Spring Awakening: March/April Goals and Progress

[Moutaineer]

I had a lesson today, too. It was a beautiful day out in the sunshine. Potters was feeling quite well and happy today. Apparently, while I was working down in the valley yesterday, he put on quite the display on the lunge line and got some things out of his system. He certainly needed some cleaning up this morning. I shall be so happy when shedding season is over.

I seem to be finally getting control over my left leg/hip/whole side of my body, really, in lateral work to the left. I've been so busy trying to shove him in that direction with the right side of my body I've let the left side hang out in space. I have to focus on sitting up tall with my butt in the center of the saddle, engaging my core, now I've got one, and using just my legs to move him over and support him, rather than begging with my entire body and soul.

Sounds so easy, doesn't it! It is easy going in the other direction!

[khall]

Good lessons it’s sounding like!

I finished up with the Cedar clinic Sunday having great rides each day. Cedar was able to help me refine my piaffe in hand work which Joplin is excelling at and we worked FCs. Still need the L to R to get cleaner but it’s coming. CC helps and I will have to try the exercises chisamba and al suggested. I’m also going to put Joplin back in the double. It’s time for sure. Still debating on the schooling show next month. Right now I’m gone on short trip with DH. He’s doing CE in DC. Then we have DS graduation first Saturday in May

I’m also dealing with high insulin problems with both Rip and Joplin. Rip because of cushings and Joplin EMS. Making a dry lot soon. Have low nsc hay. Also using meds as needed though Rip is now on prascend. Sigh

Joplin is fat even though she’s worked hard (they recommend 30 minutes daily) she does more usually. Easy keepers are so difficult!

https://youtu.be/RHarQ7pHTEc?feature=shared

Clip from our FCs at the clinic. Joplin is just a blast.

I also bought a new horse trailer. Mine is 23 years old. Was ready for a new one. Went with a 3 h SL shadow. Big dressing room with a AC if I want to sleep in it. No LQs now for retraining my guys to load and travel in a SL not a straight load.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Joplin looks great as usual Khall!
Exvet, love Troy, what a hunk he is already.

I had a great lesson on Monday, we are working on getting the canter, pretty basic there but good. The transitions aren't easy for him but he's got a quality canter in there, bless him. I think I need a new girth, I don't live how mine is currently sitting on him. It's almost like the elastic has gotten a little too stretched so I think the buckles are actually sitting on a skin...

The other boarder used him for a lesson yesterday and they said it went well. He did try to spook at a pile of hay (there's a horse paddock outside the arena.) lol but I guess it wasn't a big deal that shoulder in couldn't handle! She did say he was very wiggly with her at first, trying to figure her out. She said he's much much lighter to the leg than her WB is so that was an adjustment. She's going to try and ride in a few more times when her schedule allows.

[StraightForward]

Got T's full shoe package on last night. I stupidly left her tricky RH for last, and she really went to snatching it away and stomping down before I could place the shoe. Finally got it done though set just a little more forward than I'd like. Now she is in leather wedges in back, and flat leather pads in back, with DIM all around. Tonight we were both pretty low energy to start out, but after working through our warmup with a higher poll in mind, she really got going and we got some great work in. She was maintaining *that* collected trot without me nagging, and I was able to sit, and we brought it into a pretty respectable HP right. Left HP still falls apart of winds down after the first few steps, but I think I am sorting myself out there. Flying Air Red Mare was a blast though, and I think she'll really start to build that hind end strength and get ready for changes if we can keep it up. She is getting pretty muscular in the shoulders, and is looking thicker and rounder through the loin as well, so the muscle is building from front to back.

While I'm bummed that my regular instructor might not be coming to town as much, Carrie Harden is coming back at the end of June and I'm signed up for three days, then I'll hopefully be able to ride with Lilo at the end of July. I can ride with Carrie's protege as needed in the meantime if I start feeling lost, or maybe get virtual lessons figured out. The calendar is starting to fill up with shows, and a lower leg anatomy/dissection with Paige Poss coming up as well, which my inner nerd is excited for (I went to her whole horse and hoof dissection in Utah last year).

Jumping lessons tomorrow should be fun. I need to make sure the SoloShot is charged.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

SF- lots of fun plans for the summer for you!

