1/1/08 - Ringing in the New Year With a Tap Lesson

I had two problems in my one ride between lessons. Willig quit trotting when we were going across the diagonal about 20 minutes into our ride and I couldn't get him to go again (until he felt like it), and then the canter was a fiasco.
We didn't get to cantering today because there was a scary spot on the wall, and we worked on going past the scary spot. The breakthrough came when Bob realized that when he says "tap" I squeeze, which is, surprisingly to me, not the same thing.
A tap is an actual, honest to god, leg away from the horse then back on the horse, TAP.
A squeeze is when your leg doesn't lift up, even if you pinch with your knees and lift your heel up.
So after 10 times past the spot and me squeezing and Willig moving away from the wall, we did ONE time with the tap method and he stayed right on the rail. Perfectly.
It sounds simple, but I then proceeded to lose control of my body and my leg wouldn't obey me for the difference between tap and squeeze and I begged Bob not to add anything more becuase merely controlling my leg (on top of the other things I still have to think about) is more than enough until Saturday's lesson.
We tried on the saddle that one of the other boarders is selling, and although it is really nice and a Stubben, I didn't like the way it makes your leg hang, and it was too big for me, and wasn't a perfect fit for Willig. I need to get him two saddles though, so I can stop using Bob's. (And his own bridle and cavesson and etc. etc.)
I had to put a "stretchie" on his chest. His blanket is rubbing two bare spots on his shoulders. Fortunately, the one I had for Mercury fit him.
He's been very good about taking his meds. The vet cut them back since he responded so well to the dexamethazone. He is now getting 10 tablets twice a day for 5 days, then 10 tablets once a day for 5 days. I grind them in a mortar and pestle, then add warm water, then add apple juice. Today I stupidly gave it to him when he had hay in his mouth, so some hay and some meds came flying out, but not that much.
Alice and I talked about putting him on some herbs when we start giving him oats (when he actually starts working, which should be in the next month or so because Bob said the dressage shows start in February). Right now I am thinking: missing link, garlic & kelp, and an immunity mix.
Bob thinks he can ride 1st level and maybe 2nd level (with Bob), and then I hope I can ride him training level (if we keep working on the canter).
Also, Mercury is lame - no swelling, no heat, no tenderness, but I saw him bob a little yesterday and today it was much worse. I'm going to walk him only the next few days and see what happens. I'm guessing that Bob's prediction, like all his others (rubbing his head during a dressage test; stall guards break and horses can run loose at shows being two prior accurate predictions), came true, and he slipped running around when it was cold when I turned him out yesterday.