:) :) :) :) :)
I finally got to ride in my new saddle last night. I love it...it fits us both really well and is suuuper comfortable. A way better fit for me than my Wintec was. I might have to punch holes in the stirrup leathers though, which will be a pain, because I have no idea HOW you punch holes evenly in two separate leathers. Oh well...I'm hoping they don't stretch too much and I can keep them on the top hole.
It's weird getting used to leather again...it's kind of creaky, but I love it. I need to clean it well, and my bridle. I don't know that I've EVER cleaned my bridle...EEK! So I'm determined to take better care of it and my saddle from here on out.
Jen came out with me and set up some jumps for me. We warmed up with flatwork and he was really relaxed...more than I've felt him relax in a long time, especially since he hasn't been ridden since I fell last week. He was mostly above the vertical, but he wasn't really flipping his head or anything, so it didn't bother me. It took a few tries because I'm out of shape and haven't been working on it, but we got the right lead! I think I'm gonna stop riding with spurs till I get back in shape. They're just baby spurs, and when my leg muscles are strong, I can keep a steady leg...but right now, I'm slip sliding a little, and I don't want to accidentally get him with them.
Then we JUMPED! Yay :) We did a crossrail with a few strides to a 2' vertical, and he was so cute. He rushed a little at first, but we didn't run out or refuse anything...I need to keep working on looking UP though. She also set up a little arrowhead for us, and he was a star...he was a little confused at first, and tried to jump the side, but once he figured it out, he was good to go. he even went through it pretty straight! Yay!
I have a lesson tonight, so hopefully it goes well. I'll update tomorrow, if I'm not in agony from sore muscles!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Goals!
Okay...I need to stop messing around and get serious about my riding. Luke was doing so well for a while, but he needs to be ridden more than twice a week. It's not that I haven't wanted to ride, I've just been unmotivated. Now that Melissa can ride again, and now that I'll have a new saddle next week, it's time to get motivated!
So I figured I'd write out my goals and my summer schedule, and update along the way! :) Good plan?
Goals
- Get out and go places without it being a huge deal.
- Go out of my way to make new places a positive experience for him - don't just throw him on the trailer and go...make sure he gets to run around at home first, and then sit and observe for a half hour or so before I tack him up and ride.
- Break 60% on a dressage test...I shouldn't even be happy with THAT for a score, but it would be progress - we've been getting mid to high 50's.
- Slow down a little on cross country - Luke loves being outside, and will trot or canter happily up to jumps, but loves to take off for a few strides on the backside. The waterford is helping a little.
- Learn to BEND - enough said!
- Accept contact a little more.
- HAVE FUN!
Summer Schedule:
June
June 6th - Dressage Clinic - it was awesome, we learned a ton!
June 27th - Dressage Schooling show - Intro Tests A & B - possibly have someone else ride him in Training 1 or 2.
June 28th - Stone Gate? (Probably not...but I am looking into the possibility)
July
July 11 - XC Schooling at Hackamore Farm - maybe
July 12 - Hackamore Farm - maybe
July 17-18 - South Farm Mini Camp!
July 19 - South Farm Mini Trial (Either Very Green or BBN!)
And hopefully XC schooling a few times
August
August 2 - Grand River Hunt
August 9 - Buckeye Horse Park/WRPC
August 23 - Bath Pony Club
August 30 - Buckeye Horse Park Hunter Pace
September
September 6 - Bath Pony Club Hunter Pace
September 13 - South Farm
September 20 - Grand River Hunter Pace OR
September 20-21 - Stone Gate Farm H.T in the Starter Div. - hey, a girl can hope!
September 27 - Stone Gate Hunter Pace (And my 21st birthday! :) )
October
October 4 - South Farm Hunter Pace
October 11 - Magnolia Waynesburg Hunter Pace
October 18 - Chagrin Valley Hunt Hunter Pace
Whew! That was exhausting to type out, let alone think about competing in all of those! I probably won't make it to all of that because it would be $$$, but those are the ones I'll be choosing from. I really hope I can do all the fall hunter paces, and am looking SO forward to mini camp!
Now...I just have to stay motivated towards these goals. I can do it!
Tomorrow - lunge work, a little flatwork and "XC Schooling" in the back pasture.
