Getting Ready for Another Riding Adventure!!

This weekend I'll be going down with my dad to Eatonville to pick up a horse that I'll be leasing for the next year.  His registered name is H Szobrasz ("Bo" for short).  He is a Hungarian Warmblood and is very striking and fun to ride.  I've ridden him twice so far and have visited him 3 times.  He has a very nice personality, super ground manners and is very willing and forward.  Over the next 12 months my goal is to get him trained enough to show 1st and possibly 2nd level at some local dressage shows.  Then depending on how well he does and what sort of record he produces he will either be up for sale and I'll be able to make a commission off him if he sells for over $10,000 or I can purchase him for $10,000 at the end of the lease.  Thanks to my friend and fellow alumni of Lake Erie College, Allison Allbaugh-Cino who introduced me to Bo (she's the one riding him in the photo below). I'm looking forward to the adventure that the next year will bring and am so excited to get back into riding regularly again. Wish us luck!!

Here's the link to his sale's page:  http://pyramidequestrian.com/sales/H_Szobrasz2.html

Summer Coats!!!

Wow!  I knew it's been a while since I updated the 'ol pony blog, but I didn't realize it's been since our snow storm in January!  Yikes!  So needless to say it's now late spring going on summer and the ponies are looking great!  Their summer coats are in and they are looking sleek and trim.  Gotta love this time of year!  Here's my two pretty little ponies...

Jena Baby 

Cisco Boy

Snow Ponies

Over on Bainbridge they got twice as much snow as we did here in Seattle. At my parent's house they ended up with about 6+ inches. My mom sent me these first two photos of Jena on Wednesday after the snow had fallen.

Poor Jena was covered in chunks of ice. She even had some hanging off her chin.

But I guess if she's going around licking and eating the snow that's bound to happen.

It rained all day on Friday which helped to wash away a lot of the snow and cleared off the roads so we headed over to the island to spend a little time with the ponies. I thought Cisco looked really pretty in the snow with his white Appaloosa blanket.

Walking around in all that snow really cleaned off his hooves too and I don't think I've ever seen them so white before. I hadn't even really noticed before that he has really distinct zebra striping on his hooves since they are usually covered in dust or mud. Gotta love his furry pony legs too!

He almost blended in with his surroundings. All the footprints in the snow made his blanket look camouflage.

The winter sun even peeked out a bit and the ponies were so happy to stand and feel it's rays.

Jena had a nice sun glow going about her. I bet that made her feel good!

Ponies in the winter and so shaggy and always look sad to me. I hope they haven't been too cold!

Jillian and her friend Chloe rode Cisco this afternoon. I didn't get any photos of it though, maybe next time. We tried out the new saddle pad on him and he was a little nervous about it at first. I rode him for about 10 minutes and they he calmed down enough so I was comfortable with Jillian getting on. He did much better with her and then was a complete angel with Chloe. I was happy about that since it was Chloe's first time riding and she seemed a bit nervous. Now that we have this bareback pad with stirrups I'll be able to teach Jillian how to trot and eventually canter. It will be fun to take her on a trail ride too eventually. I'm excited that she's interested in riding and that I get the chance to help her along the way.

Even though I think the ponies look cute in the snow I can't wait for Spring to come when they will shed their winter coats and start looking trim and sleek again.

Jillian and Cisco

On Thanksgiving Day while we were skyping with my brother Tyler, I discovered that my niece Jillian was interested in learning how to ride. My dad and I were immediately excited but we didn't make too big a deal about it since we wanted to surprise Jillian with this for Christmas. We researched how much it would cost for her to take riding lessons at a local stable and were floored that for beginners most places were charging up to $50/hour. CRAZY!!!! So we decided that since we have a underused pony just sitting in my parent's field and I have years of riding experience that I would just teach her myself and my parents would buy her a pair of riding boots instead to get her started. She was excited to open the gift Christmas Day even though it was only an envelope with a photo of the boots inside since we wanted to make sure we ordered the right size. This afternoon I took Jillian out for her first little lesson and to get to know Cisco. We had a lot of fun together and she was a great student!

