Calves... Burning...

So. I had a lesson with my friend Madi today. I will probably talk about her a lot on this blog. She's honestly one of my best friends. She has helped Gambler and I through so much, and has stood by us through thick and thin. She rides Gambler for me on Saturdays, which is such a blessing and a help. Gambler really loves her, even though she makes him work really hard! Madi - if you're reading this; I love you. You're amazing. Thank you for everything.

Today, I rode Gambler in his new Myler! He seemed to like it a lot! He needs his teeth done, I think. He hasn't had his teeth done since September, and he's been grinding his teeth a lot. Maybe I need to retreat him for ulcers. BLAH. Always something! Luckily, I am camp counseling this week so making some extra money.

Anyways. Gambler was pretty good about being tacked up. It's so much easier when there is another person to help me. He was also great about the mounting block; again, because Madi was holding him. We warmed up with our normal serpentines, figure eights, and the like. He started off so stiff. I think partially because I haven't ridden him since Tuesday; I don't know. So I worked on just having him open up, alternating leg pressure.

Oh! It was so funny, I tapped him with the crop on the butt for the first time ever... He wanted to have a meltdown, but wasn't sure how. I could tell he was thinking about rearing, but he didn't, luckily. He is such a good boy. He backed up a little, but stopped within a few seconds, and walked on afterwards. We took the crop back a few minutes later, and he was a perfect gentleman. Note: I am not some mean person who is always smacking my horse with a crop. I have started carrying the crop lately but honestly it is just a mental thing for him, even though he has never been hit with it before, he knows that when I carry a crop, I am expecting him to move forward and that I could use it as a reinforcement. No, I am not some animal abuser. I believe that if you hit/smack/discipline a horse once, and it doesn't work, from thereon out, it is "abuse". I use that term reluctantly, because obviously it's not abuse unless you're repetitively hitting your horse, but it is not necessary, nor going to get you results if it doesn't work the first or second time.

Madi also had me working on not just using my heel, and using my calves. Hard work, I tell you! My calves are going to be burning tomorrow, hence the title. But, it was so interesting to see how much quicker Gambler responded and dropped his head low, stretching out more. It was great to see. I am going to continue working on that this week. Hopefully my calves will get more toned, to boot! We finished the ride with a walk up the hill. It's very interesting, Gambler is much more apt to bend correctly and stretch out in the field. I guess he just likes it there better.

We finished the day with a nice hose down, stretches and of course hugs and pictures!

This horse makes me smile, so, so big 

Being goofy while hosing down! He's not amused by my antics