Things that make you go HMMMMM

Sunday Karen and I took our horses around the neighborhood together. It was a sunny, cool day and the horses really enjoyed it. Wes was the hit of the neighborhood, especially after he make a display of peeing for several 8-10 year old girls in their driveway!

We had a lesson in the outdoor later that day. Karen set up a small course of jumps that we'll see at our mini trials. We broke it down into tiny little parts, first walking the course, going into two point over each ground pole, staying on the line, in the middle, not letting her drift. Then we trotted them, then they were raised. I had a hard time remembering to press my hands into her neck for my crest release, Karen will make sure it's drilled into my head. Montana seems to have no issue whatsoever with the jumps. She tended to rush when going toward the open end of the arena, but I could get her back. We had to be reminded of our dressage when trotting a 20 meter circle and Montana was falling on the outside shoulder. I wasn't using my outside leg behind the girth, or my outside rein. As soon as we got it together, the circle improved. At one point, Montana spooked at a noise that Ricky made while he was brushhogging in the woods. It was a pretty big one, but I was able to stay on and get her under control. We continued on with the lesson and ended on a good note.

Yesterday, I went home from work a little early because I had to pick up Little Puppy from the vet, he had some tumors removed and his teeth done. I wanted to check in on him every once in a while since he was still under the effects of the anesthetic. So I tacked up Montana in the dressage saddle and snaffle and started to work in the outdoor. We started with our regular warmup, walk on loose rein 10 minutes, stretching, getting my legs under me. Went on to halt reinback transitions, serpentines at the walk. Picked up trot and tried 20 m circles. I used transitions from trot to walk to get her attention. She was rushing and going to the left, but the right was good. Coming around to right, I don't know what I was thinking, but she suddenly lost her footing, I don't know if she shied at something or what, but suddenly I lost my balance and went off on the left side. She fell also, on her left side next to me. I held onto the reins, and she got up and stood there. She was a little shook up, she trembled slightly. I dusted myself off, checked her out and got back on. Thanking God the whole time that I could. We finished our ride with a few 20 meter circles and then went on a walk around the property.

I'm still trying to figure out what happened. I'm sore this morning and I have a weird bruise on my elbow, but I"ll live. Montana seemed fine this morning.

Hmmmm.