Almost Done

Team Army (my co-pilot is also an Army Veteran ) and Ben waiting for our turn to go

The good news is, five of the tests are done and there is only one left.  The bad news is, I don’t get to drive anymore while I’m here.  I’m kind of sad; it’s been fun driving these horses.  Okay, it’s just fun getting to drive so much in general.  I really enjoy driving, a lot.  Annie is still my favorite horse, but Ben is a close second.  He’s a ploddy Haflinger that has to be convinced he can or wants to move.  Poor fellow, by the time I drove him today through the dressage test and cones course, the same ones we drove yesterday, was clearly done with the whole program.  He went through them three times yesterday, and I was the second person to drive him today.  He had two more people after me.  Despite being sick of the patterns, Ben plodded on.

Been waiting for his turn to go back to the barn

                                         

            I was much happier with today’s dressage test than I was yesterdays, although I’m quite certain I won’t be getting any great scores on impulsion.  During the cones course, going through the last pair I managed to knock a number over, but the ball stayed on the cone.  Otherwise, I was very happy with my cones course as well, and since I knew where I made my error, I’m okay with it.

            I felt great after teaching my able-bodied driver.  After the general comments to everyone though, I wasn’t feeling so good about it after all.  My teaching was good, but I missed a very important technical part of the movement I was teaching.  The worst part?  When I was contemplating this lesson plan before I got here, I had intended to be sure to put that technicality in.  I completely forgot about it when I got here.  Major brain fart, I get those sometimes.

            All in all, the certification is going well, as far as I can tell anyway.  I am tired, and although I’ve enjoyed the people, the atmosphere, the opportunity to learn so much, and getting to drive different horses, I like Ben am pretty much done.  I’ll be glad when it is all over with tomorrow and I can stick a fork in it.  I miss my baby girl, my ponies, my doggies and kitties, the bird… if I wasn’t so tired about now I’d be just plain homesick.

            So, if all goes well, tomorrow I’ll be writing some great news and I’ll officially be a PATH Intl. certified driving instructor.  Please keep the prayers going, and for those of you who have been praying for us to get some rain… it worked too so let’s keep those going as well.