2007-2010 February 15th

February 15, 2007

Clear and cold and Phoenix was being such a lovable suck in the barn, that I saddled him up and went for a ride.  We went down the short driveway (after some flexion) but they were running snowmobiles in the field, so I turned him around and we went down the long driveway.  We hit some pretty big drifts and Phoenix was doing some high-stepping to get through, plus the wind was strong out there so we turned around half-way and headed back.  Then he found the strength and stamina and pranced/trotted back to the barn!  I did some more flexion there then went down the short driveway again.  Phoenix spooked at two garbage bags at the end of the driveway and we wound up in the snow-filled ditch.  I don't know if he fell or we sank down that far, but he was up to his belly and chin!  He jumped out (I stayed on!) and I took him up the road and dismounted, then led him back down and desensitized him by the garbage bags for another 10 minutes.  Onyx also has a cut above his left eye.

February 15, 2010

Well, we spent Family Day with our unique family.  I went for a ride on Onyx while Dave led Phee and then we went for supper with Craig to the Mandarin in London.  I did some groundwork with Onyx along the driveway but he's still really spooky and there's so much ice under the snow that I can't do a proper lunge or sending exercise with him.  Once we got out on the road during our ride he was fine so we went up towards Acey's and back.