Surgery is scheduled

Well, I have some news.  I’m going ahead with the surgery to free Derby’s entrapped epiglottis.  It’s scheduled for Monday. He’ll stay overnight at the clinic, and come home the following day.  After that we embark on a 2-3 week recovery period.  His airway has to stay very quiet during this time.

That obviously affects some of my plans, but still, I’m hoping to have him out at some schooling shows in May.  To that end, we rode through some Intro tests tonight.  I had forgotten them and the first pass through each was ugly.  However, we quickly got our act together and put in some respectable rides, which was encouraging.

We spent some time on downward transitions, maintaining energy and roundness in the walk when coming down from the trot. I rode a couple that I believe were the best I’ve ever ridden, and I had some ‘Ah ha, that’s what it’s supposed to feel like’ moments.  I had to start with good energy at the trot, and then ride very deliberately into the transition. Balancing forward and down is still hard for me.  However, it’s the very beginnings of collection, in which you add energy, not take it away.  So adding energy as you go into a downward transition is a crucial skill, and it’s one I really don’t have yet.  Add it to the list.

I have one more lesson and three more rides before the post-op hiatus.  Boo.  I really wish I could have had this done back in February!  Oh well.  This too shall pass!