I haven't done a proper blog update in ages! Here's the highlight reel!
Tuesday: was a long time ago and I can't remember- haha! But I do remember setting up for Stew's arrival and that it was a fairly low-key day.
Wednesday: Stew arrived and settled in really well, he even got to go out in a paddock and stretch out after the long ride south. Diem and Ari trucked over to Paradise for the Derby Cross which is a blend of show jumping and XC. You start over a show jump course of about 7 obstacles, then continue directly on to a shortened XC round, and then finish back over some show jumps. My plan was to run them both novice, but when I finally got there novice was just finishing up! So my revised plan was to run the Training SJ and then do a sort of blend of novice/training XC depending on how they were feeling. This essentially removed me from the competition but what a great schooling opportunity! I was AMAZED with both of them, they both rocked around the training course and there were some serious questions! They both took a look at a couple elements (the double bank up, the big drop into water to roll top out, the coffin) which was to be expected, but they both kept their composure and jumped around really well. There was a woman there that was gushing over Diem, and even left me her business card with a note on the back suggesting that if he was ever for sale that I should give her a call!
Thursday: I was supposed to go to the Apple Tree farm 2phase with Beacon and Devin but it just didn't happen. It was a crazy morning in the barn and I opted to scratch and take a little breather which suited the horses just fine. The rides all went well, Diem and Ari had light stretchy rides after their jumping excursion, Beacon ran through his dressage test at home, and Devin did some flat and jumping, Stew had today off to recover from horse "jet lag".
Friday: Doug and Michelle went to Pine Top so I took care of their horses at home. I got Beacon and Diem done on the flat in the morning but the sky started turning very dark. I had literally just stepped off Diem when the sky RIPPED open. It was crazy insane weather! Completely sideways rain and the wind was whipping everything around. Wheelbarrows got picked up and tossed, trash cans went flipping into the paddocks, horse blankets were whipped all over the place, and absolutely EVERYTHING was soaked! And the lightning and thunder was super intense! I was stuck in the shed row barn with the horses, there was no way I could have even ran the 50 feet to the main barn! As it turns out, a tornado actually touched down five miles from the barn! A TORNADO!!!! After the excitement I was able to do trot sets on the girls, Carino, and Stew on the track, but what a lot of excitement for one day!
SATURDAY: Took care of Doug's horses again (man they eat a lot of feed!) and schooled everyone over fences in the ring. Beacon is getting better every school, Devin jumped around like a pro, Diem put in some very workmanlike courses, Ari jumped the moon!!!, and Marissa and Carino had a good lesson where they worked over Training heights and really focused on keeping the balance uphill. Good rides overall, and a nice day to dry things out after Friday's tsunami. Oh and, yes Brittany, the shoe was yours, dang horse's keep pulling shoes!!!
SUNDAY: Nice, sunny, relaxing day where everyone hacked out in pairs on the track. Marissa and I after a very long search actually found Stew's shoe so it got tacked back on in the am and he also worked on the track in the afternoon. The hill that loops around our back paddocks and along the road is absolutely perfect for conditioning. The footing is great and the hill is enough of a grade to really get them to use their hind ends but not so steep that it's over taxing. It's the perfect place to do dressage outside of a ring. We were practicing leg yields, shoulder ins, collection/extension, you name it, all out on the open road! Julie and Claire also moved in with their four horses so the barn is now full. Quail Ridge is a busy place!
Well, that brings us up to date. It's a bit overcast with some passing showers this morning, but it's supposed to clear up by the afternoon. Everyone will do the dressage thing today in the ring, and I need to finalize plans for the week. I'm hosting a clinic with Eric tomorrow (and filled it!) and am debating going to Apple Tree on Wed with Beacon and Devin (do over!). We also need to fit in a xc school this week for Marissa as she is running at Sporting Days this weekend, and Emily and her Mom are due in Sunday afternoon! Busy week.
Thanks for reading; happy riding!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
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Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Had a great xc outing
Had a great xc outing at the jumping derby at Paradise Farm, Ari and Diem both went around Training!!!!
Jumper Day
I find myself writing these blog posts later and later! It may seem like I'm always charging ahead with boundless energy but the truth of it is, I pass out when I get home! And then I eventually roll off the couch and into the shower and come out a little more awake to write these updates before hopping in bed. Tonight Michelle came over with a pizza and some VERY spicy hot wings and we vegged out and watched TV, a perfect way to unwind after a very busy day.
Everybody jumped today, with the exception of Carino who had another day off after his Novice debut. Devin had the best school she's had yet, and she is really starting to come around the fences and use her head and neck to stretch a bit rather than throwing herself over them. What I really liked was how relaxed she was, and how easy it was to switch gears and do a little cool down flatwork after jumping. Diem also had a really good school and jumped all the skinnys and the lines like they were a cakewalk. He needed a minute to process the triple I put up for him, but after sorting out the footwork he was hitting the one stride-one stride triple perfectly. Ari started out a little distracted, but the fences really grabbed her focus and as I get more comfortable with that closer distance she keeps jumping better and better. Her flatwork is actually much better after we jump because I have her full attention, too bad i can't jump in a dressage warmup!
