The big 1-0

OMG I am terrible. I forgot Hampton's birthday!

His actual birthday is June 20, I think I remembered a couple days later.

not funneh you forgot birfday lady

Not to fear though. Here is what Hamps got his birthday week:

MagnaWave treatment
New shoes (farrier adjusting his shoeing. He thinks he may be slipping behind)
Haircut
Sheath cleaning (I was very thorough. He is the cleanest gelding on the farm right now. ha)
New bell boots
Updated SmartPaks (Vitamin E and DMG)

Hampton is 10 this year. TEN YEARS OLD!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORKCHOP!

Photos by Aimee of course. :)

Stop polishing your saddle.

Raise your end if you have ever been told any of the following in regards to cantering:

"Polish the saddle with your seat"
"Don't let him pull you out of the tack"
"Anchor in that saddle"
"Hips like a whore"

I have been riding for 30 years ( christ ) and after watching a webinar by Mary Wanless, I think I may be sitting the canter the wrong way.

HERE is the webinar. It's about 7 minutes, but it's enough information to get the idea of what she is talking about. Worth the watch.

I'll wait ...

So question. Do you guys know of anyone who ends up sitting  way too far back during the "down" beat of the canter? If they are, they are essentially pushing the horse more on his forehand. They are emphasizing the "down" on the front legs, instead of on the hind legs.

Oh maybe this was just a bad moment in time ....

Nope here's another one

And another. Could you  bury your horse any more Karen?

and yet another. In the same class!

Oh I have plenty of examples. Don't test me. I am way too far behind the vertical in a gazillion canter photos. It's pretty horrifying.

Don't get me wrong, they are most certainly times when you need to sit the hell back, and get in the back seat. No doubt. And Hampton is croup-high already, making it quite tempting to sit back in order to counter that feeling.

But in general, instead of rocking back during the down beat, then at vertical during the up - you should be rocking forward during the up and at vertical during the down. Basically I have been thinking "sit with your hind" with my seat during the upbeat, almost pushing back with my seatbones. Think of pushing his hind leg down with your seat.

No more "polish the saddle."

Same down beat, better position on my part.
Now if only I could keep my horse's ears up.

This is not going to be fixed in a day. Or even a week, but I have been thinking of it when I canter and trying to re-do 30 years of muscle memory. Hampton responds well to this. Infact, the first time I tried it he did a canter-walk. No worries, he at least responded! This technique is quite helpful in the pirouettes especially, when I need to really feel where that hind leg is and keep it sitting.

And this concludes this installment of "I've been riding 30 years and yet still do not know what I am doing."

Until next time.

IDS show wrap-up: We conquered.

So Kentucky has turned into the hot depths of hell since we returned from the show. I'm so glad this awful humidity waited until Sunday to try and melt everyone.

Anyhoo, so what a show! I think this show has been a long time coming for me and Hampton. All the pieces finally fit together and we got the scores I have always known we were capable of. About damn time, Karen! I know, I know. I took the easy road and showed in 2nd and 3rd level, but it's not the level I was concerned about. It was show ring ridability. And THAT is why I am so thrilled with Hamp - he let me ride in the ring!

Warm up included a little piaffe before we went in the ring.
Poll too low but story of my life.

By no means was it perfect. In fact the first test, 3-3, was rather tight and sticky. I rode in the double and once again Hampton started diving on me, resulting in some seriously downhill moments and loss of connection because I was desperately trying to keep his F---- head up.

I think he overpowers in the extended trot, resulting in loss of balance
and thus going downhill.

I did a lot of this "Pick your head up horse!" throughout this test

No really, ears UP!

After that, I scrapped the double for the rest of the weekend. He goes so much better in it at home, but clearly in the show ring the snaffle is my friend for now. Because he does not dive in the snaffle. He's just much more heavy and bracing in the jaw. Soooo I guess I pick my poison. I think the judges would rather see him more braced, than with his nose in the damn dirt.

Always so easily entertained

Saw a deer during our sunset grazing time. = very alert porkchop

I am also quite pleased with our fitness levels. Neither one of us ran out of gas at all! I was careful with warm-up, making sure to conserve his energy and freshness but also making sure that back was loose.

We are starting to have 8s peppered in our tests now! It really pays off to pick on those technical movements that do not require a fancy horse to score well on. For example, we got 8s on our reinbacks and simple changes. Don't need a Valegro to score well on those! Also nailed our changes especially on Sunday scoring 7s on each.

Judges comments were more of the same. Needs more uphill balance, etc. etc.

Yes, yes he does.

Love his happy expression. As you can see I totally abandoned my curb rein! lol

This show also included several other adventures including:

- Helping Jen and Connor move in to the horse park. I am sure Jen will post her own view, but she was quite sick and in spite of me basically arguing with her to GO TO BED, she insisted she get her horse moved to the show grounds. Talk about a rally. She is a tough betch! :)

Chillin with Jen and Connor. Love these two

- My temporary tooth falling off before my class. (stuck it back on like a hillbilly.)

- Awesome vendor food

- Volunteering in between classes. (If you think you know what goes on behind the scenes, you probably don't. Was quite alarmed at a couple of incidents during the show ...)

- Sketchy errands with Liz.

- Watching some of the rodeo on Saturday night. Good times though.

Getting some side eye from Hamp

Sunrise at the hoosier horse park

And now I have a dilemma. Do I move up to PSG in August? Or do I stick with 3rd level and aim him toward some breed awards?

Weeee!

----

I have an excellent post in the works about how I am re-learning how to canter.

So stay tuned!

Good job, horse.

Well that went well.

So this weekend's show was full of adventures. I am exhausted and need to go through photos and type up a show wrap up. But, I'll just spoil it for you:

Saturday
3-3 : 61% (2nd place)
2-3: 67.9% (1st place)

High Point Second Level Champion
Dover Medal winner

Sunday
3-3: 64% (1st place)
High Point Third Level Champion

GO HAMPTON!!! Could not be more thrilled with him.
Will write later! :)