Breakthrough!

What a great day! Even though its been raining all weekend, a much needed thing, we decided to have Randy and Sally out for dinner. We need help getting the shaft connected to the new brush hog and then to the tractor. Sally has some ideas about Banjo's bit. We have corn coming out our ears, so we thought we'd have dinner whether we got to either of the jobs or not. Luckily, the rain stopped enough for Bob and Randy to get the brush hog connected and working even though they were up to their ankles in mud.

In the arena, we tried a Myler shank bit I picked up in Kentucky when I bought Red. Banjo didn't seem to mind too much, but was still shaking his head when I mounted. So Sally led us around the ring for a couple of rounds while he gradually got used to it. Then she just walked near us a couple laps, then off I went on my own. A little hesitation near the door on one end and the gate on the other, but with Sally's urging, I pressed him on.

Banjo doesn't direct rein very well, which is what I'd been trying. Sally suggested using the neck rein and direct rein both and that seemed to do the trick. We were doing figure eights, reversing directions and going smoothly past door and gate before we knew it. The rain kicked in again, so we called it quits. But I think I can deal with whatever he gives me. Sally says Banjo is going to try his rider and see what he can get away with so I've gotta be firm. She calls him green broke, but nice. He's very shy with people touching him. The gait is his best part--smoother than silk.

Dinner was wonderful. Hamburgers on the grill, barbeque, beans, corn on the cob, refrigerator pickles from the garden and pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting.

The word on the arena footing--just rake out the rocks and put two inches of concrete sand on top.