okay. Even after this perfect ride, I go to open the gate astride, and he helps push the gate over instead of spooking and backing up, then side passed properly to a spot where I could reach the latch and shut it proper. This is literally the only time he's ever done this!! I got to cheat when I first broke him to ride bc there were "cart gates" or like it would lock proper on its own due to the mechanism (if I kicked it hard enough lol) I was so happy with our ride, and he was happy to play "I will bite you" over the fence with his neighbor when he was put back lol! I'm so happy with today that I may try to ride between work tomorrow! Who knows!

[brodudepants]

I wish I had gotten I picture of the *terrifying* goose framed by Zee’s ears bc that would have been perfect

AMAZINGLY PonyButt was LESS of a dick today!!!! I’m taking that to mean that I am continuing to do right by him, and that overall the pain issues are indeed resolving themselves and it’s more anticipation of pain than actual pain at this point. Today I ALSO was able to put my saddle back onto him and not be super duper pinchy and Bad! So many successes!

Okay! So! I got out Zee and continued my Shedding™ mission. HE HAS SHOWN ME THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. Meaning his neck and most of his chest is DONE shedding so hopefully his body will quickly follow suit and then I won’t feel guilty for riding in summer quality heat while he’s still fluffy enough for November… Then I was like “what if I can fit my saddle back on?” AND I COULD So I was super carful with placement and if it sits where I(ve always tried to keep it) want it to be then there’s no issue, but he’s a bit wide in his barrel where the girth would be then, and just behind his elbow where the girth SHOULD be is perfectly narrow and accepting of the cinch. You may see my problem now? BUT we had a good lunge where he was focused and calm So I got on to ride Since moving I’ve been having a hard time mounting. I’m mostly limited to using the fence until I can get more consistent on opening and closing (mostly closing) gates while mounted. It’s possible, but often a fight Other than the moving around a bit while I'm trying to get on, he was very willing and seemed pleased with our work today. He cantered fine on the line so I tried a little canter under saddle. To the left he tried to hop and buck and rear again, but we got a clean few strides in. To the right, once he had the correct lead, it was smooth and free feeling. This just further compounds my thinking that he's anticipating it to hurt from when the saddle didn't fit. We mostly trotted at first, once he calmed down I worked on avoiding fighting while opening and closing the gate to the round pen. After that we walked around the property as a mock trail ride This is where the goose comes in! First we pass the *scary* fencing rolls and DIDNT SPOOK!! Yay!! Then we end up farther than we've ever walked before and he suddenly stops. I look up and there's a goose just chilling in a water tub. A pet goose mind you, geese aren't endemic to the part of so cal I live in. And then the goose started bathing and Zee just LOST IT Blindly charging backwards until I convince him to stop. I was able to slowly get him close to where we were before he got spooked by the goose Then I attempted a slow and calmish turn around to leave the dead end with the goose...it was mostly a success I'm so glad I can aimlessly wander around the property now! EEee! I'm that one step closer to being able to take him out on a trail and like actually start our retirement lol!

[brodudepants]

He looks so tall in this picture....you'd never guess he's all of 14.1 hh of fluffy gooberness! I tried to get a good pic of Zee's mane all brushed out but alas this picture sucks. In other news!!!! I actually went faster than a walk, and even cantered (bareback) today!! Now it wasn't much and both pony boy and I are a bit sore from that step so I'll probably stick to the walks still. I rubbed the last of my "Sore No More" liniment on his back and he'll get a few days off (tomorrow because it's good for him, the rest of the week because my mom is visiting and then I start my new normal people job) Still no sign of limping/short stepping in the hind end !! So I'm hoping that whatever fixed him stays that way. I did a quick "chiropractor test" down his spine and pelvis and the only ouchy spots were where I anticipated from the trotting and cantering today so that's a plus! Hopefully ponybutt's saddle fits in the next couple rides so we can go back to fake trail rides in hopes of real trail rides in the future :D Still happy about his stall and I'm gonna talk about this every time because no matter how long I was at the ranch with him he would scream at me as I left when he was near the back of the property. Now he never does and is often bothering the other horses next to him as I leave and that just feels SO GOOD Until next time

