I had been under appreciating my riding unattached to barn politics this past year or so. 

Now that I'm a "riding instructor" I find myself constantly shmoozing with the parents of my students, suddenly trying to keep up with the gossip once again. 

It's always hard when what you love becomes your job because you love it and jobs are never all fun. I really do like working with the girls though, I don't even have to think while I teach; it just comes out of my mouth. 

The little nippers are the best [so small their legs just sort of bounce on the top of the horse] I try to teach them to get tough with the horses so they're not afraid of them, I actually got a "hi-yah Royce!" [accompanied with a huge floppy kick] the other day from a little blonde curly haired girl name Lily who is the most adorable kid in Oxford. I can't help but laugh out loud sometimes. 

I make them work a lot harder than the old instructor but they're starting to take to it. One girl just turns a looks at me as if to say "are you nuts?" every time i push her and ask her to do something new. 

It is wonderful though that my job can let me be in the place I love the most here. 

I realized the other day that when I graduate, I have to leave Becket Run and the Arrigons. That's going to be the saddest thing about leaving this place. Whether they know it or not being out there; riding, working, and just hanging out has been the best time I've spent here. I'll miss Jim most of all, my favorite part of my lessons is when he tells me these little stories. Sometimes they're about nothing at all; a tv show he watched or something funny he heard on the radio. Sometimes it's a college story or something from one of his earlier jobs. I've enjoyed so much learning from him; his presence just calms me down and makes me feel at home. I'm going to miss this place. 

I have my first show as an instructor tomorrow, I hope my girls do well and have fun. 

I hope Remmy does good with me too in the afternoon, we've been working hard, he's a good boy.