It’s been a rather long time since my last blog (I blame work for blocking wordpress >.< ). Anycase time to get back to the juicy details of how things have been

Lily and I have been doing really well, she has changed so much since the day I bought her, it is completely like chalk and cheese.
We are working together and starting to get a proper feel for one another, and though it is a constant battle to gain her trust and loyalty, she gives and gives and then gives some more. I cannot really ask for more at this stage…

Since the last show, we have been working hard on getting Lily forward, we have had some major breakthroughts with regards to this, and I am pleased with where we are currently in her schooling. It’s been dedication from our side and from Pam, who has been pushing to correct my seat and to work more with Lily, rather than against her Pam has been our rock and we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her! SO a BIG THANK YOU PAM!!!!!

Yesterday was a big mark for us as well, we started doing Shoulder in’s again and Lily is really starting to cope with it. I think at this stage I need to learn what exactly to do, she seems to try her little heart out! Still quite a bit of work to do on her walk and on the right rein at the walk as well. I’m sure we’ll have it sorted in no time, even though at times it can be frustrating! I am really really enjoying my flat work! I think Lily will do very well as we work on things going forward. Watching the Elementry dressage over the past weekend, inspired me to work hard towards getting there with Lily (even though we still a number of years from that) – I like to aim for the stars and I think that is a nice long term goal to have.

All the super flat work we have been doing, has also translated so nicely into her jumping (though it is not my focus area, it’s just for fun). She has a super little (or rather not so little) jump on her, and you can feel her coming up through her wither! We’ve gone from being scared and terrified of fences to be able to go into them confidently, with the occasional mishap. I am just thankful she is calm and consistent over them, unlike Montana who killed my confidence with regards to jumping (The pure speed & lack of Brakes). All I can say is, I trust her and I trust that she will do what is required of her

Anyways off that subject

We had a fantastic time over the long weekend, watching the dressage and finally seeing Tossy Raynor jumping in her 1m40 class (WHAT an inspiration she is!). I think we all squeeled when she had a clear round (Pity about the Pole down in the jump off). So nice to watch our mentors compete, it just warms you up in side

This coming weekend we get ready for our Lesson with Lilian, I am really looking forward to it. I’ve seen her work with Charlene in the past and am sure we will be able to get some really nice results from the lesson.

We are also preparing for the show we are attending at the end of the Month at Riba stables (i’m really EXCITED)… Our second outside show of many more to come… The bug has bitten me (I don’t know about the rest of you), but I think it is time to go to as many shows as possible! Lily’s at the point now, where I trust her enough to behave herself at a show and to give it her all
So many exciting things in the air I must say

Also before I forget – We also say welcome to the New additions to the Yard! Welcome to George (Goodwill Games) and Queenie (Earthquake) – Welcome to the Glen Austin Family
Also a big welcome to our new riders

Anycase I think I’ve typed enough now – so all the best to everyone and happy riding! Till next time

Adios Amigos!

One of the first things that comes to mind when you think of a Group lesson is “How am I going to do this, if it is difficult enough when it is just me in the arena”… I’ve been there and wondered how the heck I was going to cope, and all that fear, wonder etc translated into my horse and made these lessons the way I anticipated them to be… “Scary, Difficult, hectic”.
Those who knew my old mare and watched the group lessons I had on her (or even the rides on our own) would understand why I was in this space. It also followed me onto Lily but it was a bit different.

I am not 1o0% sure when I finally got over this fear, but I think it happened a few months ago. I guess it is all dependent on Confidence, your trust in your horse and most importantly – the trust in your own ability. But yeah getting back to the point. I now THOROUGHLY enjoy the group lessons. I know what Lily can chuck at me and I know what to do when she does it (It makes a BIG difference).

This past weekend we had a LOVELY Group lesson which Consisted out of: Anel on Flag, Natalie on Discreet, Me on Lily, Jay on Sky and Susan on DeeDee. Pam gave us all a run for our money, we had loads of exercises that challenged us, especially seeing that it was Blistering hot. Everyone coped really well and had fantastic rides. I think the exercises Pam threw our way were done really nicely by all and everyone tried their hearts out (horses included)

What I love about these lessons are that we learn a lot, not just by riding, but by watching the others. It pushes you as an individual to ride it well too Best of all, it prepares us for the shows and for our private lessons as well. It’s just so awesome

Anyways before I waffle on too much, let me end this
Happy Riding everyone!

