1. I ridded myself of the awful burden of a constantly breaking blackberry...and bought the iphone yesterday.

2. It's HOT! I rode Callie yesterday at 8am before it got sweltering. She was VERY forward although as she got tired I felt her sucking back and getting behind the bit, so we cut it short after a couple "beeyootiful" circles and she got a good hose down. As much as I've been putting them off, the spurs are working pretty well- she requires much less begging to go forward and is very responsive off of my leg.

Speaking of leg, I had another lesson last night! I rode my instructor's beautifully trained thoroughbred, Milly. Chandra was my instructor when I was 15. This woman pushed and pushed until you felt like you had nothing left to try, and then pushed you more- she definitely made me a great rider and was probably one of the biggest reasons I felt so confident training Callie by myself.
Chandra and I went back to basics. It's been a LONG time since I had lessons, and even longer since my lessons were something different than working with a young horse and just being excited when she walked in a straight line...so it's been a bit of a culture shock, but I'm looking forward to fine tuning what I believe is a pretty strong foundation ;)

Last night, Chandra did something I hadn't experienced in YEARS. I was TOLD to take my feet out of my stirrups- this isn't a big deal, really, but I found myself doing the same grimace and yelling out, "I love you Chandra," as I slowly crossed my stirrups, hoping she'd say she was joking.

Chandra had me work far more off of my thighs than my calves, which I had no idea I did so much. We worked on transitions, and when I finally did take my stirrups back (and she lengthened them to normal length...) I could feel the difference in my seat and the way I was riding. I love lessons with Chandra, because she pushes and pushes and I can almost see the lightbulb above my head every lesson. We finished with a few circles of trot work and I hosed Milly off, excited to begin my journey with this snobby mare.

Today I woke up pretty sore..and since it's so hot, I'm staying in the AC, doing laundry, baking bread, cleaning up, and packing for our weekend in Pennsylvania for my cousin's wedding.