Windy and cold today. Gusts to 30 mph. I groomed Newt and took him to the arena. It was really windy and he got fired up. When we got to arena I thought I would let him calm down by giving him an opportunity to graze. He started grazing in a minute or two and I thought this will be good for him to experience calming down in such exciting weather. Then the reins fell down his neck and on the ground just as he took a step forward, the foot landed on the reins about a foot from the bit, he felt it and pulled up. I was looking at the bit with my lunge line attached laying on the ground. Newt and I realized he was loose just about the same time and he had not forgotten that it was windy. He took off. The reins were still around his neck but they broke so easily that I did not notice it. It was just like the bridle evaporated. It is a big pasture with cows. Newt ran up among them. I started walking to the gate where we came in and whistling for him to come. He did not seem to be paying much attention and ran out of sight. Then he came around the trees and started bucking trying to get the saddle off. It stayed on and he thought he’d just run flat out. They never would have sold him if they saw how he ran this morning. He was coming my way. One of two things was going to happen and the one I did not want was for him to run straight through the fence. This is not a horse safe pasture. It has barbed wire. Luckily I got him to stop. Maybe it was the tone in my voice. I got my hands on him and he let me put the lunge line around his neck. He was excited and it was difficult getting the loop around his nose. He was jumping around with every gust of wind and I somehow got mixed up with his hind feet. I think he realized it and avoided a problem rather than take advantage of it and hurting me so he could get loose. We went back to the barn but you would not call it a walk. At the barn I put on a halter and we lunged in the round pen. He was completely controllable in this environment. I put Newt in a situation he could not handle and it was a mistake. Thank goodness there was no injury.
I groomed and worked Magic in the round pen. He did good and was not bothered by his feet. I am still applying Venice Turpentine to Magic and Newt feet soles daily.
It was a brisk day in May. I need to remember not to extend my training on days like this. It is best to pull back a little and do something we are sure we can accomplish. Avoid potential problems on days like this.