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All of these pictures were taken with my iPhone.

Gizmo and Sarah

I survived OKC, but I didn’t survive being back in Michigan!  I have been sick since we returned, and I finally went to the doctor because I was so tired of feeling like crap.  Had a respiratory infection, and after a week of antibiotics, I am actually starting to feel better.

OKC was an interesting learning experience, and hopefully the next time I go, I can be a little more competitive.  Right now I am considering a couple of options with Nyk, and if at all possible, I want to leave him in the barn.  I am considering trading him for a yearling that is a park prospect, and Ill blog more about that if it seems like a good fit.  She is a Futurity filly, and if all goes well, she is expected to show in the middle of next summer.  That is going to leave me without a horse show, but I have a couple of options in that department as well.

Today was the first time that I’ve been to the barn in a week.  I rode Nyk and Blondie, and then got a surprise; D asked if I wanted to ride Kongo and Elmer, too.  Kongo was a challenge because he is only two and he doesn’t trot square yet.  I think I did a pretty good job with him, but we both need work. 

Elmer decided to be a butthead, so that didn’t pan out, but Tina said I could give Gizmo a spin around the ring.  He is one heck of a horse, and I was so tired when I got off.  The ride wasn’t pretty, but I believe that it was good first ride.  He trots big, he gets scrambly, and he doesn’t like leg pressure.  He is so different from any other horse I have ridden. 

I feel excited and energized again by the progress I have made in the last year.  There is still much to improve on, but I can see how far I have come.  My goals are finally within reach, and I am looking forward to another winter of learning new things and becoming the best rider I can be.

Today Sarah and I were the barn photographers.  I took pictures of the baby, and Sarah snapped Dee Dee’s first jumping efforts with someone riding her.

I rode Blondie and drove Nyk, and both of them were good little ponies.  Blondie worked so hard on a pattern, and Nyk stayed light in his bridle.  Neither one had awesome headsets, but that wasn’t really the goal for today so all was good.

Zoe rode Dee Dee in the round pen and jumped her over a small jump. Dee Dee took to it like a duck to water.  So much for being a Classic Pleasure horse!