The new hind boots came so we went for a burn up the road. It's the first time we've been out for weeks. The boots stayed put. Very pleased. Took us 45 minutes to go 6km. Used Balthazar as a ladder to pick some wattle seeds for the birds. Good practice for him to stand still while I leaned and reached this way and that. One advantage of these boots is the padding. I don't worry about trotting or cantering on hard ground as concussion is minimal. He was pretty good for not having been out in so long. Reluctant to leave the others naturally but I just kept him going and he soon walked/trotted/cantered himself out of it. I think sometimes he likes seeing new things.
I noticed something today. Riding on a loose rein I take turns holding the reins in my right and left hand. I rest my fingers on his withers to remind me not to interfere. Realized it was harder, like I had to stretch a little to keep my left hand there which of course turns my body slightly to the right - to his off/stiff side. Perhaps his perceived stiffness is only a reflection of my stiffness or, more likely, we reinforce one another's stiffness for he is stiff online as well as under saddle. He seemed to travel straighter when I rode using my left hand. So of course I will have to ride like that until it feels as easy as it does with the right. Hopefully it will help him, without doing anything overt, to straighten. Wouldn't that be something? Just changing hands makes that left hind step under more.
Yesterday just did 15 minutes online. Was going to ride but he did so well on the ground I thought that was enough. Besides, it's good to mix things up a bit. Took him out for 30 minutes pick so Balthazar could say that he had a really good and relaxing day!