9/42/13 lesson and practices

Okay so a few weeks ago I rode Fiona, followed by Sunny an.d Asti.  Also I rode Fiona and Asti in practices.

Lessons and Practices

I rode Fiona for a few lessons and Asti  too!  I rode Asti in a practice last week and I rode Jory the other day for a practice.

End of summer riding

Okay so I had a practice on Asti last week, with two lessons on Fiona and I did another practice on Asti last night.

What a great summer of riding!  I have enjoyed every second of it!  I learned so much and got to ride some new tests.  So grateful to have wonderful trainers/ coaches that give me wonderful opportunities! Just last year I was showing training 1 and I ended the summer doing First 1 with some decent scores!

I think I have been doing well with my rider's position, but I need improvement still on preparation.  I learned a lot about every transition needs to be a forward transition, even if it is a downward transition.  I learned to do this by rolling on the the back of my thighs and if resistance is present, it helps to flex and ask again.  You really wan the back legs to go up or down first as it shows the horse working from its back end.  I learned a lot about lengthenings and we worked on leg yielding which is always fun.  I recently worked on using my seat more (I forget its there sometimes)!  We have also worked a lot on getting the reaction and backing.  Helpful for a rider who can "nag" here and there :)

Recent rides

Okay so about 2 weeks ago I had a lesson on Joey in preparation for a schooling show when we did 1st 1 for a 2nd time.  It was interesting to say the least!  I had a practice on Stanford this past Wednesday and last night rode Fievel in a practice

7/29/13 practice and lesson

On Monday I rode Riley in a practice ride and for today's lesson I rode Joey in preparation for the show.  We are riding 1st 1 and hopefully it goes well.  We went over the test and worked on balance and down trans. and working on half halting with the outside of my thigh so he comes to trot from behind.  I scribed for the USDF show at Puckerbrush and learned a lot from both judges.  It was a great time!

7/22/23/24/13 Lesson and Practice

I did a practice on Asti and Riley on Monday and Tuesday night and I rode Riley in my lesson today

7/1713 and 7/16/13 practice

well i had a practice on fiona this past Tuesday.  It was ion short supply since it was so hot and she started to cough.  Today I rode Asti in my lesson.  As always, he was a good boy!!

7/10/13 lesson

I rode Riley and he was a good boy!

7/3/13 Lesson and practice rides

This past Wednesday I rode Joey.  I rode him in the show so it was good to have a lesson on him.  We started off with 1st 1 and then corrections were made.   We started with flexing him and then we worked on lengthen canters and trots and utilizing a half halt and flexing him up before trot lengthenings to hold him together.  I had to be aware to sit on him more so I don't get perched.

7/4/13 practice-  I did a practice on Joey
7/5/13- practice on Joey
7/7/13- Joey and I showed T3 and First 1.  We scored a 66% and a 63% respectively.  Go Joey!

6/26/13 lesson and 6/28/13 lesson and practice

This past Wednesday I rode Asti and although he was a good boy I was horrible....enough said
Today I rode Asto again and he was, as always, a good boy.  We worked on trot lengthenings.  It was good to finally get the jist of them and I had to picture a pupeteer when it cam to the half halt and almost lifting him up.  I also rode Fiona for a practice

6/19/13 Lesson

Okay, so it has been two weeks until today that I have ridden due to a mini vacation visiting family and the fact my car didn't want to stop for me and needed a brake job.  It felt great to be in the saddle and it felt even better that the lesson went well.  I rode Asti, who I love to pieces.  He is just oddles of cuteness and such a fun pony to ride.  We started of with some leg yielding which went well, I just need to remember to keep my shoulders forward.  We then did trot to canter transitions in the long side and practiced halts.  I had to be mindful not to halt with my hands and had to utilized a half halt more and a squeeze from my thighs.  Then practiced T-3 in prepartation fo rthe next schooling show.  It went pretty well, but when he gets tired he likes to abruptly slow down so I need to be careful of that as well as the canter diagonal that I ride him forward so he doesn't fall to the forehand.  Other than that, Bryn said the test was good.  I also am doing First Level test 1 which I am really excited about.  Bryn gave me tips for lengthening as I know I need to work on those.  I have the idea, but I just want to get a better feeling so we actually get good scores for that movement and especially First Level starts getting into finer points of dressage movement, so I want them to know what it feels like and get them as concise as possible.  The homework assignment was to YOUTUBE videos of the test and watch the movements. I have the idea and have done some, but I want a better feeling especially if I am showing Asti, I want to do them right and do lenghtenings the right way.

