Lesson report

So since Friday I have had a nasty sore throat and have been losing my voice. Sunday I woke up with 2 earaches and a stuffy nose, too. Great. However, I was so looking forward to loading Hampton up on the new trailer and taking a lesson that I sucked it up. Anyhoo ...

He was a little reluctant to load at first. He's not scared, he just plants his feet. He's never been on a trailer with a divider before, so I let him check things out. And he eventually sauntered on.

"I guess this trailer will do ..."

We arrived at the big dressage farm and Hampton was a champ! The more places I take him the better he gets. I think he hollered maybe 5 times the entire time we were there. A big improvement from our last lesson when he thought he should be a stallion and yell constantly.

The actual lesson was great. He started out distracted (one of the big doors was open, and it wasn't last time we were there), but with work his brain settled and he was fabulous. My instructor was most impressed with his upward canter transitions and his overall canter - saying you can't ask a 4 year old to be much better than that. :) This meant a lot to me as the canter is where we have struggled most. I wish I had gotten video! 

We did many leg yields away from the wall, and lots of "almost walk, then trot" exercises which I do a lot with him anyway. We also worked on trot lengthenings and holy. cow. I do not have mirrors at home so I had no idea that how much he has really improved on those. We can't make it all the way across the diagonal yet without Hampton losing his balance, but yeah there are some GREAT moments there. 

He was such a good boy. I am so so proud of him. Although when we left he was a turd about getting back on the trailer. Ugh. So my instructor helped me work with him on my own (no encouragement from people outside the trailer) but making his life a living hell outside the trailer and letting him rest if he decided to come in. It took maybe 10 minutes but he decided to come in finally. :) That is something I need to work on. I mean this is really only the 4th or 5th trip he has ever made in a trailer. 

What Hampton thinks of his green and pink boots!

I feel pretty prepared for the May 14 CAF show. Lots of practice the next 2 weeks for sure. :)

I am so jealous of everyone who went to Rolex. It looked like so much fun. Perhaps next year for me.

And now back to relaxin on the couch nursing myself back to health. *cough* *sniffle*

My life smells like wet horse

Hampton is tired of the rain, too!

My car smells like it.

My house smells like it.

My laundry room smells like it.

The bathroom.

My living room.

Me.

And my horse.

I know that we are not that bad off compared to other parts of the Midwest who are literally underwater. And yes I know spring = rain. But for real, I was long-lining Noah in the round pen in ankle deep water. And in the rain. We were both sopping wet when we were done. On a good note, I think he learned a little bit more about steering.

However he does not like being bridled AT ALL and we had a minor war in the stall over that. I'm going to have to try some other approach because he's 18 hands and just too big for me to wrestle with. He's doing really well in the work department. It's just the stall manners we need to really work on (standing tied, not smashing me against the wall, picking feet, bridling, etc).

Hampton nomin' on grass after our ride.

Before the rain hit, I rode Hampton who was stellar AGAIN. We played mostly with First Level stuff - such as pieces from the old First-4 test. We snuck in more counter canter and I tried the serpentine from Second Level but didn't really nail the whole thing. That's ok, we can come back to that. If you don't take risks - you don't make progress, right? At the end I pushed him for lengthenings and got some good moments. I see First Level for next year easily. Yay!

I have got to get my entry in for the May 14 CAF show ... and after that I'm not sure where we will go. Gas prices have caused me to totally restructure my show plans. We may or may not get to a rated show this year. We shall see. And it's ok if we don't - I'd rather invest those funds in lessons or a clinic at this stage in our game.

Earlier I outlined my plans for show season. Here's how that panned out:

Feb. 12: Winter Reins Dressage at Foxton (?? a big maybe)   (didn't happen)
March 19: Dressage at Come Again Farm (went to the February one instead) 
March 26: Winter Reins Dressage at Foxton    (negative, ghostwriter)
April 16: Dressage at Come Again Farm (nope, had a friend's wedding to go to)
May: Harmony in the Park (Edinburgh) *Young horse test  (I wish, but gas is too expensive)
June 4-5: Indy Classic at Foxton Farm (conflict with a Phish show ... ooops)


I feel like I shouldn't really make show plans this year, but sort of wing it. It's not like we will be able to travel far or anything. So there ya go. My revised show season schedule:


WING IT!

I only wanted to see you baby in the purple rain

Last night after work I jumped on Hampton to try and fit in a ride before MORE rain hit. It was already misting when we were warming up. But it was 66 degrees so we were fine.

Loved his trot yesterday - wonderfully on the bit, steady and foward. His poll maybe could have been a little more up but I was so pleased with the contact that I didn't mess with it. Some shoulder-in in each direction brought the poll up to a competition frame for me.

By now we were both drenched. I had plans to really work on the canter but decided to do the abbreviated version. While the transitions were still a little croup-high I was able to develop an uphill, rolling canter within a few strides. Inside spur - half halt outside rein. Rinse, repeat. I was most pleased with the result. He is really tinkering on the verge of being a First Level horse. Very exciting!

And so we headed back to the barn ... both looking like drowned rats. But most pleased with ourselves.

But not before Hampton has to stop at the largest puddle in the arena and drink out of it for a few minutes! LOL! I admit, I let him do it. I really hope that we don't end up in a dressage test after a big rain and we halt at X and his head goes down for a drink out of a puddle.

And once again, I'm a believer.

It took a day for things to "settle" this time, but Hampton is back to his old self now after the chiro adjustment. Infact, he may be even better.

