Sit the Trot

 Finally I feel like a have a few minutes to blog about my last clinic with the lovely Sue Martin. Sue is an amazing trainer and rider who has lived and worked in both Colorado and California and we are so lucky to have her back here. As a barn we have worked with her quite a bit now, having her locally through Covid was truly wonderful and every single rider who works with her has told me they adore riding with her and get an absolute ton from her each time she comes. We have been trying to do every other month with Sue, people can usually stretch their budget to be able to ride this often, and especially as we were utterly devoid of shows in 2020 it allowed us to have some learning opportunities instead of competing opportunities and each rider and horse combination have made huge progression as time has gone on. Its so cool to see! Personally I have had progression forward each time I see her, my aims from this last clinic are getting more refined and quicker as a whole, quicker...

 It's been a crazy few weeks, who am I kidding, its been a crazy few bluddy years. I feel like I hardly have time to catch my breath some days but it is better than being bored I suppose! Willough is doing wonderfully well. She took a few days after her neck injection/ time off to really get back to feeling good and I had some panicky days where she felt unlevel, keen as ever but a bit funky. I panicked, spoke with Sara, texted vets, spoke more with Sara and was just told (by the vet) to keep going with light work for a few days and see how that went. I was thankful when she just kept getting better and sounder, such a stupid panic. We played this week with a cool lateral exercise. Basically if you are on the right rein, you come off the wall at M, half pass to around the quarter line, change bend/ flexion and ride a shallow loop to your left to around the second quarter line then leg yield back to the wall. We played in all paces with it- finally adding a flying change during the ...

 Its the new year and today I had my first lesson back on my sweet Willough after her neck injection a week or so ago then she got a short break followed by some light riding from our dear Lauren (Saras assistant trainer). Her school report from the trainers was pretty much 'did as asked but is an overachiever' hehe. Light work, she laughs in the face of light work (bwahaha).... Well she was awesome today... Also awesome at testing my seat and showing off as she spooked and jumped around. Knowing Miss W,  I am pretty sure she was telling me that she feels real good, also maybe a little of how mad she is that I was away from the barn (and not riding her for the whole of the last week). I mean, I can be honest and tell you, I didn't have the best brakes today (she was a little bit on fire)!  And it has taken me a good year or so, but I trust her now, she isn't doing it to deck her person, it's just her way! So (and maybe falsely so) I feel safe and happy enough when s...

 So this past Christmas week has not only been about family, food and gifts, but it has also seen some extra care for both Willough and Axel. Willough has needed a little extra maintenance, at almost 21 years old and still working at PSG level that is pretty expected! I try to give her regular, maintenance care with bodywork, Back On Track gear etc, but we decided it was time to inject her neck. She has arthritis in her neck (not unusual, especially for a dressage horse) and had it done before but not since I have owned her so it was about time. She had a few days off over Christmas, then has some light work days then back to usual work. I am super excited to see if it helps her! Axel had a few super balky days again and my gut told me it might be his gut... So, we did the famous Pepto trial and he seemed so much happier! I ordered ulcer treatment and am waiting for it to come through but luckily had a little stocked up and have started him on Ablers ulcer treatment. Willough is on...

Oh gosh, has it really been that long since I last blogged. I am red faced and embarrassed that so much time has gone by. I could come up with a million excuses but I simply didn't make time, however new starts and BIG CHANGES are ahead! And by big changes I mean FLYING CHANGES- not the kind that you ride, this time it is all about making flying changes in myself. 2021 is looking to be the most exciting year for me. I have joined the High Plains RMDS board as vice president which will allow me to help give back to the local dressage community. I also have two fantastic horses in Willough and Axel that I am hoping to show and clinic on throughout the year. Now usually the thought of showing would be slightly terrifying, and don't get me wrong; it still is, but I have an ace in my hand. Yep, lucky old me: I am going to be working with Jenni Winter-Leach of #FlyingChangesCoaching and finally adding that much neglected 'mental' aspect of riding and competing. Jenni works wi...

While the world is obsessing over Corona Virus I spent the day obsessing about my horses... well a little about Corona Virus but mostly about ponies... Axel was first up and we spent some time with him doing lameness evaluations first. We really didn't see anything here, however remembering how he was before the stifle operation we didn't really see lameness then either. The next thing I wanted to do was take some X-Rays of the stifle to check how the screw was seated and if there was any problems with it. We took a few films and it all looked good down there, of course the arthritis hasn't magically gone, but it looks just how it should. So the choice was made to get him back under saddle and walking then review again before we start trot work. So of course, I saddled up and hopped on my slightly wobbly, weak pony. He is such a doll, and of course behaved perfectly. So happy to be back on board. Hacking fitness begins now! So, Miss Willough. A friend kindly walked her ...