80 degrees and rubbing it in!

So today, and yesterday, and tomorrow, and the next day.... it's 80 degrees. This morning it was 54 on the way to work.... and we are super upset to not be playing in the snow! (just kidding)
So. Thats the most exciting part of our last few days.

well. not exactly, but definitely made them that much more enjoyable!

Yesterday Jen and I took lessons from Sally O'Conner. Jen on Hubert and Wynton, I on Springer and Dylan, respectively.  And, well, she is a fantastic teacher.... it runs in the family I suppose. We worked on the simplest things to get the biggest reaction. Using the whip on the shoulder, as they get defensive when you use it behind the saddle. No spurs, outside shoulder back to get a downward transition from the canter. Outside leg to whoa, inside leg to go. Leg yield into a canter transition to get them on the outside hind. From trot to canter, sit sit ask. Works like a charm EVERY time.

Gosh. If only I had known. I feel like my whole riding world is spinning into chaos..... I mean, using the opposite leg when the front shoulder goes forward to control the diagonal hind leg.... timing timing timing.

So after my mind was blown.... today, we practiced. And practiced. And practiced some more. Sally had suggested that we work with both Hunter (who i rode with her on Thursday and she said was "a charming horse") and Dylan in hand. So today, Jen showed me how to do the first few basic exercises.

And, who would have guessed, both Hunter and Dylan had super amazing flat work! So smart!
We are also starting the process of teaching both to do the Spanish walk.... so you'll have to check back for videos and photos of their progress!

...like this, except without the costume or all the hair or bling. (though it might suit hunter pretty well.)

Anyway,

watching jen be brilliant cross country

jens sweet new ride

we're both learning. (ps this was before it got up to 80 degrees out!)

My mom and her friend Kati are crashing our Ocala party. 

But they promise to video and take loads of photos and be our Ocala tour guides so that's ok.

look! Danielle and her fancy cow pony! Hubert is so perfect.

the tree lady. Wynton was trying to hide from his gate closing duties.

Armadillo shell.

This is our house! and both trucks in our inventive parking arrangement. The other folks in our community mostly only have one car, usually a beige sedan, and a golf cart, fully loaded with beer cozies and two or three sets of clubs a piece.  So we obviously fit right in. (other people from the farm keep trying to convince us that horsey folks do live in our community, but i still don't believe them... i haven't seen them. and as they say about santa "seeing is believing"

This is Jen demonstrating some the in hand work i was practicing above.... she is obviously much better at it than me.

look at how hansom he is!

Danielle seems a little too happy to be here in Florida. Not that that's a bad thing.  She's finally gotten on a horse a couple of times too... our secret covert operation called "make Danielle a permanent, full time, b.e.f. horsey lady" (not the wittiest of names, but its a work in progress). Anyway. Progress is being made. (She has mentioned buying her own helmet, what!)

Ok. So there is the short and sweet version. Kind of.. and now it is nearing 6:30... which means my stomach is audibly growling and Jen and Danielle and I are all sitting in the dark (because the sun went down) on various electronic devices.... unable to tear ourselves away. But, I think it may be time for dinner.

My mom and her friend did some scouting, and found a cute Cajun joint in downtown Ocala (Which of course, with all our spare time we have not yet been to see). So off we go. Dragging our feet in desperate need of food!