I had a good ride today. I actually wrote out a whole long post and technology ate it. But basically we worked on transitions through the leg yield since Lynx can get a bit rushing in them. Then he was feeling good so we threw in a random canter transition. I have some mental baggage about the transition... He's totally fine I just am a perfectionist which basically makes me unable to ride sometimes lol. So right now we're almost treating it like we're both green. As long as he gets the transition we don't care how it looks yet. I don't think he's strong enough for a really great transition. He does have a great canter, always. So I'm hope being we can polish us both up eventually. But first have to take the mental baggage part away from both of us! Lynx is doing great with it and you know, I am too. I'm allowing myself to have just low expectations right now which I think is helping for the next week or so.

Then I finally understood an exercise that my trainer had me do before.. going from shoulder in and bringing his haunches over so that he's straight again. So not haunches in but more riding on a different track straight. I think it was a great exercise for Lynx.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get a little ride in even though it's going to be raining and cold. Fingers crossed. We have an indoor it just depends on whether Lynx gets wet before then. A little too warm right now to sheet him but if I get a window with the right temperature I'm going to try.

My trainer is riding with Conrad Schumacher next week! She's never ridden with him and I've never seen him so I'm hoping to go audit a little.

[Moutaineer]

So I thought I'd give Potters a few days on Ulcerguard to see if that made him less guarded about his belly wall, especially as we had another wicked cold front coming through and it was threatening thunder and lightning and all sorts of barometric swings.

Apparently, I do not know how to use a dosing syringe, so he got a complete tube instead of a 1/4 tube this lunchtime. If this is his problem, he should be feeling freaking marvelous tomorrow morning!

I was just going to hop on and do a tack walk today, as he was being a bit snarky about being brushed and girthed, and I wasn't planning to ride outside in the aforementioned approaching storm, but after about 15 minutes he was striding out happily and game to do more, so after a bit of trotting, we got some really nice canter with a lot of jump to it in both directions. So maybe the UG kicked in...

Hoping for decent outdoor riding weather tomorrow. Spring in the Mountains!

[StraightForward]

LSP, glad you had a good ride. Cool you'll get to ride with CS. My instructor has started working with him as well and really likes him. She seems to be in a groove of riding with him and Lilo monthly. I'm excited to see how the shows go for her this summer!

Moutaineer, interesting with the UG. Boo if he is ulcery, but yay if there's something simple that can help him feel good consistently!

Our first jump lesson of the year was a success. I had to laugh because he kept telling me to get up in the stirrups more. At the dressage clinic last week, there was a jumper rider there and Carrie kept reminding her to sit down. Two sides of the same coin, haha. I got some video and realized T did a beautiful clean change and I didn't even realize, so I screwed her up, thinking we needed to throw in a simple. The way it played out, I was the only one to get to ride, so we'll probably have him back next week. I was happy to persuade the teen with a cute new 3 year old to sign up for a lesson and help them get started on the right foot. Overall, Ryan felt T was going much better than when he saw us last fall, and said we might think about showing over fences next week. I probably won't until I feel like we're comfortable back at 2'6" again. And I have probably said it before, but I love, love love my new Albion jumping saddle. Glad for the impulse purchase!

I just found out that Rodrigo Matos will be doing two clinics here in May. Is anyone familiar with him? I was a bit stressed that my regular trainer is stepping back from coming to town unless we can line up a more centralized location because it's getting too time consuming to travel around. But Carrie is coming back at the end of June, and I'm signed up for three days, so I'm not completely on my own. Not sure if mixing German and Portuguese will just confuse us, especially just before show season.

[exvet]

Nice jumping pic SF. You two are looking pretty good. I hope to get a ride in tomorrow and work with Troy in hand. Have a 'realtor broker' showing tomorrow so I'll be pressed for time but the weather is supposed to be good. I've been treating Junior and Ace for ulcers for close to 10 days. Knock on wood, Ace has gone past his 'regular' colic time. I still plan to have him scoped on Tuesday. It's always something isn't it? Entered the July schooling show and plan to enter the June recognized show once it opens. Sounds like it's going to be a bit dicey getting ride times for the recognized show. It won't be the end of the world if I don't get in but I figure if anything working on ring craft would be beneficial.

[goldhorse]

I'm laid up for a couple of weeks. I had wrist surgery yesterday to remove a carpal boss which is like a bone spur. It had gotten big enough to interfere with my wrist motion so I had it excised. 2 weeks in a splint then I transition into a removable brace. At that point, I plan to get back on and at least trot around on the buckle. A friend of mine whose horse is on layup jumped at the chance to grab some rides on Piggy. She's a better rider than me so I'm sure that he'll be happy.

