5/20

Trimmed Ruby and Zari

Trimmed Z and played a short liberty session.  Very nice connection and great responsiveness.

Working on either connection, responsiveness or relaxation.  We had it all today.

Prepping for Liberty filming

5/

Played with Z in the round pen.  Looking for lightness and a connection.  Focusing on the shoulder and not letting it fall in.  Also practicing the draw... a LOT!

Trimmed Sky earlier this week.  He needed a good amount of rehab due to the time between trims.  He grows a lot of toe and had flared walls and laminae separation.

Kris trimmed Cowboy's fronts.  He was worried about the herd and was tough to get trimmed.

Checking out Cricket

Today I spent about 90 minutes with a very well-bred Thoroughbred named Cricket.  He sustained an injury about 2 years ago and hasn't had a job since.  He's a huge and very cool LBI and I am considering bringing him home to train and maybe later rehome.  If he's as awesome as he seems, maybe he can be my dressage horse.  He's got some good scarring from an injury that may prove troublesome for girthing, but we'll see.

Kris got Rain trimmed today, too.

Trotting the property

Me and Kendall. We planned for 1 hour of trotting. Rain was tough for Kendall today and I'm guessing Rain is having a tougher cycle (spring menses).

Trimmed gem and touched up Z.

Horses for stress relief

I took a new role last October and it's been quite a challenge. I travel nearly every week and I have tough deliverables and prep-work for important meetings regularly. I won't say I regret taking the role because it's been a good push for my career and professional skills. Last week, I presented to 100 people - a big challenge for me.

Subsequently, I'm more stressed out these days. Now that days are getting longer and temps are warmer, I'm getting my butt out to the barn for more than just feeding and an occasional ride. I'm reminded how helpful it is to me to take this kind of time with my horses. Riding loosens my tight neck and shoulders from sitting at my desk with tense shoulders. Riding helps my remember to breathe and slow down. Riding gives me immense joy, gets me smiling again. Connecting with one of my equine partners can heal the wounds of the day... or even the entire week. So grateful for my horses.

Tonight I took Miss Ellie out front to put some time on in the wide open space. She was a rock star. She was calm and easy - no brace. We trotted and walked. She was a pleasure and I think she enjoyed the new environment. I had Kyle hang out with Rain while Ellie and I did our thing (figure 8's, trot transitions, etc...). Kyle just laid across Rain's back and stood still, hanging out. I think he was feeling the sheer joy of a horse, too.

Then, for the first time in months, I played with and rode my big boy Gem. What a PLEASURE that was! He felt great! He was soft and offered vertical flexion with ease. He gave me great canter departs and nice soft sideways. I've missed that horse.

Ellie will go home in a few days and I then will devote time to Gem regularly. He's a star waiting to get his chance to shine. I'm missing dressage, but I've made the choice to focus on endurance this year. I just can't do it all. His hock can't handle the rigors of dressage, but certainly we have lots to develop and he enjoys the time spent. So happy I have him in my pasture.

Got two of his feet trimmed (the lefts!). My plan was to do all 4, but I did the front and rear left side and ran out of steam. I know better. Should have done the fronts.

Trimming

Kris got Starlet and Cowboy's fronts trimmed.

coaching and riding

Kris trimmed Rain today.

Tougher day with Rio and Kris - so much wind!

The arena was flapping, but the horses did ok.

Rode Ellie, also. She did great with the distractions but was not as partnered up as I'd like today.

Come on, SPRING!

The weather finally gave us a reprieve today. It was warm (about 50) and only a little breezy. The snow is finally melting and the horses are starting to shed. I had a little pep in my step! I maybe did too much, as I was absolutely exhausted by bedtime.

Started with a short trail ride with Kendall and Chrissy. Chrissy and Cowboy left the property confidently, but unfortunately the country road sights and sounds were a little too much. We only went about a mile before we decided to turn around. Z was excited but responsive. It was great to ride away after a few months of indoor arena and riding only on the property.

I trimmed Z's fronts and Ellie's fronts. Z is struggling with some thrush so treated again with white lightening and managed her frogs. Ellie has a very flat foot but some good structure to work with. I didn't get to her hinds as she was having a hard time standing still with the herd out of sight.

I then rode Ellie in the indoor. She was full of energy and again, worried about the herd. She actually reared with me in the saddle for the first time. Surprised me! I brought the herd closer with some hay outside the indoor and we were able to have a better ride. We worked on the trot and circling and figure 8's. I thought she'd be going home today, but looks like she's here for a few more days. I will ride her some more while she's here. I want to build on the new attitude she found after yesterday. I had to hop off after the rearing and do some focused ground work. She worked up quite a sweat, but her idea of partnering with me was much better and she was ride-able.

After that, Steve and I fixed fence so I could re-open the west pasture. It's been closed due to down fence for 2 months. There's still 1-2 feet of snow in that pasture! This will be a huge melting week.

After all that, I had my 4 miles to walk for Avon training. I was so tired, it was more like a stroll. But I did it! Great day.

Out go the LIGHTS!

Rode Ellie while I coached Kris and Rio today. Ellie was a great trainers mount. She's coming along very nicely.

For Kris and Rio, tracking their programs:

sideways #4

figure 8#2

passenger #1

In the middle of the lesson the lights went out. Luckily, everyone stayed calm. The generator ran out of gas! It was absolutely pitch dark, but it was great to see how calm we all stayed. It could have been a mess.

Kris trimmed Rain before she left.

