"You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock."

Hello again, old sports. I'm busy enjoying my last week of summer with Spode. I've been a little clingy this week, I have to admit. I know something is up. I've been getting even more pampering than usual, and that's saying something. I've been playing the part by consistently trotting over to her when she calls me rather than just walking. Spode is pleased. And sad. I am kind of looking forward to the riding holiday though.

Anyway, we've mostly been doing the usual. I've been on another hack and Spode has dubbed me a pro. It's more fun than being in the sand ring. I like leading my buddies along too. I have trouble with the uneven ground though. Spode says I need to learn to keep my balance going up and down hills, but it's good for my butt, apparently.

Spode has also started fussing with my mane again because it suddenly got even crazier than usual. Observe:

It's my punk rock look. Leave me alone. I'm a teenager. 

It would be okay if they were dreads. Not sure braids are hip right now, mum. 

Oh god, why did you do that to me!? The other horses will think I'm prissy. (Excuse the ugly, too large halter, I broke my green one. Wait, did I just contradict myself? Yeah, I like green...)

Yeah, I know you're please about it. But what about me?

I am done with my braids now because Spode is heading back to school anyway, so she won't be able to rebraid. Hooray. I'll be back to being Gatsby the Punk Rocker in 2 weeks, tops. 

Today Spode came out with an armful of green stuff and we had our first Green Day (hey, I like that band! What a coincidence!). Check out our matchy-matchiness. 

The mighty green machine! 

I cannot recall if I clearly explained why all my stuff is green. It has to do with my literary name, but of course. You see, Gatsby long lost love, Daisy, had a green light at the end of her dock. Fitzgerald's Gatsby can see it from his house and is always reaching out to it. It's a symbol of hope, dreams, the past, the future... It is his American Dream. My green equipment is a symbol of our hope: dressage bridle, polos, bells, pad--we've got stars in our eyes (oh boy, I wish that wasn't quite so literal in my case...)

So, old sports, now you know. The Great Gatsby and the colour green just have to go together. It helps that I look pretty flashy in Kelly Green too!

I was not on my best behaviour today. I didn't really want to be ridden but once I got in my groove I enjoyed it.

See? I am a good boy really. Sorry about the start, Spode.

After that, Spode's mum hopped on for a super short ride. I was very good for her, so Spode was pleased. 

Spode grabbed a few pictures before we called it a day.

Do you think I've grown taller, old sports?

I'll hug you to death if you'll let me. (Actually, I mostly wanted to chew the reins. I am teething... again!)

Yup, I think I've grown again for sure!

Every time Spode leaves I beg for more attention. The end is near. I would like her to stay put so she can feed me endless treats. You don't need to go to school for that, Spode. You already know all there is about spoiling me. You're hired!

Wait!!!

Will I fit through this hole? Is that more food in your pocket?

Yeah, Sunday is going to suck. Still, I have my horsey friends and I get plenty of attention from others. I'll manage I suppose. I sure will miss all the treats though. And Spode... I guess.

Until later, old sports.

Jay.

Um, this was not in my job description...

So sorry, old sports. This is my second post of the month! I am such a slacker. It's not my fault, Spode has been keeping me too busy to write. Like her, when I get home from a long day at the office all I want to do is watch TV with my buddy Senator. I don't have the energy to type. Do you know how hard it is to type with these giant hooves of mine? The delete button is getting worn out.

Anyway, we're on ride 23 now. We're sure on a roll now! I had most of last week off because it was too wet and who wants to ride when you're soaking (not me or Spode, that's who)?

She basically cleaned my masks everyday and rotated them. That was it, but it's a hard job keeping these things clean. Especially when I eat them.  

So I got a few days off followed by a free lunging day. That was a bit frightening because the kids were tearing around on scooters with hockey sticks. I wasn't spooky, just looking, so Spode was very impressed with me. I got plenty of treats for nothing! That's my kind of day.

And you got a picture with my ears forward. It's a win-win for everyone. 