At first I led her around a bit and talked her about the basics of equitation and then I let her try riding on her own. Cisco isn't too used to having a bit in his mouth (due to a past tongue injury) so he played around with it a lot, but he did a good job with keeping her safe. We mostly just walked around the pasture since Jillian was riding bareback and worked on turning, stopping and starting.

Hyrum wanted to ride as well, so he hopped on Jena and then they both had fun riding around the pasture together. This was the first time that I've let Hyrum ride 100% on his own and he actually did a great job. Jena is such a sweet little pony, she really took care of him. He even got her trotting around which he thought was great fun. I can't wait to take Hyrum and Jillian out on the trails together and see how the ponies do. That will be super fun even if I don't have a horse of my own to ride. Hopefully we can make this a weekly or biweekly activity for the kids since the ponies really need the exercise and we are all having fun learning together. Happy Trails Ahead!!

One Year Anniversary with Cisco

Last year over Labor Day Weekend we brought Cisco home to live with Jena since Ben had recently passed away and she needed a buddy. Today marked our 1st anniversary of having him, so we celebrated by going over to Bainbridge to spend the day with the ponies. I feel really bad that in the past year we really haven't done much with Cisco other than feed and brush him. But I guess I have to cut myself a little slack considering that almost 1/2 of the time we've had him I was pregnant and unable to ride. Then once Landon was born it was the middle of the winter and raining all of the time so we didn't visit the ponies too often. I would have liked to have tried riding Cisco earlier this summer but each time we visited the ponies the boys only wanted to ride on Jena or we had limited time and couldn't take both of them out. Today though, both of the boys were excited to try and ride him. I was proud that they both were eager to do so even though he's much bigger than Jena and they'd have to ride bareback since we don't have a saddle yet that properly fits him. When I tried my dressage saddle on him earlier in the summer he wanted nothing to do with it and freaked out a bit by jumping and bucking around after I loosely tightened the girth. Since we didn't want a repeat of that we decided bareback would be best and we'd just keep our riding at a walk.

I got on him first and he was really hesitant and nervous in the beginning. I don't know if it was because I weigh a lot more than he's used to carrying or the fact that no one has really sat on him in the past year, but he was pretty tense. Since I didn't have a saddle in between us I could feel all the muscles in his back tense up and at first it felt like he was walking on eggshells and taking baby steps. I was really hoping that he wasn't going to freak out and buck me off. My dad helped to lead me around for a bit at the beginning and then we opted to have Jena enter the paddock to help calm him down. Once she was by his side he relaxed more so then we decided to open the gate into the pasture so I'd have more room to ride him around. He did really well out in the open area especially considering that I was riding him with a bit and reins. The girl who rode him last summer always rode bareback and with just a halter and lead rope. I wasn't confident enough to try that even though he's been know to have issues in the past with a bit due to a former tongue injury. He seemed to accept the bit for the most part but played around with it a lot in his mouth. I rode him for about a half hour at the walk and was even able to ride down in the woods away from where Jena was and he remained calm for me. It was an odd experience to ride bareback again since it's been ages since I've done it. Until now I haven't even owned that was even remotely comfortable to ride bareback so it was never really an option. Cisco though is like riding a couch! I guess it's good that he's on the chubby side since it meant more cushion between my legs.

After I rode, Hyrum was anxious to hop on and give it a try. He really loved it which I'm glad since he's really getting too big now for Jena. Cisco fits him so much better. Now I just need to get the saddle situation solved so I won't have to worry about the kids slipping off when they ride especially if they ever want to go faster than a walk.

Hyrum kept telling everyone that Cisco is now his horse and that Jonah could have Jena and we needed to buy another pony for Landon. Sorry Hyrum, if and when we get another horse someday it will be a bigger horse that adults like myself, my dad or Jeff could ride, not another small pony.

