Hercules got the weekend off due to me being out of town at an adoption. When I got back in with him on Monday you would never have known he had any time off. He picked his lessons right back up. We spent the week just reinforcing everything. I didn't want to put to much strain on his legs with the weird angles on his fronts so just spent a lot of time working on putting his head down and allowing me to touch him all over his body. I also took him out in the yard for his first trip outside the pens. He was nervous at first but soon found the green grass under his feet and settled right down.
Today my farrier was able to make it over and give Hercules his first "official" trim. He was able to change his front angles by 4 degrees and said his backs were fine.
Hercules had taken up the habit of whenever I came into his pen of going to his water trough and putting his front hooves in the water. I think he was trying to tell me his legs were bothering him.
I also introduced Hercules to fly spray as with this unseasonably hot weather we have been having the flies are coming out in force. He jumped around a little but soon settled down when he realized it really wasn't hurting him.
This guy is so logical and picks up things so quickly. I have really began to fall for this guy and we are forming quite the bond. He may just have to come back home with me after this competition as I am not sure I will be able to let him go.