Lesson was good

I last wrote that Zoe was much better with the "stopping when supposed to be trotting" issue. We have had our ups and downs. But over all getting better. I find I don't have to turn has many circles anymore. Sometimes just a reminder, in a timely fashion, with the crop is all it takes. So I wasn't sure how lesson was going to go today. I rode her briefly in the arena 2 hours before the lesson and she balked one time. She started going backwards instead of forwards but I just kept on her case until I got what I wanted. Before our lesson we warmed up in the round pen. I got on in the round pen and got the same thing. So I wasn't sure how lesson would go. I explained to my trainer what I had done during my practice sessions and he was ok with it. He thought it was a good call to turn circles if I felt she was going to buck. But to always get back to work, walk out of the circle and ask again, which I did. So he said if she gave us a problem again, he'd get on and work with her. She did great in the lesson. I was so happy. We walked on a loose rein, picked up the reins, collected, asked for a trot, sat the trot, asked for a canter with the correct lead, stayed on the circle one time around, then did a posting trot, changed directions thru the circle at a posting trot, sat the trot, picked up a canter with the correct lead, stayed on the circle one time around, then did a posting trot, changed directions......we did this 3 times in each direction. And each time she did not stop! We rested for some walking laps and did the same thing again without stopping! There were a few times we picked up the wrong lead but I fixed it. And she did try to ver off the circle a few times but we fixed that too. And I was reminded, again, about my hand position- still working on that. My trainer said he was amazed that she didn't stop, he was waiting for her to make that mistake. I remarked that he didn't have to get on her this time and he said (with a smile) that he was "a little disappointed" that he didn't have to ride her. So it was a really good lesson. Looking forward to practicing more and hopefully will make it to the next lesson...still waiting for a grandchild to be born.

6 years and 11months

Today is September 1, 2014. I have been waiting 6 years and 11 months to go riding with my friend, Georgie, and her horse Glory. Of course part of that time was waiting for Glory to grow up and be trained. And waiting for my friend to go thru many changes in her life-health, work, training the rider. So here we are 6 years and 11 months to the day-and I get to go out on the trail with Georgie and Glory! Zoe and I were not there for her first ride out but now we have caught up with her about a week later. We did a short loop for about an hour. I had heard she had problems at a certain hill so we went there first. Glory hesitated at the bottom of the hill, then followed me up. Much better than her last attempt. We went past a tree that someone almost chainsawed all the way thru. The tree is down and I agree it is an odd sight. Glory wasn't sure about that. One step at a time and she went past it. She had never gone home on the trail across from FLEC. It has ruts in it that a horse can walk in and she did great with that too. Sometimes Glory was in the lead, in the middle, or at the end. All was good. Zoe didn't mind going out with Glory. Zoe doesn't know Glory and fox trotters (Glory is a fox trotter) move so differently than a square trotting horse. Sometimes the 2 different gaits don't work well on a trail ride, but today all was good. Georgie has put much time, energy, effort, preparation into being able to ride Glory on the trail and it was great to see it all come together for her and to share a ride with her. And to see the beautiful smile on Georgie's face was so satisfying. 6 years and 11 months-worth the wait.