Sunday was a lovely spring day, warm and sunny, the perfect day for sleeping on one's side with legs stretched out. Which I did. Repeatedly during the day.

Luc went first in the working. He seemed to very much enjoy his ride. Partly because I was jealous and partly because of the aforementioned weather conditions, I decided that it was a good day NOT to work. Fortunately for me, Mom agreed. Unfortunately for me, she decided that if I didn't want to work, I was going to run around. When will I learn?

I ran and ran and ran. Luc ran with me from time to time but mostly he stood in a corner and watched me run. When I was soaked in sweat and breathing hard, I let Mom catch me and hose me off. Again, I ask, when will I learn? I would have worked much less hard if I had just gone to work!

Monday about midday we were very surprised to hear our horsebox being hitched up. We looked at each other in surprise, and then looked to see if our mistress would come for us. Sure enough, she did, and with mints in hand, which meant no messing around. We both decided it was in our best interest to cooperate, so we loaded up and headed off down the road.

We went to the Big Barn. When we got there, we were led together into the barn, and we stopped at Pegasus's stall so that Luc could go in there. I was intended to wait beside my human until Luc was settled, but I knew I was going into the next stall so I just put myself in there and watited patiently. When my human realized what I had done, she laughed out loud and told me I was the best girl ever. :-)

She took Luc out to ride him in the field. He came in smiling and said it was tons of fun, that he did everything just right and she didn't have to raise her voice to him not once. I've had enough of his cocky attitude. I vowed to be BETTER than he was.

Before I went to work, I got to meet my new Aunt Kim and her horse Henry, who is almost my twin except that he's a Quarter Horse and he's a he. But he's the same color and he has identical markings to me. He's very nice too. He and I and Heart all got saddled up and went for a trail ride, down the road, through the hay fields and then down along the river. It was lots of fun. We just walked and I was soft and stretchy and used my back nicely.

When we got back, we headed out into the field for some work. I was good, not great, but I tried. I wanted desperately to be showy and to run hard but I knew I shouldn't so I really tried. I didn't use my back well but I did use my neck well, which was good enough for some nice praise. We jumped a few small jumps at the trot and I responded well to half halts in the canter, and then a long walk until I was cool.

Right as we got home, it began to rain, which made for just enough mud for a delicious roll!

Here are a few more lovely shots of myself from the Open Barn. More pictures are posted on the website!

Monday was a holiday for most people, myself included. Not so lucky Luc, who had to work for the first time in a while. However, he seemed to really enjoy his ride and I was almost jealous. Almost, and then I remembered how hard I had to work the day before.

Later on Monday Mom and Dad came to the barn with the truck filled with brand new hay out of the field! We only got a little bit because it was very fresh and rich, but it sure was yummy!

Wednesday we got an extra day off because it rained all day long. It was a nice rain though, and we had hay - so we didn't mind a bit!

Today when Mom came into the pasture with a halter in her hand, I went right to the forefront and said, me please. This made her smile, and I was in a mood where that made me happy. We had a nice groom and then we saddled up and got started. I have learned that if I come out relaxed and supple, then I am allowed to pick what kind of horse I am for the day - saddleseat, field hunter or dressage. But if I am tense, stiff, unbalanced or otherwise not soft, then my lot is to be that of a dressage horse until I get soft. Mom likes to say that dressage is the cure for the ordinary horse. Today was a dressage day.

We did some suppling at the walk and then went into the trot. We trotted for what seemed like forever, on the circle, using an opening rein and a firm inside leg until I softened around the leg and bent my body. When I did this both directions then we left the circle and if I stayed relaxed I got to have a little rein; if I stiffened up, it was back to the circle. When I had done this enough to please the slave driver, we walked a piece and then went to the canter. Same exercise in the canter. Throughout the ride, I tried very hard and my downward transitions were very balanced and I did not fall on the forehand. In fact, I got to do a canter to trot which I am never allowed to do because done improperly, this transition promotes rushing downward and an unbalanced trot, but we gave it a try today and I managed to nail it. We then trotted a bit more and I began to really ask for the rein and use my back and stretch. We finished with my favorite thing, jumping over the bigger jump. I was not expecting to go to the jump so I was a little stretchy and had to really jump around the jump so I jumped rather big but I enjoyed the feeling in my back and my rider stayed with me so it was all good!

Monday was a lovely spring day but Mom had a bunch of stuff to do so we got to just hang out and be horses. Truth be told, I think she just needed a day with no horses in it! Hard as it may be to imagine that anyone would ever want a break from my beautiful self, I can see it happening.

