Autumn's Coming

Bandon has been a little shining star a week into having shoes and going slowly back on a riding schedule.

In the last 3 weeks I've worked almost daily to overcome his anxiety about working alone with me on the ground and before his shoes were put on. Then he was showed promise riding across the pasture at a walk bareback away from the barn/horses.

After a few days, we jumped 18" bars. He obviously enjoyed being back to work and I think he missed our partnership, during his hoof growth break, as much as I did. I love that goofy baby horse so much.

Today, after a week of arena work, he took 2 jumps in a line and a bunny ran out in front of us. I clinched to hang on since we were already at a canter, only he didn't spook. Classic Bandon, he jumped then took off chasing it!

Unfortunately today he also threw a shoe. I didn't notice until we were back up to the barn and untacking, going back to look I found it in the ground on a jump line. Assuming my farrier can get the shoe back on him (oh please oh please) we'll keep on going.

Czech and I are learning the little quirks that make each other tick. Heavy in your hands, he gets his head cranked up under himself, behind the bit, froth flying, and just surges forward with so much tension you can probably hear his heavy blowing breath up at the house. He doesn't listen once he's at that point and so far I've been fighting through it to try and get him back to responsive.

I'm working long distance with a trainer and she's put me to work. My jumping position is still a work in progress but my crest release has improved tremendously. I haven't really needed to bring my hands forward because my reins were so loose to begin with, this is changing a lot lately. I'm also doing a much better job between jumps. Today, on the super powerful Czech, I was actually thinking on the 4 strides between jumps and riding him (good thing since he has started dodging out the side of jumps) instead of saying very unladylike things in my head like "oh bleep!" "holy bleep!" "Oh my bleep!". I'm proud of that.

All the horses are starting to get thicker hair, I bet that the fuzzy pre-winter coat is on its way soon.