Jonah had a fun time riding Cisco as well and he did a great job holding on and not slipping off. I found that once the kids were riding him Cisco was 100% more relaxed and actually having fun with them. He was being really careful and calm and pretty much just followed me around the pasture as I led him around.

All in all I was very pleased how our rides went today and wished we would have tried this out a couple of months ago so we'd have more of the summer to play around and ride him. Now that school's starting I hope that we'll still be able to come over as often as we can to visit the ponies and ride.

Ensign Ranch

Today I was able to go on a trail ride and it was heavenly! Even though we just walked in a single file line the whole time, it felt so good to be in the saddle again. We spent the day over in Cle Elum at Ensign Ranch and it was great to be around the horses. The horse I rode was named Angel and he was perfect. I could have done without the western saddle and all the dust being kicked up from the horses in front of me, but I wasn't going to complain since I was actually riding a horse again. I can't believe it's been a year since Ben passed away and how much my life has changed since then. Having a baby sure puts things on hold! I sure hope that I'll be able to ride a little more consistently now, even if it's just trail-riding. I sure miss how relaxing it is and having some "Me Time."

Jeff took these photos of me after we got back from our ride since we weren't allowed to bring camera on the trail ride with us.

Angel was a nice and hefty Quarter Horse. He felt so much bigger than Ben, but maybe it's just because it's been so long since I've ridden. I sure hope I'm not too sore tomorrow!

He was such a good boy I made sure to give him lots of pats and loves afterwards. Can you tell I miss riding??? Just a little bit??? Ahhh, hopefully I'll be back at it again soon!!!

We Sure Love Our Ponies!

Today we went over to visit the ponies. The boys had a great time riding Jena. She sure is a special little pony and we love her so much. I'm always so pleased with how tolerant she is of the boys despite their exuberance and our inconsistency in riding and spending time with her.

I can't believe how much the boys are growing up and it really puts things into perspective when they stand next to Jena who has reached her maximum height years ago. Hyrum loves Jena so much and is sad that he is outgrowing her. He did a great job handling her as he led Jonah around. She is actually better behaved when the boys work with her than when I do. I think it's because they are more her size and she doesn't feel as intimidated.

Hyrum will have to start riding Cisco soon. I feel bad that we haven't spent much time with him in the past year besides brushing him. He could use the exercise since according to the vet he's an 8/9 for body condition. Maybe we should start calling him Mr. Chubs! To me he doesn't look that fat, just out of shape. Last month I tried to put my dressage saddle on him in hopes that I might be able to take him on a little trail ride, but he freaked out and wanted nothing to do with it. He likes being ridden bareback, but I'm not sure I'm up for that quite yet. So I'll have to think more about what to try next. Here's hoping I'll be able to ride him at least once before the summer is over.

Too bad I couldn't get him to prick his ears forward in this photo. At least the rest of him looks good!

It's Shedding Season!!

You can definitely tell it's Spring when the ponies start loosing gobs and gobs of hair. Just petting them you get a fist full. So today while we were over on Bainbridge for Mariko's 1st Birthday I made it a priority to go down and help the ponies in their shedding process. They both stood so well for me as I rubbed them all over with the curry comb. I wish I lived closer so I could brush them daily or at least a couple of times a week. But maybe I'll be able to make it over to visit them at least weekly until Spring ends since their coats could really use the help. Here they are after I got most of the loose hair off of them. Too bad I didn't take a before shot to compare, but really it was so embarrassing on my part since it's been forever since I brushed them last. I'm such a bad pony mommy! But I guess since I'm a mommy now to three little boys the ponies will just have to take what they can get.

Cisco loved his rub down and was even glowing afterwards!

Jena still has more teddy bear fuzz to loose and it kind of makes her look two toned until it all sheds out.

And the pile of hair that came off from the two ponies, minus all that floated away in the breeze and all that was stuck to my clothes. Seriously, there was horse hair everywhere!! It's a good thing I'm not allergic!!

