December 11, 2013 - Looking forward to a lease!

Hello!

So this week I had 2 lessons, one at WELCA and one at my other barn.

The first lesson:
So we had another flat class this week because it was -36 without the windchill outside!!! I got to ride this beautiful little mare named Pearl. She is very cute but is really hard to get into any kind of frame. We worked on flexion and bend as well as riding drills which was fun but I will have to admit we got yelled at a couple of times for not getting it right. That is pretty much all we did other than working individually on turn on the haunches.

The second lesson:
Lessons at my new barn are ALWAYS exciting and the small class sizes allow a lot of jumping and horse options. This week I rode a mare I was trying for a possible half lease named Miley and we worked great together! She is really hard to catch (so I made sure to bake some molasses cookies this week) but other than that she is a total sweetheart. I am pretty sure she will be my new lease <3 We got to jump a course, and even an oxer which is new for her! As well I rode her bareback and she is so comfy!

Thanks for reading <3

December 6th 2013 - New stable = new adventures

Hi guys! I have pretty much been M.I.A. since June this year, and its so hard to believe that its almost 2014! So the most important news I have is that I started riding at a new barn! We were referred by friends and it was probably the best decision I have made re: my riding career as of yet. This barn is way more competitive, way more fun and allows me to jump a lot higher than I have been jumping. Moving barns came with a lot of new things that I was so not used to; I had to go buy my own grooming kit (expanding now of course!), I bought a gorgeous black saddle pad and tendon boots to match and of course I had to buy something for myself (half chaps). I have to say I was thrown in head first, the first lesson there I was jumping oxers! This barn has a HUGE outdoor arena and a heated indoor which is great for those who live in -30 weather (yuck). We do a lot of different things now including: bareback, cross country and trail rides. I am still riding where I used to ride as well but that is a little bit too hard on the wallet, so I am probably going to have to quite coming the new year, especially if I pick up a lease at my new barn. I am trying out a pretty little mare in my lesson this week and her name is Miley. She has a lot of jumping potential but she needs some work both over jumps and on the flat. I am hoping I can half lease her! Recently I have been riding spell (remember her from earlier posts?), Bliss (also from earlier riding days), Justin (a gorgeous appaloosa gelding at my new barn) and Phoenix (an adorable bay mare from my new barn who has wings!) They all have taught me a lot, and something different and I really appreciate the opportunities I have been given. Anyways I cant write forever so I will send out updates on how my ride on Miley goes! Thanks for reading ;)

June 30, 2013 ~The Show~

Hi! I know it has been almost 2 weeks since this show, and even longer since my last post but I have had finals and homework and sleep time. Now I will probably be posting a lot more than I used to because it is Summer Break. I am actually really excited and hoping I can get to 3000 page views. As well something new I am doing is some of these posts will also be available to read and comment on, on Tumblr.

Anyway I rode Spell for the show :)

We had to memorize and ride a handy hunter, and a working hunter. Spell of course was very exited that she was in a show again! We actually worked well together just like before. Although our first jump was a little bit shaky and she wouldn't pick up her canter for the flat part of the show.

So after everything was done I placed 2nd and got a blue ribbon, which I was rather happy about given I was riding a crazy mare with a lot of jump!

That is pretty much all that happened, it was fun and exciting and I realized that I need a new helmet (hopefully neutrally colored this time)

Thanks for reading,
there will be another post up soon!

June 15, 2013 lesson #37

Hello!!!

I fully realize that this post is a little late, and yes I am writing this in French class :) 

So the last lesson we had our final jumping class until the show two weeks from now. I rode Caffi as usual and I feel we worked really well together despite having some problems our first lesson together. It was a fun lesson and we got some super good jumps in. Unfortunatly I am not riding in next weeks lesson, and probably won't post anything next week to make up for it because of finals.