So I figured I'd write out my goals and my summer schedule, and update along the way! :) Good plan?
Goals
- Get out and go places without it being a huge deal.
- Go out of my way to make new places a positive experience for him - don't just throw him on the trailer and go...make sure he gets to run around at home first, and then sit and observe for a half hour or so before I tack him up and ride.
- Break 60% on a dressage test...I shouldn't even be happy with THAT for a score, but it would be progress - we've been getting mid to high 50's.
- Slow down a little on cross country - Luke loves being outside, and will trot or canter happily up to jumps, but loves to take off for a few strides on the backside. The waterford is helping a little.
- Learn to BEND - enough said!
- Accept contact a little more.
- HAVE FUN!
Summer Schedule:
June
June 6th - Dressage Clinic - it was awesome, we learned a ton!
June 27th - Dressage Schooling show - Intro Tests A & B - possibly have someone else ride him in Training 1 or 2.
June 28th - Stone Gate? (Probably not...but I am looking into the possibility)
July
July 11 - XC Schooling at Hackamore Farm - maybe
July 12 - Hackamore Farm - maybe
July 17-18 - South Farm Mini Camp!
July 19 - South Farm Mini Trial (Either Very Green or BBN!)
And hopefully XC schooling a few times
August
August 2 - Grand River Hunt
August 9 - Buckeye Horse Park/WRPC
August 23 - Bath Pony Club
August 30 - Buckeye Horse Park Hunter Pace
September
September 6 - Bath Pony Club Hunter Pace
September 13 - South Farm
September 20 - Grand River Hunter Pace OR
September 20-21 - Stone Gate Farm H.T in the Starter Div. - hey, a girl can hope!
September 27 - Stone Gate Hunter Pace (And my 21st birthday! :) )
October
October 4 - South Farm Hunter Pace
October 11 - Magnolia Waynesburg Hunter Pace
October 18 - Chagrin Valley Hunt Hunter Pace
Whew! That was exhausting to type out, let alone think about competing in all of those! I probably won't make it to all of that because it would be $$$, but those are the ones I'll be choosing from. I really hope I can do all the fall hunter paces, and am looking SO forward to mini camp!
Now...I just have to stay motivated towards these goals. I can do it!
Tomorrow - lunge work, a little flatwork and "XC Schooling" in the back pasture.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Dressage Clinic Update!
We went, we saw, and we conquered! Haha, not really. It was really fun though!
When I got to the farm Saturday morning, Luke was standing in his stall looking all sleepy after breakfast. I pulled him out and stuck him on a lunge line. He was not amused. For the first five minutes, it was like pulling teeth to even get a trot. Then he started cantering and bucking and got most of his excitement out.
We hopped on the trailer (Good boy Luke!), and off we went. When he came off the trailer, he looked around, and promptly started to graze. I stuck him in a stall and went to watch the canter group go. I learned a lot just by watching them.
Then it was our turn. I was nervous because I was afraid Luke was gonna explode, but I shouldn't have been worried. He was a little looky warming up and I thought he was going to explode, but he didn't. After a few minutes of warmup, our group lesson started.
I'm out of shape...or I just don't work hard enough in my riding time at home. I'm used to lots of walk breaks. We trotted for a good ten minutes. Luke wasn't winded, but I sure was. We worked a lot on bending (I did get used as a good example of using my corners though! Even if he was counterbent through them). She said that if I work on lateral flexion first, the rest will come, and he will start to be more supple and through and come into contact better. She said sometimes you have to sacrifice prettyness for accuracy. She said not to worry about him being on the bit, that that will come.
We did some circles, which weren't TOO terrible, but he still wants to speed up to get through them quickly. I should have worn spurs, I could NOT get him off my leg for anything. I wear spurs at home, but I figured I wouldn't need them for the clinic. She said that I just have to convince him that he wants to bend.
We worked on centerlines, and he actually came down centerline pretty straight. I was very proud of him. Then we rode our test. We just did Intro A. It wasn't the best test I've ever done, but it definitely wasn't the worst. It was better than at some shows, and I didn't even practice for Saturday! She said that she would like to see him a little less hollow and tense, and more relaxed, but that it would come with training. She really liked him and said we made a nice pair.