[Moutaineer]

Good ride this morning. Canter work on the 3 changes across the diagonal and half pirouettes, which were good fun. Quite nice, too!

He was a bit snarky about being groomed on his left flank again. But I persisted in investigation and found a no longer hungry tick and a nasty bite way up inside his left groin. Most satisfying to pick it off and squash it. It must have been incredibly itchy and uncomfortable, poor guy. He pretty much rolled his eyes at me and breathed a sigh of relief that I'd finally got the message.

We shall see. He's soused in tick killer for the weekend. It'll be interesting to see how he feels on Monday.

[exvet]

I had a not so great ride yesterday and a much more productive ride today. I think I've come to the conclusion that Junior is demonstrating some very clever ponytude resistance and not physical/medical issues. Yesterday, I warmed up and worked on exercises that Molly suggested. Like clockwork Junior began having a small hissy fit with stomping his left fore and if I didn't push him through it, he proceeds to pawing. This has now consistently happened with my work routine about 20-25 minutes into the ride which is when I usually start the canter work. I have decided to move the needle on the ground rules where Junior must stay round, stay on the bit moving into the contact and sit down behind and lift up, pushing up through his withers. When I tried that approach a few years ago, Junior would turn on the pig mode and we wouldn't get anywhere. I decided to try the backdoor approach back then and almost 3 years down the road we haven't really gotten anywhere other than Junior understanding that I don't want the skip-a-change and understanding what a true flying change is. This is the right contact, blocking through the right shoulder issue in spades preventing us from progressing. Junior can be stubborn, no big surprise. He doesn't really fight or get hugely naughty but he does shut down and I mean refuse to move. He hunkers down into a fire plug where there is no willingness to move his forehand (move his shoulders) or move his hind end and simply locks up pretending to have only one fused unit. I never wanted to teach Junior to fight because I knew I might not win. Well yesterday he shut down due to my demands and I decided, okay, let's move to the obstacle course and simply work him through the obstacles - backing through the L shaped poles, side pass from one end of the poll to the other end, etc. He refused to move under saddle and just kept giving me the answer of back up........so I got off and tried moving him through all of this from the ground/in hand. It was a huge battle where he was kicking, striking and refusing but eventually we did all of them correctly. I then got on him and rode in the arena and got some of the best movement from him ever - because he was loosened up and moving all 3 body parts independently and together.

Today I decided to see if this behavior is due to physical pain, ulcers or not. I rode him in our 2 acre field and did my work out of shoulder in with no evasions - forward and 3 clear tracks both directions to canter trot transitions to canter walk transitions to a couple of flying changes if all felt good. When I started the canter walk work Junior had another hissy. A huge key to today's work out was that we're having extreme winds 30 mph and Junior naturally has forward as a result which I took advantage of...............I made him work through his hissy fit and again I had really nice forward, powerful movement including staying on the bit throughout repeated canter walk canter transitions which then translated to some nice flying changes with sufficient jump even to his most difficult direction.

I am really beginning to think that not only has Junior had my number forever but his polite dissidence that has sucked me into caving into his 'needs/preferences' has created a bit of a monster. The one really good thing is that even when Junior has a full on hissy, he's safe (though it bothers onlookers and had a cowboy come save me yesterday/or him not sure which. Poor guy realized pretty quickly that the situation wasn't what he thought and that neither of us were in need of saving). I made sure to reward Junior for his good work and be persistent in my requests during his hissy fits. I also made he clear when he got a break, why he was getting a break. In addition to the collected work he was given an opportunity at the end to just flat out run and open it up all the way yesterday and today which he seemed to enjoy.

We'll see if this starts to translate through to him for the long run and if he signs up finding that with time it will get easier. At 11 years old, he's not got many options. Obviously I'm not going to sell him, nor am I going to throw in the towel just yet because this stinker is sound. I'm treating him for ulcers regardless and taking all the precautions. I do exercises and stretches in hand to give him every opportunity to 'warm up' to the flexibility and suppleness I want. I think I just have one extremely smart pony who is fit to be tied with a saddle that allows me to ride better and feel where all of his feet really are at any one moment.

