FAST TRACK DAY 3

Lisa Trowse said FAST TRACK DAY 3 - Day started with taking Jack out to graze and just let him take me where he wanted. Spent an hour exploring the paddock, walking, looking, trotting with me shadowing behind. Liberty testing this morning. Whilst waiting we had time in the playground and we managed some really good stuff. Got jack up and over the tyre tower will all four feet, over the ramp and some great log jumps. As the morning progressed I saw glimpses of mr LBE come out to play and he kept catching me unawares.

Was pleased with the liberty testing. Wasn't near what we do at home, but then we are not at home. He threw a few surprises in there for me too. In the afternoon, exuberant Jack came out to play. At one point his tail went up, he was snorting and blowing and we played, and I ran, and he was totally connected with some fantastic direction changes and draw! My poor little legs are going to wear out!

Finess testing this afternoon. I sat out of most of them as jack is still not really rideable, but I managed to get on for one task at the end as it was quite controlled in a small environment. When I mounted it felt like I was sitting on a power fuelled rocket and he accelerated forward a bit too quick. I do so love my one rein. Once he was listening, we walked into the pen and completed our tests very nicely indeed. I jumped up confidence intact, and happy that I had got into the saddle.

I am setting up some good strategies to handle the stable and finally mucked jack out today. He has never had his nose bashed so much in his life, but I learnt a good lesson yesterday about safety. I am lucky that I am only sporting a black eye (it is very fetching), it could have been a lot worse. I am making new friends and settling down too. Exhausted. I had a 12 hour day today and we finished early! And very physical, although with Jack I have been really challenged and every bit of me hurts. I have never run so much in my life. I have been wet through to the skin and cold, though the hot chocolate was very welcome. It has been a really good day. One instructor has said some lovely things about jack and I secretly glowed like a proud mum should. Looking forward to tomorrow soooooo much.