quick riding log

Rode Guiness. Not the best lesson, because he was *very* spooky at any gait faster than a walk. Then I realized that my keys were jingling in my pocket, and it was scaring him. Gave the keys to Marge, and then spent the next 20 minutes working on relaxing him and me. He did calm down eventually but was still more on edge than he usually is. I apologized for the bad day mid-way through the lesson, and she said they could find another horse for me for next week. Inside my head I said "no no!!!" By the end of the lesson, Marge had decided that Guiness and I were doing just fine.

We also did a bit better at rating his canter, in one direction anyway. The other direction was more like a hand gallop.

The barn manager said noises really do affect Guiness very strongly, and told me I did the right thing even if Marge was frustrated.