Wednesday I was highly motivated to work. I accepted the halter readily and after a cursory grooming we got right to the work. I thought it would be a day I wouldn't enjoy because we started out with some walking and walk/halts, but I must have satisfied the minimum requirements because we quickly went on to bigger and better things. Quite a bit of trotting, not much cantering, no jumping. I was asked to be slow, balanced and cadenced and I warmed to the topic at hand quickly. After, we took a walk up to the road and into the area next to the house to have a look at all the small plants growing there. I felt like a ranch horse, carrying my rancher around to survey the crops.

Friday was supposed to be a day that Luc went first but I stepped up to the plate and said I'd like to go, so I got to go first. As it turned out, Luc went not at all, because when it was his turn he ran away and Mom said, "fine, be that way." Kind of spoiled his fun. At any rate, it was a good thing I didn't pull that stunt because I quickly revealed myself to be quite toxic! I broke out in hives in several places during what turned into a very complete massage. It was supposed to be quick and somewhat perfunctory, addressing my known problems but I stated that I was a mess and had the hives to back it up. I had tightnesses in all kinds of other places than usual, so I had a very thorough massage.

After the massage, I tried hard in my ride. I did lots of balanced transitions, not falling on the forehand in my downwards. I tried hard not to get tense and stiff in the back, but to swing my back muscles, newly released, and cover ground with my stride not my speed. I got to jump my higher jump several times and I was really jumping around the jump, not over it, by arching my back and using my whole body, lifiting my legs to my body instead of making sure that all of my parts were above the jump by overjumping and letting legs dangle.

Saturday I came strongly into heat and the decision was made that I should get the day off. :-)

Today I proved mildly toxic in muscles, releasing hives at two locations, but highly toxic in attitude. I wasn't too bad during the grooming, and even when the baby chickens were near me, and another hen tried to pass too close, and one of the mother chickens attacked her, and the two battling hens bounced off my leg a few times, I stood just as still as a stone. But I was really quite ugly about the work I was asked to do. I didn't want to be, honest, but the hormones, they make me act in a most unpleasant way. However, we managed to salvage something good out of the ride and the last thing we were to do was a lovely animated saddleseat type trot, my reward for having grasped the concept of moving my back, not my legs, and so we were doing this lovely trot and it felt so good and I just slid into the canter and it was so relaxed and yet powerful and so we went a little faster and that was just so inspiring that I... well, I bucked. Hard. Like a bronco. And then threw my head up and bashed my rider in the head. Well, the visor of her helmet, so not really her head, but still, it scared me... She spanked me most soundly and then made me work - hard - another ten minutes, so I'd say I learned my lesson. Then we walked for the longest time until I was cool, and then I had a most difficult shower, because the water was turned on my head and left there until I stopped arguing, which, since I hate water on my face, was quite some time....

However, once the Chinese water torture was over, there was a mint and some grass and I quickly forgot my snit and the rest of the day I was quite loving to my mother and even came over to say hello to Uncle Tommy when he came to see the baby chickens. We got to go back out in our grass after another five days in the shade paddock, and we cavorted a bit and put on a little show for the neighbors outside watching us! We love an audience!

Thursday had some delicious rain, so on Friday the pasture was still a bit too wet for any serious riding, so we had massages instead. I quite enjoyed mine, shoved my sore parts into the hands of the masseuse to make sure she got them all. In fact, I broke out in hives across my right hip, showing that I was releasing the toxins that were bound up in my muscle!

Saturday afternoon, when it was time for us to be fetched for working, we looked at each other and said, "you know, we haven't had a good hard run in some time..." and so instead of being sweet and cooperative, we took off running and we ran, hard, for about 20 minutes. The weird thing was, though, that our human just stood there watching us the whole time. She didn't send us around and didn't really participate, except that when we'd stop, she'd approach us to see if we were done - which we were not. When I was running, she'd stare at me with this creepy smile on her face. I mean, I know I am gorgeous and I am moving better than ever these days, but still, it was creepy the way she'd just watch.

Finally she gave up and went to get a mint. Luc dove for the mint but I remained aloof, so he went to work while I stayed behind. After his session, she tried again with the mint but I was having none of it, so she went for a bucket of grain and after she dumped it in the feed pan and pretended to walk away, I came in for a bite and decided it was too much work running away.

My bad mood carried over into the ride. I was tense, uncooperative and generally not a pleasure to ride. My rider really gave it to me - I feel like this was the first time she really stood up to me, totally and completely and didn't back down if I was being scary - which I did a little of. She was really tough on me, saying "You were rude to me, I can give it right back." She made me carry my head lower than I like, and forced me to go slow, instead of inviting me to go slow. She made me travel like a snail in the canter; not collected, which is shorter, smaller steps, but full sized steps that just went slower. It was hard and I got mad, but we got it done. When she turned me out I heard her tell the chickens that today she loved me but didn't like me all that much. The feeling was totally mutual.