We went for an evening ride on Friday - right at dusk. Hampton was LIT ... but it wasn't a naughty, "I'm going to buck you off" type of feeling good, it was more like a "oh yeah i can move now - lets GO!" type of thing. No spooking or anything naughty, but wow was he forward. Lots of push from behind. He was sharp and quick off my leg. He was pretty  unsteady in the bridle, but I think that's his 4 year old side showing through and probably part my fault as I wasn't using that much leg since I spent most of the time trying to keep a decent tempo instead of Mach 10. Half halts DO require leg, Karen. Please make a post-it note on that. Geez.

Saturday was even better. His canter was so rhythmical and balanced that we even got some counter-canter in! Probably some of the best we've done so far. He was much more steady in the bridle (um, because I was putting leg on, duh) and we did leg yields, shoulder-in, forward and back and he was just brilliant. The sitting trot was the best I've ever felt on him - like there was a place to sit. So fun! I was so, so proud of him.

We also went on a trail ride around the corn fields. He was, again, perfect. There was even a really flooded part of the corn field. The water was deep enough that there were little waves in it. I had never asked Hampton to cross any real water before (he will gladly slop through puddles in the arena) ... so I wasn't sure what I was in for. But ... he plowed right through. No hesitation. No nothing. In fact I think the splashing was fun for him. He had his ears pricked and power-walked through like a champ! I was beaming and giggling. Then I remembered I had put my good sheepskin boots on him that day!! GAH!!! What was I thinking?

Luckily they didn't seem any worse for wear after a good rinse when we got home. Ugh.

Short term goals include a lesson at the big dressage farm on May 1, then the CAF show on May 14. I really can't wait to use my trailer. haha.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it. :)

A little more BACKground

So this is pretty neat. Hopefully you can click on this to see the large version. Or, click here.

Anyway, Hampton was quite reactive when the chiro adjusted the thoracolumbar fascia (#4):

... and he was out in many more placed in his booty but that spot seemed to be the most sore. His problems with the canter are likely caused by issues with his sacro-illiac joint.

We checked his saddle fit and it still looked pretty good. If anything, it was starting to "get pinchy" just a tad at the withers. I might try the next gullet size up to see if that helps. I was really hoping to keep this saddle for a long time. I promised myself that if/when Hampton and I were showing 3rd level, I would buy a new custom saddle. And, um, we are not there yet.

What causes soreness or pain in the croup area?

• Conformation. Hampton is goose-rumped and short coupled. Does this contribute?
• Trauma/injury. As far as I know, he hasn't hurt himself. He could have slipped and fallen out in the field. Possible cause?
• Riding. Improper balance of rider, ill-fitting saddle.
• Overwork.
• Lameness somewhere else ... I suspect his right hind stifle and/or hock MIGHT be contributing to his back issues. OCD? Some other problem? It's off and on and really hasn't been this bad in 6 months. OR - do his back issues cause the hind leg weakness?

A little good, a little not-so-good

First, the good news.

Yup, that's my truck with my brand spanking new trailer hooked up! I brought the white beauty home yesterday after the rumber floor was installed. It hauls like a dream. Love love love it!! 

Hampton saw the chiro today as as I suspected, he was quite screwed up in his back and rump area. Infact, during one adjustment (I can't remember what the specific name was), his back dropped WAY down as the chiro hit that sore spot. I have never seen him do that before. I really hope that made him feel better! His elbow also popped quite loudly during its adjustment. Not that I have had any issues with his front end, but I found that interesting. My work schedule might keep me from riding him until Saturday but we will see. We need to get back to schooling if I have any hopes of hitting up a May show. 

The not so good news is that Baxter is leaving. He is not making money and earning his keep at the farm, so he is going back home with his owner. I am unfortunately powerless since I can't afford to pay board on him. But really the deal was that he was to be a lesson pony and schoolmaster for the BO (and myself) and really I have been the only one riding him. So while I am sad, it's ok. I do understand that horses have to earn their keep.

And it's not like there is any shortage of ponehs to ride! I will post soon about another mare I have been riding - Marisol, the polo team burnout. She is an interesting horse, but I really, really like her.

My training horse, Noah, has also been making progress. He is still really green and tends to be a worrier so I have slowed things way down for him. I think he will be fine once he gets several months into a solid routine. But he's lunging well now in a single side rein - I even lunged him in the arena yesterday (first time not in the round pen) and he did really well. But he needs more work on basic ground manners, picking up his feet, etc. I think he will come around but it's best to really go extra slow with these nervous, worry-worts. 

And on another good note, I am going to try and make it to Rolex this year - just Saturday I think. It's been several years and I am wanting to go so badly! I have an itch to try eventing with Hampton and I need some inspiration. 

Ride the horse you're on ...

I had intended to ride Hampton today and one other horse before heading into work. I had plans to work on leg yielding, shoulder-in and possibly try leg yielding at the canter. So I got him out to lunge and .... rut ro. His right hind leg was bad. Sometimes he does start out a little short strided behind but then works out of it. So I lunged him a bit more. When asked for the canter, he was uncharacteristically reluctant to canter (he's very well broke and obedient on the lunge) ... when he did canter, it was that wonky, lateral egg-beater canter. Nope, no riding.

Yup, SOMEONE needs to see the chiro! This is exactly what happened last time. Maybe 6 months ago? His pelvis and back were out as well as his poll. The chiro comes on Wednesday so hopefully he can be comfy again. I let him trot around a bit more just to loosen his joints. I lunged him over a few ground poles as well. He did start looking a bit better at the end. He was really stretching over his back and moving much more evenly. So I called it a day with him. I may lunge him tomorrow or Tuesday - but no cantering. That is obviously difficult for him right now so no need to pick a fight over a clearly physical issue.

Guess that means Baxter will get all of my attention tomorrow and Tuesday. muwahahaha.