The Transfer

I write this at an undisclosed location as my laptop has been STOLEN (along with my boyfriend's laptop, my 42" flatscreen, my coach purse, his digital camera...name it, they basically got it), yet another charming "Welcome to 2009" event that has basically made me say the hell with the whole year even though it's still at this stage, a zygote in time. And I was REALLY looking forward to posting the day we were burglarized. While the personal life might suck at the moment, Parelli-land has been blissful as both Mom and I have moved closer, stayed longer with riding Jet.

Going at a pace that is most comfortable for the 3 of us (exact speed: SNAIL), Jet has been a JOY. We're hanging out in the roundpen. Mom is about ready to take hold of the leadrope and take Jet for laps by herself. Meanwhile, he works a little harder under HIS mama's command, as we graduated to PP at the trot. Priority 1 is continuing to make sure I am listening to Jet and supplying what he needs under saddle - comfort, protection, motivation...as well as slowly building up his endurance to trot (fairly) consistently for 21 minutes. Even us most experienced riders do not realize how long that is when suddenly you're doing it "Parelli" style. Not to mention neither Jet nor I have ridden seriously in several years now. But I stand by my original statement many moons ago that Jet actually LIKES being ridden. He is especially enjoying turning. I've noticed with the OTTB's that even after they are rehabbed and reconditioned, their first instinct when they are under saddle is to flee in circles. The more F8's I make Jet do, the more focused and willing he becomes. I think as he gets more comfortable, we'll squeeze around some cones with an end bulls-eye of a small pile of hay or a friend holding a carrot. Mr. What's In It For Me.

As I'm pressed for time, I won't be able to harp on and on about my inner thoughts and revelations, mine and Mom's conversations, and general blathering about how amazing and perfect Jet is. But I will say that during our last session, before I got blasted with the bad news about my condo, 2 things happened that still have me dancing on air. After our last ride, Jet TROTTED beside me at liberty, pulling a brilliant Stick To Me performance. And Mom video-taped our trot, which I nervously played back on the way home. And I was floored. It's pretty obvious that Jet and I are both rusty, somewhat clumsy, maybe even the slightest bit sloppy - but there's also something about us beneath the surface. We look perfect together. We look like we were born as horse-and-rider. I've never felt that way in any pictures or videos I've seen of me riding, even the horses I loved the most. With some practice, and definitely some more savvy (can you ever really have too much?), Jet and I are going to have as much an ideal partnership in the saddle (and bareback and bridleless!) as we already have underway on the ground. Remembering that video keeps me eager and more excited than ever with the passing days about riding.