First Event of the season!

Area VII Young Riders Benefit Horse Trials


This horse loves to go to shows, and hes pretty good at em, too.

Training level

Dressage: 35.7
xc: double clear
sj:double clear

Running in circles

The sunny weather has continued and the days are getting longer, oh so slowly but surely. At 4:30 there was still light so I decided to ride outside. I did not make 2 point Tuesday so I planned to revisit it today.

For warm up we took a nice hack down the driveway and out the gravel road to loosen up muscles and then went straight to the outdoor arena to do trot sets in 2 point. Deuce was a little sticky and behind my leg at first. The sun was setting and it was getting a little dark, and I was having trouble getting my watch set to beep on the minute when we started out. So at fist I did 2 1 minute trots in each direction (man I am out of shape in 2 point!) Then a little walk break to fiddle with my watch to get the settings, we did a 5 minute set, then a walk break then a 3 minute @325. I worked on keeping my elbows soft and keeping him round and together while forward too. Its tough to have it all. seems like if he is soft he slows down. Argh. We;ll get there. We did another 2 minute canter, this time I jsut sent him forward and did not worry too much about round which seemed to go better. By this point, it was dark. Fortunately, Deuce did not mind and the arena was empty so there was nothing to crash into.  We wrapped up with the canter and then walked out in the dark.

Riding in the moonlight

It was an early morning ride for me today! The skys were still clearish and there was a super bright almost settingg, nearly full moon! We worked on Dressage in the indoor about 30 mins and had some really nice round  soft moments at the trot and canter and some decent transitions from walk to trot where he was both prompt and soft in contact. Progress! 

I was drawn to be outside, even in the chilly wee morning o dark thirty hours so I ditched the saddle and swung up bareback to go for a hack up the road behind the arena. The moon was so bright there were shadows! Deuce seemed to resonate with the calm quiet morning and very happily and relaxingly strolled down the road. As I felt Deuce move under me and his warmth against me, I experienced a strong feeling of peace, oneness and connection with Deuce and the world. What a way to start the day!! I am so thankful and blessed.

Happy New Year!

Its a new year with new goals! It started off great with  a beautiful sunny day. We road in the outdoor since its been dry the last few days and the footing was good! It was great to be in the open! 

We worked on dressage still focusing on loosening the base of his neck with over bending and counter bending. I am also working hard on keeping my hands up and together, elbows by my side, shoulder back and legs long... Deuce responds positively when I get all that position straightened out, so its my motivation to keep working at it and maintain it.