The weather today is ideal and I had an appointment for a lesson with Tricie at 1 PM. I got to Gunpowder at 12:30 and one of the barn help immediately brought Bouffe in for me.
The new saddle pad fit well and I thought I had the new stirrups and leathers adjusted properly until I got on. The stirrup leathers were too long and had only one more hole to pull them up to, which still wasn't short enough but had to do for today's lesson. Also, the stirrups themselves were too wide. I had tried to set up the Crosby saddle so everything matched, but so much for looks, I need to be able to post. Because of the weakness in my legs from MS, I need shorter stirrups and irons that won't let my foot slip through when my balance becomes awkward and I have more weight in one stirrup than the other. All of this can be fixed with stirrups and leathers I already have, which might not be as fancy but will work.
Besides for the stirrup problem the lesson went well and Bouffe is very responsive now that I am carrying a crop. I never used it, but just showing it to him when it was time to trot and he picked up his pace. I am still having problems with being on the right diagonal and I wish I had more time to practice. I never had to post when I rode on the racetrack or schooling horses on the farm, I was always in a two point stance; so, I am out of practice and I feel like a beginner.
Tricie turned Bouffe back out when we were finished our lesson and carried my saddle bag to the car. I guess I am spoiled, because in all my years of hippotherapy Robin always did everything or had someone else do it, so all I had to do was get on the horse.
Bouffe was pretty tired when we were finished and he is getting the day off tomorrow. I hope this is the right thing to do in getting him ready for Sunday's show. Time will tell. I keep on reminding myself Sunday is a schooling show, which is what Bouffe and I will be doing.
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