May the horse be with you. And June

[StraightForward]

Which mouthpiece is everyone using on the winderen? Most know Joplin can be a bit bit reactive too. The better she’s engaged though the better her acceptance but hey maybe there is a better fit for her. Right now she’s in myler wide barrel eggbutt
I had not heard of these bits untilmSF mentioned them

Mine is the double jointed. The downside is they are pretty thick. I'm not sure how much difference the mouth pieces make since the joints are fully encased within a single piece of rubber. T likes it about the same as the Bombers rubber bit, but so far I'm hopeful that it's more durable. She really likes her plaited rope Sweet Billy's bit, but I'm sure it's not dressage legal. of course it's half the price of the Winderen.

[exvet]

Which mouthpiece is everyone using on the winderen? Most know Joplin can be a bit bit reactive too. The better she’s engaged though the better her acceptance but hey maybe there is a better fit for her. Right now she’s in myler wide barrel eggbutt
I had not heard of these bits untilmSF mentioned them

I'm using the single jointed loose ring snaffle [winderen]. This bit is not interchangeable like their others. Brandon hated it but Junior absolutely loves it and he's usually not a single jointed kind of guy. I had been riding Junior in a myler wide barrel loose ring when using just a snaffle.

[exvet]

I'll be working the next 3 days so this will be it from me for a while, phew but I was downloading some of the pictures my daughter took this weekend and thought the following were interesting or something These were from the warm up areas. The first one shows an exercise I love for loosening up Junior's back - side pass.



Now this shows you the difference in riding a pony (ridden by this almost 61 year old) and the 'average' warmblood ridden by a teenager.



I think I'll keep this 'unfortunate walk' pony who supposedly doesn't belong at fourth level ........LOL......dressage is NOT linear. The unfortunate walk earned two separate '7' scores this weekend. He earned a 7 for his extended trot, 8 for one halt and, yes, some low scores mostly because we left our best in the warm up but just give us some more time

[mari]

Such great updates and videos, you guys are all awesome.

[heddylamar]

We are underway!!! Only 800+ miles to go.

All the unplanned trailer densensitization has paid off — 15 minutes of a bite or two of timothy pellet mash (with a small handful of grain to sweeten the interest), and Maia marched all the way in, shoved her face in the bucknet, and gobbled.

Of course, the moment we shut the back doors, she sat down on the butt bar and tried to force her way out. I need to somehow get her over freaking out when fully enclosed. And sedation isn’t great for her — even a slight bit freaks her out. Loading her at the vets, before the sedation fully wore off, was the beginning of our current problems.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Well I took Lynx for a check up (the plan was to inject his SI.) The vet was thrilled with the progress in his back and SI so opted to not inject. He did seem a little foot sore, despite being shod all around. No positive flexions and hoof testers didn't get a reaction. The vet thought he was just a bit body sore kind of all over still. So we added Equioxx and gave him his first shot of Zycosan(Pentosan.)

It still feels like we constantly go a few steps forward and a few steps back. I will say he consistently looks better under saddle. He had been really tense in the dressage ring for a few rides but the last few he has been ultra confident and relaxed. But yesterday he was pretty fussy in the canter with my trainer, which we've had issues with before. My trainer said she really cannot tell if it's just straight adrenaline (He feels pretty eager to her), actually discomfort or even allergies. He has had a consistent cough at the beginning of each ride for awhile. I've noticed this is a pattern with him in the summer so allergies would make sense...

But we keep making tiny steps forward... I am going to see if my farrier will add leather pads next week.

I love seeing everybody's beautiful show pictures and videos! Please keep sharing, I love seeing them so much.

[Aleuronx]

Which mouthpiece is everyone using on the winderen? Most know Joplin can be a bit bit reactive too. The better she’s engaged though the better her acceptance but hey maybe there is a better fit for her. Right now she’s in myler wide barrel eggbutt
I had not heard of these bits untilmSF mentioned them

Posted earlier, I have Kora in the Flexi Mullen loose ring. It's the mid-grade of give, they make a rigid and a super-flexi. She's happiest in a mullen, was in a HS Duo before. Jointed bits either single or 3 piece were too much for her, which I think has to do with her dutch girl mouth conformation.

