What are you working on?

Not only did I get some brilliant moments at the trot, ,my trainer said ask for the canter as soon as you feel her come on through at the trot. And when I did it was like in a way.

Haha, yes the canter transitions from a through trot is a million times better than an upwards transition from a 'so-so' trot. Can't beat that feeling of 'lift off' when they really power off the hind legs, the wither lifts and you can sit there looking pretty for a moment celebrating :P

Shulla and I are working on basic flexing. She is really stiff because she hasn't been ridden much,(And she was broke by a person who trains TBs for the track) so I have been trying to get her to relax her back but getting her to flex. She is getting good at them at the walk, but the tot is still disastrous. Lol.

We also work on building her top line up for me....we lunge in side reins at least 4 times a week.

Had a wonderful lesson today. Sphigi is improving far more rapidly than neither myself nor my coach had anticipated. I spent the week doing a lot of work in travers, and it certainly paid off. He was much straighter today, the canter had more jump and his back was really coming.
From a horse who didn't have a travers 3 weeks ago, he is now very confident in it and has started showing some really quality walk half pirouettes. In the canter, I was riding double shallow loops down the long side, which helped immensely to lift his shoulders and keep him straight, again the canter quality improved greatly.
My coach has given me 'permission' to ride him deep for the next week before my next lesson on Saturday. I've been a little hesitant to put him deep over the last couple of weeks, so I ran it by my coach today and we rode him a little deep today in all of the work. Straight away his back came, he was more willing to go forward, and there was a connection through his body rather than feeling like I am riding two separate horses.

Because of the improvement in just a week, my coach has discussed with me and we think it is time to look at entering him in his first comp, just a couple of prelim's to start with and get him into the swing of things before moving up to novice/elementary. Though within a few months he should be ready to go out in elementary. The aim now is to qualify in prelim/novice for the Spring Dressage Championships in October.

I will throw something out there that I'm working on ME. I twist to the outside seatbone so im working on that. I love to watch my horse while I'm riding too - blah!

I'm riding a few different horses right now but the one I'm most excited about has really started come through through and relax a few times. He typically likes to shorten his neck which makes it impossible to come though and engage with his his hind end and swing with his back. He needs consistent work but I can only give him 1 or 2 days a week right now. Doing what I can with what I have :).

The new guy has had a couple of days off following his massage yesterday, will give him a lunge tomorrow then back to riding on Thursday. Lesson again Saturday, and his first competition next Sunday. The pressure is on!

I had an awesome lesson with Kitty last week. We trailered in and she was on her best behavior. We worked on getting her to accept the bit and use her hind end more. I could really tell that she was trying to figure out what I was asking. Apparently she was doing pretty good because the BO there (a QH breeder) commented on how much he liked her.

But I did learn a very important lesson that the hard way. There's a reason I have riding pants and I don't think I'll ever ride in jeans again. I rubbed the skin off (a little bigger than a quarter) of the inside of my knee to the point where it was bleeding. Needless to say, everything hurts it. Showering, walking, a light breeze, etc. I won't be doing that again...
Posted via Mobile Device

Ouch Arksly!!! Jods/breeches sure to have a purpose, even if they're not the most flattering fashion item in our wardrobes ;)
I've done similar, I wore a cheap old pair of those god awful Dublin jods in a lesson, bad idea. They were starting to stretch around my knees, and I got killer friction burns on the inside of both knees. We were working on half pass that lesson too.... youch!

Hmm well now playing around with 3 tempi changes. Actually did good too! It's amazing when you and your horse finally feel as though you are riding as one! Plus we got some drop dead gorgeous mediums today!

Well I sure figured out which side she likes to fall out on. This past weekend I went to The Mane Event and got two new pairs of full seats for only $112. And my Mom found a pair of insulated Kerrits for only $50 a few weeks ago so I will definitely be wearing them all the time.