Or Maybe We Will...

Of course as soon as I started lamenting the fact that Prair and I haven't so much as peeked down the center line, let alone trot down it, I refreshed my search for little baby schooling shows and found one lone, last possible event that we could sneak in next weekend. 

We actually tried to go to this schooling show last year, but wildfires were horrible and the air quality was so poor that the event got canceled.  It just so happens that their show (scheduled for this Saturday) was still open for entries so without much thought I popped a form in the mail and committed myself to First Level 2 and a Prix Caprilli test for funsies.  I did just email the organizer because when I google "Prix Caprilli Test 1" I get about six different tests all with that title... So um yeah. I need help there. For those who haven't seen one, here's one example of a Prix Cap test. 

I'm pretty sure we'll just be going over cross rails, but I just love the concept of having fences incorporated into a dressage test.  I guess in theory Hunters is judging your rhythm, form, relaxation, etc so it's not dissimilar from that, but fun, yes no?

Saturday, I got a text from S that Prair was a complete and total moron under saddle.  Spooky, tense, rushed, nothing productive.  She apparently followed that up by running like a lunatic in her pasture until she was lathered in sweat which was then followed up by behaving like an idiot in the wash stall (washing off said lather) and whacking her head into an overhead beam. 

That apparently quieted the gerbils but WOW.  We couldn't actually remember the last time she behaved like that (at home anyway), which is a testament to how far she's come.  Maybe she's in heat? who knows.

I do know that when I tacked up on Sunday for my lesson there was no hint of the marewolf behaviors.  Prair stood nicely, snoozed while I groomed her and we had an epically lovely ride. 

S had one vertical set up at X on the center line.  We worked on our straightness to/over/after the jump as well as our changes - specifically more straightness while getting them... then turning. 

We jumped out of our collected, working, and lengthened canters all without stress or rushing and figure-eighting back and forth.  I do think Prair is more confident through the turns in her hind shoes, I felt like I could carry significantly more pace through the turns than before.  In fact I had to concentrate on not holding her back to our previous "skid out" point and letting her still power through and use her butt like she should.

There was one magical jump where we were in our "big" canter, heading home, I took a long spot (previous cringe worthy moment), we landed, I asked for our tricky change to the right lead... we got it, rebalanced for the corned and worked around it without any fuss or motorcycling or anything.

Pretty much every aspect of that ride was a no-go for us last year.  No large step to fences, long spots were suicide, jumping home was a disaster and there was no such thing as a lead change or a balanced corner after a fence. 

It was such a tangible improvement I was thrilled.  The whole ride was just enjoyable.  Plenty to school and focus and work on, but none of it felt potentially explosive or tense.  It was a pretty perfect Saturday afternoon at the barn.

Other updates include poor Gus.  Gus was slated for his normal acupuncture on Friday, but he jogged out significantly more lame than he usually is.  S reported he was better than normal or normal (for gus) in his lessons during the week, so the lameness was new and unexplained.  My vet spent the better part of an hour working with us, we did a gazillion blocks on the leg starting low and working our way up first block laterally, then blocking medially.  Nothing gave us a conclusive "ah ha" insight, and while there were moments where Gus would jog almost sound, if we repeated it the head bobbing would return. 

He's since improved (yesterday he was almost normal for Gus), but I've decided to spend some cash and get a really good ultrasonographer to take a peek at his problem leg.  Our only hint of what's going on is a report from a vet (who I don't love) who did an ultrasound on him almost two years ago.  I think it's time for fresh pictures and a better understanding of what his structures look like.  I'm also very curious if we're dealing with old lesions and old scar tissue or if it looks like any recent damage is being done...

So that's our week.  Prair and I are going to see if we can still wear dressage outfits.  Gus gets a photoshoot (of sorts) and we will do our best to enjoy the waning weeks of summer...

Goals? What Goals??

I had a boss once who said "really writing down goals is about the conversation and thoughtful process... I don't actually expect you to do any of this."

At the time I thought it was a not so subtle comment on his confidence in me, but as I look at my extremely thoughtful (and what I thought were conservative) 2013 goals with the horses, I'm realizing perhaps there was some wisdom in his perspective...

I mean.. I'm not actually supposed to have done anything with my goals, am I??

The 2013 Goals... were written before Gus showed up, Pia left (again) and Prairie really started to get her shit together... given we're 2/3's of the way through the year, let's see where we are, shall we??

Prairie's Goals:

- Attend at least one recognized dressage show in 2013.
Ummmmm, not likely.  I have actually really wanted to repeat our fun schooling show outings from last year, but we have either been at another show, or out of town for every. single. one.  I found some that I *could* have gone to that were a couple hours away but that seems just absurd for a $20 test..


- Break 70% at Training Level and 65% at First Level.  Also, show First Level 3

I'm confident we'd nail this now.  Our transitions are way more balanced and relaxed, and Prairie's lateral work has sharpened by leaps and bounds.  Also, we can actually come back from a Medium canter now.  That button wasn't installed last year.  Though... we still haven't been to a show to prove it. bah.  First 3 only scares me because of the canter loops.. and only because Prair has finally gotten her changes moderately relaxed so I would expect her to offer two changes rather than a shallow counter canter...


