This Resolution of yours is a little Spicy!

I am such a slacker, old sports! Already January 4th and I haven't written a post! It's 2015 and there's been nary a word from me so far! You must be outraged-my apologies. I really have no good excuse. Spode has been keeping me busy and I have been moving around staying warm. I write these posts in the paddock shelter, you know. It's the only spot where Spode will let me use the internet--it's dry there. Still cold though! Plus, the other geldings want their turn in the shelter too. Probably checking their Twitter accounts. They're not quite as wordy as me, so they can do the 140 character thing. I can't. I prefer to write novels.

I'm not one for brevity. Or for personal space. 

My word, 2015 has started off with a tangent. What does that mean? My attention span obviously is not improving with age. The vets are still going to be saying I have ADD. Poor Spode is going to have to face up to reality eventually and stop using my age as an excuse. I'll be 4 in May--no longer a colt, but a horse! I'm excited, but don't expect any maturity from me. My draft side will keep developing until I'm at least 6. So in 2017 you can all start demanding some mature behaviour on my part. Until then, I'll keep being silly and goofy--it's expected from a young drafty gelding, isn't it?

That was also a tangent. All I intended on writing was Happy New Year and somehow I'm already 3 paragraphs in. I learnt this from Spode, you know. She also can't stick to the point to save her life. Hmm, isn't it a funny coincidence that we have such a similar writing style? Who would have guessed it!

This is my thinking face. Spode and I also share some of the same expressions, you know. We learnt them from each other.

Er, right. Now what was it I was going to say after Happy New Year? I think something about how I spent my week... there's my stellar attention span again. Spode will be rolling her eyes when she reads it later. Let's try and get some structure into this post before I give up entirely.

Oops. Too late!

Spode had her last holiday visit today. 4 weeks absolutely flew by. We did a ton of stuff that was all new to me. I know I've already discussed some of it: lunging, double lunging, hacking in the snow, cantering in the snow, and today I was introduced to side reins. Those were no big deal. Spode explained the concept but she put them on so loose that I never really felt them. But she said that was what she wanted to happen today, so I guess that's alright. No point in doing anything else since I'm about to return to my holidays now. Spode will be home again in 2 weeks, but I won't be doing anything new again until March break.

This week I was also introduced to Spode's beloved dog, Poppy. I found her a little bit scary, but I preferred her to the barn dog, who I'm not all that fond of. Poppy smelled of Spode, and that made her better. I'm sure she was also thinking that I smelled of Spode and that made me not so bad. She's not 100% sold on horses, but always liked Zoo and seems to be okay with me as well. Phew! It's always stressful meeting these family members. You never know what they'll be like. I'm told I won't get to meet her other friends, Morag and Eddie, because unlike the barn cat they are far too prissy. They don't leave the house. How dull. I'd be happy to go and meet them, but Spode said I'm not allowed in the house. What is up with all these rules all of a sudden?! I do what I want. (Sigh. I wish. Alas, that is not the reality).

Another four legged member of the family

Poppy and I went on a nice little jaunt around the fields. I spooked a few times and bolted twice. My bad. The barn dog jumped out of the bushes and I was a little overwhelmed. Spode sort of enjoyed the feeling-I know it. She tried to act mad but I know she felt a little rush at the feeling of cantering away in the fields. She likes speed. I am not a crazy fast horse either, so my bolts aren't all that scary. Takes me a little while to get up to speed. There's not much danger in falling off either since I'm a solid guy. Spode is very pleased that we're a good fit for each other. There's plenty of horse for her to sit on-I'm no spindly TB.

I'm getting wider by the second, in fact!

That being said, I admit I've been unusually hot and untrustworthy this week. It's not my fault-blame it on the weather. The fluctuating temperatures completely messed up the field. Frozen mud meant it was hard enough just to walk around. Running was impossible, and I NEED to run. I can't just stand around all day like some of the older geldings in my field. I'm an energetic young man, old sports! I have a need for speed! Since Spode brings me into the arena, sometimes I couldn't control myself this week and I got out of hand. I have always known the limits though, so still nothing crazy under saddle. No bucking, rearing, or spinning when Spode's on board. I know the rules and I follow them. It's when she's not on that I show my craziness. Spode witnessed quite a rodeo this week.