Today Beacon and I had our first lesson with Doug and it went really well! I think he really likes this new bridle setup and he stays really super light and soft with it. Doug tweaked a couple of things right off the bat and had me cantering around in a very uphill, but also very relaxed and soft balance in no time. This relaxed and uphill balance made the jumps very rideable and we focused on keeping the balance all the way around the ring. He had me softening almost to the point of putting a loop in the reins in between the fences in order to relax him so that I could gather him up and ride up to the base of each fence. The result was a pretty happy jumping Beacon! We finished up feeling really positive, I can't wait to work with Doug again.
Tomorrow Stewart arrives!! Also, Ari and Diem are scheduled to go to Paradise for a jumping derby and Beacon and Devin will practice dressage tests for the Apple Tree Farm 2 phase on Thursday. Marissa will be back tomorrow as well and we'll get Carino back in gear. I'm also jumping with both feet into the dressage saddle search, I've already test ridden in a couple and have an appointment with a CWD agent. I also have plans on trucking out to a big tack store that has a huge stock of used saddles. With a little bit of luck I can find an awesome saddle in my price range. Ride on!
Everybody jumped today, with the exception of Carino who had another day off after his Novice debut. Devin had the best school she's had yet, and she is really starting to come around the fences and use her head and neck to stretch a bit rather than throwing herself over them. What I really liked was how relaxed she was, and how easy it was to switch gears and do a little cool down flatwork after jumping. Diem also had a really good school and jumped all the skinnys and the lines like they were a cakewalk. He needed a minute to process the triple I put up for him, but after sorting out the footwork he was hitting the one stride-one stride triple perfectly. Ari started out a little distracted, but the fences really grabbed her focus and as I get more comfortable with that closer distance she keeps jumping better and better. Her flatwork is actually much better after we jump because I have her full attention, too bad i can't jump in a dressage warmup!
Today Beacon and I had our first lesson with Doug and it went really well! I think he really likes this new bridle setup and he stays really super light and soft with it. Doug tweaked a couple of things right off the bat and had me cantering around in a very uphill, but also very relaxed and soft balance in no time. This relaxed and uphill balance made the jumps very rideable and we focused on keeping the balance all the way around the ring. He had me softening almost to the point of putting a loop in the reins in between the fences in order to relax him so that I could gather him up and ride up to the base of each fence. The result was a pretty happy jumping Beacon! We finished up feeling really positive, I can't wait to work with Doug again.
Tomorrow Stewart arrives!! Also, Ari and Diem are scheduled to go to Paradise for a jumping derby and Beacon and Devin will practice dressage tests for the Apple Tree Farm 2 phase on Thursday. Marissa will be back tomorrow as well and we'll get Carino back in gear. I'm also jumping with both feet into the dressage saddle search, I've already test ridden in a couple and have an appointment with a CWD agent. I also have plans on trucking out to a big tack store that has a huge stock of used saddles. With a little bit of luck I can find an awesome saddle in my price range. Ride on!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday Notes
What a super weekend! Between getting all the daily stuff back at the barn done, riding mine, helping Michelle/Doug, and shuttling Marissa and Carino back and forth to Paradise Farm we were BUSY!
First off, I have to give a shoutout to Marissa and Carino for rocking their first Novice event. They earned a very nice 33 and had two lovely double clear rounds, finishing in fourth! The cross country course had some good technical tests and some bigger questions too, and they ate it up! Way to go!
Also, pictures are up from the 2/15/2012 Apple Tree Farm 2phase. Check them out at http://4141sailing.exposuremanager.com/Page
You can see Ari around picture 2483, and Diem around 6337. They look great! (Although I made some funny faces!)
Rides have been going well, Saturday the girls and Beacon worked in the ring with a mixture of flat/jump, and Diem worked on the track. Keeping Diem's schedule very varied has been working really well, we still work on the flatwork on the track, but the change of scenery keeps him interested and focused. Happy horse equals happy rides! Ari is really starting to use her body nicely over the fences, I have found that I need to let her get a little bit deeper (or at least what I feel is deeper!) so that she really rocks back and uses her hind end. She can jump THE MOON when she uses herself properly! Devin has been trying REALLY hard, but she can still get herself a little worked up when she makes a mistake so I'm keeping her exercises very simple and small so she can keep gaining confidence, but she's making great strides! I tried Beacon in a new bit- I found a rubber gag and he LOVES it, he is super soft in it and will push forward to my hand, but is also very respectful of it. He had a great jump school, finally!!!
