Lessons to learn

Last Thursday I had a lesson with my trainer and it was just really wonderful. We had some great work at the canter and worked through some transitions. My left shoulder continues to dip forward but I have to remember to keep it back in its rightful place... look over the left ear.

My friend Sandra is going to take some lessons on Blu so tonight I showed him to her instructor. Honestly, I was not feeling what she was telling me about my position. I felt pitched too far forward and I was sitting perched on my pubic bone. She thought it would help me to ride in a half seat and bear weight down into my heels. Ha... I went home and had spasms in my back and hips and could not sleep. Thank you but I am done with that! She made some good points about his walk and getting this belly to move as well as working on bending around my inside leg. So even if I do not agree with her approach to position I took something away from the lesson.

Moral of the story ... always be open to learning.

Two weeks without a lesson = new way of riding

My aching body tells me it was quite a lesson and in my heart I know I learned so very much. We worked on the finer points of my ride -- straightness, activating the hind legs, simple changes, tempo, influencing the canter depart with my seat, canter to walk with my diaphragm... Wow lots to think about... no wonder I am speechless for most of the ride.

We used the Eartec headphones and I was amazed at how it helped me to focus on Jenn's voice and instruction vs. all that was going on around me. I rode a solid 50 minutes with two short breaks. I could have fallen off Blu at the end I was so tired.

One of the bad habits I have developed is letting my left shoulder fall forward or more appropriately, dip forward. It helped me to even my shoulders by looking over Blu's left ear when going to the left. To the right I have no problem which is a good thing since this is his more difficult position. I would so like to get back to that perfect ride I had several weeks back... Gratification is so very elusive with this sport but I would not have traded this day for anything!

A good first week

Blu has been in his new home for a week and he has settled into it nicely. He loves his turnout, free choice hay and the best feature his mom 6 days this past week. The move has certainly met and exceeded all my expectations -- more horse time!

Blu and I had a great ride last night. He loosened up really quickly on the lunge so we got down to work looking for some lightness in the front. He was heavier and trying to curl up a bit. So we did transitions then went forward. I did a little lateral work at the trot and he was super good. His canter felt awesome. We practiced the simple changes... he so wanted to do flying lead changes but after a few corrections he understood what I was looking for. I have to get him in the lower level frame of mind.

We both enjoyed the cool out and post-ride grooming. The barn he is in is lovely... good mojo in an old cow barn. When I turned him into his stall, he headed for his pile of hay and started to happily dunk and munch. His dunking bucket is doing the trick. It was filled with hay/ dengi so I cleaned it out. His automatic waterer was spotlessly clean ;-) I left a very happy boy tucked in for the evening. More fun is planned for tonight!

Settling in and figuring things out

Blu was so very good again last night. When I arrived he had his plaid turnout sheet on and the outside of it was wet from the light rain we had yesterday. They turn out in light rain and Blu was not worse for the wear. As a matter of fact he looked quite content munching on his second cut hay and dipping in his automatic waterer. I will have to get him a second turnout sheet so one can dry in the hay loft while the other is being worn.

We had a great ride. More ooohhhs and aaahhhs from fellow boarders. He felt really good after I lunged him lightly. He looked funky to start on the lunge line but I could see him relax over his top line and then I knew it is time to move to the next gait. When I got on him he felt terrific. We did lots of transitions, some lateral work and plenty of canter. His right lead canter felt really good. He was not leaning in. We worked the entire arena. We did some mini trot lengthenings on a short diagonal since I felt him on my seat. They were pretty good and I sat them without difficulty.

There were people coming and going with their horses, lessons and of course lots of people watching. He never looked twice at anything and just kept in the groove. He is the best. Hopefully the footing outside will dry out by the time I get there and we will be able to work outside. I am thinking a short hack might be in store.

Every ride is fun and a lesson

Blu has to be the true definition of a schoolmaster... so much to teach and patient with my mistakes.

He was showing off again for the ladies at the barn. I think he knows when he is being watched. He really likes showing off and knows he is very good at what he does.

Tonight I upped the ante on the transitions using trot/ halt. He got it without passaging. He was forward and willing and listening. I asked myself how quiet can I be and get the upward and downward transitions... not too bad. As a matter of fact, they got better the quieter I got... sooooo the lesson is asking kindly and quietly... do not scream your aids.

We then went off to counter canter... first shot was tough. He did a quick swap to true canter and then swapped right back. I have a feeling he felt a shift in my seat. My legs did not move but I think i moved my inside seat bone. ugh... so off to do it again and we got it right.

