What's Up Wednesday

 

I'm writing early because I have so many things to do today and I don't want to forget! It was a productive riding week for everyone, and I even managed to stay on schedule and do some little jumps both Wednesday (which we already talked about) AND Friday. Though Shiny didn't get to jump Friday because lessons were starting so I had to put my toys away. (Dressage lessons happen on Friday afternoons so the ring needs to be clear of obstacles.) 

I'm starting with Al this week because he had a really good week and it's rare that I can say that. We don't usually have so many good days in a row and I'm really proud of him. I can't say he's not spooking at all, but he's keeping his attention on our work significantly more than has been the norm for him. He's letting me redirect him when he's get distracted most of the time instead of just some of the time. So that's a big breakthrough for us. I don't know if it will last or what triggered the change, but I am here for it!

I'm trying very hard to really focus on my own body when I'm on him. If I can keep his shoulder and neck supple, it seems I can also keep his attention. To do that on Al, I have to be really conscious about using my whole leg and not just my calf. This isn't a new discovery, but somewhere along the line I had forgotten about it. I'm not sure if it's the fact that Al is more relaxed and thus my leg is wrapping around him better or if I'm doing something differently, but I've been having an easier time of getting my full leg on him so it can do its job. I also went a full week with no draw reins which I think he had gotten claustrophobic about (even though they were never, ever tight enough to restrict his movement up down or out. Just short enough to stop the spinning.)

With his new, more willing attitude this week, he's also moving forward more easily. At the trot. Unfortunately, our canter seems to have fallen completely apart, but I'm here for baby steps forward even if we have to fix something else in the process. We'll get there. I also think the canter problems will improve if we can get outside to a bigger ring. The indoor is on the smaller side and for a big strided, yet lazy type horse, it's easy for them to want to be behind the leg, especially at the canter. He wants to hollow out his back and four beat around the ring rather than lift his back and flow. Obviously, that's more work and harder, so who can blame him really? He's even doing it on the lunge line though, so I do have an appointment scheduled with the vet for next month just to make sure there's not a problem somewhere. I don't think there is. I just think he needs to motivate a little more. 

Yesterday I really tested the waters... but only partially on purpose. I got there a little later than I wanted and he was already dressed to go out. I normally ride him first, but I did him last instead so he could go outside first. By the time it was his turn to ride the sun was coming into the ring in the WORST way. Like literally blinding us down one of the full long sides. I had thought I would try to ride him without a lunge and see how he was. It was a bad plan! Ha! I don't lunge him before every ride, but I do after a day off normally. I had too many variables yesterday. So anyway, I opted to get off and give him a lunge and then see what I had. Often, if he's worked up like he was the lunge won't really fix it. But yesterday it did and I was able to get on after and have a lovely ride. (Canter issues aside. But it wasn't terrible.) We rode in literally every weather condition last week too. It was really cold (highs in the 20's/low 30's) and one day there was crazy wind which sounds terrifying in the indoor. Then it was warm. One day there was rain... All of it. And he still showed up each day. So even if it's temporary, things went pretty well with Al this past week. Fingers crossed it continues! 

Shiny's been great this week too. I've had to abandon the quarter sheet for the most part because it inhibits her from feeling the whip. But she's been feeling pretty loose lately. At the end of our rides she's been giving me a really legit stretchy trot which I'm not sure I've ever achieved on her before. 

I was disappointed to not get to jump her last Friday (my own poor timing though, do better self) because she's the one I can do all the fun things with at the moment. I usually set up four or five little "jumps". something on the outsides either singles or maybe a line, and then something on each diagonal, so we can kind of put together a little course. Usually I set things so there are bending line options and maybe even circle of doom type exercises. Al isn't quite ready for all of that with our canter troubles, and I still have Eros focusing on single jumps, so Shiny is kind of my main girl for fun jumping exercises. 

I have a lot to do this week to get holiday stuff wrapped up (literally and figuratively) so I need to do a little better with my time management at the barn. Thus, I'm not sure how much jumping we'll get to this week or next. But that's okay. I'm going away the between Christmas and New Years so they're all going to have some time off anyway. After that though? We'll have the whole winter to really get into a groove. And I'm hoping to start lessons for Al too. Bank account willing... Lol.

Anyway, back to Shiny really quickly. It was almost 60 yesterday but the ring was too wet out there for riding on. But I HAD to get out at least a little with one of them, so I chose Shiny to go out for a little walk after we rode. I tried to sneak out the little hallway from the indoor and just pop out the barn door since they're right next to each other without dismounting and leading her out. But there's a drain outside that one barn door and she wouldn't walk out! I couldn't believe it. Shiny's never like that, but she does hesitate out this door whenever we've used it. (Mostly we go out from the other end as that way leads straight out to the paddocks and the outdoor ring. This other door just leads to the parking lot.) I had to get one of the barn workers to walk out ahead of us and then Shiny followed politely. Horses are so weird.

Eros is honestly the most saintly horse. I mean look how I dressed him for our ride on Saturday. Yes, that's a sidepull bridle. Also yes, those little ear balls just bounced around the entire ride. It was ridiculous. I was zero percent capable of focusing on anything else. I was worried he might be startled by his reflection when he saw himself but I needn't have worried. He just checked himself out, sighed at the humiliation of it all, and went about his business. Perfect angel. 

He's been doing well this week too. We've added counter canter back into our repertoire as that really helps to unlock his go button. And also the rest of his body. It's nice to have a cheat code for such things. The counter canter is TOUGH with the narrow ring, but it's a great tool. 

I've been wrapping him overnight for the last... I dunno, two years? My vet said to just continue with it after his last injury so I have. But I've been weaning him off the wraps this past week because I don't think the staff here at the new place really know how to properly wrap. And I'd rather he stock up then bow a tendon. So he'll be wrap free while I'm gone, and we'll see how that goes. So far, I've been wrapping every other night and his legs look absolutely fine. He feels the same too. I'm hopeful it won't be an issue. He won't be working or stressing his legs during that time, so fingers crossed all goes okay with that. 

In other news, my free boots from La Mundial arrived this week and they fit like a glove! 

They're very pretty, and I plan to break them in at some point but probably just keep them as a spare show pair in the trailer. They fit perfectly, and feel like they'll be comfortable after a few rides (new boots, amiright?!) but the leather is so thin, I just don't see them holding up to everyday use and abuse. But that's also what makes them comfortable, so there's that! 

That's about it from here! I'm off to ride, then get groceries, then wrap a million presents....