Saturday, September 17, 2005

This was our best lesson ever!!!! PJ met me half way when I went to get him. I haven't been wanting to jinx us but PJ has been doing much better all the way around.

I warmed up inside and when K came in she said we would start inside and then go out for canter work. I asked if we could go out first as he (we) was ready. So out we went. It was a little cool but knowing how hard she works us I was looking forward to perspiring instead of out and out sweating. I immediately put him to work. As we are coming back by the gate of the brown arena Kathy comes in with a chair. I thought PJ was going to disconnect his head and neck at the withers, he was stretching up so high. I pressed him forward and he went very reluctantly. I had K speak to him and he settled a bit but he wasn't sure about it until she sat in the chair. Mental note to self stick a chair in the arena next time. Back to work we went. I went large to get him acclimated - see the sights. Plenty of sights to see during my lesson. We had been cantering and spiraling in - I am to careen in not do a couple steps at a time. So MANY details. As we are doing this a couple horses, one riding double come out of Nisslers. PJ actually submitted and kept going. One step for mankind.

After a lot of cantering - I mean A LOT of cantering, we did leg yielding and shoulder-in. I am not to ride all the way to the fence - this teaches him to listen to me (hee, hee, hee) and not to ride all the way to the end. There were some crows (dark evil birds) at the far end. PJ was not as submissive when it came to them but was trying. We turn down the center line and the crows take off and so does PJ. I got a "really like how you handled that" from K. I am beaming. I am going along now and just going straight back to what we were doing. I have to remember I CAN ride/stick very well and need not to worry. What is nice is to be able to carry on after one of those. He isn't shitty (so far) where he throws in a buck as part of it.

I am carrying my crop with me and he isn't move forward so I tap him. I ask K, "Do you like how I beat my pad?", she laughs. She commented that this was the soundess he has ever been. I am very pleased myself but afraid to express it out loud for fear that something will happen. it sprinkled on us which was good as I haven't ridden him in other weather conditions except our first outside victory on Thanksgiving when the snow was gently falling on my face as I rode outside.

Afterwards, it is MILLER TIME! I take care of PJ and Wyatt and grab a beer. It is like a victory beer - mmmmmm. I am invited to H and T's for a wonderfull dinner