So I got the great opportunity to drive down to Texas this past weekend to get some lessons in on Stoney since, to my dismay, he is still down at Mike's. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited that he is down there and getting the beneficial training in that he needs, but I've missed him greatly.
I got down there Friday afternoon after getting stuck in loads of traffic and taking a needed trip to Walmart, and although it was one hundred degrees out, I wasn't going to not get on him after I hadn't seen him in three weeks. So when I finally got there, I hopped on and did some light flat work. The second I started to trot him around, I could tell a major difference, but it wasn't until I put him into a canter that I noticed how incredibly different he felt and how much Mike and Heather had improved his overall frame with how he carries himself. They'd drastically changed him in only three weeks. He looked like a different horse when looking at him in the mirrors.
Oh, and did I mention that he was about as strong as a rock? I mean, don't get me wrong, he was still his lanky and nonplump self (which is understandable when he's getting worked hard every day), but it was the fact that none of the weight he contained was fat anymore. He was pure, muscle. You could accurately compare him to Matthew Morrison who plays Mr. Schuester on Glee. Tall and lanky, yet unexpectedly hiding a six pack underneath it all. Yes, I just compared my horse to an actor from Glee. Coming back from my awful yet creative analogy, I'll say that his top line was like a rock, and every time I went to pat him on the butt, it took me by surprise at how firm and developed the muscles in his hind end had become. Now that he had been forced to carry himself in the correct frame, he was finally building the correct muscles that I've been struggling to develop in him.
A picture from Friday afternoon. I love my boy (:
Because I got so excited and carries away with this, let me back up just a little. When I first arrived, Stoney did not show hardly a bit of excitement when he first saw me. It was kinda disappointing, yet not really surprising. It wasn't until after I'd ridden him and given him carrots (part of my needed Walmart trip) that he started to act like he missed me. Pshh. Boys.
So Saturday started at 8 am for Stoney and I. Heather showed me what they'd been working him with, a nice little contraption that he's been living in so he learns his "new life" and "new way" of forever carrying himself. Riding him, even for 45 minutes, took everything I had.
A great description of our morning lesson --> Lack of riding on my part + body disagreeing with the strenuous work + EXTREMELY strong horse + moderate heat all = a great challenge for me.
I know I know. I'm a wimp.
I later rode at 12ish that day, where I then jumped Stoney with the nice contraption on.
Another great description --> Not having jumped since Greenwood + stronger horse + tired horse + tired me + 100 degree weather = Heather yelling at my much deserved self.
I had already mentally prepared myself for the yelling from Heather since I was very rusty and a little weaker so it didn't bother me. I actually enjoy the trainers who chew me out. Those are the ones that I get the most out of and thrive with. Weird.
So after an exhausting day for the both of us, I went and took a two hour nap, ate, then slept for eleven hours, still exhausted when I went for my 10 30 lesson on Sunday. Let me just say, Sunday was still a struggle for me, but it was an improvement from our jump session on Saturday. Heather left the contraption a bit looser to see if Stoney would still travel in the correct frame and jump in the correct frame, even when he had a bit of leeway, and the good boy did. We even got a couple of smooth flying lead changes in that Heather was pleased with since she has been making me incorporate those into our warm ups and they're still a struggle for him.
I left sore, but satisfied. And I also left with a raw inside knee. Old habits are always the most painful. Literally. It is always made clear when I haven't ridden enough because of the nasty rubs I get the pleasure of developing on the inside of my left knee, only the left, from my legs being weak and not supportive enough, resulting in me gripping with my knees like an idiot. It's the day after, I can't move an inch without feeling pain, and however, it's the best feeling ever (with the exception of my raw skin). This weekend was like a nice little wake up call to my body who was overly gracious for the break it was taking advantage of. It was about time it had to put in some strenuous work again. Heellooo wake up call.
I am now positive that if I hadn't gone down this weekend to ride Stoney, Texas Rose (two weeks away now) would have been an ultimate disaster. Remember how in an earlier blog I said Texas Rose would either go horribly wrong or shockingly good? Yeah. It would have gone WAY horribly wrong. I'm afraid if I hadn't gone this weekend, I wouldn't be able to ride Stoney to the best of my capabilities, nor would I have been able to support his strong self. I am so so happy I got lucky and was able to go down there. And although it was so hard leaving my baby boy again, I thankfully will be seeing him in less than two weeks. About 9 days to be exact (: Gah, I'm so excited. BUT, before I get to see my boy again, I will first be embarking on my trip to North Carolina the day after tomorrow to Southern Pines, where I will finally meet Will. I'm positive that some excitement awaits for me!
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