Back to Reality

As much as I seriously loved my sunny and relaxing vacation I was definitely ready to come back to my boys. It's amazing how hard it is to leave them all for even just a week. They really have us all suckered in.

I tried really hard not to bug the people taking care of them for the week and I think I restrained myself quite well. Thankfully a good friend was taking care of Bentley so she sent pictures and updates  throughout the week without me having to ask. I am proud to say I only bugged the trainer about Mystic twice. And only asked how he was, didn't get into any details at all. Pretty sure I deserve a medal for that.

 

I landed late Monday and decided to stay the night up in Portland so I could make the 50 minute drive up to see Mystic Tuesday morning before heading back south towards home. I am super pleased with the progress JW has made with him in the week that she has had him! She has really helped with some of the under lying problems that have contributed to the bigger problems we have had in things such as the changes. I got to hop on him and take him for a spin after she warmed him up. I'm super thankful that we are going to her clinic the weekend after I pick him up because holy moly I feel like I'm riding a different horse! He is really using his hind end and back much more and I instantly noticed the change in his movement to more elastic and bigger steps. She had lovely things to say about him and even noted that his lateral work is phenomenal. She said it is better then the Grand Prix horse that came in! She also said that her and her working students had a laugh that Mystic came with more stuff and instructions then the Grand Prix horse 😂 I am really looking forward to my lessons with her and am definitely looking forward to the show season now.

 

Bentley also got high compliments from everyone that he was very well behaved and adorable. He apparently had some fun running around and rolling in the arena the other night because 5 people mentioned it to me and said how cute it was. I lunged him last night and he definitely was not feeling the whole "horsing" concept. I was going to do some lunging with side reins work with him mixed in with riding but I think I'm just going to try to fix it all from the saddle. I have learned a lot about him and what makes him tick (or stop ticking haha). I may re-evaluate it as we go along but I feel like he is very reasonable under saddle and can be worked okay with lunging. I was just hoping it would help with his balance, especially in his canter, but I think it stresses him out more then it's worth at this point. We have an Eric Smiley clinic to get ready for next month 😳 We've got some serious work to do!