A perfect picture, indeed.

On Friday, I officially sold Brandi. The thought still invokes emotion, but in a good way. You see, I sold her to Tracy, for Mackenzie. They've been riding together, and doing really well with each other. Kenzie has really grown attached to her, and told me that she loves Brandi. And I can tell Brandi loves her. What a good little horse, with the most perfect girl for her. Here they are riding down to Lake Michigan today!

As usual, I didn't give Brandi enough credit. What an amazing little horse. Yes, Tracy whipped her in to shape the other week. She said it wasn't pretty. :) But, that's all Brandi needs. And look, now she is happy as can be with her new girl. :) I told Tracy that maybe someday if/when Kenz outgrows Brandi, I may buy her back. Funny thought! Heck, in several years I may be able to afford to have her and Tex both. You just never know what turns life will take.

As for Texas, I have not ridden him since the clinic. One, my saddle seems to slip from side-to-side on him. Two, I feel like I need to gain respect completely, and not be afraid AT ALL on the ground. I've been studying Clinton Anderson's method, joined his No Worries Club (mate!) and would like to purchase his Fundamentals package. I know me, and I have to make absolutely sure that I put that in to effect when I get it, and follow through! Clinton of course makes it look easy, like Tracy does. But I've also proven to myself that you only get better when you keep at it - CONSISTENCY! I can do it. Texas is such an easy-going boy and he is just what I need for my partner. In one of Clinton's books, I read that it's best for me to do three consecutive days of training in a row, in order for him to retain what he's learned. So, I need to sit down with my family and establish those days and make a plan for how things will run around here on those days. Maybe I can go up in the mornings before work - I've done that before, and hey, it'd be dark at night anyway! And really, what a great way to start the day. :) In the beginning, I won't need to wear my helmet so I can do my hair before I go. I have to think that one out for sure. :) But we're gonna do it.

We're gonna do it.

Get rid of the pressure!

I went up by Tex and Brandi last night, with plans of just taking it easy w/Tex, and giving him his wormer. I took him up to the arena, where Tracy was working his pasturemate, Scout. We just hung out for a bit, and I worked on him staying out of my space, giving me his attention when I ask for it, and I taught him to lower his head!! Yeah! I'm not sure if it's the right thing, but for now I think I'm just going to take it slow with him. Take it as it comes, do what's comfortable for us, and push the comfort zone little by little. I'm not in a race, and the more I'm around him and less nervous, the better it will be when we start riding in spring. I'm feeling good about this, now that I've taken the pressure off of myself. :) Texas is a good boy, and I'm going to bring out his best. :)

[SIGH]

So many thoughts.... oh, so many thoughts. I'm thinking of Jen right now - Jen and Chip. He's a 6 year old horse that she trained herself. She claims she didn't know what she was doing, and that there were moments where she was scared. But I look at Chip now and he's the quietest, calmest, most gentle horse - huh, reminds me of Leah. Wow, revelation much?

OK, I gotta go right now. Too much!! TOOOOO MUUUUCCCHHHH!!!

Another bad decision?

Again, I'm at a crossroad. Feeling lukewarm about a lot of things. I participated in Tracy's clinic on Saturday, where I rode Texas in the a.m. We did pretty well with groundwork, though I'm finding that he gives me issues when haltering and unhaltering. What I need to do is stick with him and not be afraid I'm going to get hurt. Relax and stay with him, like the guy on Clinton Anderson yesterday with the horse and blanket. It'll come. We did OK riding, but I think he may be getting confused on the pull back for whoa and pulling back to soften. There were a few times where I was yanking, HARD, to get him to whoa. We need to work on that a lot. Maybe more on the whoa before I go trying to get him to soften up. Let's get one thing down before we try another.

Moments before lunch, he got really antsy on me. What I didn't realize is that I was leaning to one side on him, and he was just moving away from the pressure. I need to become more aware of what I am doing to him. I still need to relax more. I got really scared for a few moments, then I hopped off. My saddle is loose on him, very tippy. He's not as wide as he will be, and skinnier than I'm used to. I have to practice my balance so I don't feel like I'm going to fall off.

I decided to ride Brandi the second half, but dumb me, didn't change the bit from Tex's to her shank. She wasn't exactly terrible, but she wasn't great probably because of the bit being too big. So I went to change her bit, but as I was walking down to the barn decided I was done. I put everything away, and I left. I wrote a note to Tracy asking her to call me later, but she didn't. She might be upset with me for just leaving. I hope not - I just didn't want to face anyone again. Plus, it was almost time to quit anyway. By the time I would have gotten her bit changed, they would have been finishing up.

