Photo by Victoria DeMore Photography - since it was the first day of June I'm posting it again

 

	Butterball
Training rides	0
Lessons	5- 2 DRESSAGE(!!!) And 3 jump
Hacks	5- including our lake adventure
Ground work, lunge, long line	1 hand walk around the GY’s neighborhood
Flat rides	8
Conditioning rides	0
XC school	1- Magnolia Sands
Shows	0

 Butterball worked 19 times this month. Between two weekends of 7a-4p shifts and a trip out of town at the end of the month, he had it slightly easier than May. 

North Georgia was absolutely lovely

The big news this month was starting lessons with our new dressage trainer. In the first lesson we focused on reaction. The second lesson we worked on balance and a few down transitions. The third lesson we worked on turn on the haunches, left lead canter, leg yields, and a bit of shoulder in and extension. 

How perfect is this pony? 

We also got his saddles checked. The jump saddle needed a bit of flocking added in the front, but the dressage saddle was still great. 

Butterball moved to the GY's this month. 

Enjoying the shady barn for sure

He had a brief run in with Ms. GY's thoroughbred who, noting that Butterball was willing to be submissive, then tried to kill him. It was horrifying. Fortunately other than a few bites, that ended okay. Butterball actually now goes out with her other two horses who both bit Goggles and Ben incessantly. But Butterball is very willing to be under them in the pecking order and stay out of their way, in a way that is smarter than both TBs were. So he actually hasn't gotten bit at all. 

Back on these beautiful trails 

The other big news was that we bought property. And while I initially planned on a five year plan to getting there, that quickly changed... I would love to have him at home much sooner. So now we're plotting fifth wheel options until we could afford to build. Which has meant some fun playing with possible property layouts. And also some sobering moments asking the internet to approximate costs of things. Realistically, I think a 1-2 year time frame would be reasonable... 

We did get off property for one trail ride/pond splash with plans to go again (or to a different location) at some point in July with Ms. GY. 

Overall a super productive, albeit warm, June. I'll be out of town for a bit again this month, but we'll keep working at our dressage and jump lessons. I think August will be our return to competing with a trip up to Bouckaert Farms (formerly Chatt) for another Novice run.