I'm finally getting somewhere!

I love those landmark days where you finally feel like you've had a break through. This one doesn't really feel like something I accomplished, but I was thrilled either way!

Bailey is starting to learn how to give to the contact! I think it's more the lunging in side reins combined with her natural build and ability, but it was still phenomenal! She's learned that when there's contact in her mouth, she just has to stretch her neck down and bring her nose in to relieve the pressure. As soon as she did this, I immediately rewarded her with a slackened inside rein and sent her forward into the contact. There were a few times it was nearly perfect. I've never had a horse with so much power in her hind end. It's a truly incredible feeling, just at the trot! When she moved forward and really stretched her back, her hind end was bouncing me up out of the saddle. Now I have to be careful because she actually clipped her front heel. I assume it's because she's still a little 'butt high' and can't get her shoulder out of the way yet, so I think a pair of bell boots are in order. Thankfully, I have an extra pair lying around somewhere. After about 25 minutes of really great trot work, I let her end on that stellar note.

Other than that, it was a calm day. I had a late night in Gettysburg last night, so I didn't much feel like putting a lot of effort into my work. As if my horses knew this, they were all super and required very little work today. Even Bella felt great and really put her mind into getting in and getting done. She's been so light and forward since she got her feet done. I'm really thrilled that things are going well for her again. My vet warned me about the farrier and said he's not very reliable, but as long as my horse is going better than ever, I can deal with a few quirks. I just hope that's all they are.

Becca rode Patrick again, and as usual, he was super. I don't think you could find a better kid's horse than this little guy. My friend Britteny, who has ridden and jumped him a few times, knows a trainer that may be interested (did I already tell you that? I think I did...). I hope something comes of it, because I know she has a lot of young riders that would really just love him to death. Otherwise, he's going to the July show and hopefully attracting some attention. This means I really need to get going with his jumping when I get back from the beach on the 17th. He may be trotting his courses ;)

I'm also hoping to be heading to Culpeper for two weeks in August. Entries aren't due until the end of July, so I have some time to think about it. I did the calculations, and if I show in three classes a week, it works out to be about $382 a week. That doesn't include a hotel, but I'm thinking I could just put a blow up mattress in the dressing room of my trailer and camp out. I'd only be there three days each week, and it would still beat the week Morgan and I slept in the back of her mom's Tahoe the whole show week...oh, yes. We know how to horse show on a budget. Anyways, I'd be doing the lvl 3 or it's equivalent, which is non-nominated, so I really don't think that's a lot of money for an A show. Hopefully I'll have someone to come with me, at least to act as jump crew, but if not, it'll still be a good experience for Bella either way.

Anyways, Patrick jumps tomorrow. Hopefully all goes well! I'm thinking about throwing a baby liverpool into the mix...could be interesting!

I'm falling behind

So I've been keeping busy. I had a nice relaxing afternoon yesterday that was spent with family out on my uncle's boat. Needless to say, the horses had a vacation day. It was great to see them again. They live out in Kentucky, so visits are few and far between.

Anyways, the horses have just been taking it easy these last two riding days. I've been hacking them out in the galloping lane or just lightly schooling them in the ring. I figure, I leave for vacation in a week and a few days. I may as well let them take it easy.

Bailey went out to the galloping lane to work for the first time this afternoon. I was a little leery about it, because she'd never been out alone before, but overall, she was pretty decent. There were a few nervous moments when Patrick kept calling for her, but she didn't do anything unmanageable. I think it actually did her a lot of good. I was able to just plant my hands in her neck with a light contact, and let her move nice and forward at the trot. Eventually, we had a few nice seconds where she would start to relax into the bit and put her head down. I was pleased and ended on that note.

My friend came over and rode Patrick again. I swear, he hates me. He goes so much better for someone who doesn't make him work as hard as I do. She even jumped him around, and he was a little angel. I think she was pretty impressed with him, what with being 4 and all. She's even going to get in touch with a friend who has a few students that might be looking for horses. That would be GREAT! I certainly wouldn't turn down the money at this point in time!

