D got his goat

Doesn't that sounds funny? I really wanted to say she got his goat, but that really doesn't make any sense. Last Sunday Demetrias got Gracie. She is about 2 months and hasn't been introduced to her entire role as of yet but she is settling in well. The teens at the barn are helping to acclimate her and all of us are playing w/her. I am picking everyone's brains on how best to teach her to lead. The best suggestion seems to be food. :) Rachel taught a pig to lead this way and so I feel its plausible.
Last night D and I had our first lesson with Kim in several months and ya know what? It went alright. I really hit a wall about a week ago. Now that he is essentially okay I have "time" to process what it is exactly we're doing and the horse I have been essentially saddled with. Now that I'm not worrying about every move he makes I can't believe everything we went through the past year and while D doesn't require my attention every day he does need to be worked.
Now that my schedule has chilled a bit and the weather isn't quite so horrific we're back into a routine which often involved longing so that he can get his energy out. Just like a kid if he has too much energy he can't really focus which makes for a frustrating and sometimes dangerous ride for me. So, my horse gets really sweaty running. "like a racehorse" on the longe line several times a week. This energy out allows a successful ride to happen despite how inadequate I feel (finally admitted to Kim). Sigh....
We worked on a circle, so I am in pain because anyone who knows, knows that circle work is HARD. Its just a circle, yes but have you ever tried to do a really great circle? Its challenging. However, for the first time ever I was able to put my legs in front and behind the girth (like you're supposed to) but stay up and actually feel my horse respond to it. When his hips unlocked- I FELT it.
Are we ready for a 4th level dressage test- NOPE, not even close, but my essentially blind horse is moving forward with an ease that I thought we lost 2 months ago. We have a lot of work ahead but as Kim said, "This is the good part, he has a lot of life a head of him, don't panic when its the easy/good part." I have an amazing trainer!!

Happy Birthday!

Demetrias turned 11 years old last Friday, January 28. Life has been quite hectic which I know is not new but as such, this is the first I've been able to update. I was in Kiawah presenting at a conference so the day passed as any other for him. :) I however, have been reflecting on his last year of life. It has been a long one.
In March Demetrias ran into a stick or something creating a large cut by his eye which was in need of stitches, which brought the vet out, which led to the chronic uveitis discovery...
Last year was filled with: hand- walking, night turn outs, fly masks, A LOT of medicine, so many people helping to care for my horse, a lot of tears, learning to be an expert with a syringe, learning a lot about eye medicines, a trip to NC State, trailering, questions, questions and more questions, switching to a hackamore, being content at the walk, a second trip to NC State, leaving, trusting, longing, carrots, dialogue when riding, figuring out how to keep a horse out on a circle when you are his anchor, saying goodbye to ever jumping, new perspective, carrots, dialogue, TRUST.
I got on D's back today after a decent longing session to get some of his vinegar out. He made it through the longing w/out having a whinnying fit. On him the focus was a calm and rounded up neck at the walk. Haven't trotted under saddle for several weeks. :( I love my horse but I haven't the foggiest idea what I'm doing and this week, that's hard...
But, this week is nearly over.