Quick Ride

Deuce got a few days off due to weather.

Today was a late night at work for meetings so got out to the barn a bit later and hopped on for a bareback ride. I love that I can get on my horse bareback after a few days off and he is completly sane.

His walk is developing; I have noticed the last few weeks that is is more energetic and he is pushing from behind more.


We worked on moving off leg to the right and left; turn on haunch and fore and also leg yielding and staying straight mostly at the walk and some trot.

We also did lots of trot work; I focused on keeping my hands together and up and sitting on my seat bones,

Downward transitions in the seat, legs and core. Over all a very satisfying ride with positive outcome.

Surprise Snow!

Sure its been cold - like mid 20s at night and 30 during the day the past few days.. but its been clear and windy. There was no snow in the forecast... at all. I woke up this morning and it was WHITE out and 1/2" already on the ground and fat flakes still falling.

 Deuce had a farrier appointment at 2:30 so Russ took me out to the barn since  I still maintain my southern roots and refuse to drive in the wither weather. 

Deuce was enjoying his day out in the snow. He really wanted me to chase him. 

Rhythm, Track, and keeping front end in front of hind end.

Pony Club Mounted Meeting - Jumping lessons with Juila Kubicek at Hillside.

Cold, super hot and  jump happy Deuce in big, open arena.

Weird things to jump.

Out front end in front of back end in the turns (think turn on the haunch) keep outside rein over wither and supporting to help with drift.

Leg on to the base of big fences

A NEW year!!

We started the new year with a nice ride in the cold, windy  morning. It was sunny, but man was it brutal.  I am super thankful for fleece pants and indoor riding arenas! (there would have been no riding outside - the ground was an ice cube!) Deuce warmed up his usual self. I did turn on the fore squares to get him responsive to my aids and focused on using my seat and keeping my knuckles together.

Now that I am more committed to improving dressage, it has become clear that my poor Dressage saddle of 15 years or more is not doing me any favors. In fact, I am actually fighting with it to maintain the correct position. Eileen had me ride in one of her saddles last week and what a difference! I could stay back and out of Deuce's way and low and behold he could move! He actually was up in the front end more consistently and moving beautifully!! Needless to say, I will be saddle shopping in the coming 6 months. In the mean time, I am playing with towels to get the saddle position a little more correct to help with my balance. (Which I did today - and made a difference).