I ended up going to the stable early yesterday---and so I got there at about 12:20 instead of 1:00. I got home sometime after 9:00.
It was very busy! Though I had a great time. I helped feed the horses, bring them in, separate them, and halter them---releasing the ones we didn't need. First, we had a group of five beginners to take out, and while we were out with them, we had two others groups of riders come by. (One group persisted of 3 people, and the other was just 2 people: a man and his daughter.)
So after we finished the ride with the first group, which was conveniently coming to a close, we took out both the smaller groups on the same horses. Miss Terre doubled with the youngest members briefly to make things easier, and though we had a few hectic moments, it all went pretty good.
I rode Jonesy, and was so pleased---he did much better than he had the day before! He only bucked a handful of times, and even started to trot fairly willingly. I got him to canter for just a tiny bit, but that didn't last long (because in the hunt seat English saddle I was riding in, I couldn't stay in as easily and got unbalanced enough to slow Jonesy unintentionally.) He also racked some, though I pressed him through it and into a trot, mainly because I wanted to focus on trotting and cantering at the time. However, after I get better at them---and he stops bucking so frequently---I will see if I can get him to rack.
I've been thinking about calling Miss Terre and asking if I can come up to ride Jonesy and help out some (if she's there,) but it's getting later now, and I generally stay there for several hours. I'd really hate to miss dinner tonight---because Mom's making Navajo Tacos!
But, I have cleaned the medium-sized saddle that we got from our Aunt Susie. We actually have three---of varying sizes, though I decided to start with the one that I would actually ride in. It's looking much better now, but wow is it squeaky! We're pretty sure that being worn will work some of that out, but I'm fully prepared to use some baby powder if I must!
I plan on taking it up to the stable sometime in the near future (we are going to get a cover for it) to see what Miss Terre thinks about it, and maybe try it out on Jonesy to see how it fits. It's still awful stiff, but now that I've cleaned it it has loosened up quite a bit, and I'll keep flexing the leather some to help loosen it further. :)
I going to ask Miss Terre and my parents if I can go riding tomorrow. I don't want to leave Jonesy without being ridden for too long, especially after I've seen that he can make progress quickly. Yesterday, besides a decrease in the bucking, he was easier to halter as well. I plan on working with him on all those things, and also "standing." Or even better "standing still." He doesn't always wait calmly to be mounted, and tends to try and stray when on a lead and being held from the ground. I will probably work on whoa-ing him on a lead, then working with standing for being mounted and groomed. Actually, grooming isn't much of an issue to far---he really likes it!
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