Today was definitely a harder day for us both. Quattro was feeling anxious and he didn't really want to be haltered, but I was proud of him because eventually he submitted to it outside. That's a big step for him: like, a big part of the reason he has to spend his life in the paddocks instead of going in and out to the runs is because he's always been uncatchable. But slowly, he's accepting that it's okay to be caught.
He was upset in the aisle, but I did spend a lot of time poking at his rain rot. It's just about gone, I'm really happy to say: he just needs maybe one or two more doses of Bannix and it'll be done with. I think he's sore, too, though. He's always ready to run but I think he's still overexerting himself a little.
He was hard as hell to get on. He actually reared up right beside me, and he almost climbed on top of the mounting block. When I first got on him I thought he was going to spin and fling me off. But then we got going, and as always, the moment we got going, he was... well, he was still stressed. But he accepted me on his back and he immediately accepted my directions, and we slalomed cones, we went over poles, we even did a tiny jump and he didn't balk at me bouncing on his back.
He's a good, brave boy.
He also got to meet Miestro, who is my trainer's horse. Teacherlady doesn't get to ride him a lot so she seemed to be enjoying just toodling around on him, and I liked having the chance to see how Quattro reacted to a new horse doing different funny things.
After I got off, teacherlady hopped down from her horse to help my partner try and get the mare he's been helping get into shape to stand properly on a podium. Miesty wandered over and started curiously nosing Quattro, who was half-awkward about it. Standoffish. Not hostile but still clearly a little nervous. He's good with other horses, though. They don't bother him like people do.
He was still nervous afterwards, but less stressed. We stayed in the crossties for a bit, and I gave him some treats, then took him out to be with his friends and fed them their bucket of fodder. He still came up to me, and he only did his awkward 'don't touch me' lean away, not any warning stomps or fear.
I'd much rather see him irritated with me than anything else.
He's getting a lot better. He's absolutely going to have good days and bad days and the last two days have been rough on him, with the weather and everything else that's been going on. But we'll figure it out together.
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