Weekend play time

Early Fall is here! Chilly nights that the horses are loving, but sunny days. The leaves are just turning around here and things are started to hum in a glow of gold and orange.

Bugs are mostly gone and I have more open weekends to ride--HOORAH

On Saturday, I invited E to come ride Laz while I rode the barnowner's OTTB, Pito.

Originally we were going to trail ride, but the weather was a mix of sun and rain, so we stayed put. Not to mention I was 100% hungover from a bash I hosted the night before (#lovemeagirlsnight!)

So, we drug out some jumps and decide to give little Lazaroo a 'jumping' lesson

It was more, play with forward while giving him something to target.

Spacing out cavalettis for trot work, while the cow pony Laz just waited for his Aunt E.

He loves her. We love her. We miss her pony Justin all the time and our awesome foursome

 She is the perfect confident but SO gentle of a rider and Laz was perfect for her. I know he felt very comfortable in her hands

I pretty much don't let anyone ride him (not counting the pony rides I lead him on) but with E, I trust her to the end of the earth.

 Good forward pony

After about 20 minutes of walking/trotting over poles and X's, I thought Laz was giving 100% so we ended it by doing a reward road ride with the two horses.

 Pito and I leading the way. 

Side note; Pito rocks. Floaty hunter trot and all. He and his Mom were on the equestrian team at MSU. 

Coolness. He is such a gorgeous steely grey

 E and Laz (notice that Laz's mouth is full o' grass)

 Apples trees are in hanging in full fruit right now. This is just along the road, with THE SWEETEST apples ready for picking. 

 I am always envious of riders that drop their reins just confident that all is well. And indeed all was. I'm just hardly ever that rider. I always (always!) worry; what if he spooks? Steps on his reins? Breaks his neck? 

sigh. 

Riding is such an honest mirror into your anxiety or confidence. DEEP.

 Pito munching on road'sauce'

Pito is a cribber (despite his worry free, ulcer free life) and he has like no front teeth so I was happy he chose the smooshed ones vs round apples

Pito and I eating our fill

A fun day!

***
Sunday, I went back out to the barn

Laz and I just played around texting this photo to our friends

 Laz and I worked on riding point to point with forward movement and rewarding when we got to my targeting point. I stuffed a lot of treats in my pocket being he is so food motivated. (who isn't?!)

He tried his avoidance a bit, but I used leg (no crop or home made stick/whip) and he was like "UGH ok..." and then marched on. I stopped him and rewarded him. We continued on like this and on each ask forward he got better and better. 

I luv mah poneee!

We rode the road a few time, back/forth. We even dealt with the Sunday workers of lawn mowers and blowers, barking dogs (Mason running toward them and choosing to IGNORE me while I screamed at him) and a loose 4 yr old child who came running up to Laz barefoot (ummmm)

Anyhoo, after all that, I rode Laz towards another apple tree and let him treat himself!

Treat yo'self!

 We also rode in our Myler D bit with much success. 

 My trainer mentioned using the pasture as his reward to dismount instead of always back at the barn.

So, we did!

It was a good low key riding weekend!