I don't know that a clinic was the smartest thing for me to do with a semi-green horse. We need to focus on specifics, not jump from one thing to the next.

I am contemplating the Clinton Anderson DVDs, wondering if it would be a smart investment or a waste of money. If only I knew I would do it right and they would work. Still praying for a sign, for an answer, for direction. And trying so hard to just trust and rest in that.

TOUGHEN UP, Cowgirl!!!!

What a nice lesson tonight!! Tracy helped me so much, and we did some talking which always helps me feel so much better. Should be no surprise that I need to enforce RESPECT. The sooner I do it, the less I'll have to enforce it and deal with it. :) He's such a good boy, he seems to respond pretty well when it's done right. I'm thankful I have Tracy to help me!

If God gives you the ability to dream it, he gives you the ability to achieve it.

Terrific news!! Brandi's foot is about back to normal! Last night I went to check on her, took her up to the arena to lunge her, and she was giving me what looked like little steps that pained her. I almost immediately stopped. Thankfully, Tracy was there riding Xena, and asked if I could send her around again so she could watch. Well, Brandi had my number and was being totally lazy. Tracy told me to ask her to pick it up. Pinned ears and all, she bean trotting without limps!! I knew she was too smart for my own good. :) So now we'll watch her for the next couple of days to make sure she's on the mend. In the meantime, I've asked Tracy if she will sell Brandi for me. I think it's a smart decision - for 20% commission, I basically don't have to do anything. It's convenient - Tracy is almost always at the farm, she knows Brandi as well as - if not better than - I do, she's a good judge of whether or not a person is a good match or not, and she's done this MANY times before and is comfortable with it. It just makes the most sense.

I also realized something about myself this morning while getting ready for work. I am a learner. I love learning things. I seek out opportunities to learn things. So why should horse-learning be any different? The sense of accomplishment is great when a new thing I learned works out. I learned so much with Brandi, and now I will learn even more with Texas. I found Clinton Anderson on RFDTV and have been DV-Ring him so I can learn from him how he teaches a horse new things. I love how the horses respect him. I'm going to strive for respect FIRST, reward SECOND. At least that's the plan for this moment. :)

And so it shall be...

OK, so I've calmed down about feeling like I'm kicking Brandi to the curb. I put together her video for her "for sale" ad, though I feel a little sad, I know God will only let her go to a good home if I continue to ask him for that blessing. Things happen for a reason, and I have to accept it and move on now with Texas. I realized while reading all of those things I wrote about giving it a shot with Brandi, I wrote because I was trying to convince myself that that was the right thing to do. That I would fail if I decided to go another route. It's time I get honest with myself. If Tracy didn't think Texas was good for me, she would have told me not to buy him. And I had/have a strong pull toward him since I first rode him, so I need to feed on that. I kind of felt like once he was actually mine, I was afraid to do anything with him. Where before, I could just put him back and he wasn't my responsibility. Once I get Brandi sold, I will have Tracy put 30 or maybe even 60 days on him. Just like Brandi, he is only going to get better with consistent work. Who says it has to be me that's doing all of the work? So if I just do lessons all winter, we will be THAT much better for the spring riding season! And there is nothing wrong with just doing lessons right now. That's what we both need.

And so it shall be.

He's only four years old!

Yes, he's only four years old, but he is really good for four years old! He has much to see and experience yet, but he handles new things so well!! Put that together with some love, respect, and rock-solid trust, and you'll have a partnership that no one on this earth can deny.

A different perspective

So this morning after reading my daily devotionals, I had some thoughts. Thoughts about why I am always so fearful of things, and tend to think the worst outcome of a situation rather than enjoying the moment I'm in. For instance, when I walk the horses up to the arena, I try to do it with confidence, but instead I think my adrenaline is running so high that I'm more anxious than I am confident. I know they can sense that. I want to show them that I'm a good leader, but I think instead I am giving them reason to think "well, what's all the excitement about?!" Probably not a good way to start our time together.

But then I started thinking about all of the times I had dumb courage, and all of the times God brought me through, white as a lamb. I did some really stupid things in the past, took some really risky chances and came through them OK. If I now sit and think of doing those things, I think they are probably things you'd see on 20/20 where the person didn't fair so well. So, if God brought me through those things unscathed, why would he let me fall so hard with my hobby of passion - horses? HE WOULDN'T. And THAT, my friend, is totally and completely what I need to remember. I will hopefully never do anything totally blind or careless like I have in the past, but I should not have so much reservation for the "could happens". Yeah, I could get bucked off and break an arm during a trail ride, but chances are, I'd have a peaceful and relaxing trail ride with no events or injuries.

