Oh, the difference a year makes…best week ever!

 You know, Mom and I overcame a LOT of obstacles during the past six months and we are both proud of what we achieved this week in the run-up to my one-year adoption anniversary.

• Last Saturday (22 June), we took a 45-minute dressage lesson with Jeffrey Lord and had some great moments. Mom was able to tell me with just her seat that she wanted me to taking bigger strides at the walk. At the trot, she told me with all her aids that she wanted me in a nice long and low position so I could really stretch and engage my back muscles. I was a very good listener the whole session. We really worked as a team!

• On Thursday (27 June), Mom and I had a lesson with Miss Jean. I was stressed and not very focused at the beginning, but Miss Jean guided Mom on how to patiently get my attention back and reduce my anxiety. By the end, Mom and I had a very successful introduction to shortening my trot stride and sitting to the trot. Miss Jean hopped on and we showed Mom how I can hold self-carriage for a while at the canter. I was VERY proud of myself! Thanks to Miss Carol for videoing it all.

Mom and I during lesson with Miss Jean

• Finally on Friday (29 June), Mom and I went with some other Natural Connection riders and herd-mates for a trail ride at Temple Hill Park in Lucketts, VA. It was my first ride away from the farm. I was a little stressed at first, but then I calmed down and really started enjoying the day. Mom helped me get over my anxiety of crossing through streams. I was shaking, but Mom kept talking to me, telling me it was ok, and that I was doing great. By the second and third stream crossing, I went across like it was nothing! I’m a good boy! Mom also wanted me to walk over a large log toward the end of the ride…hehehe, I surprised her, though…I snuck two canter strides in and leapt over that thing with a big jump. Mom screamed than started giggling. HAHAHA! Thanks to Miss Jean’s boy, Ty, for letting me follow his butt the whole way. It made me feel much calmer. 

Waiting on trailer to go to Temple Hill