Wow, what a weekend!

So I'm sitting here typing this, feeling incredibly tired and drained... sore as hell in my right leg BUT ON CLOUD NINE! What a weekend!

I was already having an awesome week, and the last few days just topped it off. I feel like my confidence in the space of a week has sky rocketed... and I know that something is going to fuck it all over again... but for now, I'm really enjoying it, and all the new experiences! So here's some photos and the current news!

I didn't get any photos of Evo, so I guess I should talk about him first! He was a really good boy. Had Saturday off, but I worked him yesterday, doing loads of tempo changes in the walk and figure of eights, serpentines etc... I also did something new with him, which he was a bit hesitant with at first... I dropped all contact and just guided him with my legs. I know I'm hand orientated... I know that's probably my biggest problem, I use my hands to balance and I shouldn't. So we plodded around with me doing things like putting my arms out or up, putting them on my head etc... he flipped at first, and didn't understand but then got the idea... and at one stage I even closed my eyes and just focused on his walk. It was an incredible feeling. I then felt ready to go into the trot... I don't know what's up but I guess since I've focused a lot on the walk, I suck at his trot again... but I was determined to continue trying and he is always so awesome and puts up with me. I was trying to loosen off my contact and find my balance towards the end, and I got it a few times. I think I might have a lunging session on him one of these days... just so someone can focus on keeping him going while I focus solely on getting the trot right! I'm not complaining... I'm in no hurry to go anywhere with him... and know its harder for me to find any balance on him cos of being heavy... and I know we'll get there so that's all that matters!

Right, onto Honey! Fifth ride today and introduced changing the rein in different ways... on a diagonal (making sure she didn't have no sharp corners to make), and down the length of the riding pen... at first she was like "What the!? Whyy are we turning here?" But she's just a lovely mare to ride. I don't feel nervous at all on her now... I just really enjoy plodding on her... She felt at one stage, cos I had her moving forward quite actively in the walk, that she was going to try a trot... I decided very calmly that I would allow it to happen if it did, and not shut her down immediately, but bring her back to a walk calmly. She didn't though... I really don't wanna flip out on her back. I just want to keep things as relaxed as they are now haha. She even spooked today (star fish) when I stopped her and went to hop off, the stirrup leather made a funny noise. Or I'm assuming it was the saddle. I usually would pull back if that happened, and feel my heart race... but nah, not today I just said standddd and she did. No fusses ;)

And now for Bailey. WOW much?! The difference I've seen in my pony has shocked me in this last week. She actually is working! Millie and I came up with a training plan for her based on something Rahn taught me "a good walk leads to a good trot" and so forth... well that's more than true! She went from being the one calling the shots, rearing, not listening etc on Millie's first ride on Tuesday, to working in a lovely frame, walking at different speeds with a relaxed manner, and then rewarded with the trot - in which she was forward yet controllable! The biggest point was that it was the first time I saw Bai lick and chew - what a happy horse! She's really working as a team with Millie and I'm so damn proud!

And finally a quick word about Frankie... rode him twice this weekend/today and boy is he lovely! He's strong... incredibly strong, and fast... but I really like him... he paces but does trot and when he does he just plows on through... I'm already working on steadying it up... but he's so unfit and been out of work for ages that it will take some time. He did a wee 'bolt' on me on Sunday... just sped off and took a bit to bring back to a steady trot, but he's not dangerously out of control or anything. I'm really glad to be riding him because I get the chance to get in some major trotting. I don't have a horse that I can just go for a trot on - I can't balance enough on Evo... and Honey's not there yet - and I don't ride Bailey that much. So he's really gonna help me... and in return I hope to help him!

So that's it really... having a break for myself tomorrow... going out to see Soph and April... and then on Wednesday it'll be back in the saddle and riding probably three horses, haha!
Over and out,
Chelle x