After that, Spode and I went on our first ride in the fields. I'll admit, it was a little scary at first. The corn was blowing in the wind and making noises. I'm a big boy but I'm not tall enough to see over it. And it was my first time out with more than one horse, so that was another hurdle of the day. After a few minutes of jigging and prancing, I settled into a nice walk. It was a very long ride but pretty fun. I got a bit frightened when I had to make a turn with the woods behind me, but it wasn't so bad. I wanted to canter to get away from it but Spode said whoa. I made a compromise and cantered on the spot. Spode said I could learn to pirouette out there, whatever that means...

My other spook was at a tree trunk that popped out of nowhere (ok, I'm a little embarrassed about that one!). I just went sideways a couple of steps and then sheepishly continued on my way. It was a great ride. We walked all the way and I learned to put up with other horses near me. I'm up for round two!

I sort of thought round two would be today, but alas, I am back to the sand ring. I still had a new experience today though. Spode brought a friend out. I trotted up to see them and then they brushed me. Nothing out of the ordinary there; Spode has brought friends out to visit before. Spode tacked me all up and out we went to the ring. Spode hopped on (but first I had to make things difficult for her by chewing on my reins. I may have went too far this time--apparently we'll be working on that tomorrow!) and off we went for a brief ride. She told me she was just making sure I was my usual self today. Then she got off and gasp she asked her friend Pam if she wanted to ride me! What!? Two rides in one day? And I thought Spode was going to be my only rider for life!

I put up a bit of a fuss at the mounting block to let them know my feeling on the matter--after all, they never asked me what I thought of this plan, but Pam got on anyway. I really didn't mind once she was on, but Spode was more than a little tense. Holy helicopter parenting. Pam is a good rider and once I relaxed and made it very obvious that I was listening, Spode backed away more and let us do our thing. Baby steps, Spode, you're doing fine! It's like sending a child off to kindergarten or something. She's a hoverer.

You really don't need to follow us, Spode.

See? I stopped when she told me to. What more do you want out of me!?

She eventually let Pam have a trot on me, and I made sure I was on my best behaviour.

We're doing just fine! Heck, we're better than fine!

Spode was very happy with our ride. For the first time with someone else on my back, Spode said I went better than expected. She is one proud mama. And she said I look even bigger and better than she had imagined. Happy day for everyone.

One small step for Spode, one big step for me. But then again, every step is big for me. 17.1 and still going up! 

I'm a pretty fantastic 3 year old, huh? Fitzgerald's Gatsby always was a mature man. Just living up to my name, as usual.

Until later, old sports. There will be more riding for me this week!

Jay. 

Baby I was born this way!

I had my 19th ride today. Baby, I was practically born broken in! I am such a pro now, Spode trusts me with almost anything. This week I have been doing some crazy stuff, so let's start at the beginning.
I started off the week doing some extreme trail stuff. You know, like a western horse (shh, don't tell Spode!). First, I played with a great big ball--my favourite!

Spode let me loose so there was no pressure. Ooh, is that a new toy?!

Thanks, Spode. I love it!

Then I tried out the new extra narrow bridge. It's actually a bit too narrow for me and my big Clydesdale butt. I fell off it even though I was walking straight.

Good ground driving practice too! 

And then for the grand finale! No pictures, old sports, but they set up this great big box. Underneath the box is a tarp, and on top of that... a sea of plastic water bottles! Scary, right? No way! I sniffed at it and then stepped into the box. I crushed lots of water bottles and they made weird sounds, but I really didn't care. Yawn. I'm born broke, I tell you!

Next up, I had some road practice. I saw trucks and trailers and lots of very fast cars. No problem, Spode (Spode is WAY more scared of traffic than I am! I don't foresee much riding on the road for us). I was more frightened walking past the tall corn field blowing in the wind. That was a bit scary because it sounds like an animal hiding in the corn ready to attack me. Yikes. But I got over it with time.

