Hardly worth writing here as I'm doing no Parelli stuff at all, only riding.  I waver between being inspired and working with the exercises and not giving a stuff and just getting out there and enjoying the riding.  Have ridden most of my life without benefit of Parelli  so it's not as though I'm lost without it.  Anyway. 

Today we finally went up Wayne's Mountain.  The land has been sold so wanted to explore it before it changed hands.  The new owners (have met them) will probably allow me to ride their land but it's never the same - like tromping through someone's living room at will. 

At any rate, I dismounted and walked beside him.  It was a  long steep climb and as Balthazar isn't fit (and he was already puffing) it didn't seem fair to ask him to slog up this never ending hill with me on his back. 

It was brigalow country.  We followed the outside curve of the mountain then tacked into trees and rocks and no grasses.  Long inviting views on a level with other mountains.  Felt very far away from civilization.  Nice time with Balthazar.   Don't know whether he appreciated me walking with him rather than riding him. 

Rode along a fenceline on an animal track.  No cattle are in this paddock so it was more a wallaby track we followed.  As it narrowed and the bush closed in we had no choice but to turn around.  Dismounted for the descent.  That was the only time my treeless saddle has been less than perfect.  Could've used a crupper as it started to slide over his withers.  Because the track was slippery with loose gravel it was easier to walk down beside him.  As it was, even on this cold day, he was completely soaked with sweat.  Gave him a hose and a flake of lucerne.  Will give him tomorrow off.  Was a pretty big day for him.

Nightmare ride yesterday.  Decided tor explore Wayne's Mountain.  Ground was dry, beautiful morning, still cool although humid.  Started up the steep part and Balthazar started leaping.  Not a problem except he wasn't fit enough to leap to the very top, the path was very narrow with a steep drop off on one side and a wall of rock strewn vegetation on the other.  In other words, again I got us into a dead end situation.  Couldn't turn around, had to keep going.  Then I heard a funny sound.  Looked down and saw the right hind trail boot flapping the ground.  It had come off his hoof and was only attached by the velcro fastener around the pastern.  Pulled him up, still on the steep scrabble and jumped off.
     Balthazar was really blowing.  Not fit enough for this.  Blowing but animated.  Couldn't get him to stand while I tried to reattach the boot.  Gave up and decided he could go barefoot until we got to level ground. 
     Sometimes I had to walk on the sides of my feet to keep from pitching forward.  It was that steep.  Why do I get us into these situations?  Loose rock rolled underneath both of us.  Kept Balthazar to one side so that if he lost balance he wouldn't come down on top of me. 
     Finally got to the bottom.  The boot was ripped and so full of sad and dirt and seed that it wouldn't attach properly.  Oddly enough the front two boots hadn't budged.  Had only put the pads back in that morning.  Walked him all the way home.  Rode a little way but saw I had to reattach the boot yet again so it was just easier to walk. 
     Happily he's fine.  He galloped over this morning when I let the other two out (he's allowed out all night but the two fatties have to be confined).  He's not sore.  He's going to have the day off anyway.  Might take him out for pick this afternoon. 
     Am determined to explore Wayne's Mountain but instead of riding up I'll lead him.

Balthazar shone today.  He had every reason to misbehave yet he held it together.  Decided to take him out for a ride rather than have yet another session in the arena.  It was overcast and the wind was blowing hard enough to make tree tops flip back and forth like models in a shampoo commercial.   Thought it pretty risky but decided to go ahead.  I get sick of arena work.  So off we went.  At least the wind blew the buffalo fly elsewhere.  It doesn't take long for the repellant to wear off.  Did a very fast run through of a few of the 7 games, taking no more than 2 minutes tops.  He was fine.  Besides I'd already made up my mind so even if he'd started doing donuts, laying rubber from his easy boots,  we would've gone.
   He was a bit erratic at first.  Didn't want to leave so tended to weave rather than walk a straight line.  Went to Wayne's and decided to go through into the tank paddock.  It was very overgrown.  I knew it was strewn with boulders so we picked our way carefully to the fence line.  From there saw the track we were supposed to take.  Went back to the road and in through the other paddock.  Climbed halfway up the hill.   He isn't fit and we'd already been out for half an hour.  Turned for home.  Unlike our trip out he travelled like an arrow - dead straight - with a very forward walk.  Then he started whinnying, poor baby.  Separation anxiety big time - yet he never broke stride.  Very proud.  Dismounted half a kilometre from home and walked/grazed the rest of the way.  Did the trick.  He was calm and happy to be with me rather than home with his buddies. 

Trying again.  Had another brief but intense hot spell and just couldn't rouse myself to ride.  Went as a fence sitter to a Parelli clinic (only one day) at Cambooya.  Wanted to be inspired, to learn something.
  Sprayed him liberally with repellant and started some groundwork.  Five minutes into it and we had to trot back to the tackroom for more repellant.  The flies are Fierce!  We did a pretty good run through, especially pleased with his yielding on a circle.  His hindquarters have to yield faster and further than his forequarters if he's going to turn around me like an hour hand on a clock.  Not a bad job.  Also worked on the weave.  That definitely needs a tune up.  He doesn't really understand it yet - I'm working too hard to get him to weave.  Want to suggest rather than tell.
     Took the 22' line out but hadn't thought things through as to what we'd do with it so just did some circles with him.  It was enough that he stayed more or less at the end of the line rather than cutting in.
     Than I rode him.  Not for long.  He's a little tenderfooted from the trim yesterday so only a small amount of trotting.  Mostly walking, getting him to leg yield back to the wall when he cuts in.  Trying to stay out of his way so that he takes responsibility..   Tomorrow hope to put his booties on and go for a bit of a trail ride, just to get us both out and about.  Lots and lots of pick about so he should enjoy it too.  Want to get us both riding fit.  Now that we have the booties sorted out we can start to build fitness.  Want to go up Wayne's mountain before the place is sold and unavailable.