One two three!

We got 3 one-tempis in a row!

.... this was after about 5-10 minutes of going around and around. I could get 1-1, but the elusive third change was just not happening. I was not fast enough with my legs, or Hampton got his legs tangled, or too crooked, or about a billion other things that must align in order to do the ones.

but finally - FINALLY - we got it!

Brick by brick right?

Dead Musicians?

Hamps and I have been enjoying this (finally!) fabulous weather lately!

And without any shows to prep for, we've gone a little rogue.

I took a jumping lesson which I LOVED and so did Hampton. The jumps were not big, but I learned a lot and Hampton even did a little half assed bucking at first he was so happy to be jumping around.

I am kinda sorta looking for a cheap jump saddle, as I can't really keep borrowing from people. And I definitely need to shorten my stirrups even more. I felt like my knees were in my chest but as you can see they most certainly were not. So a call out to my blogger tack-ho friends, my budget is around $200-$300. I realize the kind of saddle that will buy me but I don't jump often. I just want one to bop around on. Medium tree. Annnnnnd go!

And of course we have been working on dresss-AGGGGHHHHE. I have started to play with some one tempis again. I left them alone most of the summer because Hampton was getting riled up about them. I really think he needed to find his balance in the 2s a little better, because now he will do a 1-1 change and remain calm and mostly balanced.

You can see I lose his haunches there a bit at the end, so we have a long, LONG way to go with straightness and balance. But this is a fantastic base. Soon I will try a 1-1-1 and see what happens! 

And the canter pirouettes. Ah yes, those things have really been difficult for us this year. I was not riding them correctly and Hampton learned bad habits because he is smart and he's rather work smarter and not harder.

He learned to slow way down and use his neck instead of his booty. Resulting in his poll DIVING down to the center of the earth. This left me with really no leverage or ability to fix the pirouette within the actual movement. It dinged our scores. It''s horrible to ride when your horse's poll disappears.

Yeah that's the middle of a canter piro.
(Thank you Jen S for capturing both good and not so good!)

I promise I'm not rollkur-ing him. If he dives down on me, you can see he does not
have to load his hind legs. His croup is actually up in the air.
Trust me, I'm putting an end to this habit. 

BUT I have new tricks and have really gotten after this movement the past few months.

You can see he still wants to use his neck, and gets a little locked at the base but this is MUCH better and he is keeping the jump better. So we will keep working at it. I think he can score well on these, he can sit for sure! 

It is so fun training a horse like Hampton who has a wonderful work ethic, but at the same time is really teaching me to deal with just about any trick in the book. 

And finally I've started to work a bit on an I-1 freestyle for next year. I think I've got the choreography somewhat nailed down. Music is still up in the air but I am thinking my theme might be Dead Musicians. hahaha.

Here's what I've got so far:

I am so open to music suggestions, too! Preferably dead. Or at least one person from the band must be dead. 

Disappearing in airports

September was a bizarre month.

At the beginning of the month, Hampton came up mildly lame (grade 1) on his left front. I immediately called the vet out because I was suspecting his navicular was acting up. The vet disagreed, and said it was more likely a mild collateral ligament injury in his hoof.

We injected his coffin joint, and while still allowed to work my vet said no lateral work, tight circles or anything that could torque his foot for 2 weeks.

His body is looking like a snack these days.

So we did that, although two days after the injection he was sound. So who knows. But he is back in full work now and feels great.

But I did decide to scrap the rest of show season. I may hit up a schooling show just to get ring time, but no more rated shows for us this year. Which I was totally ok about. Saves money, and it means we can have a little non-dressage fun to close out the year! :)

--

Then my mom had to have back surgery. She's ok! But I did end up spending almost the whole week up there with her. She is a tough lady. So Hampton ended up with another 4 days off.

I did sneak away for a couple of hours to play with Liz and her kids' pony, Spot. (She lives not far from my mom) He is adorable but is somewhat of a SHIT which only made me laugh and almost fall off.

Spot's opinion on having me cowgirl him around bareback for a bit.

--

And then last Friday a friend very suddenly and unexpected died. She was only 57.

Kathy, on the left.
Want a sobering fact? Out of the six of us in this photo taken in 2014, only myself, Liz,
and Hampton are still alive.

Our local horse community is in shock. She was a kind, wise friend to everyone. She was one of the first friends I made when I moved to KY. We went to a number of shows together, first with her young palomino cross and later with her Morgan/QH cross. She was a integral part of the local TB rehoming organization, Second Stride. She was a mentor and light to many, many people.

L-R: Kathy, Donna, myself, Kim at Rolex a few years ago

I am still in disbelief that she is gone.

Her husband said that about a month ago, she had said "I have such a great life."

Devastated is such a weak word when it comes to this kind of loss for her family and friends. Life is so short and people can be taken so swiftly.

Kathy, you will be missed.

Kathy and Nichole following us back from the show ring.