Here we are, the close of another year, and time again to reflect and look ahead.

By all ‘normal standards’, I feel pretty lame this year.  In the creation of our yearly letter to go out with holiday cards, I became upset.  I did not feel I accomplished anything I set out to this year, especially related to riding.  I know I much more than a rider, but riding is my passion and I found myself floundering this year trying to understand my horse.
     We had a failed attempt at an intro ride in March, a wild ride at a fun weekend camp/ride that messed up my ankle, more saddle fit hell, bit changes, and lameness questions.  But all this just kept me pressing for answers, especially if I should continue on with Prophecy or if I was in over my head.  I got many answers, good and bad along the way, and we have started over.

In my last post I mentioned how much improvement I’ve seen in Prophecy on the ground and now working in full tack, I felt it was time to step up the game and work on mounting.  That picture in the start is me on the block, hanging over him, while he is playing with whatever he can find (my hat, gloves, the flag) and not trying to run off.  We did some lunging right around the block and I stood up top asking him to stay put while I loved on him. The first time I put a foot in a stirrup he got anxious and moved off.  So we went back to just standing, scratching, loving, rubbing and eventually he gave many yawns and some licking and chewing.

Must play with the flag…

I successfully mounted 2x with little drama.  Still not the best at not walking off before asked, but not as bad as previously.  I did not use a bridle, we just worked in the rope halter with the lead rope and saddle. I gathered up the excess line (our 12′ treeline rope) in my hands and just held the pommel letting him wander in the round pen. He did get hind end bouncy and wound up and I just held on and let him do it. He quit on his own, and then would walk off again. I asked him to bring me back to the mounting block and then lunged him a few more circles up into the canter to make sure there was no “reason” for the crow hopping from his saddle.  We called it good, and he nickered at me his job well done lol

Saturday Erin came out to do an assessment for me with Prophecy.  I woke up to a little bit of snow in the am! I knew it would be cold, but now had to deal with taking the longer way to the barn due to roads too! At least I gave myself plenty of time beforehand to get there and catch him.  I stuck him in the round pen with a flake of hay to hang contently.  I showed her what we have been up to and we talked about the issues we’ve been having.  She worked him a bit herself too, found a few of his sticky spots, and also commented on how smart and sensitive he is as well as his attention to me.   We will be working together a few days a week (and her on own with him) to get him and I on track in the new year.  I really want to be involved in the process as much as I can and continue to move forward.  I will send him off to boot camp if really necessary later, but we are both confident we can make some real strides with getting us on the same page and riding again.

🎆Cheers to 2017 and all the memories made, and I say “Bring it On!” to all that 2018 holds in store!🎆