[StraightForward]

Exvet, I identify with a lot of what you wrote. I need to get past riding more carefully because T might throw a tantrum. She is also not unsafe, and can handle a little more pressure these days.

Today's ride was interesting. She started out stiff and heavy on the bit, which is totally out of character. Had to pop through lots of w/t/h/t/h transitions and some rein back to get her to lighten up. I did get video and can see that I can probably close her frame up a little more and be a little more demanding. Eventually it did come together and we got some fancy trot. I had my cavaletti circle set up, with ground poles on the outer ring, and slightly raised poles on the inner ring. She is getting a lot more competent at maintaining bend and getting over the poles, but she doesn't step under and lift herself up enough, so that is something to work on.

I did sign up for two rides with Rodrigo Matos, since he seems liked on CotH. I'll be able to audit one day, then my rides will be the following weekend. After that we have two weekends of shows. Monday is another jumping lesson, but it's supposed to be windy, so hopefully I'm not in for a wild ride.

[Moutaineer]

I think that makes 3 of us...

While I'm always remaining mindful that he might be hurting, I also think he's a highly intelligent animal who has worked out that if he's just not feeling it that day he can sow the seeds of doubt in my mind.

Not so much nowadays, buddy.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

I'll raise my hand that this relationship between horse and rider is complicated! They truly are smart and I do think they learn us just as well. And as much as we train them, they are also trying to train us!!! Lynx is also one that's really safe but he reads any hesitation of mine SO well. He's really light to the leg (and fairly light to the hand but not overly light.) But occasionally he will suck back to spook. I do much better with the light and sensitive ride from riding many TB's, so I definitely struggle to really back up the obedience to my leg in those moments where he decides to suck back. He's learned that sometimes I have let him "change the subject" instead of sticking the question at hand. I'm getting better as I'm more aware.

I also am contemplating treating for ulcers too because lynx is very grumpy about his stomach being touched. He never gets grumpy under saddle but occasionally I feel him kind of braced against my leg too. If he's light and on the aids it's no issue but if you really need your leg then he definitely physically braces against it.

[Chisamba]

I train other people's horses. I have some riders whose only goal is to ride safely and enjoy their horse. They keep the horse in training because they are weekend riders and want safe happy horses. Their horses are the easiest to train. They learn so few evasions. Their riders rarely even ask for a leg yield. I hop on. Get the horses forward and its a joy to ride, they come into the connection, do lateral work. Et al. The hardest thing is to get clean clear transitions. Otoh I train horses for ambitious rider a bit less advanced than I am. Their horses are so complicated. They have been taught so many evasion, their riders ask for shoulder in, but not quite well enough. Maybe too much neck bend . To get that horse to accept the outside rein and shoulder in instead of neck in is a bit of a chore.

I suspect all of us training our horses toward the higher level of our skills tend to teach some resistance by nor being quite clear enough, or by letting something slide to get another thing. Then finally the time comes to say no more and the fix becomes quite a chore.

I know I have done it with all my horses. Saiph shuts down and just will not go forward if she feels I haven't coaxed her and done all the preliminary easing in. It's time for her to just do it because I asked. I know she can, she expects the concessions. Pauletta does not have a great canter transition, she rushes and hollows. At my last lesson Stephan said no more. She knows how to canter now, she needs to do it right from the very first stride. She is horrified. I have unintentionally taught her she can evade. Now I have the chore of unteaching it.

Is it possible to even train a horse without these concessions we have to fix?

You are all just following the usual path of training progress. Ups and downs not linear . Peter, my first real dressage trainer who rode the FEI levels had this huge haniverian old style horse who was so heavy in the bridle . This little old lady from Europe came to give a clinic. It was hard to find clinicians who would come at the time because of sanctions and apartheid. Anyway she was German but out with the German riding fed and came. Anyway she kept telling Peter don't hang lighten up, it takes two to pull. Peter said this horses is so heavy and she yelled get off. Get off. She got on Fagan, and within 10 minutes after a bit of a chore she ride him with the reins between her pointing finger and thumb to demonstrate how light he was in the connection. So even my FEI trainer fell into the trap of concession and unintentionally trained a resistance in.

The difficulty is when to stop conceding and how to handle it.

Don't you think?

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Chisamba- what a fascinating discussion. I think you are right. I know I concede because sometimes I get a little too empathetic... But it's a little with a child, sometimes they have to do things they don't love or is a little more difficult.