We:

- warm up at walk (flexing, bending, square turns)

- warm up at trot (flexing, suppling, square turns, leg yielding)

- warm up jump down quarter line (both directions)

- 4 jump course

- jumping without stirrups

Jumping without stirrups was really fun, and my instructor bugged me for holding Caffi back but he was really excited about jumping, and the stirrups banging against his sides encouraged speed. I think I got the release down, and my legs eventually stayed in place but it was a fun class overall. Caffi is pretty speedy over a course especially when he is hot. I don't mind a fast horse but I think he would be great for jumpers :)

After our lesson I volunteered for a birthday party at the barn, and I got to side walk for a little four year old boy riding Gemini, a dark liver bay mare. He was smiling a lot and it was so cute. When we trotted we had to hold onto him pretty tight so he wouldn't bounce off! After we asked him if he was having fun and he replied "I don't know!" it was so so cute. That is why I love my job volunteering there!

Anyways thanks for reading, and I will try to post again later next week if I have time. Otherwise I might 

post this week as well, who knows?

June 8, 2013 lesson #36

Hello!

This week was a weird week at riding. When we arrived and headed down to the barn all of the horses were switched around including my newly acquired Spell! I was extremely sad/unhappy to be riding a different horse, although I did warm up to him quickly.

His name is Caffi and he is a chestnut gelding :) he is actually silly looking and is like riding 10 different horses all at once! He was just started in jumping lessons just lately.

This week:
-warm up (flexing, square turns, forward walk)
-warm up at trot (square turns, leg yields)
-sitting trot
-no stirrup work
-canter work
-2 cross poles (one handed jump, no hands!!!)

Caffi is actually a fantastic jumper, and he gets a little bit excited :) the thing is one of his legs is shorter than the rest of them so he looks really goofy when he canters and trots. He also is very lazy until he sees a jump so lucky me!

I actually like him but I wish I was riding spell! For the show I put down:

1.Spell
2.Caffi
3. Bliss

June 1, 2013 Lesson #35

Hello everyone :)

This lesson was super fun and even more challenging. I was so happy to be jumping again! I also got to ride a different horse. Her name is Spell (Spellbound) and she is a tall, flea bitten grey mare who loves to jump! We even got to ride in the outdoor arena which was a great change!

Our lessons was:

• Warm up - flexing, forward walk, square turns
• Warm up at trot - flexing, square turns, leg yields and ground poles
• Practice cross rail to jump over
• 4 jump course then a 3 jump course

Spell used to do Hunter jumpers when she was younger, and before she was donated to our riding program. She has a love for jumping, and she has a lot of speed that you have to control otherwise she gets a little bit nutty. We got to pick our own jumping course, and riding spell over both courses was so much fun. She jumps so smoothly and has a great canter. She also has auto flying lead changes so I don't have to worry about the leads.

She is totally different from Elvis and that is why I love her! I asked for her to be put on my year end show list as well, because I thought we did really well together <3 In case you were wondering she has melanomas on her neck, and that blocks part of her breathing but it doesn't hurt her and it doesn't stop her from loving to jump!

Here she is:

www.facebook.com

Thanks for reading! Have a good weekend :)

May 25 2013 Lesson #34 (and theory lessons #1 an #2)

So I know that I have been missing in action for a whole lot of lessons, and posts. However I have been very busy, and we also have had theory classes the 11th and 18th of may. I also missed the may 4th lesson due to other commitments. I also have some very sad news...

IN MEMORY OF: Our lovely, 30+ year old, flea bitten gray mare Snowball was put to rest after a bad episode of colic. She died peacefully and out of pain. We will always remember you snowpony, and may you rest in peace.

http://welca.ca/horses

I will update you on the theory classes first :)...

