Dissension in the ranks . . .

I am more than use to Pixie disagreeing with me but Josie has, except for "In Season" time, gone along with my ideas - stupid or not. Not today! She was of a mind today. With the rain, came the mud, with the mud, came the mud filled Mare. She didn't have very many mud free spots today. At least it was dry. More Buckskin is peaking through her creamy coat. Looks like we are in for dapples again this year. I love dapples!

The area she will allow me to use the curry comb on is dwindling daily. Now I am not to use it on her back. I pull out the rubber scrubby and go to town. Today this is not taken too well by the Mare. I reply with, "You bring this on yourself. You know when you put it on, I take it off."

In order not to have to sweep the barn aisle, I have her outside which means no cross ties. I remain hyper vigilant less the Mare gives me a head butt as I clean her up. This is her replacement for not being allowed to nip. She likes to work all the angles.

I realize I forgot her darn Mattes pad (goes between the pad and the saddle - saddle fitter instructs me to use this). It use to be that I could really feel the downhillness of her. Not these days. I decided not to ride in the updoor due to the scattering of lakes there.

My wrist and hand have been bothering me lately. I knew I put off seeing Sue, the massage queen, for too long. I do not think my neck is out. I really think I have kind of a tennis elbow thing with the tendon from the elbow to the top of my hand being painful and at the hand, numb and burning. It wasn't bothering me when I rode even though it has been going on for almost a week. Today it is really bad. I cowboy up and ride through the pain. Trying to leave my whip in the right hand but dang it I really need it in the left. Actually, if I go through my check list it turns out I don't need it. Sorry Josie.

We start out a little pissy at each other. I mumbling, "Leg means go!" and her response of, "Fine! Better?". She decides she doesn't like Garth tonight and pins as we pass. No! Mare not acceptable.

I really must let things happen as oppose to trying to hard. Mare likes softness but at times needs firmness. Ever the balancing of aids, praise and correction. We are getting pretty good at reading each other. She does push to the edge and not just with me. I watch her in the herd and her coat tells the tale for sure!

Our canter transitions have improved so much and my softness is getting her to respond to my legs better. I think our canter circles were better than our trot circles tonight and that is saying a lot.

I feel the pre-show must have perfection/we suck feelings coming on. NDM - HELP! NDM - You can do this. It's just a ride, just a ride, just a ride, just a ride. Since I signed up for cross rails and 18" verticals, my two dressage tests will be no big deal as I will be focused on - OMG! I am going to jump outside - YIKES! NDM - HELP! NDM - You can do this, you know you will have fun and be laughing at whatever Mare throws your way. Yes, no big deal and we will have a blast.

I am looking forward to the test scores and comments as we have progressed and G has judged us before. Mental note to self. Grab those and read them once again.

Back to our training . . . we worked on some halt/trot transitions. The first was Josie showing her left profile (not that bad but NOT straight), second was her right profile. I am feeling a little frustrated at this point and we stand, I breath and rub her withers. Let's try once again and the third we are synced up. We were dancing and Josie had an ear on, if not both as to ask, "What, when and how fast?". That is my good girl, Josie.

We end with a fantastic halt on the quarter line. We quit for the day - it was perfect.

It is dark and windy for our journey back to the red barn. Suddenly, coming down the hill, from under the pines . . . a mountain lion! Josie is ready to bolt the opposite direction. I enclose her with my aids and tell her laughing, "It is a cat, Mare, just relax". It is so nice to be riding like I did in my youth. We continue on with Mare every wary for any marauding wildlife with Buckskin on their menu. At last we make it back to the herd where we are greeting with a neigh from a new friend, Nelly.

Life - gotta LOVE it!