3/13/13 Lesson

Aaaah... we had another awesome lesson yesterday!

Gertie is becoming more consistent each time I take her out of her stall. Some days she is a bit more fresh or slower than others--but she tends to get to work really well and is rather serious about it.

I think she knew we were jumping again as she had SO much GO GO GO and was tough to pull up. She'd throw herself on the forehand and try to drag me around the arena and course. Definitely more of a challenge. She loves to jump and I appreciate her enthusiasm, it's nice when it doesn't take much to keep her in front of my leg. Stinker just wanted to plow through. It was a really good challenge though and we worked through all of our mistakes and fixed them. I'm not as hard on myself as I used to be, it's a learning experience. Like my trainer said, it's always going to be rainbows and butterflies, lol. It's true though. We are not always going to be perfect; get the perfect distance and perfect round every time. There are probably going to be numerous times where I put us in a shitty spot and we need to learn how to get through and over them together. There were other riders (not from my barn) in the arena while I was having my lesson--who were not paying attention. Good challenge, although very irritating.

She really listens to my body well and when I make a mistake, she lets me know, lolol. Had two stops and a rail at the vertical. All were my fault of course. With her being more challenging, I was hanging on my reins to the jump instead of letting her do her thing, not keeping leg on, and just being controlling with the bit of fighting we were doing. The rail was just a whole heaping mess from the start. Came to the crossrail hanging on my reins, cantered to the vertical and I gave enough leg to get her to add the stride instead of taking it long.....while at the same time I threw my body over the jump at the last minute, unbalancing her, catching her in the mouth, ugh. Just ugly and bad. Don't worry, it's on video so you can see it.

First refusal was the hanging. Second refusal, I wasn't using my core and thigh/leg on her to push her forward, hung on my reins, and she said... "No. Don't think so, Mom." I definitely know better. Don't know what it is, but it's definitely been a struggle to get back into proper riding form, especially for jumping. Granted, I never really had much formal training at all; mostly self-taught. I know that even for being self taught, I did a pretty darn good job with myself and with Gertie's training so far--but I wish I had sought out a better trainer and stuck with it when I was younger. Sometimes, it makes me wonder how much better and how much further I could be as a serious and competitive rider.

Anyway, there's no point in looking back, it is what it is. Gertie and I have a very bright future ahead of us and it's wise to look over the fence to the next jump instead of what we've already been over this round.

But we ended this lesson on a two really good notes. Super proud! The two verticals were only about 2'6, thankfully we didn't do the 2'9 or 3' we did last week and the week prior. It was good for us to stick to this height as we were working on the flat stuff--which is more important.

I have scheduled a Dressage lesson for tomorrow. I have no Dressage stirrups for this and am too lazy to put the ones from my CC onto the Dressage saddle---so should be interesting and possibly painful.

I do have to say, I have been working really hard on keeping my left (bad) leg in the proper position and using it more effectively; it is really paying off. She responds much better to my body now that I have really paid better attention to it. I've also been riding three other horses, two of which are much more sensitive to the rider's body. It has helped SO much to get a better feel and understanding what I am doing wrong when on my own horse. Breaking those habits :D Very proud of myself.

My awesome friends came out to watch and got some pictures and video :)
 

                               
                                                            Video... click on it ^

Feb 27 & March 6 Lesson

Okay promise, short and sweet. It should be easier to do so anyway since I have no pics or video. Hubby is home but... yeah, didn't come out. But I wish he had!

Been working on straightness and it is really starting to show and pay off. Today and last week's lesson we did a bit more jumping. I felt great with my body and Gertie felt great under me. Seriously, like butter.

We did this line last week, except the blue and white was the cross-rail and the green and white was the vertical:

Perfectly straight before, in-between, and after the jumps--cantering away nicely! Last week we ended the lesson at 2'9, the highest Gertie has ever jumped and she did it as though it were nothing! So proud of my girl.