[brodudepants]

Okay so I'm hoping today wasn't just a fluke bc little Zee-man is keeping a full stride today! I'm hoping it was either a full relaxing from the sedative two days ago or the fact that I've been getting him out and moving more since weather has been better. Also, though he was a bit..annoyed? today, we had a very good call walking around and full listening today even outside the arena (less windy *eyebrow wiggle*) and has gone back to nickering after a good ride and at the sight/sound of his bridle. He's still not screaming after me as I leave, so that helps my conscience and I'm glad he's doing well in this different stall with options of who to touch and socialize with (the other stall he was only mostly next to one horse but occasionally two, now it's two all the time and people see these ponies all the time so he gets to shake down people for cookies more often probably) I really did miss the nickers after a good ride, and he really isn't free with them so getting it today was so nice and reassuring ahhh I'm glad he's feeling better again and we're getting along again!! Hopefully I can get him back into a saddle here soon, but I'm glad he's not mad about the bareback rides until then.

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My video of Zee stumbling around "drunk" didn't work out too well so here's a picture from it. Good news! The doc loves him?? And also his teeth are apparently good til the next check up so that's good! (He wasn't spilling food, but the bit change made me wonder...) but this vet dopes up all geldings who ask for a sheath cleaning. I'm all for that after I saw ponybutt try to kick the vet even after getting a heavier dose than necessary (he's a really cheap date) so I don't think I'll remind the doc to go lighter next time lol OF COURSE I forgot to mention the short-stepping to the vet but I would have probably had to go down to his office for x-rays (principle, he mostly does trailer in visits instead of going out to the clients) So I'll see about calling a chiropractor and hope it's nothing serious This was all yesterday though. Today the wind was HORRIFYING and I barely made it from the back of the property to the front (round pen to stall) for the quick bareback ride I decided to hop on for. Good to know I probably shouldn't go on trail rides on the high winds days as he was decent for the few moments we were inside the round pen though.

[brodudepants]

I didn't get any pictures for fear of ruining the calm I was having with Zee today I meant to have him get some energy out in a round pen first but the resident mule owners beat me to them so we started with arena work and I just got on to ride. Zee's gotten so far over this winter that his saddle (adjustable gullet and everything) just won't fit him any more. I've been putting a surcingle on to ride for some grip though, that's been working pretty well... Aside from the very sudden "backing up as fast as equinely possible" at the ground pole we had already passed a few times and the temper tantrum resulting in a very high rear after we left the arena for a walk around the property (yes I was riding and stayed on for both of these) zee was very good and kept his head through the various "obstacles" we had to face. Obstacles included: The ground pole that was outside the arena A saddle rack that was nearly identical to the one we racked up next to (close to the pole) A cone laying on its side next to some piping A plastic bag that neither moved, nor crinkled but was half way under the fencing And a horse that was turned loose in the other arena Lmao my treatment to his lack of focus was boring 10-20 meter circles next to the ~*scary*~ thing until a calm and even paced walk resulted (also at least one ear toward me/not listening to the ~*scary*~ thing) thankfully about 3 minutes is enough to get him bored and uninterested with the "if I'm ~*scared*~ then I don't have to work" object. I've fought so hard over the years to get him to not pay attention to things I know he's passed by a million times that I finally gave up over the summer. Since my lunge line was stolen/lost after separating from my old instructor I haven't been able to have a controlled exercise with out round penning/free lungeing in a round pen. That sucks due to how I wanted to desensitize him to areas he claimed to be ~*scary*~ in the arenas. On the bright side he told me how to stop fighting him over it. I had limited control over his speed. Because of this all I could do was insist he kept going passed the spot that was ~*scary*~ and insist he didn't come in from the circle at the same time. After a few tries at this he gave up some on how ~*scary*~ this object was (a hot walker if you remember) and would just keep an ear on it. After a few days it was like it was never a problem. Now that spring is in, there's a whole new list of ~*scary*~ objects with only a few old things carrying over from the fall. Thankfully he's being reasonable with getting over these things and hopefully by mid summer we can go on a couple trails with some people. ALSO I got my Pessoa bridle out of storage and tried that with the cavemore. It was terribly loose but there was more room to punch holes in it than my "practice" bridle so I asked the mule people if I could borrow a leather punch and now it fits a lot better! Hopefully I'll get a pic of it tomorrow..if I was thinking I would have gotten another hole punched in the chinstrap of the cavemore to give some more adjustability if necessary, but it should be fine. He still is trying to pull a little in it, but he's still lighter than when we wear a bit so no complaints. Pony boy's reaction time is awesome now too! A quick jiggle/pulse from my hand and he gives to a neutral position, vs the light tugging and neurotic pulses it takes with a bit! If I don't have to yank all over his tongue for control I will gladly keep him in this for as long as we're "retired" (from showing). Just going to reiterate this for those of you who have stayed through this essay but not others: Zee has lately been more attentive and appropriately reactive in his halter than bridle so for the last two rides I've had him in a cavemore (traditional cavesson crossed with an "English" hackamore for a bit less double bridle experience) to try and replicate the sensitivity he gives in hand under saddle. (Also I've decided to explain is more as a sidepull hybrid to my denser in person horse people who ask, let me know if that is appropriate)