5/5/13 Lesson and practice rides following

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far!  I can't wait until our IDA season begins :)
Okay so for this past week in my lesson I rode Asti.  We worked on leg yields and staying super, super loose and turning my torso to the inside.  He was very good and cute as always.  I rode Asti the day after an practiced what we did in the lesson.  Friday I rode Asti and Fiona and today I rode Fiona.

5/29/13 Lesson and practices

That Wednesday (long time ago) I rode joey for my lesson in preparation for the show.  We worked on transitions and he was a good boy!

That Friday and Saturday I had practice rides, but they were cut short due to overly hot weather!

Sunday was show day and we scored a 63%, then a 66% for the re- ride

5/23/13 and 5/24/13 rides

5/23/13 rides-  I rode both Fiona and Asti.  (Asti we worked on leg yields/ shoulder ins/ bending and trying not to nag.
5/24/13 I rode fiona

5/22/13 Lesson

I rode Riley for my lesson.  He was such a good boy!  We started at a walk and getting him to walk like he was in the pasture.  Trying not to nag we would get him to have a more foward walk by one squeeze and then getting the leg hang.  This helped because  if I would get to naggy he would back right off and that would end up possibly frustrating both of us!  Once we did that at the walk with a round frame, we did this at the trot and that went well.  Lastly, we worked on T3.

5/17/13 and 5/20/13 practice rides

I rode Fiona both practices.

5/15/13 Lesson

I rode Riley in my lesson.  He was very good and definitely a great work out for every muscle in the body.  I found that flexing to get him round doesn't work at all so it was best to use my outside aids almost as a "wall."  We did this my counter flexing to get him straight and equal the room between the rein and then neck to both sides.  The inside rein was used to do little flexions/ supples as little reminders to keep him round, but I really tried to not  hold him there, but instead soften. Once we did this we did some trot work and worked on seat with him.  Instead if a constant squeeze from the seat, I learned it was best to make my butt into an "electric fence" and be like "we r going to trot."  I also learned he is the horse that you want to focus an outcome instead of always jumping to fix the problem.  I also need to work on backing off when I get the reaction I want.  Sometimes I don't realized what I am doing even though it feels right, I still have a tendency to keep asking.  I had to constantly remind myself...it gets better here and there (I think)!  Lastly, we worked on the canter and staying loose during the transition.  He was a good boy!

Practice Rides 5/11/13 and 5/12/13

I rode Fievel for both days.

5/10/13 Practice

I rode Fievel for my practice.  He was really good!  In the beginning he was not so foward and very resistant to flex.  With some circles and going straight down the long side while using leg and seat we worked through it.  We worked on transitions and did some  walk to canters as well.  He was a good boy!

5/8/13 Lesson

I rode Fievel in my lesson.  It was nice to ride him in a lesson since it has been so long and I am need of a good arm work out!  He was really good until it got towards the end and he got tired.  He started to toss his head and was drenched in sweat.  He worked on transitions and then leg yielding on a circle and using right leg to left half halt.  We started at the walk and then onto the trot.  This was a good exercise and Fievel seemed to be feeling good!  After that we did walk to canter and then canter to walk.  For canter to walk I worked on my back staying loose and a very strong half halt.  Going left was interesting   I think he was getting tired and cantering that end he has been kicking the wall, so you would ask and he may do a couple strides, but then would start bucking.  It was fine once the scary thing of keeping him going was in order.  Going right, he was much better with walk to canter transitions!

5/4/13 practice

I rode Joey as a prep day for the show.  I worked on T-3 and really worked on "U" loops and accuracy for the geometry.  I also worked on the canter diagonal and being more persistent with my half halt to keep him going.  He was a good boy!

5/3/13 Lesson and Practice

For my lesson I rode Fiona.  We practiced T-3 and went over the "U" loop and the change of bend that needs to take place from q-line, then 4 strides or so on "X" then change back on q-line.  We also worked on the canter on the diagonal, then down transition to trot at "X".  It was a good lesson especially with Fi.  I rode Vincent for practice.  I practiced "U" loops and practiced my test.

4/27/13 Practice

I rode Joey for a practice.  I was doing night check anyway and it was sort of a make-up from yesterday with Fiona having a meltdown, which I never though would ever happen, to her coughing.  So I tried to work with stronger connection.  I also tried to drop my thighs down so I don't wiggle in my stirrups too much.  At some points he would get a little racy so I had to remind myself to slow my posts, but then he would back off too much if we went on a 20 meter, so I had to go to my seat to push him on.  He was very good!  Nice, warm day to ride!

