Onwards and Upwards

I really do have good intentions about keeping up with this blog but it never seems to happen! I had to stop and write something because Black and I had the most incredible dressage lesson with Phoebe Devoe yesterday that I almost burst with excitement! Black and I had some holes in our flatwork that really came to light in the SJ before he got hurt and I had made it my goal throughout his rehab to really try and nip those things in the bud from the get go. Courtney Sendak has done an incredible job on calling me out on a lot of those bad habits from first lesson I had with her so we can not be dealing with the same issues all over again in the spring when we start jumping. My last lesson with Courtney she told me I really needed to work on Black responding with "Yes ma'am!". Instead of questioning me and answering four strides later because that just doesn't cut it when you're cantering up to a maxed out triple! We worked on that and Black came into our lesson with Phoebe 'yes ma'aming' me from the get go! Phoebe really put us to work asking Black for a 1st/2nd level frame and getting him to lift his shoulders and give me more contact. Boy, are my shoulders and abs sore! We also worked on the counter canter which isn't something I have been messing with a whole bunch at home so that is part of our homework. I was so thrilled with Black because the things that I had told Phoebe we struggled with before he got hurt (tendency to be on his forehand, slow in his hind end) weren't an issue in this lesson! It was the first time that I felt like all my blood, sweat, and many MANY tears throughout his rehab were worth it... So many people have told me "oh y'all will be better than ever!" But now I'm really believing it. This past year wasn't a waste and we learned from it and we'll be better, stronger, and more bonded than we ever have and that's something I'll be forever thankful for. I almost cried at the end of our lesson because maybe... just maybe... this was all worth it.