Mellow in Yellow

FIRST BLOG IN MAY! YAY!!
I am FINALLY finding a scrap of time in my busy schedule this week to blog about the little man. It's the last week of classes here at the University of Arizona, so you know what that means: I am glued to my computer and homework. I was lucky enough to find some time last weekend as well to go out and ride Dr. Josephine (he has a Ph.D. in cute). He was amazing, but I was leaving something to be desired for. I felt kind of poorly about my riding this day. I was hunching VERY badly over fences. I was/am so EMBARRASSED! Other than that, it was a decent ride over fences. He was listening very well, but surprisingly lazy! I don't think I have felt him that lazy in a long time, which was kind of nice for a change! He really challenged me to begin riding off of my leg more instead of off of my hand to slow him down! (which made me sore, that punk!!) Here are some pictures of our over fences work, he is just too darn cute! :))

See what I mean about the hunching?!

This was probably our best fence in the lesson.

He was jumping quite well!

We did have but one dorky moment though. The first time we went over the roll top, he looked pretty much straight down at it which going over it. It was absolutely hysterical. I can't help but include those pictures too :D (as a disclaimer, please excuse my position...hehe)

"MOM WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?"

now...LAUNCH!!

We worked a BUNCH on the flat too, and let me just say, the work Sarah did with him in dressage makes him just SO much fun to play with on the flat. He is (sometimes) really willing to work, and since he has those bouncy pony gaits to him, it's easy to ride him without stirrups at the flat. ;) I took that opportunity to do some without stirrups work, but I also figured "hell why not, lets try some harder stuff than working on being collected and not behind the vertical!" I was asking him to move laterally and even tried for some shoulder in! (that one needs a TON of work...but there is always this weekend!) He was moving laterally pretty well, though!! He was a little bit resistant to my aids though, but I absolutely love how much he makes me work, and every ride makes me a test a different skill set. I think that's something that really helps me improve as a rider :) Here are a couple photos of little Josephine showing off his moves :) 

LOVE this one!! Look how well he is crossing over behind!

lol@my equitation, but he was soo good!!

We have REALLY been working to keep him in front of the bit,
and i think it's paying off!

We also got to have our lesson with Abby and James, and Brenda and Pepper!! I absolutely adore riding with those two. Its so much F-U-N!! Abby and James are just absolutely incredible to watch. They simply FLY. And I love being able to see Brenda take charge of her pony. It's so sweet, she always comes off her fences smiling. It really shows how much she actually loves the sport, and (no matter how disrespectful her is) her pony.

I think that's all I can say about this last ride for now...at least that I can think of!! There is a horse show this weekend (May 5th and 6th). Tons of people from my barn are showing (not Josephine or I though!) so I will definitely blog about how awesome they are when the time comes. I can't say anything else except this one last thing: I LOVE MY BARN!!