Balancing Act

Tonight I was in tears as I found myself stuck at a crossroads. In one arm I was holding a stack of equestrian books and in the other I was carrying my almost 4 week old baby.

I dedicatedly rode my horse until I was 5 months pregnant with every hope to continue riding after my baby was born and my body was recovered. But unfortunately Ben coliced and died unexpectedly right when I was about to put my riding career on hold. Having him taken away from me so suddenly really made me upset and wonder for what reason this was all occurring. It took me a long time to come to terms with his death and I think what really got me through it all was the fact that I had no choice but to give up riding for the time being since I was 5 months pregnant and it was just getting too risky and uncomfortable.

But tonight as I held my sweet baby in my arms and the pile of books in the other I knew there was no way I could handle both at the same time. No matter how hard I tried one was going to slip out of my hands. Knowing I could never drop my baby and that his life is more important, I was forced to let all my books topple to the floor and as I did so it brought tears to my eyes. It was like I was closing a door on something that I have loved to do for so long and was now being forced down a new road that didn't seem to have an end in sight.

While I do enjoy being a mom it's truly the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. There are many days that I absolutely hate it and just want to give it all up. But I've never felt that way about horses. The more I learn about them I just want to learn even more. Even after having a rough ride or bad fall, I want to get right back on and try again. Horses are my passion and for a long time have been my outlet.

Now with trying to raise 3 boys I feel like I don't have anytime to be ME anymore and am loosing myself in the process. Motherhood is truly the most selfless act of service you can do since it requires so much of your time.

I am truly grateful for my mother and all that she sacrificed to raise her five kids. I don't know how she did it or if she ever felt like me, because there are many days that I truly don't like the mom that I am and feel like I'm just doing such a horrible job. Patience is not one of my fortes and I am tried with this on a daily basis. I'm sure, or at least I'm hoping, that things will get better as my boys age and I'll be allowed to have more free time to be able to discover my true self and talents once again.

But for now I guess the scale has tipped and the books will remain scattered across the floor. Hopefully with time I'll be able to start picking them up and discovering myself again....

It's Been 3 Months...

... and it's still hard.

I miss you Ben and ever since you died I feel like a part of me has been missing.

I'm grateful for the riding time we spent together on trails and at Barnabee.

You were a beautiful and fun horse to have.

I hope that someday I'll be able to have another special horsey relationship.

I will take what you've taught me and learn and grow even more.

Thank you Ben for being a part of my life!

Cute Barn

My Mom and I were driving around on Bainbridge this morning and when we drove past this cute little barn I just had to stop and take a picture. Someday when Jeff and I ever get around to building on our property this is about the size and style of barn I'd like. It looks like it could easily hold 4-6 stalls, a hay loft, main aisle, tack room, feed room and wash rack. Ahhh to dream!

Meet Micha!!

Technically I haven't even met him yet, but here is a photo of Jamie's new horse, Micha. He is 3/4 TB and 1/4 WB, 4 years old, 16.1 hands and growing. She bought him a couple of weeks ago and has started training him. She offered for me to half lease him from her once I get back into riding again in the Spring. So we shall see if it all works out. I've never ridden such a young and untrained horse before, but with Jamie doing all of the training and being able to take lessons from her for free, it seems like it would be a great deal. I just don't how its all going to work out with having 3 kids and what type of free time I'll have and how much of that I'll be able to dedicate to riding again. But what I do know is that the next horse I ride I do not want to own. It's such a commitment to own a horse and I just don't feel I can give them what they deserve, unless it's considered a pet like Jena and Cisco who we occasionally ride just for fun. So half-leasing is definitely something I'll consider and hopefully it will work out since I'd really like to be able to ride again. I've been really missing it lately but with being pregnant and knowing all that is in store for me in the future with a newborn to take care of, I'm willing to take a break for a while and get back in the saddle again once I'm able to fully commit to it.

Show Time for Cisco!

