SURPRISE!

So I went to my show early, but the horse I was riding was already in the arena. So I ate a freezie! Then another surprise.... We were doing a hunter jumper course instead of a dressage test! Patches decided to be totally hyped up too...

We did a 7 jump course, twice. It was so much fun! I have never done a real course before, or cantered that much, but it was so so so much fun!!!

We placed 3rd, but I was against girls that rode a lot more, and a lot longer than me. I have only been jumping for 7- ish months. Riding is over for a couple of months so hope I get rides in the summer!

Will keep posting :)

Dressage competition

Last week was our last week of actual lessons... It sucks because i missed it for a dance recital that ran the whole day. :(

This week I have a fun dressage show. Last year I won my class, but this year I have a lot more competition. Which is great to challenge me! I am always extremely excited to groom, tack, and ride but comps. are so fun!

I am riding patches, and we are doing the test that i mentioned in the last post. Wish me luck!

Lesson #17

Today i went to riding an hour early to write my written portion of my testing. It was easy because i knew my stuff but there were parts that were in another stable management book i didn't have (thanks mom for buying it for me)!

We warmed up quite fast since we were late getting into the arena, so we did walk, rising trot.Then we did a little canter to the back of the line. Patches was pretty happy about that. Then we did our dressage test for our show in 2 weeks!

A enter at walk
X halt immobility 4 secs.
continue at walk
C track right
M rising trot
A 20m circle rising trot
Between A-K canter right lead
B sitting trot
A walk
Change of rein K-B
M rising trot
C 20m circle rising trot
Between C-H canter left lead
B sitting trot
C rising trot
Change of rein H-X-F
Between F-A walk
A turn down center line
X halt
Leave arena on long rein

I rode patches, and he did awesome. Wuv wu patches!

Lesson #16

We had another week of testing, and this week was better and more exciting then the last. We warmed up slowly (since the horses had their shots this week and were feeling a little sleepy) Then we did some trotting both sitting, and rising. We worked on that, and our instructors asked us some questions about horse care! I have to go early next week to take my level 2 writing part of the test, even though i am in level 3. I haven't taken the test yet!

Questions:
How often does the farrier come? 6-8 weeks
What does your horse eat? Hay, oats, bran mash etc.
Describe a immobile halt? Not moving, all 4 legs equal 
Tell what lead the horse is on

Then we did some canter work:

-Go large
-20 m circle at A
-Go large
-20 m circle at C

Patches was great at this!

I rode patches again, and i am finally getting the hang of putting on his bridle (which has a chain, and cavesson)

Turn on the forehand!

1. Stand against a wall facing one direction
2. Slide your outside leg behind the girth
3. Ask for the horse to step over with his hindquarters by applying pressure with outside leg
4. Keep the pressure until facing the other direction

TIP:

If the horse resists turn its head slightly to the outside, and use your leg aids.

This is pretty much it!

Lesson #15

We are being tested for level 2! YAY! Our lesson wasn't too to exciting though. My stirrup came off of the saddle when i was adjusting it though, guess it was loose. Good thing i wasn't cantering!

We did a lot of sitting trot with and without stirrups
No cantering this lesson (oh well)
Taking our feet out of the stirrups, and then putting them back at trot and walk
Changing rein across the diagonal
Turn on the forehand
Warm up

I rode patches, and he was great! No matter how fast that pony goes at the trot you don't bounce! He also is brilliant remembers dressage tests on his own by watching his friends go!

Here he is:

 14 hh!
Picture from: http://welca.ca/horses

Huge sad face!!!

Sorrrrryyyy everyone, i have seriously been slacking with the posts! I think i missed 3-4 lessons! I dont really remember them since the last was still over a week ago...

I will post this lesson up I PROMISE XD

I don't ride bliss anymore because his owner took him back to her barn for the summer. I miss you buddy~
I am now riding a 14hh pony named Patches. Yes he has patches. He is black and white and is a piebald. He is crazier than Bliss and runs like everything although he trips sometimes, and get excited over jumps. Loves dressage too though. He is the smallest horse in the class so far so i kind of want to ride a horse but oh well, happy with him. They are testing us for our level 2 soon (next week or so)