Theory #1 - May 11, 2013

• Went over putting a bridle in the figure 8 pattern
• Took apart a bridle
• Put it back together
• Went over exercises and work on the equisizers*

*If you do NOT know what an equisizer is click HERE

Theory #2 - May 18, 2013

This was a really interesting theory, we were all transported down the road to the whitemud equine showgrounds! In the dirt arena there was a clinic for everyone to watch. The man teaching the clinic was awesome and had a great sense of humor. As well we watched riders training their horses and it was cool to hang out with my riding friends and talk.

What we did in the May 25th lesson:

• Warm up, going large around the arena - Circles, square turns, flexion/bending, forward walk etc.
• Group trot continuing work at trot, getting the horse supple and round
• 3 loop serpentine at walk,trot
• 3 loop serpentine at rising, sitting and canter both directions

Elvis and I were reunited after the Higgins ordeal haha, and I love him so much!!! Here is a side picture of part of his head, it was the only picture I could find :(

Also this picture is from part of a video that Elvis was featured in before he was a lesson horse, and started jumping. The video link is available HERE. The fleabitten grey horse at the beginning of the video is Dandy who I used to ride, and I have mentioned many a times!

Thanks for reading please comment, and follow :) I love you ELVIE!!! (bad nickname for him I know)

April 06 2013 Lesson # 27

Hi everyone! I know I skipped a week in there, but I was away and we didn't have riding that week anyways so no one missed anything.

This week was super strange! Everyone in my riding class were switched off of their usual horses (for me Elvis <3) and were put on another horse just to give us a change in things. I got to ride Higgins for the first time ever, and I actually liked him. Not as much as Bliss and Elvis but he was pretty fun. He is known as the thigh master because he is so hard to get going! Sort of like Rizzo on her lazy days. He actually was forward for me so yay!

What we did:

• Warm up
• Flexion at walk (long and short rein)
• Turn on the haunches
• Flexion at trot
• Canter to the back of the ride
• Group trot
• Cross-poles (2) across the diagonal 

Higgins usually is pretty lazy over jumps as well, but I actually got him to jump both of them and canter on afterwards. He has a really nice canter when he is forward but sometimes he looks silly doing it. My class was really lucky though because it was supposed to be a flat class. At the last minute my instructors changed their minds and let us jump anyways.

I still love Elvis and I am so glad they put me back on him ;)

Here is Higgins :)
http://www.littlebits.ca/horses.asp

March 23 2013 Lesson #26

Hey everyone! Thanks for all of the views I have been getting lately, I am hoping to make 2000 views soon!

So today I rode Elvis again, my gorgeous boy ;) He was super great once again, and I think he is really starting to trust me! When we dropped him off in his paddock he almost completely refused to leave the gate. He has this strange attachment to me, and I have no problem with that :)

Today we:

• Warm up at walk
• Flexing
• Square turns
• Flexing at trot
• Square turns at trot
• Straightness
• Trot across the diagonal over verticals (F to H, M to K)
• Cool down

I was so super proud of Elvis this week, because he didn't refuse a single jump. That was great for him! He did trip over this one jump though, but that was entirely my fault! On the last jump, he actually jumped it and landed on the correct lead and everything. He is such a good boy.

Its funny because Elvis and Bliss have this thing against each other. Actually I think its just Elvis and his big ego, but whenever Bliss comes anywhere near him, Elvis pins his ears and tries to kick. If I tap him with my crop or give him a kick he gets over it pretty quick.

I love you Elvis!!! Thanks for reading. Please comment or follow this blog! Help me reach 2000 views

March 16 2013 Lesson #26

Hey everybody!!!

I cant believe I got this lucky! I am now allowed to ride Elvis in our jumping lessons too! He is now the horse I ride every week and I am so excited to work with him. He seriously is the most gorgeous horse in the barn :) I was super surprised to see his name next to mine on the board when I showed up last week!


In our lessons I have to be careful because he doesn't really know how to jump yet, and since he is only 12 he still has a long time to learn :) He is all legs.

