New developments

So much has happened since the last time I posted. I almost don't know where to start! I guess it makes sense to work from the beginning...

The weekend before last, JJ's owner and I hauled the boys to a private arena down the road. I sort of beat myself up about my ride, but the whole experience wasn't bad. Both horses were good about loading and the new surroundings. JJ was VERY forward. I have never had to hold him back before, and I almost did this time. Now that I know he has it in him, I'm going to be sure to ask for it--and gently and gracefully demand it. Amazing that the little guy had so many issues, as we later found out, yet he was so forward and eager to please. That, to me, is what it takes to be a dressage horse--not necessarily flashiness or "proven" bloodlines (NOTE: I do NOT promote willy-nilly breeding of horses, just saying that you don't need a European warmblood for dressage. That is my philosophy in a nutshell.) So it was overall a productive day, with the one caveat that J did not want to load when it came time to go home. He's much better about it since then, though.

This past Saturday, JJ's owner and I went on a trail ride. It was my first trail ride in quite a while, and my very first one on a horse that isn't one of those geriatric trail string horses that any dead beginner can ride. JJ LOVES the trail. I hate to anthropomorphize, but I can't figure why else a horse would want to GO so much. I know I keep going on and on about that, but I just can't believe he was the same horse! I really think he was "bored" at home, so getting him away brought out the young horse in him. I joked with his owner that his walk would earn an "8"--well, it's not a joke, it's true. Forward, swinging back, energetic, not a hint of tension. We also did some trotting up and down hills, which was, shall we say, a thrill. (Daredevil I am not...so yes, I consider trotting up and down hills "a thrill.") ;-) And by the way, when I say "hills" I do not mean gentle slopes...I mean rough terrain, think mountain biking. Except you're on a 1000 pound animal with a brain the size of a walnut and an instinct to flee from danger--even if that "danger" happens to be a deer! The scariest part is the prospect of getting smacked/swiped off on a tree......yeah, not fun, I can imagine. I had a couple close calls...yet strangely, I can't wait to go back. There's something about JJ's energy and being in the great outdoors that makes me feel so alive. :-)