Snowy foggy Duke went into a Canter in back field

What a day at the barn.  I didnt have a helmut on when I was in the field.
I got there early enough, Bonnie had texted me to see if I had gone to the barn the day beffore during a storm where we got about 6 inches of snow. I told her that I hadnt been over and asked he what had happened and is Duke ok.  She said Duke was fine, he had just taken the door off the stall and was out in the aisle of the barn.
[The thing I was thinking is that if Duke wanted to get out of the stall because of an emergency, he could do it. He also might be able to save the other horses if something was wrong and they all needed to get out.  Hes a smart guy and knows right from wrong.  He knows also that in the winter, horses should be outside.  He wants OUT!  Im proud of him letting them know that they better get him out or he'll take the door off.  Good Boy!]
Back to being at the barn with Duke.
I saw that I was able to walk around and Duke did not get mad when I walked over to see Manny in the arena with Kristin his owner.  There was a sweet lady named Christine who is leasing Johnny.  She was brushing him out and she said that she rides on Sunday mornings and she goes outside. I did not see her outside ever when we were over there on most Sundays. She said she'd be interested in going out if we were there at the same time.  Scotti showed up and walked in after I had brushed out Duke and had his saddle all ready.  I like tacking him in his stall, I have lots of space and its private.  I finisned getting him ready and walked out to see how Scotti was doing. She was in the ring already.  I was getting Duke's bridle on and he giving me a wicked hard time, it made me laugh. I think that I gave him the apple right away and it may have spoiled him a bit.
Well I was going to see how Scotti was doing and Patti was helping her down off of Doc, she was feeling dizzy.  When she got there she told me that shes been struggling with Vertigo.  I was thinking that if she was not riding Id go right out into the snow and ice with Duke since he has his winters.  Hes been in for a few days and this way he will want to go right out there.  I really didnt spend any time making sure she was ok so I better make sure that Im a little bit more helpful next time.

I used the block of Stacies to try and get on. Duke acted like a total jerk.  Even Lily was laughing at me and him as I tried to get on him.  He backed up too many times.  I asked Patti to hold his mount.  He was a jerk.  As soon as I got on we were in the field to the right.  He waded into the deep icy puddles in the field.  He stopped so many times on the way to the corner field.  He slowly walked gazing into the woods.  He smells the coyotes and he worries. I believe he may even see them at night through is window.
He slowly moved toward the corner and walked he actually stopped many times to turn to go back. I kept on him as we continued around the edge.  We walked as the fog rolled out of the woods.  Duke walked slowly as he thought that something was in the fog. Truly erie for us today.  Hes stalled so many times.  He definately does not like going into the field by the strange trailers.  I believe that we will from now on go into the scary field to the right and then go across tehe street and behind the Greenwood houses to around the back field.  Soon Im going to go into the field that is behind the large field to the right. Id like to explore the field that I see when I pass the bike path on the left.
Anyway, Duke was giving me the backing up thing but I am on him.  His apprehension in the field felt like he may break out into a run back to the barn.  The fog rolled in.  As we went up the hill Duke was still gazing into the woods.  When I went by Bonnies house she came out and yelled at me to keep to the edge of the feilds. I told her that I was on the edge.  She went back into the house.   As I went by the house in the snow, Duke didnt even blink at the boat because of the wind and fog.  We got to the edge of the field Duke stopped and again tested me to see if I would continue to get on him and kick him, he crossed.  As we went over to the right to go behind the houses Duke again gave me a hard time.  As he stopped and would not go into the grass, snow ice, with deep water.  I pulled him around and to the left to walk the side of the road.  He did good. I was disappointed that we would not go into the woods and the big field.  As we went down the road, Duke was great.  We got to the end and I steered him into the path near the opening of the big feild.  He was terrible, backing up again, giving me shit, refusing to go forward. I spoke gently and asked him nice.  It wasnt working.    I decided to go back the way of the road and Duke went into the snow very gently.  He liked the snow under his hoofs.  During our walk especially when we got deep into the field that has the woods, Duke stopped and yelled into the woods to see if another horse was going to answer.  He misses his friends so very much.  I think that possibly he would like to rdie with Sky sometime soon.  He walked into the water, ice, snow and grass.  He did great.  We went into the back yard of the Greenwood brother and Duke trotted when asked.  He tugged a few times during the walk where he thought he would steal grass.  I know that he cant steal unless he has permission.  As we rouded the back field as we did last weekend, Duke was getitng into the groove of being out and also forgetting to be a little jerk.  It felt like last year at Bobbys.  I think hes come full circle.  Hes almost while I was on the trail, made me feel like the old days.  He was definately feeling it too.  He was gladly going into the woods.  As we went into the woods, Bonnie sent me a text that asked me where my helmut was and I hadnt I worn it. I told her I actually forgot it because I had a hat on I didnt remember.  She said that because of insurance she could get screwed, I let her know that I hadnt forgotten it before and I promised not to again.  I had no intention of not wearing one and was truly sorry.  She said it was ok.  I would never want anything to happen to anyone.