Today, we worked on the same thing as last week. Just the other direction (the picture above is from today and we were, obviously, going from the cross-rail to the blue and white. But, then we added in the red/yellow/blue "arizona flag" jump as well). And today was even better! Although, we did have two stops at the cross-rail when she got distracted by a loud horse trailer being hauled in. Lost her mind for a bit, but she did come back to me. She was super and perfectly straight in our lines. My legs have gotten MUCH better and more even. It certainly feels like I'm hugging her evenly and comfortably on both sides. I just cannot get over how smooth it is all feeling. It's all coming together so well! Today, we ended at 3' --highest so far and she did it with no more effort than if it was 2' or 2'6"... such a good, good girl <3 So good and so willing. Don't tell anyone, but she's maturing! Shhh!

We have a Dressage and a Jumping lesson next week, then not sure the week following. We are doing an Event Derby (schooling XC derby) the 23rd and 24th-- Chicken Little (2' and smaller) and Beginner Novice (2'9" and smaller)... should be a fun experience!

Dressage Show Debut!

A little late in writing this... the show was Feb 16th, haha.

Gertie has been quite the busy little spotted bee lately!

First the Julie Goodnight TV show filming and now her very first Dressage show! My first Dressage show too It was the first local schooling show of the season and we have been looking forward to it for quite a while! I decided to keep things as simple as possible so she wouldn't have too much to concentrate on. We did USDF Intro Level A and B; Test of Choice: Intro B (again--which ended up being our second round).

We got there suuuper early. We trailered to the farm with one of my best friends and Gertie's best friend; their ride times were earlier than ours as they did Training level. It was her mare's first Dressage show too! Gertie was a hot mess for a while, acting a fool and forgetting her ground manners. I turned her out in a pen for three hours and she carried on like a psychotic little spotted monkey -_-

During our warm up, she continued to act like a psychotic spotted monkey. I couldn't stop laughing as she crow hopped and bopped all over. Made her work hard and bend, doing fig. 8s and serpentines until her mind was better focused.

Went right into the ring like a pro and she did pretty good! The judge was rather tough, but good!

Intro Level Test A: 58% -- a lot of 6s, a few 5 and 5 1/2s, one 4 (broke into canter--I believe I accidentally brushed her with my spur) and her further remarks: "cute horse, work for a steadier more relaxed connection, straighter on long sides." We placed 3rd out of 7.

Intro Level Test B (TOC): 64% (which is awesome--she was hardly giving folks anything above 67% I believe?? Not sure what the highest score was of the day)--a lot of 6.5s and 7s with one 5.5. She started evading the bit here/going btv but we got the 5.5 on the free walk--more consistent relaxed stretch. Further remarks: "cute energetic horse. Work for a steadier connection; often props too poll low and curls BTV" which is true and we have been working on. I have to really push her with my core to pop her out of it. But this ride felt FANTASTIC!! Still good basic things to work on but all in all I am very happy with it. There was one other gal who did Intro Level Test B TOC but do not believe they did placings anyway. Doesn't matter, it was a good ride!

Here is a link to the video of that ^ ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbpbStAUwhw

Intro Level Test B: 57%-- one 4 (my fault--was not straight down centerline and she was fidgeting), a lot of 6.5s, some 6s and 5.5s. This one was just not as great--she fought me the whole way. I don't think she would have if I hadn't ridden by the exit, lol. As soon as we went by it (not in the ring but as we were about to start) she started throwing a fit, thinking we were done. Tensed up, started sucking back and just being a jerk; not paying attention at all. LOL she was clearly DONE, but we still finished it and I was still happy. Her further remarks: "still some tension, but a little steadier in connection; not so behind the vertical this time." We placed 5th out of 10.

I know it's *just* a schooling show, but it IS a big deal to me and a milestone for her/us. Most of you know I've had her since she was 6 months old and have done all of her training all on my own. She's the first horse I've trained from ground up and am incredibly proud of her and of myself. She surprises me at every turn and I love her so very, very much.

We accomplished every goal I had set.

1. Good and consistent geometry (I seriously thought our 20m circles would look like eggs, lol)
2. No crow hopping or bucking in the ring; no taking off
3. No spooking at the judge and the tent she'd be under
4. Don't die
5. Breathe
6. Smile big

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbpbStAUwhw



Pics thanks to my hubby and BFF!

2/13/13 Lesson

Today, I rode like shiiiiiit.