We did:

• Warm up on long rein
• Flexing
• Rounding
• Flexing at trot
• Sitting trot
• Sitting trot no stirrups
• Trot over ground poles (rising, sitting, 2 point)
• Trot over cross pole
• Grid (with 3 jumps)

This is what a grid looks like, just we jumped smaller <3
http://www.wylie-eventing.com

Elvis did very well with the first 8 things, and I am so proud of him for sticking with me that long. This was only his 2nd ever lesson and he had to jump on top of it! We got over the first cross rail fine and dandy, but when there was a second one added only 1 stride away and I think he got confused as to how to get in the stride and get over the jumps. The first 2 times he got over the first and refused the second, but eventually he slowed to a walk and got over it that way then jumped the last jump on the grid. The very last round was easily his best, and he    did fantastic! He even over jumped the last jump, and finished with a

forward canter circle <3

Elvis is definitely one of my favorite horses now, and I am so privileged to be able to help teach him jump. Might post a picture soon 

I love you Elvis!!

Thanks for reading, please comment or follow this blog :)

Help me reach 2000 views!

March 9 2013 Private Lesson

Hey everyone! Catching up on my posts today! This is the third one so far! :)

Today was a really fun private lesson, I was riding Bliss again. We ended up being a tad late for some reason so I really had to hurry to get him in from the paddock, and take his blankets off etc. I still made it in time thanks goodness!

He has been a really good boy lately, although he has been super hot. He needs exercise almost daily while some of the other horses don't need as much. I suppose that is the morgan/arabian blood in him!

We did:

• Flexion on a long rein at walk
• Flexion on a shortening rein at trot
• Cross rail over a short diagonal (multiple times)
• 3 jump course (which had some tight turns)
• Vertical

The vertical that was added to a 2 stride line down the quarter line, after my second time around the course, was the biggest I have jumped by far. It was almost 3 ft. and it scared me at first but trust me Bliss is very very capable. I really love jumping verticals now, and I really want to further my career in jumping. I am hoping that I can lease a horse soon, and start with some shows in summer :)

Thanks for reading! Follow and comment! Luv you guys

http://www.nadachance.com/horse_show.htm

March 8 2013 Lesson #25

Hi everyone, seems as though this post is late as well!

This week was a little bit different, I got to ride a newer gelding to the lesson program named Elvis. He is a 17.2 hh black and white splashed gelding, who by the way is absolutely gorgeous!!! There is no denying his beauty. He has a very soft mouth, so you have to balance using your legs and your reins :)

It was a pretty simple on the flat lesson, and I suppose I will be riding Dandy next week again because Elvis unfortunately he is only used on the flat now due to that fact that he is a little sore when he jumps. I was the first one to ride him in lessons, so it was his very first lesson! I am so happy I got to ride him! I also do NOT have a picture as of now.

What we did:

• Flexion at walk
• Square turns
• Supple
• Flexion at trot
• Flexion around a 20m circle at trot
• Flexion around a 20m circle at canter
• Group trot

This is really all we did, because ALL of the horses were acting out, and were being a tad silly on this day. Oh well I was really lucky to be able to ride him while I could, and I am thrilled that I was picked to ride him. I have a private lesson soon so I will update you on that too!

March 2 2013 Lesson #24

Hello everyone sorry this lesson post is late!

I rode dandy again! Yay! It seems he really is starting to trust me now, which benefits us both thanks goodness. I was getting kinda tired of the bolting :)

         
     We did:

• Forward walk
• Flexion
• Rounding
• Supple 
• Trot (flexion) Without stirrups

From here the class was without stirrups for the most part

• Cantering
• Jumping a cross rail from a square turn down quarter line (w/ stirrups)
• Jumping same cross rail (without stirrups) :)

http://jenntirrell.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/riding-without-stirrups/

Jumping without stirrups was a new one for me, and since I was riding dandy I was sorta scared of the outcome of that (since he bolts) but I found it super easy, and lots of fun to jump without! He even bolted after and it was easier to stay on since there wasn't the push back from the stirrups. I actually want to learn how to jump bareback soon as it sounds like tons of fun as long as you have the balance and the right horse.