Safe and uneventful travels Heddy!

Moutaineer, loved the videos and not secretly jealous of Potters turn on the haunches and ease of changes. You make a great pair, I'm sure Bredahl will have way better insight than me but I'm guessing it's due to less implusion in the trot than your canter. It looks like he's not taking you along as much in the trot than he does in the canter.

Exvet, as someone still figuring out the best new expectations show warm-up would it help to do less or no changes in the warm-up? Does Junior do better the first changes or less good the more you do? I'm at an N=5 of warm-ups and Kora definitely has a super tense and dodgy first change no matter which one and then needs to do at least 2-3 of each way to feel in the pocket with them. Just an idea. You are so right, dressage is not linear.

LSP- If Lynx is doing well then keep on doing!! Horses have a way of going against the odds in that effect. I hope you are just enjoying that handsome guy.

Our news of the day is low and behold we were Reserve Champion 3rd Level for the show! Our ribbon and tote bag prize is coming in the mail. This mare I swear has been worth the struggle. Onward!

[Chisamba]

And oh, on a happy note, I'm at my goal weight/ health. Now I just have to maintain.

You snuck this one in there very stealthily. Congrats!!!

[Moutaineer]

Amazing, Chisamba! You must feel like a million dollars!

[Moutaineer]

Aleuronx, you do have something there though I have to say it is much improved recently, at home. Trainer says it is nervous tension and I don't do it at home. The nervous tension is probably throttling Potters back as he's perfectly capable of aforward trot. I obviously need a large gin before I go down centerline!

The TOH got me everything from a 7 to a 5 over the 2 tests. I just need it to be more consistent in both directions. He has a tendency to go "I got this" and just spin away from me. We've been working on it... He does have nice changes, I think, but judges tend to think they are a bit flat. We are working on that too! (And the tendency to take over and do them where he thinks they should be done.)

[Aleuronx]

Forward is your friend! Forward keeps you safe! - the mantra in my head for the warmup

Great that you are getting that more at home, means you’ll be able to get it in a show environment soon too. I had to push myself from Sat’s ride to Sun to expect more and not just sit there to avoid rocking the boat. Why in my head that still seems the right idea I will never know. That extra impulsion makes the trot easier to sit and control the shoulders. A lesson I continue to repeat learning.

Nothing wrong with a little nip to help light the fires either if that’s your jam

I’ve had the same 5-7 swing on the TOH, 4 if we get a stuck and pivot foot, ugh. I have no idea how I am going to tighten those into walk piros but I’m sure trainer has a plan. At least I sure as hell how she does because I’m at a loss!

[Chisamba]

Loved watching the rides, I'd take an order of Koras trot and Potters canter and walk piro please.

[Kelo1]

CHISAMBA!!!!! Congrats on hitting your goal, what a huge accomplishment! I hope you feel wonderful and proud of such good work.

Exvet, Mountaineer, Aleuronx - All y'all showing look so wonderful! I really struggled showing to Axel, but loved Rogers. Ha.

I showed recently too....but just to spice things up, it was a ranch horse class at a World Show.

Now I am rusty as heck, I really haven't shown since I retired the Cowpony after competing at Grand Prix during the height of COVID, but it was close to me and I couldn't resist.

My yellow fella, I was so proud of him -- he tried very hard. He has no idea what we're doing but he was game to do it.The pattern started really well, but then we flubbed 2 of the maneuvers partway through, but then recovered. Of course with the flubs we scored poorly, but I was very proud of him.

My Cowpony, bless his 24 year old heart, was a spicy dang mcnugget once he got in the ring (he was so quiet in practice....and warmup....and then....) He practically ran off with me in the lope circles, and then he was throwing lead changes in EVERYWHERE. Important note: The pattern did not call for a single, solitary lead change anywhere in it. I almost gave up and let him do 2 tempis across the diagonal just because I already knew I was done for scoring wise, I laughed so hard at him. He's such a firecracker. I don't know if he was just enjoying being back on stage or if he was trying to tell me he wants to stay retired.