I really need to stick to riding "a line." We don't currently have a a dressage court set up but I could set something up. Because I get wobbly in my aids sometimes not riding enough to a line. It's because of the spooky balk crap. It's a weakness and I totally let him back off too much!

[StraightForward]

Chisamba, interesting observations from riding client horses! I am not surprised, as I'm fumbling around into unchartered territory. I've never had a schoolmaster to ride or anything, so a) I'm sure my aids leave something to be desired and b) I'm not always sure about the feeling I'm going for. But it is what it is. Of course any empathetic rider who isn't certain they aren't the problem will concede to the horse, maybe a little too often.

OTOH, hopefully today I didn't alarm the neighbor since I did get after T with the whip a bit when she didn't seem too keen to canter. Getting on with it in the warmup is one place where I feel confident that I can be more demanding and still be fair. We were in the jump saddle, and I didn't have spurs on, so she thought that a somewhat energetic trot ought to be enough. We had a good ride after getting past that. Even a clean R/L change after popping over a jump, and some nice changes over the jump as well.

[Moutaineer]

Thanks for that, Chisamba. It makes very good sense and makes me feel a little less incompetent.

I get frustrated with myself sometimes that I have been too wooly and imprecise in my aids, which has led to Potters being able to be wooly and imprecise in his responses and basically feeling like he could take charge.

SF, I'm in uncharted territory for me, but Potters is not. He sets greater expectations of me than any other horse I have ever ridden and is not very forgiving of fumbling! I guess this could be considered a good thing, but it can make for a rather exacting ride. I'm no athlete, and I have had to work hard to gain the control of my own body in order to effectively guide his.

In some ways he's less than thrilled that I have started to develop the skills to be able to take back the leadership role, and he feels the need to test things out and see if he can back me off, because naturally, he is prepared to happily pootle around, but greater collection, more focus, more through is harder work, and he's not sure that was part of the contract. But then again, once he accepts it, he's pretty happy to go with the flow and not to be herd leader.

However, it was a "spook at your own farts" day today, but we actually had a really good ride, if a little more on that edge between sanity and explosion than I entirely enjoy.

We did a couple of lines of 3-tempis and that got him really fired up, but we also had some nice HP in both trot and canter. And... ta-da... something I used to be able to nail but have really struggled with for reasons only in my head for some time now, clean walk half pirouettes. I'm going to be so interested to see if I can reproduce them tomorrow!

[Aleuronx]

Meant to post earlier but board was being glitchy for me.

Almost didn’t but against better/smarter judgement cracked on with the schooling show this past Saturday. When I say it was absolutely chucking it down rain I mean by the time I whipped her off trailer and threw on tack the both of us were already drowned rats. I wore my back up whites, rain jacket and didn’t bother to braid because schooling. Show runs a combined test as well and because of rain the show jump course was set in the warmup instead of the grass. Warmup was a tidy 15 mins as why bother spending more time in the rain than that weaving around jumps and puddles. We found space to pop a single change but not much else. Kora happily trucked along and cantered into the ring for the first time doing the 4-1. Happy to say as a fact finding mission it was successful, everything flowed quite nicely. Rode the med/ext low gear as she does those nicely and no reason to create a slip although footing in arena was better than warmup. Scored a 67.8% which lol, love a schooling show scoring to boost ya at the start of the season.

We have one other schooling round a week after next to scout out a new venue in CT that we will hit up their recognized show in May.

Tack is 2x conditioned, probably needs another round. Never been that drenched in my life.

On hack day I was pondering the thoughts on what trainability means to me. I came down on when you get beyond the individual talent and temperament (willingness?) it’s about the ability to accept change. The horse has to accept the boundaries of expectations and aids to a certain extent will progressively change. What a 4 yr old canter transition becomes an 8 yr old flying change, same but not so… Kora really came on leaps and bounds when she agreed to try, even if I was asking for more engagement or different carriage or more angle and on and on.

[StraightForward]

Glad to see the board is back up!

I've been thinking that one of these days, I need to go back through all of these threads and C&P all my posts as a training journal for T. It might be useful if I ever say, get a head injury and go buy another two year old and start this journey all over again.

Alx, good on you for getting out there in the rain and breaking 4th level! I can't wait to see how you two do this summer.

Mtneer, I imagine a schoolmaster with a past has a whole different set of challenges. T and I know each other so well, and there's no past baggage for her. I own any holes in her training, but also don't have to live up to anything that someone else installed.

