Breakthroughs and Feet Woes

Although I've been crippled for the past week in bed, due to severe migraines and headaches, I was able to shuffle off to the barn today for two hours to get Rush out. As of this point in time I'm in charge of riding Rush and Status constantly, and hacking Willie whenever I have time. Brie was taken over by another girl who rides with me and is doing pretty well, and Webbie was taken over temporarily by my friend who needed a horse to take to IEL. However, Status has progressed to the point where I've deemed him safe enough for my friend to lease him again, so she's starting that back up in a day or two at the beginning of November. That will free up more time for me, so hopefully I can get back to focusing on Rush as much as I need to as well as doing catch rides and hopping on anyone who needs schooling.

Addressing the breakthrough part of this post- last week, before headache of death attacked, I finally figured out that instead of attempting to tire Rush out before getting on her, I should just ride her slow. Before I would lunge her until she seemed relatively quiet, then I would ride and struggle with her to keep everything at a decently slow pace. Last Friday I decided to try something new- riding her at a slow pace, and letting her know that I expected her to be SLOW when I was on her- and lo and behold it worked! The next time I got on her (Sunday, I think, since I was too busy Saturday) she was a perfect angel. Walked around on a loose rein to warm up without jigging. Trotted with contact without bracing. Cantered without accelerating on the downhill. It was really an eye opener and I have really high hopes for her progress in the next few weeks.

But.. feet woes. For some reason BO is on a new binge of doing the feet every 8 weeks, instead of 6 (I say for some reason, but who am I kidding, it's because she's cheap). And.. Rush's feet really need to be done. They've gone downhill really fast and it's kinda scary, so I really hope they get done this week sometime or else I need to sit down and have a talk with BO, which I really don't want to do.