Meet my newest mount

I just realized I dont think I ever formally introduced my "baby" horse Kiss (jc name KissTheButterflies).

Finally having my girls together at the same barn felt really nice

I saw an ad posted about her and just could not stop thinking of her. I had fresh money in my pocket to go towards her purchase and it was burning a hole in my pocket.

The day I went to look at her (she is 3 in this picture)

If any of you remember Typo in my adding to the roster post...I sold him pretty quickly to an adult male as his first horse because he is just so chill. I knew pretty quickly he wouldn't be sticking around...i like my feisty mares...and he fit perfectly in with his new owner's agenda. They still are building together and happy which makes me super happy.

One of our first off farm schoolings...can you say wood allergy!?

 Kiss has by far been way easier, more sane and willing than Tillie was at this young age. Sure she has her moments, but she is just so NICE. She was so good at her first few events last season. Worried for sure and just wiggly...so not like the cocky tillie dragging my butt around.

First ever full event, looking the part already

Both my mares could not be any more opposite. Kiss is typically happy to plod along however fast or slow you ask...sometimes more on the slow side. She tends to be a worrier which is something we are working on. Really managing her confidence and protecting that.

Another outing in the season at Loch Moy...having some baby feelings about it all

She jumped around very well and confident though!

She isnt as brave as tillie, but once you show her the way shes usually pretty honest. I admit to not always giving her the driving, supportive ride she always needs to things simply because I am not used to that! Its been a learning curve for me but a very fun one. Hence us sticking at intro last year to feel one another out...we were about to move up to BN for one final event but all the darn rain foiled that and everything was cancelled.

Dressed up in "racing gear" for a paper chase

All that rain didnt help set us up for success this year just yet. This season we are struggling with her big feet somewhat, but we got pads put on and so far **knocking on all the wood** that has seemed to keep her happy and comfortable.

Did i mention she sometimes feels like a human blender?

My goal for her this year (shes is now 5) is to keep plugging away at the confidence building. Lots of miles, traveling and exposure. We will likely live in BN land for a while until she tells me she's bored.

Schooling at tranquility last fall

 The mare has some talent in there I am excited to see come out, but must be careful not to push too fast too soon...because she is so much easier than tillie was, its easy to get carried away.

Not touching this mom!!

Scope for days

 Her legs and feet are so much thicker than Tillie....and her body longer. Its been interesting learning how to put her together. Shes also much lighter in my hands...

First day of trying her

Last week

She was so young and awkward, I really tried to take some time with her...i gave her most of this winter off and the time off hasnt disappointed. Shes come back well aside from the feet issue. 

Just because shes cute

 Our first schooling of the season she was doing much better jumping across and not so up and down...however we went again when the footing was wet and we had that issue again which makes me things studs are needed sooner than I realized.

So that is Kiss!! My princess pony...while Tillie is very much still queen bee. We have a busy season planned between the two! 

Bipolar...my horse is bipolar

This past Saturday was the first day Tillie was allowed back into work after her injections. I fully expected there to be some interesting moments...so much so that I even lunged her lightly to let her sort out some wiggles.

Extremely fit horse + 4 days off of work = pshyco mare

Except this is the horse I got

Ok she did let some sass out on the lunge. But when I hopped on her, there was no tension, no jigging or bracing...not even the usual goading me into argue with her when shes been out of consistent work.
She showed up ready to work and was shockingly good...so bipolar in a good way.

Such a hard life

 I was so freaked out about how good she was, I even took her temp a few times...all was normal! Poor Tillie. I do not give her enough credit, but seriously up until this, if I even gave her a day off I would be riding a very opinionated horse the next day.

Tillie isn't sure what the fuss is about

 Her canter felt AMAZING. We were in the smaller ring, so she naturally tends to balance herself better in this one...and tends to stay straighter and better about not throwing her shoulders around. She was slightly down with her left shoulder when we tracked left, but that was also her more positive hock, and the side she is more downhill on.

Sleepy mare...and looking very tiny in this picture

 It didn't take too much to get her to lift that inside shoulder when in the past, it would sometimes be an open door for bolting, head flicking or any number of her antics. She felt really nice and balanced, even willing to sit and engage.

Donkey Ears

Now, I don't think the injections work THAT fast. I have been told they can take anywhere between 10 days to 1 month before feeling the effects. So I am not really sure why the drastic change.

Her canter has been what we are trying to improve the most lately...and she certainly has given me nice moments, but an not usually an entire 2-3 circles.

At any rate, I am excited to get back into our lesson routine and prepare for our dressage debut next weekend. Here's hoping Tillie stays on this end of the spectrum!

when things dont go as panned...you improvise!

I was supposed to have a lesson this evening with Dom, but something came up and I found myself all tacked up at the farm we were supposed to be meeting at, ready to XC school. My first instinct was well shoot, now we wont go out XC, but maybe we can hack out in the dressage arena or school just to practice that.

All dressed up and no where to go

I am glad we did because miss mare in heat was looky and felt quit similar to how she does at a show. I instantly was sad I didnt have Dom or C there to coach me through it, but I did my best and just tried myself not to get sucked into the tension. Tillie felt a bit on the slower side...which with how humid and hot it is here, I cant say I blame her.

The bugs are soooooo annoying Tillie says

Despite her initial tension, Tillie went well in the dressage arena. She gave me really accurate leg yields and our walk canter walk transitions were on point!!! I am hoping our dressage lesson with C tomorrow will prove it! She was still a bit on the "lazy" side for Tillie but when she rides like this I LOVE it because I feel comfortable adding leg and riding the forward I try to ride otherwise, but shes already forward (but not really in front of my leg).

#mareface

I was almost willing to just stay in the ring, but a few barn members I know well suggested just hacking out XC and just taking it real easy (which was fine by me since I chose to put her snaffle on not really expecting to XC school).

Look closely in the upper left and youll see a pig Tillie reallllly wasnt sure about

We started off trotting a few intro/BN jumps and Tillie was quite eager on the take off, but nice and quiet on landing. I was pleasantly surprised and really tried to reward her by being soft and letting  my reins loop if she was uphill. When Tillie isnt uphill, she feels like a snowball rolling down the hill gaining speed...but she felt nice and consistent!

Trying one of the larger fences after warming up

I focused on relaxing my knee and thighs too when she gave me the nice moments and really tried not to freak out about why she was being sooo good. I fully expected the snaffle to be an issue and her require us to circle or take things reallly slow. But she just did her job and felt like a been there done that horse.

Unfortunately for me,  I have PTSD remember? So my initial reaction was something was wrong and really wasnt enjoying myself as much as i should have been and was constantly trying to look or feel for something to tell me to pull her up.

When your horse takes the flier off a down bank

I felt so good I even did a few down banks!!! Even when she took the flier to the one, I felt ok and solid (even when falling a bit forward on landing). I was enjoying how soft she was so much, but scared something was wrong, I even took her temperature when we got home. It was normal...god forbid my horse is actually becoming trained like the obvious answer **roll eyes**

I know I am ridiculous...I just always worry!!

Anyway, here is the short video from a few of the jumps we did: