CPW Equine Development

The Dressage Foundation's Lynn Palm WD Fund grant - Brian MacMahon clinic

When I was awarded The Dressage Foundation's Lynn Palm Western Dressage Fund grant I had an outline of a plan, but nothing set yet. Then, Brian MacMahon appeared as a clinician coming to one of the local facilities here in March and my first grant plan was made. Last summer I volunteered for a day with the Kentucky Dressage Association as a scribe (highly recommend doing it here and there if you can-great learning opportunity!). I happened to be placed with judge Brian MacMahon. I paid attention to what he saw/commented on in the tests and I listened when he gave verbal feedback in the equitation class. I thought he was someone who could help me: someone with a good eye, with real training experience and a kind and methodical approach to both people and horses. We chatted during breaks, and I learned he was both a classical and western dressage judge. So, fast forward to when I saw he was coming to a barn near me and I signed right up! For those who really want to jump in, I’ve put 14 min into a youtube link. For those who want bite sizes, I'll be posting some short clips and here’s one of him working with me on our canter pirouettes (sound on for his commentary). I appreciate his dual judging credentials. Coming from a classical dressage background myself, he was really able to help explain and clarify the expectations for western dressage compared to the classical that I'm most familiar with (some expectations are similar, and some different). This will help me when I come down the WD centerline! Huge thank you to The Dressage Foundation, the Lynn Palm WD Fund, Lindsey at Meadow Lake for hosting, of course Brian MacMahon for the great instruction, Bruce McNeill for filming and my sweet boy, Majestic Lad for his efforts 💜. . . youtube link: https://youtu.be/3_sptLBgokE . . #ottb #fromracingtodancing #tbmakeovergrad #majesticlad

All of this rain is a bit of a mood dampener, but at least Tranquil Hill Farms arena is holding up superbly! And at least Caxi is enjoying the byproduct of these April showers! I'm looking forward to a lot of May flowers 🌷🏵️🌼🌺🌸🌻!

When it's another snow day, yet your four legged friends are bored, you do what you can on the pathways amidst the frozen tundra. I think they enjoyed doing something and I know I did! Love my sweet boys. #ottb x2 #tbmakeovergrad x2

I love how Majestic is feeling lately. This was our first line of one tempis yesterday: 21 of them because they felt good so we just kept going! It's not an easy ask and I was so happy with his effort! Our barefoot trimmer, Bruce McNeill of Barefoot Movement, is really getting Majestic's feet on track to help him be more comfortable and balanced in the weight carrying phase, thus improving the stride in both the reach and the push. And I've been quiet about it because I don't give quality reviews quickly...I like to test things out for a period...but this is in our new Hug Your Horse : Hidalgo Leather Tree Consultant leather tree saddle which is helping Majestic feel freer in the shoulders and is allowing him freedom for better lift through the thoracic trapezius where he likes to hollow from his cribbing habit. Majestic has some physical stuff that I think stems from his racing days and injury that I'm always trying to help with the training, but I'm excited to be feeling him using his back more, coming through the body better, and taking better strides. Good feet give him the ability to move forward and the confidence to use himself, and then a good saddle gives the energy a chance to circulate properly through the body. Horse training and care is best with a multi approach and I love to have these two professionals available to help my horse feel and be better! Loving the journey with my boy 💜. #majesticlad #tbmakeovergrad #fromracingtodancing #ottb

Alien

I love the connection and relationship that evolves through in-hand work focusing on balancing the horse physically and mentally 💙. Interested in an In-Hand Fundamentals online course?? Let me know by submitting your email and you will be the first to know when it's available! The link is below. Also, any future online course requests, drop them in the comments! Course Alert link: https://form.jotform.com/243384775347165

JP Zabacaxi bridleless

Throwback to the beginning of October and preparing to do a demo at the International Liberty Horse Association's Championships with Mariada George's special boy, JP Zabacaxi! We didn't take the bridle off for the demo, but we did drape the reins and just go off the neck rope and achieved passage and one tempis for the first time off just the rope! He was amazing! The day of this video though, I had been working him with both the rope and the bridle for about 5 days and decided to see what he was like without the bridle. It had been 6 years since I played with bridleless (check out his first bridleless ride: https://youtu.be/dkpTDwY3tBA). He was so good; such a reflection of his good character, willingness and atheleticism 💛.

