In much exciting news, check out what Ace and I have been up to lately …

We’ve been walking and trotting over this tiny crossrail with no  hesitation (and only lacking a little in grace). I’ve also lunged him at a trot over a crossrail with the blocks on their highest setting. He just takes a big trot step over this little thing, but actually has to make a slight jumping effort over the taller size.
He’s a little clumsy with his back legs, and gets mad if he knocks it over. …

First, I’d like to apologize for my extended absence. My hubby and I were finally able to close on our house two weeks ago, so I’ve been in the process of finishing packing, moving, unpacking, and settling in. On top of that, it’s marching band season for my band director and his band, so I’ve spent the last three Fridays at football games. And (to add to the newness), I’ve started doing evening feed and bringing in at a local 25-horse boarding stable two nights a week.
In the midst of …

Ace had two very special visitors last night: my mom and my sister Sheryl.
My younger sisters are identical twins, and are just 20 months younger than I am. Mom had them on horses from the time they were young also. We grew up riding together, and even managed to compete against each other with good attitudes. Unfortunately, the horse bug didn’t quite bite them the way it did me. While they aren’t riding regularly, they do get into the saddle every once in a while and are still very nice …

Not only did I survive my week away at camp, I’d say I actually thrived. It was a great week, and for a few days after returning home I just wanted to go back. It is nice to be home though and getting back into the swing of things.
Ace is looking pretty good these days. He still seems a little weak in his right stifle when he turns, but isn’t in pain or lame or anything. I’ve got him back in light work, walking and a little trotting long straight …

Yes, Ace, I really am da boss of you.
He apparently feels the need to challenge me occassionally in an attempt to reassert his role in the relationship. What he doesn’t know is that while he may outweigh me, I will always out-think him in the end.
Wednesday we got stuck out of the blue. No matter what I did, we were standing in the middle of the arena, never taking more than a step or two and never getting back out to the rail.
I went to the barn Thursday with a …

Somehow we managed to go from having our best ride ever to our worst ride ever within a span of two days.
Oh, it started all right. Walk warm up, stepping over poles with nary a bump. Trot warm up, some figure eights, some trot poles without any touches. We weren’t overly energetic, but the bending lesson had stuck and we were navigating corners beautifully and going nice and straight down the long sides.
Then we trotted over some poles, and Ace caught his back foot. He didn’t even hit it hard …

In two rides this weekend, Ace and I had some major successes.
First, Happy Birthday to me! Ok, not really. It was months ago. But I finally got my present from my hubby: PVC pipe! Eight 10-foot pieces 3-inches in diameter to be exact. A girl needs some jump poles after all. I’m sure you are the few people in the world who can understand why that was an incredibly exciting present.
So, we started working over poles. The first step over, Ace just gave it a good hard look as he …