Sinner's Sunday

It was definitely Sinner's Sunday at the Church of the Divine Walkabout. It was a beautiful day with high temps of around 76°F with a light wind. I tacked Poco up in his new saddle to test the fit for both of us. And it's a winner. I'm so glad I found one with a wide tree.

My handsome little tank. The Galloping Barcalounger.

This is the headstall I got after they discovered I had been overcharged for the original saddle but I had to take the difference in merchandise rather than a refund. Under normal cirmcumstances, I would never have paid $99 for a bridle. Not surprisingly, it barely fits his fat head. The throat latch is on the loosest notch, but the leather is so nice and supple, it already fit better by the end of the ride.

I'm not a barrel racer (ha!), but I still really liked the bridle. Unless you look closely, you can't tell that's what the conchos are anyway. And I remembered to turn the flash off before trying to take pix this close! I know it creeps some people out, but I love the mottling around his eyes and the white sclera.

OK, so we were stylin'. Well, he was anyway. I was my usual slob self. It was such a gorgeous day, we walked out the front gate.

Alone.

Without Jaz.

OMG.

We started off pretty well until we got to the next property and Jaz called out. Now, that pissed me off, because when I take Jaz out, it doesn't matter if Poco is screaming his head off, Jaz never calls back. And Poco immediately started fighting me. He stopped. He planted himself. He danced. He backed up. He tossed his head. He zigged when I wanted to zag. He is his own worst enemy and had himself completely in a dither. Pat on the back for me for remaining totally calm and in control.

Whatever he wanted, I made him do the exact opposite. We ended up doing a lot of tight little circles. We'd take a couple steps forward (and further away from home and Jaz) and it would start again. He wanted to turn around and come home. I'd ask, ask again, tap him with the crop. When he finally gave in and we were toodling right along in the direction I wanted to go with no guff about it, I turned him around and we came back. He wanted to gallop or lope. I held him to a trot or walk. He was soaked with sweat even though we couldn't have been gone more than 20 minutes and didn't cover much distance at all. He hung around even after he was tacked down, brushed and turned loose: "Tell me what a good boy I was again. I was a good boy, right?" I shared a Dr. Pepper with him. He even hung around while I conditioned the saddle and put everything away.

It's going to take a lot of patience and pushing him a bit further each time I take him out by himself.

Glad I got this ride in today. The wind has picked up again and it's supposed to be down into the 30s tonight and tomorrow.