Great Ride and still feeling the pain

So Blu and I ventured into a clinic with Lou Denizard on Friday and we were awesome. The hard news is that every muscle in my back has been tweaked. OK maybe moving my mother's estate had something to do with this back thing...

Anyways, Blu was pretty sound. We started at the walk focusing on me identifying foot falls -- "Tell me when his right hind hits the ground". Then we add in some half halts when a named foot hit the ground. It was like rubbing your tummy and patting your head at the same time. Then we did it at the trot. Hard exercise but it was really tuned my thoughts into the way he was moving and where his feet were at all times.

Our trot work was pretty good. Again, I have to focus on not letting him take over and setting the pace. He loves to do that at the trot. Got to keep that right hind firing underneath him yet not let him get fast in front. Again, lots of back... Ouch.

Our canter work to the right was good but to the left it was "perfect". Yes, he did use the term. I have never had anyone tell me that in my all my years riding. I am going to live that moment for a very long time. Of course when I let Blu break to trot due to my lack of endurance he was not impressed. The great equalizer...

Flying lead change was also perfect. It took a lot of back to keep him on my seat and wait for me to ask for the change. That Blu is just way too smart.

So one more day of rest and back in the saddle. I am ready!!!

Small gains

Another good ride on Blu. I was actually able to carry over some of what I learned during my last lesson in regards to his right lead canter ... no small feat for this thick headed adult learner/ rider. It was better but not the best it can be. Blu is such a great teacher -- patient but yet not too patient. He let's me know how wrong I am but in a very gentle way.

His left hind was a little funky last night but he had two days off so I am going to chalk it up to that and see what we get today. Just part of an older horse.

I love this pony!

Horses , Friends and the Right Lead Canter

Last evening I had an opportunity to ride with my friend Bari. We laughed, we talked and we learned some lessons from each other. Sharing is a wonderful thing!

Blu is feeling particularly good. I have more weight in my hand and he is very responsive to my leg stepping through and really using his back end.

Right lead canter is his weakness and it feeds on all my weaknesses also. I have to remember to keep my right shoulder back and constant reminders for him to stay in the left rein -- inside leg to outside rein connection. He does not want to step under and bend thus avoiding that right hind. When you insist he will do it and he starts to carry himself. I found it on the 8 m to 10 m circle. Now to get it on the 20 m without letting him plaster his shoulder to the wall. Think shoulder in at the canter.

Better each day

Every day gets just a bit better. He felt really happy to be working last evening... almost a little strong. We did a few mediums and he was quite pleased with himself.

Our biggest challenge was the dirt! He was filthy and without a vacuum almost impossible to get clean. Here is a picture of His Dirtiness. Got to love having a gray horse!

Riding with Lou Denizard next week. Hope my boots are broken in by then. I bruised the back on my right leg right behind my knee. OUCH! Not really a complaint though because I am truly grateful to have a pair of custom Konigs. They are the best!

Nothing like a good vet

Blu will be 17 this year and with age comes some stiffness. So out comes my vet who has taken such good care of him and he suggests blistering his right stifle and injecting his coffin bones. Trusting his expert opinion, I told him to go ahead and voila a new horse! He is so much happier. His stride is bigger and no swapping leads behind to start.

My ride was terrific last night. Just a little lateral suppling then all three gaits on big bending turns. He was very happy. In the trot and canter he wanted to give me lengthenings on the long side. He really feels good! His bedtime banana snack was all he really wanted... ok the peppermints too.

I rode in my new boots last night. They were a bit more comfortable... not much. The challenge is getting on. OMG are they stiff. I am going to have to wear them every day. No excuses!!! Maybe I need my stifles blistered!

Back in the saddle

A week off due to my step father's passing. :-( My spirits were brightened though by getting back to the barn. It felt good to get back on but as I have said previously, that first ride can be so difficult. So I took a lesson with two of my friends -- yes, a group lesson and we had some fun! Poor Jenn she had her work cut out! I was exhausted at the end and my friend Bari reminded me that we were on for over an hour. (my back is telling me the story today!)

I actually broke down and wore my brand new Konigs today. OMG they are stiff! I did not feel like I could get my leg around Blu and he did not seem to mind. His trot work was perfect. He felt stuck in the canter but he had worked hard the day before. The real trick with the boots was standing up from the stool after putting them on and then trying to swing my leg over the cantle. I approach riding with a great deal of humor... I had to get the extra stiff. I will be happy once they are broken in.

It just impresses me how precious a gift this horse is... he is a delight to be around. He follows my every move while I am in the barn, he picks my pockets, snuffles my hair and shows me where he needs a scratch. How can you not love such an endearing animal?

Clinic Fun

Yesterday we rode with Rita Brown, FEI Gold Medalist and "L" Judge. It was fun!!!

First off he was sound... stiff to start but sound none the less. Rita thinks it might be in his hock and to check to see if when they injected him they did both the top and bottom of the joint. I have a feeling it was only the bottom because the charge was not all you would expect it to be.

We rode the canter much more forward and with his neck down a bit so he gave more in his back. I rode him forward into his changes and they were spectacular. I have to remember to let go in my leg... bump him and then let go and relax from my knee down. That will be a trick!

Then we worked on the walk. That was hard! Rita got on for a bit and she agreed that she was working really hard to get him where she wanted him... stepping under, giving in the neck so his back would come up. His walk got better but he will always be a bit lateral. Rita thinks I can get a solid "5" if I get his back up. So I told her that with a coefficient of "2" that would make his walk a "10". We had a good laugh over that one. She thinks that since all his other gaits are fabulous we should be able to score well. She got off and let me get back on to feel what I needed to get and it was pretty darn amazing. I was not sure I was going to be able to get all that she did -- flex him in the neck to get it to drop down, push with my calfs (not so much in my seat) and tap his legs under with the whip with no running forward. Kind of like rubbing your tummy and patting your head at the same time... I got it though.

She loves Blu. She said he is really well trained and sensitive... the perfect horse for me. She also said my riding had improved tremendously. All good! We will be going to Scituate a couple of days this summer to soak up more of her knowledge. God I loooooovvvveee this horse!!!

Getting ready for a clinic

I did not want to ride hard this evening... I wanted save myself and Blu for the work tomorrow. I think something is going on in his stifle. His walk and canter were pretty good but his trot looked really rough to begin with. He is stepping wide in his right hind. hmmm...The Veterinarian will be out on Monday so hopefully he will have time to take a look. We will have to see... He is such a sweet boy. He tries very hard and I think he is trying to tell us enough is enough fix it already. I hope I am wrong.

Back in the saddle again

It was a great thrill to walk in the barn and have Blu greet me. He put his head down and encouraged me to scratch under his forelock. I then took him out and brushed through a cloud of white hair. We then had a nice ride and he was only too happy to accept every last treat I shared.

While I was away the barn manager's assistant pulled his mane, washed his tail and cleaned his sheath. Am I lucky or what?All the jobs I did not want to do were completed for me! He was well cared for during my absence!

We are doing a clinic with Rita Brown on Saturday. It should be interesting since I will have only rode twice before the day. I will have fun and it is always helpful to get feedback from such a great clinician.

Gone too long

I have enjoyed a long tropical vacation and now it is time to get back in the saddle. I always dread that first ride after not being in the saddle for a period of time. It is all a state of my mind and has nothing to do with this wonderful horse. He has been maintained with professional rides during my absence so he will be all tuned up. How lucky am I?

I chose my 2nd level tests - 1 and 3 and have started to memorize. I chose these because they start off tracking to the left and that is our best direction. Is that a good reason? It felt good to me. Let's hope we can execute!