Hallelujah!!
What a great day! I had the day off and it was lovely weather. Well, lovely for February. A bit hot and I think I got sunburned. ;) But still, nice after all the rain. I was able to lunge Funny and ride Lyric and then I took Dan to ashland! Oh, it was sooooo good to be back!!!! I've missed this so much. We started in the arena. I didn't really do pillar work in hand, but we did plenty of pillar one under saddle and did a 15 minu walk warm up. We worked on shallow serpentines and zig zags and did some tiny bit of backing and pillar 2. Then we started trotting and he felt amazing! He was soft and fluffy and lifted feeling. I rode in the PH saddle again. I love it on him and he seems to love it too. It really felt like when I asked him to yield his barrel, he was lifting his back. And he was round and so soft in the contact. After some trot and some more walk, we cantered. Just a little bit! It actually felt normal, although he is still a bit braced/holding in his neck on the left lead. But it didn't feel disunited or lame. And he was even able to reach down and out and be soft and it felt like he was lifting his ribcage! Whooo hooo! We finished with a tiny bit of trot and then I suggested that he do a little lengthen down centerline and he did! He felt amazing!!!! We quit with that. I headed back to the trailer and pulled his saddle off. I hopped on bareback and we headed towards the lake. I did NOT want to get that saddle wet, as it's still not mine. But I also wasn't going to deny either of us lake time. 
We headed off towards the lake. Except he wanted to go the other way... the long way. My butt! We went to the magical place... I know God is everywhere but I always really feel His presence there. it's just... a powerful place. I even teared up as I thanked Him for giving me my pony back. Again. And for letting him feel so good. I prayed that he continued to feel good and that I continue to listen to him and not get greedy or ungrateful. And that I continue to listen to Him so He can guide me.
Then we cantered through the hay field because.... because... it's been so long!! Ahhhhhhhh.... we both needed that. Then we headed towards the lake and Dan was snacking on the good grass on the other side of the lake. We heard a horse cantering on the other side of the lake, on the dam. Then we saw another horse cantering down the dam. I thought... "that's weird... not a great place to canter, but okay. So Dan and I made our way to the lake edge and as we were crossing the dam another girl came by on her horse. She asked if we had seen a loose horse and another horse trying to catch it. OOOOHHHHH... Yes. I told her which way they went. And then Dan and I headed to the lake. As we got there the other girls had apparently caught the culprit and were heading back with him. And the rider of the loose horse had walked up to the lake. I told her they had caught him and were heading back. Apparently he spun and dumped her and she couldn't hold onto the reins and he took off. Whoops!
Dan and I had fun splashing in the lake. But by then they other people had left to go back to XC schooling, although they sort of left the girl on the grey to get back on. And he was upset because they were leaving him. But she managed to get on and headed off. Dan and I were just leaving and I left via the woods. I was taking photos so I had my phone in my hand and was just on the buckle. He was moseying along and then suddenly he dropped his head and picked up a canter and took off! Oh you twit!! I knew what he was doing! But because I only had one hand on the reins and my phone in the other and was bareback I couldn't get him reined in quick enough. He cut through the path and went into the XC field, flying out of the woods. And of course... right up behind the gray horse! Who proceeded to spin and buck and almost dumped the girl a second time. I felt so bad. I was like "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do that.. he ran off with me and I didn't have my reins"... as she shot me a dirty look. I'm sorry!!! After that Dan was happy to sit and eat grass while I talked with another girl who was just watching. She had an OTTB and Dan was curious so I asked if we could say hi. As Dan dragged me over to him. Dan say hi and then immediately pinned his ears and stomped his feet. Dude!! And then anytime that horse looked at him while Dan was grazing, Dan would snarl. Sir!!! This is why people think you're naughty!
After that we headed back in. But ahhhhhhhhh.... I have missed this sooooo much. Dan too! We didn't mean to do 4 miles!! Whoops. So much for easing back into it. But at least he's been lunging. And it was mostly walking, so... hopefully he's not sore. I know my butt will be!
