The one lesson I can't seem to remember....

"Somewhere between the rider you once were and the rider you are now is a girl who fell in love with a horse and never looked back. Ride for her."

This is one of my favourite quotes and it sits on the door of my locker to remind me when I get in all pro/competitive mode and things are not-so-fun of what it's supposed to be.

Well today Sienna reminded me of how it's *supposed* to be. hahaha crisp cool fall day, and I was riding in the morning which meant we could actually go outside. Now usually this is prime galloping weather, but alas there is nowhere safe to gallop at our current location. So fine, into the ring we go. And I had my little mental plan, but Sienna's plan was way better. Her plan was to remind me that it's *fun*. hahaha she started out at the HUGE power-trot she used to do when I first started her. The "I don't know where we're going, but we're going to get there FAST!" trot that had me laughing simply because it's insane to try and post to that *g* Then there was the "I was bred to canter you know" when she has enough of the power trot and opts instead for a power canter. And that is the most amazing feeling. Man the day I can get that in the dressage ring on a 20m circle we're set! hahaha Round, through, solidly connected, and a huge stride. Absolutely amazing.

Now by this point rather than being dumb about wanting to "get something accomplished" I've chilled out and realized it's the middle of the week, bright, sunny, and just a little cool. And I should be at the office. I should *enjoy* this! And so Sienna and I spent the rest of the ride goofing around. Go a little faster, a little slower... Randomly change directions. Write your name in the sand (at the canter mind you! And for the record, her name is significantly easier than mine.) Jump anything that gets in the way. It was an absolute blast. I felt like I was 12 again -- all I needed was somebody else like-minded for pairs and I would've been set *g*

And you know what? In the end, we did "get something accomplished". We had DQ competition quality gaits and both of us had fun getting there. Lesson learned :)