Semi-Private Lesson

This Sunday I shared a lesson slot with my Mom since the show is next Sunday. It worked out rather well actually because we both got to ride and we typically have the same lesson anyway - maybe a little more dressage for my Mom and more jumping for me. We ran through the tests and did a little jumping. Cathy and I decided my goal for Sunday is to canter all of the jumps at Talbot Run so that the 18" division is easy for Satchmo and will be ready for the 2" division next season. Satchmo was really quite grumpy in the beginning - I guess he hates the winter weather, too. I don't blame him, it was really windy and kind of brutal. Unfortunately this won't be the worst of it :(

All in all, a good lesson :) Now I can coordinate Saturday's grooming if necessary and Sunday's show day :D YAY! Should be exciting!

MENTAL NOTE: 18" is the 2nd hole on Cathy's jump standards and 2'-ish is the 4th hole. (it's a little more than 2')

Riding Under the Lights

Tonight I went out to the barn and plucked Satchmo from the field for a ride under the *NEW* lights :) It was a good ride - a few little grumpy moments - and he was mostly good :) We only worked on the flat and I rode a dressage test. My mom is going to help with the next Talbot Run combined show and so I need to practice as much as I can in the next few weeks. Hopefully he'll be as good for me as he's been for everyone else at the shows *hope*

Scheduling Conflicts

I haven't had an opportunity to get back out to the barn lately. :( seems like Satchmo has become Mr. Show King these past 2 weeks and my schedule hasn't exactly been helping the situation, either...so slight hiadis until frisbee season is over and Satchmo isn't so high in demand. sucks right now to not get to go out there but it's life. Whatcha gonna do? :P

Hiccups

So there are some slight hiccups in our training right now. I have to unfortunately take a break from lessons, but Donna has been VERY nice and offered to let me ride once a week on my own. So yesterday I went for one of those rides. It was great, too! Satchmo was lazy and slow but once we started jumping he woke up a bit and did great! He even landed on the correct lead each time which was a relief. He hadn't been landing correctly before and actually had been landing correct in the front and incorrect in the back. Thankfully that seems not to be plaguing him right now. Hopefully next time I go for my practice ride my Mom can be there to take some pictures :)

I can't live without riding :)

Slowly But Surely - Progress

This past Sunday I had a lesson after 2 weekends. I was SO excited and nervous. I hadn't ridden a TB in 2 weeks! Nor had I really felt I had continued in my path to get back in shape for fall show season...oh well...So I tacked Mr. Satch up and got him out to start in the ring. I was feeling extra confident after my adventure in California so we only warmed up in the ring then headed out to the field.

In the field we worked over trot poles and a small crossrail followed by another small crossrail.

Satchmo was feeling pretty good and trying with all of his might to stay well behaved. He plopped over the fences and then gave me hints he was having so much fun that he wished I would let him run amok in the field. I had to say no. We want good calm behavior in the field!

The crossrail got upped to a vertical and after he landed nicely we stopped jumping and did some transition work in the top half of the field and called it a day.

Good Boy, Satch :) Cathy and I are contemplating what sort of bit to use in the field. And we're still taking things slowly with him again as not to overwhelm him. No more bucking! :)

Slight Detour

I went on vacation and missed 2 lessons... hence why this hasn't been updated in a while. I will update after my next lesson this Sunday :)

Jumping Again

Last week I got to jump again! I was really nervous but it turned out to be SO much fun! Satchmo is almost back to his old self :) We stayed in the ring this week getting back into jumping just so we could have a relaxed atmosphere. Next time, though, we're going to need to get back in the field and overcome our field jumping issues. That'll be a potentially tough lesson. But Mom and Dad got some pretty nice jumping shots that I've added to this blog. I have to take a 2 week break though, due to a horseback riding vacation I'm going on with my Mom so hopefully that'll keep me in riding shape and maybe I'll learn some new tricks :)

We started our warm up with an X and then moved to approx. 2' and capped out around 2'3". Go Satchmo! :)