February 24th 2013 Private lesson

Private lessons.... They are like the best thing in the entire world for us horse lovers. They have seriously improved my riding, and I finally got my horse on the bit and completely in sync with me!

I was riding bliss again, and here is what we did:

• Flexion on long rein at walk
• Flexion at trot (gradually shortening reins as horse gets round)
• Collection, and getting horse on the bit at trot
• Warm up cross-rail
• Canter
• 2 jump course (canter)
• 4 jump course (canter

We did the 2 jump course multiple times, so that I could learn to balance Bliss and get him calmer after the jump. When we finally did the 4 jump course we started with a 20m circle and then down the quarter line to the next jump. It was actually a tricky course because there were some tight turns and Bliss likes to go fairly fast, and he has some balance issues.

On the very last jump we cleared the whole course, and I even got him to do a flying lead change off of the last jump, and a nice flexed 20m circle :)

http://wodumedia.com

I love the lessons and hope they can continue! I love you Bliss <3

February 23 2013 Lesson # 23

Hello :)

This week went very well, I rode Dandy and we are starting to work well as a team!!! He has not recently been bolting, and he doesn't spook very much with me now. I am very glad I got the chance to ride him because he has taught me a whole heck of a lot. Heels down, eyes up, push on :) that's the rule with him. Our instructor sort of spooked him a bit today he just stopped and side stepped, looking at her all wide eyed. I just looked ahead and kicked him forward because really that is what he needs when he second guesses himself!

What we did:

• Flexion at walk
• Flexion at trot
• Trot rising and sitting without stirrups
• Warm up jump across diagonal
• 5 jump course
• 3 jump course (second time around)

We had a jumping lesson this week, with the 5 jumps, and then because of time constraints my instructor had to cut down the course to only 3 jumps. It was still fun though. Dandy was calm over all of the jumps, and we worked well together. Not once did i truly lose control of him. I had a couple of problems with keeping my heels down but other than that we did a good job together. He is such a sweetie with me and I can see why someone would buy him now (I couldn't before for obvious reasons)


I also got the chance to ride for a second hour on Spud (who i used to rise when I started jumping) There is a class after mine that I help to volunteer with, and usually I just help teach/assist. This time only one of the students had showed up so me and my friend got to get up on the horses and go for a nice relaxing ride :)

I had to show the students a couple of times where to go, and I led them around a couple of serpentine then we got to trot around! At the end of the lesson the students got to go bareback on lead. Being older and more experienced etc. I got to get on and ride bareback which I haven't done for a really long time! Spud is really smooth to trot bareback and I barely slipped around at all. I was allowed to mount and everything all on my own too which was fantastic. Then we got to groom the horses and help out and go home :) I also have a private lesson tomorrow which I will tell you about at a later date!

Thanks for reading please follow my blog and comment!

February 10 2013 Private lesson! Bliss

The is bliss *not me in picture* (www.flickr.com )

So I have stared Bi weekly private lessons with another coach at our stables. I was so lucky to be riding Bliss (my favorite horse EVER) in my private lessons. We are a good match I must say <3

We started with a very long rein, flexing and getting him round. It was great to have the arena to myself for an hour! After flexion at the walk we worked on flexion at the trot. He was a good boy and listened well. I had a couple of problems with pulling my elbows back but over all we had good understanding with the coach (who has coached me before :) ) We did some flexion at canter and then went over a warm up jump on the quarter line multiple times. Some of which involved me going into 2 point the whole way around the arena until we got to the jump and then staying steady while he jumped over. It really improved my 2 point I must say. We also worked on timing, and counting strides.

