Anniversaries 2/8/16

This week Jack and I have 2 big anniversaries, as of 31st July I have owned him for 5 years!  Where did that time go!  This is us shortly after I brought him although I had had him on loan for over a year already at that point.   

The 2nd is that as of 2/8/16 we have now reached 18months post KS surgery and I feel so lucky that this little horse is one of the success stories.  At times its been hard and heart breaking and rehab has been far from smooth sailing with secondary issues with hocks and SI but I am thrilled with how well he currently feels.  He is jumping and schooling better and better all the time getting stronger and more supple thanks to lots of ground work, hacking, strengthening work and stretching plus the support of a fantastic physio and a whole load of patience!  I have to say despite the hiccups along the way it has also been the most rewarding thing I have ever done with a horse.  To see and be part of such a transformation is a privilege.  This horse was depressed and aloof due to being in so much pain before surgery, he just wanted to be left alone, didn't play with his field companions, had no energy or enthusiasm and would stand for hours with his head down looking thoroughly unhappy.  He now greets me in the field with pricked ears and comes trotting to the gate, there is no grumpiness or reaction to being groomed or tacked up and ridden he is the best he has ever been. 
We are looking to starting having some lessons in the next few weeks with a new instructor and will be taking part in some SJ shows before our first unaffiliated ODE in September - ekk!!   
Due to the hot weather and hard ground I have mostly been hacking for the last few weeks but following a bit of rain and our hay field being cut I have been able to go for a good canter and gallop round the big field which has been great for Jacks fitness, it's on a slight incline so its quite hard work and also has a few steeper banks to really get him working from behind and strengthen his hind quarters.  He finds it quite exciting and it took me an hour and 20mins to wear him out the other night but we had a blast galloping about!
Last night he schooled beautifully and we used 4 ground poles on a 20m circle working on rhythm in walk, trot and canter.  It was the best he has done this exercise especially in canter where we were getting a lovely, even 4 strides between each pole and hitting them all spot on.   Good Jack!
We had a great jumping session last week too with Jack really attacking the fences and keeping up a nice, forward rhythm.  We jumped corners and brush spread and a skinny and it felt all very easy!
I love how confident he now feels jumping and I am able to adjust the stride and actually affect his way of going rather than just hoping we get there on a good stride!
More of the same this week hopefully :)