Riding high

I'm on a high from tonight's fun! Dan came over again for neighborhood training in our arena. To get us started we got Bob on Gilly and I left to catch Banjo while Dan worked with Bob. When I returned with Banjo I found him quite anxious still with saddling--spinning circles as you move to his side--so Dan gave me a hand and had him standing stock still while he mounted and dismounted a few times. Then I was up and ready to ride.

We had a blast. We worked on tight turns into the wall at a walk and trot (actually a running walk with Banjo), did some crazy 8s at a trot and some figures around the cones. Banjo needs some work backing up but is very good with leg pressure. He is also getting better with stops.

Jim and Sherry brought their 3 yo palomino - almost a dead ringer for Gilly, except he's much sleeker - just a beautiful horse. Being young and just green broke, they didn't ride him, just kept him moving and getting used to the company of other horses.

Bob had enough after about an hour so Sherry rode gilly. He is very lazy (is that really a bad thing?) and she had a hard time getting him to move beyond a walk but she was persistent and he is improving!!! Its nice to have your neighbor work your horse for you :)

Home training

Dan Klein, our neighbor's coworker and horse trainer, has been kind enough to agree to give several of us in the neighborhood lessons. Today was our first session, held in our arena. For 2 hours we did one rein stops, shoulder turns, some cantering and just plain messing around. It turned out great.

I rode Gilly, who was very good except he is hard to get going. He likes to stop by the gates. But we'll just keep working on it. Vicky and Art rode Thunder (Arab) and Winrod (young TB), Sherry rode their older black mare.

No one got hurt, everyone had fun. Doesn't get any better.