Didn't ride for 10 days as I *did* my back.  Rode yesterday and today.  Easing both of us back into it.  Now that he's shod want to get us fit.  Yesterday rode partly up Wayne's Mountain.  Balthazar, poor boy, had that foamy sweat afterwards.  Today, as we've had some rain and the road has a tiny bit of 'give' in it, we walked/trotted to Jackson's Yards and back.  More rain today so more road work tomorrow.  As this rain is unusual for this time of year it won't be long before any trot or canter work can only be done in the arena so while there is the opportunity I intend to take advantage of it.  Otherwise the road is too hard and too concussive.

Saw Peter the other day.  He's going to work with Rebel, hopefully ride him and get him fit too.  Peter has great but somewhat arduous tracks around his property.  Would be lovely to explore them but unfair to do so on unfit horses.  Would like to have Balthazar fit enough to float him over to Spinach Creek and  ride up and meet Peter, do the exploratory ride then return to the float and home.  I've got the tracks here to accomplish that level of fitness. 

Also just need consistent bum time in saddle.  He's alternately antsy (he had a huge spook and spin at some twittery birds in the bushes today) or lazy.  Know from my endurance training days that alot of what's perceived as *wrong* with a horse stems from not spending enough time riding them.  As they get used to being out and about, and none of that out and about time is a big deal, they settle down and become terrific companions.