Wizard Ride 70; JR Session 25: Yin and Yang

Monday, 4/6/09

Rain, rain, rain. The sidewalks were rich with earthworms, but the barn was dry and cozy. I turned Wizard out in the indoor arena to let him play for a few minutes before I rode him. He leaped over a pole (photo above) and ran around the arena like a colt. The horses stayed in their stalls today so Wizard seemed quite happy to play in the arena.

I saddled up and rode Wizard for only 20 minutes. Why such a short ride after all of these 40-45 minute rides of late? Wizard was PINNING his ears and swishing his tail. He warmed up OK at the walk but when we started trot work, he pinned his ears every rotation or so for about 6 or 7 strides at a time. We trotted over a few poles and worked on a loose rein, but he still was tight and unhappy. Is it an ulcer issue? Is it soreness somewhere in his body? I’m not sure, but as I explained the ride to my mom as I drove home from the barn, I developed a pet theory… it was the saddle pad.

Now, I know it sounds silly. The pad is a high-quality pad. It’s a Nuumed Hi-Wither wool pad. But it’s a little itchy, not silky soft like the merino sheepskin pads I’ve been using. And this is the SAME pad that Alibar used to hate. Whenever I put the pad on Alibar, he used to make the “tick face” and point his lip and nicker for me to scratch him. I think it made him horribly itchy. In colder weather, the pad was just fine but when the air was warm and his pores were open, the pad drove him nuts. So why on earth do I keep using the pad on Wizard and JR? It’s beautiful! I desperately want it to fit SOMEONE. But I have a feeling that nobody likes the itchy wool pad :^( I’ll test my hypothesis next time I ride. Honestly, an itchy saddle pad is an easy fix and I hope I’m right with my guess.

After I was done with Wizard, I turned JR out and let him walk, trot, and canter indoors. JR was very focused on me and would trot toward me with my commands. I think he was getting a little bored with the lack of work and seemed very pleased to be in the spotlight again.

In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin yang is used to describe how seemingly disjunct or opposing forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, giving rise to each other in turn. On a smaller and far less vital level, Wizard and JR are interconnected and interdependent for me as a rider and a horsewoman :^)