Summer Time...
I love summer because it allows me more time to ride. I hate summer though because of the heat and amount of bugs that both D and I have to ward off. The difference for us in the summer though is that my schedule stays relatively the same my stress level however, does not.

D and I have been working on balance. Seems like we should have that all together now, right? We've been working for awhile and cantering and all that but his crookedness has come back out it seems because we are working harder. That's my theory anyhow. So we are back to leg yields and trying to keep his body in a straight line rather than a S curve- so much easier said than done.

Just like with people, working in the wrong position hurts a lot. But putting your body back into the correct position also hurts and is rather hard.

Last week D had his second group lesson and it did not go exactly as I had hoped. He has been riding with other horses in the ring the majority of the time but lessons had been private and on Mondays when the barn is closed. We've moved him back into Wednesday night lessons with 2-3 other horses. The first week he managed himself quite well despite all the distractions. Last week he started off well and then had a moment. That moment involved taking off and hitting the fence but managing to stay up right in the swerve. We worked through it, I did not get off but it wasn't our best. That's okay.

The leg yields have been our home work this week. And as is the case sometimes home work is fine. D has energy and wants to run. But lack of balance translates into times of falling over because eventually a slant will cave.  I don't like when he falls but it doesn't freak me out the same way anymore, either... he gets up and tries again and is usually slightly better at listening the second time around, which is always helpful.

D has never had the option of not working. He wants to work and has never hesitated (unless of course he thought a goat was in front of him:) ).  Summer time provides him with a slightly less stressed rider and a bit more consistency to work on what balances us...