I also don't need to get caught up in "how good of a rider" I can be. My main goal is to communicate well and be a partner with my horse. I may not be perfect, but if we get along and become as one, I will have reached my goal. I enjoy watching horse and rider connect, and I want to experience that. And the only way to do that is to practice, practice, practice, and learn, learn, learn!

If Leah wouldn't have died...

If Leah wouldn't have died, I wouldn't have had to buy a new horse; but I might have anyway. If Leah hadn't died, we might still be living at the old house with the horses there; or we might not. If Leah hadn't died, I may have still thought she was challenging; I wouldn't truly know that she was about the best of the best and that she never would have 'exploded' or hurt me. If Leah hadn't died, I might have gave up altogether and just hung it up, thinking I'd never learn or be good at riding. If Leah hadn't died, I would never have had the challenge of Brandi, and grew as much as I did because of it. If Leah hadn't died, I might never have gotten to know Tracy, Moriah and Kenzie as well as I have. If Leah hadn't died, I probably never would have met Texas. If Leah hadn't died, we might not have moved, and mom might still be living in that apartment, unhappy.

Ultimately, Leah died because it was God's will. And even though I don't understand it and it still pains me to think of how good I had it and how I wish I would have been able to give her better, I have to trust Him. If I lean on him in all that I do, he will lead my paths.

Who lets me make these decisions, anyway?

I just read all of my posts up to this point (and I haven't posted in a few weeks) and I am literally sick to my stomach. I gave up. I gave up on Brandi, and what we might have had. I bought a new horse, and I feel like I'm kicking her to the curb. I told myself it was ok, I'd find her a good new home. But now I don't believe that. I feel awful - just awful. She gave me so much and I just ditched her.

While Brandi has been out of commission because of her suspected abscess, I asked Tracy to give me lessons on this new horse she had at the barn that she was selling for her friend Donna. Texas. Has a mark the shape of Texas on his nose. Totally cute, and a nice, nice boy. How it all started... I asked Tracy what his story was, and she told me Donna got him on a trade, but she is strictly a halter show person and needed to sell him b/c she had too many horses already. Tracy and Moriah both rode him and really, really liked him. Said he's so mellow, and nothing bothers him. BUT, he's only 3 years old. Now in my short "horse life" I've witnessed some younger horses that act better than older ones! Hello, Bess? Yes, I mean you. :)

So I did some lessons on him. Fell pretty much in love with him. Quiet, sane, and very easy going. He responded so well to me, I just felt ultra-comfortable on him. I asked Tracy for her opinion whether she thought it would be a good or bad idea for me to have such a young horse. She said she thought of course he'd need some time training, but that he wouldn't give me problems like Brandi did. Well who wouldn't be excited about that!?!? A quiet horse that was sweet and wanted to be around me? Sign me up!

So three days ago, I made it official. I met Donna, and gave her a check for more money than I've ever spent on a horse. And I've had a few, in case you didn't know. :) Now I own him, and I'm super-excited to do a lesson on my new horse! We do one Monday, and I start out by tying him to the hitching post outside of the barn. He wants to put everything in his mouth, so I decide to "discourage" that behavior with the end of his lead rope... that's a leather switch... I must have hit a little too hard once, because he flipped up his head, realized he was tied, panicked and pulled away, trying to rear. He pulls free of the halter, and runs off. Kenzie and I try to catch him, but now I'm frazzled. SIGH. BIIIG SIGH. Because frazzled means afraid. When I tried to walk up to him, he shied away and ran from me. The dogs, barking and chasing him, got him even more upset and made him run away bucking. Great - now I thought for sure I ruined what was supposed to be a great relationship with my new horse. Why would he ever want to be by me again if I cause him stress? OK, so Kenzie ended up getting him in the pasture, then re-haltered him and I took him back down to finish brushing before our lesson.

I took him up to the arena, and like everything else in my life, I couldn't just "let it go". I had to be nervous yet. I had wanted to try out the Bob Marshall saddle that a lady was selling through Tracy - she put it on him and I felt like the stirrups were too long. Both Tracy and Moriah said they looked good, but I just didn't feel "right" in the saddle. So she changed it for me to the Billy Cook I'd been using. That was definitely better, but I was still having a hard time focusing and relaxing. WHY? Texas was behaving perfectly. I could not let go of that incident, even though I'm sure Texas had about a minute after it happened. Oh God PLEASE, help me over this!!!

