I had many great horsey experiences in 2019! I am really pleased with how the year went overall; nothing is ever perfect, but both horses are sound, happy, and healthy, which is really what matters to me. Some of my 2019 goals were met easily or with lots of hard work, and a few of them were utter fails haha. C'est la vie! Let's recap! Happy, health, sound Both mares are doing well in this regard! Dreamy will be 29 this year, and while she definitely shows signs of her age at times, she overall looks and acts much younger than she really is! Ellie has really matured this year, filling out as well as mentally becoming more comfortable in her own skin. As she will be eight this year, I feel like we have moved through the baby phase. having this photo shoot was definitely a highlight of 2019! Continue lessons with Beth and Babette This goal was met and then some! I took almost weekly dressage lessons with Beth and monthly jump lessons with Babette. Thanks to the
After a July full of dressage and jumping lessons, plus just the one little show at the crazy local fair haha, Ellie and I tried our first combined test this past weekend. I entered the introductory division, which was Intro B and tiny crossrails. This venue has an interesting indoor in that the long sides have a half wall with an aisle and row of stalls. It is a small and dark 20x40 ring inside so you are right against the half wall. The stalls were full of horses, so there was a lot of noise and activity on the other side of the half wall. And when I say half wall, it is really slightly above Ellie's head so she couldn't quite see what was making the noise. I had a feeling this would cause an issue, since the tests are all ridden in said indoor. She warmed up well and I just tried to be super nonchalant about strolling into the indoor when it was our turn, thinking she might just be super chill about it too. Yeah. Ellie was rather terrified by the indoor therefore