. . . . . .So keep on climbing, though the ground might shake
Just keep on reaching though the limb might break
We’ve come this far, don’t you be scared now
Cause you can learn to fly on the way down........ 

There are times where I go to the stable not knowing what I'll be doing with Cody.  Will we be doing more work on the ground than under saddle? Are poles going to be involved in our routine? Will we trot or canter or merely walk and will there be any outside time? Sometimes I have the answers to these questions and sometimes I just don't know. I don't think anyone really knows how their workout will go with their horse. How can you? I sometimes think I know how the ride will go and Cody will throw one surprise after the other at me. One never truly knows how their ride will go. 

Today was a beautiful, sunny 50 degree day in Michigan. There was a seemingly strong wind that made you feel cooler but otherwise it was fine. I decided not to lunge but just get in immediately and ride. I set up tons of poles and barrels as I planned on doing a lot of trot and canter patterns today. Cody did fine trotting considering I didn't lunge as usual, throwing a monkey wrench in his plan and usual routine. He seemed shocked when I left the lunge line on the chair and just got on. As I said, our trotting was fine. He did very good, head down, over and between poles and barrels with ease. I have a hard time cantering on a circle as my directional sense and my ability to maintain control is faulty. I setup visual barriers for me to constantly have a reminder where NOT to go. I put the mounting block in the center to know when I was crooked or off my circle. Towards the end a horse outside began neighing and the wind picked up, causing Cody to lose focus on me and become jittery. Usually when I lunge he gets these jitters out, but today I didn't lunge. I asked for a canter and he tucked his back legs and leapt forward into a canter. It started out smooth(ish) but as we rounded our circle he picked up speed, brought his head up and veered off my circle even though I clearly had him on it. I stopped him, backed him up(he dragged his back legs in the dirt, a new thing for me) and asked again. This time he didn't bother cantering but stuck to an awkward, fast-paced trot, all the while focusing on the horse neighing outside. I again asked for a canter and it was very awkward for us both. It was getting late and traffic is terrible, we ended with trotting over and between obstacles. I did end up lunging him for five minutes and he was very unfocused. He took off on the line and I had to slow him down several times before he relaxed. 

I had planned to use the outdoor arena. But the wind stopped that as he doesn't do well in the wind. I planned on cantering over poles but his behaviour stopped that. I'd planned on riding in the beautiful weather outside, but wind and time changed that. 

Today didn't go as planned or desired. But it still went well. Even though I didn't lunge him and was worried he'd misbehave from the start he did better than I thought. I doubted him and he proved me wrong. I usually keep a tighter rein, not the too tight. It's usually long but taut as a loose rein makes me feel insecure and nervous. But today I gave him all the rein, no holding back. I figured he's never done anything intentionally disruptive before, I could trust him to remain calm now. And he did. Grant I had to correct him several times for trotting when I wanted a jog and working up to a canter when I wanted a trot, but I still gave him loose rein and corrected MYSELF if I shortened. 

I like to try a 'new' thing each time we ride. One occasion was jumping, another bareback, another time I put him in a jog, dropped the reins and rode with my eyes closed using my legs to guide him. Today I did something I haven't done in forever. I re-tried the rising trot and randomly posting at the trot. Amazingly I did(in my opinion as no one else was present) well. I think Cody was confused, why on earth was I posting in a Western saddle?! But it was fun. 

March is my last technically official time riding Cody. I want to spend this month enjoying it to its fullest and enjoying the horses to their fullest. I applied ointment to Jac, the handsome Thoroughbred with a big heart, and brushed down my favorite girl, Rose. 

 “Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Remember ‘Life is too short to be little’” –– Dale Carnegie

Don't let little things, as I'm learning, disappoint you so much that you don't see the big things that make each ride Special. You'll be mightily disappointed when I you see all that you missed. Live and ride to your fullest as though it's your last time. 

Today was good~enjoy your ride~

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Comment by Paula Stevens on March 19, 2015 at 1:36pm

THANKS :-D 

Comment by Jackie Cochran on March 19, 2015 at 1:29pm

Yeah, wind and neighing horses can be a challenge, LOL.  Even the quietest horses can lose focus, that happened to me yesterday when a duck was so rude as to flap its wings as we were passing it.

You set off with a plan-good.  You altered your plan when needed-very good.  Cody was adjusting to you not lunging-it can be somewhat spotty at first with wind and squealing horses, and that can happen to anybody.  You ended on a successful note-very good.

See, you have learned to ride well enough to successfully cope when your horse is less than ideal.  Good work!

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