When you have multiple horses who need conditioning work, we hit the hills in pairs! Kari rode Clifford and ponied Havana while I rode Jacob and ponied Sinatra.
Havana was such a grown up girl today at the MAEA horse trial, competing at Beginner Novice. She was great during her dressage test, even with her hind end slipping around the grass corners (will be putting studs in for next time!). Judge called her a very nice horse! We then easily jumped two clear rounds. She felt so confident in her take off spots and her rhythm. Good job baby girl!
So proud of this kid (and my pony!). Kari’s horse Clifford has been on stall rest the last three weeks and she’s been taking the opportunity to ride some of the other horses at the barn. She has been doing great with sales horse Havana this last week and was signed up for a Beginner Novice CT. After a great warmup, Havana took an off step after her first canter circle in her dressage test and yanked a shoe off, resulting in an elimination due to that ouchy foot. I offered to let Kari jump Sinatra in a 2’ and then 2’6” jumper class, since she couldn’t finish with Havana.
Kari has never ridden Sinatra and nobody besides me have ever jumped him. He is not the easiest ride and she went out there with nothing but my prep talk, about 3 minutes of coaching on the flat and over two fences total, and jumped two lovely clean and quiet rounds. Even got herself a blue in the 2’6”.
Way to go kiddo! Love seeing hard work paying off! 🥰
Havana may have glared at me with the side eye to end all side eye for the rude decision on my part to allow someone ELSE to ride her… but it didn’t stop her from looking like a dream boat with Kari! She hasn’t been ridden for *coughcoughlongerthaniremember* and after some baby fun moments, I couldn’t have been happier to see her go around responding to everything Kari asked of her.
I swear, I’ll really post her for sale, soon-ish… she’ll make someone an amazing partner. This is the first time Kari has fully ridden her without me having done so first. Havana has the skills to do big girl stuff and the brain to do it with an AA or a Jr. with the loving personality that will melt anyone’s heart. 💕💕
She is technically currently for s.ale, so if you happen to fall in love from her videos, shoot me a message. If not, one day, this year…. I’ll put her official looking for new home statement out. I swear 😬
A little clip of some gymnastics from last week. This one focused on shoulder control of your horse with low bounces on a decent bend. Can also be done at the trot and canter with poles on the ground for appropriate challenge at all levels!
Gymnastics day yesterday. Horses getting their bounces on!
Lesson interrupted today thanks to a funnel cloud passing by 🌪️
Tonight’s jump lesson was focused on adjustability before and after fences. This exercise required riders to jump at a canter, drop down to a trot for a set of poles, pick the canter back up, jump, trot poles again and then canter a vertical at an angle. All of this required the pair to be able to make quick transitions and adjustments to gaits while keeping a forward energy and engaged hind end. It was a fun session! Video shows Prima and Tiffany at the end of their group lesson.
It’s been an exciting week for our baby Warmbloods! Drogon had his first backing and here Brego had his first ride in the arena! Brego was a good boy and took it all in stride. He’s so comfy already! Future is bright for this big boy 🤩
Sales horse Cher stretching her legs over some fences after the cold spell. She was a very good girl after being off of work for too long due to the cold and weather. Cher is looking for a new partner! Message about this sweet girl!
Oh Drogon, you silly boy. I live my goofy baby. Especially the adorable face he gives me when I call out to him and he immediately stops his fun game to come see me 🥰
And the snow just keeps coming!
It’s a winter wonderland out here! Snows been coming down since 11:00 but still out working horses and teaching lessons. 🥰
Honour - Training Pony
Honour, a training pony, had his first non-me ride the other week. One of my students rode him in her lesson to give me an idea of where he was at with someone else and to see where his holes might be. Elli did a great job with him and it’s great to see the skills she’s been developing shine on a new ride.
When the mud wants to suck your boots off, I opt for four hoof drive - pony style! Pirate made chores last night and this morning twice as fast, as I rode him and ponied the horses back and forward from barn to turnout. He was very willing and proud to have such an important job. He is worth his weight in gold 🥰