I feel a lot better now that we've gotten out and gone somewhere and it wasn't a disaster! I think the key is just to lunge him before we leave, and make sure he has plenty of time to chill once we get there! Now on to the dressage show at GreyMack on the 27th. I think someone was taking pictures on Saturday, if I get any, I'll post them! :)
When I got to the farm Saturday morning, Luke was standing in his stall looking all sleepy after breakfast. I pulled him out and stuck him on a lunge line. He was not amused. For the first five minutes, it was like pulling teeth to even get a trot. Then he started cantering and bucking and got most of his excitement out.
We hopped on the trailer (Good boy Luke!), and off we went. When he came off the trailer, he looked around, and promptly started to graze. I stuck him in a stall and went to watch the canter group go. I learned a lot just by watching them.
Then it was our turn. I was nervous because I was afraid Luke was gonna explode, but I shouldn't have been worried. He was a little looky warming up and I thought he was going to explode, but he didn't. After a few minutes of warmup, our group lesson started.
I'm out of shape...or I just don't work hard enough in my riding time at home. I'm used to lots of walk breaks. We trotted for a good ten minutes. Luke wasn't winded, but I sure was. We worked a lot on bending (I did get used as a good example of using my corners though! Even if he was counterbent through them). She said that if I work on lateral flexion first, the rest will come, and he will start to be more supple and through and come into contact better. She said sometimes you have to sacrifice prettyness for accuracy. She said not to worry about him being on the bit, that that will come.
We did some circles, which weren't TOO terrible, but he still wants to speed up to get through them quickly. I should have worn spurs, I could NOT get him off my leg for anything. I wear spurs at home, but I figured I wouldn't need them for the clinic. She said that I just have to convince him that he wants to bend.
We worked on centerlines, and he actually came down centerline pretty straight. I was very proud of him. Then we rode our test. We just did Intro A. It wasn't the best test I've ever done, but it definitely wasn't the worst. It was better than at some shows, and I didn't even practice for Saturday! She said that she would like to see him a little less hollow and tense, and more relaxed, but that it would come with training. She really liked him and said we made a nice pair.
I feel a lot better now that we've gotten out and gone somewhere and it wasn't a disaster! I think the key is just to lunge him before we leave, and make sure he has plenty of time to chill once we get there! Now on to the dressage show at GreyMack on the 27th. I think someone was taking pictures on Saturday, if I get any, I'll post them! :)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
New saddle and other fun stuff!
Sometime in the next week or two, my new saddle will be here! I'm super excited :) It's an older Crosby Olympia, but in great condition. I can't wait to try it out. Hopefully it will be a better fit than the wintec was. Luke's not too picky or hard to fit, so it will probably work out as long as it works for me.
We might be going to a dressage clinic on Saturday too :) If Molly's dad doesn't have to work and can take us, we'll be going to a little barn down the road for a ride-a-test clinic. It would be a great experience for Luke, who will hopefully not spaz out at everything. Silly boy.
On the 27th, we're going to a dressage show in North Canton. Hopefully that goes well too. I might make someone else ride him :)
Mini camp at South Farm is next month...crazy that it's coming up so soon. I'm sooo excited for it. That will probably be the first mini trial we show at too. I could possibly get a ride to Stone Gate on the 28th of this month, but I seem to have really bad luck there. I probably need to suck it up and go and have a good experience and get over it, but I'm nervous to now. It's like a mental block or something.
Hmm, I think that's all for updates. Luke had a couple of weeks off because his feet were long, but he just got new shoes yesterday and I was very impressed with the new farrier. Hopefully we have a few good rides soon that I can post about.
We might be going to a dressage clinic on Saturday too :) If Molly's dad doesn't have to work and can take us, we'll be going to a little barn down the road for a ride-a-test clinic. It would be a great experience for Luke, who will hopefully not spaz out at everything. Silly boy.
On the 27th, we're going to a dressage show in North Canton. Hopefully that goes well too. I might make someone else ride him :)
Mini camp at South Farm is next month...crazy that it's coming up so soon. I'm sooo excited for it. That will probably be the first mini trial we show at too. I could possibly get a ride to Stone Gate on the 28th of this month, but I seem to have really bad luck there. I probably need to suck it up and go and have a good experience and get over it, but I'm nervous to now. It's like a mental block or something.