Sunday was WET. Diem took a field trip to Paradise and after Marissa's XC worked in two different warm up rings- he was excellent! He really stayed focused and soft and was really trying, even with all the other horses galloping around and jumping by him, success!!! I still want to get him into as many warmup situations as possible, but this was a huge step in the right direction for him. When we got home Marissa rode Ari and I rode Dev on the flat and both horses were really super. By the time I got Beacon it was DOWNPOURING!!! I tacked him up and went to lead him out of the stall and he planted all four feet and laid his ears flat back and gave me this "are you serious?????" expression. I had to laugh, but I was just as unmotivated to go play in the sideways deluge. We dragged ourselves to the mounting block and I cursed the rain gods that turned the seat of my saddle into a swamp before I could sit in it. We swam out to the arena and did a really quick (like 10 minutes) work up, just enough to verify that he was feeling 100% after jumping the day before. He was actually fantastic- a lovely W/T/C, some lateral work and a couple small 10 meter circles to test how his body was feeling (specifically on the right front re-sectioned hoof) and he was perfect! I have my horse back!!!!
Today's rides were all nice easy hacks and a little conditioning work. It was a lovely sunny day, perfect to dry everything out after the rain. The rest of the horses are due in this week so I spent a good chunk of the day setting up for them. Marissa and I had set up a tack and feed room in the spare stalls but by Friday there won't be any empty stalls so we needed to get creative and find space for everything. Michelle graciously gave me a corner of their tackroom and the rest we were able to set up outside of the stalls. We're ready for the next group of Aiken Adventurers!
Tomorrow I have a jumping lesson scheduled with Doug, I can't wait to get back on track with Beacon. I also have to decide who's going to do what this week. There is a derby cross on Wed and another 2phase on Thurs. The options here are endless!
That's it for now, happy riding!
First off, I have to give a shoutout to Marissa and Carino for rocking their first Novice event. They earned a very nice 33 and had two lovely double clear rounds, finishing in fourth! The cross country course had some good technical tests and some bigger questions too, and they ate it up! Way to go!
Also, pictures are up from the 2/15/2012 Apple Tree Farm 2phase. Check them out at http://4141sailing.exposuremanager.com/Page
You can see Ari around picture 2483, and Diem around 6337. They look great! (Although I made some funny faces!)
Rides have been going well, Saturday the girls and Beacon worked in the ring with a mixture of flat/jump, and Diem worked on the track. Keeping Diem's schedule very varied has been working really well, we still work on the flatwork on the track, but the change of scenery keeps him interested and focused. Happy horse equals happy rides! Ari is really starting to use her body nicely over the fences, I have found that I need to let her get a little bit deeper (or at least what I feel is deeper!) so that she really rocks back and uses her hind end. She can jump THE MOON when she uses herself properly! Devin has been trying REALLY hard, but she can still get herself a little worked up when she makes a mistake so I'm keeping her exercises very simple and small so she can keep gaining confidence, but she's making great strides! I tried Beacon in a new bit- I found a rubber gag and he LOVES it, he is super soft in it and will push forward to my hand, but is also very respectful of it. He had a great jump school, finally!!!
Sunday was WET. Diem took a field trip to Paradise and after Marissa's XC worked in two different warm up rings- he was excellent! He really stayed focused and soft and was really trying, even with all the other horses galloping around and jumping by him, success!!! I still want to get him into as many warmup situations as possible, but this was a huge step in the right direction for him. When we got home Marissa rode Ari and I rode Dev on the flat and both horses were really super. By the time I got Beacon it was DOWNPOURING!!! I tacked him up and went to lead him out of the stall and he planted all four feet and laid his ears flat back and gave me this "are you serious?????" expression. I had to laugh, but I was just as unmotivated to go play in the sideways deluge. We dragged ourselves to the mounting block and I cursed the rain gods that turned the seat of my saddle into a swamp before I could sit in it. We swam out to the arena and did a really quick (like 10 minutes) work up, just enough to verify that he was feeling 100% after jumping the day before. He was actually fantastic- a lovely W/T/C, some lateral work and a couple small 10 meter circles to test how his body was feeling (specifically on the right front re-sectioned hoof) and he was perfect! I have my horse back!!!!
Today's rides were all nice easy hacks and a little conditioning work. It was a lovely sunny day, perfect to dry everything out after the rain. The rest of the horses are due in this week so I spent a good chunk of the day setting up for them. Marissa and I had set up a tack and feed room in the spare stalls but by Friday there won't be any empty stalls so we needed to get creative and find space for everything. Michelle graciously gave me a corner of their tackroom and the rest we were able to set up outside of the stalls. We're ready for the next group of Aiken Adventurers!
Tomorrow I have a jumping lesson scheduled with Doug, I can't wait to get back on track with Beacon. I also have to decide who's going to do what this week. There is a derby cross on Wed and another 2phase on Thurs. The options here are endless!
That's it for now, happy riding!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Catching up!!!
It's been super busy the last couple days: here's a really quick recap.