4/26/13 Practice

I rode Fiona for my practice.  I was a beautiful night to ride, so Bryn said I could ride in the upper ring.  I ended up back in the indoor when she got spooky and then she was coughing a lot.  So i rode her on a looser rein.

4/24/13 Lesson

I rode Fiona and it went horrible...

4/21/13 Practice

I rode Jax for my practice today.  He was so much different from the last time I rode him.  He was a good boy!  We worked on getting him to not just be round, but flex too.  We a little bit of leg yielding and some shoulder- in.  He practiced halts and transitions from trot to canter and worked from my seat.  The seat button is harder on him than others, but we still got it.  He was fun!

4/19/13 Practice

I rode Joey tonight.   He was a good boy, although he had a lot of energy!  We worked on transitions at first and then I did some leg-yielding to warm him up. He was better in the canter after as he was less stiff.  His canter right was much better and he was more through instead of barely tracking up.  He was a good boy!

4/17/13 Lesson

I rode Asti in my lesson.  He was a little pokey, but he was good.   I worked on getting him to stretch tracking right and working with elastic connection.

4/10/13 Practice

I rode Fievel for my practice.  He was such a good boy!!!!!  We worked on Training 1 (the halts were like a plane taking off and landing), and we worked on stretchy circles.  His canter transitions were really nice and clear and when we had walk breaks we worked on free and medium walks.

4/10/13 Lesson

I rode Fiona in my lesson.  She was coughing still, so we worked on my staying loose and Bryn told me just to let the reins go.  I worked on keeping my upper body super, super loose and worked on canter transitions from the seat which were picked up nicely.  There was no sense of direction on Fiona's end so we were all over the arena and I even got some balance practice when she went straight for a wall, then abruptly darted right.  It was entertaining I think!

4/5/2013 Practice Ride

I rode Quincy for a practice today.  He was so good and super cute!  We practiced halts and I went over my test a few times.

4/3/2013 Lesson

I rode Fiona in my lesson today...I looked like a special bird. At first we trotted and cantered at the buckle to work out her coughing.  Once we did that I warmed her up with more contact.  Bryn then was working on Fi's left bend (when I looked special) and I worked on turning my whole torso inside a circle with half halt  and left flex to help her bend while using my seat to keep her going.  I then practiced my test and my medium walk needs to be a consistent both times.  So all in all, I looked special.  Thank god I had a helmet on.

3/27/2013 Practice

I rode Fiona.  She started out pissy and she has her coughing.  I rode her on a looser rein to start off and I worked on my seat more.  I also worked on my test. Other than that I took it easy with Fiona.  She was also used earlier in a lesson.

3/27/13 Lesson

I rode Asti in my lesson today. I did a 1/2 hr private as i have advisory meetings that I cannot be late for.  He was super cute as always.  I started off flexing him at the walk to warm him up with direction changes and variation of circles w/ variation of size.  I then did the same in the trot as well as figure 8's.  Once the lesson began we worked on leg yielding him out going right so his left rein could be filled in more.  We achieved this by flexing to the right and leg yielding left on the circle.  We went though my test a couple of times and it went well.  Got what we needed to accomplish in a 1/2 hr lesson so that was good!

3/22/13 Practice Ride

I rode Fievel tonight.  I missed him so!  Although is was a nice reunion, he was interesting.  He had his shots the other day, so I think that may have been part of it as well as not being ridden in over a week.  Since he was out of work and stiff from shoots we took it easy. when cantering we stayed on a 20 meter and with trotting we just did the same thing and did direction changes and some serpentines   Not very eventful, but he was pissy as it was, so better no to piss him off more.

3/22/2013 Lesson

Boy, it felt good to be back in the saddle after a 2 week hiatus.  I rode Quincy in my lesson today.  He was a very good boy, especially for being only 4 yrs old!  We started out adjusting to his walk as he was trained western and has this really weird, slow, lopey kinda walk.  For that i worked on legs off completely and a very passive seat.  If he gets quicker into a "jog" walk he needed a strong hold on outside rein.  We then did trot work and then canter.  His canter button is interesting. He is nice to canter and he has to be round or he will pick his head up and might break.  He is more pissy with left leg, but it is still nice. We practiced a few halts and then worked on training 1 and intro b.

3/6/2013 Lesson

I rode Majik for my lesson.  We started out doing an exercise by riding a square and doing quick, sharp turns and using outside seat bone, and strong half halt.  We first did this at the trot, then the canter to do almost a quarter pirouette.  We probably got one or two out of the many attempted as he gets pushy and lazy.  To remedy that lazy mood I  would transition to a halt and rein back to help him sit more on his hind.  From that we did extended canters and then practiced the tests for IDA.  he was very good!

