Monday, September 7, 2009

Couldn't ask for a better weekend. Got home to see Chicky and the 2 GS's leaving. To keep up my attempts to entice her to leave I checked for poo and made a call. That done we got ready to visit Josie. I had a lesson (I thought it was next week) with Josie on Thursday and I wanted to practice our new skills. I arrive at the barn to hear "We're going on trail - get ready!" Well, you don't have to ask me twice even though I hesitate due to breeches and previous heavy skeet population. Ah, heck! JOOOOOOSIEEEEEE!

I brush her back, check her feet, adjusted the bareback pad and we hit the trail. Wyatt is most pleased and scampers with happy body ahead. Josie was really stepping out. She loves trail riding as much as I. The skeets were better but later I would find that breeches really are no defense.

We came to a muddy area and I thought to myself, "Hmmmmm better sit back and put leg on and try to keep her straight". Good thing! She jumped the entire patch - it was HEAVEN! Our first real jump and bareback at that!!!! She has a nice jump to her that is FOR SURE! We came back to the water crossing and I hear the warning of "watch for the sink hole" so I stay to the left and as we cross the water, Josie's front end sinks down - we found a new sink whole. There was a second that I thought I was going swimming but she popped herself out of the hole and carried on.

Saturday Night Soccer once again! Yippee!! This time we had an audience and three more takers. One of the horses has an interesting style (of course not as interesting as Josie's), Molly, uses her head to move the ball. She even pushed it up the fence using her head. Corey is progressing well. Lucky is a HUGE QH and he took to this immediately. He manages with one foreleg to send the ball a good 30 feet. Hmmm would we want him as a forward then?

Josie is biting the ball and I am trying to have her enjoy it but not play so rough. We need a cow to bite! Cows don't pop.

I finally cantered Josie bareback - both directions. Big day, big day!!

Sunday Pix came home from being at the fair. I think she might have reached her petting maximum. Her prey level remains exceedingly high. Ask the bunny she and Wy very narrowly missed. Wy scared it out of the bushes in front of our place and the chase was on. Pix was running with Elly Elephant in her mouth. As the bunny ran by it bounced off my leg. Apparently I am no threat. I decided I better follow if the bunny decided to take them for a long run. I did call to them and they came back. Elly had been left behind. We traced the route back and found her. Pix didn't have as much enthusiasm for Elly she wanted bunny.

Monday I had planned to ride earlier than usual but just didn't make it out of the house. I watch H work one of the new horses. A gal that does polo cross is trying out a new horse. He is "big boned" but has a kind eye.

I wanted to practice our test after warming up. Our warm up now easily includes canter. Trot is always better after cantering.

During my lesson, early during the week, H had us do our canter work and she said, "There isn't anything wrong with your canter." I am in better positioning these days. She did mention the tip of looking over the opposite way - it really does help your position. I did one half halt that was too much but then Josie responded very well to the next ones and the canter became awesome. Round and round we go! The work I have been doing has greatly improved every aspect of our ride. I am keep my hands together and riding more with my seat. Ahhhhh harmony is wonderful!

I am blessed in many ways!