Doing the best you can.

Once again, life has gotten in the way of keeping this blog. 
I swear it feels like I JUST posted! How is the last post from nearly two months ago?

I am disappointed to admit that it doesn't feel like Ace and I have made as much progress as I would have hoped in the last two months. However, we have made progress. Baby steps.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a lesson in a month. But, I'll return to that point in a moment- first, an update on what Ace and I have been doing.

Most recently we have been perfecting transitioning from a walk-to-trot-to-canter-to-trot-to-walk while lunging under saddle. He is definitely catching on, and calmly transitioning to the canter rather than panicking into a canter which was his preferred method before. Like everything else we have worked on, perfecting this on the ground first will help to ensure that training goes smoothly once I'm riding him through all the transitions. As far as riding him goes, I've been trying to really work on our "big trot." He simply doesn't like moving that quickly with a rider so he tends to act like a surly teenager and try to get away with a slower western jog.

Now, the point of this post- accepting that sometimes life just gets in the way of what you're trying to do. In this case, while I was trying to have one lesson per week with Michelle, life happened. I tend to get frustrated when things don't go how I want them too, but in this case, I've been trying to accept simply doing the best I can.

My fiancee and I live on a limited budget. I just graduated and have a wonderful job that I enjoy- it just doesn't pay much, and he is still in school working a minimum wage job. We have always prioritized spending money on lessons because they help Ace and I so much. But, the money just wasn't there in May. In addition to Ace we have two more horses, three dogs, and a cat. One of the dogs has been having medical problems so we had a lot of extra expenses we weren't anticipating. In addition to that, we're buying a house and supposed to close this month. That means we need money for pasture fencing, closing costs, home repairs...we have no "extra" money. Which means, no lessons. It's frustrating because I know that Ace and I would be further along if we had been able to have lessons with Michelle in May, and I know by not having lessons in June we are going to get even more behind. It's frustrating because I just want the money to be there somehow. It's frustrating because there is nothing I can do about it. For right now, this is how it is. I just need to deal with it.

I am constantly having to remind myself that Ace and I don't have a timeline. It doesn't matter when we start to canter, as long as we do! What matters is that we don't go backwards. What matters is that I don't get discouraged and I just keep doing what I can on my own. What matters is that I'm doing the best I can. 

(That being said, I really hope the best I can involves more money sometime in the near future because I really miss spending Sunday mornings with Michelle and Ace!)