Over the holiday period quite a few of us worked really hard to get our horses fit and ourselves at the same time. I am glad to see it has paid off in leaps and bounds now. It’s fantastic watching everyone progress and seeing all the horses go so well

Lily has been fantastic, she had her day at the last show, where she gave me a near heart attack, but she is 100% most of the time. We’ve been putting a lot of hard work in and I think we have reached a new level in our training now.

Pam’s been throwing some really interesting, yet fun exercises our way and it’s been gripping trying to keep up with everything and trying to get them right. I think I’m hard on Lily and I at times (not intentionally), but it’s just cause I am so passionate about it. That said, maybe the pushing has been good.

I’ve really been enjoying the exercise we currently have up (The Fan, The figure 8 over the poles, the placing canter poles, the jumps on the sides and then finally the Caveletti’s down the one quarter line. Lily just keeps getting better and better each time we do it and it has been a LOAD of fun I must say. Today Pam mixed some collected trot and sitting trot in the mix and that was rather challenging, I was SWEATING after only a few minutes of it lol. Pam then once again chucked a spanner by getting me to extend her down the long sides as well whilst holding the frame. I think we got it quite nicely along the one side (well for me it felt awesome ). We also did some Spiral ins where we had to concentrate on keeping the same rhythm and keeping the frame and bend correct as well, it was challenging as well but SO much fun. Lily was working with me all the way

All in all it was a really awesome yet very challenging lesson

Thanks to Pam for working with us so closely and well, you really bring the best out in us.

Looking forward to what 2012 holds for us and for the rest of you at the yard! May it be a great one!

So finally the day of the show arrived and we were both excited and slightly nervous (more excited).
Got our horses ready for the Box and they looked all pretty and stuff… But it all changed when we struggled to get them into the box. I was honestly really feeling down after it took us 2 1/2 hours to get them to box. Lily who normally just walks into the box, it was really not a pleasant one for me. But that said, I was relieved when we got them into the box and went to the show.

We sadly got there too late for the jumping, so we missed our two classes. So the horses just chilled out and ran around at stages like crazy things, til our dressage classes. It was great watching some of the other riders of our team ride (Emma and Annemarie). They did our yard so proud by doing Awesomely in the Jumping and Cross Country! Well done to them

Anel and I in  the meantime were waiting to do our dressage from 12pm… We eventually got to do our tests after 2pm >.<
I by that time was really not happy and in the mood for anything anymore and Lily was upset and gatvol as well.
So the dressage didn’t go as well as I had hoped but it really was awesome for our first outside show
We managed to score 54.8% in Prelim 1 and 50.8% in Prelim 2. I am sure in our next show we will be back to normal, but that said, this was a mega improvement from our last show, which was a complete disaster lol.

The boxing home was a bit less of a hassle than when we went to the show which was a relief, but it was still hectic. Lots of Boxing Practise to be done now!

Thank you to everyone who came to support us and thanks to Pam for being there for us!
Thanks to Jos and Annemarie for letting us use your box and for your patience in getting the babies in the box.

Well done Team GAS

Pam was attending to one of the horses who was not feeling well, So Charlene came along and gave me my lesson

Man oh man can you say Drill sergeant? We did loads and loads of trot work, from 10m circles, to Loops through X, 3 loop serpentine’s, 4 loop serpentine’s and you name it, then not to forget turns on the forehand. Charlene had me really working hard and getting Lily to move forward with my seat, not nagging her with my leg (it’s a HORRIBLE habit I have picked up) and I think we were getting it nicely eventually. But I must say Lily had me working hard as I did not have my crop, and she takes FULL advantage of that. But I was really impressed with how she performed

The canter work was really nice as well, especially on our bad rein (left rein), the transition was phenominal I could really feel her arch her back and spring me into the canter She really has one of the most comfortable canters, it’s like a couch that moves

After that we did some frame work and Filly is really getting it, I think once my leg relaxes and I break the aids down more she will find it a lot easier But she was softening beautifully in the walk and even gave us quite a few steps in the trot Very impressed

I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Charlene for teaching the lesson, it was really fun :) I was exhausted though when I got off, and Lily was sweating for a change! Looking forward to the rides the rest of the week

Happy riding everyone!

HEEE HAAA!