Update

Here comes one much-needed update!

So, Eddie and I have been doing a lot of things lately. Riding a lot, working on our lead changes, going for walks... you name it. It's been pretty nice out (not considering the wind) so I've been outside for about 4 hours every day working with the horses, doing chores and trimming.
I trimmed Eddie yesterday, I'll do Jigs tomorrow, and then Scout on Sunday. Because..... *drum roll please* Mom and I leave for Florida in less than a week! AAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!
That's kinda crazy, but it will be super fun!
We're going from this...
Chilly & windy Illinois prairie

 To this...
Hot & humid Florida!

It's going to be a blast! And then the next course I go to will be for my final! WOWZA! I can't wait!

Windy, Windy

We should have named our farm "Stinking Windy Farm."
It was windy, chilly, and sunny today.
Therefore, I didn't do too much playing with the horses, just lots of hanging out with them. Eddie and I played with our canter lead changes in the pasture, I let him graze for a nice long time while I moved the t-post insulators for the track. Diesel has figured out how to get under the electric fence and graze Eddie's long grass that is in the pasture, so we have to lower the bottom line.
Anyway, Ed and I played, went for walks, and then Diesel and I went for a nice long walk around the property. They are such good boys! :-)
Then I trimmed Scout - his feet are looking GREAT! After a laminitis episode in January... they look amazing!

Well, gotta go, time to do the horse's final check.
Hope that you all had a great day!

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Golly Jeepers

Only 5 blog posts all last month.
Sorry bout that.
It's just been so nice out - warm, mild, everything is blooming and spring is in full swing.
Been playing with Eddie every day, riding every day, working some more on lightness & softness - basically refining everything and building up a strong foundation to start some new things. We'll be doing lots of cantering this spring/summer, just waiting for it to dry out, and we've been working on our flying lead changes over a pole (groundwork). He's getting better and better, because he picks up the right lead now and changes within a few strides if he doesn't.
Well, I'm sorry for the lack of posts, but it seems the more I move away from the computer, facebook, blogger, forums, pinterest, the more I actually get done. Hey, whattaya know?! :-) I started a book that I've been writing in and researching. I finished my final and passed for Applied Equine Podiatry. Next month mom and I go to Florida again and then in August I graduate! Then for a graduation present, mom and I are going to see Buck Brannaman up in Bristol, WI. Stoked for that.
Well, maybe I'll post more this month, but if I don't - at least you will know what I've been doing. :-) I haven't disappeared, I promise!

Is it Summer? Or Spring? It just can't seem to make up its mind.

Well, there has been a lot going on lately and it seems like spring only lasted for a couple of days before the 80 degree weather kicked in.
Ah well, can't complain. It's been nice to be outside barefoot and hosing the horses off. It was almost warm enough to go swimming today too - if only the pool was open. ;-) hehe!
So, let's see... Eddie and I have been working on lead changes on the ground. His right side is weak, so I am helping him build that up and get equal. So we'll start on the left lead going on a right circle and then I'll have him go over a high cavaletti. So he changes leads and is on the right one! Yesterday he was on his right lead for a whole circle, so that was great! He didn't switch back to his left.
While riding, we've been doing sort of the same thing. Shoulder in going to the left while he leads with his right fore. I know, it's kinda confusing, but it's so much easier when riding him. We did that a lot today and he was getting a lot better with it. "As we leave the rail (coming off a circle), come down the rail." I remember learning that years and years ago and it has stuck like glue. And let me tell ya, it works!
We've also been working on our cutting game while I ride. We'll ride along the fence line and then turn it into a sidepass while he disengages his HQ. So that turns into a turn and then we ride along the fence back the way we came. He's really getting it and yesterday we did it without the fence. Very fun! Now we just need some cows! :-)

Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Canter, canter, canter!

Happy December 1st!

Well, it's the last day that I was able to play with Eddie. In the morning we're loading up the car, I'm going to run and give Eddie an apple and then we're off.
Wow.

Anyway, Eddie was SO exuberant and happy today. We cantered around the pasture for about a half an hour and he didn't even want to stop! "Let's go! Come on!" That was his attitude. And I was happy to oblige! We ran together, jumped over logs and just had fun.
*Happy sigh* He is such a good boy.
And then we went for a walk in the slippery and muddy track and then we grazed out by the corn crib and then we went for a walk in front of the house and then I groomed him and then we rode in the outdoor and then... you get the picture. :-) I did everything today because I'm going to miss him so much.
I love you so much Eddie and behave for my sister who gets to look after you for 6 days! ;-)
hehe!
Hope that you all have a wonderful day!

~Lea & Eddie~

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

What a Day!

Yesterday was sooooooooo much fun!

Rebecca came over and we had a blast! I cantered Eddie and jumped and trotted a lot and Rebecca cantered and trotted Scout a lot too!
Rebecca even rode Eddie for a while and I was really surprised how well Eddie did! I knew he was acting more gentlemanly, but to have another person ride him? I'm very proud of him because it's been at least 3 years since anyone besides me has ridden him. And Rebecca was just the person to do it. :-) She has a gift with horses and is gentle and soft with them.

