Riding in NV

I have now been riding at my friend's farm since Tuesday. The enjoyment of riding the horses I had a long time ago is back full time. Typically, I have been riding 3 to 5 horses a day and it feels right to be doing so. Although, the inner thighs are now getting a touch sore.

When I got here the plan was for me to ride a 9 year old Hanoverian gelding. He is a super talented horse but does have a little mental hindrance from a trainer a long time ago. What he will do is rear and sometime buck, especially on the right rein. On Thursday, we started up on the right lead canter and he reared up and then proceed to buck. I chose to take a dive off him. After a long time longing I got back on and got some really good work on him. In fact, it was fantastic!

However, the decision of could we ride him at the show came up. Basically, we decided to change horses to avoid any big confrontations at the show.

Now, I will be be showing a Pinto mare name Zena. Zena is 17h and is a really fun ride. Not only is she a comfortable ride, she has great gates and we should hopefully do well in the show ring.

It's been really good week for me and being completely immersed in the horse world. I am feeling more and more in my own skin and it feels "right" to be riding and at the barn 10+ hours a day.

I'll be posting more in the next couple of days!

Beginning the Comeback

For me, next week begins the comeback. I'll be traveling to Amanda Olson's farm in Garnderville, NV. There, I'll be riding a few horses a day and will be pushing myself to get back into show mode quickly.

The week after next, I'll be going to the Rancho Murieta Horse Show and will be showing a horse owned by a client of Amanda's. He (can't remember the name off the top of my head) is a 9 year old Hanoverian gelding. We'll be showing 2nd and 3rd level. This means I need to polish up my flying lead changes and half passes. I'm pretty confident I can get myself in show mode. I am excited to be showing again and this should be the start of a successful comeback!

Until Monday, it's finishing up writing training plans for my athletes so I don't have to be writing training while I'm out of town. Half of them are in Lake Havasu, AZ this weekend for the USAT Collegiate Regional Championship.

I'll be posting results and pics from the next 2 weeks beginning sometime next weeek.

Lucie

For the past couple of weeks Joan Bruck has been kind enough to let me ride her Selle Francais mare, Lucie. I've been riding her 5-6 days a week.

Ironically, I worked with Lucie 8 years ago when I was still somewhat involved with horses. I wasn't riding at the time, but I trained her foal for 8 months. Wow, what a small world.

Here are some pics of us riding.