"Bad Habit Wednesday" is what I am calling it. Seriously, it felt like I just could not get my shit together. I'm not being too hard on myself or anything, but I sure was a bit disappointed in myself, lol. Pulling on my inside rein more than usual again, not keeping inside legs on, not sitting up tall... I couldn't even get my darn horse to pick up the correct lead to the left -_-

I thought it would be a good idea to start off with my stirrups at Dressage length. I haven't done that in sooo long, my thighs were on FIRE. Literally. On top of that, Gertie had NO "go" this morning. It took so much of my thigh and seat to try to get her in front of my leg, SO lazy! By the time we started working on the crossrail, she still didn't wake up. Put my stirrups up and OMG they hurt. I was spent; hadn't worked that hard riding in quite some time.

At least she went really well in her new bit, lol. Maybe too well -_- But, at least maybe she'll be quiet and good for the show this Saturday?!????? Just not THIS quiet, man. She REALLY made me work! But we have some good homework to keep working on and hopefully by our next lesson we (I) will have improved some. Keeping my OUTSIDE rein stronger/back, outside leg on, INSIDE LEG on to push her ribs into the turn--keeping that outside leg on to keep her butt from swinging out, and bumping and softening the inside rein. We will work a little bit on this tomorrow and go for a nice hack. Give her a break under saddle some. Or work on this out on the trail. That will be good for her brain.

Then I rode Charm. Who made me work just as hard. That pesky little Morab can sure throw a tantrum! But in the end, she behaved herself.

I...............   am so tired.

2/6/2013 Lesson

I want to make this a "short and sweet" kind of post, but I doubt that will ever happen. I can seem to condense what I want or need to say in any small form. There has been something on my mind that I wanted to talk about, but I think I may just come back to that another time. It's a good subject and one that every rider *should* be able to relate to.

Anyway, today's lesson was GREAT! Worked a little bit on the flat, getting that nice bend going on our circles and making sure I don't let her haunches drift to the outside. She's got that big ol' apple bottom booty, it's not becoming of a lady to be swinging that thang all over the place. It does not attract the right kind of attention... if you know what I mean ;) Maybe if she was workin' the streets, but no. Not allowed. Unless she wants to work the streets to pay for shows, I'll reconsider.

She was just fantastic today! Was a little lazy, had to really work to keep her forward and in front of my leg. Pointed her at our first "jump" (two trot poles then a small oxer) and she was confused, hahaha, when we got to the oxer she didn't stop but I could feel her go, "wait... OH! Jump. Okay I'm awake now." I couldn't stop laughing at her reaction. We hadn't jumped a little course like today in a while. Poor thing was still slightly asleep, but when she realized we were jumping, it really woke her up and she became much more forward. Did trot poles of three, turned left--worked on bending in that turn, then bend with another left turn towards our diagonal line. She was much easier to keep straight these days. Two trot poles, she had a hard time figuring out her feet there..she would slow down and it kept throwing me off; I would have to REALLY use my thigh to push her forward while she's looking down at the poles, trying to figure it out, then we're right there at the oxer--sit and really push her forward and over it. The poles really slowed her down (as my trainer said they're supposed to; keep her paying attention to her feet) and OMGosh I had to use so much core, thigh and leg to keep the energy going. But she went over it every time like such a good mare. She is so quiet now and cantered away each time nicely. No pulling, no rushing, I love her. She popped me out of the tack a few times, lol, but it's okay. I tried to just stay up and out of her way to figure herself out for the most part. After doing that line a few times, we added a gate jump on an outside line. She was super to that each time as long as I kept up a good canter tempo. Then after doing those two, we added in a flower box to the other outside. LOLOLOL had her trot to it first and she stopped. Not a dirty "AH" type of stop. More like a .... "trot, trot, trot. trooot..trrroooot....trooooot... waaaalk *me trying to push her back into our trot* waaaalk...oh lets sniff the flowers." -_-  Let her sniff them and check them out as if she's never seen or jumped the flower box before. Circled her and came back at it... popped right on over it :D SUCH A GOOD MARE. Put it all together and worked on that for a bit. Our last round was just fantastic. She got her footing better to the first jump, the oxer felt so smooth and balanced, cantered away quietly and continued onto the outside gate, cantered away quietly from it to the flower box... smooth as butter. I love my horse. She is really becoming a broke thing <3

Another lesson next week then our first Dressage (schooling) show that weekend! Super excited. I'm certain she will be a bit silly, but she seems to come down and quiet fairly easy. We are doing Intro A and B, Test of Choice: Intro B. I thought of doing C and I am certain she would do just fine, for her first Dressage show at a completely new place, I felt it best to keep it simple.