Hmm, I think that's all for updates. Luke had a couple of weeks off because his feet were long, but he just got new shoes yesterday and I was very impressed with the new farrier. Hopefully we have a few good rides soon that I can post about.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Cute Picture
I haven't posted any pictures in a while, so here's a picture of Luke looking cute that my friend took today. Just a camera phone picture...I'll get new ones soon! I'm about to go out and have a nice gallop hopefully...at the very least, a long canter!
His Cuteness:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Crazy Busy!
Wow, I haven't updated lately, really. I've been so busy, I don't even know where to start! From last Saturday (the 16th) to this past Saturday, I took care of the barn so Mandi could go away. I knew it would be hard work, but I had no idea how much, I guess. I cleaned over 100 stalls last week, crazy! So, by the time I got done with everything, I didn't usually have much motivation to ride. I did ride a few times though.
Molly and I took a trail ride on Monday, and had a really nice time. Found a couple little logs to jump in the woods and had a nice gallop in a field...just what I needed. Luke was a good boy too.
On Thursday, Molly and I set up some jumps. As we were getting ready to tack up, some people drama happened, and I wasn't feeling much like riding. Molly convinced me too, and I ended up having a great ride. Luke jumped everything I pointed him at! We had one run out, cantering a 2'3" vertical...I think he does best if we trot towards it, and I sit and wait, letting him decide if he should canter. He picked up a canter 2 or 3 strides out, and jumped it beautifully...it was the best feeling in the world! Aside from that, we cantered little cross rails, jumped a couple of 2' verticals, and ended with a 2' oxer...it was crazy fun!
All in all, Luke has been a really good boy! I can't wait to get my new saddle at the end of the month, I hope we both like it! We are headed to South Farm on June 7th, hopefully with new saddle in tow, and Luke behaving like a good boy! I think we're just going to do the crossrails in schooling jumpers, and not do a dressage test. He gets so uptight, that we don't usually have good tests. We'll see how it goes...I might be able to sign up there for one. If not, there's always next time. I think this summer will be full of fun stuff!
Molly and I took a trail ride on Monday, and had a really nice time. Found a couple little logs to jump in the woods and had a nice gallop in a field...just what I needed. Luke was a good boy too.
On Thursday, Molly and I set up some jumps. As we were getting ready to tack up, some people drama happened, and I wasn't feeling much like riding. Molly convinced me too, and I ended up having a great ride. Luke jumped everything I pointed him at! We had one run out, cantering a 2'3" vertical...I think he does best if we trot towards it, and I sit and wait, letting him decide if he should canter. He picked up a canter 2 or 3 strides out, and jumped it beautifully...it was the best feeling in the world! Aside from that, we cantered little cross rails, jumped a couple of 2' verticals, and ended with a 2' oxer...it was crazy fun!
All in all, Luke has been a really good boy! I can't wait to get my new saddle at the end of the month, I hope we both like it! We are headed to South Farm on June 7th, hopefully with new saddle in tow, and Luke behaving like a good boy! I think we're just going to do the crossrails in schooling jumpers, and not do a dressage test. He gets so uptight, that we don't usually have good tests. We'll see how it goes...I might be able to sign up there for one. If not, there's always next time. I think this summer will be full of fun stuff!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
In which Luke gets his butt kicked....
Ay yi yi.
Pony has my number. I discovered this on Tuesday night after a lesson that left me in tears. Granted, I was tired, which is never a good thing when combined with stress.
I've been trying really hard to make Luke use himself lately and go on the bit - at least I think I have. My trainer told me Tuesday night that I was still letting him go around la di da with his head in the air, doing a giraffe impression. Ouch. Okay, so we need to improve. We're getting a mirror in the indoor soon - Yay! She also slammed me about my position which seemed to be worse than usual on Tuesday...apparently my horse and I have the same tendency to hollow out our backs....
So, we moved on to canter work - note that this was supposed to be a jumping lesson, because we've been drilling flatwork lately. We'd planned on warming up and doing just a few minutes of flatwork, and going straight to jumping. Good plan...until...
I could. not. get. the. right. lead. It wasn't there....zip. zilch. nada. I mean, sometimes it takes me a couple of tries...but Tuesday night? After 10 wrong leads in a row, there were tears in my eyes. I know that I don't always ask the best, but I also know that Luke knows better.