Bottom line on this guy:

• He got out of the stall when locked up too long
• Listened to me about going into the field.
• Kept going through lots of deep water, ice and snow just to be a good boy
• Doesnt like the field next to the trailers as an entrance.
• Likes to cross the street next to Bonnies
• Doents like the Coyote area and the foggy woods
• Can canter and might be happy to get "out there" this winter
• All of our work to strengthen him up has paid off, arena, fields, walking ground work, being with me in the fiels
• He can even bend his head back (to get a celebratory mint after the cantor.  Good boy
• Oh yeah, I cant pat him on the mane when he listens to me too much or he'll stop.  Only a good boy and a quick pet will do for him

Harry and the Snowman Movie at the Regent Theater

Duke gave me my Christmas gift

Was excited to go over to meet Scotti and ride with Doc again.  ITs been going pretty well with her.  I left earlier than I usually do so I could get there with Duke and get him all tacked up.  When I was driving Scotti sent me a text that she was going to be late.  I thought no problem.  It was still pretty cold that day and I was dressed pretty well.  I went and got Duke he looked over at me as I walked up to get him.  He has settled in with Doc but doesn tlike him.  I borught them applces and Doc was under the impression that he was number one in the paddock.  He and Duke had bites and then the strange thing is Doc used his back legs to do a buck in Dukes general direction.  I really didn't like it.  I pushed Doc away and gave him some words. I kinda was mad I was so nice to him with the apple.  I have Townes some because hes a sweet boy and was watching.
I brought Duke into his stall to tack him after Kystyn left the area. I like to get the saddle rack out and put his weatern on it as I tack him in his stall. I really don't like the cross ties much.  Its funny I have no problem with Duke here alone with no one around.  As a matter of fact I love it.
Well I put in the rack and the new Kristin that is Manny's owner was there doing the chores.  Shes very nice, I like her a lot.  I started to clean up Duke.  Giving him his wormer quetely in the stall.  He really appreciated it.  I was glad to get that going and over with until the next dewormer in Feb.  I groomed him like crazy, love the way he's looking, and tacked him up. Im using the Red pad for now but I think I will use the pad that Valerie had next. 
When Scotti got there she went out to get Doc, I offered to go help if she needed it. She said she was pretty good with the gate unless its frozen then she said it was trouble. 
In no time I could hear her talking to Doc to tell him to behave.  He seems like a pretty small little horse that's nice for her too.  Shes more of a rider than she is a horse buddy.  I think that my time with Duke is less about riding andmore about taking care of his needs and keeping him healthy and happy
We warmed up in the arena and circled around a lot.  Scotti keeps a strange formation where she and doc are in the center ring and she acts like shes over him with Doc.  It feels a little bit strange.  We worked together rfor a bit but I could see that Duke and Doc don't nesscessarly like being together.  Duke did follow him during a good trotting bit.  Then we separated from them and I came through the center with Duke a lot more.  Forgot about the mounting.
Duriing the intinatial start to workingin the ring, I had some probs with Duke again.  I actually blame it on myself as he is so large that I have to almost jump to get on him from the standing mounting block.  I wish I was mounting from the ground but I thnk I weight oo much.  Anyway I was working with him and his moving back.  I finally was able to  jump on him.  I keep working him each week. Its good training, because this is a strange behavoire that needs to be fixed even if its me.  He stands for everyone else but me.  :)
Anyway Scotti sadi she hasd to leave.  The amount of walking was just ok but pretty good. I looked at how cold it was outside and how many peple there were out there. I hadn't seen a stupid truck go by in a hwile so I decided I would chance it and open the barn door, jump back on Duke and go out..
Best decisions of many weeks and months.  I think that Duke knows that hes an outside guy and wants to be outside and busy.
We started out the side where the other horses could  see Duke.  It was nice and we started by the equipment area of the field.  He fought me a bit and then he shows caution near the path at the end of the field.  Id like to go into the woods there but I know there are coyotes that were playing in the field and that they were putting in a trap for last month.  We are careful near that area.  As we ggo around the edge there is snow and duke looks into the woods ever so carefully.  I don't see much.  We then go around the bend in the field.  After the small hill he did a waak trot.  We carefully walked by the boat where Duke was kinda jumpy.  As we got to the road to cross, I asked him to move to the sharp right and go around the large field the opposite way.  He went behind the hourses and also maket th eedge of the field.  I let him have some grass for only a bit then we trotted before he went into the woods to meet over to the other feidl  He was exicted and It was amazing.  We went through the woods, cam eout at the other feidl and then off we went to field trotting.  It was amazing he was himself.  He was warmed up in the arena and also this was almost magic. I was so happy to feel the feeling again with him.  He was very happy to ge out and I could see that he could have actually cantered out in the last feidl.  I woul dhave loved to get ot that but I was so happy to just be out there along in the woods.  WE might have the more amazing winter as usual I love to ride in the winter.
THAnk you Duke for your great riding this Sudnay.

