Aching but happy

Merlot was a star today. It was windy. The others were high energy. He stood in the yard and head lowered and had tack on, and stood at the block whilst I half climbed, half crawled up him to get onto the block and then onto him.

Thank goodness once I was on, the only thing that hurt was my head and neck. My back was less painful on board, and my foot far less so as non-weight-bearing.

He took me out to the cones, and the wind in the trees was scary, but he stayed calm. We did walking each way, and worked on our trot transitions. We didn't work on trot for long as to rise hurts! So we got smooth trot transitions and a nice stride or so with reach and C/T. He was more than happy with this!

Then we went back to the yard and I slid off him in a feeble style. Did some head lower and don't mug me, and waited for neighbour.

She arrived and Merlot did his best giraffe impression! We got on from the steps of the lorry as she didn't want to go past the horses. I warned her that Merlot does seem to have issues with others and his personal space. They took it in turns to lead, but boy he was EVIL about her being anywhere near. Other than that he was a star. He did baulk a bit about leaving the others and going into bottom wood, but partly I think because the mare was too.

He led through the bottom wood but her horse started to get tense so she got off and led her back. Merlot was very good and stayed behind with no faces all the way back.

I really really like him, he has so many good qualities and is such a quick learner, I really can't be upset that he seems to dislike others around him, after all, Aero is the same and Aero is as near to Sainthood as is possible in equine kind!!

Hopefully as he gets more confidence, the personal space issues will lessen as they have with Aero. I keep forgetting he's only been here a week. He really is pretty amazing on that basis alone.

Plus he looked after me in my feeble state, and was gentle on the ground and did perfect ground tying whilst I hobbled back and forth with tack and grooming stuff etc.

I think Magic and Remus might get a day off today, although I might give them a short session in hand this afternoon. For now, I am retiring to the sofa to have my headache in peace!