Meg arrived right on schedule. My car was loaded to the top with gear for me, the pups and Josie. When I saw Meg I gave Josie a call, I assumed I was going to have to trudge through the beginnings of a river runs through it when she came ambling along - from breakfast - Wow!
She loaded right in with the lead rope over her back. Gosh that makes me smile. The clinic was schedule at a private barn. Pretty nice place. Josie stall looked a little small but she was only going to be in there during the day and then turned out to the paddock at night. Josie's clinic name is now Jose:
I was a little slow getting ready. I made the mistake of taking the pups for a short potty break before hand and didn't allow time to get down to the arena. First training op was the garage doorway to enter, once in the crowd was in the right corner and in the far corner was a heater (similar to the one at the show last week) mounted in the air. Our little world is full of training ops. Luckily Josie has a pretty laid back attitude but that is not to say she can't spin around really quick. My breeches were very slippery on the new saddle. I could tell the difference not having the shorter pad on. Just an all purpose isn't enough for my little down hill girl.
Cleon went over some items from the previous clinic. I rode without stirrups for a while giving hugs with each swing of her rib cage. The footing was a little deeper than I was use to. Cleon lowered Josie's bit one notch (this means I don't need a new bridle - yeah!) so it fit lower in her mouth. With all her hairiness I wasn't able to see well enough if she had two or three wrinkles at her mouth edges. We shortened my stirrups and proceeded to trot over a ground pole and then three. If I did well, she did awesome. The next rider came into the clinic and as we were going through the trot poles her horse rolled, both Josie and I were amazed and kind of wound down through the poles. We continued on and went through a few more times. My stirrup leathers are good and my position is good. It will only get stronger with practice. Meg videoed us so I am looking forward to that.
I got Josie settled, got lunch and watched the rest of the clinic. We went to S's to watch a movie If Horse's Could Talk. It was amazing!!!! I was upset at the beginning when they showed a horse in a surgical recovery padded stall and it fell - the mind immediately went to thoughts of Senda and my hand flew to my mouth and I teared up. It goes along with the Tug of War book that has become popular. Josie will be getting plenty of stretch breaks. I am glad I can warm her up on a loose rein and I don't try to cram her into the bridle. I have been taking it easy with her and have been starting to ask for contact. Contact doesn't mean shortening their neck. It is carry on a conversation with their mouth. She is getting more accepting of contact as long as there isn't any distractions. This will come in time.
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