The Fresh Prince

Let it be known that I am NOT ... I repeat NOT complaining about the weather. And it's January. In Indiana.

This photo was taken on Saturday. All weekend it has been a comfortable 45-50 degrees. The arena footing has been great and we have fit in 3 rides in a row. Holla.

Saturday: Um, so Saturday Hampton, like many of the horses these days, had a wild feather up his ass. There must be something in the air because I am getting multiple reports of horses who are normally mellow having bucking fits, spooking and acting like morons. Thankfully, I managed to have a super ride with only one scoot/leap/head toss movement. I thought he might buck but I yanked his head up in time. Otherwise, he is about as forward as Hampton gets without being a squirrel. We worked on lateral work (leg yield, shoulder-in, haunches in and some ranvers), forward and back and some turn on the haunches. I didn't canter because I was scared I would be bucked off. I decided to end the session on a really good note and not push my luck. I do not consider myself a chicken - I consider that smart riding! :)

Sunday: Hampton was back to his normal, mellow self. But we still had a super ride. More of the usual lateral work plus some cantering. Leg yielding at the canter away from and back to the rail. This has become much more easy for Hampton lately. We also worked on cantering on straight lines - forward and back around the ring. After my lesson with LAZ, I realized that we need to canter more on straight lines. He is old enough to do that now and it is a definite hole in our training. We also worked on some half steps (they are getting there, still need more implusion) and ended the day with a relaxing trail ride with Lilly, JJ and their humans. Hampton cracks me up when he instantly switches over to trail poneh. His neck gets long, ears go to the side. He has a nice walk in the arena but heading away from the farm he is easily outpaced by Lilly, a 14.3 Walker and JJ, a 14.2 Quarter Horse. Yet my 17.1 TB cross always ALWAYS lags behind. *sigh*

Hey camera lady you got treats?

Monday: I decided at first not to do lateral work since we had done so much the 2 rides before. But as the ride went on, I realized he really does need it or he becomes "ping-pongy" and unsteady in the bridle. The leg yields and shoulder in are really good for him and I have a much better connection afterwards. We also worked on canter-walk transitions. They are getting better. He comes above the bit a little but I am not too worried about that as long as his big butt is under him. We worked a lot on forward and back at the trot and some serpentines. I had wanted to run through First-1 but forgot my book with the test.

He is otherwise sound and happy. His feet are in remarkably good shape especially since he has been standing in a swamp for more than a month. I've been debating giving him his "bib" trace clip but I think I may wait another month just in case it decides to get super cold.

I see that CAF has added a second week of Event Camp ... I am so, so tempted. I don't know how I would afford it but .. where there's a will, there's a way. Right?