So my trainer hopped on to see if it was me or him. Much to my surprise, it was him. He was giving her as much crap as he gave me. She would set him up perfectly, and bam. He'd take OFF with his head in the air on the wrong lead. She wanted to get the lead 3 times in a row, and then move on to jumping as a reward for him. He was such a brat...he'd do it perfectly twice, and then the third time, he'd pull out a wrong lead- run away type thing. She got mad. Not abusive, but she raised her voice with him, and stopped him quickly when he'd start off on the wrong lead. A couple steps of backing and then a trot to canter transition. Hmm.....after he realized that she was raising her voice, and not letting him canter on the wrong lead, he was perfect. They did a small course, and then she passed him back to me.
We decided that I wouldn't even try to canter, I'd just trot the jumps and if he landed on the right lead, keep it. He landed on the right lead every single time. So we ended up cantering some little crossrails.
So I learned a very important lesson - hey, that's what I pay her for! I learned that I can't be as nice to him as I have been lately...there's a difference between being nice and letting him get away with murder. I'm not doing him any favors by letting him grow up to be a spoiled brat.
I rode last night and he was on his best behavior - We got the right lead four out of four times, and blew it on the fifth. After two wrong lead takeoffs, I growled at him, and BAM! Right lead...like magic!
Amazing.... :)
Pony has my number. I discovered this on Tuesday night after a lesson that left me in tears. Granted, I was tired, which is never a good thing when combined with stress.
I've been trying really hard to make Luke use himself lately and go on the bit - at least I think I have. My trainer told me Tuesday night that I was still letting him go around la di da with his head in the air, doing a giraffe impression. Ouch. Okay, so we need to improve. We're getting a mirror in the indoor soon - Yay! She also slammed me about my position which seemed to be worse than usual on Tuesday...apparently my horse and I have the same tendency to hollow out our backs....
So, we moved on to canter work - note that this was supposed to be a jumping lesson, because we've been drilling flatwork lately. We'd planned on warming up and doing just a few minutes of flatwork, and going straight to jumping. Good plan...until...
I could. not. get. the. right. lead. It wasn't there....zip. zilch. nada. I mean, sometimes it takes me a couple of tries...but Tuesday night? After 10 wrong leads in a row, there were tears in my eyes. I know that I don't always ask the best, but I also know that Luke knows better.
So my trainer hopped on to see if it was me or him. Much to my surprise, it was him. He was giving her as much crap as he gave me. She would set him up perfectly, and bam. He'd take OFF with his head in the air on the wrong lead. She wanted to get the lead 3 times in a row, and then move on to jumping as a reward for him. He was such a brat...he'd do it perfectly twice, and then the third time, he'd pull out a wrong lead- run away type thing. She got mad. Not abusive, but she raised her voice with him, and stopped him quickly when he'd start off on the wrong lead. A couple steps of backing and then a trot to canter transition. Hmm.....after he realized that she was raising her voice, and not letting him canter on the wrong lead, he was perfect. They did a small course, and then she passed him back to me.
We decided that I wouldn't even try to canter, I'd just trot the jumps and if he landed on the right lead, keep it. He landed on the right lead every single time. So we ended up cantering some little crossrails.
So I learned a very important lesson - hey, that's what I pay her for! I learned that I can't be as nice to him as I have been lately...there's a difference between being nice and letting him get away with murder. I'm not doing him any favors by letting him grow up to be a spoiled brat.
I rode last night and he was on his best behavior - We got the right lead four out of four times, and blew it on the fifth. After two wrong lead takeoffs, I growled at him, and BAM! Right lead...like magic!
Amazing.... :)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Show Anxiety Sucks....
And I just need to be more patient. It's not going to happen overnight. Maybe not even in 3 years. I need to figure out how to get over my anxiety and nerves, and give him a fair ride. I'm not sure which one of us starts the cycle of tenseness, but it doesn't go away. He's the most sensitive horse I've ever ridden, by far. I need to start taking him places, and just letting him chill. It'd be easier if I had a trailer. So I guess my goal for this year is to take him to as many places as I can. If we ride, great, if not, that's okay too. I need to have more patience, and maybe readjust my goals. They were originally baby beginner novice, which wouldn't be a problem for his skill level I don't think. It will just depend on if I can get him to go places without a meltdown.
