So it has been quite awhile since my last entry, for which I regret and hope to get back on a semi-regular basis again. I feel like much as happened since my last entry, but at the same time, nothing monumental (i.e. my horse hasn't won the Olympics and I haven't been named the next rider for Ravel, LOL!).
J has been doing well, still keeping 4-6 day/week training sessions, lasting about 45-60 minutes each. Really working on his endurance/stamina, honest engagement of hind end and supple contact. I had the acupuncturist work on him two weeks ago, not because J was doing poorly, but felt that he would benefit from a routine tune-up session before our show season starts. Dr. Johnson confirmed that J was still sore in his pelvis, although less so than last time. He stated that he was also a bit sore in his left stifle, so he worked on that area also. He encouraged that I still do adjustments on J's shoulders and rib area prior to each ride. My lessons have not been as regular as I prefer, due to scheduling conflict's, illness, etc. But we still chip away and I feel confident that I know what is correct for the work that we are doing without needing Shelley's guidance on a constant basis.
The weather in Illinois has been tumultuous, to say the least, making it very hit or miss as to when I can get into the outdoor arena and practice my movements in a regulation size dressage arena. Fortunately all of last week was beautiful, so we worked outside exclusively. On Thursday I was able to put up my "white trash" dressage arena (vinyl letters stuck to buckets) and at least get the feeling of riding the movements in correct dimensions. Tawney (my barn owner) is seriously considering putting up a permanent dressage arena, which would be in our 200 X 200 outdoor arena, so that would be really great! But until then, mine definitely does the job. The footing in the outdoor is a little deep, although it is really nice torpedo sand and my barn owner is great with maintaining it. Because of the deeper footing, J can get lazy, so it is actually good for him to have to step it up a little bit and helps to build his endurance even more.
I've been really working on making sure J is turning with his outside shoulder during the turn. Sometimes he can get distracted or lazy, and when he does this, his outside shoulder will not actually turn towards the inside of the circle, even to a small degree. So we've been addressing this by using my inside rein a bit more often but direct and asking him to move his OUTSIDE shoulder with a small contraction on the inside rein. Now sometimes this has to be a large contraction and a large reaction, but the goal is that it will become very small, invisible to the judges, but he will know that means to get his inside shoulder underneath himself and even move it towards the inside. If I ask for a large reaction, I will follow up by asking his haunches to fall to the outside and for a small "wheelie" turn and then continue on our way. I have found this exercise very helpful when he is distracted or not on my aids as well as he should be. It prevents him from falling out the outside shoulder and ignoring my outside aids. This aid is very useful in my leg yields and my shoulder-in's, as I can very minutely turn his front end but keep his hind end underneath and no falling out of the movement.
His lengthenings are getting more consistent and powerful, as long as I make sure to really half halt him through the corners before the diagonal and keep him waiting for me to ask him to move out. Then I make sure to half halt him to bring him back to working gaits, but not hold him up at the same time. As a matter of fact, I am working on our corners in general, using them more efficiently to use them as an opportunity to half halt and get him more engaged. I can tell that I was have been very soft on him in the corners, because he really wants to cheat in the corners- either by getting crooked in the body or neck, slowing down and leaving his hind legs out behind him or throwing his outside shoulder out and "motorcycling" around the corner. So I have to be very diligent and work very hard to make him understand that is not how we ride a corner anymore.
And the exciting news- I have officially entered our first show of the season! It is June 10-12th at Silverwood and I could not be more excited to get out there and show our stuff! Shelley and I are planning on 2 per week lessons to get our work solid before that show and also working on my freestyle, as I plan to show that on June 16th at Sorensen. For the first show, we will just be showing 1-1 and 1-3 (qualifying) on Friday and Saturday and than 1-3 (qualifying) on Sunday. I am really hoping that I can get my regional qualifying scores for 1st level right away that first weekend, but regardless, we will just try our best. Than throughout the season I will show my freestyle and hopefully get qualified for regionals for the freestyle as well.
J is feeling really great right now. He is extremely focused, working hard and has pretty good endurance to hold up to the strains of showing. He also has a great attitude, which is what I love so much about him.
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