Wed we had a great outing at the AppleTree Farm 2 phase. Beacon was going pretty well and put in a respectable 34 in Prelim B, I say he did it because I didn't help him very much- it's been too long since I rode in a dressage arena and it felt SMALL! Ari was pretty good in warmup and placed a very nice (for her) test earning a 39- for those that remember GMHA in August this is a HUGE step forward. She also jumped around nicely except for one rail because the tempo got a little quick right before the fence. Warmup was a but tricky for Diem and it was hard for him to focus, particularly due to the horse turned out right next to warm up that totally went berserk while we were trying to get loosened up. This horse was spinning, rearing, striking out, flat galloping, you name it! As Sara can tell you, warm up rings aren't Diem's favorite anyway but this was extra exciting! I must admit he was, although a little unfocused, really pretty good. He put in a respectable test earning a 38, but it wasn't even close to the same quality that he's been putting in at home. His jump warmup was similar, but he put in a nice round once in the ring. I foresee lots of warmup rings in Diem's future!
Oh! Almost forgot- Ari placed fourth in her open novice division, and Diem was third in his!
At home that day Devin worked pretty hard on the flat and Marissa jumped on her own.
Yesterday was a day of flat rides, Ari and Diem had nice relaxed and stretchy kind of rides after their 2phase, and Beacon and Devi worked pretty hard. I also did a bunch of trot sets on some of Doug's horses (did you see the picture of the Mammoth!!), and Marissa practiced her dressage test for today's Paradise Event.
Beacon pulled ANOTHER shoe!!!!! So waiting on the farrier this morning.... Ari and Diem will do some trot sets today, Devi and Beacon (hopefully) will jump, I have a couple of Doug's to ride, and Marissa competes in Dressage today at 3:00. Wish her luck!
Wed we had a great outing at the AppleTree Farm 2 phase. Beacon was going pretty well and put in a respectable 34 in Prelim B, I say he did it because I didn't help him very much- it's been too long since I rode in a dressage arena and it felt SMALL! Ari was pretty good in warmup and placed a very nice (for her) test earning a 39- for those that remember GMHA in August this is a HUGE step forward. She also jumped around nicely except for one rail because the tempo got a little quick right before the fence. Warmup was a but tricky for Diem and it was hard for him to focus, particularly due to the horse turned out right next to warm up that totally went berserk while we were trying to get loosened up. This horse was spinning, rearing, striking out, flat galloping, you name it! As Sara can tell you, warm up rings aren't Diem's favorite anyway but this was extra exciting! I must admit he was, although a little unfocused, really pretty good. He put in a respectable test earning a 38, but it wasn't even close to the same quality that he's been putting in at home. His jump warmup was similar, but he put in a nice round once in the ring. I foresee lots of warmup rings in Diem's future!
Oh! Almost forgot- Ari placed fourth in her open novice division, and Diem was third in his!
At home that day Devin worked pretty hard on the flat and Marissa jumped on her own.
Yesterday was a day of flat rides, Ari and Diem had nice relaxed and stretchy kind of rides after their 2phase, and Beacon and Devi worked pretty hard. I also did a bunch of trot sets on some of Doug's horses (did you see the picture of the Mammoth!!), and Marissa practiced her dressage test for today's Paradise Event.
Beacon pulled ANOTHER shoe!!!!! So waiting on the farrier this morning.... Ari and Diem will do some trot sets today, Devi and Beacon (hopefully) will jump, I have a couple of Doug's to ride, and Marissa competes in Dressage today at 3:00. Wish her luck!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Happy Valentines Day!
Or actually, it may be the 15th now... oh well! It's finally warming up again, tomorrow should be 60! Good rides today. I schooled Carino on the flat and we focused on steadiness and consistency throughout the ride but with particular focus on transitions. Beacon and Diem hacked out, I found a whole other gear for Beacon's medium trot- it's huge! The girls shipped out to have a jump lesson with Eric and they both did well, Devin is still tring to figure out the whole concept of being relaxed off property but she's getting there! Ari jumped well in her novice group and we focused on "the canter, the canter, the canter". Just a short update tonight, tomorrow we are trucking to the AppleTree Farm 2-phase in the afternoon. Beacon will run a dressage test and Ari and Diem will both run a novice combined test. Wish them luck!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Very chilly morning again! Yesterday thankfully got up towards 50 degrees but it started out with frozen hoses and hydrants and THICK ice in all the buckets- yuck!
Rides were all good yesterday though, Ari had an excellent stadium school where she finished really pushing through a triple combination of one strides and roll backed over a skinny wall combination. She is so much fun to jump! Diem and Devin both had a nice stretchy trot set on the track finishing in a nice loosening canter up the long back hill. They both were swinging nicely through their backs and ready to get to work. Beacon had the day off as I did some more horse shopping in the afternoon, and Marissa and Carino had a good first day back to work after his procedure.
Today both Devin and Diem will have flat schools, Ari will work on the track, Marissa and Carino will jump, and Beacon is shipping over to Jumping Branch from a dressage lesson with Eric. Let's hope it gets warmer soon!
Rides were all good yesterday though, Ari had an excellent stadium school where she finished really pushing through a triple combination of one strides and roll backed over a skinny wall combination. She is so much fun to jump! Diem and Devin both had a nice stretchy trot set on the track finishing in a nice loosening canter up the long back hill. They both were swinging nicely through their backs and ready to get to work. Beacon had the day off as I did some more horse shopping in the afternoon, and Marissa and Carino had a good first day back to work after his procedure.