In fairness to him, I didn't prepare as well as I should have for this last show. Since it was at home, I figured he'd be great. And I had a wonderful ride on him the day before, so I thought - "Yay! We CAN do this!" The big brown horse proved me wrong :) When I saw how hyped up he was, I should have taken him somewhere and just let him canter it out. But I wasn't sure where to do it...the round pen was flooded, horses were in the pastures, and the outdoor looked pretty muddy as well. Indoor was used for the show. But now I know for next time :) Even if there's a show at home, I need to set him up for success by letting him get all his running and bucking out BEFORE I get on and tense up.
Anyway...back to the recap. We got on, we walked, we trotted. Trotting was like riding a giraffe, but he settled a little. Since it was just a schooling show, I should have said heck with it and ridden him in the running martingale, but I was *trying* to practice for real shows. But we went in to our walk/trot Eq. class, and managed a 1st place. Mostly because I was riding against little little kids who didn't know their diagonals. So I felt really bad. But then in the next class we got 4th out of 4 because he was head up, cantering, etc. Completely inconsistent. So I redeemed myself, and didn't have to feel bad anymore :)
I put him back in his stall for a while, and thought maybe he'd chill. When I got back on a couple of hours later, he seemed a bit more relaxed. But wasn't really. When we did Intro A, he tried to trot out of the arena. Came down centerline sideways and wouldn't stop, etc. I'm sure it was entertaining for everyone watching. Intro B wasn't a whole lot better. Both tests were videotaped, I can't wait to watch those...not. But...whatever. I need to just chill with him. I went back out that night and rode him and he was great. Rode both tests and he was 100 times better. Ugh.
I don't know what to do anymore :( I wish I could fix me, because I'm sure that's the problem. We have the hunter pace on the 25th, and I'm nervous already. But I need to go into it with the attitude that he will be okay. We CAN do this. I just wish he had the rider/owner that he deserves...I feel like all his talent is going to waste!
In fairness to him, I didn't prepare as well as I should have for this last show. Since it was at home, I figured he'd be great. And I had a wonderful ride on him the day before, so I thought - "Yay! We CAN do this!" The big brown horse proved me wrong :) When I saw how hyped up he was, I should have taken him somewhere and just let him canter it out. But I wasn't sure where to do it...the round pen was flooded, horses were in the pastures, and the outdoor looked pretty muddy as well. Indoor was used for the show. But now I know for next time :) Even if there's a show at home, I need to set him up for success by letting him get all his running and bucking out BEFORE I get on and tense up.
Anyway...back to the recap. We got on, we walked, we trotted. Trotting was like riding a giraffe, but he settled a little. Since it was just a schooling show, I should have said heck with it and ridden him in the running martingale, but I was *trying* to practice for real shows. But we went in to our walk/trot Eq. class, and managed a 1st place. Mostly because I was riding against little little kids who didn't know their diagonals. So I felt really bad. But then in the next class we got 4th out of 4 because he was head up, cantering, etc. Completely inconsistent. So I redeemed myself, and didn't have to feel bad anymore :)
I put him back in his stall for a while, and thought maybe he'd chill. When I got back on a couple of hours later, he seemed a bit more relaxed. But wasn't really. When we did Intro A, he tried to trot out of the arena. Came down centerline sideways and wouldn't stop, etc. I'm sure it was entertaining for everyone watching. Intro B wasn't a whole lot better. Both tests were videotaped, I can't wait to watch those...not. But...whatever. I need to just chill with him. I went back out that night and rode him and he was great. Rode both tests and he was 100 times better. Ugh.
I don't know what to do anymore :( I wish I could fix me, because I'm sure that's the problem. We have the hunter pace on the 25th, and I'm nervous already. But I need to go into it with the attitude that he will be okay. We CAN do this. I just wish he had the rider/owner that he deserves...I feel like all his talent is going to waste!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Dressage Fun! :)
I decided to really work on Luke's flatwork, and try riding in my dressage saddle to see if I'm more comfortable cantering. I don't know why I don't ride in that saddle more often...I'm definitely going to now!