As far as dressage, the yella fella is doing GREAT getting the hang of leg yields at the canter, we were really struggling with it a few weeks ago and it's getting easier for him. I've also been doing a lot of serpentines and changing bend and moving him around, adding in counter canter.

Trying to decide if I should go to a Jeremy Steinburg clinic -- it's about 5 hours drive for me (about as close as it gets in my world). Wondering if it would be worth it expense and effort wise for the yellow horse who is basically training level. I'm almost leaning toward waiting another year, but then again maybe it would help? There's another clinic being advertised strictly for stock horses this fall, and I really want to take him to that.

[chantal]

Wow, You and Kora look great Aleuronx. And congrats!

exvet, you sit a horse so beautifully.

And awesome moutaineer!

Chisamba-you must feel amazing, I'm so happy for you.

So much work to do, and I know what a lot of it is, I just can't seem to do it consistently. Camp is put off until next week, and he will go with new dancing shoes. The vet wanted me to put hinds on him about 1 1/2 years ago. My new farrier was trying to keep him barefoot. But it is time. I'm hoping it will be non-exciting but good for him.

[Tanga]

OMG, Chisamba! Amazing! I wish I could get this slab of fat off my belly. Just, wow.

[texsuze]

Exciting news from everyone! Heddy, I thought you were already THERE! Guess I missed the flight plan memo

Chisamba what great discipline and drive you have! Mushi!

[Josette]

Chisamba - you look marvelous! Huge congratulations! Ditto - your great discipline and determination. Thank you for the motivation to shed my extra baggage.

[heddylamar]

Heddy, I thought you were already THERE! Guess I missed the flight plan memo

We had a 10-day layover at my mom's farm in Tennessee. That's quite the trek all in one go, and both of my co-drivers had some funky scheduling issues we needed to work around. But we're here now, and Maia's out with a new pasture mate, starting the intro

[StraightForward]

Chisamba, I am among the list of admirers. You look like you've lost years in addition to pounds; way to perservere!

Heddy, glad you made it safely; breaking the trip up sounds like a good way to go!

LSP, glad to hear Lynx is doing better. I hope he stays on the up and up.

Today I met up with a local trainer I've taken a few lessons from, and we did a little trail ride at the state park that's about a mile from my new barn. They are doing lots of construction out there, and some areas were too wet, so we were pretty limited on where we could ride, but made it through the under construction roundabout, down the road past the entrance kiosk, and then a loop where the vegetation gets fairly closed in, almost making a tunnel at a couple points. T took the lead and was a total boss mare, not caring a whit about the little school ponies tagging on behind. She got a little flinchy here and there, but never did a full on spook. I think she loved it, and I'm hoping we can get out again soon! If we can get solid enough to hack out alone, I'm sure a weekly jaunt in the foothills would do wonders for building her strength.

[Chisamba]

Thank you everyone. I am feeling well. Ir took long enough that i am hopeful the new habits are life long and I'll keep healthy.

Heddy, so glad to hear you are safely in your new zip code.

Exvet, how are the 4th level straight line changes going. Does he maintain tgw same level uf uphill and jump? Sonehow with rhe 3 and worse with the five by the time i finish ive dropped SAiph in her forehand, oe she had pulled me into my forehand lol.

And all of you, how do you count one two three. change, oe one two, change three.

[exvet]

Chisamba, Junior does what I think most would expect when he's getting tired. He flattens and drops on his forehand if I can't keep him forward through the progression of the changes. If he's got good energy going in and I can rock and keep him back through the corner, I can manage them if I think I'm riding to a jump as we do each change. The challenge for me isn't just the ponytude but if I lean too far back in an attempt to keep him engaged and up in front, I tend to slow down the hind end with my seat or grounding it.

As for counting I tend to do change or now -2-3, two-2-3, three-2-3 and so on

[Chisamba]

I have discovered, and I hope this helps, I need to sit tall, not back. Sitting tall allows my seat to move with the jump of the stride, sitting back stops the seat from swinging and is like hitting the brake.

[khall]

I count the same way Exvet does. Though it’s been awhile since I’ve done tempi changes. 4 s are hardest for me to count. 2 s easiest.