Today both Devin and Diem will have flat schools, Ari will work on the track, Marissa and Carino will jump, and Beacon is shipping over to Jumping Branch from a dressage lesson with Eric. Let's hope it gets warmer soon!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Sat/Sun = BRRRRRRR
Brrr! It's literally FREEZING in Aiken! Last night hit a low of 22 degrees- who ordered the New England weather??? Yesterday was definitely chilly, but the wind was insane! Even still, we got all the rides done and they were (surprisingly!) good even in the gale force winds!
Ari had a flat school out in the field where we focused on transitions and consistency (common themes for her). She has such lovely moments but can't seem to hold them for very long. I'm hoping that as she gets more mileage she will keep her focus longer and become more consistent in the bridle. She's actually already a little bit straighter in between the aids, baby steps!
After Ari we packed up Diem and Devin and drove an hour to Gibbes Farm. I had an appointment to look at some sales horses there and so figured we would take advantage of the opportunity and school xc. Every year I have come to Aiken I have heard about Gibbes and never gotten there. This place is a mecca for xc schooling- they have endless options and variety for all levels, Beginner Novice through Advanced. I was expecting a lot of fences, but I never anticipated the size of this place. It is HUGE! The field is long with good varied terrain and some wooded sections and literally hundreds of jumps. And just when you think you've finally reached the end there is a corner and around it is another huge field, bigger than the first! The place is endless! And there are so many excellent questions to school, lots of skinny turning questions, two water complexes, a huge bank complex, another more technical bank complex, coffins, combinations, hedges, ditches, mounds, ..... you get the idea. It's xc heaven!
Devin was up first, and on this windy, frigid day I wasn't sure what to expect. This is also her first ever xc school (not counting one little outing at Flatlands). To my surprise and delight, she marched off the trailer and was all business right from the get go. She wasn't phased at all by the size of the place and settled into a nicely balanced trot and canter in the warmup. When we started jumping she looked a little bit, but was very game once she understood what I wanted her to do. It was quite a lot for her to be cantering around up and down terrain and come to the fences all in a nice light balance, but she did really well! One of the first jumps she did (a fat little log) she jumped only with the front half of her body so we landed with her hind feet on one side and her front feet on the other. I gave her a little nudge and she picked her hind feet up and stepped over the log- I figured she was just a little confused and wasn't at all concerned about it as she started jumping better and better after that. She really needs to learn how to come around the fences with her body so we were jumping lots of low square type of things to give her the idea. She was really starting to jump beautifully when we came to another (slightly bigger) log and she did the same mistake again!!! This time the log was too big for her to step over so she was stuck with her front feet on one side and her hind feet on the other and she was hopping a little back and forth- poor thing! So I did the only thing I could to help her- I hopped off! Without my weight she was able to hop her hind end over the log and finish the jump and then she slipped right by me- just out of grasp (dang!) and took herself for a lovely GALLOP around the HUGE field. There was nothing to do but wait for her to be done so Marissa and I stood by the trailer and watched her take a long, fast (and I must add perfectly balanced) tour of the property. She finally made her way back to the trailer, decided she wasn't quite done, and did ANOTHER lap!!! Then she came back, circled the trailer once and halted right in front of me as if to say, "Well! I'm ready now!" I checked her legs and walked her around (she was hardly even breathing hard) and then hopped back on (we couldn't end like THAT!). She was DELIGHTFUL after her little romp! Super light and even and balanced! We did a little walk/trot/canter and then popped over some fences and she excelled at everything! With that I called it a day, but I'm thinking of adding some gallops to her routine!
Diem was a SUPERSTAR. This post has already gone on too long so I will have to just be brief, but he was such a gentleman! He stepped off the trailer, and went right to work- very soft and supple and focused from the first step. After some very nice warm up fences we got a bit more technical and by the end of the school had done a variety of fences I'm sure he's never seen before (specifically a mound of turf with a couple of rails on top- he was like "What the.....???" but jumped it anyway!) He did water, banks, ditches, and then we played with some fun stuff. He was super at two different coffins, very rideable through some tricky bending lines, and excellent through a triple combination of VERY skinny logs. A fantastic first outing of the season for him! And he was so confident and focused! Love that!
Finally home I worked Beacon on the track doing some trot and canter sets- in the HOWLING wind and at DUSK! Recipe for disaster? Actually this was the calmest he has been yet and was really super focused and relaxed (finally!). This was the first time since we've been down here where I could float the reins a bit and he would keep the rhythm and balance- I think he's finally settling in!
That's all for now, time to get the rides in for today! It's freezing out there- time to bundle up!
Ari had a flat school out in the field where we focused on transitions and consistency (common themes for her). She has such lovely moments but can't seem to hold them for very long. I'm hoping that as she gets more mileage she will keep her focus longer and become more consistent in the bridle. She's actually already a little bit straighter in between the aids, baby steps!
