Taking the good and the bad.

Once again, Amber was easily caught, interested to see if perhaps she would get a tasty morsel for behaving.

We had an uneventful grooming and tack up, and then we went out to ride. She was doing well today, so I tried a canter again. Yet again, she got a little too strong. So, while that was being used as a possible reward for her, I will not attempt it any more since it can obviously get out of control, and she doesn't need that stress on the hind legs. I expect once the teeth and feet are fixed, it will be much like how I fixed her trot (which is now 99% excellent again)...just check and release until she understands slow and easy means no pressure on her face.

I'm still very excited to work with Emma. I think she will really help Amber and I stay on track and succeed. It's hard for me to school *myself* when I can't see myself.

After we finished, she was quite hot (it was rather warm today), so I bathed her. All was well until the end. I'm not sure what happened, but she went from calm and patient to a fire breathing, wiggling little brat. She even threatened to kick (which she was quickly reprimanded for!).

It started after I began washing her tail. She got a little "turned on" I believe. Of course she may be in heat anyway, but I usually can't tell unless she's with other horses. She was winking and taking up peeing stance. I finished her tail though, and made her stand for me to brush it before I put her away to dry.

I watched one of Emma's advanced lessons and then checked on Amber, who was mostly dry and very fluffy. I decided to curry her over to remove the hair that was now coming off (yay, sheddage!).

It was around feeding time, which explained why she was wiggling and being stupid, but that doesn't excuse it. She was very much in my space, bumping into me and just being annoying in general. I gave her a little pop, and oh my god, I just killed her. *Sigh*. It was barely more than a tap. But she just sat down. I stepped back out of her way and waited for her to straighten up. She was tied with a break away tie, so I wasn't too worried. She stood up, observed me for a moment, and then I went back to what I was doing. She stood and behaved.

Yes. Our problem, mostly, is lack of work and lack of being made to mind. Andrea avoided conflict with her, and she apparently forgot that I don't put up with it. She's usually so easy to correct that I avoid popping if I can. But when all else fails...you have to get her attention and say "HEY...I'm in charge."

She scraped the back of her hock in her goofy moment, but it's fortunately just superficial, and I put some ointment on it. It's a dime size little scrape.

I spoke with Bob and he's going to make an appointment with the vet.

Here's to better days. Although today was, 60% great. I just wish we'd never gone to Andrea's. So many things would not be an issue right now. *Sigh*