Me and T

Dada says that T loves riding with me. That would be cool.

T knows my movements and is good at doing what I want and suggest with the reins and my eyes. She tries to ignore the crazy moves of my body. My gyrations do knock her off rhythm some so it is much better to sit straight, I know. But she is good at knowing to turn right when I turn her head right, even if I lean a little left.

I rode Wednesday with a bigger than usual audience/entourage. No other riders came so I had three sidewalkers. Watching from the side were Mom, Claren and a sidewalker's mom.

We rode straight lines and circles sand did some leg yielding, my new favorite.

I was glad to do the straight line to mimic entering a ring at competition because I know that is one of the most important moves. You are making your first impression on judges. I was pretty good, or should I say T was.

I don't know if Dada is purposely trying to teach me to ride circles based on feel, not the letters on the ring, but that is what is happening ... I hope. She will say 10-meter circle to your left or 20-meter circle to your right. They look about the correct size.

The hardest part about leg yielding is that I feel like the foot that pushes into T's side to start her diagonal is coming out of the stirrup after I finish. Maybe I need rubber bands. It is such a neat feeling to do leg yielding, though. I will have to get someone to video me to see if it looks as cool as I think.

I am also now in charge of finding shows. Maybe that is why I have ridden in many shows. I thought Dada and SPIRIT were looking; I guess they thought I was. Unfortunately, my classification card, like a handicap in golf, is expired and I need a new one to ride. So I am waiting to see what the USEF can do for me. We'll see. There is a show Sept. 19-20.