BACK IN BUSINESS!!

I RODE DAX ON SUNDAY AND SHE WAS GREAT!!!!

She's been trotting around so much on her own and looking completely sound that I decided it was time.  Sunday was warm, sunny and calm ( = calm pony) so she got brushed down and saddled up.  As a precaution I decided to lunge her first, just in case there were any bucks that needed to be worked out (again for the non-horsey, lunging = very long leash, horse goes in circles around person).

(Side note: it's spring and Dax is still young enough to get freakin' HYPER when the weather warms up.  She's had many a spazz out moment lately, running, rearing and bucking around her field.  And on the end of her lead rope.  With the farrier on the other end. *sigh*)

Lunging went something like this:

Dax: Uh, why are we going back in the field?  You strapped that saddle to me, don't you want to ride??
Me: I just want to see how you move and make sure you remember you're supposed to listen to me, how a saddle feels, etc.
Dax: Seriously?  How stupid do you think I am?!?  Oh, um, that's a whip.  Right...I remember that...okeee. Circling left.
Me: Thank you.  That's very nice.
Dax: Tossing head - THIS IS STUPID!  Let's do something fun - I can hear people over at Mint Springs...I bet someone would scratch my ears!  See, I know what I'm doing.  Circles are boooooring.....
Me: Yeah, circles are boring.
Dax: See!!  C'mon, let's go!!  (walks up and give me a little nudge)

So I caved and jumped on.  She made a bee-line for the park, ears perked and legs swinging (we even trotted a few steps).  She was happy just to people watch and walk along, and get a few pets from interested kids.  Up the road, through the field, along the dam and a brief trail loop (where she crossed two bridges and was careful with her feet around tree roots).  Her reward was once again to stop and eat seaweed at the spillway, where we were hissed at by some nervous-but-hilariously-brave canadian geese.  Back home she got brushed off, two cookies and her grazing muzzle back on.  She hung her head over the gate as I put everything away with a look that clearly said "That's all?!??"


For now, that's all - all I needed to make my entire weekend beautiful.