Summer comes to an end, and I have a horse to ride.

This year I'm happy to see the end of summer. It was hot, full of upheaval and I only got to show once.  Normally this would really disappoint me but, I wasn't ready to show anything and I think it was good for me to realize that and accept it.

Now that September is here, we are onto new challenges! Oscar is officially mine to ride!  I'm covering half his board while his owner is away, and that gives me access to ride him as much as I want over the winter.  I went out and rode him this morning and had a good if quiet ride.  (Although I much prefer quiet over exciting!)  We are still getting to know each other and figure out each other out.  He hasn't gotten much turnout over the past couple of weeks but after a 10 min lunge session he was perfect and quiet and ready to go.

We mostly jogged around, did some rising trot and played with Oscars 'buttons'.  Its still kind of strange riding a horse that isn't Lucas.  I keep expecting Lucas reactions, and becoming a bit surprised when I don't get that response from Oscar.  He is also about 15.3 so is quite a bit shorter, is way more of a western horse that Lucas ever thought of being, and has some reining training.  So our turns on the haunches are a lot faster than I am used to!

I had to take this picture at the cottage today, I left my boots outside to dry off (my feet sweat!) and I was struck by the differences in my family's summer pastimes.  They like the boat and the beach and I am much happier with the horses.