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Wentworth Hunter Pace - June 6, 2021

After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time!  most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the

Was I Dreaming.....??

Wow, we had a FANTASTIC ride tonight. I wanted to just take it easy and have a nice forward, light and soft in the bridle dressage ride. Because of our upcoming busy weekend, I did not want to work on anything new or have a fitness ride.

Well I'll be darned if I got exactly the kind of ride I wanted....she was forward (of course, usually I have to work to keep her from being too forward) but also light and soft. NO fighting, come-to-Jesus moments, or fussy head fit moments...especially in our trot work after the canter. I was floored. This is the FIRST TIME that has happened since we started canter work....so realistically since last year.

She also trotted well after our canters. There was no fussiness in the connection, no bulging against my inside leg, no running through my aids, no blowing through my half halts. We just trotted.....cantered....and then trotted again. Full field and then 20 m circles. I was worried she would suddenly FREAK out or something....LOL!!!! She was almost too good. But I enjoyed every second because I worked my tail off to have a ride like this. Tonight's ride was a culmination of 2 year's worth of blood, sweat, and tears....and a few swear words. ;-)

Dreamy's left side has definitely gotten stronger. Instead of her left lead making her right seem SO MUCH better, it made them seem almost equally. VERY COOL!

Funny how horses (and kids) always do what you expect of them. What is that, a self fulfilling prophecy? If you go into the ride expecting a fight (and let's face it, this year I have gone into most rides thinking, "I am GOING TO get that canter BOTH ways!") and it does result in a fight. I think was different tonight because of my positive mindset and Dreamy's (less steep) learning curve. There were many light bulb moments tonight. :D Especially in the counterbending and then the supple....release. Extended time where Dreamy was in balance, on the bit, and holding herself up. SO NICE! Rather than the fleeting 2 secs. worth of wow.

Tomorrow is the stadium jumping clinic with Steuart Pittman. I am excited for my lesson, and a tad nervous. But I am mostly excited to hear what he has to say, both good AND bad. I hope I can get my base of support correct and stop swinging my lower legs back over fences. I look at pics from high school and college and think WHY DID I ALLOW MYSELF to stop riding like that????? My equitation is now crap.

Comments

  1. I know exactly what you mean... balanced, on the bit, and holding herself up... I LOVE that feeling!

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