The Adventures of X and O... and everyone else!

Crazy to look back and see what has happened over the last few months. So Gaius, the horse I used to be in love with when I was younger, and then fell back in love with a few months ago was definitely a one time thing. So I'm used to slow, I mean I rode Dru for 6 months! But this horse, come on. He wouldn't move if you had five lions behind him. You can chase him around all day and he'll buck and get mad and hate you, and maybe go a little faster. But if theres a donkey, a mini one mind you, he will sure run. That horse... just gah.

A much better experience on Jag. He's so cute. He's lovable, wants to please, good willed, and he has a cute little buck. He is slow, but gives in easily and will go forward. He really put in prospective that forward comes before collection. I mean I know everyone always says that, but he won't do anything unless you make him go, first. Then everything just kind of falls into place. I never got the results I really wanted with him, which is to be expected. I wasn't leasing him and didn't ride him more than two days a week. The stuff I did do I could feel slightly in each ride, and that was enough for me. He also really showed me what I wanted in a horse. I loved how sweet he was, and kind. He was a really fun project that helped me with finding a horse. I ended up buying a half QH, and I see some of him, in her.

Another really great horse I got to ride this summer is my friend's horse, Gracie. She knew a lot and it was really fun to go up there and practice some stuff on her. She was a draft cross, and had some Dru in her. She was harder to push forward than Dru was, but had some training like Xavier, so it was a good combo. She was a really nice girl, a bit stubborn, but definitely cute. It was cool to see how much I'd improved from Dru and Xavier to be able to get her to do some stuff, because she's typically a hard horse to get forward and to make do anything.

And then of course Xavier. Who was unlike any other horse I'd ridden before. He brought me so far over the summer and gave me that push into first level and allowed me to practice some second level stuff on him. From running in the fields, to practicing shoulder in, counter canter, haunches in, etc. he was a blast! I'm so thankful I got to ride such an awesome horse! I'd been riding slow horses for just about ever. I mean Joey, Thumper, Dru, Gaius, Jag, Elliot. I've ridden a few other ones like Marissa, Krik, Roxy, Rosie, and Rainja who had a go button, but those were more once and awhile rides. Never enough to really get a feel for them. Xavier was forward, which was so nice to not have to push and push, and push to get him to go. Even though he was forward, he was still clam and sane. He was off and on sound the whole summer, which was a bummer, but when he was sound, and going really well, it was amazing! The rides I would have on him. It was simple stuff, like counter canter, but it was so much fun to ride. I'd never had the chance to do it before, and he was the first horse I'd ridden with any real training. Totally worth it.
All in all I was so fortunate to have such great horses to ride and learn on this summer and into the school year. It's so incredible to look back and see how God put everything in line for me to finally get my own horse. I'm so thankful for all of these wonderful horses who helped me get here!!

Have been riding Jag, Gaius, and Thunder. X is still lame, getting better, but not better enough to have consistent work. He's been driving lately, which is cool to see. I like Jag, he is an easier version of Dru, and you actually see your results. Gaius is lots of fun too, he can be a cool dressage horse when you make him. Learning lots.

Rode x today. Still pretty lame. Got s canter to the left, but not the right. Probably still sore from the injection. At least his left hock is fused! To the right he was not so great. I took him in the field and he just booked it, he wanted to GO!! Really fun, but once we get back in the arena he was still sore and didn't get any better, so I just hopped off. Rode dru, he was really fun! Didn't do much in the ring, just warmed up. His head was ok, but didn't really focus on that. Went in the field with him, he was hyper. If a horse passed him he would freak out, start jumping up and down. I was surprised I stayed on. I've seen him with his owner and he can be tough to ride. I kind of went out with the expectation I was going to get hurt because I couldn't handle what he was going to do. Pretty happy I stayed on! The other rider was really good about it too so that helped a lot.
Went to pineland today and oh my goodness it's amazing! I want to be someplace like that, someday. Not now, but someday. I was thinking about dreams today and how I never thought I would be here with what I have. And i never picture myself at a place like pineland, but it is possible. I'm not who I was, and won't always be who I am.

Actually wanted to ride today. For the past week I haven't wanted to, just have had no interest. I was working and around horses all day. But did not want to ride. Partly because I don't feel like i do well on x. Today I have wanted to ride. Even though I can't I'm actually kind of relieved I wanted to. I was wondering how long it would last. Vet comes tomorrow. We shall see how x is.

Haven't ridden in a few days, been super busy! X was really lame sat in lessons. He's been kind of on and off the past few weeks. Today it was really bad. I felt so bad watching him. This time he didn't work out of it. He usually wants to canter when he's sore, this time he couldn't do anything and the canter was really hurting him. Nothing helped. He didn't go back in his paddock because he could barley walk. The vets coming to see if he needs another injection. Wondering if he doesn't get better where I'm going to go... I'm thinking Lola.

Really good rides the past two days. Yesterday we ventured out into the field! I had heard some stories so I was a little skeptical, but in the end he was pretty awesome!! He listened perfectly and it really loosened him up. The ride before that was ok, I just don't feel like I know him. He was kind of gimpy, which makes his trot really uncomfortable and the rest of the ride just isn't as food as it could be. Today I started out in the field. We walked a bunch through tall grass and leg yielded and did circles. Anything to get him to put pressure on his hocks. After that we did some trot and leg yielding, and of course cantered! He got so excited. The whole way back he could barley contain himself walking. But he still listened very well. The field was an awesome warm up because he didn't limp around hardly at all in the ring and he didn't feel bad in the field either. I think our minds are both off of his legs in the field and it's more fun, so I don't feel so bad. When we got to the arena he was taking off my hands trying to go fast. One downside from warming up in the field. But I'll take it!

Decent ride yesterday. X is so much different than Dru. His trot is much bouncier and harder to sit. When we first started out he was pretty gimpy and worked out of most of it, but still had some issues in his right hock. At first his trot doesn't really push you up because he's avoiding putting weight on it, which makes posting a pain the in the butt, literally. We did some leg yield, and extensions and canter trans. In a circle I push his butt over and force him to put weight on his hock. The last time I rode I did a lot more of it, so I'm thinking when he's like that I'll need to do more. The other girl who rides him also said he didn't feel so great today. He doesn't canter right away all the time, and I think it may be because I'm not asking him clear enough? Anyways, we did some tests after that. They were decent training tests, but we were fighting with each other. He wasn't sure of what I was asking all of the time, and I was frustrated that he wasn't listening. We need to figure each other out.

I'm not as upset as I thought I would be about having to say goodbye to Dru. Maybe because I can still see him. It hurt that I could never see chess again. I'll probably keep in contact with his owner and hopefully be able to see him even after he leaves pff. Now that I'm around jade more we seem to be getting closer. I've always thought I hated mares because they can be so darn annoying. But the relationships you have with them are so much better, I'm almost positive I want one now. Jade is so cute and snuggles and is lovable. That's something geldings just aren't, and it's something I really want.