I tend to sit with my shoulders a bit forward in the canter with Joplin so
I have to think sit back a bit with my shoulders. Her canter is difficult to sit on. But same as chisamba sitting tall definitely helps me be more precise with my aids.

Played with changes again yesterday and Joplin is just a blast! Changes improve her canter very much so. She also is starting to anticipate the change which is really nice to have that umph to ride. I just have to keep her on my seat aids to change when I ask. That anticipation has Joplin changing on my aids promptly. L to R still a hair behind slow. R to L are lovely. So next thing is to play with the 3 rd level tests. I want to be able to take her out 3 rd next fall at the schooling show. Then work towards 4 th PSG. If I accomplish that I will look at doing recognized shows next year. Have yet to make it to WEC in Ocala which is only a 4 hour drive for me. Straight shot down I 75.

I think I’m going to order the winderen bit. Still mulling over what mouthpiece.


Stay cool for those of us in summer and happy riding all!

[Tanga]

I have discovered, and I hope this helps, I need to sit tall, not back. Sitting tall allows my seat to move with the jump of the stride, sitting back stops the seat from swinging and is like hitting the brake.

Yes. This is the way. It can also drop their back and interfere with them if you sit back!

[Moutaineer]

Well, just as well I got my scores last weekend.

Potters vs my big toe. My big toe lost. Fractured the tip, tore most of the nail off so the rest of it had to be surgically removed and the nail bed sutured.

Walking boot for 3-6 weeks.

No clinic for me next week. No shows for a while either.

Oh, and my new, nicely broken in dressage boot is trashed. Full of blood and scuffed to hell.

[khall]

Ouch mountaineer!! Jingles for quick healing and dang ! On the boots

Fun ride in the field today. We had kind of lost our trot HI because Cedar had us doing HI trot to canter so Joplin just wanted to canter. Played with it until we could do both. It’s a sloping pasture with gentle grade so it’s fun to add to the mix in the work. More straight lines used but on uneven ground. Hot though!


I did order the Winderen bit. Went with eggbutt single joint. See how Joplin likes it!

Have a great weekend all!

[StraightForward]

Ouch Moutaineer, that just sucks. And wrecked boots are just salt in the wound. Dang.

I had a nice ride with the bareback pad this morning. Had my "circle of death" set up with cavaletti, so ended the ride riding a volte around each one, with a 1/4 canter circle in between voltes. If you'd told me six months ago I'd be schooling canter exercises on T bareback, I would have said you were nuts. Tomorrow we'll work on our jumping, then set up the dressage court to practice tests for next weekend.

Also had a good workout today. Noticing that I'm getting more fit. I'm enjoying my workouts more and can run longer on the treadmill. I think it's transferring to the saddle, which is the goal.

Funny how many people are trying the Winderen bits. I inspected mine this morning and the mouthpiece does not have a single nick on it so far.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

Chisamba, what a transformation and I know how much work that was!

Mountaineer, OUCH! I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope it heals uneventfully.

SF- yay for T being such a grown up mare! That's HUGE imo.

Well I got Lynx out to get ready for a lesson. As I was getting ready to put the saddle on I noticed on the inside of his forearm was a cut (properly a kick.) I'm lunged him in front of my trainer, he actually looked fabulous, He had gotten a massage on Wednesday. But I opted to not ride, I wanted to give it at least a day to make sure it wasn't going to turn into anything. I had a horse get a bone sequestered (sliver of dead bone) so I didn't want to push it just in case!

Fingers crossed that he's looking better today. We scrubbed it wrapped it and put him on antibiotics so hopefully he will heal quickly. With how he was looking yesterday a ride on Monday doesn't seem to out there...

[mari]

Moutaineer ouch! Jingles for healing.

The vet was out again on Wednesday for a penis check-up. To my nearly teary relief everything looked so much better. So much better that she decided not to biopsy. But this was an expensive month.

