I'm in Maryland now, but Thursday I came out just to ride Kenopony. We tacked up okay and warmed up, but when we hit the canter he would. not. pick up the left lead without me holding him together, asking at the exact right instant, etc., which isn't bad for my riding per se but is highly unusual for him. So we worked on that. I got the impression that he wasn't doing it to piss me off, but I also got the impression that he wasn't in pain from getting that lead. I did get the impression that this was not a day he really wanted to work, though moving out was fine. So we did a little real work, and then a lot of loping around in circles. Neckreining, in our dressage saddle and bridle, and me in breeches and field boots. It was good stuff. We did a good walk-canter transition, and he didn't try to kick Xsarena. We went out in the field on Saturday, which was high stress for both of us, and I guess we haven't had a day off in a while. So I'm happy he pointed out to me that we can, in fact, do low-key things and enjoy ourselves just fine. I was very on edge on Thursday, which was pretty apparent, and I'm even happier he didn't decide to pull shit just because he could. Maybe he's growing out of his weasel phase..... nah.

I think I'm getting a dressage lesson while I'm home on someone, which will be nice, and Claire will show me how to braid. I borrowed a helmet and hopped on Sunny. Sunny is enormous. Like, ten months pregnant enormous. He lives on pasture and doesn't get any grain, but Claire put a round bale out last week and I guess he went to town. The girth I used all summer '07, four holes on each side, now fits two on each. Between not getting ridden and being a pig, after a couple circuits around the dressage arena at a trot I'd let him walk and he'd be huffing and puffing. Poor guy. He's also dropping his shoulder horribly, not bending at all, and very stressy, so we worked on relaxing. And not bucking when we pick up the canter. He may be fat, but he fills up my leg pretty good. ;)