More miles. Miles Miles Miles.

I had wanted to take Hampton on a trail ride today but it was threatening to rain. Plus, I drug my roommate out to the barn to ride and old Pamela (a 20+ year old school horse) was acting up and wanting to buck. I thought it might be a bad idea to trail ride 1) when its cold and rainy, 2) on my green horse with 3) a frisky school horse with an inexperienced rider. Yup. Recipe for possible disaster. So, it was more ring work for us. Hampton was decent on the lunge - he was fresh and wanted to scoot and buck a little, so I used that energy to ask for some canter departs. Many were lovely, a couple included a buck, or striking out with the front legs. I was happy that he at least responded by changing his gait and going forward - even though he could only keep the canter for 3 or 4 strides. He will get stronger and more balanced with time. Since he was fresh, I opted to ride without my whip. Of course turns out he was as calm and quiet under saddle as usual. However, I was happy that I didn't really need my whip. He is responding to my legs quite well now, although he wasn't as forward as he was last week. But I think all the lunging did tire him out some. We worked on walk to halt. Halt to walk. Walk to trot. Trot to walk. Mostly good. There was one time when he didn't halt and I had to give a rather strong aid. Not sure if he just went off into la la land or what. But after that, no problems halting. This week's goals are getting much more foward, and sharper transitions. And a friggin trail ride. Ugh. I also broke down and bought him a new turnout sheet. He was wearing his medium weight blanket which is shredded and gross. He has developed a small patch of ringworm or some type of fungus on his shoulder - probably from that nasty blanket. I have been treating that and figured he's earned himself his own, new blanket.