I sat on Dahli today

[Tsiyu]

2. I haven't ridden in so long.

Last week, a co-worker offered to pick up my horse and me this fall and take us riding at the Walls of Jericho (TN.) It's hard to ride in my neighborhood because of those who think the roads are their own personal racetrack. But I need to get my gal in shape for trailriding this autumn.

The horse I ride hasn't had a lot of formal training but is the child of awesome parents, her dad was all western pleasure champs and her mom has some of the finest Arab blood. (Her mom and me were a pair on many many miles in Cades Cove. Mom was surefooted as hell but a little spooky. Daughter is the same.)

I always have to lunge (longe?) her for a little bit before I try to get on. Let her work out the excess energy a bit. And she is the same as Dahli about the evasive maneuvers when trying to get up. I've learned to swing my leg over and be ready to move, have the reins collected (not tight but making contact) before she can think about where she's gonna go try to knock me off.

Just kidding about that part. She likes going for a ride, she just wants to keep moving. And she is an easy keeper, a hawg.

Have fun. I can't wait til the weather cools and I can start training my younger mare again.