At my lesson today Sara said that Andy is looking really good. He's building muscles in his butt and topline, gaining weight, and looking nice and shiny. His trot and canter have also really improved. She asked me if I was interested in showing, to which I said "Hell yes!" So I'm going to a schooling at her barn during winter (February I think). Her goal for me is to make it to the ODS Adult Team Show in May. YAY! I was going to broach the topic of showing with her this lesson anyways, and get her opinion on whether or not we'd be ready this year. She thinks it's a great idea. So now I have trainer approval. I am dressage-show bound! I'm not so sure about jumping shows though. That might have to wait a year or so! I am so thrilled that I started working with Sara. Andy and I needed it. She's very focused on turning Andy in a dressage horse, and a little less focused on my riding, which is great. It's what we really need. We'll learn together.

I had a really good lesson on Callie on Tuesday. We spent the whole lesson refining my jumping position. Kandice had me subtly adjusting my two-point at w/t/c, and doing transitions in half-seat as well. Freaking tough work! Can I just say that I need some serious core muscles? She told me that when I go from posting to two-point, my shoulders should be in the same position. Holy abs/back muscles Batman! I am the queen of slumping my shoulders forward. It's probably from years of poor posture. Will work on that. Callie was being really responsive, so Kandice had me work on extending and lengthening at the trot, then collecting back up again. It was so cool how I could really feel the difference!

In other news, a sweaty and displeased Andy completely stomped my foot after my lesson today. I was picking his back hoof when he jerked it out of my hands and slammed it back down to the ground- right onto my foot. It hurt so bad that I couldn't even discipline him- I just had to hobble over the bench and sit down. Naughty pony- he knows better that to do that shit. I really think he was grouchy after working so hard. My foot does not look pretty. It's got a nasty, huge bruise and it and is all swollen. I think I'll have it x-rayed tomorrow, just to make sure there's no break. You can actually see the curved line of Andy's shoe. That little fucker. This is just not my month. I will, however, take this as an opportunity to get new boots. If it had been wearing my stiff calf-length boots my foot wouldn't be nearly as hurt. Those crappy fake leather tall boots have no strength and just let Andy annhilate my foot. No more of that!