Saturday we had a lovely play-around ride, and he felt so good that I played a bit with a 6-loop serpentine with changes. He was game and gave it a good try, and aside from the second one being late behind, it rode so nicely.
https://youtu.be/Fn50lE3jDrc

Ffwd to this morning's lesson, which was a completely different horse. About pulled my arms off the whole ride, pushing his whole body through my legs and hands. I'm ashamed to say it actually turned into a fighting ride. It is very very rare for me to lose my temper on a horse, and this morning was an ugly ride.

[exvet]

Chisamba, you look absolutely fabulous.

Moutaineer, I hope you're already starting to feel better.

mari, I'm glad all is well from a horse health perspective. I'm also very jealous of the air time you get in the canter

I too had a lesson yesterday morning, well actually two. We had my instructor just hold a lunge whip. It was amazing how much more Junior's efforts were regarding everything - more air time, more engagement, more commitment and she never even tried to send it towards him. She just drug it around. We did do some piaffe work where she used it a little but just the sight of it was inspiration enough. I might have my daughter just carry one around at the next schooling show to see if Junior continues to show more incentive LOL.

I took a western dressage lesson on Brandon. I must say that I'm probably going to stick with classical dressage once he's sold; but, he was definitely a different horse.

[Chisamba]

OH NO! moutaineer that is not good, for toe or boot.

Exvet, western dressage didnt apoeal? What size horse would you consider? I know of a not overly tall Gaudi ( totilas) 3 year old who is quite fancy. I can send you a video.

LSP i had absutely zero response to the zycosan. Way less than the old much cheaper pentosan. What did you think?

Mari, glad news was good.

Khall, i find lost " tricks" come back with just a bit of focus.

Someone tell me why everyone is trying the winderen?

Thx

[blob]

Chisamba, you look fantastic and your change is pretty inspiring.
Hope you feel better, Mountaineer.
Exvet-- MM is SUPER responsive to a ground person, so much so that my trainer doesn't even have to hold a whip, he can just stand in the middle of the arena and lift her finger and she gives 50% more in whatever we're doing.

Well, RP and i headed to our show this past weekend amidst a truly brutal heat wave. We got a lesson with my trainer at the show grounds on Friday after over a year of not working with him. It was productive, and helpful and has given me homework to come back with. A lot of it was focused on helping him find his own balance rather than depend on me.

On Saturday, I had two dysfunctional warm-ups before my tests (1-3 twice). In the morning I didn't give myself enough time and in the afternoon I ended up with more time than I needed so I walked a lot but still wasn't ideal. Both tests felt a bit disorganized and I didn't have RP quite where I wanted him. But 68% on both, so I was happy with the score.

Sunday I was again riding 1-3 twice. And again i had a totally dysfunctional warm up. RP came out hot, but it was also very HOT so I didn't want to do too much, but he felt like he probably just needed to canter for 5 minutes (I did not do this). I tried to do a bunch of transitions and walk lateral work to keep him busy and burn some of his energy, but he ended up just getting really fussy and then didn't want me to touch his face. Yet, somehow, once we went down the centerline, he was also business and got straight to work. We ended up with a 71% with a lovely final comment from the judge: "Love you two! Great harmony, lovely turn out." I ended up scratching my second ride of that day. It was so hot and it didn't seem like there was much i wanted or needed to change/improve without some time at home to work on it.

In general, low-lights of the tests were leg yields. Trot lengthening also need work. Much to my delight, canter work were highlights in the test and I got a handful of 8s in the canter work across the 3 rides. So, back to work, but with lots of optimism.

[exvet]

Congratulations Blob that's pretty impressive.

Chisamba, I'm a fan and not a fan of western dressage. I love my western saddle for backing the babies; but, not to really develop feel and use of my seat. As for new prospects, I really would prefer to stay 15.3 or lower and even 15.3 is a little higher than I prefer.

[StraightForward]

Blob, way to go! I know you were feeling unprepared, and it sounds like it was tough with the heat. Then throw in that you've been struggling with RPs canter and pulled 8's on the canter work is awesome!

Chisamba, T has made it clear that she does not like metal bits. I decided to get a Winderen because they are advertised as being chew-proof. I started out with a Bomber's rubber bit but it got pretty chewed up after about six months. They are also unique because the mouthpieces can be changed out on the D or eggbutt styles, and there are different levels of flexibility or joints, but fully encased in rubber, no exposed metal like a jointed Happy Mouth.

