mallet's Blog

Well, I may not be as fearless as I was before knocking myself silly by falling off of Radcliffe, but I am back at it.  I've jumped the last three Saturdays and taken a couple of trail rides in Delaware too.  My Saturday classes have all been with The Great Zucchini.  He earned that name by being exactly what the name implies: GREAT!  He is kind, athletic, confident and a pleasure to ride.  My first Saturday jumping, we trotted up to the first crossties and he stopped.  I was apparently sending him a signal to do so.  But we doubled back and then sailed over that jump and three others.  It was as if he knew I was scared and wanted to give me a moment to collect myself.  Today we had a solo lesson with Nina at Ashford.  It was fun.  We worked on cantering from a walk and trotting in circles.  Then we did a few jumps.  It was hotter than blue blazes in the ring, though.  I always wear my vest now.  It may protect me from breaking any ribs, but I sometimes think I am going to melt into a pile of goo because it is so, so hot!  On Thursday, I had a great ride on my second favorite quarter horse, Good Girl.  She is a very forward filly based at Carousel Park in Delaware.  It was the first time I had taken her out on the trail.  I had heard she can be a little skittish out there.  But she was great with me.  She is a very forward horse.  We had a nice, very forward ride together.  We jumped over some of the jumps they have set up out on the trail.  Its odd jumping a quarter horse like Good Girl.  She, like most quarter horses, is built downhill.  Its a funny feeling when you know you are keeping your shoulders back, but feel like you are tilted forward as you clear the jump.  But you have to love a horse who looks just like Rags to Riches (the filly that won the Belmont Stakes this year).  Good Girl has the same markings on her pretty face.  Of course, she doesn't have that spectacular uphill, thoroughbred body.  But she is a lovely creature.  I'm going to try and post some pictures of Zucchini on my blog so everybody can see the outstanding pinto that I gush about here on my blog!