Halfway there

I've been on a few fun trail rides the last few weeks. Played and rode in the field also. Just the fact that I can ride in the field walk trot canter is amazing to me. I can remember just 6 months ago Chiclet was not safe to ride in the field. I watched some videos I made this past winter when I just moved to Avery's barn. Chiclet looks so much better now. His top line is awesome. Together be have come a long way.

We have had some major breakthroughs the last few weeks. The past 2 days I had the best rides. Yesterday Chicle just wanted to canter with no bracing it was perfect. Some lady at the barn said to me you must be having a great ride because your face says it all. Today was the first time I rode the rail without circling. Chiclet was relaxed and stretching down I couldn't believe it was my horses. All the circles I had to do over the last few months are starting to pay off and my horses is finally getting it............. And maybe I'm getting it too. =)

Anew friend

Fun and interesting week.......Played and rode the beginning of the week with Chiclet. Played and rode Akiss yesterday then went on a trail ride with Avery and a horse there in training. Today Avery rode my horse and I rode Akiss. Chiclet was very brasie and Avery said I'm to nice. After she rode him a bit she told me to do a figure 8 with Akiss and only move my ribs to turn at the canter with a flying change in the center. I started just trotting and doing the turns a few times then went to the canter.........I love that feeling of not using anything but my body to control this huge 17 hand plus horse. It was awesome Akiss is so soft and responsive now I know what I need to do with Chiclet to get him to that place. I want that for my horse.

My friend Akiss

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Where do I start. It's been a crazy last few weeks. I changed farriers and Chiclet is doing so much better with his new feet. My old farrier was doing everything all wrong and Chiclet was was not going well.

I graduated to spurs. They are not for going forwards they are for helping refine what I have accomplished and make my leg aid more affective. I didn't want to wear them and I was putting it off for as long as I could get away with it. Avery showed me how to use them and it was funny I walked around for 20 mins thinking about doing some sideways to try them out but I didn't know how Chicle was going to react to them. Once I figured out that Chicle was ok with them I love them. I have not used spurs in 10 15 years so I was a little nervous. I also feel a little honored that Avery thinks I'm savvy enough to wear them.

I'm stuck in a circle. Now that Chicle has new ideas about going forwards I'm only doing a few steps of straight lines and back to circle. It's so strange because I could not get this horse to move out of a halt 2 years ago.  Now I have to much forwards. Every time I ride I get more straight lines so I feel like we are getting there.

I jumped Chicle last week for the first time. He loved it and so did I. My back hurt like hell after from jumping in the dressage saddle. He was so good he jumped everything I pointed him to and was so happy doing it.