The best lesson yet, and I didn’t even get on a horse…

Last night I ventured out to Billie’s place, where she was going to have me ride one of her schooling mounts, Ashton. He’s a big, lazy, chestnut warmblood gelding, but he just didn’t appear to be himself while we were tacking up. When Billie got on him, he sort of exploded, which right away sent my fear and Billie’s confusion into overdrive. This was such odd behavior for him, that Billie right away assumed something wasn’t right. After some lunging and awkward movements by him, we concluded that it was best to retire him for the evening and later try to figure out what was wrong, because nothing appeared to be obvious.

So, that’s when my questions started…”Do I salute in a beginner test? Do I post? Do I canter? How long is it? What am I allowed to wear? What do I need to buy before August? Do you really think Bug and I will be ready? The questions just kept coming and coming, so Billie had a great idea. She started drawing out the dressage ring on the back of my speeding ticket warning from the morning (ouch), and started explaining the big picture. She pulled out her very meticulous record books and all of her old copies of past tests and showed me her ribbons, trophy’s, titles, plaques, etc, and I was amazed. We looked through actual test booklets to see what the judges’ comments were, and what my first tesst will actually be like. I’m a little intimidated with memorizing the path and questions of the test, but I can do it, and I have never been so excited. The whole time, I’m thinking, “I can do this….it may not be pretty all the time, but I can DO this.” Even if I place last, and my marks don’t get above a 4 – I have to start somewhere, and I can’t wait.

Billie and I could talk for hours, so my 50 minute drive home ended up being in the dark, and all I wanted to do when I got home was saddle up and practice with Bug. I’m sure my neighbors wouldn’t have appreciated that though, as the lights of the paddock/arena sort of blare right into their bedroom, and Bug’s noisy little trot would have rudely put a damper on their early bedtime. (oh, if those dang pine trees would just grow faster!!!) So, I decided to give Bug, Gunner, and Dundee some treats, some good pats, and tidy up in the barn for a few minutes. Little does Bug know that he’s going to get quite the workout in the next couple of weeks. So, I put the boys to bed and went in the house and crashed myself, and stared off into the beautiful full moon and thought about everything I learned, what I need to do, and what I can do to scrounge up some more lesson money!

Bending and Braiding

Why I need to wear fleece at the end of June in Wisconsin is beyond me. I know Wisconsin has strange weather, but 50 degrees June 30th? Seriously? Bug and I braved the rain, the cold and the wind to take a much anticipated lesson with Billie. As Billie and I could talk all night long, we got right to the lesson and started to work on “the bend” again. “By George, I think she’s got it!” Finally I was grasping the concept - because not only was I seeing it, I could feel when he was bending. Practice Practice and more practice over July 4th weekend is what’s in store for us. After going around and around, and around at the bend, we did some trotting and cantering at the two-point and Billie could really tell that we’ve been practicing. Getting out into the field really boosted my confidence level, my balance, and projecting where I’m going. Can’t wait for the next lesson…Billie is going to jump on one of my other horses and we’re going out and trying the bend and two-point on a trail. Can’t wait! After Bug gave me a fantastic two-hour ride, Billie stayed and showed me how to pull a mane and braid to get it to lay down. Bug has a beautifully thick mane and tail, but it is really out of control right now. I believe Billie’s words were, “We have some work to do, girl.” So she started near his back and I stood on the tallest stool I could find and started braiding. My husband said this morning…. "What did you do to Bug last night? He looks funny.” Well, give it a week, a little elbow grease, a good pulling comb, and bath or two, and he’ll look great. Can’t wait to post pictures – a “before” and “after.”

And….about Bug’s health with all this new “work” he’s doing? All I can say is that he is a completely different horse. His joints used to click and creek when he walked, but now, he’s as good as new. He’s been on “Joint Armor” from Kentucky Performance Products for nearly 6 weeks and never been better. He walks different, he’s peppy, and he just seems to be in a better mood when we ride. Thanks KPP!!

I’m in the process of organizing a mini-clinic at my house, and looking forward to lessons this weekend if Billie is available. Last night my husband said he couldn’t have wiped the smile off my face when I told him about our ride. We're looking ahead to a show in August, Sept, and October. Wow...my dream come true.

Until next time, I will repeat to myself, “Inside rein, outside rein, inside leg, inside rein, over and over and over…..”