RISPCA Ride & Back To Jumping

"You don't throw a whole life away just because it's banged up a little"
Perfect description of the last 3 years.

Sunday was the RISPCA ride! I met the BM early and tried to help feed the horses and Wendy arrived right at 830. I had thrown all my stuff (thank god it was only 1/8th the stuff I had to bring to Woodstock) outside the tack room and the BM put together a hay bag for us. It took a bit for B to get in the trailer seeing as he had never been in the back of the slant load, but he settled in quick once he realized the scary cow-looking thing was Elijah. It was not at all the reaction he had to the last trailer he refused to get on... See example pic below... So I have no complaints.

DON'T PUT ME IN THERE!

His favorite thing about W's trailer is that he can walk right off versus backing up. I think a stock trailer is in my future... I'd like to hope that is.

Anyway! We arrived to Goddard Park safely and signed in. For the first time... I knew people there. And they knew Brantley. It was really cool actually. They asked me how he was and commented on the Facebook posts about Woodstock which was even cooler! We tacked up and B played his "You're taking too long to get on... So I'm going to side pass over the mounting block instead." Which in turn tends to make me fall on my ass. I sent him around it and set him up and hopped on.

I'm not going to lie to you... Every time I go to swing my leg up on that horse I want to vomit. Sometimes my eyes tear up, and I can feel my heart pound and make it's way up into my mouth.

WEEEE!!

I wish I could explain why. Especially because of everything we've been through and done... It really started to go away at Woodstock, but it's going to take time! I'll get there. He gets annoyed though because it takes me so long to swing my leg over.

Anyway, once we got out on the trail, I calmed down. B was all ramped up to lead the way which I loved about him. A couple other horses trotted passed him and he got a bit excited and Elijah was a little skittish about stuff, but once we got through the first part of the trail, they both really got into it and relaxed. We even trotted a bit which was nice. The last time I went with W&E to Goddard, B was still going in the side pull and I had only been riding him for maybe 2 months. We literally did serpentines the whole time but we made it through! This time was completely different and everything I hoped for. We even cantered through the trails and jumped a fallen tree... I may have gone back for 2nds... And 3rds hahaha. 

We hooked up with a few friends here and there but the two boys were happy to go off by themselves and go for a couple more rounds through the trails. We did skip the beach this year only because there was ton of people activity and parties going on, and they were both doing so well. 

All in all, it was perfect.

I made up my own jump course and OWNED it... all 5 of the 18" cross-rails. Well there was ONE vertical that we also owned.

Next was the ride with Elana who rode the BBlonde Halflinger. Description?

WEEEE!!!

Quick sentimental moment:

The other day when I went a trail ride with Kate, I looked down at the breastplate her and Kenny had bought for me for my birthday last year. It was probably the most thoughtful gift I had received in years... Ever even. And then I said, "So I feel bad... The breastplate you guys gave me is so nice, I wanted to save it and only use it for special occasions. But every time I ride B it's a special occasion. So I used it all the time." It's so true though. I say it all the time, but it's amazing what people take for granted with their horses... Remember...