Trims and good stuff

I would have to say Chance's trim was done at record speed...for him. He did very well, not perfect but good and with a new farrier. I really like the farrier, he brings his daughter along and they are genuinely nice people. He is a wealth of knowledge and understands horses. He explained how Chance's build (broad chest and narrow footed) would create discomfort while being trimmed and add lyme disease to the mix and there could be quite a bit of pain. He also showed me Chances range of motion in his leg, which isn't very big. I don't think I have been pulling his leg out too far while working with him, but now that I am aware of this I will make sure to hold his foot under him. I also don't think it is all physical discomfort, I really believe some of it is behavior, but I think the discomfort came 1st which created the behavior.
Tomorrow will make 4 weeks on the doxy and I am continuing to see positive changes in him. He no longer snorts and blows at the fence when walking threw an open gate. He was doing that even with the electricity off. Jaye came over the other day and rode Pilot while I put a saddle on Chance for the 1st time in a very long time. Putting his saddle on was a little bit of a project but I didn't feel the fear in him that I had been feeling. He is moving so much better, and can now back up for me much easier than he ever has. He is not shutting down in fact he is full of energy and more engaged than I think I want! :) He was giving me some attitude but that I can work with. He has become unbelievably mouthy. Picture this, Jaye had a saddle on Pilot's back and was riding him while Chance put his saddle in his mouth, picked it up and held it until it was too heavy to hold anymore. On the lighter side, this was pretty funny to see, Pilot the well behaved horse working very hard for Jaye and then there's my horse holding his saddle in his mouth. On a more serious side we have some work to do. This mouthy issue must be dealt with because I don't want him to pick me up like he did my saddle. He is also constantly trying to bump me with his head and wants to be in my pocket. I'll be trying to come up with some positive ways to channel his new energy and also work on being the leader of the our herd of two. :)