Yesterday it happened that the jumping instructor was out again, so we had another lesson. T her easiest best warmup in ages. Usually I give her more time, but the rider ahead of me was jumping a course, so I couldn't really go in and get started. I think the whole lesson was maybe 20 minutes because once she got going, it was just easy, and there was no point in pushing any issues. The rider before me is the dressage trainer I occasionally lesson with. She hasn't really jumped in a long time, and is having a blast with it, and going to have a crack at the schooling H/J show this weekend.

Today was a stressful work day, so I just went out and gave T a good grooming and did some laser and bodywork so she was relaxed and looking spiffy. She turns 9 tomorrow, so I'll have to try to get some pics.

[mari]

I love your post Chisamba. I have a long list of concessions... Some are due to my natural patience/zen when training, and some are due to my current skill plateau.

An example that is always relevant for me is that I can get EITHER a lighter feeling in the bridle OR enough impulsion. Nearly never both.

On a different note, we did an interesting exercise last week, with a two-fold purpose. Firstly, it helped to get his naturally left-falling bum straighter in the canter, and secondly it was to be able to move my legs around a bit in canter without boinging changes.

On the left rein (that's the rein the hindquarters come in for), we rode a square in walk, and in each corner we do a TOF, focussing on a springy walk and a very prompt response to the leg. Did a few of those, and then up into canter to ride the same pattern. The TOF feeling in the canter is obviously with a bigger radius and with a slightly more forward step. But it translated brilliantly into riding a straighter shoulder-fore and SI in canter on our more challenging left rein.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Glad the board is back up!

Alueronx-sounds like a great test! Riding in the rain like that is something that doesn't happen here in CO, mostly because shows just outright cancel if there's projected rain. The desert like ground can't soak it up quick enough and obviously it's more dry here. Good on you for sticking with it and riding so well! I was watching Boyd Martin's ride at Kentucky in the rain and was thinking how hard that must be!

Lynx had a light weekend because we were just so busy. But Monday I had a wonderful ride. We had to ride inside because of the wind and I think it's been at least a month since we had last been in the indoor. But he was such so focused and relaxed overall . We did have a really hairy canter transition but I think that's more on me. I think I didn't adequately half halt him beforehand and then perhaps overaided the transition. Which is funny because I'm a chronic under-aider typically but he's getting so sharp to the aids anymore. So he leapt into the air like a dolphin. My daughter was in the ring with us and laughed at me that that was quite the transition. She told me well it definitely was uphill! Lol!!

I bought a new girth that will hopefully be here soon. The vet comes back to get a coggins and just do a recheck on him to see how he's feeling on Friday.

We are planning on taking him to an open ring day where many local shows are held mid may. It's not a schooling show but rather just a day where they open up their rings and let people come in to ride. Still, I'm sure there will be lots for him to see. If all keeps going well we might try at least two schooling shows this summer. I'm not sure about rated. I have such wicked performance nerves that I'm not sure if it's worth it for me.

[blob]

Yes, Chisamba, the horses really are a mirror of where we are. I often think about how different things would be showing MM now versus when I was showing her--we were always at the top of my level together. She is a great horse for it because she is so forgiving. But I really think I could have made something spectacular with her if i got her at a later point.

Well, RP and I went to our first recognized show of the year. I signed up for 2-3 4x (2 each day), figuring I could always scratch if he seemed tired. When showing first level, 4 tests a weekend was perfect. but of course second level is not only more demanding but that test is loooong.

the trainer I've been working with really dislikes bauchers, so at her request i had been trying RP in a different bit. He seemed fine in it, so i took the new bit to the show. But also took the baucher, just in case. Day 1, test 1: we actually had a fabulous warm-up but i think i gave myself too much time and just before going in things sort of fell apart. Our test was bad. I really think i deserved some 0s. We got a 60% and it felt generous. Second test of the day I thought was much better, but he was still fussy and i felt like I really had to make some sneaky choices to avoid meltdowns--63%. Second day I thought my first ride was quite good, but was a 62. Comments were mostly about him being crooked and not fully through, which brought scores down across all the movements. Well, one more test to go and I thought 'why not, let me just put the baucher back on' and well BING--65.5% even with some bobbles and mistakes on my part overall quality was clearly much better so i was starting from a higher place.

So, i will fight my trainer on it, but baucher stays.

