Today was an easy day for Snip. I saddled him, did a few things to check him out and then headed to the back forty...or hundred. We had a little hitch in our departure from the hay barn (snacking, it seems, is always on his mind). But as we passed the cow pen and headed down the hollow[ar] and back up to the top of the hill, he moved out freely at a trot and seemed eager to go. It is amazing how they figure out the way things go. We did some loping, a little log and brush jumping and a few collected circles of lateral and vertical flexion and back home. A little more hesitation at the pile of shed carcasses, with miscellaneous metal sheeting blowing in the breeze. Nothing significant, just a hesitation. So on down the road, past the site of the attempted ravine jump from a few weeks ago, and around the corner. He slowed down and calmly walked up the road. I use the sides of the road, lined with trees and fencing to initiate the beginning steps of a roll back. Also, along the road a few one rein stops and backing, with a few subtle rein cues for flexion here and there. He did really well and was quite sweaty due to his long coat and the warm, slightly more humid weather.
I was so blessed by the day, the trail, and thankful for Snips good behavior, that I quit at the gate and walked him back to the tack room. It proved to be good timing, baby Sara was just waking up from her nap in the stroller and Aaron wouldn't have to hold her for long. I unsaddled, let Snip finish the scraps in the hay cart and then went to turn him loose. I remembered that I had some horse cookies in the tack room (Aaron was kind enough to let me purchase them at TS...even though I know he thinks they are ridiculous.) Come to find out as I offer one of the cookies to Snip and he spits them to the dirt that he hates them. He even turned his lip up. Oh well, good ol' Bella gobbled them up, at least one of them is sure to eat them.
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