Stepping Up

 In the past couple weeks since our dressage lesson, I feel like Pyro has really stepped up to be the horse I need him to be right now.

He has felt extremely steady, trustworthy, and willing.

One evening, I intended to hop on for a relaxed walk-only ride. However, once we got going it just felt *right* to do a little trot work.

Test fitting his new english pommel bags

That went well, and it felt natural to roll up into my first canter post-concussion.

Peek Tessa dutifully following

It was my first canter post-concussion, and I felt confident and balanced. 

Happily cantering like we could go on like that forever

Pyro quietly trotted some poles...

Knows his job

...and let Tessa jump up on my boot to say hi for the first time.

Both of my favorite redheads

Later on, I put together a WOW jump saddle for him, and our test ride was an absolute pleasure.

What dis?

All hail WOW

Another steady ride

Look who can pick up the canter without hollowing his back!

Played with 2 point

"Am cute..."

"...deserve cookies."

Most recently, Mary gave me the gentle encouragement to join her for popping over a few baby jumps. I was a little non-committal from feeling anxious about reintroducing jumps, but tacked Pyro up anyway, saying we'd see how I felt after warming up. I need not have worried.

My first jump in over 4 months

Pyro was once again trustworthy and rideable (although he needed a little help from me to find his steadiness as we navigated the jumps). He went around with his ears pricked, looking for the next one.

LOVED this canter

taking me to the fence

Once we got going, I had a BLAST playing follow the leader with Mary on Connor, trying the lines she did. She made the comment that it didn't look like I had missed months of jumping. I gradually gained confidence as my body clearly remembered how to move over fences with Pyro. 

Over some fences Pyro or I were a little wiggly, but others felt really solid.

He basically cantered over several, rather than over-jumping.

Look at how CUTE his jump is!

Feeling secure enough in my balance to help him find his own

Our last jump of the day

He didn't even work up a sweat (although I did), and he got emphatic praise after the last fence. I even hopped off, loosened his girth, and walked him in hand for the cool down. 

looking STRONG

Simply put, I'm thrilled by soon-to-be-6-year-old Pyro. He seems to have really matured, both physically and mentally. As we deepen our understanding of one another, he is really stepping up this spring to be my main saddle horse. 

THANKS FOR NOT DOING THIS UNDER SADDLE, BUDDY