Here are some photos that Tasha passed on to me of Cisco at a horse show in August, a few weeks before we brought him home to live with Jena. He's being ridden here by on of Tasha's friends in a halter bareback walk-trot class. He's such a flashy little guy and is so mild mannered that riding bareback and without a bridle is really what he likes the best. They ended up getting 2nd place. Way to go Cisco!

Meet our New Pony Friend, CISCO!!

This morning my dad and I woke up extra early to head over to Maple Valley to pick up Cisco. I met him last week at Serenity Farm an Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation facility. He's a sweet little 13.3 hand Appaloosa gelding. He's super friendly and loves being rubbed, scratched, hugged and petted all over. He follows you around the pasture like a big puppy dog and is very mild mannered. When I first met him he was in a pasture with 5 other horses and was in the middle of eating his breakfast. When we walked into his field he stopped eating and walked right over to us for a snuggle. I don't think I've ever met a horse that has given up his food for human attention before. It made my decision making very easy after knowing what a sweet guy he is and how calm he is around other horses and people.

We met up with Tasha this morning at Serenity Farm at 7:15am signed our lease agreement and then were on the road again at 7:40am. We easily caught the 8:45am ferry back to Bainbridge and by 10am Cisco was settled in his new pasture. The first thing he did was find the sandiest spots and rolled all over marking his territory. He loved it!

Here he posing for the camera after I brushed him off. Such a handsome fellow!

We picked up Jena from Barnabee at 2pm and brought her back to meet her new pony friend. For the first few hours we kept them separated since Jena is just coming out of a heat cycle and was being extra sensitive and frisky towards him. But after a few hours alone we let them out together and they are getting along great. We are excited for this new addition to our horsey family and look forward to lots of pony riding in the future.

Jena at Barnbee

After Ben's death on Sunday we decided to bring our little pony Jena over to live at Barnabee farm for the week so she could be around other horsey friends and not be so lonely. She's had a great time all week and has proven to be the favorite mare among all the other horses there. The minute she walked off the trailer she had all the other horses in a frenzy. Even the older retired horses were kicking up their heels, arching their necks and prancing around their paddocks to show off to the new lady in town. She's been staying in the main barn next two geldings Pete and Dominic. Right when she saw Pete, she immediately went into heat and fell head over heels in love with him.

After our camping trip on Tuesday we stopped by to visit Jena and took her for a little ride in the covered arena. She was pretty nervous at first since the walls are too tall for her to see over and she didn't want to be separated from the other horses. Plus there were some silly crows tap dancing on the metal roof, which caused her to be extra sensitive. But after walking her around a few times she seemed to settle down a bit and then I let the boys take a little ride on her. She did pretty well for her first time in the big dressage arena given all the new sights, sounds and smells.

This afternoon we went over to ride her again and she did much better. She was really calm in the arena and both Jonah and Hyrum had a great time riding her around. I even lounged Hyrum and he did really well with posting at the trot and sitting up straight in the saddle. Jonah is also much more steady in the saddle than he used to be and has even started wanting to hold onto the reins while riding. They are both getting to be quite the little cowboys and the whole time they kept saying, "Faster Mommy! Faster! Ride 'em Cowboy!" It was fun!

After riding in the arena we took Jena out back around the 1/4 mile track and on the trails through the woods. She's such a little trooper! Ben was always too afraid to go on the trails and would require a ton of coaxing. The only time I think I even got him to go on the trails there was the few months right after I bought him (when he seemed to do everything perfectly for me) or if I dismounted and walked along side him. But not little Jena! She's such a little trailblazer and just went head on to the trail like she'd been there 1,000 times. She's such a perfect pony for the kids and I love her so much!

Tomorrow we will be bringing her back to my parent's house after her new pony friend Cisco arrives. I'm sure she'll miss all of her boyfriends she's made at Barnabee but I hope she adapts well with Cisco so we can all feel good about this new transition in our lives.

