Jack jack jack attack

Well I rode Jack again in my lesson today. It went really well. I am really doing great keeping my hands at the proper level and using my elbows more. I go to the gym quite a bit, and when I am on the upright bikes I practice my horsey "position" and make sure my elbows are being flexible and such. Its obviously helped a lot. I've really been making a conscious effort! So I worked on walk-halt and walk-trot-halt transistions. Jack is very sensitive to your leg, so it's easy to weave around when trying to trot down the centerline. So thats what I worked on for the first 15 minutes of the lesson. I finally got the hang of it, and had some really nice halts. Then we worked on my Training 4 test. I went through it the first time and Sandy said it was good, but only if I really was at a training 4 level. She told me she wanted me to ride it as if I was doing a First Level test because I am capable of doing that. So I did, and it was a much nicer test, it felt more fluid to me as well!

She said that the last few times she's seen anyone ride Jack, hes been cantering with his hind end in a little bit. So we did a little canter work to see if I could get him to canter straight down the long side, and then canter in 20 meter circles while asking for a shoulders in to even him out. It worked! I find it difficult on some of the everyday lesson horses to get them to do some of the things they ask me to. But with him I positioned myself correctly to ask and he did it :). It was a great thing, AND I could feel it. Another thing I like to happen, when I ask, that I can actually feel the response. Anyways it was a wonderful feeling. Then after another break (we let the horses relax every time we do something that takes a lot of energy on the horse's behalf) we did my training 2 test. It felt great, i forgot to walk at A and walked at F instead, but other than that it was a wonderful test.

Sandy said I did a wonderful job, and it truely was ridden as if I was doing a first level test. So, I think that me and Jack are going to do well at the show next sunday! His owner will be coming out to watch me and him in the show! That will be a little nerve racking i think! He never really rides, and he is REALLY green, can walk and trot, doesnt know how to post really, does an okay sitting trot, and was working on his canter when he stopped taking lessons. So he has this great horse, really well trained, light in the mouth, never on the forehand, Appendix Quarterhorse (MUCH more thoroughbred than QH)! AND pays just over $500 a month just to have Jack be ridden by me and a couple others! ha! It will be nice to have him see what his horse can do though!

Well all in all I think we are ready for the show! I asked Bryn to ride him in our lesson on Monday, and then I will ride him again next Thursday. Oh I can't wait to show, it will be so fun! But no doubt a bit stressful. I am gonna bring joey's camera and get someone to take picture of me on him so I can post them :)
kim~

last two lessons....

I've been a little slacking with posts due to being SUPER busy...but things will be calm for a couple days atleast! SO much will be going on next week. preparing for 2 shows, and 2 exams, AND travelling over 12 hours atleast roundtrip! *phew* I will be a very tired kim. Anyways last thursday's dressage lesson I had on Jack, and Meg was on Ty. She's been really nervous riding him since her fall last december. She hasnt really had many lessons (probably like 4) since then, because of cancellations for snow and cold and such, and then spring break. SO she hasnt been able to get over the feeling that she will fall when she gets on him. So we swapped horses. The first half of the lesson I was on Ty and she got on Jack. But I did finally get Jack back so we could work on my test with him :).

Monday's dressage lesson with amy went...well interestingly. Ty spooked while she was on the upward post and when he spooks he doesnt stop for a good 2 minutes! if not longer....he is a real dumb-ass. Well she fell off, got her boot caught in the stirrup (she was wearing her winter mountain horse tall boots) and he dragged her spooking about halfway across the arena. It wasnt too bad, she got really shook up which is understandable. But she had his reins so she was sorta out of the "feet" area. There were 5 of us total on horses, but bryn was right there so she ran over (well walked over because ty was freaking out) and grabbed him just after amy's foot came unstuck. Definately not something I would want to have to go through! I was riding Chip BTW. hes a quarterhorse. He was dripping blood from way up inside his nose. It freaked me out, but Bryn said he always did it in the spring.....very odd!!!!....anyways. We did my Training 4 test it went really well, bryn said i did a very good job. But by the time we got to my Training 2 test (amy had done her first level test twice because she messed up) Chip was thinking he was done, and started acting up, and it ended up being HORRIBLE! so tomorrow i am doing my training 2 first no matter what! well more then!

kim~

Show Practice II

Well this went well, I rode Gideon. I thought it was a better test than the last one...but I got the SAME exact score, a 61.92. Of course that is a good thing because atleast I know I am consistant. We were told today that U-Mass just has some morgans and quarter horses and such, and not "anything special." (no offense to anyone!!) So I think we have a really good chance of doing well. Collectively Team A (which is mine) and Team B both did very well with averages at about 60. I'm very excited, only 2 more weeks till the U-mass show on April 2nd, I am also going to be showing April 3rd @ puckerbrush. For this I am going to do Training tests 2 and 4. Oh so very exciting! :)
kim~

First time on Jack!

Jumping lessons have turned into Dressage lessons until after the upcoming IDA shows :). So last night we had a dressage lesson and it was on Jack. Jack is a thoroughbred...i think.... but that doesnt matter, he is my favorite horse at puckerbrush. I LOVE him. I dont really know why. There really isnt anything super special about him. He's nicely trained but not any super duper high level. The first time i saw him i really liked him. And after riding him last night i've decided that i LOVE him. I can't really explain why. We had an average lesson, nothing spectacular. Working on our Training 4 test, working on trotting. It was a nice lesson though, after not being on a horse in 2 weeks it was a great relief. Hopefully I will ride him again in the future. That would be nice.
kim~