For so long, this blog has solely been about Archie - I mean, if it's going to be about a horse.  And then there was a little sprinkling of other horses - the palomino hony, the gaited golden tank, the dark jackass I jumped that one time - before having more about the wunder jumper, Ox.

But I have to acknowledge that Whiskey will take a greater role than any of the other non-Archie horses.  That to write about him, to love him, does not diminish from the attachment I feel for Archie.  And, to equally acknowledge that I made huge mistakes when I was training Archie, which I will try my damnedest not to make with Whiskey.

So while I want to take my previously-anhidrotic, now-kinda-sweaty Appy off to crookedly gallop fences, we're walking.  I'm pleased that we're walking, because it means my ass made it to the saddle.

When Ox's owner asked if I would be up for a trail ride on Sunday and when she told me that it would just be us, I immediately was flummoxed.  I haven't done much with Whiskey lately, other than shove treats in his face and treat his rain rot, but could I ride him on a trail ride?

Well, why the fuck not?  To bastardize a quote from Denny Emerson, you can't kill a horse by walking.

And my horse was a saint.  Want me to lead?  Sure.  Want me to follow?  Sure.  Want me to walk side-by-side?  Sure.  Wanna trot?  Sure.  Want me to stand while the draft cross catches up?  Sure.  Did that draft cross just spook at something?  Silly.  OH SHIT,... oh.  I didn't even stop talking when he spooked.

I think his ears are tiny for his head.

 After five and a half miles in nearly two hours on Whiskey, we took Ox and Whiskey back to the barn and stuffed their faces with treats and cleaned them up before turning them back out.

He whinnies back at the All Ears app.

And then we tacked up Archie and her palomino hony for another trail ride around the property, complete with sinking into muddy spots we didn't know existed and Archie believing that his foot was trapped by a root to the point that I had to dismount and help him.  Oh, and a little gallop next to the dirt road.

It was a pony-filled day with very few goals set and just a lot of happiness.  I'm thrilled.

So I bought the guy a new saddle that I'm going to dye to match his Micklem.  And a new bit that I'm going to kinda-sorta use.  It's a low-port Kimberwick.  I don't think he needs the Kimberwick part of it and I won't even bother with the chain, I was mostly interested in seeing how he likes a low-port versus his double-jointed rolling Happy Mouth.  Am I mistaken in thinking that most Western bits are solid?

Orange you glad to see me?

His ad.

#nomakeup. He got adopted that day.

I'm probably jinxing the fuck out of myself, but I feel like things with Whiskey are finally advancing.  The giant nugget will pick up all four feet like a grown up, only dances occasionally in the aisle, no longer acts like the girth is out to kill him, and *gasp* stands at the mounting block!!!

He's been so good about standing still for mounting (but still immediately walks off, which is the next issue to address), that I actually mounted yesterday for the first time completely unsupervised.  I mean, Archie was watching.  And I'm sure someone would have found me eventually...

But to counter all his advances, he's got a few new afflictions:

• Anhydrosis.  Yay!  Two for two!  FML!
• I brought him out of the pasture and he was bright-eyed and happy, but blowing like a steam engine.  I started him on beer immediately and ordered his own OneAC.  Thanks for the swiftness, Amazon Prime.
• Obviously, I haven't done much with the booger since it's still hot as balls when I get there after work.  I'll hose him down, address his other issues, and save riding for those times I manage early mornings.
• Rain rot on his left rump.  Just the left side.  I appreciate the rain because it kept him cool, but nothing without cost, right?
• A sunburnt muzzle.  This shit came out of nowhere.  My vet didn't think he'd have problems with sunburning because the pigment under his skin is so dark, but the dude was definitely burnt.  I'm making him wear his fly mask (Houdini) and sunblock.