What Ben Taught Me

As I reflect on the past two years that Ben and I spent together, I realize that he has taught me way more than just how to be a better rider, but how to be a better person overall. Here is a list of things I wrote down the night after Ben passed away. I couldn't sleep very well that night so in tears I started writing down all of the things I've learned from him. It's amazing to me how strong the horse - human connection is and how much we can really learn from their quiet souls if we allow ourselves to mold with them.

-Trust

-Companionship

-Patience

-Love

-Loyalty

-Responsibility

-That I can't just do it all

-To be giving and light with my hands

-To not get in a fight but find other solutions to the problem

-To budget and be responsible with my money. Plan ahead!

-Body awareness

-To adjust my own position and balance first and then get the horse to follow under me

-Training takes time

-Creating harmony

-To have a set plan or expectations each time I ride and not just correct mistakes

-That every horse has hidden potential and once the horse trusts you they will be able to show it to you

-To overcome your fears and not let them interfere with your riding

-That horses are sensitive souls and can read your emotions

-That Ben would never harm anyone or anything

-How protective horses can be of their owners, remembering the one time I fell off of him in the woods and he could have easily galloped all the way home but instead stopped in his tracks and stood by me until I was able to stand up and mount him again and ride him home despite my pain.

-How dependent horses are on people and on each other for companionship and love. All he really wanted before I bought him was a friend and someone to create a relationship of trust with.

-How I will never own just one horse because they are too lonely by themselves. Every time I road him to Barnabee Jena would stand at the bottom of the field bidding him goodbye and would faithfully be there again waiting for his return. They would nicker to each other from the road and sniff noses once they were close enough again at the fence. Whenever Jena would hear us walking up she'd come running down to the bottom gate to greet us.

-How a horse can be dull to road noise but supper sensitive to something out of the ordinary like a plastic bag on the side of the road, or something that had been slightly moved or misplaced.

-How aware horses are to their surrounding and they don't like sudden change. Routine is best!

-That balancing riding and taking care of young children is super hard without the help of family and friends

-That every mom needs an out: an activity that they truly enjoy in which they can find themselves and focus on their own needs and no one else's for a few hours. Me time!

Thank you Ben for teaching me these important lessons and I hope that I'll be able to validate your life each day by demonstrating how I've grown in each of these areas for having spent the past two years of our lives together.

The Horse's Whisper

The following is an account written by Timm Tripp of his experience on the day that Ben passed away. I wanted to include it here on my blog so I'll always have a copy of it and to be able to share these special words with all of you as well. Thank you Timm for preserving this experience so beautifully for me since I wasn't able to be there to experience it firsthand myself.

The Horse's Whisper

The moon was almost full last night. The light penetrated the tall Hemlock and Cedar trees surrounding the corral. If you looked out into the corral you could see patches of light illuminating the dusty ground. The day had been warm, but the marine air cooled the night. It was calm and quiet; a gentle breeze swayed the high branches on the trees. The horses quietly wandered between the patches of moonlight.

When I came upon Ben, Tom and Tyler had already been trying to get him on his feet. Ben was lying on his side, his nostrils had blood in them, his breathing was irregular and very labored. His mouth was open, his upper lip was pulled back exposing his teeth. He was hot and sweaty. Tyler stroked his neck and spoke words of encouragement, while Tom massaged his back and sides, pleading with Ben to be well.

Ben's legs had cuts on them. He made several attempts to get up, but he was too weak and could not get his back legs to move.

I stared into Ben's eye... it was bright and shiny, like a big polished black marble. His eye glistened and sparkled, there was an intense light emanating from deep inside the dark orb. Some say that the eye is the window to the soul. If that is true, I looked deep into Ben's soul and he into mine. For a brief moment I felt connected to Ben as he seemed to open up to accepting his fate. He stopped struggling and seemed to relax. He became still and his nostrils no longer pulsed with labored breathing. I could no longer detect any breath of air. His pulse slowed way down until we could not feel it at all. The spark of light in his eye dimmed and the polished surface dulled somewhat , like fog on glass. Suddenly a giant tear drop fell from his eye, flowing down along his nose and to the dusty ground, where is formed a small puddle.

