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
I took a lesson last Saturday....I just have had no time to write about it! With the lack of light in the evenings as well as my teaching job I have not been able to stick with my Tuesday night lessons. There was just no way I could fit everything into one day like that anymore. SO I have been riding on Saturdays and that seems to be working out well.
My lesson on 10/4 was great. I wanted to work on continuing to make sure I am keeping a steady connection to the bit...sometimes I worry when I ride at home that I am not being "firm" enough. Then we also worked on cantering from the walk. That is a challenge right now. The actual depart (upwards transition) is not bad.....but the downward transition to the trot is HORRENDOUS. It kills me because I want everything to be correct. But because Dreamy is still not convinced she likes this CONNECTION all the time, nor does she 100% understand what I am asking of her yet, she YANKS my arms out of their sockets in the downward. I am trying my very best to sit up and not allow her to pull me, but sometimes it is nearly impossible....seeing as I weigh 120 pounds soaking wet and her head and neck alone weigh more than that! LOL!
Then we did a bit of sitting trot at the end. That has been coming along nicely in the last month or so. I have been working hard on my position. Plus Dreamy's jarring trot (to sit to) has become much floatier (is that a word?) and fluid since we have been steady in the bridle and coming through over the back 100% of the time. Suddenly her sitting trot is gorgeous to ride. :)
Afterwards, I was invited along for a trail ride with my instructor Judy, her boarder, and her boarder's student. (Oh forgot to mention.....during the entire lesson Judy's boarder was giving a Parelli type lesson at the other end of the ring with a big old plastic bag on a whip. Dreamy was curious but did not bat an eye. I was proud.....since I have never done any plastic-bag-on-a-stick tricks with her...LOL). I figured it would be a 30 min. trail ride give or take....and I think it ended up more like an hour and a half. Normally that would have been fine, but I was freezing (sun was going down and I only had a t-shirt on) and my boys were waiting at home to go to the fair. WHOOPS.
Unfortunately, S was ugly at me by the time I got home and took care of the horses and showered.....which did not take THAT long...I was ready about 1 hour later than he had wanted to leave. I figured it was no big deal, but he acted like a complete and utter baby about the entire thing. Well, whatever. No fair for me this year. :P
Anyway, good lessons are always nice to write about. I am marshaling at Scarborough Downs this Sunday 10/12 and then have the last dressage show of the year on Sunday 10/19. That is it for showing for 2008. I have a lesson scheduled for Saturday 10/25.....and foolish me forgot that November is hunting season....so I have a strong feeling there will be NO lessons for me in November. I become a hunter's widow in November....which means no truck to haul the horse trailer and no one to watch C. BUGGER. :(
My lesson on 10/4 was great. I wanted to work on continuing to make sure I am keeping a steady connection to the bit...sometimes I worry when I ride at home that I am not being "firm" enough. Then we also worked on cantering from the walk. That is a challenge right now. The actual depart (upwards transition) is not bad.....but the downward transition to the trot is HORRENDOUS. It kills me because I want everything to be correct. But because Dreamy is still not convinced she likes this CONNECTION all the time, nor does she 100% understand what I am asking of her yet, she YANKS my arms out of their sockets in the downward. I am trying my very best to sit up and not allow her to pull me, but sometimes it is nearly impossible....seeing as I weigh 120 pounds soaking wet and her head and neck alone weigh more than that! LOL!
Then we did a bit of sitting trot at the end. That has been coming along nicely in the last month or so. I have been working hard on my position. Plus Dreamy's jarring trot (to sit to) has become much floatier (is that a word?) and fluid since we have been steady in the bridle and coming through over the back 100% of the time. Suddenly her sitting trot is gorgeous to ride. :)
Afterwards, I was invited along for a trail ride with my instructor Judy, her boarder, and her boarder's student. (Oh forgot to mention.....during the entire lesson Judy's boarder was giving a Parelli type lesson at the other end of the ring with a big old plastic bag on a whip. Dreamy was curious but did not bat an eye. I was proud.....since I have never done any plastic-bag-on-a-stick tricks with her...LOL). I figured it would be a 30 min. trail ride give or take....and I think it ended up more like an hour and a half. Normally that would have been fine, but I was freezing (sun was going down and I only had a t-shirt on) and my boys were waiting at home to go to the fair. WHOOPS.
Unfortunately, S was ugly at me by the time I got home and took care of the horses and showered.....which did not take THAT long...I was ready about 1 hour later than he had wanted to leave. I figured it was no big deal, but he acted like a complete and utter baby about the entire thing. Well, whatever. No fair for me this year. :P
Anyway, good lessons are always nice to write about. I am marshaling at Scarborough Downs this Sunday 10/12 and then have the last dressage show of the year on Sunday 10/19. That is it for showing for 2008. I have a lesson scheduled for Saturday 10/25.....and foolish me forgot that November is hunting season....so I have a strong feeling there will be NO lessons for me in November. I become a hunter's widow in November....which means no truck to haul the horse trailer and no one to watch C. BUGGER. :(
haha...stupid having to share the truck :P At least things are going well now so you are taking a break from your lessons on a high note.
ReplyDeleteOh my word....you have no idea how much I dislike sharing the truck! Not to mention S's truck is his yucky old work truck (he is a forester and logger), so it has a flatbed with a big smelly diesel tank and various tool boxes. UGGG. It cracks me up to be parked at a dressage show amongst all the DQ's custom painted trucks. ROFL! At least we have a truck and trailer I suppose. My next vehicle will be MY OWN truck to pull MY OWN trailer...LOL! Unfortunately my little Honda Civic is only 3 years old and was bought when I was commuting an hour to work. I now work 5 miles from the house. Someday I will have a use for my bumper sticker....Real Women Drive Trucks. For now it sits propped up in my office. SIGH.
ReplyDeletehaha...I have to share a truck also...with my poor dad...who hates horses. We went in on it together though and he took $3,000 off of my half when we first bought it on the condition that I clean the truck (which of course has to be white with light grey interior) after I use it. It works out okay, but some days I do dream about just getting my own. It is only 3 years old and has like 12,000 miles on it (can you tell how much we use it) so sharing a truck it is.
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