Big Steps

Well Saturday I judged in Peotone, which was wonderful. The drive down was a breeze, and the drive home was even faster. I was completely exhausted by days end, the horse show ran for a solid 8.5 hours. I definitely worked for my check that day!!! Loved every second of it too. Didn't love the outrageous sunburn I got all over my left side - the judges stand was in the sun all morning until the sun went over the roof about 11am. My left side proves it. Saturday night my leg was purple...it still hurts from the burn!!!!

Since I was judging, Bill went out and took care of Jimmy for me, and stood with him while the farrier put on his new 'kicks'. Bill photo-documented for me :-)
(image before the nails were taken care of) Bill said Jimmy stood like a champion and didn't mind the hammering and banging on his hooves on bit. He said Jimmy was a saint. My favorite part was when Bill said: "[Trent] wasn't very nice with Jim's legs though. He was pretty rough, actually. I tried to let him know that Jim's had a rough couple of months, but he didn't seem to care. I didn't like that. I wish he was more gentle with Jim's legs." God Bless my beau!!!! He is just the most incredible guy a girl could ever have :-) He said he enjoyed being out with "Jim" and thought watching the farrier (Trent) work was pretty interesting.

Yesterday I went out and met Lucy and Anne at the farm. We took care of Jimmy first and did his stretches, which are now his favorite thing, since there are carrots involved (and lots of them). Lucy is getting really good at doing everything herself and Jimmy loves her. He's very well behaved. He was upset when we put him back in his stall and the barn owner had a sign on his stall "BOO HOO HOO. I HAVE TO STAY INSIDE FRI/SAT/SUN" which I thought was adorable - that's exactly how he acts. Sad and pathetic because he's inside all by himself!!!

Lucy took her first lesson on Smiley yesterday. He is the perfect walk-trot horse. When I "test drove" him last week, I bounced on him a little to make sure that wouldn't phase him, and it didn't at all. Then I clucked and kicked and threw my reins at him and pretty much the most he had in him was to canter/lope for 3 or 4 strides max. He does NOT like to use any more energy than absolutely necessary. How do you spell perfect? "S-M-I-L-E-Y" hahaha. Lucy loved her lesson on him and she was off the lunge line by the end of her lesson. I see big improvements happening fast as soon as she gets more time in the saddle!! Looking forward to our Sunday 2PM lessons :-)

Tomorrow I'll go out and put JC on a line and see how the soundness looks!