[Aleuronx]

Nice work and some really solid scores blob! It's a nice feeling when you turn down centerline and the horse clicks in.

Moutaineer, condolences on your poor foot and boots. Stitches there sounds dreadful. Time for some stirrup-less work!

Aww Mari, he's working so well for you. Those last 2 changes were just lovely. Glad to hear that his vet check-up went well, better to have an expensive month then a REALLY expensive month. But I get it.

Another great and fun lesson yesterday with trainer at another facility/clinic format. Kora did so well to handle being cat-called by the resident older stallion and 4 yr old stallion from their stalls opposite the indoor where we rode. Lots of noise out of them, not a peep from her thank god! We worked on control of the angle in the half-pass both trot and canter as well as adding some oophm to it. When we get the positioning steady and good it's time to ask for more reach and cadence. My core was screaming and then we had to touch on the changes. So excited that we are onto next steps from the short diagonals to straight down centerline/quarterline and change. Holy crap is it hard but so, so good. We got the BEST change of our life from it. Stops me from pulling willy nilly on the reins and allows her to change and continue on. Exercise added to the homework stack with comment if that becomes in hand then do a change at L and then I.

Trainer said changes from here will take a year to get within total control and move to counted efforts. I've got time. We're so in it now.

[Flight]

Chisamba, I'm so envious!! You look amazing. I just cannot seem to put myself on diet and lose weight. Well done.

Mountaineer, Potters has a decent spook in him! Well sat. Nice tests too, I think you both look great. Sorry to hear about the toe. Bloody hell, that would have hurt.
Love seeing everyones photos and vids. Chantal, Mikey does look super fancy so does Kora, Aleuronx. She looks to have filled out and looks really steady in her work.
Mari, glad his willy is ok. He's got good changes hasn't he, can get some good expression.
Blob, congrats they are good scores!
I'm missing heaps to remark on but enjoy reading everyone's updates.

I've been .... trail riding! Honestly, it's been fun. Really good group of people. Just out enjoying riding without the pressure of competing. I do have a comp next month (working eq) so I've been doing some training for that too.

IMG_0857.jpg (64.98 KiB) Viewed 28517 times

[Chisamba]

I had my friend Jackie video a minute or so of Aletta today mostly for self evaluation but i dint think you all have seen her, have you?

https://youtube.com/shorts/5rn8Vuk6LI8? ... SIjLaz5V41

[Chisamba]

No one loves my baby girl, lol ??.

As june draws to a close i cannot say that i have accomplished any of my goals, but that just adds to my conviction that dressage is the journey, not the destination. Looking forward to the July thread.
Saiph, we do have an uphill change, one. I still lose the balance the more we do.

Kimba her canter is nicer but i haven't tried the changes again

Flei, all kinds of repeat problems with pain recurring on his old wither injury which seems to be more significant than i realized.

Really happy with the temperament and minor progress of Aletta.

[Moutaineer]

She's a good girl, Chisamba! She looks willing and like she's listening to you. Its going to be interesting to see how she develops as she grows up and gets stronger. Looks like you've got a nice one to play with!

So, I had a phone call last week. Some years ago I took on a 9 year old more or less unstarted appy, half brother of the wonderful Walker. I had him for a year or so, worked hard to turn him into a solid citizen under saddle but he always was a reluctant loader. I sold him with full disclosure to someone who wanted to trail ride around their property and home vicinity. They in fact did nothing with him and for 5 years he babysat their cows and hung out running the farm. Then they sold him on to a teenager, apparently, and I lost touch with him.

Last week I got a call from a guy up in Northern Utah. Someone had traded him this "big, mean appy that scared his grandson" for a quiet old mare. He said he looked in the trailer and saw this big, handsome, very angry horse and something made him say yes. He still had his papers with him, which is how his new owner found me. He appears to be a cowboy/trainer general western horseman and probably a bit of a dealer.

Once he got him off the trailer, he calmed down and has been a pretty good boy ever since, apparently. He's been riding him and handling him for about a month and really likes him. He's playing around with trailer loading, too.

