Please don't rain tomorrow

Am going to look at a horse tomorrow. Looks like a fun prospect. I really hope this one works out.

Go Riley Go!!

Went to Rio Vista schooling hunter/jumper show on Saturday. It's a very unimportant event in the big scheme of things but was a great opportunity to let Riley practice some course work on great footing. He jumped beautifully...I think better than he ever has and ended up champion open jumper. All the tedious drill work and tiny jumps all winter long paid off huge. I felt like I rode better than I ever have too. Made a few small mistakes but nothing major and all correctable.

Friday we went to Pine Hill to school xc. Riley jumped well but isn't quite ready to move up to training level. Needs to be a little more attentive.

I feel we are definately ready for Pine Hill horse trial in a couple of weeks.

Respect

Tonight as I was attempting to blanket one horse in particular, she showed me some serious disrespect. I had her halter on because I know she walks away when I am trying to put the blanket on. I asked her to get moving and she exploded. I was able to work with he a bit and then she shot straight in the air and I let the rope go after she ripped my mitt. She had a sullen mean look on her face. Normally I would have been f-you and not bothered with the blanket but since I am going to get my own young horse I decided I would not let her get the better of me. Caught her again and she marched right back up to the fence and let me put the blanket on. Me - 1, Rhapsody - 0.

Lesson learned for me...when I look at the young horses, I want the owners/trainers to put some pressure on their horse so I can see how it responds.

Brrrrrr!!

Man, it's cold today. 3 hours of riding today with a friend. She has 2 horses, one of which is retired and the other is young and giving her a host of attitude. We worked her 2 horses for a while and then I rode the young one for a bit. She was pretty good but doesn't know much. Am going to ride her for Irene in March in some dressage lessons. Then we took the older one and Riley for a short walk out on the road - Riley was much more comfortable walking past the house with ducks than he is by himself. Of course he had a heart attack when he saw a trash bag. Once back at the barn, I rode in the arena a bit and he was great. My friend Irene hopped on and rode him for a while so she could see how easy it should be. In reality, Riley isn't all that easy - easily distracted and wants to be quick. However he willing accepts the bridle and goes forward and there is not wiggling around. Irene wants to do some dressage lessons on him in April. Works for me.

Nice hot shower and I'm off for some hot tortilla soup.

Will it ever stop?

I can't believe it's still raining! Somehow Riley and his buddy got a night in the barn. I think Riley wanted to go out but his friend was set on staying in. At least I'll have a clean horse to ride in the AM.

Getting back to business

Most everyone knows I took a partial sabbatical from riding for about 3.5 yrs while I explored some running. I enjoyed the running and achieved modest success. I have now returned to riding and hope to build on my past adventures in that.

I was fortunate, in the past, to have had a horse, Taylor, to learn the ropes of 3 day eventing on. Sadly Taylor has died but I am doubly fortunate to have a second chance on a horse I have owned for 12 years. See Riley's profile for details.

I start this blog so that I can document my successes and failures in bringing Riley back to full fitness and hopefully compete in 3 day eventing with him. Also there is the possibility of a young horse down the road and I want to be able to look back and see what worked and what didn't.

Tonight was the first huge success. I have struggled with lead changes for years with him. Tonight, I saw the light!! I saw where the missing piece was, put it in place and boom, there was the lead change. I knew what the piece was, I just didn't know how to observe it and fix it. It's all about his shoulders. They want to go left really badly. All I do is a gentle block and a kick with the outside leg and he changes leads. Wow. Of course, there is always tomorrow and it may not work but I feel I am headed in the right direction. That folks was an example of awareness. Awareness, I have not felt in quite some time.