Puffer pictures

Here are a couple of pics of Puffer. They were taken after I had taken the saddle off of her.

  This was the second time I worked with her. She is lame on the front legs. It seems to change from day to day. Because of that I have had to take it easy with her. I have not been able to do much round penning because of that. This has been a chronic problem for this horse. They are not sure what has caused it. The vet has been out and they have tried shoes, exrays etc. Nothing comes up. It seems that she breaks over to her fetlock as though she walks on her fetlock. Her right tendon has been swollen some too. At any rate I am working with her very lightly. 

  So what have I done? Well, I have worked with her to move her hindquarters into a disengagement, which she is doing quite well. She doesn't give her shoulders as easily, but we are working on that. Yesterday, I also added flanking her out with a rope. She gave no resistance nor tried to buck even when I put it near her groin. I could put my weight against it and she just came off the pressure, not once offering to buck. You might say that she didn't because of her lameness, but I can guarantee that if she wanted to buck she would. I have seen it the day before when I let her get to bothered with a flag. So I am confident that she was okay with the flank strap. I mainly did it because when I saddled her I was going to use a flank cinch. Needless to say she handled the saddling with the collar and flank cinch without a glitch. 

I also got on her back several times from both sides. She stood calm even though I was acting like a drunk, bumping her on the butt and sides with my feet and legs. I was doing whatever I could to be as sloppy getting on and off as I could. I didn't have her step off at all. That will be for the next time. I really want her to get softer at lateral flexion and moving her shoulders and hindquarters before I ask her to move too much. I want to make sure I can control her feet. 

This reminds me that it works best not to give her more than what she can handle. That is the same way that God works with His children. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ESV)

He doesn't ask us to bite off more than we can chew. We shouldn't ask our horses to do that either. 

Well, that is all for now. 

Remember, you can handle what God sends your way!