Aiken 2022: Prologue

Mini adventure before Aiken.
Annnnd a powerwash for the trailer is in the plans.

It's that time already! Holy smokes our Aiken 2022 trip has snuck up so quickly.

I am in the midst of preparing. Getting organized, getting the horse cleaned up, packing. Making lists. Freaking out. The usual.

This is the big group trip, and right on schedule everyone is having their own freak outs. Incidents have included:

• Breaking halter and running off
• Rider falling off
• Horse rearing, striking out
• Horse bucking and bolting
• Mild colic
• Hampton Anonymous Grand Prix horse refusing to stop!!
• Back soreness

I won't embarrass anyone by calling out which horse did what though. haha. 

I also took a day off work and hauled up to Indy to take a lesson with JC. I really needed a boost before Aiken. Here are some notes from our lesson.

• Square exercise. In each corner turn on the forehand, but get out before he falls on outside shoulder
• Trot out of turn, think piaffe in turn
• Then start to "tiny passage" on sides, piaffe in turn
• Medium on one side, piaffe to turn
• Kick kick to keep shoulders up! Not forward and flat 
• Slide legs forward toward his shoulders
• Canter out of turns, do 2 flying changes before next turn. Walk, do the turn, canter
• Eventually do a turn on forehand in the canter.
• Outside legs sends him forward
• Think turn on forehand with inside leg, outside legs keeps the forward thought. ... Bingo, super canter piro!
• STOP OVER RIDING (I accept too much work. lol)
• Act like he will be perfect, and then work from there with corrections.

And Hamp got a good session with a Bemer blanket after work, too. He seemed to really enjoy it.

A leg wrap works great as a poll thingie too

Hampton was of course a very good boy. He is feeling fresh, swingy (thanks Adequan!) and fit.

We leave Thursday!