Bo Nose

As horses somehow manage, Bo gashed his face open in his stall. We coud not find anything he cut it on, so it is a mystery. Many stitches later, he is all fixed up. He was a real champ during the cleaning and stitching. He has been very good about the cleaning since then as well.

We cannot help but wonder if his previously bad esculating behavior was due to "lack of attention" since I've been focusing on Cody so much. I'm going to take him out this weekend.

Peg has been riding T the last few trips. He and Cody are working very well together. I've been moving Cody around to several different positions during the ride. He has calmed down a lot about having horses behind him on the trail.

He is doing excellent on the trail. His gait consistancy is improving more each ride.

Tacoda Gets A Bad Habit!!!

Well, it's not a habit yet. But it's happened twice.

Last ride out at Alafia (2 weeks ago), he suddenly started trying to bolt out of hand and when I held him back he arched his neck and bounced along kind of cantering in place. He was monstrous. We had been riding along next to Sweetpea, four horses behind us and the rest ahead. Probably about 10 - 12 riders in full.

The four behind fell well behind, and I made Cody stand to let them catch up. Sweetpea rode ahead. Cody was fine until they caught up and were about 20 feet away, and then he started the hopping and bouncing. He fought me the next hundred yards or so until we finally caught up with Sweetpea on the winding trail. Now I had ridden him ahead of her before and he was fine without her. So I just figured he was upset because she rode ahead of HIM.

Now this last week, it began again. Right before we reached the same spot. This time there were two horses behind us, Sweetpea was beside him, and there were four horses ahead of him. And he started hopping and bouncing like a rocking horse, actually bucking a little. He did this several times and even went into a few bucks coming up a ditch. The whole ride he had been sullen and putting his ears back, turning his head slightly so he could "glare" at me. I was a little confused by the behavior.

And then it seemed to escalate. Finally, I asked the horses behind us to go around..... and it was instant... He calmed right down and went about his gait in a business like manner. The ears went up and once again he was my happy little Tacoda.

Cody has decided he does not like horses behind him. Even if they aren't that close.

Obviously we have to fix this and like it or not, he cannot always ride at the back of the pack. It is something he will just have to get used to because I'm going to make him ride in the middle of the pack for a while on each ride until he gets over it. Hopefully, I'll survive it!