- Get our changes 80% of the time 
OMG.  We did this one! She gets them 98% of the time (under the standard that she can swap fronts first and catch up behind later).  Hardly what I want in a Dressage test, but back in January I wasn't even sure that was a reasonable expectation.

- Attend at least FOUR overnight Hunter Shows. 

We should make it to 5 maybe 6.... if nothing changes dramatically on the schedule...

my garage has been overtaken by satin

- Move Up to 3' Adult Hunters
I think maybe I wrote this goal as someone who had only been to one rated Hunter show.  It's true that I feel totally comfortable riding Prair on 3' courses, but it's clear to me that we don't have the polish to be competitive as a pair in the 3' ring yet.  Though I think the 3' Adult Am's is totally reasonable for a majority of next year...


I'm skipping Pia's goals since clearly we haven't gone to any schooling shows... or anywhere.  She's a happy horse though, that's what's important ;)

As for My Goals...

- SHORTER REINS

I am... starting to shorten my reins more regularly.  Part of this has come from Prair lightening her front end (a lot) and not plowing down into the ground all the time.  Over fences I'm getting used to being up and out of the tack again, and that means my hands are up the mare's neck where they should be.  I still get scolded on the flat (a lot), but that's to be expected.  This goal might stay relevant for a long time, but I think I'm better than I was at the start of the year!



- Lighten My Seat

Another spot I've made progress... I'm much lighter when jumping, which is helping Prair not freak out all the time.  I tend to still sit deeper than I should on the flat, but old habits die hard, and they die even harder when your horse is shaped like a bendy bus and needs some serious effort to get her together...push her together.

- Continue My Dressage Education

Ummmm... perhaps my lack of Dressage shows is a result of the whole lack of Dressage education...  I haven't continued to lesson with either of the trainers who I enjoy.  I would like to, but I've definitely ended up filling the schedule (and the budget) with Hunter stuff, shows, extra lessons, schooling days etc.  Bad Rider.


 Ok... so we're so-so for our goals.  I feel like we've progressed well in terms of actual riding... but failed a bit on the "scheduling" side of things.  There are worse things, but good to be mindful of them as we head into the last 3 months of the year. 

First Ride Back

OMG! I rode! and nothing bad happened at all.  In fact, pretty much only good things happened.  I guess the only "bad thing" was my total lack of fitness but that's to be expected after several weeks of sitting on the couch like a lump playing solitaire compulsively...

Prair felt fabulous.  We swapped her bit back to her chunky KK double jointed D ring and she is going nicely in it (two days in).  We realized it had been a while since we tried a softer snaffle, and maybe it would encourage her to relax a bit more/not duck behind the vertical... and so far that theory is working.  I'm not sure it'll hold up in a show environment, but I'd love to get back to a friendly snaffle for schooling without sacrificing too much control...

The ride itself was pretty straight forward.  It started pouring rain just as I tacked up so we went to the tiny indoor to warm up.  Worked some leg yields which I haven't really done much with in a few months.. but Prair felt good.  Much straighter in her shoulder and felt more active in her hind end. 

After some walk/canter transitions and lead changes we marched outside into the drizzle to jump a little.

She felt very balanced over a small x, (and we trotted the dreaded liverpool as well), so we moved up to a four stride line set at about 2'9".  We started by trotting in (sitting trot, ow) and adding for 5 which was great.  Prair wanted to drift through my outside rein a bit so we focused on straightness (hence sitting trot) between the fences. 

Then we cantered in and added for 5, then we opened up her stride and went for the normal 4.  Everything felt good.  She felt energetic and bouncy for 5, and controlled and balanced for 4.... The only hint of landing and lurching was when we opted for 4 strides going home... a tad more strung out that direction, but still very manageable - especially given the softer bit. 

Started stringing small courses together and it was easy and fun.  Prair was mostly adjustable to every fence and I felt like at least 60% of my rebalancing was coming from my seat and leg as opposed to hand.  I don't think that sounds like that much, but for us it's pretty good :)

Hoping for a weekend with a few more good easy rides to get back into the swing of things..

The Better Round

another blurry video still

 I like YouTube for lots of things, but sometimes I get in fights with it and this was one of those.  Never fear though, S prevailed and we now have the second round that I (really, really) liked live.

It looks remarkably like every other round but Prair looks so.... relaxed - dare I say lazy? What a good girl.



Our next outing is a B show after Labor Day, basically three weeks out.  If I get my butt back in the saddle and things continue smoothly, I'll bump up to the 2'9"'s (ooooohhhhh, ahhhhhhh) and S will aim for the 3'3" Pre Greens instead of 3'.  There's a decided lack of other fun classes at this show (no medals, classics, etc) but it's usually quite a bit smaller and hopefully a good move up opportunity assuming my insides keep healing and I can ride like a functional human. 

Despite being grounded I managed to spend almost 3 hours at the barn yesterday.  I organized my lockers, rolled up wraps, and cleaned (and oiled!) lots and lots and lots of tack. Amazing how dirty one can get without actually grooming/riding a horse...