happy

I. Am. So. Sore. 
everywhere!! gosh i missed that. the tightness and pulling sensation up your quads, back of the calfs, walking bowlegged, lower back, bicep; all of it! it's a tangible reminder that you just had about the best workout EVER. also, being out of the saddle for roughly three weeks greatly amplifies the amount of soreness. i feel it through my shoulder, hips and bum too! best feeling on earth to me. i know, weird!

above the bit

the lesson on Saturday morning was a tough one. as i got out the grooming kit and started to curry, i could tell straight away that Ruby was cranky. typical mare. we had been getting along so well before i left! i went lightly though; spoke to her, and she didn't try to kick me. Bri informed me that Ruby hadn't been ridden in a "working" fashion in the time that i was away. needless to say i didn't expect much! Ruby is a toughie at the best of times! we warmed up, and every time i tried to get her on the bit, the charming girl would slow to a near walk rather than get in a frame. she was so stiff, especially to the left. anyway, she was very fussy with her head as usual, slobbering like a warmblood! and refusing point blank to accept contact. bri made me really get after her every time she blew me off; which mostly just made ME work up a sweat while Ruby just plodded around. the wench! (Ruby, not bri). finally we started schooling over cavalettis. there were five, and the first and last were raised. in theory, this will make the horse take a bigger more energized step, engage the hocks and have more impulsion. on ruby i was positive she was going to fall on her face. approaching it the first time i was apprehensive, because she was ignoring contact and her brain was elsewhere. 

behind the bit

needless to say, she kicked every single pole! we improved though; finally completing the drill without touching a single one, and without her jerking the reins out of my hand. 
when we moved to canter work, i truly had my task cut out for me. we started to the left, since my outside aid that way (right leg)is stronger. let me just say, ruby has the BOUNCIEST trot on this earth. impossible to sit. she also ignores driving aids, so she tends to get disorganized real fast in canter departs from the trot. once i finally got the transition though, i was finally able to really get a her into a true frame. she lowered her head, her back came up and i had a real horse under me. Bri said it was a perfectly acceptable training level frame. :) the right lead was a better transition (megan explained my natural tendency since my left leg is weaker, is to drive with my left seat bone more, which is easier for a horse to respond to) but she also likes to pretend she's a freight train to the right, so even though she was round, she wore me out! we were both huffing and puffing by the end of the lesson. i can't wait til the next one!

just right!