Then we went to the changes and they were good so I called it a night. We then went up to the barn and lo and behold some sneaky little thief made their way into the treat tin in my brush box that was sitting on the floor outside Blu's stall. I reached into the tin and there were a few sloppy wet treats stuck to the bottom. I then saw a fat black lab head out the door... Hmmmmm. Another lesson - put your brush box away or shut it in Blu's stall if leaving the barn or the hungry prowler will find his way to get at the treats... LOL

Showing Off

Last night I had a fabulous ride on Blu. We started with some lunge work to loosen him up. You can see him relaxing and stretching through his topline. He will drop his nose to the ground! When I got on his back was easy to sit on and he was very comfortable in all gaits. The right lead will always be the challenge but it was not sticky and he did not resist as much as I have felt in the past. We did some transition work -- walk/ halt, halt/ trot , walk/ canter and he was great. I also threw in some rein back to really focus his hind end. Then we did a little lateral work at the trot and off to canter in that big beautiful indoor arena. We worked the whole arena at the canter and his flying lead changes were just spot on. Several old friends and the barn owner stopped to watch his work. One of them commented on how much more relaxed we looked together since last she saw us ride in a clinic. Very nice to hear!!!

After cooling out, I groomed him and put him away a happy boy. He is very settled in his new stall. There is always hay waiting for him so why wouldn't he be happy :-)

First day under saddle ... what a super star!

Yesterday was our first day of work in our new home. When I got to the farm Blu was turned out in a large paddock and he had his head down eating pulling at the fresh shoots of Spring grass. When I got close enough I called out my usual greeting, "Hellooooo Blu Blu!" He immediately picked up his head and whinnied to me. What a sweet boy. After a warm greeting, I had some stuff to move in/ around so I left him be while I went about settling in.

When I took him out of the paddock. I took him for a walk in the outdoor arena. He was quite looky and called to other horses but he never put a foot wrong. They were doing some excavating next to the outdoor and had a bucket loader dropping dirt and rocks so I thought it best to do our work inside for the day.

I took him up to the barn to get him ready and he has already figured out which stall is his. He went in had a drink and then set about munching on the huge pile of hay he always has in his stall. Free choice hay anyone? Blu votes an enthusiastic "yes"!

I tacked him up and as I was doing so the barn owners came through the barn and made much of my handsome boy. One of the barn owners said she noticed he was a dunker and recommended I ask the barn manager -- a wonderful man named Hueler -- to add a water bucket to his stall so he would not be mucking up his automatic waterer... How happy am I? The water bucket will be at the front of the stall where his pile of hay and dengi bucket are located and the automatic waterer is in the back of his stall. Did I report that his stall is a HUGE foaling stall? OMG it is huge. So I think he will be less inclined to dip his dengi and hay in the automatic waterer.

We then went down to the massive indoor arena. I decided to lunge him first out of my desire to see what he would be like. He was perfect. As a matter of fact I think the light lunging really helped him under saddle. He was all warmed up when I got on and there was no stiffness or funky steps. I think I am going to lightly lunge before I get on him every time.

After we were done with a nice work out. I gave him his first bath of the season. The Sore No More Massage Shampoo is my absolute favorite after a work out. While it is not going to get the urine/ manure stains out off his feet and hocks, it is great for cleaning and giving a liniment bath. He really enjoyed it.

Then we went off to hand graze. His favorite part I am sure.

I think he will be happy in his new home once he settles. It will take both of us a little bit to get used to this new very busy environment but I am sure we will figure it out.

New Home ... More time with Blu

Blu has moved closer to home -- I shaved over an hour off of commuting -- 80 total minutes so who is counting? What a luxury! He is such a good boy -- self loading/ unloading and never taking a wrong step. He settled into his huge foaling size stall in a beautifully retrofitted cow barn. He has a premium spot -- first in the door so he can see all that is going on and right next to the tack room. There are many more people around so he will have plenty to keep him busy.

After settling in we went out to check out the property and do some hand-grazing. He was thrilled with that! Tomorrow he will be turned out in his own paddock and then I will go to ride later in the afternoon after he has had some time to chill outside. I will also hand walk the ever beautiful Flaine -- my friend's most beautiful Hanoverian recovering from major colic surgery.

It was hard leaving RI today... many good memories and fabulous friends! I will miss my RI family very much yet at the same time it is very nice to be home with the old gang. Most of all, it will be great to spend more time with my pal Blu!