Tiny update

Soraya is feeling much better now, after all her problems last year. The last few days we've been working really hard again, trying to get her back into shape. After a lot of warming up yesterday, we had a little go at a log, jumping it a few times before I walked her home and let her have her peace. Seriously, I'm really happy.

Back when she first came down with her injury - only a month after I bought her - which was two years ago, I worried that she would never be recovered enough to do serious work again. We found a fantastic farrier last year, and the work he's done on her legs has been superb; she's gone from lardy stiff pony to a sporty little horse, particularly since the beginning of spring this year, and we've been walking for a long time to be where we are now. She's working on her strength, balance and muscle, and obviously I'm really starting to see where we're going.

Also yesterday we managed a collected canter (i.e. not a canter achieved by making her trot as fast as she possibly can first because she won't shift up a gear.) It wasn't as controlled as I might have liked, but we'll work on it - as her muscle and balance improves, she'll be able to collect more, and might take more care of where she's putting her feet when we're moving. Hopefully by the end of the summer we'll be able to canter around the football field without her tripping over or running into something; but mastering it on the straight first, obviously.

I'm finally getting back for all the time and love and money I've invested in getting her better over the last couple of years, and with money finally coming in, might be able to get my driving license and a horse box, which would make next summer incredible *dreams of taking horse up the mountain for a long ride on tractor-free roads*