After Ari we packed up Diem and Devin and drove an hour to Gibbes Farm. I had an appointment to look at some sales horses there and so figured we would take advantage of the opportunity and school xc. Every year I have come to Aiken I have heard about Gibbes and never gotten there. This place is a mecca for xc schooling- they have endless options and variety for all levels, Beginner Novice through Advanced. I was expecting a lot of fences, but I never anticipated the size of this place. It is HUGE! The field is long with good varied terrain and some wooded sections and literally hundreds of jumps. And just when you think you've finally reached the end there is a corner and around it is another huge field, bigger than the first! The place is endless! And there are so many excellent questions to school, lots of skinny turning questions, two water complexes, a huge bank complex, another more technical bank complex, coffins, combinations, hedges, ditches, mounds, ..... you get the idea. It's xc heaven!
Devin was up first, and on this windy, frigid day I wasn't sure what to expect. This is also her first ever xc school (not counting one little outing at Flatlands). To my surprise and delight, she marched off the trailer and was all business right from the get go. She wasn't phased at all by the size of the place and settled into a nicely balanced trot and canter in the warmup. When we started jumping she looked a little bit, but was very game once she understood what I wanted her to do. It was quite a lot for her to be cantering around up and down terrain and come to the fences all in a nice light balance, but she did really well! One of the first jumps she did (a fat little log) she jumped only with the front half of her body so we landed with her hind feet on one side and her front feet on the other. I gave her a little nudge and she picked her hind feet up and stepped over the log- I figured she was just a little confused and wasn't at all concerned about it as she started jumping better and better after that. She really needs to learn how to come around the fences with her body so we were jumping lots of low square type of things to give her the idea. She was really starting to jump beautifully when we came to another (slightly bigger) log and she did the same mistake again!!! This time the log was too big for her to step over so she was stuck with her front feet on one side and her hind feet on the other and she was hopping a little back and forth- poor thing! So I did the only thing I could to help her- I hopped off! Without my weight she was able to hop her hind end over the log and finish the jump and then she slipped right by me- just out of grasp (dang!) and took herself for a lovely GALLOP around the HUGE field. There was nothing to do but wait for her to be done so Marissa and I stood by the trailer and watched her take a long, fast (and I must add perfectly balanced) tour of the property. She finally made her way back to the trailer, decided she wasn't quite done, and did ANOTHER lap!!! Then she came back, circled the trailer once and halted right in front of me as if to say, "Well! I'm ready now!" I checked her legs and walked her around (she was hardly even breathing hard) and then hopped back on (we couldn't end like THAT!). She was DELIGHTFUL after her little romp! Super light and even and balanced! We did a little walk/trot/canter and then popped over some fences and she excelled at everything! With that I called it a day, but I'm thinking of adding some gallops to her routine!
Diem was a SUPERSTAR. This post has already gone on too long so I will have to just be brief, but he was such a gentleman! He stepped off the trailer, and went right to work- very soft and supple and focused from the first step. After some very nice warm up fences we got a bit more technical and by the end of the school had done a variety of fences I'm sure he's never seen before (specifically a mound of turf with a couple of rails on top- he was like "What the.....???" but jumped it anyway!) He did water, banks, ditches, and then we played with some fun stuff. He was super at two different coffins, very rideable through some tricky bending lines, and excellent through a triple combination of VERY skinny logs. A fantastic first outing of the season for him! And he was so confident and focused! Love that!
Finally home I worked Beacon on the track doing some trot and canter sets- in the HOWLING wind and at DUSK! Recipe for disaster? Actually this was the calmest he has been yet and was really super focused and relaxed (finally!). This was the first time since we've been down here where I could float the reins a bit and he would keep the rhythm and balance- I think he's finally settling in!
That's all for now, time to get the rides in for today! It's freezing out there- time to bundle up!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Lots of exciting events in the last couple days! Wed Full Gallop ran the first of their Intermediate series Horse Trials, Marissa and I got there late enough in the day so that we could watch my friend Meghan run novice on one of her greenies and we got a chance to walk the courses. We also ran into my friend Todd who does the course design and building at Full Gallop and chatted with him about how everything ran- sounds like it was a great day!
Yesterday Beacon and Diem got the day off so that I could steal away and watch some of the Training Sessions for the team. I love watching these top upper level horse and rider teams play with improving their own challenges. I was able to watch Boyd show jump and Will C and Will F both do dressage. Many of these horses are super big and fancy, but what struck me was that Will F was riding a super cute but much more average sized and average moving mare, but she was NICE. It impresses me, and I have all the more respect for Will F to be able to take something a little less big and flashy and be able to still be super successful at the upper levels. I was also very impressed by his relationship with her- he is a very quiet rider on her and very sympathetic, you can hear him saying things like "good girl" and "come on now" under his breath as they ride around the arena, it was a very quiet and harmonious partnership. I may try to look him up and go have a ride with him on Ari who actually moves quite similar to his little bay lady (gives Ari and I something to aspire to!)
