Happy Saturday, Friends!
Today I had planned to deliver another educational topic but alas I need more time to put my thoughts together. Instead, I’ll just give you a few quick updates.
Stanley continues to impress me. He can be very heavy at times and we still have to have discussions but he’s beginning to understand what I’m asking and willingly seeks more. I’m amazed by the change in his body and demeanor. He’s always been quite a professional in many ways but it feels like he’s taken on a whole new level.
At a couple recent lessons he was balanced, forward, and on the bit. Last week we worked on our transitions from trot to canter. Picking up the left lead has always been tough but we nailed it 5 of 6 attempts. In the right lead canter, he has a tendency to throw his hindquarters inside but recently that has become less and less. He’s getting straighter.
We have our first show tomorrow, and I hope I’m not jinxing myself. We had a first outing of the year 2 weeks ago and we will be returning to the same farm. This time the atmosphere will likely be a bit more heightened so I’m hoping he will bring his best self. We will be riding the same western dressage tests that we rode last year…picking up where we left off. If we excel there, I believe it is time to return to classical dressage.
Out of curiosity, I put the pictures of him from our recent clinic (I don’t have any full body unmounted pictures that are recent) next to the photo I purchased him off of. WOW what a different in his muscle tone! In the photo I purchased him off of he had been let down from the track for 13 months and given a field to be a horse in. Since then, I’m so proud of his development, especially given how many setbacks we have had.
Life lately has been a lot. Not all bad (see above), and not all good. I don’t air most of the bad because frankly, we all have our battles…and it’s not just me that this affects.
*Apologies, Adult Language Ahead….PG-13 rules apply (1 F-Bomb)*
That said, I hope if you are a spiritual person you will lend some thoughts and prayers to my father who is in a fight for his life…FUCK cancer. My heart has been heavy lately and I’ve been more conflicted than ever living 8 hours away.
I won’t dwell here out of privacy for my family but do please keep us in your thoughts, I’d very much appreciate that.
I hope you are healthy and well. I hope you are happy wherever you are. I hope that you can find joy in the simple things and always manage to find something you’re thankful for each and every day…even during the hard times. Gratitude is not always easy to do but it gets better when you practice, and it’s worth it.
Bless you!
The Green Horseman 
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