When I'm scared I remind Spode that I'm quite tall. That's what happens when you actually lift your neck up!

Stay close, Spode. There are lions and tigers and bears in there, I'm sure.

I also did some regular stuff. I am in training to be a dressage horse, after all.

Back to being a "warmblood"

Aw shucks. If you keep telling me how beautiful I am I'm going to get a big head. Even bigger than it already is!

Spode also spent some time just hanging out with me, which has been great. She seemed a bit hyper stressed this week so I did my duty of being her chill dude to talk to. It's a pretty easy job, really. Much easier than dressage and just as important, Spode says! Fine by me. 

Care to share a nibble of grass with me, dear Spode. It'll make you feel better!

My eyes have been reasonably good this week. Having some irritation issues in my right eye and occasionally experience vision issues. Today was not good walking into the shadows, but when I adjust to the light I'm okay. We just take things slow and Spode was careful about helping me find my way and find my dinner. I hate that the most--can you imagine not being able to locate your dinner!? It takes a lot os sniffing around sometimes...

So aside from hanging out and doing lots of fun things, I'm also just living an everyday horsey life. Deworming came and went (I managed to work my tongue magic and spit out a tiny bit again!) and I've been galloping and bucking with my buddy Senator. I'm a pretty happy guy.

Today Spode was the happy one because ride #19 was a special one. We went bareback! Spode said it's a very important lifeskill for me. Any horse of hers had better be a bareback pro, because she likes to do that lots. Fine by me. It's nice to chillax that way. I was a little uncertain about it initially but then I just acted like usual. We had a great ride!

Old sports, we have a happy Spode!

I was happy because she let me smell the pee spot in the ring... I know, it's a bit of a weird habit!

Hmm, who was in here before me?

I made a silly face, so Spode was happy I had smelled the pee spot in the end!

And we even had some awesome bareback trots! So much fun! Spode says I am super smooth and we will rock in sit a buck. Huh? You want me to buck? Or is that something else??

I can't actually dressage yet. Just a lucky shot. One day I'll do this on purpose, Spode says. Fine by me!

So a great week for us both! We're a happy team. Spode is thrilled with my training progress. I just keep telling her that we're born for each other!

Until later, old sports! Who know what we'll be up to next week!

Jay.

It's Friday the 13th [ride], and you thought it was a good idea?

Hey listen, we can't be angels all the time, am I right? Here's the thing, old sports. I am three years old and everything is new to me. Everything.

Three and still growing, might I add! I've gotten a tad bum high again this week, and my stifle started locking again--a sure sign of some added height!

Spode planned a ride with the barn manager for today. It's my 13 time being ridden. Lucky 13, yes? Er...

Today was the first time I've been ridden with another horse in the ring. It's only the second or third time I've ever been near another horse while working in the arena. It was a big thing. I rode with this halflinger gelding who I see every night over the fence. But inside the same fence? That's a bit terrifying.
We started out having the barn manager get on first, and then Spode got on. Then Spode asked if I could follow behind. I started fighting to get closer to the pony and was getting a bit hot. Then we decided to stop following as Spode was losing more and more control. Instead, Spode wanted the pony to follow me. Well, that was even worse. I started backing up into the pony and trying to spin around. The next step was to try and face each other safely to let me relax. Then Spode got very mad because I took the reins and went at the pony with my teeth. The barn manager had to slap me on the nose to stop.

Oh dear. I struggled for a while. I bucked for the first time (just a little one, mum!), and then I had a mini rear. Then I went at the other horse with my teeth yet again and got a bigger slap. This was followed by some more backing up and a slightly bigger rear.

Spode told me to get walking the whole time and eventually the bugs were annoying me so I moved on. Pony walked a bit too, but we went opposite directions and when we passed, we used half the ring. After about 20 minutes, I settled down again and was my usual good self. We got a bit closer to the pony but stayed back. Once Spode got off, the pony came and walked in a circle around us while I had to stand and be calm. I tried to back into him again once, but I was pretty much over it.

