....drum roll please.......

Hip Hip Hooray for Comet!!! He very successfully and confidently made his move to training level today at Full Gallop Farm. He put in a super dressage test, much less distracted than last week and was super obedient scoring a decent 35.9. He had what I would call his best show jumping round to date for green-ness but did feel the height  little and had 2 rails. The cross country was a true test of the level and then some. I had decided before we went out that I knew he could do it but that I would let him tell me if he thought it was too impressive. I was so afraid to disrupt the quiet confidence he showed me last week We had to have a discussion or two about the proper way to gallop down a hill to a jump but other than that he found the whole thing to be just another day at the office. He was totally unimpressed by the size of the fences and really took the multiple combinations at the water and ditch and banks in stride. I was very impressed by just how mature this little dork of a horse could be!
As for the rest of the week......SO GREAT!!!!
I had 2 fantabulous jumping lessons with Stephen Bradley on Monday. I got to work both horses over some courses and it was so so helpful. Bomber is jumping like a rock star and Comet has been learning so much...I still think carriage reigns (or as Stephen calls them...."fancy hands") are the coolest discovery (thanks to Jimmy Wofford) for Comet's use of his body over fences! For Bomber we worked on the quality of his canter and straightness to his fences and a little bit on my guts (in other words we jumped some big oxers) in preparation for Pine Top on Friday.
Tuesday I had to send my mom back to Maryland, which was sad because we had such a nice week. BUT Kim did get to come down for this week which will be super fun as well! Before heading off to the airport we did take in some of the training sessions with Capt. Mark Phillips. It was really fun to watch some of the top level riders getting their butts kicked......I mean working so hard to improve their skills.  I find it amazing how much it all boils down to straightness and effective half halts, quality gaits and all the things we all hear everyday!
The moment that Kim got to Julia's after a long day of travel she had to help me pack up to head over for another lesson with Stephen. I only took Bomber as Comet was feeling a little tired and I didn't want to stress him before his big day. With Bomber my intent was to smooth out some of the bumps in our up coming dressage test......oh, did we ever do more than that! I am still on cloud 9. It was THE BEST dressage school I have had to date on my horse. It was so lovely and easy and perfect.......I told Stephen all I expected was for him to help fix all of problems in the ring.....I didn't expect him to deliver it in such a nice, tidy, doable package! I am quietly excited about the test on Friday! I hope I can put it all together!