Today was by far the worst. Spode had put a big heavy winter blanket on me yesterday because it was so cold, windy, and the freezing rain was coming. It was nice at first, but when the temperature started to rise today I got sweaty, and the icicles on my blanket were scaring me a bit. Then there was all the noises brought on by the ice. It was too much for my mind, and I was pretty frazzled by the time Spode arrived for her last ride of the holiday.

Take me in so I can escape my scary blanket please!! Also, I'm boiling. 

Sorry, old sport. I spooked all the way to the barn, inside the barn, in the arena, back out to the barn, in the barn, and back out to the field. Three hours of spooking. It was a bit much. Spode might not have put up with it so much if it weren't her last day with me. She kept asking me in hopes I would return to my senses. Er, well, I kinda sorta did. Enough for her to trust climbing on my back eventually, anyway. I ran and ran and ran. Head up straight in the air and spooking at every corner and noise. Even had my tail up like an Arab at one point. Spode was not amused.

At least you know I'm not scared os stirrups flying around with all my spooking and spinning. Everything else though is terrifying. 

After I galloped around enough to sort of tire myself out, she then lunged me until I was paying more attention to her than all the scary corners. After that she got on to walk me around and cool down. I ran around a lot, so I was feeling pretty hot. Still not tired though. I didn't do anything bad but I was still wary.

*Gasp* Did you hear that? It's the ice monsters again, I swear. 

I almost fell over in the barn afterward I was scrambling around spooking at the door opening behind me. That was when Spode decided I should just go back outside. Oh well, she did like seeing me run, I know it. She just wished I had settled eventually. I think 3 hours of it exhausted her.

Yeah, well, you're not the only one who's tired, Spode!

So as some of you may know, Spode's New Year's Resolution was to be more firm with me. It's no secret that she lets me get away with things she'd never allow any other horse to do. The benefits of having someone be head over heels for you, old sports. Also, I have an impossibly cute face. I work it.
Anyway, she has decided she needs to crack down on some of my poor manners. That includes pawing, chewing on cross ties and reins, and being pushy with the bridle (I just want it on NOW. I don't want to wait for Spode to put it on slowly.) Spode has been pleased so far. No major changes in just 4 days, obviously, but it's more that she is impressed with herself for sticking to her guns and being the alpha. Aw, how cute *eye roll*. You keep trying Spode....
There is one thing she has managed to stop though: chewing on the cross ties and reins. She bought some artificial aids for that though. She sprayed my cross ties with bitter apple spray. It tastes gross. Blech. No more, thank you. Of course, now I'm chewing on the the lead rope she's using to crack down on my pawing though. Might be coating that in spray next. As for the reins, she tried the apple spray on those too, but it doesn't sink into leather like it does nylon. And with a bit of slobber, I couldn't even tell the difference. This meant Spode went to something stronger. Hot sauce. Tried Sirachi sauce, but I didn't really mind the taste of that. Kinda liked it, in fact. She went home and raided the fridge for something stronger. My reins smell absolutely horrible now, and have dried sauce all over them. I tried it once, twice, three times, and now I admit defeat. Ok, Spode, you win this round. That is not tasty sauce.

We're also trying distraction with the flash in addition to yucky reins. I kinda like it. Something new to play with!

So so far Spode is doing well, but it's only 4 days after all. The real test will be when she comes home to visit me in 2 weeks. Usually that's when she goes really soft and that's why I've developed all these habits. She missed me too much to get mad and correct me. After three months of that, I admit I've gotten pretty bad. I'm just at the age when I start pushing too. Teenagedom. I'm in gr. 9, Spode. Spode loves that grade the best because of the teenage goofiness that's abound, but it also needs shutting down sometimes. A daily struggle, but one I know Spode likes. I'm doing it for you, Spode! Can't you see!? My resolution is to please Spode--I'm doing a good job, aren't I? Spode says resolutions are supposed to be a change though, and apparently I've always pleased her. Awww.

I'll be back to being as good as gold in April when she's home again-just you watch.

Well, until later, old sports. Stay warm! Brrr!

Jay.