Ahhhhh, the planets aligned today. For the first time in weeks and weeks and weeks the temp was around 45F. It wasn't snowing, freezing rain, hurricane winds with wind chills in the single digits AND my back didn't hurt !

I took halter in hand and went out to the pasture to collect my big boy CherokeeSun. He didn't even put up much of a struggle. So with halter on we headed to the corral. I saddled him up without so much as a wimper. So far so good. Now I led him to the enclosed pasture for a test drive.

We started off ok. There was the obliatory few bucks and a little kicking out just to let me know he wasn't 100% happy but considering how long it had been since we last rode together not too bad. So I put him through some flex exercises and a couple of control moves just to be sure. Took about 25 minutes.

Next we head out for our ride. I took him to the top of a rise about a quarter mile from my place and we loped along for a bit. Then the head shaking began and he was trying to go his own way. So I stopped and checked his tack and all was ok. He started acting up again so I flexed him a few times and made him ride in circles first in one direction and then another a few times.

I figured since we had been riding for almost an hour total I would take him back in. I didn't want to over do it the first day. So home we headed.

We got back and I took off all his tack and brushed him down real good. This is always an exercise in futility because as soon as I cut him loose he finds a nice semi-wet spot of dirt to roll in. I think he is laughing at me.

So cleaned the tack and put it away until tomorrow. I filled the water tank. And then I headed to the house.

Good ending to a nice day.

Oldcowboy