August 28,  2004

Isabel and I went to Pine Dell for her very first clinic today. We arrived yesterday. Isabel got to touch noses with her Mom, but it wasn't very satisfying. Mom left the fence. Well, there was another horse that drove her away, yeah, that's it.

Isabel was very excited to see all her old friends at Pine Dell. Her head was higher than I've ever seen it before. We went to see eleven month old Tinkerbell, seemingly, her only true horse friend. They had quite a conversation. When touching noses with Tinkerbell's mom, Mel, she snarled at her. Well, it was good to see Tinkerbell anyway.

Today, we met Mom in the arena barn aisle. Isabel was summarily rejected with ears back and a squeal. Guess Mom is over missing her long lost baby!

We arrived in the arena. True to expectations, Team Isabel and Susan provided a lot of entertainment and awe. Isabel was pretty feisty being cooped up in a stall for two nights in a row...for fence cuts two nights ago and being at Pine Dell last night.

First, she rolled. Then she reared. All that saw that rear were pretty excited as she was pretty close to Jenny. Jenny had her back turned and didn't realize Isabel was rearing about 5 feet away. Later Isabel reared a couple times in a row. The last rear was so high, that she started to go over backwards. Then her back legs collapsed and she fell in a little seated heap. I believe we performed for most of the 1st hour. During that hour, I was invited by Jenny to switch the 12' rope to the 22' rope as Isabel needed a lot of room, both on the ground and in the air!

The rearing stopped and she concentrated on figuring out what I was requesting. At dull times, she pawed the ground to show how excited she was to be in the arena. At the end, we were so low key and quiet, we became invisible. That's when I gave her my kerchief to wear. At all times, Isabel was extremely cute!

(I will have a before clinic picture and an after clinic picture later.)

At the end, it was trailer-home time. I was looking forward to showing off our new "send." Too bad, she loaded herself into the trailer.

As always, after a L1 clinic, my feet protest any extra steps. My shirt is as dirty as any shirt could be, my finger nails drip arena dirt, and I am filled with joy and awe at the beginning of Isabel's Journey to Saddle Horse.

I now have two fox trotters that will be resuming their journey to saddle horse soon. Lippizan Kodak is coming to Pine Dell for a week of ground training. Former Lippizan, Salty Dog, will be going to Pine Dell to be started in November. Oh Joy!

JR is nearing the end of his Saddle Horse Journey. All we have left is a set fox trot and flying lead changes. Velvet, well...Velvet is beyond mere Saddle Horse.

I am Susan Engle and I approve this message. (It's an election year!)