The last week or so has been awesome, today was just icing on the cake. 

For whatever reason, this last week my boss, Hermann, has been ON IT with the lessons. Yesterday I had super help on 6 horses. The day before that it was the same. Sometimes he's really busy and I'm left alone for most of my rides, but when I do get a real, focused lesson from him, it's just amazing at the progress we make and the feeling at the end of the ride.

Basically, the help started because it seems I can't properly walk a horse.

In all of my years riding I've never really been taught how to ride the walk. It's always a murky subject, often explained that the least amount you do the better. It's the easiest gait to mess up on a horse. I've always been quite happy to just walk on a long rein, and sort of wing it when it's time to take up the contact. Apparently, this is not how it's going to be anymore. 

What's been really interesting, after I got my head around the timing, the feeling of the neck, the back, the rhythm, then I'm having to THINK how to keep this good feeling for more than three strides (what? when it feels great I have to keep working? not just sit, relax and enjoy it? Sheesh!).  Then after I finally get a super feeling in the walk, it's been amazing at how it translates into the rest of the work. My horses have been happier and more relaxed in the work because of this, and so have I.

Great lessons = great days.

Then today, Hermann's daughter and I started my work day with a hack through the woods. I've been there for six months and this is the first time I've gone off the property! It's really easy to get focused on getting everything better in the ring and to forget the fun stuff (although I do jump a couple of the horses sometimes!). So today, when we were galloping along a wonderful trail in the woods, I couldn't stop smiling. My eyes were watering with the breeze in my face, my horse was absolutely wonderfully behaved, the weather was agreeable, and the autumn scenery was perfect.  What a way to start!

After having great rides on all the horses, it was absolutely super to see my old boss Lars Petersen and his partner Melissa Taylor when they came to look at some horses. I knew they were coming but they didn't know I would be there, so it was a fun surprise. Unfortunately we didn't have too much time to catch up, as they had to be off to the next destination, but it was still fun to see familiar faces.  

It's just been a super day, leaving me with a content feeling. I love my job, love my life, and I know I say it all the time, but holy crap, am I ever lucky to do the things I do. Wow.

Cheers,

Eiren 

I had an awesome time in Canada. In five days I taught somewhere between 60-65 lessons, I lost count after the numerous schedule changes. I enjoyed each and every single lesson though, from beginning to end. It was great to see familiar faces and meet new people and new horses.

In between the busy lesson schedule, Mom got me in with two different acupuncture clinics for treatments for my shoulder. They helped my muscles relax and also helped my overall sense of health & balance. I love that acupuncture business, I could easily be a junkie for it. 

Also, this trip I managed to sneak in a few days for actual holiday time to visit with family. It always feels like time flies too quickly to get in the visits I would like to, but a little is better than none. I do have the best family in the world, and am super thankful to get the time with them that I do. They are all very supportive of the path I've chosen, and it means so much to me that they stand behind me regardless of my successes or failures. 

Since I've been home I have caught a nasty cold and had a helluva time settling back into this time zone. I'm finally getting over my cold (if I had written two days ago it only would have been "boo-hoo, waaaah, poor me") and starting to feel like I know what I'm doing in this country again.

I have a lot on my mind, and lots more to write, and pictures to post, but tonight I'm going to leave it short and sweet. Well, short anyway.

If anyone reading this is one of the amazing people I got to see in Canada, be it on a horse or otherwise, it was so great to see you!! I look forward to my next visit!

Cheers,

Eiren 

Today I rode 10 horses, taught a lesson, went to the gym, and now am home feeling pretty good. 

Since my last post my shoulder has been feeling much better. I occasionally have pain still, but it's much less than it has been, and most of the time it's really not even bothering me. Hooray! The horses are probably just as happy about this as I am, since I'm definitely riding better when I'm not in pain. Now, with my upcoming vacation I will have a chance to rest it completely and hopefully that will keep my shoulder (and therefor me) happy. 

Yesterday I went and watched the Westfalen Auction. There were some nice horses for good prices. Of course there were a few expensive ones, but compared to some other auctions it was pretty unexceptional with the horses and pricing.  And when I say unexceptional, I don't mean not good. There were more than a few horses I thought would be very suitable for people I know, and also many that I would have liked to take home as projects. However, it's not the time for me to buy anything.

That's all. Not a lot happening. I really ought to be packing for my flight out Thursday, but I'm sure I'll leave that till Wednesday night.

Cheers, and see some of you soon!!

Eiren