Monday, April 4, 2016

Where did this fancy horse come from?

I had my first lessons back with my regular trainer this weekend. I'm afraid I talked her ear off about the clinic, and really just reaffirmed what Alfredo taught was exactly what she's been telling me forever, just louder and in a Spanish accent.

Taken together, we discussed what the clinic meant for future lessons. We agreed that:
  • Taran and I are both ready to be pushed harder.
  • I have to be more demanding of myself - I have to be faster and more precise.
  • "Good enough" isn't any more. We have to do it RIGHT or we're going to go back and do it again.
On that note, we worked on 1-2 and 1-3, which I signed up to do at a rated show next weekend (this may have been a poor decision on my part). We had some SUPER nice work - still a lot of holes to fill in - but if I ride him well and set him up for the movements and let him do them, they're in there.


Look, suspension! I think this is a first for us. 

We struggle a lot with lengthenings coming off the left rein - he falls out on the right shoulder/right rein, so we're not straight coming out of the corner, and then nothing happens. Literally, nothing - he just can't do it. So I really have to think straight (almost to being counterflexed) through the corner and then make sure I get him really really REALLY straight before asking - and then sometimes it works. But we're still getting the hang of it and I have to remember to set him up, which is hard. Prep work!

I'm also struggling to make the angles for the leg yields in 1-3. They're STEEP. We can do them, but I'm having trouble letting him move enough to make it happen. And sitting straight? Who needs to do that? 

Obviously leaning waaaaaay to the right will help us go left more. 

Here's one of our less terrible attempts:

There's also a change through the trot at X which also requires careful riding. I need to keep him very very straight and think UP for the downward so he doesn't go splat... and then not throw my body at him for the left lead canter. We'll probably get a comment that we took too many steps, but that's OK for now.



I'm excited for the show this weekend, but also wish we had another few weeks so I could be more prepared. Isn't that how it always goes, though?!

28 comments:

  1. I'm so impressed with how far y'all are coming. Know that great things are on the horizon :) I also would like to hear your regular trainer yell at you in a Spanish accent.

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    1. BWAHAHAHAH I would also love to hear her yes in a Spanish accent. I'll let her know ;)

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  2. Exciting progress!! Can't believe how far Taran has come in such a short time. :-)

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    1. Not sure what I did to deserve such a cool guy!!

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  3. You guys have progressed so rapidly - it is amazing to witness. Maybe Taran has a secret past as a developing Grand Prix horse and had to go into witness protection?

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    1. That could definitely explain things. I'll check with his mom!

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  4. You guys are going to have a great show!

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  5. wow! how much he has improved!!! just wow!!!

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    1. I know, I just can't believe it sometimes...

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  6. Man, you guys are going to be kicking ass at Second soon! I can't believe how much better he looks!

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    1. I never thought it might happen but now... I'm really hoping you might be right!

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  7. You will totally kick ass at the show!

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    1. I just want to put in some solid rides... That would be super!

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  8. He looks so good, the movements look so much easier for him. Can't wait to hear how the show goes!

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    1. Apparently a little yelling in Spanish goes a long way!

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  9. I hope you have a blast at the show!!! Taran just looks so incredible!

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  10. Go Taran!! Is this the show at Tyler?

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  11. Replies
    1. He really has... I can't wait to see how much more he can do!

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  12. Those canter transitions, wow!

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    1. They are getting better the more we do them. Funny how that works out!

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  13. You have done amazing things with him

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  14. Those leg yields and canter transitions looked fab!

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