I also decided to cut down on the amount of time she is ridden per week. We have been working so hard the last five months and I do not want her to get burned out with work. Currently being ridden and worked 4-5 times a week (one of them a lesson day), she is not in any heavy competition to be needing that kind of work load. So, I am cutting it back down to 2-3 times a week. I'm now starting to ride a few other horses at my barn and that will be good for me, give me some more time in the saddle with different horses and it will give Gertie more time off. While riding or working the other horses, I plan to turn her out for at least 30min until as long as I can (if no one else needs the round pens and the barn isn't busy--I don't want to be inconsiderate to others) to just be a horse and have some down time. She has earned it with how hard and how good she has been working. I do not want her to become sour to work and riding. I want her to continue to enjoy it and have fun. This is me putting myself in check for the well-being of my horse.

Oh and a few ladies at the barn and myself have started yoga. AH MAH GAHSH!!! It was awesome but man am I sore. I knew I was really tight in a lot of areas, but now I can actually touch my toes! Haven't been able to do that since middle school, hahahhaahaha!! Totally worth it and I feel much better. We plan to go again next week and I plan to continue going at least once a month. Hubby also wants to go when he gets back from this deployment. I think it's a great idea. I already felt great riding the last few days. Good reminder that I was not as in shape as I thought I was -_-

Dressage Lesson

Since we had quite a bit of rain lately, the only arenas we had to work in were the covered arena (where we do not have jumps set up--we have two other uncovered arenas designated for that) or the Dressage arena. I've been going back and forth in each while riding the last few days, but today we had a flat lesson working on our Dressage in our Dressage arena. I believe this is a first for us :) Dressage lesson IN the Dressage arena, haha.

Gertie has been a bit of a fresh pill the last few days. Crow hopping, spooking, bucking, rushing at the gaits, or sucking back/evading the bit.. just a turd. She is typically pretty darn good during our lessons (figures--but I do usually ride her the two days before my lesson) and today was no exception. So proud of her!

We worked in our 20m circles and getting me to use my inside thigh more to keep her bending to the outside rein. I feel a lot stronger than I was a few months ago and it was much easier to maintain this correctly.

Having ridden bareback for so long a while ago, I have been rather self conscious about slipping back into a chair seat if I bring my left leg forward (I tend to let it slip back--I over-exaggerate it out of concern that if I put it where it *needs* to be, that I will let my body go into chair seat). My trainer reassured me by saying that I am no where near going into a chair seat. I mean, I know I sit much better, keeping my pelvis/hip angle much more open, sitting more on my butt bones than I ever used to--it's just that mental block that has gotten to me. Once she said that, I felt like I could let that worry go and it then became easier to keep my leg where it needs to be to encourage my horse to continue forward.

It was good work! Using my core doesn't hurt now that I have built up the strength to actually use it. It doesn't take as much work as it used to and I don't feel like I am going to die after a few minutes. I can keep going longer before needing a break. Go me! Really proud of myself :) We kept decently straight and our canter was smooth as BUTTER! Man, she felt fabulous.

Gertie is so round and supple in the bit we have been using, I really need to find one like it for her and our Dressage shows. The Myler I want, I can't get or find it in the size that I need. I was going to get the one with hooks anyway, but decided I may as well get it w/o the hooks so I can use it in all shows. BUT it doesn't come in 4.75. Normally she takes a 5" but the Myler seems to run a tad big -_- just my luck. So I basically have no choice but to get the one WITH hooks. Not a big deal, other than I can't use it at Dressage shows. Though, looking through the USEF 2013 rulebook (may have just kept overlooking this), I cannot find where it says hooks being prohibited. I am certain it is not allowed, I just cannot find it.

Bleh. Anyway!

TV Star!! SUPER Long Blog

I think I may have forgot to blog about this???

