First ride outside

I'm too tired to write too much, but I had my first ride outside today. Mason was amazing! I am having so much fun on him. I walked him outside to mount up from the mounting block because Alison was in the ring having a lesson and the gate was closed. I decided to just hop on Mason and not walk around to show him the ring, a little test to see what he would do. He was amazing of course! He wasn't very focused on me at the beginning, especially seeing Beacon and Slick on the grass. That was very distracting, lol. Otherwise he was good. Not to mention that it was raining all day yesterday so the ring was really soupy. Mason wasn't even bothered by the bad footing in the ring. What a good boy!
Erin saw me on Mason for the first time today. It was a little awkward to be truthful, but I'm just going to have to learn to deal with it.

After I got off I saw Erin and she was asking me what my plans are with Mason. I'm not really sure what answer she wanted me to say. Thinking back on it now i should have said 'just to have fun on him'. I also think she wants me to show. This is going to sound horrible I know, and I'll most likely regret it but hey, no one is reading these blogs but me... for now. I think she wants me to show so I will have to pay her for lessons, coaching, and trailering. Well news flash Erin, I've had my share showing. Yes Mason may be able to go out and show next weekend but I am not ready to show. My goal is not to show, would it be nice to show off my new man? Yes it would, but I am not focused on showing. I am focused on having a good time and relationship with my horse. I agree with Lisa, Valinor Farm has become a really big show barn. I would say 75-80% of the people riding and boarding there are show focused. Whatever happened to just enjoying your horse? This all might be coming from me taking a year off from showing because of Pokita but I don't get it.

Going on a rant here! I don't get why Erin doesnt understand why I am not so show focused. If I was so show focused I would get a totally made horse. I am not afraid of showing, I just learned that there is a lot more than showing. Pokita has taught me this. You pay hundreds of dollars to enter a show to what, ride for 30 minutes max? I don't even pay half of that for a lesson and I get an hours worth of riding, with Lisa at least :)

Ugh! I need to stop this rant, my eyes are bugging out of my head. Will try to post tomorrow....

One more thing. Today when I went to go get Mason from his paddock he came right up to the gate, I didnt even have to go get him. Not sure if he is figuring out who I am or if he is just that friendly with everyone.

Oh, Dana came down to the lower barn today while I was tacking up and she got to meet Mason. She is in love with him! Who wouldn't love that puppy dog personality?