Sometimes You Just Gotta

... Get up early.. load on the fly spray... and GO!

I talked Husband into going to barn with me this morning because I've been wanting to ride Rosie.  Why do I need Husband to do this?  I don't really but I wanted another adult there in the event of the worst.

You see Miss Rosie has not been ridden since mid May.  *gulp*  and I didn't want my first time up on her in such a long time to be without an audience!

Little Man wanted to ride Bonnie and of course I didn't say no!

So in the barn Husband groomed Rosie, and Little Man groomed Bonnie..

  I didn't even have to lift a hoof!

He even did the backs....

I think Rosie may have grown a bit more... I thought Drafts were done by their 5th year?  I'm only basing this on the fact that you can only see Husband's head over her back!

While I started Logan on Bonnie.. I always ride her first, then give him a quick lesson so he remembers his queues and one rein stop (emergency brake!)  I set Jim doing in hand with Rosie, then showed him how to lunge her.  He did really well!

Even though Bonnie neck reins really well Logan was having steering issues with her so I told him to go ahead and use the split rein hold.  But before that he had Bonnie in a trot, then kissed one more time and she went into a slow canter - his FIRST TIME!  He didn't panic and stayed balanced, held onto her mane - but forgot to stop her.   I told him "Perfect example of when to use the emergency brake!"

Please excuse the long stirrups and tennis shoes... Oh and the ice cream slipping off his cones.  We need to work on his hands.  For now keeping hands forward and out of her face is what we focus on.

Who is that on  Rosie???

All my work on myself with Bonnie's patience have really paid off.  My seat, hands, everything is falling into place.  I noticed a huge difference riding this young horse...

Played a bit of follow the leader with Little Man and Bonnie...

Getting him ready to trail ride with me... 

Little Man was all smiles...

And so was I....