Beginning this Thanksgiving week I'm taking down the training for all of my horses and giving them a well deserved break. During this time we'll be doing light schooling so we'll be fresh and ready to go for the 2011 season.
I'll probably start back up training between Christmas and New Year's but that of course will be dependent on the weather. We potentially could have a rough winter up here in the Pacific Northwest.
We ended the season in October and November with some really great training. I finished the month of November with clinics with Henrik Johansen (Neo and Falcon) and Shannon Peters (Neo).
With Falcon we are strong enough to hold a solid 2nd level/3rd level collected trot. The canter is much improving and we've begun schooling flying changes. For this horse, and where he came from, being able to school the changes, and other upper level movements, is truly remarkable and quite rewarding.
With Henrik and Shannon's assistance we now have Neo at a completely different level of fitness and strength. We are showing at times the trot and canter required for the Grand Prix and have the basis for the piaffe and passage in place. All we need to do is get the coordination and strength for the passage. The 1's are coming along and right now we can get 7-10 depending on my timing.
This is quite exciting taking a horse (Neo) that was out of shape for the FEI and with some bad training habits and bring him along so that we are now on the cusp of riding a Grand Prix.
I'll be updating through the next couple of weeks and in the meantime have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