For some reason, that horse has been on my mind recently, so its a great relief to know he's landed in an appropriate home with someone who understands his appy personality, and that i can keep an eye on him from afar (new owner is a Facebook over-sharer.) I hope he's
got a spot for life there. He's 18 now. Looks good and is apparently sound and healthy

[blob]

Wow, Mountaineer--a great story. Glad to hear he's in a great place.


Here's closeout

Me
Find time to ride in May
Exercise when not riding
Eat healthy on the road

MM
Ensure she gets ridden even when i'm traveling/not able to Did a good job of this in May, less great in June
Add in more jump/pole days
Add in more focused dressage days
Start playing with some WE exercises

RP
Get hind shoes on just done this week, so let's see how he feels
Show in June
Work on FC prep exercises considering how little I rode, I'm ok with this
Get in a lesson or two Only got in one, but calling a win just the same!

[khall]

I’m wrapping up June hosting a WE clinic in the blazing heat. Been a bit difficult to get participants for various reasons but we are a go now. I do ride early so at least it won’t be horrendous.

Then who knows. Georgia hot humid summer. Bleh

Chisamba Aletta is just lovely!

[Aleuronx]

Section Goals:
Improve the activity of TOH Feel like we are getting these! Scored some good 7's on both in tests
Consistency of the changes and dip toes into tempis Work in process, getting to the dipping toes part soon
4-5 Lessons w/Trainer Ding! We are getting it done and having a great time doing it.
Score 63%+ at 3rd 3 (Sport predicate and freestyle qual...) Big ding for these! Scored over 63% each time out. Sport Predicate sent in and freestyle in design phase.

Not a bad way to end the section ticking off each goal. I've added in running with the coaching feature on my Garmin watch and have been sticking with it. Excited to get to dance for the first time with a freestyle with Kora next month, fingers crossed the music gets completed in time. Only bummer is my Pivo bit the dust this morning so might be looking to replace it.

[StraightForward]

Moving barns on Saturday. We're going to a jump schooling show Saturday morning and we'll see how I handle the 2'6". I know T can handle it just fine.
The following weekend I signed up for 1st-2 and 2nd-1 at a schooling show.

Goals:
See where having a flatter arena leads us.
Get into a new routine since the drive to the barn is farther with more traffic to deal with.
Possibly show recognized in June. Probably need to decide pretty soon. Overall goal would be to get ready for July recognized show, but it all hinges on our canter work.
Maybe go cross-country schooling.
Like Chisamba and others - ride with more Oomph, more engagement and self-carriage on my part.

I didn't really do any of this, but I'm not sad I did, however, start riding in a BB pad, and feel like in general we've made some good progress, and are getting back in the groove with a new barn

Today was the first show we actually made it to and rode in this year. T acted like an old pro. The judge was someone I used to take occasional lessons from, and I was the last rider, so she came down and we chit-chatted for probably 45 minutes while T just stood patiently and had a nice nap.

First-2 we had a solid test. Got a little discombobulated at the beginning of the left lead canter. I think I abandoned my inside leg and she leaned in through the corner, so went into our 15 m circle out of balance, so we got a 5.5 there, and a 5 for a late T/W transition, and ended on a 69.09, which is a PB for both of us. I then went straight back in for 2-1. I felt T getting a little aggravated and stuck, so we did some big loose trot before entering, and had a pretty happy test. There we got dinged with 4.5s for our free walk and RB, but also got several 8's. Then I was so focused on my canter volte that I forgot what to do next, and trotted before getting back on course. I guess the judge was happy to be done, because my sheet had no collectives and final score, but with the collective marks from our first level test, we would have landed at 69 again, with room to clear 70 by fixing a couple mistakes.

So that was a nice way to cap a rather hectic couple of months. Tomorrow we'll go do the little jumps at a barn she's never been to, then Monday morning we have a lesson.

[Moutaineer]

Congrats on a good show, SF. You've worked so hard and done such a good job with her.

[Moutaineer]

The plan here is to head for a schooling show in a couple of weeks to kick off the season, then I'm off on vacation to Sicily for a couple of weeks.

