Dressage Lesson

Jordan and I at today's lesson

It's been pretty nutty lately. We had what we not so affectionately referred to as Hell Week, and Hell Week Lite, the last 2 weeks. During HW we had over 50 horses booked, and something like 45 the 2nd week. We just basically put our heads down and trimmed, and trimmed and trimmed. Mario got a terrible cold and I had some kind of stomach bug and we basically just got through it by going one foot in front of the other... Mario lived on Advil and Nyquil and I took swigs of Pepto. Neither of us had ANY energy!

My work vehicle, my beloved VW Touareg, is having major issues. The battery, spark plugs, oil, tires, mystery warning lights, etc. were all causing us problems. $500+ later we learned that it also needs engine coils replaced but that's a recall item right now so that's good news at least! The green machine (it is actually green in color, not that it is environmentally friendly because it isn't!) has 100k miles on it, and I abuse it pretty regularly, so I am OK with all of the stuff it needs to keep running -- but the timing kinda sucks.

But we got through it, and we both feel much better now. Mario's cold is no longer keeping him up coughing all night, and vitamin B-12 seems to have given me back some missing mojo.

Then I had a wonderful massage courtesy of a gift certificate from my mom. Ahhh... so what I needed!!! Great timing and so appreciated. Thank you Mom!


I booked a dressage lesson with Julie for today, and the weather was just perfect for a ride. We drove to Santa Barbara along the coast, sun shining on the waves... ahhh... that's how it should be livin' in SoCal. Julie is fantastic - she's such a good teacher, she has a great eye and I missed her! It's been over a year since my last lesson, so Jordan and I were both pretty pooped. But it felt sooo good to be back at it!! Have I mentioned how much I love him? He's such a good boy!! It was my first lesson in my newly modified saddle, and I have to say it went well. I dfinitely felt more secure which was the goal of the external thigh blocks. That is not to say that my ass was not slapping the saddle in the beginning, ugh! Need to engage my core, lifting up and inward, while breathing, relaxing but not sloppy and make it look harmonious. No problem right?