Find that smile

Thank you for all the support and loving comments on my last post, you guys are really amazing! I gave Slider a couple days off after the clinic and our next ride was done in a rope halter. One thing that the clinic highlighted was that I am not strong enough with my legs when I ride which leads to crookedness among other things. So I decided to effectively remove my hands from the equation. I also wanted to do something that I thought would be fun and joyful and hopefully fun for Slider.

Mission accomplished.

I was literally laughing out loud and grinning from ear to ear. Here I was on my three month ottb cantering around the ring in a halter. He was so perfect. The ride finished with my arms around his neck in a very heartfelt hug.

The next day we did it again. And I added in jumps. And obtained some proof of the awesomeness.

Life was starting to feel good again. My legs and seat were obviously effective. We were having fun. Maybe I wasn't a proverbial sack of shit.

This was the perfect prep for the show coming up that weekend. After the terrible clinic I'd scratched the show the next day, but the next weekend was the perfect schooling opportunity. We signed up for a ground poles derby and a cross rails jump only round. The goal was to eliminate crookedness and smile. Our goal was more than accomplished.

smiles found, recovery started.

From the racetrack to waterjumps and the journey inbetween

— redheadlins —