A test of Lightness ~ Lily's Log #33

I finally got to play with Lily today for the first time since breaking my arm. She was amazing! She had so much energy and really wanted to cut loose and play at the end of the 22ft line so I allowed it with minimal suggestions. At one point she jumped and threw her head in a particularly animated display while I was tranferring the rope from behind my back to my left hand using my right, so I had to let go to protct my injured arm. She took off bucking merrily and happily came back to play more. It was a real test of how light I could be when asking for sideways, yo-yo, etc. because I could barely hold the carrot stick in my right hand with the lead in my left. Lily never fails to impress me, though, and even did a sideways along the fence with me standing in zone 4-5! I transitioned to standing on the stump I use as a mounting block and Lily lined up with almost no suggestion. I spent the next 5-10 minutes just petting and playing friendly game over her back. When I stepped off and backed away, Lily started to sideways towards me, then stopped and looked at me as if she was asking is this right?" With just a lift of the carrot stick and a cluck, she sideways-ed over the stump to me. WOW! With that, I decided to quit while I was ahead and spent the next hour in undemanding time with both Kiowa and Lily. At one point, Kiowa reached up, rested her head on my shoulder, closed her eyes, and let out one of the most contented sighs I have ever heard!

What a welcome back to the herd after my injury!