I used to dream of going riding with my dog tagging along
lying in a corner of the ring watching, or coming along on trails. Jake proved impossible. He liked to chase Algiers, hide in bushes and dart out in front of him, and nip at his heels to make him kick. My dream died.
This year it has been reborn. Belladonna has taken to following Dahli and me to the riding pasture. While doing ground work to get Dahli back into the swing of things, Bella runs across the pasture, climbs up trees, climbs down trees, climbs onto the few little jumps we keep set up, lays down in the one spot or other, watching.
And as of yesterday, she hangs around while I'm riding too. 
I wanted to video it, but the batteries died over the winter. Soon...
Yesterday we had an uneventful first ride with Bella watching from a safe distance. Very short due to unexpected swarming by black flies, but we accomplished what I wanted. Which was to let Dahli remember what it feels like to carry my sorry ass around and I won't ask her to do anything more than she can. And let me remember that she may be high energy, sensitive, reactive, smart and quick, but she's basically just a timid little pony who actually does want to please or at least not offend, maim, or kill she who provides hay, pasture, water, a clean bed and a safe shelter. 
So we walked around on a couple circles to cool her out after her ground work.
Today marked our real return to the riding season. Bug hats protected our faces. We walked and trotted, practiced basic steering. Whereas she used to be "sticky" due to her timid nature, now she trots right out freely. She started bending away from the direction of movement, which became a teaching moment. Leg yielding is back, along with a couple other basic exercises.
After a couple weeks of depression and crappy weather, I feel so relieved. We're back.
