We've been at the boarding barn for a week already. It's been nice seeing all my friends there and mostly everyone has been really welcoming. Which is so nice. Of course there's always the inevitable "you're not good enough" digs from certain people... But whatever. I'm choosing to ignore that stuff this year. I know what I've accomplished with horses. I know what I'm capable of. Don't need anyone else's approval.
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| Why, yes, I DID qualify for and show at Devon with my junior hunter. And also yes, he was an appendix quarter horse in a field of warmbloods. |
I'm really excited for my first lessons tomorrow! I'm doing an 8:30 with Shiny and then a 9:00 with Eros. Which will be a little tight, but I'm riding with the lady who mostly teaches the little kids and she has a break after my two lessons, so she was okay if we ran over time a little. (Obviously it takes a few minutes to pull tack off Shiny and tack up Eros.) I LOVE riding with this trainer. I've known her since I was a little kid, and she's actually semi responsible for me taking in Ducky all those years ago. (I've forgiven her for that... Lol! KIDDING!) I have several things I like about riding with her. She's known me all those years, so she knows that I can ride. She's not looking to change everything about me and my horses, but rather offers helpful advice for how to make things better. Unless I'm doing something horribly incorrectly, I'm not looking to be made over at this point in my riding. I've had wonderful trainers throughout the years and my basics are relatively solid. It's my confidence that needs support. And she's great about that. She also listens to what I have to say about what I think I'm feeling and works with me in that way too. So yeah. I'm excited!
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| Ready for more of this! |
Things have been going just fine with everyone so far. We had beautiful weather this weekend and got to enjoy the enormous outdoor ring. They all are feeling pretty great. We didn't jump at all last week. I wanted them to settle in and get used to the change in footing. Better to ease into things in my opinion. Al had a flat training ride today. He had his feet trimmed and the rest of his shoes pulled this weekend, and he's adjusting well to the barefoot life. The quarter crack is dormant for the time being. Not bleeding and he feels pretty sound. So fingers crossed it will grow itself out! My ride on him yesterday was his most relaxed in quite some time. We'll see what we have tomorrow. The trainer here is big on horses moving VERY forward ALL OF THE TIME so he may be a little edgy tomorrow after his ride today. It's not a bad thing for him to have that ride now and then as he can get sticky off my leg. I like a nice medium pace for general flat work, but do expect them to move off my leg when asked. Work in progress with Al. I'll probably start lessoning with him next week. I just want to ease back into jumping so we don't aggravate the foot.
That's really about it from here this week. Hopefully more to report next week. And maybe a more positive sounding post. I am trying really hard to not get pulled into the negativity this year. WISH ME LUCK! Cause I'll need it.