[brodudepants]

You know what's weird? A horse changing bit preference. What do I mean by this, you're wondering. Well in my limited observation of Zee, my horse, I know for most of his ridden "career" he has gone in a simple double jointed egg butt with a lozenge link (instead of a french link?) and has gone well and listened to it well and we haven't had any issues. Recently though something was going on and I repeatedly found blood on the joint of one of the rings but none on his face. (I rinsed the bit off every time so I know it was fresh) While Zee has thrown his head during the rides I find blood, I didn't think much of it because he's thrown his head a lot throughout his ridden life and there wasn't an issue in the past. This bit also has a lot of mobility, for example it can fold completely in on itself like a single jointed bit in both directions. Because I'm obsessive I ended up getting a different bit purely for handling Zee on the ground in "in-hand" classes. This has a similar mouth piece as the egg butt, but has "hunter" D rings instead. (Not to she confused with "racing" d rings) Because of the near constant unwillingness to give to the bit and repeated finding of blood I decided to switch to the other bit I have. Keeping in mind the last time I rode Zee in this bit he refused to listen and constantly tossed his head (during a class at a show) which pushed me to buying a second bridle specifically for the bit that was specifically for not riding in. Something to notice about the bits though is the the points of the joint connecting the cheek rings to the mouth piece is wider apart on the D ring than on the egg butt. What I recently found out about the D ring as well was that this mouth piece had less movement in that it could fold perfectly in half going backwards but was closer to a mullen mouth going forwards or the way it will sit in a horses mouth. I didn't realize this when I first got the bits, but they aren't very similar at all due to these slight differences. When I went to school and free leased Zee to BF's niece I didn't think much of what she would be doing with him because she already had a horse to ride (in barrels) and figured he would be used on days the other horse was on rest and they would walk and jog around the ring. Now I have no idea what they actually did with him, but I know they used a western saddle on him. It could be that Zee learned what a shanked curb bit was for the first time last year with a semi incompetent trainer and a 9 year old girl. While this is less than ideal it could be that the stiffer bit was something Zee didn't know he wanted in a mouth piece. This could have led to the unimpressed feelings toward his wiggly eggbutt and more wanting the rigidity of the D-ring. Idk but he's much happier going in this different bit he used to hate these days than the bit he used to love so there's my piece on that