Spring In Winter

Got home from work this afternoon, ran upstairs (3 flights) shrugged into my breaches, raced back downstairs, pulled on my boots, jogged outside, snagged my gear from the tack room, and met Lyra at the gate for another ride. And I do mean that I met her at the gate, she saw me coming from across the way, abandoned her round bale and companions, and met me at the gate, it was lovely of her!
Today we continued with a lot of walking. Really working on trying to get Lyra to relax through her top line, work from my inside leg to outside hand, have nice walking steps pushing through her top line, and working on balance. Lyra has a tendency to tighten up, through her head up in the air, and well, do the upside down neck game, which I'm a particular NON-fan of, so we are working on it. Today she managed quite a few strides with me getting to completely release her inside rein. She also followed my hand down rather well, especially towards the end of the ride. We are both a work in progress, but getting better with practice. I hope we can ride again tomorrow, lots happening though, so we shall see. :-)

Brandon and Dorothy swapped off on the camera (which I think actually worked to make for a not as wonderful as last time ride, since I was a bit tense with getting talked at for angles for light purposes, rather than just focusing on Lyra, good to keep in mind for next time, good to have a couple pics though, will help with my before and after reality checks in a couple of months when I feel discouraged that we've accomplished so little.) All in all, I had a great time with Lyra and am really looking forward to our continued rides. Looking into taking a few lessons myself with a local dressage trainer here, hoping that will help Lyra and I, might even see about getting Lyra over there for a little training herself, will see about that one...
Hope everyone else had a great day!!
As you can see in the one pic, we're starting to see green again, it was close to 50 and somewhat sunny intermixed with overcast today, Spring on the way so soon?, Dare I Hope???  And... we got a square halt! :-), seems the more I try to ask for one, the less likely it is to happen, but if I just move my seat to ask for a halt, she does a square halt pretty much every time, recon for Lyra, the less I interfere, the better.

Also, stopped at the local bookstore on my way home, for the new Chet and Bernie Mystery, by Spencer Quinn (really good books!, are mystery novels told from the Detective's Dog's Perspective, very quick, fun read).  While there, I looked through the horse books section (I always do) and came across a conformation book, "The Horse Conformation Handbook" by Heather Smith Thomas, which looks pretty good, has a lot of information in it along with clear descriptions and explanations and diagrams.  I haven't had time to spend a lot of time with it, but so far, it looks very good.  I also came across "The Rider's Fitness Guide to a Better Seat" by Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, it also looks like it's chalk full of useful information.  I'm always happy to learn a new little exercise or stretch I can do while at work or sitting at my computer or in my car or on dark, rainy nights, when I can't ride, to help improve my riding when I can ride.  Thought I'd pass the titles along.
Hay getting delivered tomorrow. 
Best,
~Heather