3/5/2013 Practice with the "Majik Man"

I ride Majik for my practicee.  He was very good!  We worked on haunches- in, some leg yielding, simple changes and my tests (training 1 and intro c).  We also worked a lot on halts.  I worked on tilting my pelvis forward and bringing my ankles underneath.  At first, he would back up ( I was pulling back on the reins a little bit).  After I stopped pulling back, the halts got better. With myself I really worked on staying loose and really tried to bend my inside leg around him.

3/4/2013 Lesson (make-up for next week)

Today I rode Fiona.  We struggled in the beginning as I forget to trust my seat and get nervous from our old battles!  When I get nervous, I tend to get busy with my leg, which Fiona doesn't like- at all.  Once we worked past a struggle, I was more able to use my seat and she was more willing.  We ended much better afterwards.   Next time I ride her, I want to be able to start right off with the good use of my seat.

This Week!!

So I am leaving on a trip Friday  morning (March 8th) and not returning until Friday night (March 15th-super late)!  I am obviously missing out for a week in riding, but I am making up my lesson tomorrow at 2 ( that would count as next week when I am gone) and doing my regular lesson on Wednesday at 10.  For a practice I am going out Tuesday night.  This is just a reminder!!!  Happy Spring Break Everyone!

3/1/2013 Practice

I rode Fiona for a practice earlier tonight.  We practiced T1 and we worked on halts and we did a little leg-yielding.  It went well when she didn't protest to stop every time she needed to poop.  It was fun!

2/27/13 Lesson

Today I rode Asti, the most adorable haflinger out there!  It has been forever since I rode him in early October, but it was great to be back on him again.  He is a horse that needs steady and even contact with no supples.  We flexed and I worked on keeping consistent leg on as he is a pony that needs to be ridden front to back.  A steady leg also makes for a better stride for him that is more extended, rather than a studder- like stride.  Once he was more through I was able to open my hands more an let him drop down into the contact while still maintaining connection.  We did many changes of direction, circles, figure 8's  to help him bend and keep his attention focused as he is a talented youngster.   We then did canter work in both directions.  He is a pony that you need to go through the whole motion to get nice jump in his canter.  He was very good!

Practice ride 2/22/2013

Tonight I rode Majik.  We worked on c-line halts and bending into corners.  We also did simple changes, leg yields from q-line and c-line and we practiced the IDA tests.  One thing that was good was with the tests i can easily anticipate transitions, so it was suggested to take time with transitions especially sincce there is time allowed in transitions if between two letters.

2/20/2013 Lesson

I had a lesson today on Majik.  it was a successful lesson as a pair.  We worked on halts and rotating my pelvis forward and bring my heels up with my thighs off.  We also rode simple changes and it was put in perspective to hold him back so he doesn't do it in one step (should be 2-4 steps) and also so you as a rider makes the change instead of him doing it.  I also rode my IDA test (training one).  Went very well on  a warm day :)

2/18/13 Practice Ride

I did a practice ride today to make up for last Friday when we got the blizzard.  I rode Vincent and with him I like to do a lot of bending where he is older.  We did serpentine's, figure 8's and direction of changes.  We also did halts and some turn on haunches to help him sit more on his hind end.  I also worked on my IDA test (training 1).  I have ridden the test before, so it is coming along nicely; I need to remember to gather reins on the free walk before" H"!  I always seem to space out then  Vincent was good :)

2/15/13 Practice Ride

Tonight I rode Fievel <3  I love this horse to death!!  Our canter work was better than our trot work.  He just gets in his moods to plow through your hands, so I did a lot of direction changes to throw him off and slow him down and that helped him bend and flex more although I had to do that as well.  We did some leg yielding and a couple halts too.  It was not as successful as I hoped.  We tend to g=have good lesson, but when it comes to practices rides, it is not always the result I wanted.  Hopefully we can practice more together, so our practice rides turn out successful.

An overview of previous rides this semester :)

Okay so this is the start of my blog for practice rides and lesson updates

So far this semester  I have had lessons on Majik, Fiona and Fievel <3.  I practice every Friday and that has mostly been on Vincent, but I did one on MKL day aboard the Fievel and will be riding him tonight too.  When I practice, I generally practice on staying loose in my hips, thighs and lower back, work on c-line halts, my sitting trot or my test for IDA along with things that we did in the lesson like leg yielding, turn on haunches or shoulder in.  With Vincent since he is older, I try to work a lot on bending with him and figure 8's, serpentine's and circles.  Lessons have been going well too!