This is why I stay in love with thee.

Oh Steady has made my year.  I don't know if I am easy to please or just crazy, that one fabulous ride in nearly 4 months can leave me on cloud nine.  But either way it was and it did.  I had a jumping "lesson" really we didn't work on a whole lot but I did have eyes on the ground.  We set up some fun little jumps.  Steady was being a saint.  Cool, controled, 'Steady' ;).  He had a couple jumpy moments when the cats were taking turns jumping off of the side rails of the arena.  I can't say enough about how great he was.  He picked up every lead with no bucking.  Really big stuff.  It was sooo fun!  All his jumps were perfect.  My position over the fences was great.  This was the first time that the  instructor had seen me ride and she was giving me tips on my lower leg and how I needed to use them more as shock absorbers.  And how when I turn I am making to much effort withmy hands.

She was completely right and I should have cared more but what she didn't understand was that I was so happy to be having the ride that I was having that my legs could have over my head and I wouldn't have cared.

The biggest glaring issue to me is my inability to turn my horse to the left.  Ahhhh details, details.  Something to work on but right now I am going to revel in my super cool, fun horse.  Ok in reality we still did not get through an entire ride without any bucking.  In his defense it was not his fault at all.  Though against the barn rules, two of my friends had let their dogs loose.  They were playing in the arena, both puppies(one is Hank, my corgi's brother!) one of them was a big puppy.  On my approach to a jump I saw them getting excited and so did Steady and as soon as we landed they made a bee line for us.  They chased us until someone got a hold of them.  Steady obviously did not appreciate the chase and took off and bucked/kicked at them.  But as soon as they were caught he politely came back to me.

Today will be the half lessors first ride.  She has been on spring break all week so I have had Steady to my self all week.  I think she will be happily surprised that my sane fun horse has returned to his body and he will be completely different horse than she had when she tested him out.  I can't lie and say I am not jealous of her time with him but for all the benefit I am getting out of the situation I know that it is good and temporary.