India, my classic Foundation QH mare, in full on English tack. I pulled out her leather bridle rather than use the bright blue biothane one I got her for the ride-and-tie race last May. We rode yesterday at Horse Camp and for her first ride in about a month, she did really well, although she did buck when going into a canter, especially if she was the third or fourth horse in the line. I think lots of wet saddle pad will help. Her bucks are very smooth, thank goodness, and I made her keep on going and didn't reward her bucking at all. I did have to have Elaine flag her to help me load her onto Elaine's big, 3-horse Sundowner, but that was the extent of her less-than-desired behavior. She did very well out with three other horses and did not take flagging to get on to come back home, but I wasn't too surprised there as she's exhibited just that "going back to the barn" willingness before. However, she rushed off the trailer when we did get back to the barn and maybe I caught her by surprise, but I asked her to get right back on and damned if she didn't! Hooray! Now, I don't think her trailer loading issues are close to being solved, but what I do think this shows is that she knows full well what I want her to do, she's not scared of loading, she just doesn't want to sometimes. So, we'll keep working on that. Oh, in the plus column, she was more than willing to go off on her own and leave the other three. She's come a long way since last May when she didn't want to be by herself and going forward was done only after a good deal of persuasion using lots of leg. This reinforces that all we need is more practice.

Today I rode her about 10 minutes in the arena and then Maurisa and I went out for a walk around the pond and when we did that, then down the drive. India went willingly to the pond, but began to back up as soon as she realized that I was asking her to cross the dam. Four months ago I would have had to resort to ground driving her. This time, strong leg and one tap with the crop and she went forward. Once moving forward she doesn't suck back and other than a spook in place when something dropped off a log into the pond, she was very good, including going over the long, wooden bridge and then by the boat house, which has been the cause of much horsie angst before because the path leads right by it on her left and the back yard to the rental house slopes sharply up on the right, leaving a very narrow grassy area for the horse to walk on between the pond, boathouse and bank.

I had Elaine snap this picture when we'd finished. I wanted a pic of her in traditional bridle rather than the snazzy, and oh-so-much-easier to clean biothane bridle that I used on her last Saturday at 1099. I'm hiding behind my pony. And yes, she sticks out at 14'2", so she's a pony by Jove.

After riding this morning, I spent the afternoon at the Dauset trails riding with Hillarie and Kim and I felt really strong, especially for the uphills. Maybe I should have a meal of bbq chicken wings from Ingles, along with Ruffles potato chips and French onion dip before every ride? Because that's what Elaine was offering at the farm and I couldn't pass that by, especially the chips and dip. So bad for me, but so tasty.

Anyway, went to Dauset and on the way home I decided to snap this picture of The Prettiest Bike on the Planet (TM:me!;) as it's what I see whenever I glance in the rear view mirror of my Miata. I love having a bike rack on my Miata! This time of year, the top stays down almost every time I'm in it and it is so much more economical than the Tahoe, although this afternoon I had it stuffed to the gills. I brought home Asia's turnout sheet and Ralph's blanket. Both need repairs and I'm going to try and sell Ralph's on ebay. I also brought home two bridles for cleaning and also in the trunk were my Camelbak, duffel cube with helmet, Sidi shoes, and lots of gloves, my Life is Good bag with a riding jersey, Irideon tights, Ariat paddock boots and half chaps. I also had to fit in my purse and my water bottles. Tight squeeze.