Early in December, my friend Jim sent me a link about an equine TV show looking for cast members. I had heard of Julie Goodnight before and seen a few of the segments on tv a few times, and decided to go ahead and submit an application. We were accepted maybe a week later, super excited! My friend Becky and her horse Ballistyx were also accepted! We are both at the same barn and ride with the same trainer, typically we have our lessons together as well. So it was perfect.

I didn't say much of anything to anyone until a few days before filming the show (Wed. and Thurs of this week) because I didn't want to jinx anything.

ANYWAY. First we had our cast members meeting the Sunday before and got a bunch of free stuff! A new, low profile, Troxel helmet --which is actually pretty awesome! I've always disliked Troxel because they gave you the huge mushroom head and I never found their helmets to fit properly or comfortably. Well, they've finally stepped up their game and came out with a new line. Low profile, like my coveted Ovation helmet, and they fit rather snug and comfortably. I actually really like this helmet. Going to save my Ovation for shows and just use the Troxel for lessons and schooling shows. It's nice knowing I have a backup helmet too. And they're not expensive either. We also got two huge Himalayan salt blocks, a 30 days supply of Cosequine's hoof supplement (!!!), coupons, a knife, a shirt, two hats, and some other stuff.

Tuesday afternoon we loaded the kids up and off we went to White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Arizona--the location of our filming. They settled in fabulously.

The next morning, I get there a little after 7am to find that our bale of grass hay we had left... was GONE. No one had mentioned that there were FREE RANGE CATTLE out there and those bastards ate the ENTIRE bale of hay. So I had NO grass hay to feed them that morning. I had a few flakes of alfalfa, so I tossed it to them to tide them over. Luckily, a ranch worker came to water the arena and I told him what happened and he kindly replaced the bale of hay. So, our starving ponies wouldn't go hungry. Man, I was pissed, lol. I mean, it's funny and it's not at the same time. I was livid.

Becky and I waited around for a while and people finally started showing up around 830 to set up and then go over/film another person's segment. Not sure what time I went, but tacked Gertie up and waited around some more. She was dressed pretty in her pink saddle pad and I had on khaki breeches and a light pink top.

We went into the arena when it was our turn and rode around to warm her up and get her used to the new place. She was bucking, crow hopping, and just plain being silly. It was okay though! I didn't mind, she's young and was feeling good to show off. She did spook at the cattle chute, which I found hysterical. Walked her up to it and let her sniff it. I made a loud noise to scare her and she jumped, let her sniff again and made the noise again, little jump...and then she was over it.

Now, before I continue, A little back story. Gertie has been in a full cheek single joint snaffle with a slow twist for the past 8 months, or so, for good reason. But since she has gotten to the point where we no longer need that bit, I have moved her into a aurigan eggbutt copper mouth double joint with a lozenge. She had been ridden in that for a week (right before the show) and has done super in it. No evading, not pulling on my hands or relying on me to hold her up, no chomping; really seemed to like it.

Well, for the show, they had sent out emails and reminders over the last few months and one of the notes said to not change the horse's bit before the show. So with that in mind, I went ahead and put her slow twist back in the day of, even though we hadn't used it in a week. She was instantly unhappy with it. Was behind the vertical and evading the bit or would pull on my hands or try to rush at her gaits, and we would fight every few steps--which she hardly ever did previously. Instantly I realized it was too much for her now. I explained to Julie that she hadn't done this with the slow twist (much) before AND included why it had been used previously, what I changed to (the coppermouth Aurigan) and been riding her in the last week and my reasons why.

Julie also got on Gertie and we talked about similar things we felt. So we switched bits. I did bring the aurigan bit with me but it was a pain to go get it, so she had her crew bust out one of their Myler bits. INSTANT change in Gertie. She accepted it, no chomping, no angry face, nothing. As soon as I got on her, she was FANTASTIC. If she tried to evade, I just gave her a good push with my leg and core and BOOM, right into my hands, round, right up into the bridle. And she stayed that way. Put her away, then took her out again later for practice and she was SO much happier. Soft, willing, supple and she moved SO much better in my hands. A lot less correction and she responded to my body even better as well.

