Today, at 2pm, I'm going to the farm to have a lesson with one of their instructors and hopefully afterwards, getting to work with Babe for awhile... maybe even getting some new pics of baby Tamarac and some 'progress' pics of Babe....
I signed her up for two months of 'half training' which will last until Oct 15th - meaning if I can't work with her between Aug 15 and Oct 15th, the trainer will for me every other day. I'm hoping it makes our transition smoother and her training continue to progress.
I've had 2 lessons (with my normal riding instructor instead of the one I'm trying today at Babe's barn) since my riding accident and the first one had equaled a panic attack, the second one was manageable and even fun/relaxing (though I had my trainer put me on a lounge line though she didn't use it as one ... she put enough slack in it without using any body language to drive the horse on so that I'd realize that I was the one controlling the horse and that I was being effective without me worrying about the possibility of a run off again).
The second lesson, she'd also put me on a 6yo TB mare that is built almost identically to my horse (but an inch smaller, and slightly more petite) and is only a few shades lighter, which I think helped me relax (because I'm a psycho and trust mares the most and seem to get along with hotbloods the easiest).
The trainer at Babe's barn, however, doesn't know of my recent progress since my lesson with my normal trainer, however, it'll be fun to see what her take on everything is... I think I'd be okay in an arena setting if the doors are closed... and if I end up trusting the horse, hoping for a trail ride (I haven't been on one of those since like, February).
Actually, if I can conquer today's lesson without any hesitation/fear, then I might ask to ride one of my favorites at the barn, a 4th? level dressage horse named Oskar who teaches me something every time I get on his back. Awhile ago, I had a great clinic with Jeff Lindbergh the first time I rode Oskar, and Oskar's owner is also a huge sweetheart.
I'm planning on taking track up again (hopefully concentrating on high jump but I want to try hurdling maybe) and during the beginning of September, maybe try to sign up at a dance studio so I can learn something other than just line dancing
I almost forgot to mention... I was wondering if some endurance rides might be good to get to know my horse better - as I'd be responsible for conditioning her and because she's too young to jump without possibly harming her legs & upward growth. I love trail riding, and it'd be a great way to get her into shape, I just wonder if it'd undermine her fast twitch muscles needed for speed and jumping later in life. Also, I don't know much about endurance, except that Babe's trainer does, meaning that she could teach me the ropes (but I don't know how old a horse needs to be before starting endurance riding, but I plan to do my research first of course).
Babe's been switched back to 12% protein, 6% fat in her ration... whereas she'd been on a 10% protein, 6% fat ration since mid-February... she seems to be at a perfect weight now - muscular, without looking like she needs more fat on her.
Well, now that I took the lesson, I'm in an insanely good mood - I got there early, groomed & tacked up Samson (a chesnut roan gelding), and had a lesson with a girl named Molly, who was riding Irish (a bay mare). The trainer was so awesome, her and I clicked almost instantly - and I like her approach of starting small and working up as I redevelop my confidence. She's amazing at explaining why stuff works without confusing anyone too!
I'd just be content with being able to ground train and show her two, though, she has other horses too, rideable ones, so if I do a good job with ground training, maybe it might equate to more time in the saddle and more experience. She wants me to try the Australian saddle out on Samson because I've never tried one of them before.