 Here's a picture of her riding Scouty! hehe, Scout and I have been doing a lot of cantering on the ground lately. We'll be sprinting together and go around the track several times. I'm usually out of breath by the time we're half around it, but he is ready to go!
So, it was a good thing I've been playing with him lately, because he wasn't too spunky and not too sleepy. :-) Just right!

Again, we had so much fun and I love to have a riding buddy! And I think the horses do too!

~Lea & Eddie & Scout & Rebecca too~

Psalm 16:8
I have set the LORD always before me;
         Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

First Things First...

Well, it has been a really busy last couple of days!
Time to get caught up...
Let's see, on Wednesday I had an amazing day with Eddie. If you saw my video, no doubt you would agree! Eddie and I jumped, cantered, trotted and had such a blast. Three or four years ago, I would not believe I would be saying that. I mean, I always knew that we would get there, but it was 'out there.' Well, now we are 'there' and it feels pretty amazing. <3 Eddie is such an incredible horse and I cannot imagine how his previous owner thought he was stupid. He's the smartest horse I have ever ridden!
Anyway, that was on Wednesday and I just beam every time I think about it!
Oh yes, I also trimmed Diesel too! His feet look amazing!

~Lea & Eddie~


Psalm 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light;
         It gives understanding to the simple.

Just a Quick Post

It's late and it's been a busy day, but I couldn't help but post this.
Eddie and I JUMPED today! Over the barrels!!! YAHOOO!!!  He was so amazing and I can't even describe how much fun we had today. We cantered, jumped, trotted, and did everything. Sidepasses, you name it.

Here is a video of what we did and I will post all about it tomorrow. <3

I am just so excited. And so blessed. After 4 years, we have made such huge progress and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!!

Cantering

Ahhh... cool weather. Don't you just love it?

For the past few days, Eddie and I have been working on a few things. It's been cool out, so we were doing some cantering in the pasture on the ground. He was having a little trouble with it at first... bucking, snorting, jumping, farting, rearing, running and not relaxing.
So, needless to say, we were working on that. :-] Yeah.
I would asked for the canter, he would do some of his hopping around and then he would settle into a nice little fast lope, slow canter. After about 3-4 times of starting new circles and cantering, he wouldn't do it when he first started. Now, as to the cause I can easily say that it's just spooking. See... There's this baby killdeer...

And this little fella (Stilts I like to call him) is always running around and the momma is always screeching and flapping and make a whole lot of noise.
They run around and play something that resembles an insane game of marco-polo.
Anywhos, Eddie doesn't like scary birds so he spooks at them. Poor fella... Maybe we'll have to try some de-spooking with birds and flying things.

~Lea & Eddie~

 Isaiah 40:22
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
      And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
      Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
      And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 

A New Project

It sure has been hot this past week! Eddie, Scout and I have been playing in the mornings and just hanging out in the afternoons. I've been hosing them off, taking them for walks and taking them out to graze. In the mornings though, we've been doing lots of stuff! Laps in the track, playing in the pasture and playing at liberty in the outdoor.
Today though, Eddie and I started something new! This spring, he has put on some weight (not a lot, he's just hefty) and it's because he's been on the pasture quite a bit. That and I haven't been doing a lot of trotting/cantering when we play because it's been hot. So I decided, today, to do lots of cantering and trotting and jumping. And you know what? I think Eddie really liked it! He didn't even break a sweat and we would just keep going and going! :-) It's funny, once I ask him to do something, he jumps at the chance to do it! Oh, I love my Eddie so much!
So, now we have something new to do and we're both excited at taking it head on! Hey, I should take on new things to try more often! ;-)

~Lea & Eddie & Scout~


Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

We Cantered!

We sure did!
I knew it was going to be a scorcher today, so Eddie and I rode early in the morning. I'd say around 8 am. It was already 80, but we had a blast anyway! We trotted countless times, and for most of the time, we trotted two whole sides. Then we jumped a few times (I have video coming, but here's a picture for now!)

Eddie was so amazing and offered so much!! I am so proud of him and how far we have come!!

Dad came and took a few pictures and videos, so I was like, hey! Why don't we try a canter! Eddie was sleepy and the only down side was that it was windy. We went for it anyway, and tried 3-4 times. On the second try though, we took a few strides and he decided it was too hot to canter. And I can't blame. Especially because of another reason...

About an hour before we we rode, we brought the horses in off of their initial graze. Eddie decided to itch his butt on part of the fence. Therefore, because of his mass, ;-) he cracked the board and popped the bottom one out. :-( During that, he must have scraped the inside of his hind legs and took the skin and hair off. :-( So, I was riding and he had open cuts on him. I felt really, really bad. However, he showed no signs of lameness or soreness when I rode, so I guess it didn't hurt too bad.

Anyway, the point of me telling you this is because you never know what affects your horse during his day! Yesterday, when I had my good friend out, we discussed this and talked about it. Anything can happen to them during their day and it affects our rides with them. So, lesson learned. Always check your horse out before you ride! :-)

Hope ya'll are staying cool!
~Lea & Eddie~

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      And lean not on your own understanding;