The Green Couch Miscellany: Teaser...

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Teaser...

I'll be writing a more detailed post about all the fun we had this weekend; suffice it to say that our first competitions went marvelously well. Really just great! In fact, we brought home a blue ribbon from the combined test today. Crazy! Mike captured some great photos and video of me as well as the rest of our barn pals (pretty much the entire barn went out both days). I'll post those tomorrow with the full scoop!

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Ride Log

4.16.10 20 minute hack with some trotting at the two point; more two point work at t and c in the ring followed by jumping the same xc jumps we did day before. Much better! ********************************** 4.15.10 First xc lesson: not so great. I was nervous and did a lot of pulling; CZ in turn did a lot of rushing. Ewww. But jumping in the ring was pretty good. ********************************** 4.14.10 20 minute hack and 40 minutes of flatwork. Nice canter transitions and pretty forward trot work (trying to use a whip, finally). CZ seemed like he was having an allergy issue. ********************************** 4.13.10 Bareback at walk and trot for 30 minutes. ********************************** 4.11.10 Combined test: great first show! ********************************** 4.10.10 Pipe opener, elementary level: so much fun. Caesar was super excited. He took care of me! ********************************** 4.9.10 Hack and a bit of jumping to prepare for the weekend of showing; Caesar was a real champ. ********************************** 4.8.10 Dressage lesson: decent, but I was tense! ********************************** 4.6.10 20 minute hack at walk and trot followed by really lovely flat work! ********************************** 4.5.10 Great jump lesson: worked on cantering between fences, turning, and, as always, eyes and hands up. ********************************** 4.4.10 Cross country schooling with Megan and April: Caesar pitched a few BIG fits when his pals left him to jump (threw in a buck at one point, very rare). But the work of settling him only builds my confidence. We made about 20 jump attempts and they all rode pretty well. ********************************** 4.3.10 Flat work for 45 minutes: Caesar was rather distracted at the beginning but settled in well. ********************************** 4.2.10 Paper Chase!!! ********************************** 4.1.10 Conditioning work outside: Caesar was great expect when separated from Wyatt (again), but less fussy this time. Nice trot work in the ring to finish off. ********************************** 3.30.10 Walk and trot in the indoor with some trot work outside. Rather drab ride on a very drab day. ********************************** 3.29.10 Good flat lesson in the indoor. Worked on using my left hand properly in both directions (esp. on a circle) and not overusing my right hand. Feel free to scream out "left hand!" whenever you see me riding :) ********************************** 3.28.10 Awesome conditioning/jump/flat combo session. Megan and I did trot sets then jumped a few xc jumps. Caesar was great except when Wyatt would leave him, but we worked through his fits. Ended with 20 minutes of pretty great flat work. I love my horse! ********************************** 3.27.10 No riding, but I went with some pals to Morven Park to jump judge. AWESOME! Felt like I learned a good bit just watching. Main lesson--give your horse his head! Pulling doesn't accomplish much! ********************************** 3.26.10 Combined test prep lesson (2 weeks away!): worked on the flat for 20 minutes then switched to jumping. Cantered the same vertical then added a cross rail oxer and cantered that combo a few times. Caesar was a champ, and I had a few good jumps. But I totally wanted to quit early--my legs were so sore! I regret the wimpiness now of course! Must get in shape! ********************************** 3.25.10 Jump lesson! Cantered a 2'3" vertical on a circle in both directions--Caesar was a champ and we had a few "pull free" jumps. Worked on a simple gymnastic as well then finished with some much needed straightness/turning work. *********************************** 3.24.10 20 minute hack--hills and paths with some trot work then the ring for 10 minutes of tempo work and 10 minutes working on two-point at the trot. Finished by cantering poles and jumping a simple gymnastic--good ride! *********************************** 3.21.10 20 minute walk hack, 10 minutes of trot and canter work in the field followed by 35 minutes of flat work, most without stirrups. Caesar was great. *********************************** 3.20.10 Cross country schooling! FUN! Lots of learning ahead of me! *********************************** 3.19.10 Great ride! 30 minute hack with Abby and Tucker followed by 20 minutes of flatwork without stirrups. *********************************** 3.18.10 Jump lesson! Worked on a crossrail, three strides, crossrail gymnastic. Jumped beautifully, but I got in his way on the approaches and departures by pulling. Better toward the end though as we jumped a single gate. *********************************** 3.17.10 Gorgeous day--rode outside! 20 minute hack--forward walk, w/t/halt transitions. Then 40 minutes on the flat. He got moving very nicely and no signs of lameness... *********************************** 3.16.10 Caesar was off again today, a bit hoppy to the right. But he worked through it after a bit. When my trainer hopped on him and got him to round his back, he moved just fine. Maybe a back issue? *********************************** 3.14.10 Went in with high expectations after Saturday's ride...Caesar was forward and straight and willing, but something was missing. He seemed a little stiff and ring sour. SPRING! *********************************** 3.13.10 Great ride! Some pole work at the w/t then lots of suppling exercises; after 30 minutes I had a nice round forward horse! *********************************** 3.11.10 Mysterious lameness subsiding after I got him moving more forward; had a short lesson with some really great trot work. Maybe things are looking up??? *********************************** 3.10.10 More sound at both walk and trot, but still off, though it was hard to tell if is was on the left front or right front. *********************************** 3.8.10 Hack outside at the walk--sound; trotting in the indoor--lame. Arg. *********************************** 3.6.10 Day 2 of soaking and pampering; farrier is scheduled to come out Monday. Hopefully his hoof will no longer be so sore so that he can get a new shoe. I MISS RIDING! *********************************** 3.5.10 Caesar lost his front right shoe and bruised his hoof in the process so he was lame--afternoon of soaking his foot and pampering :/ *********************************** 3.3.10 The first thirty minutes were spent "stuck" with me over-communicating; work without stirrups and concentration on how I was using my aides, particularly my legs, produced some nice trot work at the end. *********************************** 3.2.10 Great ride overall! A little hack in the snow, 15 minutes of trot work--straight and foward, then some collection and extension at the trot. Worked over poles on the diagonal as well. The last 15 minutes he was moving freely and really moving his hind end, and he was round! It's been a while! ******************************* 2.28.10 Another day of jumping--same gymnastics then two jumps on the diagonal lines. Jumps were decent, but my turns and approaches need lots of work. In general, I need to sit back, bring my hands up and out of his way, and work on getting him forward and straight (without thumping:). ******************************* 2.27.10 Nice forward warmup (with a great left canter transition:) then some jump work. We worked on a simple gymnastic that rode really well when I put my shoulders back and kept my leg on!

The Green Couch Miscellany

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Teaser...

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