She set up a course of jumps, with fairly easy approaches and lines. There was only one jump I had trouble with and that was a jump set up across the diaganol where it was a very tight turn that I wasnt ready for the first time around the course, we got over it easy enough but the approach was less than pretty :(, the second time around the course was brilliant and we flew over it. I really want to buy a horse like Bliss when I can :)

I will update you on the following lessons, and private lessons excluding tomorrows. Thanks for reading! And please follow my blog and comment!

February 9 2013 Lesson # 21

Hello!

So this week we had another break through with Mr. Dandy :) He was the best boy, and worked his heart out.

We did:
Flexion at walk
Flexion at trot
Flexion at canter
Rounding
Jumping course
Verticals!!! :)

I was extremely happy with Dandy this week, and I am finally getting some trust from him. We started with flexion on a long rein, and then flexion at the trot. We started over a little cross pole at a trot following each other in a line. Dandy was calm even in the very beginning and he was incredibly respectful <3. We also did approach at trot and cantered out. After warming up over that cross rail in both directions we were given a 4 jump course to ride. It was very easy and just helped us with flexion and approach. Dandy was an angel the whole time, and even after she put the vertical up he was collected and ready. No spooking nothing. Even when a huge hunk of snow came crashing off the roof right over us, he cantered along nicely trusting me that is was ok :)

I am starting to like this guy :) thanks Dandy I love you :*

February 2 2013 Lesson #20

This week we worked on:

Flexion at walk in both directions
Flexion at trot w/ and w/out stirrups
Flexion at canter
20 m circles at canter over 4 poles (at tangent points C, M, H, X)
20 m circles at canter over jumps and poles. Jumps at M and H.
Walking out to cool down

I could have sworn I was making some progress with Dandy the big chicken, but apparently all went to waste this week haha! He decided to be spooky, and flighty but I guess thats how you learn to ride. I accepted his challenge. We did okay over the ground poles on the 20 m circle, he took some pretty big strides and took some effort to get over the pole at M near the viewing wall. I could tell without the jumps even set up he was high but we worked over that hurdle.

When we started jumping he decided to bolt, and over jump the jump by M. I must say I was really not expecting him to do that. Lets just say we now know I can jump over 3ft. :) It was quite a thrill. Then over the next jump he went into a choppy trot, and rocked back on his heels, refusing the jump entirely. I wasnt unseated, and since he was known to refuse I made him go over the little foot high jump from a stand still. I held on and he way over jumped it and went from standstill to mad gallop. We had a very entertaining lesson.  He also galloped and dead stopped into a wall throwing me way onto his neck, lucky for me I apparently have mad ninja skills and stayed on for the whole lesson.

The only reason he didnt spook when all of the snow came crashing down was because he thought it was Higgens (another horse in my class) snorting after his round.


Thanks to Dandy for giving me the ride(s) of my life.... literally :)

Lesson #19 January 26th 2013

Hey guys!!! (and girls) Sorry i missed a couple more lessons!!!!. :)

Today was a fantastic lesson! Dandy and me are definitely getting along better!

We started with flexion, and walking on a looser rein. Then we moved on to rounding the horse at the trot. Dandy is fantastic as flexion, and he gets pretty round when you ask.

I have definitely gotten better at keeping my heels down, and that means I don't bounce out of the saddle like that day when I almost fell off.

We also did flexing and rounding at the sitting trot without stirrups. I always worry that Dandy is going to spook or something, and because I don't have stirrups I am going to bounce off haha. We started with approaching a jump on the long side at a trot, and going over it with a halt at the end of the arena. Dandy got pretty excited after the jump but I was able to get a beautiful square halt at the end! We went around again at the canter, and again he did fabulous <3  We did a three jump course near the end of the lesson, and we did it each both twice. Dandy almost needed a crop! He was so slow, and nicely went around the course. At the end of the course there was an orange cone and we were supposed to go around it. Dandy had a mini panic attack both times away from it as fast as possible! haha he is such a big chicken!