So the rest of the lesson kind of went south for me. I felt like I was re-learning everything all over again. As I tried to remember which leg pushed in to go right or left, I felt like a total yutz. I don't know how Tracy can handle giving me lessons - I must drive her berserk. Then, I couldn't decide where a good spot was for the reins, while I was trying to remember to keep my elbows bent and my hands still. If I focused on not bumping his mouth, I goofed on the leg cues or he went wherever he wanted. If I tried to steer him with the legs, and get him in a trot at the same time, I lost all focus. It was like too much at once. But why? I had done it with Brandi. I guess it didn't happen overnight with her, either. He deserves my patience and my gentleness, and I have to remember that. But, then during my lesson, Moriah is riding Tazer so beautifully. Perfect lope, and I think geez, I probably will NEVER be even half as good as her. Not in a showing sense, but in a communication and partnership with my horse sense.

So then last night, I go up to see how Brandi's foot is. She limps even harder, which tells us that the abscess is probably working it's way down and hopefully out soon. I need to put her up for sale, but something is stopping me. But I HAVE to. She will be better with someone else who can ride her more and spend more time working with her without fear like I had/have. I keep telling myself that, anyway. But then I put her away, and saddle Tex with my saddle. I lightly tie him in the arena while I go do something... meanwhile he is nosing/mouthing the saddle pad I hung on the half wall. It falls in the wall, and he freaks. Pulls away like he did on Monday, and pulls the lead with him and trots off. This time, he's not running after the fact. He lets me walk up to him and re-lead him over there. OK, that's a good thing, but it still frazzles me a little.

I decide to not think about it, and to do some ground work. I want to move his face away from me, so I do what Tracy showed me to do with Brandi, tapping the stick on him and not stopping until he complies. Two problems, here. He wasn't moving his face so I felt like I was nagging him, and then he tried biting/eating the end of the whip! Um, ok. How do I fix THAT?! I'm sure Tracy will have an answer for me. It was just a little frustrating that I couldn't figure it out on my own - like all things that I can't figure out on my own. Then I tried to lunge him. But everytime I tried to keep his nose pointed the right direction and got his hind-end to move, he'd turn in to me and then I couldn't ask him to move because he'd run me over! I tried to do the whip thing to my side so he respected my space, but ended up being a clutz and scaring him. Needless to say the last two days didn't go so swell. BUT, I am NOT giving up!!

Without tests, you cannot have testimony. God did not make me with the spirit of fear - I must remember the enemy is working against me and only when I rest in God's promise will I be safe from him. God wants me to try, and try again - be relentless, and NEVER give up. Though I am moving on from Brandi, ... I just can't even finish that sentence right now. WHAT am I going to do?

One step forward, two steps back...

I decided last week with Tracy that I was going to do 3 days a week training with Brandi for a month. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So last night was our first night - I go to get Brandi and we notice that she's walking a little funny. I swore I had been noticing a limp the last two weeks, and we chalked it up to her being ouchy from her trim. Tracy had given me a pair of EZ Boots to use and that seemed to help some, although she was still stumbly.

So I tack her up, walk her up to the arena, and she's pretty slow the whole way. I decide to put her in a circle to watch to see how she's moving, and there's a definite limp with some stumbling as she goes to the left. So there was no way I would be riding her. :( Tracy took a look at her foot, and asked if I wanted to try to treat it myself as an abscess first, then if it didn't improve I would need to call the vet. So, Kenzie and I ran to Fleet to get supplies, and Tracy showed me how to wrap it up. Should take about 3-4 days, then we'll check it to see if it opens up and drains out.

And before we discovered all of this, Tracy asked if I wanted to go riding with her and Moriah at the lakefront on Saturday. Sha! So I think I may ask Tracy if it would be ok if I rode Solita. I know she's a good trail horse and that way I could still go. :) As for Brandi, I'll keep watch on that foot and see how she does. Maybe next week we can start our training.

"Take everything you've learned and throw it out the window!"

