Finally

For the first time in 2017, I finally got a chance to ride my horse!

Proof that it happened

And the strangest thing has happened during the last 2 months. My horse has improved. You know how usually after an extensive break, your horse forgets everything you have taught them? Well that didn't happen for us. I mean, sure he was a little rusty on a few things, like leg-yields, but overall, he felt more broke than he has ever felt before.

Still nailed his leg yields even though he was rusty

For anyone that knows Charmer, or has seen him in any setting, they will know that, while he has an incredible canter, it is usually a lot of work to make it nice, and the transition is usually a train wreck.

Drooling over all our pretty new things

But the strangest thing happened in our ride. He was light and floaty. He offered canter transitions even when I didn't ask for them. And they were some of the most uphill and balanced transitions that I have ridden on any horse. Ever.

Especially in the last few weeks, while I haven't been riding, I have been having serious doubts about where I will go in the sport. Things that used to sound easy, sounded impossible. But suddenly, when I got on Charmer, all those doubts just melted away. He is turning into more than just the green-broke racehorse that I got a year and a half ago. He is starting to become my other half. 

He is starting to understand what I ask, even before I ask it. Instead of me always trying to teach and protect him, he is beginning to teach and protect me. He has figured out a way to teach himself new things, and how to better carry his body. When I sit on his back, instead of feeling strange and unusual, he feels like an extension of my body. 

I have never reached a level of connection this intense with a horse before. I have had many, very incredible, partners leading up to Charmer, but I think something is different about him. He is the horse that I see my dreams fulfilled on. Sometimes, I lose sight of that, like I have for the last couple of weeks, but every time I begin to falter in my belief in us, Charmer has begun to step up, and be right there for me when I need it. 

"I'm sexy and I know it"

All of this post is to say, I am thrilled to have finally been back in the saddle (my gorgeous new monoflap no less). But even more, I am really excited to finally start to see my 7yo OTTB maturing into a really incredible sporthorse. And I am surprised to realize that, for the first time ever, I can honestly say that I trust Charmer more than I trust any other horse.