Look Who Got Fancy

Ok WOW being unemployed is a lot of work*. I have a lot of interesting post ideas and more pictures than I know what to do with, but actually finding the time to sit in front of a computer and organize my thoughts is difficult.

Regardless, you've probably seen some of the amazingly gorgeous photos Alyssa snagged of us recently and I wanted to talk about them a little.

 Part of the reason these pictures are amazing was that I had a lot of free time and so I braided my horse for giggles. Let's all take a moment to appreciate how kickass he looks braided.

Right?

But more important than our super-excellent (Jane Austen-approved descriptor for you nerds out there) outfit was our super excellent ride.

I've gone on and on about going slow with Courage and only ever moving at his speed and so on. I get some kickback from people who think I need to just MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND (which like. wtf. people?) but moments like these remind me of why I do it.

where have you been all my life?

 I've been slowly asking Courage for more lately. More connection, more sit, more power, more forward, more suppleness. Not all at once--we pick a topic or two a day and address them as well as he is able. And this day, Courage offered to put it all together for me. It's still new for us, and there are certainly moments of flail to go with our moments of brilliance (video here if you're interested).

 It's days like this that remind me why I believe in this little guy and why we work so damn hard all the time. He's a puzzle and he's not easy, but when he gets something, there's just no feeling in the world like it.

 I hate to say it, but I'm actually glad we're not showing right now. When we are, I'm very proactive about managing his training schedule--hard rides need to be 2-3 days out from any show days, lessons can rarely be scheduled within 7 days of a show in case something goes wrong, and we rarely push the envelope or try new things because I don't need to fry him right before a competition.

But now?

I have all the time in the world.**

When we get through this, I'm going to be riding a whole different version of my horse. :-) Just you watch.

*My version of unemployment is to work 3+ part time jobs and say yes to every paying odd job that isn't literally whoring. YMMV.

**Well I mean I have barely any time, but there's no deadline or horseshow on the horizon.