Breakfast in bed 😊💛

When we went to Masterson Station Park a few weeks back we got to play with going through water! He loves hose water, doesn't bat an eye at puddles, but was suspicious of this water...I think from how they treat it, it looks different. We ended up being able to go through it walk, trot, canter no problem! What a good boy and a fun day 💜! And I didn't drop my phone in the water - an extra plus 😅.

16 one tempis! You can look at my smile at the end of the video and know I'm pretty excited! How did we get there though? How does one show at a lower level while developing higher skills? I go back and forth. Last winter I worked on one tempis. I got to the point of doing 11 of them! I got to that point once and then backed off. I started looking toward my spring and summer show goals which did not include one tempis. After our current show goals concluded in June, I resumed in July working on one tempis. Here we are, yesterday. I had done 16 on Wednesday, but without any eyes/evidence. Yesterday I confirmed they weren't just a happy accident 😄. Still not completely solid, but they're there! I've had huge guidance and influence from my mentor, JP Giacomini, on how to train, which has made a huge impact on my skills and career! From there though, I've trained Majestic myself. This horse is my happy place. At the end of the day of work I want to be able to do as much or as little as I want. I don't want the pressure of doing everything perfectly or at a certain rate. Yet, we continue to develop because he's an amazing horse and I am dedicated in our practice. I am so thankful for this horse and all that he shares with me. I thank him every time I dismount. For his patience, effort and heart. P.S. sorry for the video quality...lighting is so hard with the open arena sides...I adjusted the lighting as best I could! Also, sound on for the matching music 😊! #Majesticlad #ottb #fromracingtodancing #tbmakeovergrad

We had a great time at an obstacle playday at Masterson Station Park last weekend put on by Chris Pepplitsch! (Link below for another one offered in November!). Majestic is super with most obstacles, but has not been very interested in getting all four feet on a platform at the shows we've been to (to be fair, one was a narrow balance beam and the other was a teeter totter in the shadows 😅), so it was great to get to work on that. It was also fun to try out some new ones, including the round spinning/seesaw board. If I got his feet placed center enough, it kept the board balanced and I could play with rotating his hindquarters and the board would turn. Playing with the balance in his shoulders was a good exercise! There were things to drag, a tarp to raise by pulling a rope, streamers to ride through...among others! It was a good variety, spaced out well so everyone had space and the people who ran it were so supportive and encouraging. I'm enjoying venturing into the obstacle realm, and something about it that I really appreciate is that in-hand is encouraged. I do so much in-hand work with my dressage work because I believe it really sets the learning up the right way. It was nice to apply that concept by wandering the obstacle course in-hand and then returning under saddle. Link to the next obstacle playday: https://facebook.com/events/s/met-benefit-hunter-pace-and-tr/1289651248679823/ #MajesticLad #tbmakeovergrad #ottb

It's probably been a year and a half since I've ridden Zorro bridleless. It's just not a main focus, but as JP asked me to check back in with the bridleless work, I did so. This horse is special. A year and a half and I got on straight away with the neck rope and was able to do all of our lateral work, piaffe and passage and things like play with two tempis to one tempis back to two tempis. He is proof of the exceptional character that can be found in these horses. He is also proof of the training. Yes, he has been trained with a bit, but that doesn't mean it will automatically transfer or everyone would be doing it. It means he is responding to my seat, posture, neck rope, legs and my intention. In this video I asked for the reverence stretch for the second time ever without a bridle (the first was right before I went to get my phone) and he understood me clearly. I'm definitely not opposed to bits at all, but I do love playing with training and testing out the limitations (or lack of). Love what Zorro shares with me 🩵.