who said walking was boring???

Up to this point, Charlie had been on a strict "keep that sucker still" protocol. He was allowed to hand graze, but only in a controlled manner with NO purposeful hand walking.

closed surgical site means sir finally FINALLY got a (omg badly needed) bath!!!!!

Luckily there are quite a few grassy spots right up and around Charlie's barn so we could "move around" without.... actually a whole lot of really moving. Plenty of different "places" for visual interest all close at hand. Still tho.... it was limiting.

current status as we wean him off wraps. i have paranoia but so far so good.

Once those stitches came out tho.... The world became our oyster! Not only could Charlie finally get a bath -- but he could also make the trek up to the indoor arena for some rolling!!!!

This was obviously much appreciated by Sir. Lots of grunting -- and he even rolled all the way over!!! Something I didn't even realize he was coordinated enough to do lol.

friends reunited!!!!

I couldn't let him off the line, obviously, bc no running allowed yet (which is also why he's still not allowed turnout for a couple more weeks). But that was fine. He expressed his wild crazy ottb exuberance in his own way a couple times anyway - with some of the most self-aware spook and spinning I've ever seen in a horse lol.

methinks he missed hangin out with the crew

Like when the horse suddenly goes from walking along side you to spinning away and standing up and grunting and snaking his head - but then stops to look at you from the corner of his (very highly held) eye, almost as if to say, "That was pretty impressive, wasn't it???" And... then goes right on back to walking normally along side haha.

he got to see that goofy puppy again too!

Yes Charlie. Fine. We all agree, you are very impressive wild stallion.

life is good and getting better!

His newfound freedom to wander meant that we could go hang out with our erstwhile lesson mates Saturday afternoon too. Obvi we mostly just kinda stood around while they all rode, but Charlie really seemed to enjoy getting out and about and was SO HAPPY to see his gal Bella again. They were too freakin cute, seriously.

gratuitously adorable video here

Plus he was honestly a really good boy about the whole "fresh off weeks of stall rest " thing. Tho I may or may not have lost actual years from my life in trying to get him over that tiny rivulet of water that crosses our path from the barn to the ring.

Charlie has crossed this thing dozens of time by now, but I guess he forgot. And.... it took us approximately 7 minutes to accomplish the crossing of what basically amounted to a puddle. This included much running backwards. Snorting, shaking his head. Coiling himself up as if to leap, but then spinning away instead. It.... yea. Years gone off my life. The feeling of a giant 17hh TB fresh off stall rest coiling up like that is.... special lol.

got to see his buddy Austin too - who managed to rub his nose on a freshly painted pole, see the green???

He eventually remembered that he's a good boy tho and while he *did* have to jump the thing, he wasn't stupid about it. Phew! (And has since crossed it in hand in a much more reasonable fashion).

and charlie met goose the pig for the first time!! and didn't kill me or even care!! (velvet: take notes, girlfriend!)

The rest of our time spent in the saddle and with hand walking has been totally uneventful tho -- even running into the pig for the first time with Charlie. Who did not care in the least. Go figure haha.

It's just so so so nice to be back in the saddle with my main squeeze tho. And especially in circumstances that seem to make him happier too! Considering we're finally hitting that perfect balance of summer-meets-fall weather, the conditions couldn't be better for legging him up slowly.

Sure, the time change will happen before he's actually cleared for work and that's a bummer.... but at least we get to enjoy this end of the season in part!!