All in all, it's been a pretty mellow week. I started painting some of my jumps (after YEARS of having natural standards and white poles!). As long as color doesn't matter, I highly recommend going to Home Depot and buying their "oops!" paint. You can get a quart for $1.00, (or a gallon for usually about $5.00, but who needs a gallon?) and usually there are some very useable colors. I have found a nice, rich navy blue which I used on two poles and standards, a minty green, a peach/pink color, and a reddish brown that I think will look great on the coops.

Stay tuned for more of Anna's DIY jump making tips:) I seem to find plenty!

Another quick update...

I meant to include this in last night's post, but I totally forgot.

Still no word from my trainer. It's been nearly two weeks now, without even so much as a text message. Anyways, I'm just throwing that out there. I'm trying really hard to just forget about it, especially since Bella has been jumping more amazing now than she ever did in Florida. At least I know my horse well enough to succeed on our own, and that's all I need at this point!

Anyways, on Facebook I made mention of karma exacting her revenge. My trainer didn't place in the Grand Prix Saturday night, and his daughter and student didn't pin in their money classes either. I'm not laughing about it; I'm no champion rider myself. But I do find the timing rather ironic, because it's not very often that he doesn't pin in the company he was in. I think this just furthers my belief in 'what goes around, comes around'. I was starting to think I was somehow on the losing end of the karmic battles...but with as good as Bella's doing, my dad's quiet encouragement and support, and my trainer's bad fortune this weekend, I think maybe things aren't going to be as bad as I initially thought.

Now I just need to find a way to afford a few shows this summer! Anyyybody want to buy a super cute 4 year old gelding?? Haha

It's one of those days where you just feel goooood

Everyone was so good today. I couldn't be happier. AND, I have pictures:D Yayy!

I took Patrick out into my 'galloping' lane today. Turns out, he quite loves being out of the ring. He was super forward and really stretched and relaxed. We did 4 extended trot laps and 4 working canter laps then considered it a job well done. I think he's going to do a lot more of that. I'd been afraid to take him out there because sometimes he gets a little snotty about adventures, but he was great!

I sat and thought about Bailey for a little while, and I realized that I'm just too excited. I can't wait for her to be fully trained and ready to go, and because of that...I need to back off. It's not that I'm pushing her too hard, but I don't want it to get to that point (and who would!). So today I just put her on a lunge line again in some stretchy side reins and really pushed her forward. She's really flexing her neck now and engaging her hind end (she's tracking up a good extra two inches, where before it was hardly noticeable). However, to the right she steps in a little to the inside, instead of tracking straight, and she doesn't roll her belly into the bend. This is where our issues under saddle are stemming from. BUT, it's improved. So we're going to do a lot of lunging at the trot, a lot of forward movements in the galloping lane, and a little bit of pressure under saddle, and see where we get in a few weeks.

Bella was a totally superstar today. It was one of those days where I couldn't have put a pricetag on her if Bill Gates walked in the doorway. I put the jumps up, nothing was under 3'3" (unless it couldn't go up i.e. the coop line) and the 'big' oxer rode about 3'9". She jumped everything without hesitation, and was even less concerned about the big oxer than when my trainer hiked it up. She hardly put out an effort. I really almost thought she was going to stop she was so nonchalant about it all, but she knew better than me and hopped right over it in super delightful fashion. Here are some pictures:

The one above this is her "I hate coops!" crooked way of attempting to jump it and express her disdain, lol.

Can you tell the above picture was the last jump? She jumped it significantly bigger than the first time we tackled that jump!

She doesn't mind the little coops anymore. Clearly it's okay to jump them straight...

Anyways, we finished up with a vetrolin bath and a nice poultice wrap. I'm so looking forward to having tomorrow off!