Julie had us work on lateral flexion. Standing, holding the reins at the buckle with one hand, reaching as far as I could with the other to grab the rein and slowly bring it back towards the pommel..and leaving it there, letting Gertie learn to give to the pressure. Releasing the rein entirely when she did. Then, the other side. After that, we walked and she had me slowly pick up the reins and slowly add contact to her mouth, releasing as soon as she would give to the pressure. Just simple, simple and basic things; things I used to do with her.

Day2, we were first up so I saddled her and went to warm up. She was fantastic the whole time. Julie had a hard time (day 1) figuring out what she wanted to do with our segment. She had said that I knew what I was doing and didn't need much direction or tips from her. Which is super nice to hear, but honestly, a tad bit disappointing to me. I mean, it let me know that I was definitely doing great things and on the right track with Gertie's training (thanks in good part to my own trainer--who has really helped us improve over the last 4.5 months!), but was hoping for a bit more insight. But, that means that I wasn't a screw up as much as I thought I was, lmao!

I learned SO MUCH through this.

Most important being: DO NOT FORGET TO GO BACK TO YOUR BASICS. I should be doing the most basic things with her (lateral flexion) all the time. I have always known I set my expectations high for Gertie, and it was another reminder that even though Gertie is a very fast learner and a very smart horse, that she is still a baby, still young, and keeping on with our basics is incredibly important. No matter how far we advance.

Second: Learning to take and accept compliments. I have always known I am a good rider, people have always said that too, but sometimes it's hard to believe, you know? I sure don't always feel like I'm a good rider and strive and work hard to improve every week. Julie said I am a really good rider and at first I'm like, well... I don't know about that. But it made me stop and think...and realize: I AM a really good rider. I have SO much confidence in my horse to where she is so confident in herself. I need to do the same thing for myself. I need to be confident in MYSELF and my own abilities. Otherwise, I am going to get in my own way and continue to be my own worst enemy. It is hard for me to take compliments and let them sink in and have me believe them myself. That is going to be something for me to work on as well.

All in all, it was an INCREDIBLE experience for me. I learned a lot, realized a lot, and am walking away with a clearer mind. It was nice to get away from the every day barn life. It seriously felt like we had a retreat with our horses and had some horsey bonding time. It was really, really nice.

Becky and Ballistyx did a GREAT job! There was a huge transformation in them from Day1 and Day2. I am so incredibly proud of both of them! I am so thankful to have had such a great friend with me during the show. We typically have lessons together, plan to Event together, so we will be there to help, support, and remind one another of the things we learned and things Julie had said and what we do in our lessons.

Becky and Ballistyx mostly worked on relaxation. She has had him since he was 3 and has done Endurance with him for the last 10 years, with some Dressage in between. She became a defensive rider; constantly having to pull him up when he was raring to go and so forth. Now that she is transitioning to Eventing as well, they need to work on refining their basics, communicating better, relaxing--less fighting. When she rides him, he'd go around with his head up in the air, her in a chair seat (as she was more accustomed to in Endurance--where her saddle would put her), him not wanting to pay attention and it would take about a half hour or longer for him to come down and work through his hind end and back. But, he still would not quite round himself and use himself properly.

He has been in a Myler loose ring comfort snaffle for the last 10 years and has also outgrown his bit.

Julie had her work on relaxing her body, breathing up through her sternum, using her diaphragm, opening her shoulders, and releasing on her exhale--relaxing her shoulders and elbows. She had a tendency to keep a death grip on her reins with her arms clenched to her sides, not letting her arms be shock absorbers; just stiff--which is what caused him to throw his head up. She worked on relaxing,  changed his bit too (not sure what too--I forget but it was a Myler low port as well, but I think with a loose ring cheekpiece), and she was much better.

By Day 2, a huuuuuge difference! She really relaxed her body, opened up her hip angle more, and learned to give him a release when he would lower his head and push off through his back. She said how she could feel him popping her in the butt when he would lift and work through his back--Good boy!!

We are so pleased with this experience. I'm hoping they come back next year, it would be awesome to see how different we are then than we are now; see the progress and such.

Now on to the pictures!!

                                                     warm up

                                                    filming

                                                                    Julie, Gertie, and I

                                                                       Julie and Gertie

Now Becky and Ballistyx

                                              how he would normally go with his head up

                                              much more relaxed Becky and Ballistyx!