Horse(s) Continued

Vids of Groovin' Wind last night, age 16, and below 12 yr. old Wind after a summer of every 3 day multiple breezes prepping for a fall 2007 Woodland's campaign that never happened. Interesting change of color.

The 2007 version shows greater strength than the 16 yr. old version and more hardness of body, as could be expected of breezing under tack compared to riderless sprinting the 16 yr. old has done of late with enthusiasm. Probably showing a little age there also, and note Wind now slightly underweight as the horses of late are mostly dodging flies in the barn instead of grazing.

Rode the old fellow last night for the first time in a year. What a contrast with the difficult Rollin' Rodney. I was shocked by the contrast. Thoughts of--good to get on a normal horse once again, wonderful to have your legs at the walk-trot in normal position instead of propped out as wide as physically possible due to the width of Rollin' Rodney. Absolutely gross relative comparison of rider safety and how pleasant it was to ride a business like enthusiastic horse moving along without looking around to panic and explode at the slightest provocation. The thought process was so strong I was considering why the heck I was continuing on with that other horse.

Continuing with Rod, of course, because he's all we've got, plus enough talent there to maintain your interested. . Noticed last night again riderless, the classic type sprinter stride. Big and wide as Rod is on the front end, he has a stride that's very easy on himself.

A few horse thoughts in terms of performance, next post.
Training:
Tues. June 4: decided to take the whole day off, wisely, after yest. tough w/o.
Wed. June 5: 4 times up and down the hill, trot-gallop. Horse panics again at the start point just as on firecracker night, and, what's this? I hear quacking from a new duck on our small pond. That's probably why he panicked July 4 instead of the fire crackers. Welcome to the new neighbor. This was a refit workout after 4 days of little tack work. Went as poorly as I expected, and so thereafter the horse was put in the paddock for 2 miles of slow riderless work.