They were in at 1:30, Fred said the water had frozen

Tonite 8 Breyers Duke's New Red halter and a mile in the arena

After visiting with Kelly and Lorenzo and playing with Aubry all day. I learned that Aubry talks about Duke all the time. When I got there she said that she was going to go with me in my car and see Duke.  She mentioned him many times and said, Good boy.  I was so impressed with her.  Kelly and Lorenzo are going to come down the next time that they come down to ride Duke in the arena.  It was so fun to see them talk about him.

When I got to Greenwood Road I thought that maybe Fred and Jess would still be there but the road was dark and thick with fog and the stable was dark

Tonight I went and got some of the Breyer Horses that a lady that Krysten knows.  They were 5 dollars a pieca and I got so many different kinds os horses. 8 all together .

Babe is in the aisle of the stable. Duke was making tons of noise to make sure that I knew he wanted attention. I had two of the small mushy apples  Duke thought they were pretty good.  I went into the stall and brushed him down. He didn't look very bad with mud but I think I need to get the dewormer in him asap.  Hes got that funny butt still.  Any way he was kinda of pushy in the stall.  I tried on the new halter, he barely fits in it.  Hes just so big.  He needs an xtra large halter. 

We walked in the arena and I watched his back leg sort of just drag in the dirt.  I am hoping hes feeling on with that hoof.  We walk around the ring, I went in a figure 8 and alos we did those small rings on the edge. Ill be riding him in the arena all winter to make sure he keeps his good flexibility.  He was greta at the end he was doing tricks like running along side me looking for a potential treat.  It was very fun. I should have put the bridle on him and rode him bareback but it was still really fun.

A lady came to the stable named Lauren and her horse just came in on Sunday named Enzo.  She was very sweet and she said she is used to riding alone at night. She was very sweet and she said that she felt bad for the pony, Babe because shes in the ailse. I think that Babe likes it.  Just saying.

There was a huge bin of Breyer horses, I bought all of them but one.  8 all together

 

 

Duke was walking 2 miles 4 days straight -- cold out

So fun this week.  I have gone out of work early Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning and then Sunday too.  Thursday was  warm out and I went over to see Duke at like 230 and went out to get him.  We went out across the street and he started doing that thing he does where he gives me lots of shit, backs up and spins.  He did it today too but I got all over him especially when Patti saw us and said, "don't let him do that, keep kicking and you might need a crop".

Thursday

Friday -

Going out on Friday Duke was pretty good, but I walked him with no saddle and we went out into the field he went out to the cut through and we went around the big field and into the woods. On the way back he dipped into the woods but it was after I let him have a couple minutes of grass.  Stacie and Krystyn were taking out Johnny and Townes for a slow walk in the field.  All together he ended up with 2 miles in the field and a little bit of warm up too.  I feel we got out there and the whole time Duke was in my hand and he didn't eat any hay until I let him have some.  Walking in the woods he was excellent. When I got there Stacie was tacked and Krystyn was getting Johnny ready.  Stacie had mentioned that it would have been better if I had ridden, I was riding all week.  This was a good weed for exercise.  The sun was beautiful as Duke and I ran back the long trail on the inside field.  My goal is to get Duke to go back and forth on that trail just like Safari does.  Some time later we may get to that goal.

 

Saturday

 

Saturday

Saturday's ride after the Childrens party I had to do.  Duke was suppose to get his teeth floated or a dentist visit but some guy that Stacie arranged but I couldn't get there in the time that she scheduled because I was at the children's Christmas party.  I was feeling disappointed because I left the party and the dentist had already left the barn to go to another barn.  I felt like the people at the barn, Krystyn Stacie, just didn't care much if I had gotten Duke taken care of or not.  It was justified as we got that guy in at the last moment and you can just wait until next spring. I guess that is true but I really would have rather had Duke's dentist from before do it. I want to avoid the drugs. We every one left quickly and I was soon alone so I tacked up that guy and totally enjoyed the time alone and we jumped in the arena.  Duke is doing a little bit better sometimes as far as mounting is doing. It takes me on the 3rd attempt to get on now.  I feel a little bit of progress.  We rode in the arena and the other girls that shaves her horse was in the arenda doing formations with her horse.  At one point I was trying to get Duke to get a little bit of step going and we did some of the formations.  I could see he could get use to it and I would definitely ride with the more professional ladies that come to the barn that work with the more excitable horses. This could be a good thing that could rub off on Duke. I say this because the other horse on Saturday began to canter and do spurts of speeds in the arena with us and then Duke began to follow and picked up a few trots following him.  It was exciting for me and it was kinda cool to see that Duke can be influenced. So I think I will choose my friends for duke carefully. We will ride with a peppy horse.  Duke used to be a tail-gater, Im looking forward to him feeling like tail gaiting again.

Sunday