States is only in a few days!!!!

Saturday October 3, 2009-Today I had a lesson at Eastwood in the morning and rode Star (Chestnut TB). Then later in the afternoon I rode Leroy. In my lesson at Eastwood, we started out doing flat work each direction, double posting, 2pt., sitting trot, canter each direction, and picking a certain point to ask for a simple lead change. Next, we worked on jumping some singles, and a few courses. I focused on getting a long enough straight approach to each fence, and worked on getting the right can… Continue

Friday October 2, 2009-Today I trailered Bunny over to Quarterline Farm for a lesson to work in the indoor, and just work Bunny in a larger arena. I started out by trotting Bunny around in the indoor. Today I rode in spurs, so Bunny was very responsive when I worked on getting her to move her hip and give her barrel. After warming up with some circles and figure eights, the rain let up and we went to ride in the outdoor. I started out by cantering to a cross rail as a warm up. Next I jumped a li… Continue

September 28, 2009-Today I rode Leroy at Redwood Farms. Leroy was very well behaved despite the windy weather. I started out by letting Leroy walk around the ring on a loose, relaxed rein. Then I let Leroy go up into the trot. At first Leroy was a bit resistant and distracted, so I did some circles, changes of direction, and transitions. Soon Leroy became more relaxed and I was able to keep a soft flowing contact with his mouth. Next I had Leroy canter both directions, I did a few circles and we… Continue

Saturday September 26, 2009-Today I had a lesson on Leroy at Eastwood Farms. At the beginning of the ride we did a lot of circling each direction until Leroy was think and listening to my aids. Then I did some cantering circles and canter to trot transitions. Next once Leroy was at a slow steady canter I took Leroy up over the outside birch single. Leroy stayed quiet to the fence, then after the fence we transitioned from the canter into the trot. Then we took Leroy over a few other singles at t… Continue

Sunday September 20, 2009-Today I took Leroy with Eastwood Farms to the Goose Days Hunter Show out at the Grange Fair. I r… Continue

Wednesday September 16, 2009-Today I rode Bunny at the walk trot ad canter. I worked at first on getting her to mover/give her hip and barrel, once I got bunny all limber and stretched out at the walk we went into the trot. I worked on some circles, and getting bunny to come off my inside leg and rein into my outside rein. Towards the end of the ride after doing some cantering each direction I got bunny to stretch down into a consistent functional frame, while driving underneath herself, and I w… Continue

Sunday September 13, 2009-Today I worked bunny at the walk, trot and canter. Today I focused on getting bunny to move forward off my leg, move her shoulder, give her barrel, and propel herself forward from the hind end without getting heavy on her forehand. I also did lots of circles with bunny, and work on my eq. and flying lead changes. Next, I did some jumping with bunny over two single diagonal fences. I practiced on keeping back and quiet up to the fence but keeping a leg on her up to the f… Continue

Saturday September 12, 2009 -Today I went to the Grange Fair Grounds with Leroy for the fall KDCTA Horse Show. First my trainer competed in the 2ft and 2ft 3in divisions with him and he did really well, and was pretty confident to the fences. Next I rode Leroy in the crossrail division. We first did a schoolin… Continue

9/9/09-Today I started out getting bunny to give to the bit side to side and she responded with a soft and supple mouth, next at the trot and canter I focused on getting bunny to step forward into the bit with a lot of impulsion and reach from the hind end. I also tried to get bunny to loosen her barrel, lift her shoulder and use her back correctly. Then I got Bunny to do a few flying lead changes, and did some jumping over a few diagonal single crossrails. I focussed on getting bunny to have a… Continue

Today I went out to Eastwood Farms and rode Red (one of the lesson horses) and Leroy. While riding Red I worked him both directions at the trot and canter, I focused on keeping Red off of his forehand. Red was good about his leads and keeping and walk to canter transitions. After grooming Red when I was done riding him I went to groom Leroy. In my lesson with Leroy I first did a lot of circling and worked on being consistent and not jerky or grabbing on the reins, once Leroy calmed down a bit I… Continue