A Perfect Friday!

Gambler munching on some hay while I tacked Auggie up

The ponies running around yesterday, Gambler on the left

With all of this ridiculous snow, I haven't had a real ride in almost two weeks! Needless to say, I was itching to get back in the saddle, and it was amazing to get three rides in today! Since I didn't have school and our ring was frozen on Wednesday (so no lesson), I had a lesson early this morning. Our ring was okay yesterday, but had re-froze overnight, so I rode Gambler in the field. He was a perfect little saint, despite the fact that he hasn't been ridden since last Monday!

My lesson was great. The ground was pretty hard, so we did mainly walk and some trot, no cantering. It's amazing the things you can do just at the walk! Despite Gambler being very good, he was a little wiggly and distracted being away from the herd. We worked a lot on getting him straight and supple. We also worked on halting just off my seat and leg. Gambler is now learning that whenever I close my leg, he must halt. Eventually, I'll be able to use that cue to ask him to collect. We also worked on getting him to seek the contact. He is doing so well!

We also talked about an appropriate conditioning schedule for Gambler, and came up with what I think will be super beneficial for his training physically and mentally. I'm super excited to see how he flourishes the next few months; I am so blessed to have such a great trainer. Here is what we came up with!

Poor guy was having a rough hair day! 

Sundays will be our hack day. For the next month, I will do hill work at the walk for one hour. At the beginning of March, I will begin adding in three sets of five minute trot sets. Mondays will be a dressage day. We will begin with a short hack in the field to warm up, then focus half our dressage school and softness and stretching, and after a short break, work on more trying things. Tuesdays Gambler gets special attention from my dear friend Florence, who loves him! Wednesdays I have my lesson with Jaclyn, which will be a jumping lesson from here on out. Thursdays will be a shorter and more intense dressage school, and Fridays will be a jump school focusing on whatever Jaclyn wants us to work on.

We'll reevaluate how this is working out probably in the middle of March, and go from there. I can't wait to have a super fit pony! :D

Ponies and sunshine, the greatest things ever! Love God's beauty :) 

After my lesson on Gambler, I rode Auggie. It was so nice to be back in the saddle. This horse is such a steady eddie, and although he isn't super exciting, he can be a fun ride. He was very up and willing today, which was nice! The ring was pretty much melted by the time I was riding Auggie, so we were able to get some nice trots in. He has a nasty habit of dropping his shoulder (much like Gambler) and requires a lot of support (just like Gambler... they must be comparing notes out in the field). We worked a lot on that, and I was really pleased how he was doing by the end of our ride. Hopefully this darn weather starts cooperating so that I can get more consistent rides in on all of the horses.

Auggie is definitely getting in a lot better shape. He had a nasty abscess in the fall that had him out of commission for a while, but he seems to be getting in better shape now. If this weather would just behave, I could start doing more intense trot sets and such on him. Ah, well.

Also - I have it on good accounts that getting a super huge horse (Auggie) the day after leg day is pretty painful. Just a PSA.

After riding the ponies, I went and met my friend Becca! She has a rescue named Oliver who is the darndest (new word?) cutest munchkin ever! He is tiny. It took me a while to get used to riding him, because I felt like he was soooooo narrow! I may or may not have looked ridiculously big on him, but oh well!

My friend Becca has only had him for three weeks. He's a... work in progress. By that, I mean he's a bit of a maniac, but he was really fun! Becca is doing a great job with him, despite his... spazziness. I can't wait to hopefully work with him more and see how he progresses. Right now, he can't canter like a sane creature (oh, he can canter all right! Just not when asked) but boy can he trot! It's funny, he is a super uphill mover. Those rescues, there are so many diamonds in the rough!

I feel so blessed to have such an awesome trainer, because I'm then able to share the knowledge she provides me with to others! When I rode Oliver, I worked on getting him straight and also listening to my seat/leg, not just the reins, which is what he is used to now. He was very responsive and such a good boy! He is so much fun to ride... That stride! Seriously. It feels like he's floating, it's awesome!

Becca is actually hoping to compete him at the show I am, Lord willing, taking Gambler to in March! Speaking of which, I am so excited. Here's to making February the best yet in prep for what will hopefully be an awesome competition season!