Riding Thoughts

Thanks for all the support and understanding of my workplace rant! I hate drama and negativity, but I seem to have stumbled and become mired in a lot of it these past months. It's easy to blame people and circumstance, but when it comes down to it, I believe it's partly my actions and decisions that inadvertently got me here, and I can choose how I will react, learn, and move forward from here. For now, I will do my best to not worry too much about what I can't control (other people's motives), and will make the best of what I can (my life :).

Thsi post brought to you by random weekend barn photos

The big impact real world worries are currently having on my riding is that I've let go there a lot too. Riding is my hobby, and I'm not inclined to make it into anything resembling work or stress right now.  I just get in the saddle, hope to have fun, and try to fit whatever training opportunities I can into that. There's no planning to work on anything specific, and I really am not interested in focusing on one thing. I had a couple of group events planned these past few days, and have let those go by the wayside with very few regrets...I need to look after me as well as pony, and right now, the fewer firm commitments for my time I have, the better.

My rules have also relaxed hugely. I'm not as demanding, and easily forgive the little things. In some cases, this means Midge is slacking a bit or taking advantage. But mostly, she's meeting me more than halfway and picking up the slack all on her own. Is she finally maturing? Or is this change really suiting her? I'm thinking the latter, so it's my new goal to keep riding her like this.

She's got a fabulous attitude lately. She's confident without being pushy, enthusiastic but not rude, and fun but still safe. Her work ethic is amazing right now. I hopped on at 10:30 the other morning, hacked to the arena, had a blast doing canter sets with her, played a little with real work, then did some more work on counter canter because she still wanted to go rather than walk and cool down. By the time I hopped off, 2 hours had passed. I gave her a good grooming for another hour before I put her away, but she still wanted to follow me back out the gate as I was leaving.

"Where are we going next, human?"

This pony, guys. Continually surprising me.