back to basics

Tuesday regular hunt seat lesson: concentrated on bending/lateral flexion. Then 8 laps (1.3 miles) canter for conditioning for Try and moi, then 4 laps no stirrups posting trot.

Real progress with figure 8 draw--coming to me with facial expression as phase one.Try was NOT thrilled about the canter but had lots of energy--she could have gone longer but not me.

But, she did not hold that against me--didn't seem to want me to leave when I took her back to her pasture.

catch up day

groom, eat grass, dwell, passenger, no stirrups
I think Try didn't want me to leave.
I was exuberant and joyful over having passed L3 freestyle

Best parts of results: relationship and riding skills.

L3+ We passed.

Filmed yesterday--not as nervous--some stuff not so good but as I could get it under 10 minutes I sent it in and about 4 hours later got email that I had passed at L3+. Our level 4 friendly stuff apparently counterbalancing the lack of jump, pedestal. gate.

I am sooooooooo happy and relieved. Onward ............

Tuesday freestyle

Some good stuff and some how interesting:

• Mounting and sideways towards
• Tarp--use short side over the head & walk to clover leaf
• 1/2 cloverleaf and 1/2 imaginery rail set up
• didn't do pedestal--move it--
• sideways both ways then jog to corner
• usual corner and add the 360
• bucket to barrels
• small trot, swing the carrot stick? and 2 large lope w/simple change
• ball better around the world transitions
• gate: emot fitness

catch up

well, I have not posted in ages--busy, busy. Try and I have put together yet another choreographed freestyle and filmed and are starting this week on one more. Found out from hot line call that we do not need to do a complete cloverleaf, corners game etc as Try's lovely pleasure gaits are so slow I was having trouble fitting everything into 10 minutes.

Am enjoying the Sand Savvy group--great group, great energy.
Now to do some no-stirrups posting trot to get back in shape.

Well, visited with Marilyn and also Jeanne, Ronnie and Jennifer. Try was a sweetie and I think enjoyed showing off, feeling smart and getting treats.

Rain or hot weather, ring messed up--so played in the field and with the gate Mon/Tue

Wed: more on the gate--we have various segments learned i.e. approach along side the gate, unlatch the gate, back up and exit. Still haven't added in stoppin in the exit--we do it great when I don't have to hang on to the gate. We also can approach the open gate and sidepass it back in place but not yet latching it.

Loped some, showered off good.

Visiting with new Parelli folks

well, just a little with the gate--next step is stopping in the entryway and relaxing.

Marilyn Biers came out to visit and we had lunch Thursday, Friday was golds etc and Saturday Ronnie and Jeanne Huffman and Jennifer Zavalney came to visit at the barn. Try was a real sweetie and seemed to have a good time.

No lesson this week or next--BA conflict or out of town.