When Marissa got to the barn after school we packed up the greys (Carino and Ari) and headed out to XC school at a random little farm on the otherside of town. What an amazing little secret this place is! It has a good sized derby field with anything you could want to school BN,N, T. There were two different bank complexes, a water jump with beaches and a variety of banks, a sunken road, ditches of various sizes, and about a million different portables of all shapes and sizes! We were able to put together a really good school without ever jumping even a quarter of the various fences! The footing was excellent and in addition to the derby field they had a lovely show jump arena with beautiful fences, a dressage arena, a track, and even a place to swim the horses! And the really amazing part is the whole facility fee is only $25!!!! Marissa and I were the only ones there and we were able to have a really relaxed XC school where both horses did some very technical questions and some bigger fences. Marissa feels good about going novice at Paradise (her first sanctioned novice!) and I was really impressed with the little grey mare- she has talent and GAME for XC! The more and more I ride this horse the more she impresses me, there might be quite a bit of talent still to unlock!
On another note- I've picked up a job working for Doug Payne who was in need after loosing some of his working students. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing other than helping him and Michelle (his groom/barn manager) but it will be fun and educational to see the inside workings of a top rider's program.
Off to do my rides for the day now, and then we are shipping Carino to the clinic this afternoon to have a growth removed.
Hope all is well at home! I heard from Mike about last week's lessons and they sounded like fun! I know Red is teaching this week, Happy Riding!!
Yesterday Beacon and Diem got the day off so that I could steal away and watch some of the Training Sessions for the team. I love watching these top upper level horse and rider teams play with improving their own challenges. I was able to watch Boyd show jump and Will C and Will F both do dressage. Many of these horses are super big and fancy, but what struck me was that Will F was riding a super cute but much more average sized and average moving mare, but she was NICE. It impresses me, and I have all the more respect for Will F to be able to take something a little less big and flashy and be able to still be super successful at the upper levels. I was also very impressed by his relationship with her- he is a very quiet rider on her and very sympathetic, you can hear him saying things like "good girl" and "come on now" under his breath as they ride around the arena, it was a very quiet and harmonious partnership. I may try to look him up and go have a ride with him on Ari who actually moves quite similar to his little bay lady (gives Ari and I something to aspire to!)
When Marissa got to the barn after school we packed up the greys (Carino and Ari) and headed out to XC school at a random little farm on the otherside of town. What an amazing little secret this place is! It has a good sized derby field with anything you could want to school BN,N, T. There were two different bank complexes, a water jump with beaches and a variety of banks, a sunken road, ditches of various sizes, and about a million different portables of all shapes and sizes! We were able to put together a really good school without ever jumping even a quarter of the various fences! The footing was excellent and in addition to the derby field they had a lovely show jump arena with beautiful fences, a dressage arena, a track, and even a place to swim the horses! And the really amazing part is the whole facility fee is only $25!!!! Marissa and I were the only ones there and we were able to have a really relaxed XC school where both horses did some very technical questions and some bigger fences. Marissa feels good about going novice at Paradise (her first sanctioned novice!) and I was really impressed with the little grey mare- she has talent and GAME for XC! The more and more I ride this horse the more she impresses me, there might be quite a bit of talent still to unlock!
On another note- I've picked up a job working for Doug Payne who was in need after loosing some of his working students. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing other than helping him and Michelle (his groom/barn manager) but it will be fun and educational to see the inside workings of a top rider's program.
Off to do my rides for the day now, and then we are shipping Carino to the clinic this afternoon to have a growth removed.
Hope all is well at home! I heard from Mike about last week's lessons and they sounded like fun! I know Red is teaching this week, Happy Riding!!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Catching up on the Blog!
We've been very busy riding! Monday everyone did a light jump school over a couple different five stride lines and turning over fences exercises. Diem and Ari both excelled and put in some very nice rounds, Devin was better than I had anticipated- she was very game on, but needs to work on technique a bit yet. Poor Beacon was a little frazzled. This being only his second time jumping since before the resection I expected it; so the plan with him is just to take it all very slow until he remembers that jumping is nothing to get excited about. Marissa had a good lesson with Carino where she really nailed some of the exercises and was able to focus on keeping a consistent canter through the lines.
Yesterday I schooled everyone on the flat in the arena. The arena has a bit of a hill to it which is great for schooling because it really makes you focus on BALANCE. Everyone was actually quite loose and willing to get right to work which was great. I also was able to sneak out for a little bit and go watch some of the training sessions at Boyd's farm- it's such a lovely facility with mirrors stretched down one full side of the arena. It was very informative watching these top class riders working on the same basic principlals that we all do: forward, lightness, balance. It was also helpful for me to watch one rider working in halfpass and getting a little stuck through the right shoulder (hello Beacon!) and seeing how a different flexion and body position drastically improved the movement. It was inspiring and I'm excited to start working more specifically on the dressage with Beaker!
