You're never really ready, but we're doing it anyway!

My first rated show with Taran is this weekend. We're doing Training 2 and 3 on Saturday, and Training 3 and First 1 on Sunday.

That's right, we're moving up to First.

I'm actually SUPER excited about this. I'm SO OVER training level... sure, we're not going to go out and score an 80% and there's tons of room for improvement, but let's be real, I've been at Training for basically my entire life. I'm over it and ready to move on.

He's still throwing himself up into the transition, but at least they are coming more from behind and we're able to recover within a few strides. 

Our version of a lengthen trot. It'll do.

Our version of lengthen canter. I'm really trying to ride it UP in front instead of burying him on the forehand.

Dragging your horse around a 10 meter half-circle via the inside rein is probably not the best idea.

Instead, use inside leg to engage that hind leg and push his shoulders around with your outside thigh.

Perhaps I should consider getting my shoulders back some?

And here's a little video of some of our canter work from last night.

I'll be thrilled if I can reproduce that level of work in the show ring. Oh, and I promise not to wear that particularly non-matchy shirt and saddle pad again. Whoops.