We are still under 10 rides in total, mostly in the round pen. Polly turned three this summer, our riding partner is not crossing the river comfortably. It’s not the summer I thought we’d have, but it’ll do.

Polly now has questionable balance, steering, forward, and brakes.

First goal: stay off unless she looks like a horse I want to ride. Some days are full squirrel brain pony distraction. Eventually we’ll need to work through that. For now, those are groundwork days.

Second goal: work on something, then ignore it for a week or five. We had near-zero real forwards earlier this summer.

So when I had an evening where she was unenthusiastic about running, it felt like a good day to get on. Unfortunately, it’s fall. I tacked up. It got dark. I wasn’t entirely sure who else was at the barn.

Did I mention that I’ve only ridden Polly outside the arena once? And never by herself at all? What could possibly go wrong?!

I hopped on anyway. I was already tacked up. It dawned on me that someone was around because their horse was turned out in the arena. And might start running. This might terrify Polly. And I can’t go the long way, because there might be deer. Ok, one tiny lap and we called it good. Horse fine, rider anxious.

She stood for a bit. My riding partner made it out. We should ride! It’s dark! But they’re mellow, barn’s pretty empty, her mare is solid, it’ll be a nice relaxing lap or three around the barn.

She got on. I got back on.

A loose warmblood cantered around the corner.

My friend did an emergency dismount and prompted me to bail. My brain got stuck. What if Polly moves while I’m getting off? Yes, that is sort of the point of the emergency dismount. Both the five year old and three year old stood perfectly still, like they see loose horses bolting around the barn all the time.

I finally connected to my brain and got off the horse.

We hand-walked a lap. The loose horse was retrieved. We got back on and had a nice, civilized walk around the barn.

I have no idea what I did to deserve this horse, but I continue to be really delighted with her brain. Gold stars, pretty pony. Keep it up.