Molly & I decided to work on the Intro & Beginner Novice dressage tests, which I got laminated the other day. Yay! :)
We started with a warmup, and Luke felt better right from the start. Maybe this saddle puts me in a more effective and correct position. Hmm. He was accepting contact well at the walk and trot, and was doing some great shoulder out. He's starting to understand shoulder in a little bit more as well.
Then we rode Intro A & Intro B. Luke decided that he was going to be prissy and NOT walk or trot through the puddles from the dripping rain in the indoor. Ugh...circles were not very good, since the puddle was right in our way. Intro B was a little better, but not much. The rail work and diagonals weren't too bad though.
I did a few canter transitions, and I felt much more relaxed. It was great to see him slow down and accept contact....amazing what a difference it makes when I'm not cranking on his mouth from being tense and scared! He picked up the correct lead both times in each direction, and then it was onto Beginner Novice Test A. It was the first canter dressage test I've ever ridden! It wasn't perfect, probably couldn't even be considered good, but it was decent, especially for our first try. We still had the circling problem cuz of the puddles, and he did two flying lead changes during the right canter circle. I didn't steer well enough, and he thought that I was asking for a figure 8. But once he was back on the circle, he switched onto the correct lead. Good boy!
After the test, I asked for a right lead canter transition, just so we could do a circle on the right lead without swapping leads. Once he did that, we cooled out and were done. It was a really successful ride I think!
The barn is having a schooling show on the 2nd of May, I'm so excited! I'm going to half dress up - Breeches, Tall Boots, and a polo with my show helmet. I'll braid Luke (I think, anyway...I'll try!). I'm going to try to get Beginner Novice A well enough to ride it, and I'm going to ride Intro A & B. I'm also going to do the Intro jumping class - up to 18". I'm trying to decide if I want to try a walk/trot equitation class...it will depend on how many other people are in it...Why press our luck. Maybe I'll show Jodi just for fun..there's an idea!!
I'm excited :) There's even going to be someone there with a really nice camera to take pictures that they'll sell as a 4-H fundraiser...I'll probably end up buying all mine!
I have a lesson tonight...hopefully it will go as well as my last ride did!!
Molly & I decided to work on the Intro & Beginner Novice dressage tests, which I got laminated the other day. Yay! :)
We started with a warmup, and Luke felt better right from the start. Maybe this saddle puts me in a more effective and correct position. Hmm. He was accepting contact well at the walk and trot, and was doing some great shoulder out. He's starting to understand shoulder in a little bit more as well.
Then we rode Intro A & Intro B. Luke decided that he was going to be prissy and NOT walk or trot through the puddles from the dripping rain in the indoor. Ugh...circles were not very good, since the puddle was right in our way. Intro B was a little better, but not much. The rail work and diagonals weren't too bad though.
I did a few canter transitions, and I felt much more relaxed. It was great to see him slow down and accept contact....amazing what a difference it makes when I'm not cranking on his mouth from being tense and scared! He picked up the correct lead both times in each direction, and then it was onto Beginner Novice Test A. It was the first canter dressage test I've ever ridden! It wasn't perfect, probably couldn't even be considered good, but it was decent, especially for our first try. We still had the circling problem cuz of the puddles, and he did two flying lead changes during the right canter circle. I didn't steer well enough, and he thought that I was asking for a figure 8. But once he was back on the circle, he switched onto the correct lead. Good boy!
After the test, I asked for a right lead canter transition, just so we could do a circle on the right lead without swapping leads. Once he did that, we cooled out and were done. It was a really successful ride I think!
The barn is having a schooling show on the 2nd of May, I'm so excited! I'm going to half dress up - Breeches, Tall Boots, and a polo with my show helmet. I'll braid Luke (I think, anyway...I'll try!). I'm going to try to get Beginner Novice A well enough to ride it, and I'm going to ride Intro A & B. I'm also going to do the Intro jumping class - up to 18". I'm trying to decide if I want to try a walk/trot equitation class...it will depend on how many other people are in it...Why press our luck. Maybe I'll show Jodi just for fun..there's an idea!!
I'm excited :) There's even going to be someone there with a really nice camera to take pictures that they'll sell as a 4-H fundraiser...I'll probably end up buying all mine!
