Whew, what a week! Last week was jam-packed, in a good way, and we even got some rain in the middle of what is Florida’s dry season. Bonus.

Last Monday Argo had his first chiropractic appointment with our favorite sporthorse vet. She’s the same one that saw him week one for his gastric scope and she said she thought he’d gained a little bit of weight since then. I’m not sure I see it yet (he wasn’t particularly underweight to start with) but I’ll take it. I had a feeling the chiro would be very needed, given how tight he is, and I was correct. I’m not sure how much he enjoyed the appointment – he kind of just stood there with no comment – but the difference in the range of motion through his neck and body was immediate. He’s much less stuck in his front half now for sure. The notes for all his adjustments this time were “Left neck C3-C6BL. Right neck C3BR. APR. T14-T18 P, PL. LPI”. So ya know… basically all of him.

We were going to go for a hack afterward and I took a few minutes beforehand to trot and canter him to see how he felt. Definitely better. He for sure had increased range of motion through his body, and more suppleness from left to right. I think he’s still got a ways to go (and prob needs some massage to accompany the chiro) but it seems like we’re on the right track.

On Tuesday morning we went on a XC field trip to Majestic Oaks. I took Presto, Hillary took Freya, and Kathleen took Henry for a spin. He was delighted to snack on her offering of pastries (Honey Buns) and add a new fan to his club. She rode him great and he had a superb time bebopping around.

On the Tuesday trip I just hacked Presto and he hung out with Freya, who was a little excited to be there on a cool day. We went back to Majestic on Thursday with our friend Emily, and that time Hillary rode Henry. I popped Presto over a few things, mostly the ditches. He did the half coffin and then I turned around and went through the Modified route, which was ditch, 2 strides, bending line 5 strides to a corner. He was excellent and feels really good. Fingers crossed we can get back to lessons this week maybe.

The rest of the week I flatted Presto and just kind of played around with Argo. At this point we’re still learning each other, and I want to spend enough time with him so that he knows I’m his person and he’s safe with me and I’m the leader. We did some groundwork one day, he did some lunging another day to work on his voice commands (which are pretty darn super now, he’s a fast learner) but mostly we just… hung out. I groomed him, we meandered around the riding field handgrazing, and we walked around the property just investigating things. He walked over a tarp and through a puddle, and spent some time napping with his nose smooshed into my head. It’s important for me to feel like I have a good bond with my horses and that at the end of the day, we’re friends, so that’s what we’re doing – making friends. I think it’s time well spent.

On Friday Presto and I headed over to Steph’s to partake in a Smartpak photo shoot that was happening at her farm. Not gonna lie, I was dreading it. I do not like having my picture taken at all, despite having done a few stock photography sports modeling gigs in the past for running and cycling. I let myself be pressured into participating and strongly debated having an urgent illness instead. Alas, I did it, and it wasn’t that bad. I actually kind of liked the first shoot, which was mounted. We just walked back and forth from different angles for like 30 minutes. The second shoot I did not love, mostly because the pants for that outfit were about to crush the bottom of my ribcage. At least I had Presto with me for both, and he also got used in one more set of shots as well. The boy is gonna be Smartpak famous in the spring!

I can’t really share pics from the shoot yet since it’s unreleased items and new colorways, but here’s a pic of Presto between shoots getting a change of outfit.

Despite his face he actually LOVED this gig, he was an absolute ham for the camera and seemed to relish being the center of attention. A total shock, I know. Everyone was very nice and props to Smartpak for using some “real rider” models rather than just the standard professional models. And we got some gift cards and swag items, so ya know… bonus. After the shoot Presto and I went for a hack with Holly and Nacho where Presto strongly debated trying to eat Holly and/or Nacho but did not succeed. All around good day.

On Sunday I swung aboard Argo again (ride number 7, although two of his rides so far have just been hacks) and he was his super good self as usual. I think the groundwork and stretches, along with just time and settling in, are definitely helping, he feels better and better every ride. He had some really lovely moments coming down into my hand and carrying himself forward and light.

He’s not strong enough yet to hold it for very long but he sure is trying, so he gets a big shiny gold star. We walk/trot/cantered both ways (he got both leads first try) AND – he jumped!

First we trotted a pile of poles on the ground, then half a crossrail, then a full crossrail. After the second hop over the crossrail he landed in a nice canter so I just let him keep carrying it around and popped over the crossrail again, and he was really good. We ended with that and he got many cookies. I still haven’t quite figured out what his forte might be yet (we’re still solidly in the “discovery” phase)… part of me is leaning toward trying to aim him for the field hunter division for RRP, but it’s still too early to tell. I know he’s quiet and simple and has a super rhythmical and lovely canter, so we’ll see where that takes him.

As of today Argo has been here for 3 weeks! Tomorrow our favorite massage person is coming out to continue with Argo’s post-track care plan… I’m excited to see how that goes for him. It’s also Black Friday week, and yes I’ll have a list of sales up this year as well – probably with the first round posted on Wednesday!

Patreon folks, today is the last day to sign up for our group Secret Santa if you want to participate, and you have Argo’s week 2 vlog on your dashboard!