A work day like this, I do NOT want to repeat again… OMW it was HORRID… Not going to go into detail… But what I will say, when 16:00 came I was VERY happy! RIDING TIME Whooop!

Got to the stables and Chilled a bit, waited for Vicky to get there, cause she says it’s rare seeing me in work clothes, so I stayed in specially for her Though she was on a planet of her own yesterday Got changed soon after and started to tack up!

Popped on Lily and worked on getting the forward again from the start of the ride. Though she started off with “WHAT ON EARTH are you doing pushing me forward”, she soon realized I was not giving in and obliged lol (mares for you, always a negotiation). Did a lot of walking and trotting forward on a loose but secure contact (if that makes sense). Once I was happy I asked her for the canter as well, did loads of different exercises in the trot and canter (loops through X, changes of rein, trotting at x and cantering again at the next marker, Changes, 20m circles, 10m circles). Lily did phenominally. She also worked into a lovely frame and was super relaxed and focused. Made me very happy The canter though not in frame quite yet (few strides here and there), was much better. She popped me  in the transitions, which is a good sign!

We were then joined in the Arena by Lyndall and Jack and soon also Vicky and Lo Lovey. Did some nice work around them and then got ready for the line that was up. At first all crosses (Lyndall had put them down) and Lily did them very nicely (Up and Down). Anel and Tammy then Changed them all to Uprights for me. The jumps stood at 75cm and the middle one 70cm and we did them up and down… Lily did them with accuracy of note and with such an awesome pace (even softening in the canter)! I really really love jumping her, as she does her best and really tries hard She also listens to when I ask her to jump and the pace she needs to come into the fence at and we really just work well together over the fences now

Here is a Picci:

We ended it there, as there is no reason to do something again, if your horse did it well the first time I was so proud of her. Good Flat and Good jumping, what more could I ask for? I recon nothing!

Really looking forward to the show now!

HEE HAA!

So Tuesday was one of those days, that I could not WAIT to get to the stables, my day was rough and all I had on my mind, was my horse.
I got to the yard later than normal (Mike helped a kid who got knocked off his bike, by a Telkom Bakkie (hit and Run) and only got to me at about 16:30. But I am glad the kid is okay and the dad came and fetched him – PROUD of Mike). Anyways I got on Lily immediately and started to warm up.

She was FORWARD (not bad, just the way I want her), so the warmup was fun and really relaxing. Pam came into the arena and then the drill work started lol! Worked on Lily’s frame again and she softened into the contact really quickly *happiness*! I had my dressage pony back which was awesome! We then tried it in the canter as well, which was quite hectic… I really battle to help her come down (I know I am doing something wrong). I either drop her with my outside rein or my hands are doing something funny… not all that sure to be honest :/

Pam then worked on doing some transition work, so it was Canter a 20m circle, at C back to a trot and do a 10m circle, at C canter again and do a 20m circle and repeat ingredients The left rein went well! The right rein she was a bit lazy (which is odd for her), but we got it nicely. After this we did 3 loop serpentines in the canter, trying to get her to not change leg. The 1st attempt she changed (I think I asked her), the 2nd attempt though she did well! We then had to do counter canter all the way down the long side and then change rein, trot at x and pick up the canter and follow the same pattern again. It was hectic, but fun!

We ended a very successfull lesson there! I was most pleased with miss Filly
Thanks Pam for your patience!

Okay Okay, before I go onto the happenings of today, I’d like to wish everyone a happy 2013, seeing as this is my first blog of the year
It’s been a very interesting year thus far for all of us I’m sure with regards to our riding… So lets kick things off with a BANG!
Anyways enough woffling on now, let’s get to business

So today was one of those early days! I woke up at 5am and listened to the radio, where they were going on about WHY on earth people are awake at this time… What first came to my mind was, why do they have radio at a time like that? reason for that question popping up in my head, was cause of the things they said, were not ‘good’ enough reasons to be awake at that time… Mine was apparently one of those! My dear friend Insomnia… Anyhow enough of that. So yeah I was up and awake and just waited things out till I had to go to the stables.

Got there nice and early and relaxed a bit. Watched Janice have a lunge lesson on Micki and then watched Stacey’s Lesson (Practise session for the show). WOW but Queenie and Stacey are doing PHENOMINALLY, it is SUCH a pleasure to watch them The two of them have grown from strength to strength. I think they are going to be the team to look out for in the dressage at the show!

Next up was Lily and I. I headed down to the paddock and madam was waiting at the gate So we headed up and got tacked up. I decided to put her show boots on, so she could get use to them again… Naturally she could not walk with her back boots on, and almost face planted next to me *cant look*. We then got going into the arena. Now Lily is normally a lazy bag when it comes to doing flat work and I have to beg and plead for her to move forward, but today, that was NOT the case… Madam was working VERY forward, which was SUCH a nice change. I felt like I could concentrate more on ME than on her, and it worked so much better.

So we warmed up and then Pam entered so we could practise our dressage! Whoopy! Now before I go on about how it went… I want to just tell you all, I have been REALLY bad with practising tests and proper flatwork in the last 2 months (parlty cause Lily was unsound for 3 weeks). But anyhow, we have been getting back into it this week

So in we went and the first test went OKAY, she was forward and accurate, but rather resistant, but she had some good moments! Then came the second test, where finally she relaxed (Or is that me?) and the test went phenominally! She was slightly resistant, but not nearly as bad as the 1st one. Once again accurate and we got the extended trot right! *celebrates*… So yeah I hope we can get a test like this on Sunday at the show, but obviously we’ll aim to better it! Always aim for the stars! I had a blast!

Thanks Pam for my Super Lesson!

Then came Susan and Tammy’s lessons, these also went really well! The girls are also riding very well!

After all this, we waited for the rest of the Liveries to arrive. The meeting went well, not going to waffle on about it I also decided to put Lily on a new supplement apart from the other new one they are going on, called Mare Mix. This is purely cause of her lack of tollerance to pain when she is going into season… So I want to give her a better chance and help her out a bit, rather than her having to suffer each time… So lets pray it works… Here is a pic!

After all this we had a really nice braai, to end a very good and successful day! Thanks to everyone!

With just under two weeks till the Show and involuntary things happening to most of us to throw us off our prep, the tension & show stress has risen this week, as we draw closer and closer to the show. This being said, everyone is working really really hard to get themselves ready for the show, some people even doing prep on more than one horse! Hard work is paying off around every corner, and I can say it is such a pleasure on the eye and as a fellow rider, to see everyone improve.

Two really stood out for me yesterday, when I went to ride: Flag and Anel have done absolute wonders. Working in Sync and Flag is moving around like a spectacular Dressage Horse I am really excited for them, for the Novice Class. They going to Kick ASS!
Second is Angelique and DeeDee! What a nice sight yesterday. One of the few times I have seen DeeDee move forward and without hesistation. He had some lovely paces and Angelique was getting some lovely forward canters out of him Such a nice sight to behold
It is really nice to watch others ride, as you really do gain valuable tips from them

I also went to tack Lily up, 3 days fresh (Considering I had last ridden her on Thursday in my lesson), thinking this is going to either be really interesting, or she is going to be her normal ole self. The latter ended up ringing more true with the added bonus of Lily finally clicking again, that she can in fact be a stunning little dressage horse as well
It has literally been over two months since I have managed to get Lily to work correctly, soft, supple and through her back I was almost in tears and I was SO happy about it It was possibly my best ride since my Randjes Show on her A very happy and proud day. It has made me excited for the show again!

So anways. Good luck to everyone preparing for the show!