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 : )