Hey everyone! Time for us to look back on my December riding month. That went fast!I didn’t get to ride that much last month because it was quite cold in northern Illinois, so one lesson was cancelled.

I actually had only one lesson last month and did two hacks. As always, I was with my favorite horse, Sapphire!

I am really starting to see Sapphire’s loving personality! She’s actually quite a lazy horse, so when I started riding I got the feeling that she didn’t like me, although really she just didn’t want to get to work! Lately though, she seems so happy to see me. I stop at the little window of her stall and she immediately will come over and stick her head out and rub it against me. When I lead her out of her stall she’ll do the same. I’m still getting to know horses but I think that means she likes me!

Since she’s been so cuddly I always pick her for my lessons. I have the choice between her and Chopper but she wins! Although maybe she only likes me because she knows I always bring carrots…

In terms of what I’ve been doing, I’ve just been working on not getting killed when there are horses jumping all over the place while I’m trying to ride. It’s so dangerous!

In all seriousness though, I have not been working on anything new, just trying to get good at what I know and fix my form. I have to lean back and keep my heels down, as well as read the horse better so when they slow down or start going off in a different direction I correct them.

I end every ride with some time riding bareback now. I’ve been able to trot bareback for a few steps before it becomes too wobbly and I have to stop.

I still am riding in a western saddle, which is now just what I find to be safe because of the horn, but I’m needed it less and less now. I do want to someday ride English and learn to jump but I just bought a pair of western boots so I’m going to stick with Western for a bit longer. In which case I want to do trick riding! (“DANGER! DANGER!” says my brain.) Of course, that won’t be for a loooooong time. I can’t even stand in the stirrups for very long before I fall back into the saddle.

So that’s been my riding month! Not too crazy, but still fun and enjoyable. I can’t wait until it’s nice out again and I can ride outside!

Let me know how your hobbies have been going. What do you like to do for fun?

Thanks for reading!