Once we get back I will have less than 2 weeks to get it together to do our first recognized shows of the year, so, less pasta, more walking while we are away!

I'll just be doing 3.1 at these shows.

Towards the end of June, I have a clinic ride with Charlotte Bredahl, which should be fun.

I did all of these except the clinic before I got hurt. I was sad to miss the clinic, but at least we managed to replace me so I wasn't out the money! But the 3 show days went very well and I got my bronze scores. We continued to work on the shoulder-in and half pass with improved results, but I'm not entirely happy with them yet. So once I am back in the saddle, they will be a focus. Its me not him.

We did manage to incorporate a lot more boldness and forwardness in our work. We actually got a 7 for our extended canter from Axel Steiner which was something of a highlight. The medium and extended trots are much better at home, which i think is a function of my competition tension combined with not such good footing. Something else to work on.

Overall very happy with what we did achieve in a pretty small riding window, what with vacation and injury.

[StraightForward]

Congrats on a good show, SF. You've worked so hard and done such a good job with her.

Thanks! She was a total rockstar at the jumping show this morning too. They were running about an hour behind, so we had a couple warmups followed by standing around the in gate, and she totally woke up and went right to work when we went in. There was music, dogs, kids, and a judge's table with a patio umbrella in the middle of the arena, so dressage shows should be a cakewalk by comparison. I think she liked watching all the activity.

Glad you made so much progress with Potters this go-round, so bummed for you that you're sidelined with an injury

Chisamba, I'm looking forward to watching your new girl develop. She is cute but I know you'll transform her!

Aleuronx, great job on the running!

[heddylamar]

We've made zero progress the past two months ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I did ride a good bit before leaving San Antonio. Then Maia was a giant, explosive nutball during our two-week layover at Mom's farm, so we just did some groundwork.

The second half of trailering went much smoother with five new trailer tires, new shocks on the truck, and, still, no parking brake

We didn't get her happily in the trailer before 9 AM on Monday, so we just fed her in three meals (including a bonus lunch) in the trailer. Tuesday morning she walked right in for breakfast, and we were on the road within 15 minutes

900 miles later, Maia staggered off the trailer, and my truck chose that moment to inform us that it had sprung a leak. The guys who put the new exhaust manifold on drilled too far, right into the engine block The Texas mechanic is covering the cost of a new rebuilt engine.

Maia's settled in nicely to the new place, and is finally out with her full herd after a week of Mean Girls re-enactment. I'm planning to finally get on her Tuesday morning.

I love all the updates Mari, Aleuronx, exvet, Straightforward, Tanga, Flight, lips ... I'm sure I'm forgetting someone! Ouch, Mountaineer! And what a cutie, Chisamba! I like how open and forward Aletta is — she's going to be fun.

[Lipsmackerpony88]

SF, It's pretty awesome hearing how grown up T is becoming. I know it has not been an easy road with her. Good job!

Heddy, traveling is tough!! I'm glad that Maia is now settling in!

Congratulations Chisamba!

Lynx got kicked last week, We are fighting an onset of proud flesh (So far I think it's moving in the right direction.)

He got the weekend off except for a free lunge,
He was positively wild during that lol. But today during my lesson he was more sluggish. It's very unusually humid here right now It even though it was 10:00 in the morning we still felt it. He felt like he wanted to just be behind the leg and find things to spook at BUT I'm really happy that was really easily worked through and we had a pretty productive ride.

We did have some trouble with leg yield going to the right. He just didn't feel like he wanted to respond to my left leg and wanted to kind of twist his head in the bridle. We brought him back down to the walk got the leg yield there and it was better when we tried again. Right now his left side is his weaker side and it's also my weaker side. My left shoulder has always been weaker but now after my car accident I'm definitely noticing weakness in my left calf So it's possible that it was all on me issue.

He gave me some beautiful shoulder in at the walk both directions though.

Still not sure about my saddle since I got it fitted. I need to experiment with some things but I might just be calling the saddle fitter back out... Because that's something that happens with both me and my trainer so it's not my body. Maybe Lynx...

Last dose of Zycosan is next week. After that I'll report back and see if we saw any differences...