Who knew a western pleasure horse could run so fast?

Yup got ran away on. We were on a small circle in the center of the ring and I got asked to do a counter bend on the horse but to stay on the circle. (bend to the outside of the circle) Anyways get started on the counter bend and the mare pickes up her head and runs off! Mean while the 'boss' is yelling "Spur! Spur! push her into the bend!" any ways this happens 3 more times once more at the jog then twice at the lope :( anyways although he said I didnt handle it like I should have (but I went into survival mode not fix the horse mode!) It wasnt my fault.... she had done this before a few years ago and it took him a while to sort her out (Im thinking teeth issue)

Im still scrared when shit like that happens!

So hes planning on having a "march break camp/clinic" in march, so I tentivly signed up for that 3 days of riding in a row will do more for me that anything else would!

Lesson

Had another lesson last night. Rode a mare that gave me great feedback. If I was in the perfect positon she got soft and slow I would shift my weight and she would speed up. Bunny just kept getting pissed off at me I needed this ride!

At the end we were lopeing slower than the other girl was on Bunny, and he was working on me keeping her head up at the lope. She was a great horse to practice the leg/spur then hand because eventully she responded to the leg only.

At the end Herb was picking on me that I wasnt smiling.... then I started smiling because I figured if thats the only thing he had to comment on everything else must be good!!

Results

Well we got 2nd in the nation for yearling mares with 36 points the horse that beat us had 49. I actually met the owner of that horse at the national banquet. Shes a carded judge and she and her husband train and show... if I had to lose to anyone atleast it was her!

We got 7th in yearling lunge line, and 6th in yearling trail.

She ended up earning 60+ open points (she has points in hunter in hand but we dont know how many.) As well as youth and amature points (results are not posted yet)

humm...

So talked to a friend tonight who talked to her friend who talked to Herby who said I was a good rider :D

doing more things at the same time

Blah.... So i go for my lesson tonight and I get to ride Bunny!!!! Her real name is Really Noluckneeded, but everyone knows her as Bunny. She was a congress finalist at one point and has a wack of points. More importantly I've seen her and Herb kick ass at the AQHA shows so it was really cool to get to ride her (I think i might have only lucked out because my usual horse had a little kid on it!!)

Honestly I was shaking.... I was nervous thinking I was going to mess her up but we started off really well and had a good ride untill we went to lope (again on my bad direction but I got Herb to lengthen that side one hole and it worked alot better!) Again I screwed up the transistion (I really need to rock that hip back instead of just using legs and closing my eyes!!) And it wasnt horrible I mean for my 4th ride in 6 months but its not easy and I get somthing and the horse goes bad, I get that and were off our circle. AHHHHHH!!!!

Im learning alot though, I really got that 'feel' all though my but thigh and calf tonight (except during some of the crappy lope stuff) But I do know where my holes are in my training now a lot better. Im ok at the colt stuff but its getting to have the horse hold the frame better, without using my hands so much! But I've never had stuff this broke to ride before (except for the jumpers) Its alot of work but Im loving it and wanting to learn more all the time, not so bored but intrested again. Its been a while for that feeling!

I had to laugh to the girl that Herb has working for him was lunging a young colt and couldnt get him to stop. I didnt say anything but I felt like telling her to back up instead of running at his head.....

All and all a great birthday ride. I told Herb that getting to ride her was the best birthday present, and it was!

...

Oh and I got my Remicade treatment last thursday as well. I went in at 1 and was out by 4:30 even though I waited the extra hour just in case. A much beter time then the previous ones. I did get quite a migrane (but wondering if it is because of all the salaine they pump into me...becase I pee like a race horse all night after too!!!) Anyways done for another 2 months :)

Intresting Phone Call

Well I got an intresting phone call, or really I returned one. The recruter from the bank I worked for last summer called and wanted to know how I was, how school was going ect. Wanted to know if I was thinking about returning to the bank at some point. (told her yes of course, but that I didnt think being a teller was working with the stress on my hand joints) I personaly thought it was great to have her call. Told me to keep checking the site where they post jobs, more frequently as I got closer to graduation and to let her know if anything caught my eye.

Im also reading a book called 'Ask for it' all about getting what you want as a woman in the work place. Its very intresting reading. Most women dont negotiate there starting salaries but alot of men do and then typicaly earn more money.

Unfortuntly this post isnt 'horsey', we are in the middle of a snow storm, so I had to cancel my lesson for tonight. I did however managed to get another one for Thursday so cross your fingers that it doesnt snow. Added below is a pic of me on my first horse (and I still know where he is, 10 years later.) Showing at our provincal 4-H show and winning our equation class.