YAY new saddle!

:) :) :) :) :)

I finally got to ride in my new saddle last night. I love it...it fits us both really well and is suuuper comfortable. A way better fit for me than my Wintec was. I might have to punch holes in the stirrup leathers though, which will be a pain, because I have no idea HOW you punch holes evenly in two separate leathers. Oh well...I'm hoping they don't stretch too much and I can keep them on the top hole.

It's weird getting used to leather again...it's kind of creaky, but I love it. I need to clean it well, and my bridle. I don't know that I've EVER cleaned my bridle...EEK! So I'm determined to take better care of it and my saddle from here on out.

Jen came out with me and set up some jumps for me. We warmed up with flatwork and he was really relaxed...more than I've felt him relax in a long time, especially since he hasn't been ridden since I fell last week. He was mostly above the vertical, but he wasn't really flipping his head or anything, so it didn't bother me. It took a few tries because I'm out of shape and haven't been working on it, but we got the right lead! I think I'm gonna stop riding with spurs till I get back in shape. They're just baby spurs, and when my leg muscles are strong, I can keep a steady leg...but right now, I'm slip sliding a little, and I don't want to accidentally get him with them.

Then we JUMPED! Yay :) We did a crossrail with a few strides to a 2' vertical, and he was so cute. He rushed a little at first, but we didn't run out or refuse anything...I need to keep working on looking UP though. She also set up a little arrowhead for us, and he was a star...he was a little confused at first, and tried to jump the side, but once he figured it out, he was good to go. he even went through it pretty straight! Yay!

I have a lesson tonight, so hopefully it goes well. I'll update tomorrow, if I'm not in agony from sore muscles!

New saddle and other fun stuff!

Sometime in the next week or two, my new saddle will be here! I'm super excited :) It's an older Crosby Olympia, but in great condition. I can't wait to try it out. Hopefully it will be a better fit than the wintec was. Luke's not too picky or hard to fit, so it will probably work out as long as it works for me.

We might be going to a dressage clinic on Saturday too :) If Molly's dad doesn't have to work and can take us, we'll be going to a little barn down the road for a ride-a-test clinic. It would be a great experience for Luke, who will hopefully not spaz out at everything. Silly boy.

On the 27th, we're going to a dressage show in North Canton. Hopefully that goes well too. I might make someone else ride him :)

Mini camp at South Farm is next month...crazy that it's coming up so soon. I'm sooo excited for it. That will probably be the first mini trial we show at too. I could possibly get a ride to Stone Gate on the 28th of this month, but I seem to have really bad luck there. I probably need to suck it up and go and have a good experience and get over it, but I'm nervous to now. It's like a mental block or something.

Hmm, I think that's all for updates. Luke had a couple of weeks off because his feet were long, but he just got new shoes yesterday and I was very impressed with the new farrier. Hopefully we have a few good rides soon that I can post about.