I missed writing an update for August, so much has happened since July. Scout was having issues with his right leg, and I wasn’t sure if he was getting laminitis due to gaining weight or if the issue was higher in his leg. I changed the way I was trimming him, and that seems to have taken care of the issue. He went from tripping a few times a ride to only once or twice. I’ve also noticed that he has some trouble with his right stifle, but with exercise, I anticipate him being fine.

A low point a few weeks ago was Scout kicking the crap out of Miracle. I wasn’t there, but Cecelia told me she ran down from her house and grabbed a rake to scare him away from Miracle. They have been separated since then with Miracle pining for him, but now she is in a corral with an older gelding and not paying as much attention to Scout. In the meantime, Scout seems happy enough by himself.

In addition to riding him in the arena, I’ve taken him out in the field a couple of times, once almost all the way to the ride about half a mile away. He gets a little nervous away from the barn and was crashing through junipers trying to get back, but hopefully with more time, he will be more confident by himself. I’ve also been working with him on jumps, first on the lunge line and then trotting over a tiny cross rail. Today I trotted him over a cross rail about 10″ high and another that was probably a foot high. He seems uncertain when approaching and drifts back and forth, but he hasn’t refused one. He seems to like to do different things since when I gave him his head while trotting, he chose to trot over some poles.

His left canter lead is very solid, but he struggles with the right, possibly because of his stifle. He can pick up the canter lead, but it is a little rough – possibly cross firing. He has multiple paces at each gait. At the trot, he can do a slower gate that seems he’s pounding away or a trot at about the same pace but more lively. He can trot very fast, or he can just do a “trail ” trot (more controlled).

One thing he still needs work on is being able to walk to his rear while he is on a lead rope or longe line. He tends to swing away, and I follow him until he stops. Once he is more comfortable with that, I hope to try ground driving him again. He is calm enough that I think with some time, he will be able to pull a cart (and look awfully handsome while doing it).

Finally, he has made some progress with his ears. He lets me take off the bridle without taking it apart. I first started to hold it so he could take his right ear out himself. Then the right side will come off a moment later. He did this tonight with no signs of shyness. I even tossed the rein over his ears, and he didn’t seem to even notice. I don’t think I would be able to get a driving bridle on him, so I would probably just start with his regular bridle. I bought a nice used bridle that I’m anxious to try on him.