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?!

Movin' on up (to First Level)

After our awesome showing at Training 2 and 3 (let's ignore my senior moments, TYVM), a couple of people asked if I'd thought about moving us up to First Level. I admit, yes I've had that thought, since it's really the next logical step.

(Caveat: I suppose the next REALLY logical step is to show him at Training at a recognized show - because face it, a schooling show and a recognized show just aren't the same thing. Maybe we could try to qualify for the regional USDF Championships? But I'm not sure that the year-ends are my goal here. Maybe? There are plenty of recognized shows I could go to, but they are quite pricey, and I really need to think about WHY I'm attending them if I'm going to go. That question isn't yet resolved, so I'll focus on moving up instead.)

Anyway, I sat down and checked out the first level tests earlier this week. Let's just say that we currently have NONE of the pieces needed to put together a first-level test. Sure, we can trot 10 meter circles and canter 15 meter circles (really!), but I'd never even considered asking Paddy for a lengthen  trot or canter, both of which show up in all three tests. Heck, I've spend nearly every ride trying to slow him down, not asking for more! First level also requires a leg yield both directions, and while he's great to the left, he still sort of gets stuck going right.

Oh well, I guess that gives us plenty to work on, right?

That being said, this is not a bad lengthen for a first try. Go Haffie Power!