pretty in pink

Had a friend visiting from Colorado for the week, so Tuesday she braved the humidity and went out to the barn. It was a bit hot but not too bad. The footing in the arena looked a little soggy from the rain the night before so we started out in the indoor, but after we did some trotting around the barn owner came along and told us the outdoor would be OK, so we went outside. Pony was good about walking through the various gates while mounted, not that I anticipated a problem but ya never know when horses will have some weird neurosis. Friend and I later realized that the camera was on manual focus when I'd told her it was on auto so most of the pics are a bit blurry.

We'd already warmed up pretty well inside so we did just a bit more trot work and then had a walk break before cantering. The deeper footing seemed to have pony a bit more focused on where her feet were/her way of going and not just go-go-go at the trot but she was a bit fresh at the canter, probably from not being turned out much over the weekend due to rains and not being worked Monday. So, we focused more on work within the canter itself rather than doing lots of transitions, which tend to get her fired up. I do want to do more transition work at another time because a) prompt yet calm upward transitions and smooth downward transitions are something I'd like to get a little better instilled before she goes back into the school program, and b) she needs to grow a butt, but I didn't want to turn it into a battle that day.

We had a brief walk break before doing canter work the other direction and while she was good at the walk,

once I picked up the reins to get ready to canter again she wanted to anticipate.

Kind of a duh moment--of course we all know horses anticipate things once they get into a routine--but not something you really think about until you're the sole rider of a horse for a time and you realize you tend to do things in the same order. So, we did some more trot work 'til she calmed down, and then more canter. Must remember to mix things up in the coming weeks.

Then we did some trotting on a long rein to start our cooldown,

then walked out in the arena, untacked, and gave her a shower. Then we took her down the road for a snack and some asshattery

Then she decided she wanted to play the I'm-going-to-spook-at-nothing-and-gallop-circles-around-you game, so she had to stand respectfully for a bit and then we put her home.