Nearly didn't make it.

I woke up to rain this morning, with huge disappointment as I knew rain would postpone Jazz's first proper canter. I rode Zippy Roo first in the barn, in the hope the rain might die away - no such luck, but Roo went well. Until about 20 minutes in when he suddenly decided that he couldn't stay on the track as we passed the door. I've no idea why, and it took about 15 minutes to persuade him to do things right. He never behaved badly, he just kept moving off the track with considerable determination.

It was still raining so I took Jazz in the barn and did some walk, some trot/halt (nearly got it) halt trot (did get it a couple of times) and a canter on each rein. The walk/canter transitions were lovely, with a definite feel of him sitting on his hocks. By that time, about 20 minutes, it had stopped raining so I changed his bridle to his pelham and went out onto the fields.

We did the run that Zippy has some trouble completing. It's perhaps 250 metres, with a definite rise. Because he is not fit, Zippy has to make an effort to canter the whole stretch. In spite of the ground being a bit cloying underfoot, Jazz got it easily, with only a slight increase in his breathing noise. I walked him down and went up again and he set off for himself, which I was pleased about because it showed that he was happy. He got half way up and felt slightly tired but didn't seem at all out of breath. I tested him to see if he could pick up the pace even though he was tiring and I got an instant reaction. He couldn't have done that seven weeks ago.

Given his lack of sharp fitness - due to not having cantered properly or jumped for nine weeks, there is probably a great deal more speed and enthusiasm still to come. For the moment we will have to settle for the fact that in spite of wet ground which was sapping his energy and causing him to lose his footing a bit, he had no trouble cantering up the slope twice in quick succession.

On today's evidence, I would say that the operation has produced a total cure for the lack of oxygen, and what we need to do now is to get him fit again so his heart can pump it and his muscles can use it. That'll give me something to aim for, with a possible first hunt date of December 8th, weather and fitness permitting. Failing that, Boxing Day.

C