In which Rocky learns a good new skill, and I'm not very delicate

Rocky practices evading ferns.  Ferns are skeery.

Rocky is gradually gaining all the skills he will need to be a successful endurance horse. Walking and trotting on uneven terrain is no longer a gigantic challenge.  He's quite good at walking and trotting uphill, and at walking downhill without losing his balance and crashing onto his nose.

Looking like a real grown-up endurance pony!

 He's getting more graceful about trailer loading and un-loading.  But today, Rocky had a little problem:

"Mama?  I tells you something?"

 Rocky didn't quite know how to communicate the discomfort.

"Is something I gotta do, but maybe my clothes are inna way?"

 This is not a picture of Rocky's problem.

Pink flower:  not a problem.

 Endurance riders, as discussed in an earlier post, aren't very delicate in regards to bodily functions.

Lilacs.  Not problematic.

 In fact, endurance riders are not only comfortable talking about bodily functions, it's not unusual to return from an errand at a vetcheck to be told gleefully by the horse-holding-person, "He peed lemonade, you're good to go."   

Washington State flower:  the only problem with it
 is trying to remember how to spell "rhododendron."

 Or something along those lines.  

early strawberries!

 Talking about body functions is important in our sport.  Maintaining awareness of bodily functions of the horse (and sometimes the rider also) is essential to keeping track of the horse's wellbeing.

Chives and sage flowers

However, writing about bodily functions is something I don't normally do...but in this case, it was such a major training breakthrough that I really must share.

Lavender.  This is the last photo of flowers.  After this picture
is a picture of Rocky and his function.

 It took Rocky the better part of 15 minutes to finally figure out that he can pee under tack.  Urinating with a rider onboard would absolutely 'splode his brain, so Patty dismounted.


Even so, he circled and worried, and did a very good impression of a toddler doing the pee-pee dance.  Patty loosened his girth and held onto his nose so he had to stand still.  And, finally:


(last warning, this picture isn't a flower)

gallons and gallons and gallons

 Rocky peed.


And peed.


And peed, and peed, and peed, and peed.


I've seen less volume from fire hydrants.

Good boy, Rocky!

Good color, and he splashed all four feet simultaneously.


And then, we mounted up, and headed back to the trailer with a tremendous sense of accomplishment.


Endurance riders <<---pathetically easy to entertain.