Overall I feel good about the show even if the only score i'm really pleased with is the final one. There are some places where I can improve very quickly: my CC serpentine geometry was off, my TOHs were large but only because I was afraid of riding them small.

And there are other things that I need to focus on and improve: more reliability in our lateral work. My scores and comments on them were decent. But it didn't feel reliable test to test. Getting more push and sit coming in and out of mediums (this is probably the biggest overall takeaway in comments).

Aiming for another one end of May, so I have month to work on things!

[Aleuronx]

LSP- I specifically soldiered on in the rain because even our recognized shows don't cancel for rain, only lightening stops showing. It certainly ain't easy but honestly keeping the reins from slipping is the hardest part.

blob- Ugh on the tack changes not being to your favor. You tried it, didn't work I think you are fair with sticking ground on that one. Congrats on the solid score for the final day, 2-3 is a LONG test.

Last day of the section closing out! Between lesson and getting my brain around the canter piros I finally felt like I made progress in them. Kora can sit, and balance now I need to ask her for more turning and not do piddly 8m circle turns. The left was spot on this morning, the right I had to hold more of the outside leg and rein to get her to come around. Which makes sense with her left front that loves to stretch left and right hind that prefers to be out to Kansas instead of up and under, that right piro is the hardest for all that as opposite to her nature.

Section goals:
1x week polework Giving this 50:50, we did some poles but not every week as I'm lazy to set up. We are doing 1x week up and down hills
Schooling show/s in April at 4-1 Success! She did all the things happily even in a downpour.
Strengthen the pirouette canter and ease of transition in/out Needs more strength and control in the out but the turning is getting more recognizable
Keep a running cadence…keep going Fail... pulled a little muscle in my back that I was protecting by not running and just riding because who wants to give up that? Will get back on the tread soon now that the little niggly bit is better.

[Tanga]

Interesting discussion. I agree we confuse our horses by asking more of them, but then we aren't always clear in how we ask them. I think the last 9 months being so weak taught me that and I had to be SO much clearer with exactly what I want and how I ask. Both girls get very confused and nervous if they aren't sure what I want. We had a big example of that with me leasor yesterday. Her GIANT almost four year old we are just backing. We have just started going on trails with me leading her on a lead rope with the leasor on her (we've been ponying her for a long time.) Yesterday I had her on the end of a rope in the arena and asked her to practice the aides of walking and stopping. The GIANT filly was getting a little excited by things, so leasor pulled her back to stop her, and she was getting frustrated and shaking her head and coming and up and not wanting to stop. We went through a few things, and then I told her to ride her just like my girls--shift weight from side to side to get her to move over--no problem. Squeeze into a halt instead of pulling. No problem. Hold your seat into the halt--no problem. Within about five minutes filly was quietly walking forward on contact and coming to a halt and dropping her neck just from holding the seat. (She really wants to be a giraffe right now, so that's all good.) It was a good lesson for both of us--be VERY clear on the aides right from the start. We've been doing voice, in hand, and all of that for awhile, but it was so cool to see such a great response to seat and hands in saddle.

Show on Sunday was OK. Sort of. It was a chilly day, which is weird, and a lot of the horses were feeling it. Quilla was trying to be squirrelly, but mostly OK with the super easy PSG and I-1. Despite working NONSTOP on this at home, both refused to actually halt at the beginning of any test, and mostly not successful at a collected walk. Quinn was weird--I don't know if she's in season and was feeling it on her left side, or she had some little hives from something on her left side, but I cold not touch her with my left leg for the most part without her doing something bizarre. Not my favorite judge--I thought some of her comments and scores were right on, some were high (she did not mark me down for the non halts) and some were way low (she marked me down on every single pirouette on both for swinging out.) I was surprised how high Quilla's scores were, I thought we would barely get qualifying, and surprised and a bit pissed out low Quinn's were--I thought we would get barely qualifying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5-SJeW ... e=youtu.be Quilla PSG 64%

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbXgORzvn2M Quilla I-1 63%

And I have finally eeked down 5 lbs from my weight gain from doing nothing, but boy I hate the look of that paunch sticking out under the tailcoat. I need too do something to make that not look so obvious.

[Tanga]

Quinn I-2 59% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAdOrI84Ig This walk to canter was the bizarre reaction to a left calf.

GP fs 59%

[StraightForward]

Closeout time!