I am really starting to like him though (i didn't really like him that much in the beginning) Lets hope the next few weeks go as well as the last few :)

I also have a couple of private lessons with another instructor coming up in a couple of days. I will definitely tell you about it when I can! I will be riding BLISS!!! I love him so much. I LOVE YOU BOY!!! <3 <3 <3

Bye for now

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/167064/carriage-horse-s-rush-hour-bolt-renews-safety-debate

Lesson: Sometime after xmas break Date: Unknown

Hi everyone!

This last lesson we were taking it easy, as the horses have been off their work for a while. It shows too. The horse are always more jumpy, and fast paced, and spooky the week back after new years.

I was riding Dandy as usual, and he is looking pretty good! We call him Big Bird because he is a big chicken, its surprising how spooky he is when he is such a big animal. We only did some basic flat work this week, because of how hot some of the horses were. We had 2 newer horses in our lesson as well. Dee who I think is a chestnut Quarter Horse, and Luke who is a Percheron cross.

We worked on flexion at both walk and trot, and Dandy was going good around the whole arena. He only got skiddish a couple of times :) We all line up at one end of the arena so we could individually work on flexion at the canter. Dandy was fantastic!!! He really was a pro! (I love you boy!!) Luke got so scared, because he was on his own at the other end of the arena! He bolted, and crow hopped, and bucked. He ran straight in behind patches and hid between us while we were parked at the end. All the horses reacted quite well for having a huge horse barreling towards them! Thank god patches is a good old man <3. I thought Dandy would shy but he didn't! Yay Dandy :D

Then we did another group trot, and then a long reined walk around. That was a lazy lesson, but clearly it is better to work the horse back into the lessons, then to have someone get hurt!

Luv you bye!!

Volunteering!

This week I have been volunteering down at my stables, for a birthday party that went really well, and then for exercising, and schooling the horses. After the birthday party I got to ride Doc a quarter horse gelding. He was really sweet, and we worked well together. He was pretty glad to get moving after a week off. When the younger kids ride him, he knows what he can get away with though.

On the 31st I got to ride Dandy. He was really crazy, and so they free lunged him for a long time before I got on him. He was soaked in sweat after running so hard and I had to walk him up and down the barn isle for 20 minutes, before his breathing was normal again! Once I got on him he was really good though! He is usually terrible about going near the wall where the people sit and watch, but we slowly made our way over and soon he was ignoring it completely. He was pretty happy about the exercise he got afterwards.

We get to ride on Friday as well, and then I have my usual lesson on Saturday! Looking forward to it!

http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/lifesciences/staff/malcolmkennedy/malcolmkennedy/latherin/

December 15 2012 Lesson #16

Sorry for missing a lesson or two, I have been really busy! Not to mention Christmas break.

I am still riding Dandy, and as of yet I have not figured him out! Our last lesson we had before Christmas break was pretty scary. We had a course of 5 jumps with a combination at the end, It was jump 1 stride jump. I was pretty excited to get it over with, and see how well I could handle Dandy while I was at it. We did two practice jumps, and we went over them really easy. Dandy also had decided to cooperate so it was easier on me. We were picked first to take the course, and I had it memorized so I didn't need to worry about forgetting it (which turned out to be a good thing). We were to take the first jump at a trot, and do the rest of the course at a canter. The first 3 jumps went really well, and Dandy was going good. When we went down quarter line to approach the combination though, that is a different story. Dandy got very excited, and full out galloped in the jumps. In the middle I lost both stirrups, and he bounded over the second jump. Then if that wasn't enough he spooked, and bolted. I almost fell off that time :P

The second time we took the course, my heels went up and I almost fell off again! Our instructor asked us to go over the combination for a third time, and this time went better (even though I was still going full speed). I was pretty shaky after I got off him haha!


Lets hope his crazy gets easier to handle!

BYE!!!

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Low-Angle-View-of-a-Jockey-And-a-Horse-Jumping-Over-a-Hurdle-Posters_i3699030_.htm