All my latest news...
So, let's start with the small stuff.
First, I have a sunburn. Which sucks, but I'll survive.
Second thing is better; the reason for the sunburn. I spent the day down at the horse-farm, and had a good time removing rocks from the main paddock, as my way of working off the fee for the lesson. (I got the sunburn while working in the paddock.) I rode Western this time, because the horse I was going to ride (Jim, a bay thoroughbred gelding) had been ridden Western by this guy who didn't have a clue what he was doing. Kept blaming poor Jim for his own imcompetance. It's like, "Hey buddy, just because you don't have a clue how to ride, don't blame the horse!"
Anyhow, I rode for the first ten minutes or so without stirrups. It's a good way to develop balance, seat, and all that fun stuff. I actually do it pretty well. I hate doing it in a Western saddle, because the damn saddle is so big, I don't feel like I'm in contact with the horse. Plus, they're nowhere near as comfortable as English saddles. I'm also not terribly fond of Western bits. I hate neck-reining. I far prefer direct contact with the horse's mouth for control, with both hands on the reins. I'll be riding English on Thursday, thank goodness.
In other news, I've done another edit to the fic I just posted, one LJ post back. I'm still waiting on my beta. Oh, and for "Eclipse," Lucinda has apparently been quite sick lately, and hadn't actually been working on it. I wish she'd told me. Anyhow, she promises the chapter by next Saturday. I hope you can all be patient with me. I'm as anxious to get it posted as you are to read it.