Riding late again

Here I am, at work until 6:30 again tonight -- I better get used to it, because after a 4 week training session of 8-5, my schedule will be 10-6:30 indefinitely -- so I'll be getting out to see the Bad Horse again late tonight. That's all good, though; must get on horse. Well, actually, I'll just longe, because I don't want to be keeping the ME team up too late keeping an eye on things. Still, Bad Horse must be exercised.

I really want to get in the saddle, though ... tomorrow. When it's not so late. Watching these videos that redheadlins made right when she got Apollo off the track motivate me to get on him, get him nice and round and work on those muscles!

Anyway ... I probably need to find a way to ride before work, once my daily schedule goes to 10-6:30. It shouldn't be hard. Most people think a 10 AM start is way late and wonder how on earth I can't find time to ride in the morning. But. Most people aren't me. I looooooove sleep. I never get enough of it. I have Issues With Sleep (tm).

Seems like every time I get one thing under control -- diet, sleep, exercise, job, animals, relationship, money, mental health -- at least one other goes straight to hell. Right now I have just managed to get my mental health under control, and my diet got thrown off bigtime. Sleep and exercise are still labeled "pending/minimal," animals are at 85%, and job is labeled "soon."

Anyway again. Need to find out if it's workable for me to ride early, then, yknow, get up and do it. One crisis at a time, though. Let's get through this no full time job crisis first. :)

Sound

Apollo remains - knock on wood - sound!  And indeed, 15 minutes of work was way too conservative. Horse wants to motor!  I'm not doing a lot, mind you, but more like 20-25 minutes altogether, rather than 15.

He needs more, though, as evidenced by his shenanigans for my poor, long-suffering, beloved farrier today. How embarrassing. :/  I worked late tonight (yay overtime pay!), but I was bound and determined to go out and work the beast anyway. So I broke my own rules and went out into the pasture in the dark.

 I had been a little concerned that I would wander a bit, looking for him or trying to pick my bay horse out of the other bay horses (okay, not that hard; one paint colored, one black, one chestnut, and one other bay), but it became very easy. I had my tiny Eddie Bauer lantern-flashlight, for one, and for two, my horse is the one that starts walking toward me when I call.

For all that he'd been the Thoroughbred of Sin this morning, he was well-behaved tonight on the longe. Whew again. Looking forward to riding tomorrow, rather than longing!  I miss my guy's top line and muscles - time to claim them back.

Meanwhile, for a fun time and a throwback, go check out redheadlins' latest entry and see if you can spot a certain bay horse in the photos!

Finally, some good news

Good news, everyone! Apollo is back to sound, and his leg is back to cold and tight. Thank God, and thank you for all the good thoughts. I was worried, to say the least. So, back I go to the legging him back up plan! Saturday: 10 mins walk, 3 mins trot Sunday: 12 mins walk, 3 mins trot Monday: 15 mins walk, 4 mins trot Tuesday: 15 mins walk, 5 mins trot Wednesday: off Thursday: 15 mins walk, 7 mins trot Friday: 15 mins walk, 8 mins trot Conservative? Yep. Subject to change if he needs more or less? Yep!

I think we all

Wish for a way to check in with our horses when we can't be there with them.  I got caught up helping my Mom this evening so didn't make it to the barn, and I am fretting some.  I want to call Apollo up on his iPhone Equine and ask him how he feels. 

How's the left front doing?  Does it feel sore in the hoof or in the leg?  How sore?  Better or worse?  Are you warm enough?  Too warm?  Dry?  How're your hind pasterns feeling?  That little cut on your coronal band, how's that?  Eating and drinking enough?  Those other boys aren't playing too rough with you, are they?  Have you been thinking about being brave on XC and smooth in dressage?  

Apparently I turn into a stereotype when I fret!

Super briefly:

I don't have much time, so: Apollo has been lame since Sunday on his LF. I hope it's not serious. Fill in his tendon area, no heat in the hoof ... I hope it's just an abscess or a strain. I am not uttering the words that rhyme with "flown buspensory." Pray for us. ;)