So you want the truth? I am the lowest on the pecking order and don't have an aggressive bone in my body. So the truth is that I was scared out of my stockings! I didn't know what Spode was going to let happen to me. What if she let the pony kick the poop out of me? What if he came at me and bit me? That's scary. This could be a horse fight for all I know. So I decided I'd attack him before he attacked me. I wasn't really being aggressive, I was just scared. No ears pinned here.
I'm not sure that's quite what Spode wanted me to do, but we all have to act our age occasionally. Luckily Spode and the barn manager are both calm cucumbers and we ended the ride positively. The only bad thing is that now I'm going to have to do it lots of times over again. Aw shucks. The goal is to have us trotting in the ring together.

Also, Spode should have known this would happen on our 13th ride. Plus, we both saw The Great Gatsby movie with my boy Leo. He can get pretty aggressive himself when he's scared. Of course, he only got scared at the thought of losing Daisy... but who's to say I wasn't scared that the pony would latch onto Spode, huh?
Yeah, okay. I probably won't win that argument.

In other news, I have juvenile herpes warts. Isn't that just fantastic. I look so attractive covered in warts. But at least my mild uveitis flare up is gone so I don't have both things going on at once. My cyclosporine implants make me more susceptible to viral infections. But warts are a small price to pay for something that is stopping me from going blind.

Spode is babysitting chinchillas and a dog for her friend this week, so I haven't been doing a whole lot of stuff. I predict a busy August ahead of us though! The last month before she heads off to school and I start my holidays. This week I've mostly been chilling. I had a bath.

I'm not complaining. It was a hot day!

She was a little bit too into brushing out my tail though. Yes, I know it's beautiful. Let's move on. 

She was also pretty obsessed with my stockings, making sure they were absolutely gleaming. I went and got them stained again by the next day, just for her. 

She'll never learn.

Until later, old sports.

Jay. 

Oh the things I have to put up with...

It's a rough life, old sports. I tell you, I am asked to do some silly things sometimes. Most of the time, it's not too bad, but some days Spode comes out and has these ideas in her head. Ugh.

Um, what ya got there?

Spode dragged out a big blue thing. Naturally, I walked over to her right away to see what was up. I sniffed it all over, but it was a little scary when she started picking it up and dragging it behind her. 

Ok, well not that scary.

What's the big deal, Spode? Seems fine. Wish there was some food involved though. 

 Since I was not fazed by the big blue thing, Spode decided to hide in it. Yeah, I know. I have a weird owner. Tell me about it.

Old sport, what are you doing?

I found you!

Can I join you under there?

I wish I had acted scared. Spode made me wear it after that. I feel like such a dork. 

Does this tarp make me look fat? 

Ah! It's following me!? Okay old sports, I admit that that was a little frightening. 

I was still curious about it even after that though. In truth, I was looking for food. Surely there must be some in there, right?

Thankfully, she didn't make me wear it again. I just got to play around with it by myself. I told Spode when I had had enough. 

Okay! I'm ready to go back to my house now!

The other thing we did today was just run around and do some trot poles. No problem!

Weee!

I have about 5 minutes worth of energy. Let's do this!

In other news, I've been ridden a fair bit. I've been so good! Or that's what Spode says, anyway. She's very pleased with me, and I'm even doing some trotting now!

I'm a big kid now! Well, except everyone says I have the attention span of a gnat...

No one can tell in pictures!

Well, maybe sometimes you can tell. 

I'm pretty handsome, eh old sport?

It's not all work and no play though. I get plenty of time to myself and get to goof off a lot, just like a young horse should.

24 hours of turn out and grass

Lots of time for rolling in the dirt

It's a wonderful life!

Spode also gets to goof off. Who else takes photos of their horse's underbelly? My Spode is still a Paint lover at heart, apparently. She obsesses over my spot!

Until later, old sports! Who knows what we'll be doing tomorrow... Spode has a way of keeping me on my toes.

Jay.