Off the left rein and moving forward.

I haven't updated in quite some time!  I'll spare you the sad song about how busy my life has been and talk about a few of the big happenings of the past weeks.

My proudest moment might have been on the 4th of July.  Alexis invited Lynn and myself up to the barn at which she works for a holiday trail ride.  Now, I'm a big chicken, and Alexis has no pity for me about that.  She's a great friend and helps push me through my scardey-cat moments, and she knows that in the end I'll forgive her (usually).

So, we tack up our horses and head out.  As we're climbing through the mountains, I'll admit I was freaked out about the height and steep drops that appeared along the not-so-wide trail.  Luckily, my horse was an adorable quarter horse (who reminded me of my once project horse, Buster, except with a brain) named Bert, who quickly reminded me that HE was the horse here, and not to worry, cause he wasn't going to listen to me anyway.

As we crested the mountain and the trail opened up to a large field, Alexis turned around and asked our group (Lynn and I, plus one boarder) if we were ready.  Before we could answer "Yeah!" or "For what?!", she took off with her horse, and before I knew it, I was grabbing mane in two point pleading with Bert not to trip and drop me on my face as his strides ate up the ground.  He was surefooted and lovely, and we had a blast.  We galloped through a few more fields before winding our way back down the mountain, and despite my hollering and praying as we ran, it was a fantastic experience and a takign a strange horse out in the open on strange lands was a HUGE step for me as a rider.

On the homefront, Gali has been making tremendous progress.  Nicole really makes us work in our lessons, and it's paying off for both of us.  He's finally getting off of my left rein, which means he is popping his shoulder less and less, and we're working on getting some impulsion into the contact.  His mind has never been more sound, and we ride regularly in the dark, in the open, and in the company of deer.  I haven't checked out the trails with him yet, but after a pathfinding mission on the always lovely Aya mare, I think I'm ready to take him out.

Galloping, trail riding Gali -- who AM I?!