Today everyone will do some conditioning on the track and I'm hoping to sneak out to watch some more training sessions. Tomorrow will be the first XC school! Haven't decided who's going yet, but it will be a blast!
Yesterday I schooled everyone on the flat in the arena. The arena has a bit of a hill to it which is great for schooling because it really makes you focus on BALANCE. Everyone was actually quite loose and willing to get right to work which was great. I also was able to sneak out for a little bit and go watch some of the training sessions at Boyd's farm- it's such a lovely facility with mirrors stretched down one full side of the arena. It was very informative watching these top class riders working on the same basic principlals that we all do: forward, lightness, balance. It was also helpful for me to watch one rider working in halfpass and getting a little stuck through the right shoulder (hello Beacon!) and seeing how a different flexion and body position drastically improved the movement. It was inspiring and I'm excited to start working more specifically on the dressage with Beaker!
Today everyone will do some conditioning on the track and I'm hoping to sneak out to watch some more training sessions. Tomorrow will be the first XC school! Haven't decided who's going yet, but it will be a blast!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
All Settled In!
Hello all! It was a little bit chaotic the first couple days but we are finally settled in and I can finally update the blog! This year the Valinor crew is residing in the lower barn at Quail Ridge Farm, it's an open shed row type barn but very nice.I hope to include lots of pictures in the blog this year but something is being tempermental so no pictures just yet- but I promise they are coming!!!
Wed consisted of setting up stalls, tack and feed rooms, organizing paddock space, etc ect. The horses all fared well on the journey and settled in nicely- Diem gave us a little scare as he acted a tiny bit colicky the first night, but was fine after some banamine and bute. Thursday was a full day of R&R for all the ponies as they got adjusted to their new turnouts and daily rountine,they were all so happy to be stretching out in some good sized paddocks! We also picked up and moved in Carino and Marissa. Marissa, I am excited to say, has taken on the roll of working student for me; I'm so glad to have the help!
Friday was the first day under saddle and everyone went for a hack around the track. Carino and Ari paired up in the beginning and they were all business as they settled into their trot sets and relaxed into a nice loosening canter up the long back hill. Twice around the track was a solid 40 minutes and a nice hack to stretch them out. The rest I took out solo, Devin, who I was prepared to dance with the entire time actually settled nicely half way around and by the second loop was acting like she's always done trot sets! Diem was a little looky to start, but he also settled nicely and was very workmanlike by the second loop. Beacon, naturally, opted to toss a shoe in his paddock so I had to call Tom (farrier) who was thankfully right down the road to come and tack it back on for me. He REALLY needed to work so we only did one loop around the track and then modified to do a light dressage school in the arena- he was actually really super.
Saturday (yesterday!) everyone did a propper flat school in the arena. They were ALL fantastic! Everyone started off very focused and got some really good work in- hopefully this becomes a trend!
I'm heading to drop Jim off at the airport now, then back to do rides. Check back later for more updates and (hopefully) pictures!!!
Wed consisted of setting up stalls, tack and feed rooms, organizing paddock space, etc ect. The horses all fared well on the journey and settled in nicely- Diem gave us a little scare as he acted a tiny bit colicky the first night, but was fine after some banamine and bute. Thursday was a full day of R&R for all the ponies as they got adjusted to their new turnouts and daily rountine,they were all so happy to be stretching out in some good sized paddocks! We also picked up and moved in Carino and Marissa. Marissa, I am excited to say, has taken on the roll of working student for me; I'm so glad to have the help!
Friday was the first day under saddle and everyone went for a hack around the track. Carino and Ari paired up in the beginning and they were all business as they settled into their trot sets and relaxed into a nice loosening canter up the long back hill. Twice around the track was a solid 40 minutes and a nice hack to stretch them out. The rest I took out solo, Devin, who I was prepared to dance with the entire time actually settled nicely half way around and by the second loop was acting like she's always done trot sets! Diem was a little looky to start, but he also settled nicely and was very workmanlike by the second loop. Beacon, naturally, opted to toss a shoe in his paddock so I had to call Tom (farrier) who was thankfully right down the road to come and tack it back on for me. He REALLY needed to work so we only did one loop around the track and then modified to do a light dressage school in the arena- he was actually really super.
Saturday (yesterday!) everyone did a propper flat school in the arena. They were ALL fantastic! Everyone started off very focused and got some really good work in- hopefully this becomes a trend!
I'm heading to drop Jim off at the airport now, then back to do rides. Check back later for more updates and (hopefully) pictures!!!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
We made it to NJ at our first pit stop- its a HUGE truck stop! The ponies are all shipping well- they have all decided that one particular hay net is the tastiest so they are all sharing that one and ignoring the others. Diem has done the best for drinking water, Ari dunked lots of hay in the bucket and then sucked on it, both Beacon and Devin sniffed a little, sipped a little, and then turned their noses up. After some confusion with all the computers being down at the pumps I was finally able to fill up (hooray for cash!) And now we're gearing up to be back on the road- Jim hasn't even threatened to kill me once yet! Onwards and Aiken bound!
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