Lessons and Playtime

Today was a great day. Had a coaching lesson with Kris and Rio. They are making huge progress with every session. Today was mounting session #2, Figure 8 session #1, and sideways session #3. The next lesson is slated for riding.

Had Gem with me to coach Kris. He had a serious need for attention today! I tried to play with him while I helped out Kris, but it was tough. He gave me some gorgeous COD's though and a couple at the canter. We also did some nice figure 8's at the trot on the 22'.

Then I played a little with Ellie and we rode around the indoor. Chrissy was there with Cowboy and Kendall had kids over, playing in the sand. It's just been so windy that the indoor has become a place for playtime for kids AND grown-ups! I worked on Ellie's forward when asked and worked on trot. Her feet got stuck a couple times and I wasn't sure if she was worried or just not feeling energetic. Either way, I took it slow and tried to build the communication.

Kris got Cowboy and Ellie trimmed.

Trimming and riding a new horse

Today was a pretty cool day. My friend Jen came up from Co. Springs so that we could talk about trimming approaches. She's advancing her skills as a natural trimmer and wanted another perspective. She got a chance to see the property and the indoor, too. We trimmed Z together and I pulled my hoof meter reader out to see how we were doing. It was fun to think about basics and test my skills against a measuring tool. We were able to give Z a nice trim. She was not very helpful for trim time and I realized I haven't done much with her in a while. She was worried about being away from the herd. Doh - time to spend more time and get our relationship back in order.

After that, I had an appointment with my dressage instructor to try out a horse. His name was Irish and he's a 7 yr old Sporthorse (WB cross of some sort). He's a gorgeous gray with lots of black points, about 16'2". He's been ridden by dressage trainers for about a year now. He needed a lot of contact as that's what he's been trained to do. He had huge movement and I really enjoyed riding him! I had to slow him down and get him in a frame before I could handle his trot. I was all over the place before that. His canter is lovely, however. He covers some serious ground with all his gaits. I imagine he'd be great all the trail as well. He was a very nice horse, guessing an LBI. He had some nice curiosity, but horses aren't really allowed to show curiosity in the world of dressage. I imagine in a world with less rules, a real personality would emerge. I was literally sweaty from riding him for about 30 minutes. What a lot of work he is, but boy would he be great for dressage. I'll be thinking about it for sure.

Trimming

Kris Warner came over and we took care of Rain Gemini and Ellie. Ellie had an awful lot of hoof wall but she actually has quite a good foot. Kris trimmed Rain and Ellie and I trimmed Gemini. I didn't put a great trim on Gem, I wasn't feeling well.

Trimming

Trimmed Nina in Kiowa. Snowy and cold, but it was nice to get her feet in a good place.

Still no left lead...

Rode Gem around the front and then around the track to the left. Then in the center around the indoor arena. Never once get a left canter. A couple times he tried but shuffled and changed leads as he departed. Do I need to buy a different dressage horse?? Ugh.

Trimmed Z. Need to do Rain and Gem this week. Z is dragging her front left (the club foot). Is her shoulder out? She's not very fit right now - maybe I need to ride her more to keep her fit and more balanced?

Cowboy trimmed

Kris came over and got Cowboy trimmed. I've trimmed Rain and Starlet is gone, so only Cowboy needed Kris' services today.

Great day!

7.5 with kk at Hidden Mesa with all 3 horses. Gem running alongside us off lead. KK had a fantastic time, and so did I. trimmed Rain, touched up Z and Gem. Then some liberty with all 3 in the round pen. Rain is the weaker link - need to work on some liberty with her.

Hosed them off and Z and Gem went down to roll in the round pen, but not surprisingly, Rain didn't. She's never been much for a roll. not sure why.

1 hour of mental break

Long work day and at 5:30, I still wasn't done. However, dang it, I left my desk and got to it. Chrissy had Cowboy, Kendall came out and tacked up Rain for a ride and I grabbed Gem to see how cantering on the left lead from the ground looks.

Played with left lead canter, stick to me and zone 5 driving. He was great.

Trimmed Gem.

Kendall rode around and just smiled and had fun.

Played with Cowboy, gorgeous sideways trot and a few sideways canter strides. He's so cool.

Kids in the barn

I had the kids helping with manure management today. Steve is out of town this week and the snow on Saturday produced a ton of manure in the stalls. I finally got it addressed and Kendall and Delaney were quite helpful!!

After clean-up, both kids wanted to ride Rain. Rain was very bracey, but Kendall handled it ok. Delaney didn't do much riding, thankfully. Rain really needs time with me. Delaney is excited about riding in the corn maze next weekend, so he wanted to practice riding so he'd be ready. I think he'll be fine, but I love that he wants to put some time in!

I also got Z trimmed. Her hinds are doing better, but the right still has quite a bull nose. I'll keep working on it. I was hoping the chiro adjustments would have had more impact.

A fun evening with my kids, my horses and horse chores.

One final lesson before the show

Met with KC the day before our first show. We worked on the left lead, but I honestly don't believe we made much progress. He seems to just be practicing the counter canter. I don't think he's getting a clear understanding of what I mean when I ask him to canter to the left with the left lead. I don't know why we lost the left lead.

We worked on stretch, chewy trot and Gem is getting that with not trouble.

We played with slowing down the trot tempo and helping me understand what the trot tempo should be.

I really feel like I'm getting the pattern solid in my mind, which makes me feel much better for the show. I decided to do only Training Level 1, so I only have 1 test to memorize. This is a huge relief and we're practicing the test in sections. We start with a left lead canter in this test. Probably not the best choice for our first test, but I really just want the show experience, not a blue ribbon.