HAPPY B-DAY MIMI!!!!

Mimi, I just wanted to say thanks for everything you have done for me, from the most THRILLING rides on my life to everything you've taught me. You're one of the very few people I can trust with my life. Thanks for being such an amazing pony and sticking along my side and helping me along my journey. Tiff&Mimi 2gether 4ever!!! HAPPY B-DAY MIMI!!!!! I ♥ YOUUUU!!!!!!

The Last Few Rides

The last few rides have been different, yet alike. Mimi was spooky on one of the rides a while ago and the flies were REALLY bothering her. A little while ago when I was grooming her, I ran the currycomb over her back legs and the hair FELL OUT! It wasn't just shedding it looked like someone had shaved her but it wasn't coarse. My instructor had me put some skin treatment on it. Then, when I rode her again, it looked the same except it was bumpy and rigid like it was fungus but it wasn't. After the ride, I washed it with regular shampoo and the bumpyness went away but then more hair started falling out and it spread :( Also, Mimi has fly bites all over her, a swollen spot near her flank where she was kicked, and a swollen spot on her belly from kicking at flies. It bothers me how she's getting hurt and bitten by flies. I've been putting lots of fly spray on her and it seems to be helping some. During out rides, we've been doing some jumping, just crossrails because we've been devoting most of the ride to work on striding. But the last ride, I got to jump Mimi over crossrail at the trot stirrupless! It was lots of fun but then difficult because of her natural hop. We're getting better on striding and can easily subtract strides but we're having trouble adding strides between two designated spots because Mimi tends to break stride when I ask her to shorten her stride. But I was taught a new technique and it seems to be working. Also, Mimi's birthday is tomorrow!! We're having a big party for her on Saturday. I'll take lots of pictures to show you just how beautiful the birthday girl is : )

A new challenge

Thursday was a great day for riding! Although it was hot and Mimi and I worked HARD, we had LOTS of fun! The entire lesson was nothing but jumping with is awesome because I LOVE jumping! We went through an easyish course of 18"-20" verticals, brush boxes, and an oxer at a canter and it was AMAZING. WE WERE FLYING!!!! Mimi is an SUCH an amazing jumper! Getting the right leads coming off of a jump and immediately turning to a diagonal jump was tricky and we really need to practce on that. But thankfully Mimi had a great teacher and can get her most of her leads by herself without any command! I'm SO thankful to be able to ride such a beautiful and talented horse! I love you Mimi!!!

Trick Ridin'

Today was soooooo much fun! I rode Mimi and did a few patterns and some cantering and lots of jumping. We jumped an 18" vertical. Posting trot in and canter out and also (for the first time) a SITTING trot in and canter out. It was SOOOO much fun! There were two jumps next to each other, a small cross rail and an 18" jump and they were like touching each other and me and Mimi and Sydney (one of the other riders) and this other little pony (Tina) trotted side-by side and Sydney and Tina jumped the crossrail and we and Mimi jumped the vertical at the SAME time! It was awesome! and we got pictures!! Toward the end of the ride me, Lizzy (the awesome owner of the awesome Mimi :) and another rider (Virginia) stood on the seat of our saddles!! ON the horses!!! it was SOOOO cooL!!!! That was my first time standing up and we even got pictures of that too!! Will post pictures soon.

Miss Most Obedient

Today I rode Mimi. BIG thanks to Lizzy, Mimi's owner, for letting me ride her today. It wasn't a lesson just a fun ride and it WAS very fun : ) We did pretty much everything there is to do! First we did some flat work and did a demonstration canter for two of the younger riders and Mimi was a GREAT demonstration. Although I had to change my position to all wrong to show the kids what they were doing wrong, Mimi hung in there and didn't get mad at me. : ) I love her! So after some flat work, we worked on patterns. We circled and zig-zagged through some comes and leg yielded and also we went over some ground poles. After that, it was time to jump! We went over some cross rails and then an 18"-2' vertical. It was thrilling!! Mimi is SUCH an amazing pony!! So after some blood-pumping jumping we finished off the ride with alternating circles around cones stirrupless. It was cool! We circled and zig-zagged through and around the cones. I'm gonna be sore tomorrow!! Lots of stirrupless work can really take a tole on your inner calves! Another AMAZING ride on MA Perfect Passion!

The mare that reads my mind

On Tuesday I rode Mimi (of course! lol) and she was great! We've been working on difficult and easy courses lately and alternating circles around a set of cones. I wasn't feeling myself and Mimi knew it! Although my hand and canter position was WAY better than on a day when I'm feeling fine, I still felt unfocused. Mimi knew EXACTLY how I was feeling! It was VERY windy on Tuesday and all the bushes around the ring were waving and little critters were running around madly. Mimi was scared and itching to run away from her fears but she knew that if she spooked I would likely come off because I was so out of it. Through the ENTIRE lesson she didn't spook ONCE and we cantered plenty and went through some leg yielding courses over cross rails. She was FABULOUS! I love Mimi with all my heart and can't wait to ride her again on Friday.

I'd like to thank Elizabeth Campbell (Mimi's owner) with all my heart for allowing me to ride Mimi and for supporting me even through the hard times. Thanks Lizzy!!! <3

Our Fourth Horse Show Together

The last show was our BEST horse show EVER! Mimi didn't spook, buck or anything like that. And I could definitely see a change in my position for the better. The judges didn't recognize Mimi's talent and we didn't get as good places as we should have. Here are some pics:

Look at us cantering. YAY!!!

This is us jumping at the canter. Cuteee!!!

Before the show =)

















This was at Sumter Equestrian Center on March 20th.