First bootless ride

Jester has been comfortable all week and I tried him out bareback with a stiff rope halter in the pasture so I decided to take him on a short ride without boots yesterday. He was mostly comfortable, except when he would step on large gravel- 1 inch or so, over hard dirt. The one thing that was quite different was that he was NOT confident! He frequently balked and did not want to try walking across wet pavement. bounced my heels on his sides, urged him with my seat, swatted his hindquarters, backed him and pivoted... Eventually he started up again, and the further we went the better he was. After half an hour riding walk/jog he still wasn't sore, and though he walked very tentatively over uneven ground, he moved freely over deep footing and flat pavement. His right side is getting stronger, but still has a shorter fore stride, and the right hind still has strengthening to go. Stretching, massage, castor oil wraps on joints... little by little! Eyes are good most days- no swelling, just watery at times.