Flying High then Flying Off!

So it's been awhile again... so much to say!

Firstly, Frankie and Ocean are around no longer... their owner left the paddocks abruptly and after I'd done some really awesome riding with her gelding. But it is nice to just have my three to focus on and no one elses!!

And that's exactly what we've done!!



.Honey.

We've started trotting! It was an amazing experience, I thought I'd need to be on the lunge, and that I'd really suck at it... I had no idea what to expect and my horrible brain was making me think all the worst things! But when it actually happened - WOW! The feeling was amazing... knowing that I helped her achieve that, even though I was a little shaky at first, it was soo cool! She was awesome, and just powered on through like a pro... I remember when Katy started posting on Evo... he just about died lol... Honey didn't even blink! She's seriously the best horse to back and start when you're someone like me!!!



.Evo.

On the same day, I got an amazing 'present'... I've seen Rahn ride a million times and enjoy watching and learning from her. But to have her ride MY boy!!!!! WOW much?! As if I weren't already on cloud nine from Honey - to have my best friend ride my boy was like the icing on the cake. In less than an hour she had him going incredibly well... working at the walk and trot and then I got up. Oh my freaking god! I almost cried with happiness... he felt so beautiful... and when he trotted - I KEPT UP!! It may not seem much to some.. but to me that ride means everything. It showed me where I have to work to get him going like he was, and therefore have an easier time riding him!

Unfortunately when I went to work on him the next day, he had a spook and cantered off on me... I only had one stirrup and as much as I held on for a bit, he did his magical slam of the brakes and spin trick - I went flying to the ground. I've got some serious soft tissue damage to my right elbow, and still struggling a week later to walk as fast as I usually do. But I'm not letting my injuries hold me back... if I could have full use of my arm, I'd be back up in that saddle now! I almost rode this weekend actually, I was itching to pop up on Honey's back for a plod... but I knew better :P Stupid brain haha. It's odd though, how I'm acting so keen to get back up. I'm not scared to ride or anything, like I usually am. I tend to make myself panic and what not, but even when he bolted I don't remember freaking out. And sure I'll be nervous to ride him but not scared to... if that makes any sense. I'm not scared of my boy, it was a freak accident. He is to me, still the safest horse I know for his size. And ever since the fall, he's been overly protective of me. He keeps lavishing me in love, and like any girl who is being treated so nicely by a gentleman would react - I love it!!

.Bailey.
Where to start with Bailey?! She is like a new horse! I've been joking and saying that I sold her for a new and improved version. But she has seriously changed. She is now incredibly happy in her work... she sometimes still argues but never to the point that she used to. She is more accepting of everything. She's enjoying things again. And her paces have really improved, especially her canter, which has always been rather flat and wobbly. We've left the riding arena to the big open space up the front - which used to be asking for suicide - and Millie had her working very nicely, and even let her climb over the mounds of dirt up there, Bailey showing off her 'mountain goat' skills. On Sunday, Millie and Bailey went out on a hack with two other girls, and was pretty well behaved considering she hadn't left the paddock in months, apart from her small road ride the day we took her up the front.

But the icing on the cake with her is having her go over a pole. Those who know Bailey understand that her and poles just don't mix. She'd rather rear, dig her toes in, etc, than go over a pole on the ground. It used to take forever to convince her that she could and would go over a pole, and her rider's usually felt unsafe doing so. It only took 5 mins to get her over the pole on Saturday. She did two tiny leaps and then realised that the rears weren't scary anymore to Millie (she hasn't reared in the past 2 or so weeks cos she figured they weren't helping her at all lol) and decided to go over it. She liked the praise she got for it... and because I believe in doing things three times before rewarding and stopping, Millie took her around again. She hesitated both times but didn't need any convincing to really go over it. The next day we popped her over it again, it took barely any effort. She knows how to jump, and has a cute style too. So we're quite excited and hope we can introduce jumping soon. That pole is definitely going to be part of her daily ride though! Here's the video from the third 'jump'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbiuBd2wOA

Well that's about it for now... I've got one more uni exam and then I'm free for a bit. I hope to be back up in the saddle by the weekend. Honey's having two weeks off, and so if I can start riding again, I'll probably start her on next Monday. Evo's going to be lunged a lot this week to get him ready for the weekend and Bailey's going to be lunged over jumps this week while Millie's away!

Over and out,
Chelle x