I had my lesson today. I woke up to dirty looking air and a code Red air quality warning for fine particulate matter from the Canadian wild fires. I just made sure to get to the stable a little early, I have zero problems with slowing down our activity level.
I was able to do some grooming today, lower front legs, mane, head and fly spray. While we were getting MJ ready Debbie started talking about seeing a horse who had a session with a Bemer blanket and that she was trying to figure out a way to afford to get one NOW for her stable. She figures it will pay for itself pretty quickly, especially if the horses need fewer chiropractic manipulations, massages and other equine therapies. Of course MJ LISTENED to her, thought about what she said, and half-way through the lesson when she started talking about it again MJ somehow or another got the message through to me that he wanted it used on him. MJ even had me point out to Debbie the area of his back where he needed it firstāaround 1-2 inches in front of my seatbones when I sit in the saddle as close to the pommel as I can. I donāt know how he does it but MJ seems to understand English better than any other horse Iāve ever worked with, and somehow he communicates to me and Debbie so we have an idea of what he wants instead of having to do a guessing game.
But anyway the bad air was not doing me much good. MJ was not sure about it either, instead of standing completely still when Debbie had to go check on something while leaving him in the middle of the ring MJ decided that it would be a good idea to exit the ring before we started the lesson at a slow walk (I had not closed the gate yet). I caught him without any problems before he got to the gate, which I then closed.
I mounted, I got my seat bones off the saddle but today MJ just did not want to perform that much. Considering the state of the air we had to breathe I donāt blame him at all. He did not have much impulse to his walk, I was back to alternating leg aids at every stride. We got a few posting trots in, not very fast, and I actually made it around the ring once. After that I was not good for much but with MJās outlook today it all worked out.
Even though it was getting warmer every minute at no time did MJ ātellā either of us that he wanted his SmartPack ceramic exercise sheet off. He was feeling stiff, he did not really get into moving today so we kept his exercise sheet on, but nothing got him into moving out. Let me rephrase that, we had done nothing to convince MJ that it was a good idea to move on out on such a miserable day. Isnāt he a smart horse for not wanting to breathe the dirty air deep into his lungs?
Even so MJ did not remind me that his lesson time would soon end at 25 minutes into my lesson like he usually does. Today we made it 35 minutes before I thought to look at my watch so at least I know I was not pushing him too hard today.
I asked Debbie if I should start wearing my ice vest for my lessons. I was not that great in the saddle today, and my right lower leg was constantly drifting back and I could not feel it moving back, something that is normal for me when it starts getting hot and humid. I really do not like wearing my ice vest since it is so COLD against my back, but when the temperature rises my body does not work well at all unless I am wearing an ice vest in addition to my other warm weather gear.
I got to see Debbieās oldest granddaughter do some jumping schooling in the ring on her pony that she has almost outgrown. It is always a great pleasure for me to watch her schooling for a Hunter class, her horse stays at a steady speed, they meet their fences at exactly the right place for a good jump, and even the tight turns are united. I told Debbie it was truly a beautiful sight to see.
I hope the air gets better for my lesson next week. Today MJ just told me that the air was too bad to put forth any extra effort even though I was keeping my seat bones super light in the saddle. He is a wise horse!