Bootcamp

Something interesting has happened this year with Hampton. He is still wonderful to ride, but he has turned into a somewhat hot, spooky, "tourist" type horse this year. It's not uncommon. I had to make him hot for the training and demands of Third Level. He is FIT, and has muscles he never had before. He is powerful and full of energy. But as a result, he can be a very difficult, explosive ride at times. And I needed help on how to handle that. No one at home (in KY) has opened that can of worms with me. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because they do not know how to handle it. Or they don't want me to get hurt. Or whatever. I suspect they just don't know. I was just sick and tired of floundering and drowning during my lessons as the instructor sat there in silence. I needed someone who would know what to do, and give me confidence to work through it. That's why I went home this weekend to take some lessons from My Most Favorite Instructor In the Universe.

We have a new prescription for cleaning up the changes. I am armed with new techniques to deal with his snarky, "I'm a ganna launch you woman" behavior. The rein lameness at the half pass? GONE. It was all my fault this entire time. And NO ONE has caught it up until now. We worked on getting better turns on the haunches. I have some new exercises and tools for my toolbox. She also let me ride her Grand Prix stallion, who has an UNREAL piaffe and passage. I was speechless after riding him. Speechless.

She told me I could do Grand Prix with Hampton. "Two years," she said.

The weekend was amazing. Inspiring. Absolutely exhausting.

Look how uphill Hampton is! ha!

I need some serious time to bounce back financially, so our no more lessons or shows for us until further notice. I was aiming for September but I went WAY WAY overboard so far this year and now have gotten myself into a bind with money. It's my fault. And in a way, worth it. :)

Perhaps October or November we can do another weekend trip like this. If I have to haul 3 hours to get quality instruction, so be it I guess.

Sidenote: On our way up, we picked up my friend's gelding. Turns out she lives about a mile away from Conner from Cob Jockey! We drove right by their barn and I looked around for Conner like a creeper but did not see him. :) Lovely facility though!