A Mazing

Some great adventures over the last few days that I've finally got time to re-live.

Thursday and Friday nights I rode with a friend who was prepping for a weekend show, at the arena up the road. Never get enough time with this fantastic friend and had a blast. Max is really coming along. It has been almost an entire year and I finally feel like we are moving closer to that elusive seemless connection. I am asking for my space more, both on his back and on the ground.

Someone else with some kind of equine education climbed up on his back in recent days and I felt much better about the conversations we do have. What I manage to make seem easy is in fact quite difficult with this boy. Yahoo! Two riders were amazed at how much physical effort was required for the most simple tasks.

One particular session that really seemed to be a turning point for us was working on our canter departures and doward trasitions in our 110x120 outdoor arena. I think the lack of visual barriers (walls) helped him to feel more comfortable as, the next two rides - in the indoor - his confidence and balance was much improved.

This weekend held a first outting for Maximus. We attended a local horse show, a few miles from home. I have to say he blew my expectations out of the water. 100+ horses - no problem. Childrens Choo-Choo Train tooling around - no problem. Flags, tents and garbage debris flapping and floating around - no problem. Children zipping about, yodeling - no problem. He was phenomenal. Even stood around like a gentleman for 20 minutes to watch the show and allowed me to use all manner of obstacles to mount up from. - Really should punch more holes in that girth!! I might then be able to spring up from the ground... spring... hmmm. Whatever there is left exisiting of that, at this point in my life.