So we horseback rode as an outing for work yesterday at Appy Orse Acres in Fredonia. Oh we had a good time alright, with lots of laughs. I thought it was pretty funny that me, being the only horse rider in the group, got on first and got yelled at!! I made Benji move before I was supposed to, then wasn't signaling him properly to move to the right... then I didn't have my reins on the correct side of the horse... sheesh! My friend Carol snuck over and quietly told me to forget everything I'd ever learned. :) While I had a ton of fun with them, I truly enjoy riding Brandi much more. She's so smooth and light on the bit, and I love riding direct rein. I guess neck rein is probably better, but I'm so used to direct rein now... I'll have to ask Tracy about that whole thing. :)

Benji was pretty good - he was a tad bit worried about the ginormous tent that was put up for the first time that day and that of course made me a little uneasy. But out on the trail he was good. I just wish I could get over the anxiety I feel sometimes. I need to remember to pray and know that God is with me and will never forsake me. There's really no reason to be afraid. If I think back on it, for every time I was ever afraid - the number of times I really actually had something to be afraid of is slim to none. Wow. That really is something to meditate on. Don't make a situation out to be more than it really is. (Um, hello? Mom and Grandma?) Brandi has never freaked out with me on her - maybe a spook or a tiny fit, but I have to remember that I know how to diffuse those things. And that I CAN'T STOP - I have to put her in to work afterwards so she knows it's no fun to be in those situations.

Woah, just read this: A test is required in order to have a testimony. Being an overcomer means you had to have something to overcome. May your life be a living testimony of God's power and love!

I want to be an overcomer! I already am to some extent, but I want more! :) Next week we're going to start 3 days per week training, and Moriah is going to work on taking Brandi out alone and desensitizing. I'm hoping this will help get me over my hump. I truly have nothing to be scared of. I just need to remember that when I'm IN the saddle! :)

I got a new attituuuude!!!!

Tonight I had my second lesson of the week. We worked on the same things we worked on Tuesday, but today was better. Better because Brandi was in a mellow state of mind, and better because I prayed and decided to let go and let God guide me. I prayed that I let go of my own thoughts and worries - and not let the enemy crud my mind up with scary things - and to listen and obey. It was challenging not to let my own feelings dictate, but I worked at it and in the end it paid off!

We worked on getting Brandi to move away from me at the shoulder. I need to remember to position myself better - at her nose - and to ask, ask, tell... and to STAY AFTER HER UNTIL SHE DOES IT. I sometimes give up too fast or confuse any movement with compliance. I need to work on that. We lunged, sending her away with the stick and the rope, then stopped her with the rope and our energy, praising her by rubbing her with the stick. She is SO CRABBY when that stick is near her! Tracy and I both think someone at some point must have misused one on her and that's why she despises it so much. But as time went on, she was less crabby, and we needed less stick. Tracy suggests that I work on those things a little bit each time I come out. I agree.

I ended the lesson IN SADDLE, which always feels so good to me. When I get to that point, I find myself not wanting to get OUT of the saddle! :) But it was getting dark and Brandi was ready. She did a really good job and I am quite proud of her. She showed bravery today, and I, of all people, understand that whole-heartedly. It's not easy to be brave sometimes - so I'm hoping we will learn to be brave together. Moriah once told me that sometimes she and Sadie are unsure of something, but together they trust each other and go through it together. That is the kind of relationship I am going to strive for with Brandi Jo. She's worth every bit of it.

Tracy also suggested that I ride out with someone as much as possible. Brandi does really good with another horse, so use those good experiences. I think I'm going to ask Tracy to do 30 days of training, but this time instead of on Brandi, 30 days on me WITH Brandi. :) We did so well when we worked every day together, and she really, really enjoyed it. I want to commit - I'm going to talk to Tracy about it on Saturday.

And, Moriah and I are doing trade-out for senior pics, so I am going to ask her to ride Brandi out alone and help me desensitize her. This is gonna be awesome!! That little horse is gonna be a gem I tell you. She already is in her own way. She let me love on her after our ride today. I really enjoyed her calmness, and hugging her warm neck and snuggling in to her mane. One year ago that would NOT have happened! She would have been in a fit, pushing and running me over! Aw, heck. She's a good horse - and I want to look back on this post after a ride on Brandi 10 years from now and laugh at the struggles I think are so rough... look back and laugh at how green I was and how green Brandi was, and remember just how glad I am that I didn't give up, on myself or on Brandi.

Sweet as candy.

The cutest thing last night - Kenzie grabbed a handful of sweet feed and fed it to Brandi. Brandi was in Heaven!! That little Kenzie is such a cool kid - well, really young lady. Hopefully I'll make time to bring her over here to scrapbook with me this winter! :)

We've come a long way, baby!