However, we did get to go out on our grass for several hours, so that was very nice. It had been mowed the day before, so we had access to all kinds of green bits, and we very much enjoyed our several hours there before we went back to the shade paddock and our hay. I am getting quite a round belly from the hay; my girth is two holes looser than it was a week ago!

We got a chance at redemption today. We had our breakfast and then an hour later we were let out onto the grass for the day. About midday we were approached, mint in hand, and we had both learned a lesson about being rude so we about knocked each other down, trying to get to the mint. I won.

This ride I was significantly improved. We trotted a long time, and if I wasn't quite stretchy and swinging my back, at least I wasn't tense and hollow. We trotted over the log a few times and I was soft and easy and could go with a loose rein, so we had a go at the bigger jump, which stands about two feet tall. I jumped it with a nice arc, if a little stiff in the neck. After a brief walk, I did some canter which was again better than yesterday but not as good as it has been recently. Another walk, then some trot, and over the big jump again, with much improvement in the neck. We circled around and jumped back over it from the harder side. Stiff neck again, so we tried another time and this time I was perfect. I landed in a soft quiet canter and went around a bit staying soft and quiet and I got to canter over the log. We quit on that note, had a nice long walk for cooling out and a mint and then a good roll in the dirt. Later on, it rained and cooled things off nicely and made just enough mud for rolling in!

Sunday following our party was rainy and so we spent most of the day standing under the trees and eating hay. We got some carrots and some nose kisses but that was about it.

Monday was raining for part of the day and we got another day off with just a nice grooming and some more nose kisses.

Tuesday we were all ready to do some running around but Mom came home late so we had to settle for some snacks and some nose kisses.

Wednesday midafternoon I was so ready for some attention! When she came in with the halter, I walked right over and said, "me please". We had a nice groom and some simple massage and some leg stretches, and then we saddled up and went to work. I have decided that the rides I like best usually start with jumping over the log on the way to work, and this was no exception.

We walked a short piece, and then trotted through the woods and over the log. Then we trotted for what seemed like ages. The last couple weeks I've been mostly training in "war horse" frame and been encouraged to be upright and showy. Today I was invited to a more dressage shape and asked to concentrate on my body and my balance. All the canter I've done lately has made me more fit, so now I am able to work on finesse.

I am learning that if I lower my head a little bit, from the shoulder, not by flexing in mid-neck, it allows me to lift my back and that allows me to reach under myself with my back legs, thus giving the famous Arabian power stride that covers so much ground with little effort. When I started doing this I kept tipping onto my forehand, so I had to have a little help to stay perfectly straight so that I could use all four legs evenly. "Straight" when making a circle or turn means being bent just exactly as much as the turn that is being made.

After several changes of direction at the trot I was really starting to get it, and so we went over the log five times. I didn't even break from the trot, that is how balanced I am in my trot jumps. After a brief walk, we worked on canter. I am getting better about not rocketing off from the preparation leg aid, but we still had to spend some time working on that. When I would stay soft and supple, the transition was wonderful and the resulting canter easy and enjoyable. When I tensed, stiffened and launched, the canter was uncomfortable and awkward and I'd break in a few strides if I hadn't already been brought down to the walk. I started getting the idea and then I discovered that if I lowered my whole neck and lifted my shoulders a little, the canter was so easy that I could do it for much longer! Occasionally I'd loose my balance and tilt forward - sometimes I'd slip down into the trot and sometimes I could be rebalanced and fix it myself.

After I had several successful canters each direction, we walked a bit more and then did some trot, finishing up with one last lovely canter. Today was quite the hardest workout I've had in a while, not counting last week's ride in the field which didn't feel a bit like work because it was such fun. I am ready again to go out on a field hunt so I hope I get to go soon!

My pictures are now posted at the main website, and videos of me, Luc and everyone else on the YouTube link, so if you haven't seen them -go have a look!

Wednesday I thought we might have the day off, having had such a busy day the day before. In the afternoon Mom came out into the pasture. We went to see her and she petted our velvety noses and then said, "shoo". I kid you not, that's what she said. So we shooed. She took a bunch of pictures of us but only a few were any good:

We didn't go very hard or very long because we had just been adjusted the day before. Then she caught me and took me in and brushed me very thoroughly and then put on all my fine green and gold clothes again, took me up to the circle and rode just a couple of minutes each way, to be sure that I wasn't going to be bothered by things swinging all around me. As if. I am unflappable!

Thursday we did some running around, but just a little. Friday she came to get me, I told her no way, so she took Luc instead. Immediately I felt bad and ran to the gate to say I was sorry but she ignored me. She and Luc had a nice ride and I stood and stared at them and tried to make them feel bad but it did not work.

