Riding log and other horsey stuff

So yesterday was my last ride on Guiness until the fall, sigh :( But we had a good lesson, and because the weather wasn't too hot, Tina assigned a *lot* of cantering. This included half-seat (two-point, or whatever), which was fine, and *without stirrups* which was a little more shaky, but I never felt like I would fall off. We did have one, um, episode, which was either a sudden speed-up or a start of a buck, but I recovered quickly.

Also I got a little horsemanship lesson from Tina on the good and bad points of Guiness's conformation. Good: very sound legs and hard hooves and a good "engine" (hindquarters), withers to hold everything in place, and a pretty head and expression. Less good: weak topline, back is bit too straight, slightly straight shoulders (yet he does not go heavy in front.) What this all means is that it's hard for him to "pretty up" when moving out. Tina likes him, but for some reason she kept saying that he's small. Well, yes. He's 14.2 hands. But that's a good size for me. But Tina's thing is eventing, where a 16 hand horse is considered small.

I am also seeking a better sports bra; sitting trot is, well, bouncy, even on a horse as smooth as Guiness. The highly recommended Elann bra turns out to be all wrong for me. It's meant for women who are not flat-chested, which I'm not, but my ribcage is too big and my breasts too small to fit any of their sizes.

One more thing: on June 23 and June 30, I will be helping Windrush raise money by collecting money at the parking lot at Groton House Farm's horse trials. I will be going out in the late morning each day and then working a noon to 3 p.m. shift. The setting is beautiful and it should be fun for horsey people. http://www.grotonhousefarm.com/html/groton_house_farm_events.html