Forward but softer

 It was soooo humid this morning! So humid! But... we did get rain last night so yay for that. I rode at 8:45ish and it was just miserable. But we got it done. Funny was a pretty good girl. When I was walking her in from the field she suddenly reared and tried to bolt, but it seemed more like a legit spook. Although I didn't see any reason for her to spook, but... she wasn't trying as hard to get away as she was the other day. Which made me think she really was more just scared than trying to go rejoin her friends. And after that she was fine again. In fact, she immediately lowered her head and did her pillar 1 walk (and submissive walk with the lowered head). Good girl. We tacked up without incident and got up to the arena without incident.

Heck, even our ride was without... well... that's not true I guess. The weeds are a little out of control behind the arena and there was scurrying. I don't know if it was a deer, a large squirrel, or an armadillo, but something was making noise and giving Funny a reason to be a bit spooky. But she was only a bit spooky! She didn't launch me... she mostly just squirted a few times. Good pony.

 

We had a good ride. We did our homework but also strayed off into more circles vs the half circles and change. We had some moments where she didn't want to bend... a few moments where she wanted to fall in... and then... a good bit of good moments too! She is really starting to get the hang of things. (And me too.. because my left side of my body is cooperating more now!). We had to go back to the walk once or twice and remind ourselves of things, but.. for the most part... she's really getting the hang of it. Bending. She was much too quick today for most of the ride, especially in the canter. We did get a few moments of slower and good rhythm in the trot, but the canter was kind of a mess. She was just quick and I was hanging on her face. I tried to let go, but she was just... running and didn't feel as balanced and so I couldn't make myself let go for more than a stride or two. Sigh. I'll get it together soon love! But we had a circle... we had a canter that stayed a canter and didn't swap. She picked up both leads correctly too. So... still some good stuff. I was able to sit a little better today again too!

Then we hacked back home via Jean's driveway and then down Skyline for a little ways. I didn't go all the way to the lake but we went a little ways. 

Good baby girl!