Choo Choo!

All aboard the Midge Express!

I googled 'horse train' and found this awesome illustration. (Via pinterest)

Last night's lesson was less than wonderful, but it's my own fault. I really needed to spend some time up the coast with G, and I didn't coordinate for anyone to ride Bridget in my absence. Three days off and then throwing her into a jumping lesson was a recipe for a HOT pony. I can't be frustrated because it's my own doing, plus she's sorta fun when she's being ridiculous!

Reconsidering her outlook on things in the round pen this morning

 My lesson ended up being mostly about reminding her it's not cool to pull me around and run through my aids. Also not cool to then have a mare sulk and decide to use not going forward at all as Option B. Rules are for losers, says Ms B. Better to be wild and free and jump all the things from a gallop! "Half halt with your outside rein! Again! Harder!" says EC. I know I was trying, because my fingers got chewed up in a big way. It's OK, I still had fun and didn't need those fingers anyway ;)

Still, lots of great moments throughout, particularly near the end. I do prefer B to be a little on the muscle rather than stuck behind my leg. In a perfect world neither would happen, but we are imperfect so I can live with pushy pony for now while we work towards better things. I never feel nervous or afraid with her, so the odd slightly out of control jumping lesson is just another ride that I know we will improve on later.

Puddles made for fancy trots

I followed my ride up this morning with a little round pen session...The Midge has some serious sass these days and the easiest way to curb it is to make her tired and sad via trot/canter transitions in the round pen. I'm glad I did because there was some VERY rude pony tude on display. I have never met a horse with as much self confidence as this one. Even after everyone/all the horses tell her she is not all that, tomorrow is a new day and she's ready to try to prove she's the boss all over again.

In news related to Midge's diet/her current levels of dissatisfaction, my saddle has started sliding up on her shoulders as the ride progresses. This creates an angry giraffe pony, which obviously isn't our goal. The good news is that EC is pretty sure once B loses the extra weight, my saddle will go back to staying where it should. In the meantime, I'm going to be riding with a crupper, and Midge stays in her pony diet 'prison' letting her frustrations with life build. We're seriously uncool right now, lol.

Still thinks she's all that.

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