Riding with Jim and Donna has never been better. I'm currently riding Lola as a 'spring project' in order to get her in shape for showing this summer, as suggested by Jim. We're four rides in and already we've made progress. She's a real nice little mare and I hope to work with her a lot this year. Currently we're working on manners (i.e. to stop screaming when we're away from her pasture-mate Rose) and our basic body control. She's pretty sensitive and needs to learn only to do things when asked, rather than assuming what I want. The best example I have is when we're trotting and I prepare to lope off, she anticipates and as soon as I push my outside leg into her she speeds up - welllll that's not *always* what I want, usually I'm just asking her to move her hip over and 'shoulder out' a little (because I'm evil, yes, but it's good for her).

I have a new project in the works now as well in the form of a Western Horsemanship Clinic at my old farm back home. This will be planned for a weekend in June and I plan to advertise it to the local community and 4H clubs as well as their current students. I'm not expecting a super large turn-out, but it's a possibility I suppose.

I've finally found a charity to donate to and volunteer with, one that combines my personal life and my horse life called Camp Casey. The founder, Molly Melamed, use to work at Black River with me what feels like forever ago and founded this traveling day camp for children with different types of cancer and their families. It's a great way for them to break their daily routines, have some fun and learn something about horses and riding! My cousin Brittany passed away a few years ago from Leukemia and I know she would've loved something like this, even at the age of 16. It's a great cause and a way to support children who are coping with much more than they should have to. For more info please visit: www.camp-casey.org