Winter Dressage

13/04/2024

Since I have yet to make a 2024 post on this page yet I figure I better show some summer pics now that summer is over. Autumn instalment will be next. We are busy chipping away and working hard.

25/11/2023

Having a trot in the water.

25/11/2023

The water was so clear in this spot.

25/11/2023

Heading down to the beach.

25/11/2023

Yesterday was such a fun day. I haven’t been on a beach ride in about 15 years and to have it all to ourselves made it even better. The highlight was definitely having a gallop along the long stretch of sand. Genie thought she was a racehorse and loved every second of it 😂 We are so fortunate to have this beautiful beach not too far away from us.

15/10/2023

Last weekend rainy and wet…. this weekend it feels like summer in October 🥵🙅🏼‍♀️

15/09/2023

Happy place.

15/09/2023

A fun impromptu ride today to end the week 😊

28/08/2023

The angle and bend in these canter half passes is already a huge improvement from where they used to be a few months ago.

28/08/2023

Schooling canter half pass and single changes. Wish I had video from the next day as she did the best tempi changes we’ve ever had! 🥲

27/08/2023

27/08/2023

Such a fun weekend! We got to ride at the new place and they have a beautiful area out the back to go on a trail ride after training in the arena. We saw so many kangaroos out there and the horses loved to have chill out time after the hard work was done. Feeling pretty lucky 😊

20/08/2023

Last ride at the “old place” before she moves to her new property 😀 We’ve been practicing some Medium level dressage tests and now focusing on Advanced level. So much to work on mainly the strength in the collected work, more adjustability in the canter, more softness in her jaw and as usual more suppleness laterally. Always striving for that elusive perfection that defines our sport.

14/08/2023

Attempting to film and ride with one hand. Clearly need more practice one handed as you can see her still needing more support in the trot to canter transition. Her reaction was “hey where did you go?” 😂

30/07/2023

Just an easy weekend with this one 😊

23/07/2023

Having fun with Genie this afternoon 🤩

03/07/2023

Trying to get bend through her rib cage in the half pass. A work in progress.

03/07/2023

Still trying to convince her she has more than one trot gear. Working more on half steps and medium trot trying to find more variations. Like an old diesel engine she takes a while to warm up but once she is….boy does she give it! Now her reward is letting her go and have a ”yeeha” in the trot which usually takes a few laps to bring her back again 😂

25/06/2023

Another great weekend of riding with this one. We are working on gaining more lift through her shoulders and withers keeping her poll the highest point. Maintaining that upper level outline and not reverting to slamming her weight down on her forehand and going behind the vertical. A bonus today was the best trot half passes I’ve ever gotten from her in both directions and a true collected pirouette canter. Amazing what correct half halts and tuning into the leg seat and hand can do!

11/06/2023

Such a fun and productive ride today. We worked on finding more gears in the trot and canter, holding less tension in her jaw, more suppleness over her top line and more bend in her rib cage to help improve the lateral work.

11/06/2023

From Saturdays ride.

08/06/2023

Happy place 😊

04/06/2023

Screen shots from todays ride. Fitness levels are already getting back on track for us both. Played with tempo changes within the gaits and improving the half halts to go through her entire body thus improving her self carriage.

28/05/2023

A different view. Working on trot half steps, sitting more behind and taking more weight on the hind legs. She’s such a good student.

28/05/2023

Reunited after 2.5 weeks. Now we both have to get our fitness levels back again 😂

14/05/2023

No riding this weekend due to arena footing being redone so here’s some screen shot pics from video footage last weekend.

08/05/2023

Tried to film a different way. Back to the drawing board! 😂

07/05/2023

Canter work, walk to canter transitions, working canter pirouettes, traver in canter, flying changes. I want to look back at this footage as the before and not the after. Lots to work on but loving the feeling she gives me.

07/05/2023

Warming up the canter from our ride this morning.

06/05/2023

A few screen grabs from todays ride. Hoping to capture some decent video footage tomorrow!