The tear appeared to flow a the same time as his last breath gently left him, there was a sense of release at the moment Ben's spirit moved from his physical body to the unrestrained realm of space. Ben bared his soul to me...a stranger... the dignity, the courage, the loyalty, the beauty, the strength, the magnificence of this incredible being was released back into the world with his last tear and final breath. I did not feel Ben leaving...I felt him releasing his spirit... allowing it to flow out into the world, no longer bound by his physical nature... rather released to merge into light, life.

Ben's spirit soars through the tree tops joining the sun and moon and stars illuminating the day and night. Even his tear touched the earth, to nourish a seed that begins a new life cycle.

Thank you Ben for all that you have given us: Strength, courage, compassion, patience, love and light. Where ever we go when you feel a gentle breeze on your face, it just may be Ben whispering...

Good-Bye Ben!

I'm still in shock over this and every time I think about it or look at this photo I start crying all over again. My horse Ben died unexpectedly of colic on Sunday and I'm not really ready yet to post all the details of that day yet. But when I do I have a lots of memories and things he's taught me in the past two years that I'd like to share. He meant a lot to me and I am going to miss him so much!

Exercises and Training Methods with Jamie

Since I've started taking bi-weekly riding lessons with Jamie, Ben has really shown a lot of improvement. I've been busy with work and the kids to post a review after each ride, but I thought I'd better write down a list of what we've been working on so I don't forget. We really seem to be making progress with him and I'm really excited and happy about the direction we are headed in. He's finally gaining trust and relaxing under saddle. Like Jamie has said in some of our lessons lately, "Now you've got a dressage horse underneath you!" We've had some amazing moments and here are some of the exercises and training methods we've used to help him along his way.

-Spiraling in on the right rein in counter shoulder in / shoulder out.

-3 loop serpentines and keeping a slight shoulder out on the right rein (counter-bend).

-Imaging a bees nest on the left side of the arena when on the right rein to keep his left shoulder from wanting to be sucked into the wall.

-Once I can feel that his left shoulder underneath him and he's not leaning on it or pressing against it, then I can slowly ask him to go straight and maybe very slightly bent to the inside but only if he doesn't start to fall out again. Constantly check for this and if he can't travel straight on a circle then counter bend him again until he relaxes and gives. When asking for the counter bend, post on the opposite diagonal so he will be more balanced and less interference by my weight throwing him off. Keep my body in line with his, traveling in the direction I want him to go around the circle so he can follow my lead and my weight.

-Changing to a circle on the left rein asking for a little extra flexion.

-Cantering and letting him have room to move in front of me.

-Allowing him to stretch forward and down.

-After establishing a steady tempo without tension ask him to slowly come up in front of me, engage his hind end, sit tall and raise the center of gravity, feel the push and power coming forward and out in front of me.

-After a good stretch slowly gather him on the right rein and apply the right leg to collect him little by little so as not to upset what I have gained through the relaxation during the stretch.

-During warm-up ask for the trot. If there is any signs of tension or unwillingness to go forward then immediately ask for the canter. Sit a little more forward in the saddle than usual, relax with the reins and give him a place to go towards. Do not restrict his forward momentum. After he's going forward nicely make a downward transition to the trot and try to maintain that same energy.

New Pasture Fence Complete!!!

Thanks to my dad for all the hard work and long hours he put into the new pasture fence, it is now complete. This couldn't have been done with out the help of my niece Kylie, nephew Nathan and of course my dad's best helper James. Thanks guys for all that you did to help out from staining boards, digging holes, pouring and mixing cement, hammering nails and leveling board. It looks fabulous and Ben and Jena couldn't be happier with their new fence!!

Along the driveway.

Looking down to the woodshed.

Ben striking a pose expressing his thanks.

Their open area to roam.

Leading up to the barn.

And the barn closer up.