I love my horse

On Friday, I had the first lesson I have had in weeks thanks to the demands of work, Paula's emergency eye surgery, and general life interferences. The break must have done us all a world of good, since I had a great lesson. I am still getting used to riding in a dressage saddle instead of a treeless endurance saddle. The endurance saddle is so comfortable I could sit in it all day, but it allows me to be lazy with my position, and it makes it hard to keep my legs in the proper place. The dressage saddle requires that I sit up straight or I don't feel well-balanced, and the knee blocks keep my legs from scrunching up and forward. As a result, I get tired and a little sore after about 35 minutes. I can feel my upper thighs, calves, and ankles are in a different position.

But Cleo moves so much better in the dressage saddle. The saddle pad and saddle, itself, are significantly behind her shoulders, and the saddle weighs even less than the 12 pound Bob Marshall. She didn't balk or refuse a single request, and her trot was free and floaty.

After riding, Cleo got new shoes as her 'reward.' We are all set for the next few weeks in terms of shots, footing, food, shoes, and lessons. Soon I need to clean and repair her blankets, and then we will be all set for the onset of winter and the rainy season. This year should be better than the last few now that we have a cover in her paddock. Fewer stalls to muck, dusty air to breathe, and stocked up legs from standing around. Now to figure out how to spend more time with her the semester I teach.