Saturday 17 June 2017

Good Things

Good thing number 1: My work is open to me taking a leave of absence. I'm not sure when and if that will happen, but just knowing it's an option and my decision making process doesn't need to be black and white (stay or quit!) has taken a lot of my self imposed decision related stress away. I'm dreaming now of a few weeks off this fall to catch up on all things home and husband related. And obviously Bridget would come home too :)
She follows me everywhere anyway.

Good thing number 2: Best working student is wanting to get her coaching certifications too, so I'll have a buddy to study with and stress with prior to the evaluations. She wants to get it done this summer, so that may be the nudge I need to make it more of a priority.

Good thing number 3: Bridget! She's been so, so excellent. It could be the new saddle, or it could be I am finally on the receiving end of GOOD unpredictable pony mare behaviour. Who knows. She was super forward and fun for our jump school last night, attacking the jumps and overjumping in great style....which is entirely unlike her normally minimalist attitude towards getting around. For the first time in a long time, I was having so much fun jumping the pony!  The previous nights flat school was great too. As always much to work on, but generally speaking she felt loose and forward and full of positive energy. She's been quite fussy in the contact, but not so that night! Happy ears the whole time :) And then today, we went for about an hour trail ride with her good friend Q mare and best working student.  There have been a few super up close and personal meetings with bears recently and the trails are super overgrown right now.
Last night, I walked from the barn to my truck while texting and checking emails on my phone. I got in my truck, closed the door, put the key in the ignition, looked up, and a scene very similar to this was directly in front of my truck (maybe 5' away and looking at me). I'm sort of glad I didn't see the bear until I was already "safe" in the truck.
And yet, both mares happily and confidently went along on the buckle even when we heard some suspicious rustling in the bushes nearby. When we got to the road we take home there was some heavy equipment and some guys trimming tree branches overhead and then chipping them behind a fence where the horses couldn't quite see. No problem, said both mares. I know Bridget is super solid with everything, but I'm still always surprised just HOW solid.
Magical unicorn saddle turns B into a good girl.

Next up: practice our dressage test for next Sunday! I registered for the wrong one, apparently per coach, leg yields were supposed to be on order, which is obviously not the case in 1-1. I may see if its possible to change, but I'm tempted to stay with the one I've memorized and just have fun with it. We aim to underachieve:) Also, I should probably practice not crying or generally doing dumb things. Because Saturday is xc schooling day and I'm running about 50/50 on crying and/or falling off during those things lol
This was a fun day, but I'm pretty sure I fell off twice. Unaderacheiver goal 2: To NOT be THAT person in the lesson :)
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13 comments

  1. Lots of good things. And no crying or falling off is allowed!

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  2. I would not be okay with this bear thing. You act like it's no big deal.

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    1. They are everywhere right now. I see at least one per day so I think we all get kind of used to it. I don't like when they're super close tho!

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  3. Yeah, I agree with Olivia. We have them in my area but it's extremely rare to ever see them. I would NOT be ok with that. Also, yay for magical unicorn saddles and good pony mare behavior :)

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    1. They're more scared of us than we are of them. Or so I'm told, actually they seem pretty curious to me lol Next time I see one at the barn I'll try to get video...the horses don't even care at this point.

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  4. 50/50 crying hahaha I so get this! Glad someone else thinks the same

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  5. Yay for good things!

    5' is ridiculously close!!

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  6. A leave of absence sounds like heaven to me right now!! Happy to hear about so many good things :) :) :)

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  7. Bears are Bobby's one bugaboo. We had them all over in Pennsylvania and he wanted nothing to do with that nonsense. Even if he just smelled one that had been gone for ages he was like, yeah BAI SO FAST.

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  8. Uhh I don't think I would be so cool with the bears lol but everything else sounds great!

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  9. So many good things!
    I may have only seen bears in real life at zoos (although people in my community say there are bears here). Honestly, if I heard rustling in bushes I might be running for home faster than my horse.

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  10. Lots of good things happening! Have fun at your dressage show and XC schooling!

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