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.