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.

Comfort level

Had a lesson yesterday with Avery. She helped me with getting Chicle to be more snappy with his response. We trotted backwards and did some serious bucking and jumping in the air oh yes I was on him through all this. My phase 4 was not affective enough. So she helped me find my affective phase 4 and that's were all the bucking and stuff came from. She really pushed me out of my comfort level. It was good though I'm glad she did I need to be pushed a little.

????????

Why is it when I'm the most distracted and stress my horse dose something amazing? Today I played with Chicle after a very long week of a death a wake a funeral and lots of crazy family. He kinda seemed like he was not interested in having a conversation with me and I was ok with that. played with driving and squeeze over jumps. One of the jumps had to be 3 1/2 feet and it looked like he was going to stop half way over it but he made it. I tried some change of direction just to get him moving. He offered canter so I thought I'm going to change direction at the canter and see if he will do a flying change online. Wow to my surprise he was AWESOME!!!!! Oh I need to see that again cantered the other way and just like he's done it a hundred times he changed. How dose he know when I need these moments the most?

I Love this picture.

I have a happy horse

Chiclet is in love with Avery's mare Marit. I went to bring horses in the other day and made the mistake of bringing Marit in without Chiclet. When I went back to get him he had jumped out of the paddock. Oh my silly little horse!

Played and rode yesterday. I was really happy with how good he was. Canter was so nice and balanced I just have to remember to move my hind feet so his hind feet can move too. Trot he was stretching down it was a good feeling to have a relaxed happy horse under me.