3 Months Later...

 My last ride on Pyro before Thanksgiving holiday, his respiratory infection, and my concussion was over 11 weeks (nearly THREE MONTHS) ago. 

Photo from 11/24/2024 for proof

I was working on fitting his WOW saddle, and we tried a new bit from Agador's for the first time.

I had adjusted the balance front to back via the air panels.

I wasn't sure how the full cheek would work with the Micklem, but I wanted to offer him some lateral clarity.

Agador's SmoothRide Full Cheek Snaffle (5.25")

I ordered it hoping he'd like the shape of this mouthpiece more than the Myler Comfort Snaffle.

It was the kind of ride where we didn't get a ton of "training" done, but I was feeling out how comfortable the tack changes were for both him and me. It was productive in it's own way, and I thought we might be onto something. Then, shit hit the fan. 

I'm happy/relieved/excited to report that Monday evening I finally put my big girl panties on and swung a leg over Pyro. 

I got some major side eye for sitting on him again.

To his credit, he was a saint the entire 10 minutes we walked around together, with zero shenanigans. Similarly to Missy, I rode him in the super grippy bareback pad plus neck strap, and I didn't miss stirrups as I focused on my balance and proprioception through my seat.

He was quiet enough that Tessa even opted to walk with us.

It was an interesting sensation, being so aware of his conformation, how he swings his back and shoulders, how my pelvis has to move to follow him, the way my legs drape around his sides, and how we balanced together after such a long time. It's a completely different feel from riding Miss.

His bridle had the addition of bit keepers for the full cheek. I'm not thrilled about how the top of the full cheek overlaps with the bridle, but I decided to let him tell me what he thought of it.

We spent most of our time on a loose rein, but I did pick up light contact to work on coordinating my body with steady hands. To my surprise, his mouth was very quiet. There was none of the rooting, pushing, or trying to get his tongue over the bit that often occurs when I pick up contact. 

I'm grateful the neck strap is long enough that I can hold both it and the reins. There were times I feel myself tipping off my balance point, and I could catch myself on the neck strap rather than his mouth.

He was quiet, polite, and attentive the whole ride, and I got "real world" vestibular therapy. My brain was tired, but not wrecked. While I need more data points, it seems he may like this new bit with the addition of keepers. If his mouth stays this quiet and accepting, even with the slight overlap of the top of the cheek piece with the bridle, then I may have found something he's comfortable with. 

Good baby dragon

I'm grateful to have a youngster who can come back from a break of this length and be this settled. As a friend pointed out, it's "almost like [I] trained him well". I'm well aware I've made (and continue to make) mistakes in his training, but if he is at least willing to look after me and provide a safe, steady ride, then I've done something right. 

Thanks, buddy