Leaps and Bounds

Yesterday, I was thrilled with this sort of acomplishment--Hammer being quiet enough to get this done. Just letting me on him made me happy. Remember that? Just yesterday, it was.


Tonight, we trotted. This was our first time. I heard he had a nice trot, and he totally does. Forgive the pics-it was almost dark, and Mad is just learning my camera.
I felt pretty comfy on him. And since I had just taken Gyro for a trail ride with the neighbor, he had to be pretty good to measure up. Okay, to tell the truth--Gyro acted like a fruit bat on our trail ride. That irritated me but does not scare me in the least as I know her so well. To shift gears and then feel solid on Hammer is such a huge deal for me.
This is the hillbilly obstacle course Madison made for us last nite--poles on the ground--wadded up matting that moves and makes noise when he steps on it--buckets and pan, and diesel cans---and Hammer quite happily trotted over them. I was so excited.

After playing a while, I dismounted and we played our mount dismount mount dismount game and tonight, you never would have known it was ever an issue. He was perfect.

What do you make of me, riding two nites in a row? And God willing, I will be back up there again after work--maybe Madison and I will take a short ride, as her ankle is feeling better. I am having a great time.

Last note of the day-- I lost another 1.5 pounds. I am now within .5 pound of the lowest I have gotten on this round of weight loss--and while that sounds like I have screwed up and wasted all the summer (which I kind of have), I have been really working hard. And I am still moving the right direction---right on to me.