I have a lesson tonight...hopefully it will go as well as my last ride did!!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Frustrating...
It's so frustrating to feel like I'm not getting any better as a rider.
Luke is coming along so well....he's willing, he's smart, he's sweet, with a great personality...I couldn't ask for more. But he is a horse, not a human, or a mind reader.
I ended up putting his running martingale back on last week. I don't think it's really doing anything, because he doesn't put his head up much. But my trainer calls it my "placebo". I guess I feel more secure with it on, and am more relaxed, I'm not sure why. So the goal is to use it for a month, and then take it off.
His walk and trot are really really nice. Reaching into the bridle, staying fairly rhythmic. He can do shoulder out, and shoulder in is a work in progress. His halts are starting to become square, and we are starting to work on circles a lot. A lot a lot! They have much room for improvement. I'd be embarrassed to ride a dressage test right now, even an intro one!
We've jumped a couple of times, and it's going great. I don't have huge position flaws anymore...I think my leg slips back a tad sometimes, but I keep my heels down and don't catch him in the mouth. I don't think my equitation is the prettiest, but it's effective, and safe. We've been doing baby stuff mostly, and Luke is smart. He also has a limit...if he feels we've jumped too much (In fairness to him, last Saturday was kind of excessive...my sister was trying to get pictures, and I jumped quite a bit), he'll run out. Only if we jump the same thing multiple times though...he seems okay when it's a variety. On Monday, Molly and I jumped a crossrail...we broke out real standards and wood poles this time, and it was fun. He was really good, and we were feeling brave and moved it up to a "huge" vertical. We measured later and it was only like 2' or 2'3"...so much for that, haha. Luke looked a little hesitant and slammed on the brakes halfheartedly. Kind of a run-out, kind of a stop. He did this twice, and slammed his knee on the standard the second time. After that, he popped over it very smartly. We ended on a good note, and got lots of treats.
Cantering is rough right now. I'm not scared to canter out in the open and I do okay cantering to jumps..but cantering in the indoor has become a huge deal to me, I hate it. I forget to breathe, and tense up, and it's not good. We need lots of work on it.
But he is coming along, and I'm happy with him...he amazes me every day, usually in a good way! :)
Luke is coming along so well....he's willing, he's smart, he's sweet, with a great personality...I couldn't ask for more. But he is a horse, not a human, or a mind reader.
I ended up putting his running martingale back on last week. I don't think it's really doing anything, because he doesn't put his head up much. But my trainer calls it my "placebo". I guess I feel more secure with it on, and am more relaxed, I'm not sure why. So the goal is to use it for a month, and then take it off.
His walk and trot are really really nice. Reaching into the bridle, staying fairly rhythmic. He can do shoulder out, and shoulder in is a work in progress. His halts are starting to become square, and we are starting to work on circles a lot. A lot a lot! They have much room for improvement. I'd be embarrassed to ride a dressage test right now, even an intro one!
We've jumped a couple of times, and it's going great. I don't have huge position flaws anymore...I think my leg slips back a tad sometimes, but I keep my heels down and don't catch him in the mouth. I don't think my equitation is the prettiest, but it's effective, and safe. We've been doing baby stuff mostly, and Luke is smart. He also has a limit...if he feels we've jumped too much (In fairness to him, last Saturday was kind of excessive...my sister was trying to get pictures, and I jumped quite a bit), he'll run out. Only if we jump the same thing multiple times though...he seems okay when it's a variety. On Monday, Molly and I jumped a crossrail...we broke out real standards and wood poles this time, and it was fun. He was really good, and we were feeling brave and moved it up to a "huge" vertical. We measured later and it was only like 2' or 2'3"...so much for that, haha. Luke looked a little hesitant and slammed on the brakes halfheartedly. Kind of a run-out, kind of a stop. He did this twice, and slammed his knee on the standard the second time. After that, he popped over it very smartly. We ended on a good note, and got lots of treats.
Cantering is rough right now. I'm not scared to canter out in the open and I do okay cantering to jumps..but cantering in the indoor has become a huge deal to me, I hate it. I forget to breathe, and tense up, and it's not good. We need lots of work on it.
But he is coming along, and I'm happy with him...he amazes me every day, usually in a good way! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