When it was my turn, I was in a bit of a mood. I was well behaved enough to get started, but after we warmed up a bit and I was asked for the canter, I gave one single solitary good hard buck. Then I was done with it and I was in a pretty good mood. We didn't work long, just going through all the gaits a time or two.

Saturday bright and early here she comes as if to feed us, only instead, she took us and put us in the horse box. Up to the Big Barn, in the stalls, food. That part was good. A couple of the other horses came in and then she was running around doing all this stuff. I asked Luc what was going on. He said, "remember that big party last year that you thought was all for you? It wasn't. We have one every year and this is it." At first I was offended, but then I got it - that's what the fancy clothes stuff was about! I get to show off. Cool...

After a while people started to show up, and a little bit later, she came and got me and took me outside:

Then I went back inside and waited while Leah and Luc did theirs, then it was my turn again:

Check out the fancy clothes! I felt just like my ancestors the war horses! After that, I stood around a little bit more, and then she came to get me to go ride again! This wasn't with music or for anything special, this was just for fun. Luc was being ridden by someone else so that was kind of fun, to ride together, and some other people were riding so I got to be a real horse and I enjoyed that. We rode all around the field and did some canters and a few jumps and then we went back and rested until it was time to go home.

Once we got home, we went into our shade pasture with a big pile of hay and a big tub of water. What more can a horse ask for???

Wow, I've been so busy I haven't even had time to share!

Let's see if I can recall the high points...

Sunday was a day just for me. I had a massage and a wonderful bareback walk in the pasture, because it was just a little too slick for working but perfect for bonding.

Monday it rained all day, so lots of sleeping and eating new grass.

Wednesday we worked on transitions until my legs fell off. Tons of walk, six strides canter, walk, five strides trot, walk, six strides canter... you get the picture. However, I felt well used and my muscles were singing at the end of the session.

Thursday it was totally dry and we ran and played and leaped our logs.

Friday Mom came out to get Luc first, and I stepped forward and told her that I would like to go instead, and she just melted and got all silly and fussed over me. Fine by me. We worked a good hard ride, lots of canter and I was super stretchy and working into the reins almost from the beginning. I was so good that we got to jump a few logs at the trot. Fun.

Saturday we ran around and got really sweaty.

Sunday when she came to get us, we looked at each other and said, last session was really hard, let's boycott! and so we ran for a little while but she didn't give up so finally we did. And we cantered up the hill from the gate and right over the log and I never batted an eye. We went on to do a good bit of jumping along with a whole lot of moving from collected to stretchy and back again. I was pretty pleased with myself. And I got another bath, a real bath this time, squeaky clean!

Monday I got groomed and while I didn't get ridden, I did have some weird clothes put on me. All green velvet and gold tassels and I gotta tell ya, I looked pretty darn smokin' in the outfit. I'm not sure what it's for, but I wanna wear it again!

Today, Tuesday, we got in the horsebox and rode up to the Big Barn. At first it seemed like just another day until one by one, all the other horses came in to their stalls. That was when Luc got a funny look in his eye and he said, I know what this is about... a little while later a strange man came into the barn. He went from stall to stall doing something to each horse. When it was my turn, he patted my neck, then jabbed a sharp object into my neck and attached a tube through which my blood drained! Aaaahhh! I felt myself going faint. Surely I would die from the loss of blood! That was when Luc told me to suck it up and deal, that is was only a tiny fraction of all my blood and no way was I going to succumb. So I snorted and pretended I was a lot tougher than I am. He took my blood to test and be sure I do not have a horrible communicable disease. I do not, of course, because I am perfect!

After a while I got saddled up in the pretty green saddle. We went out into the field and I stood like a stone while Mom climbed up. We headed out and walked all around the big fields. Then we trotted for a quite a bit and right from the start I was soft and supple. We jumped over a small jump and I landed in a canter and from there we cantered for at least fifteen minutes without stopping, all around and up and down and through this cool thing called a bank, where I had to leap up about a foot and a half because that's where the ground went. And over a log here and there, and then some walking, and then more cantering, and then more trotting and a few more logs, and then I was sweaty so a shower and then, finally, a nap!

Later in the day, we got to go outside in the sun and eat the grass around the barn while we waited until the wonderful Spine Lady came to see me. I hadn't seen her in quite a while and I was stuck in my left neck, at the middle and at the base, and a little stuck in both hips, though nothing all that bad. I was a perfect lady although I did not release my tension very easily. But at last I sighed a big sigh, licked and chewed. It was a pretty eventful day and I had fun but it was nice to get home, eat my own grass, and roll in my own dirt!