Fire Breathing Dragon Does Chestnut Pony Impersonation

Bonnie went back to work yesterday.  Nothing hard, nothing strenuous, nothing that even broke a sweat.

She went into it kicking, and screaming much like humans do when their vacation is over.  She insisted on including rearing, bucking, and blowing into the whole thing too.

All we did was lunge.  All I wanted was walk/trot.  In typical Bonnie fashion I got so much more from the opinionated red head.

She performed Airs About Ground that would have impressed many a Lippizzan.

The bucking would have challenged even the best bronc riders.

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I swear I saw smoke come out of her nose when she blew at me.

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I had to get big, and scary!  She snorted flames and reared, and I ran at her screaming and growling like a mad woman, lunge whip snapping at her like a giant snake.  Bonnie thought for a split second, ran backwards, then leapt into the direction my arm, finger, and mind was pointing.   It was all hysterically dramatic.  Reminding me of a toddler in a supermarket melting down because he can't have his cheesy poofs!

I don't lunge in boring, mindless circles.  My lunging covers the entire arena with many direction changes.  It includes ground poles, cavaletti, figure eights, and a small cross rail jump.   I try to do all three gaits as I feel walking nicely on lunge is just as important as a balanced canter and nice consistent trot. I try to do it as quietly and softly as I possibly can, expecting quiet and soft from the horse as well.

It wasn't until I got to the jump with Bonnie before she settled down and gave me some decent work and listened to more subtle queues.

We'll see what today brings...