This morning on my ride in to work, I was thinking about how far Brandi and I have come together. There was a time when she would not stand still for anything. Running me over was the norm. To get a bit in her mouth? Sha. Wasn't happening. Oh, and trying to pick up her feet... not my favorite job to begin with, but she would make it into a fight. Then I think about lunging her - she would pin her ears at me and kick at me! Scary stuff, I tell you.

I came close to throwing in the towel. More than once. She scared me and I didn't think I would ever be able to handle her. But Tracy always encouraged me, and reminded me that there was in fact progress being made. She said to me on more than one occasion, "If you improve just 1% each time you do something, after doing it 100 times, you've improved 100%!" And that helped keep me going. As did a conversation I had with Tracy's daughter, Moriah, who at the time just turned 17. After Brandi threw a fit, broke away from my grip and ran out of the arena, Moriah caught her for me and asked me if I'd like to know what she would do in such a situation. I welcomed that more than she could know. So, she took Brandi in to the arena, and they went on for about 20 minutes or so ... Brandi rearing and pinning her ears, Moriah backing her up, and backing and backing, and lunging and lunging. It terrified me. In my mind, I would NEVER be strong like Tracy and Moriah and be unafraid when handling what seemed like such a handful of a horse. After Brandi finally settled down some, Moriah and I were chatting and I told her sometimes I felt like I may have bit off more than I can chew with Brandi. I half wanted sympathy and agreement, and to tell me that I should sell her and get a new horse. But instead, she looked me square in the eye and said "I don't believe that. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to. There is a good horse in there somewhere... you just have to bring it out." I was stunned. Stunned and impressed, humbled and embarrassed.

I've worked at things with Brandi, with great results. At challenging times, it's sometimes difficult to look back on accomplishments and remember that those, too, were once a challenge.

I'm happy to say that I rethought many things this morning, and was glad in the progress Brandi and I have made together. I helped her learn patience. I taught her that no matter what, I wasn't giving up on putting that bit in her mouth. I taught her that it's easier to do the right thing than it is to be naughty - well, most of the time. :) So, a year from now, in September of 2012, I'll be anxious to look back on this and see how far we've come since this day. Maybe we'll even be riding in a Labor Day parade somewhere!

Why is everyone so jumpy!?

I just took a drink out of my plastic water bottle, and it made the crackle noise which sent Daisy just about flying! Sheesh! Ironic? Yes. Because I just came back from a lesson with Brandi where we were working on her spookiness (or jumpiness). But Brandi jumping can be a lot more dangerous than Daisy - so that soo needs to get fixed.

'Twas a good lesson. I, once again, found myself wanting to watch Tracy do everything rather than do it myself. I felt safer that way, and I know Tracy knows what she's doing and won't get hurt. But seriously, what good does that do me? So when she called me over to take the reins (haha!) while Brandi was spooking and being jumpy, for a split second I froze, then reminded myself that I. HAD. TO. DO. IT. If I didn't, how would it ever get better? Stepping right through my comfort zone, I walked over and grabbed those reins. Albeit I had the training stick just about horizontal and in her face to make sure she didn't even THINK about running me over. :) Hey, it worked in that moment, and no one got hurt.

So a few things happened. Brandi spooked in the outdoor when we got near a cluster of bushes. She was quite unsure about what might be in there, or what might come out of there. Add to that two large Dobermans playing quite roughly, and we had a slightly nervous horse on our hands. Not horrible by any means - even I, in my sheltered experiences, have seen a horse act way worse than she was. She was nervous, yes, but all I needed to do was KEEP HER OFF OF ME. That's it! Dang, that's pretty simple, hey? Well, yes!

Funny thing - things seem so scary and complicated, until you learn the right thing to do and see just how easy it is to do it. It just takes some practice, some confidence, and remembering to pray. And remembering that I need to do it, then do it again, and do it again, and do it again, and do it again. CONSISTENCY IS KEY.

I am going to do two lessons a week for a spell, and one day by myself. Things to remember that Tracy has taught me: Set myself up for SUCCESS. Do what I'm comfortable with. When I succeed at that, move forward but don't feel like I have to do everything in a hurry. DON'T PUSH, and REWARD when she gives me a try.

Brandi is a great little horse. We've bonded, and I am starting to see her heart - she's letting me in. She gives me good honest tries... she really does. I mean, we have done that whole obstacle course numerous times - not everyone can do that! She still tries to be a little pushy, but we are both getting better at that whole situation. :) She's special, and with time, I do believe we will be a great parntership... God willing.