Hello from Houston
Miles and I rode bareback for the first time yesterday! I used my friend's bareback pad and it helped a lot! I rode bareback (walk, trot, slow canter) this morning without the pad and it was the most uncomfortable experience! He has a lot of bumps on him and the trainers think they are mosquito bites and he doesn't flinch or anything when pressure is applied. Did he get those bumps in Arizona? I think he is cold here because he started growing his winter coat. He sweats easily but he always has enough energy to trot when we are walking and canter after jumps. Don't worry he does not get away with trotting when he is not supposed to. I published a post a few days ago so I am not sure if you read it, but I really wanted you to get a more recent update. Please read the other blog (it is right under this one) and respond to both of these.

Hi!
What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Did you end up babysitting my friend? If so, did you like her? I think Miles' winter coat is thicker than all the other horses so when he is ridden he sweats a lot more. He was so sweaty today and we only rode for 30 minutes. Do you think I should be worried about it? Today I took pictures with Miles and they might be used for our Christmas card. One picture of Miles and me will be in the card but we don't know which picture will be used. My brother got sick two nights ago and my mother is sick also so my father and I are next.
Check the blog often!!

I’m so glad you are having fun! Where are you going the next couple of days? That plaque sounds so cool. I got a wooden one made for him at Sea World . . . I have no idea what ever happened to it. Tell Tia hi for me. That is really cool that you guys decorate the stalls for Christmas, I bet it is a lot of fun. I also think that Miles will not be thrilled with the bow at first, especially if it is shiny ha ha. I say you get the biggest shiniest one possible and make him get used to it. Does your barn have stall decorating competitions? My old barn (not the one you were at) had a Halloween party every year and we would all dress up our horses and there was a costume competition. I only had Miles there for one Halloween, he was Harry Potter. New York is cold but great. What’s new with you?
- L

We have been having a blast together. I won't be here on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday so I'll ride him on Sunday. :( He has had thrush recently so I have been treating it. Tia got Miles a beautiful plaque for his stall and it is up. She is here right now visiting. We just got back from the barn. I will send you a picture of the plaque. After Thanksgiving I will start decorating Miles' stall for Christmas. We have a decorating contest every year and I am going to put wrapping paper on the stall door and also put a big bow. I will also take a picture to show you. I am going to get him a stocking to.
See you later
P.S. check the blog more!!!!

Ha ha, Miles thinks that a lot. Just make sure that you don’t let him get away with any little thing and he should realize who is in charge. I mean anything, make him stand exactly where you want him to. Another big thing is not to let him nudge you . . . it is cute but its really a bad habit. Don’t be afraid to be stern with him . . . he will love you more in the long run. Your mom told me that he ran up to you when he was in the turn out. That makes me so happy!!!!!! I’m so happy that you two are getting along. How is the jumping coming? Are you getting into Dressage at all with him? Also how is the drill team going, any competitions in your future?

New York is great, school just got really busy all of a sudden . . . it is taking away from my New York fun. One of my best friends came out to visit me last week. It was so nice to have a friend from home come out. Halloween is a big event out here. We went downtown to watch this big parade . . . it is a big deal and it is on TV. Somehow, we ended up marching in it ha ha. It was so much fun. I have never seen so many people in crazy costumes, it was really fun. What did you dress up as? I was a sailor ha ha.