Highboy GRADUALLY

Now that the holidays are over, I was able to procure an old Christmas tree for jump decor in the arena!  Highboy has been recovering from a mild injury he acquired while messing around with his friends around Thanksgiving, but has now been cleared to resume work.  The key portion of this work release was when Dr. Landes said he can return to work GRADUALLY.  Highboy doesn't really do anything gradually....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlrRPyuNV28

The day Highboy had his last vet appointment was during the first week of January. I put him in the round pen for a few minutes before the appointment to move around a little.  Highboy decided that the round pen was simply insufficient for his galloping needs.  He proceeded to take down the very large gate, jumped out of the round pen over the downed gate, and then raced up to the fence to look over the big round hay bales at Jasi in the front pasture.  Jasi reported him peering just over the bales, only head and ears visible, straight up in the air, swiveling on his long neck in a remarkable imitation of our llama neighbors.

Jasi next heard me exclaim, "What are you DOING?!" and then watched as Highboy took off at top speed for the open back pastures.

Jasi came in from the front, I retrieved Highboy's halter and a few horse cookies.  As I began walking towards the back we began to play a slightly distorted game of keep away.  It involved me shouting to Jasi, "He's coming up around the back side of the house!" as Highboy ran the perimeter of the property.  Then she would shout to me in reply, "He's on his way back to you!" as he pranced along the outside of the arena with his head and tail both straight up in the air.  This comedic routine repeated multiple times, until finally Highboy decided he'd gotten it out of his system and calmly walked up to me to ask for his halter and a cookie.

I led Highboy back to the barn and he stood in the middle area with steam rolling off of him like we were offering some sort of spa treatment.  Dr. Landes and his tech arrived to the happy sight of Highboy beaming with pleasure over his morning escapades.  Since Highboy's muscles were plenty warmed up Dr. Landes checked him anyway, and declared he was ready to go back to work.  We all watched as Highboy rolled his eyes and muttered, "Of course I am... I've been saying that for a week."

Highboy definitely doesn't do anything gradually.