My goals were a little vague, but I'm happy with our progress this go-round. Tonight in particular, I decided to get on with it and get T really stepping up into the bridle, and I think it's payed off. There has been progress with our half passes. I got some good lessons between my regular instructor, the clinic, and a couple jump lessons. Overall everything is on the right trajectory.

We have had a couple clean R/L changes while jumping. I think just a little more and we can start getting serious with it in the dressage work, but we have some second level scores to focus on first.

The past few weeks my personal fitness has floundered. My rotator cuff was rather irritated, so I took a bit of a break from the gym. It was almost better, then I strained it somehow. Now it seems to be better again, so I need to get back at it. There's also plenty of core and lower body stuff I can do without putting much stress on my shoulder.

I think my goal this time around is to get T driving into the bridle in canter the way I can get her in trot. I think that is the power we're going to need to start getting jump to get anything other than haphazard changes.

Also, working on myself in HP. I realized that I am blocking her with my seat bone in HP left. When I take it off, we get the sideways, but my left leg won't cooperate and stay on and not crawl up. So just some work to do to will my body parts into cooperation. It's actually better in canter, trot is the problem. I'll see if riding with the Equi-Bands helps, but need to wait for a day it's safe to do so as the spring crazies are kicking in a bit.

I do have a lesson in a few weeks, and then hopefully a clinic with Carrie Harnden in April.

[blob]

closing out!

Me:
Try to balance work/riding
Eat healthy lunches
Get back to doing exercise at home at least 1x a week

MM:
Keep working on fitness
Keep riding consistent
Take a jump lesson?
Work on lateral work and consistent bend

RP:
Show or clinic? yes to both!!
Crack the code on a more consistent/easy HI
Work on connection in transitions between gaits and within them
Ride through tests
hills for booty strength

[exvet]

Closing Out:

Got Junior to the schooling show which went very well. Did the recognized show and though not the scores I had hoped for there was evidence of progress.

Troy has been sat on multiple times. He's worn dressage and western tack without too much concern. I've had more opportunities to work on the concept of steering. He's growing up and out. He's still got quite the immature brain but his sense of humor appears to be ingrained LOL.

I had endoscopy done on Ace, no signs of ulcers or gastritis. I'm now even more convinced I'm dealing with enteroliths. Goal is to just keep him comfortable for as long as I can. As long as he responds to banamine and doesn't demonstrate reflux we're good. The day colics and has reflux my plan will be to put him down.

Heading down to the Valley tonight, farrier tomorrow, huge tack sale on Saturday, hopefully relax on Sunday and double hopeful for a lesson with Molly on Monday then back up the mountain.

[Moutaineer]

May already!

I'm really quite pleased with the progress we've made in this period. We've not been anywhere or done anything special, but it's been a steady chipping away at our issues and some really good team building.

Potters seems happy in his work, and I'm still working hard at losing weight and working out, which has made a really big difference to my riding. Which was really the point of the plan! Down about 14lb from the start of the year. Breeches are getting baggy

Onwards to our busiest months!

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Tanga- lovely rides but hope Quinn is feeling better.. That definitely was an odd reaction!

As far as my goals for this period It looks like it was mostly just about being consistent with the equiband which I have been.

[Chisamba]

Well if two months was supposed to be enough time to fix Pauletta s canter transition, it wasn't. It wasn't even enough time to get an honest trot connection. She wants to sit behind the contact, curled and too soft.

As for Saiph, turns out longing her once a week in the long lines is a pretty big help. I'm working on uphill flying changes only when asked, so lots of counter canter.

Me. I've lost enough weight, need clothes that fit, have taken to wearing hanes period panties with the slightly padded area fir that tiny bit of extra padding in the nether regions . ( post menopausal so I don't need it firbits labeled use)

I thoughtb it would be easier to control the bounce but I still have to buy custom sport bras and double up. It's harder to find 34 G than 38 G were. I squish into the 34 DDD but the bra lady frowned upon that lol.

Pauletta turned into a rearing, baulking monster at an away clinic so Saturday I have a schooling day at the show grounds. You pay and enter a hunter show to school on the flat. We shall see how that goes.

[Moutaineer]

Chisamba, boy, do I get it on the lack of natural padding. Yet another portion of my anatomy that is sore.

[mari]

Omw, I need to find me some padded panties!!! Thanks for that tip, didn't even think about it.