Indy in the Sun

It's been a while since I last posted some horse pictures.  We have just had our mid winter thaw - which is a bit like a mid-life crisis, with all the mud and such.  Luckily, we had a raging wind blow up that got rid of lots of sitting water, but we still have ice patches that froze when the weather turned ugly again.

Though, in MN, 20 degrees is still balmy.

Anyway, I had fun with Indy a few days ago.  We worked on no-line lunging and I tried to teach him how to turn around with the whip while lunging.

I also had a mini photoshoot with his ex-girlfriend, Blondie.  (Don't worry, there aren't hard feelings - they've drifted apart to 'just friends' now.)

Not one - by any means - to give others all the lens-room, Alpha butted in.

This was actually before Indy and I went a-laboring.  But afterwards, when I had released him from his prison (indoor arena, more on that later), we nuzzled and then he started walking across the pasture.  Sunlight hit! I was so glad I had the camera.  

I wuv my boy ^_^

Also, when I went riding with Shelby a week ago, I realized how much he has improved since I got him.      Last year, dear Indy would flip out if he was in the indoor arena with another horse and the other horse was taken away.  He'd be tied to the wall, but he'd turn in 180 degree angles back and forth, back and forth, and he would not listen to me at all.  It was almost impossible to groom him or do anything at his side in the indoor while he was tied up.  But when I was with Shelby, she brought Jake out and asked me to come out and help her mount up bareback.

"Okay," I said, a squick wary of what Indy would do, 'cause he was already looking wild-eyed and he neighed as I spoke.  "Let's make this quick."

But, I went out, helped her mount up, took my time on the 10 feet back to the door, and when I opened the door, there stood Indy.  Yes, he was standing still and watching me.  So that was a big wow.

It makes me happy that he respects me more than he did last year.

Despite what happened on the actual ride of Shelby and me....*groans* Thank goodness for the deep snow so Indy's "jigging" didn't turn into a full-out gallop for the barn.  

But we'll take things one step at a time.

- Ellyn