The Belle Chronicles, End of January Update

So little Belle is getting to be a very grown up girl! She stands very nicely next to my brand new red mounting block, and lets me lay over her back. She stands quietly at the hitching post. She walks, trots and canters on the longe line to voice and body commands. She loads in the trailer (most days.).

She's back at Mike's now, for a month because I'm leaving for Europe on Friday, and I'll be gone 12 days, so it's a good time for him to really get her going and then I can finish her up. She's really a smarty pants and very opinionated. I can't help but be extremely optimistic. After all, isn't that what horse people are all about? Gambling on optimism?