Rain Showers

We've been in the midst of some insane heat the last several weeks. Along with the heat and humidity came a lack of rain and so my plea became for rain. This past week we have been doused with a lot of rain. Which has helped the dryness, not so much the humidity or heat. Well, alas and alack.
I got on Demetrias today for the first time since Friday. We've been averaging about 15-20 minute rides because it is so hot and Saturday I couldn't bear to tack him up so I longed him instead. He usually has Sunday and Monday off but rain yesterday prevented a ride as well.
Its interesting because I am still learning how the rules to the game have changed. Demetrias is a young thoroughbred, well young-ish. He was kicked out of the hunt club because he passed the hunt master. :( He loves to jump and he likes to go fast and isn't always aware of all of his limbs. I, however, am not so much of a fan of that kind of jumping since sometimes he has "Pluto on ice" moments or he falls, completely, on me. Both instances we walked away from... my brain still struggles.
So, dressage became our sole focus. This was how we would get my 16.2 hand (a hand =4 inches) nearly 1200 pound boy to focus and use his body correctly.
Imagine you are an athlete, lets say a football player. You make the plays, you're fast in a word you're decent. However, you're not as good as you could be because you aren't aware of conditioning that would make you more agile, sprints that could make you faster and you haven't practiced the art of catching/ receiving in a long time. This is my example of Demetrias. He is huge, he has long legs, he likes to work (once you adequately motivate him) he has long and lovely lines plus he is an athlete who loves to jump.
However in his 10 years no one has ever taught him how to correctly move. He hasn't been taught to move onto the bit, round up his neck or his haunches or to actually curve into the way he is moving. He hasn't been taught to jump. to balance over the top and land not ready to explode and buck but ready for the next task.
Oh, my horse did well in his former career but you had to be a little crazy (sorry Tom) to really enjoy the ride... my humble opinion and most likely my football analogy is a terrible example. However, as someone who has flipped over this guys head and been underneath him on a weird jump, I may have some insight. :)
The reason I digress on this, I suppose is because chronic uveitis is often considered or called a career ending injury and in many cases it is. It isn't for me. I am a teacher. I essentially have no business owning a horse except that God is gracious and has allowed my joy to be a reality. So, were we headed for the Grand Prix or the Olympics? Absolutely not, but we were headed some place, a local show, a dressage test, I don't know and I know Kim :) that we still can but this has been a bit of a game changer. Not because we can't do it, D's eyes play a very small role in his overall function. They are important but they are not vital organs. He "sees" with his ears and his skin and his willingness to trust me to guide him.
I have a 10 year old thoroughbred gelding who I used to not get on right away after 5 days off because he would be WAY too hot and I would rather he got that energy out without me on his back. I have a horse who as soon as I sit on his back I know its going to be a bumpy ride. He sighs at me when I don't do things right and argues with me about whether or not he really needs to be on the bit. But you know what's weird? Today, he was fussing and pulling and so I drove him into my hands and used my whip fully expecting forward motion and a buck. That didn't happen, he bucked up and kicked out but did all of it in place, quickly and then moved forward the way I way I was asking. Weird.
He is spooking in place, he never used to do that.
He isn't exploding when he really absolutely would be justified in doing so.
He still gets upset and can't figure out big trucks that make crazy noise or little children but the rules of the game have changed. He isn't running.
I don't know what that means.
I haven't done all this amazing work. I haven't been able to "whisper" to him.
But I have loved him and cared for him even when I wasn't riding. He has gotten the nasty tasting medicine from me and a whole lot of carrots.
He knows that I will be there nearly every day and while I will demand good behavior I will also reward it. Does that make a difference to a horse? I'm beginning to think it really might.
So, I will continue to worry about him when I turn him out and hope that the turn out isn't too hard or scary for him. I will wait for him to drink out of the water trough and then go find his hay (in that order) and if he seems uncertain I will walk in front of him so he can follow my voice and point out his hay. Does he really need me to do that? I'm not sure yet, he hasn't told me.
Horses don't have depth perception. Mine also doesn't have the ability to differentiate or make out images on his left side. But he is brave and trusting. He knows my voice and is brave enough to venture forward because he knows that regardless of what he can do I have proven trustworthy. And so I am grateful for another day...