Leaps of Faith

Jill said "I am not naturally good at the timing of things.  One of the reasons I loved riding Stone cross was that he was so forward my job approaching fences, especially the last three strides, was to sit up and wait. Let him figure it out. With my leg on, of course. But, I could only move into two point postion when we were good and airborne."


At a certain point, on the approach to a jump, you have to give up struggling with your horse, even if you are going too fast.

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Jill was teasing about cowboy fashion and her friend outdid her. "If you don't like the belt buckle take it off him." counselled Jill's new friend, joking more respect for western was required. Jill had mentioned how he seemed to take everything in stride, and how she liked that about him. He sounded like an interesting guy. And he was handsome, she'd already said, ha.
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Right now we are letting the feet breath. The chipping is okay, to be expected as those nail holes grow out.
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She had been winning at everything out at preliminary level, and had him vetted for sale for a higher level, to a more advanced rider because she didn't want to advance.  Only to learn that the was 90% blind. No one could believe he'd been out there doing what he he'd been doing, with ease.
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"I have never made a horse more happy.  That horse loves the whole underside of her whole entire head scratched and rubbed and brushed to all eternity.  She is SO cuddly."  Jill had liked herding them from one paddock to the grassier one.  Although she realized she ignored the instruction to try and lead them by handfuls of grass ha.


She did not like their limited access to water.  But, when she pinched their skin they did not seem dehydrated.  The fences were too low and very flimsy, if electric, ha.  But the horses respected them.  The mare had a puncture wound on each foreleg near the fetlock and the gelding had stepped on a nail.  Weres the nail buried in the mud? There was not much that could be done right away...


The cats breathing was bad again.  And the little male was hanging his back legs off chairs in weird ways again.  


The pig knew its name was pig!  It was obvious.  Hello Pig, Jill tested over and over.  Vs. hello hens or hello hogs or dog... But she didn't pat it or show any affection beyond some kind words and company, ha.  The sow was enjoying the mud and cool weather.
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That nite she caught a horse-myth-busting show where the pinch the neck test for dehydration was proved inaccurate. She was pleased they accepted write-in questions, and started a letter right away...