so little ansel is doing better, pics to come of some of his wardrobe (seems so silly to me still that i have a dog that wears 'layers')...

i ordered some dermagic lotion for him last night.  i found a place that sells it in 4oz as well as 8 oz bottles.  being a small dog he won't need much.  he's been much perkier and we actually played a little bit.  i'm amazed that he has no interest in toys.  not sure what to get him to play with....

in HORSE news - i rode yesterday.  i'm getting buster ready for a clinic on the 14th of next month.   the BIGGEST thing though, i cantered on him!  i know, doesn't seem like a big deal but for me, it certainly was.  i've been having issues with the canter longer than i've been riding buster.  some of my confidence issues have been gone for a while but there's still alot of lingering fear and hesitation.  so while he's been cantering u/s since he had 6 weeks at the trainer's back in march, i haven't done it with him yet. 

now when i was in high school i would ride all 3 gaits all over my home valley bareback.  i loved it.  i instinctually knew how to ride then and i've lost that.  staying on just happened and i couldn't explain it.  now it's all a thought process (or it shouldn't be now lol)...  i guess that's why fear has entered - i started THINKING too much instead of just riding.  so i started to lose my balance etc. 

however, reading cesar milan's books about the dogs and calm-assertive energy has really helped me.  k, a friend, was out there and she rode him a bit and got him warmed up for me.. watching him on the ground really helped me out and i couldn't be more thankful for her presence.  she has a great upbuilding and positive energy and confidence to herself so that naturally helped me.  i got on, told myself 'i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' and then picked up the trot.  not even a butterfly.  we trotted for a while then i asked him to move up into the canter.  he was being pissy and lazy, but he did it.  then he decided to start cantering laterally so i shut him down...  next weekend my goal, now that i'm 'unstuck' is to start working through that and keeping him on a straight or round track - it's not time for lateral cantering, especially if i'm not asking for it lol!  the canter is actually my favorite gait and i was laughing and tearing up it felt so good to finally get that out and break through the fear and anxiety.  God gave me so much confidence yesterday and i felt more like i used to than i have in the past ten years.  my eventual goal is to be able to go bareback anywhere (buster needs to build some muscle and fat up over his back too) but we're a ways out from that right now.  either way, praise God indeed for small and large blessings. 

the chiropractor needs to see him before the clinic and i'm hoping he'll be coming out soon.