MAKING time for this post

Things have been busy so the posts that have been percolating haven't been able to bubble onto the blog yet. But this? THIS?!?

I'M GOING TO THE WORLD CUP!!!!

(along with a few family members)

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday from dear hubby; happy birthday to me!

(a few happy tears were shed)

Dance lessons

Another warm, dry day to ride! Even though I try not to trample the fallen leaves into the sand of our arena, I really wanted to school today, so into the arena we went. (My DH swept up the leaves with the riding lawn mower this evening; yay!) It was one of those days when Lance felt frustratingly sloth-like, with NO available energy. Mind you, I was wearing my blunt ball spurs and carrying a dressage whip, but I didn't want to stab and smack him into moving. So (after warming up, of course) I asked Lance to canter, then got in two-point and urged him to go. We galloped around the arena a few times, then I brought him back and started the rhythm work in trot Julie had us work on at our last lesson. Lance responds very well to that simple exercise; it really does feel like we are practicing ballroom dancing: one-two-three, one-two-three. And I know the muscles and communication we are building will lead, in due time, to both passage and extended trot. But I'm enjoying every baby step along the way. ;-)

Boo

I had a chance to slip out for another ride through the woods today.

We rode past the peach orchard, scene of our scary ride in April, too. I am happy to say that no spooks came out to play today – and they haven't for quite some time. My big red goober has become a knight in shining invisible armor!

Seizing the moment

Today I had a short window of time between work and picking up my son from school. The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to break through thinning clouds, so I pulled on my breeches and ran to the barn to squeeze in a ride on my mental health mustang man. With no more than 30 minutes of actual saddle time available, we headed for the the neighboring hollow's gravel lane.

It was the best half-hour of my day. :-)

House calls and cutie-pies

Lance has been acting like his mouth is bothering him while eating, so after taking Brian to school this morning, Rick came back home to check him out. Lance has "horsey cold sores" (petechiae) again, poor guy. He also had some points, so Rick floated Lance's teeth, then gave both horses their rhino/flu and Potomac Horse Fever vaccinations. Then I led out my ram for Rick to examine; I had noticed during morning chores that Blake was squinting his left eye. No wonder; Rick pulled out a big, nasty grass seed head!

As he was putting his vet equipment back in the truck, Rick asked me if I wanted to ride along on a couple calls. I had things I needed to do, but in appreciation for his help I decided to be a sport. At one of the barns we visited, this flashy Hackney pony caught my eye:

I call him Puzzle, because his wild facial chrome reminded me of a puzzle piece. :-)