I have videos that I'll be posting hopefully within the next week. Computer internet at home is down, so might be a little longer than that, but I'm excited to showcase some videos of me riding!!
I've never done this before!
xoxo
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Catch up!
My bad, I've been super bad at this one.
Lessons have been going ah-may-zingly. I've had a couple private lessons, and my last lesson was back on Gillian because Max was injured (he got stung by a bee, and then rubbed it, and it became a gaping sore, poor boy). And Oh-Em-Gee. It was amazing. The best lesson I've ever had on that mare. She was listening to me, I wasn't in a corner. I got her to collect a bit. It was amazing. And so cool to see because that means that I've come a ways in my riding. Woot for getting better! It's always nice to have some little tests to see.
I was back on Max the next week, and I had a private lesson because B was away. He's so good. I'm working on speed control, and collection. We cantered this week too, and worked on getting him calm afterwards. You'd think he'd never ran in his entire life the way he was racing around.That seems to be one of our biggest issues, is controlling his speed. He's getting better, but it's still one of the things that I'm seriously working on, that and his flexibility. We had a couple private lessons which were amazing. By the second private lesson he was sooo good. It was nice not to have to worry about where people were in the arena, and have to worry about him running towards Tiffany. We actually got him with really good flexion and frame. And a good speed! It was sooo rewarding.
Last week's lesson I was off. It was so bad. The weather's been really hot and that night was no exception. He was just like... No. F*** this. And wasn't working with me at all. It was disappointing and frustrating, but I do have to say that I probably was right there with him, and not trying as hard as I should have. My knee hurt and the brace didn't really do anything except make things a little worse. Regardless, this week made up for it. It was a bigger group lesson because the women usually before us were running late. I didn't mind, I like those women a lot, and one of them I really aspire to be like when I get to that age... But I digress. They were in our lesson last night and it was completely awesome. We did a whole bunch of exercises on the rail, and then serpentines, and then we individually cantered. That was probably the hardest part of last night. He tried to run away on me again, and I was having none of that. The ladies after were like, wow Jasmine, you were all business! You ride him so well, we were saying that you should think about showing him dressage. You look so good on him, and you get him to do things that I've seen no one else do with him. Which obviously made me really happy about that. I like knowing that I'm at least getting somewhere with the beast. But I love him.
Lessons have been going ah-may-zingly. I've had a couple private lessons, and my last lesson was back on Gillian because Max was injured (he got stung by a bee, and then rubbed it, and it became a gaping sore, poor boy). And Oh-Em-Gee. It was amazing. The best lesson I've ever had on that mare. She was listening to me, I wasn't in a corner. I got her to collect a bit. It was amazing. And so cool to see because that means that I've come a ways in my riding. Woot for getting better! It's always nice to have some little tests to see.
I was back on Max the next week, and I had a private lesson because B was away. He's so good. I'm working on speed control, and collection. We cantered this week too, and worked on getting him calm afterwards. You'd think he'd never ran in his entire life the way he was racing around.That seems to be one of our biggest issues, is controlling his speed. He's getting better, but it's still one of the things that I'm seriously working on, that and his flexibility. We had a couple private lessons which were amazing. By the second private lesson he was sooo good. It was nice not to have to worry about where people were in the arena, and have to worry about him running towards Tiffany. We actually got him with really good flexion and frame. And a good speed! It was sooo rewarding.
Last week's lesson I was off. It was so bad. The weather's been really hot and that night was no exception. He was just like... No. F*** this. And wasn't working with me at all. It was disappointing and frustrating, but I do have to say that I probably was right there with him, and not trying as hard as I should have. My knee hurt and the brace didn't really do anything except make things a little worse. Regardless, this week made up for it. It was a bigger group lesson because the women usually before us were running late. I didn't mind, I like those women a lot, and one of them I really aspire to be like when I get to that age... But I digress. They were in our lesson last night and it was completely awesome. We did a whole bunch of exercises on the rail, and then serpentines, and then we individually cantered. That was probably the hardest part of last night. He tried to run away on me again, and I was having none of that. The ladies after were like, wow Jasmine, you were all business! You ride him so well, we were saying that you should think about showing him dressage. You look so good on him, and you get him to do things that I've seen no one else do with him. Which obviously made me really happy about that. I like knowing that I'm at least getting somewhere with the beast. But I love him.
I'll try to keep on top of this one again!!
xoxo
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Chris Von Martel
Woot. I've been really bad about updating this blog. It's been awhile, and I've been riding like a fiend. And by fiend, I mean in my weekly lesson.
Ok I'll do a quick recap of what's been happening in my weekly lessons. Last two weeks I've had privates because B had work related engagements that couldn't be missed. It was amazing. My mom finally met Debbie, and got to see me ride. She hasn't seen me ride since we were last at Diane's. **which I still need to finish posting about... Sigh.** And she has never seen me ride dressage. So it was nice to be able to go up with her. I rode Max, and he was so good. He's so old, but it's amazing. Definite improvement from each lesson. Debbie was funny, because she was like "Oh the girl who rides him on Thursdays loves it when you ride him. He's a little easier for her." Totally awesome compliment to my riding ability! So we were mainly working on getting him more collected and in a frame, and making him more supple. Max is so stiff sometimes! It takes me almost my whole lesson to get it together but then when I do, it's amazing. I got him to do an actual leg yield. That felt right. I was so excited about that. And I was glad that my mom was there to see it.
So that's my recap, and now onto the dressage clinic that I audited this past weekend. Chris Von Martel was the clinician, and he was a) a lot younger than I expected *and cute* and b) really good. It was really neat because I got to watch Debbie and other students ride, and then he rode and I got to see him ride. The only thing was that sitting down from 9 - 3 is SO uncomfortable. I moved around a bit, but being tired and uncomfortable does not make for a good combo. It was neat to see the things that he got the riders to do, and how similar his teaching style was to Debbie and Barbara. It was nice to be able to see what I am supposed to be aiming for, instead of just blindly going.
Ok I'll do a quick recap of what's been happening in my weekly lessons. Last two weeks I've had privates because B had work related engagements that couldn't be missed. It was amazing. My mom finally met Debbie, and got to see me ride. She hasn't seen me ride since we were last at Diane's. **which I still need to finish posting about... Sigh.** And she has never seen me ride dressage. So it was nice to be able to go up with her. I rode Max, and he was so good. He's so old, but it's amazing. Definite improvement from each lesson. Debbie was funny, because she was like "Oh the girl who rides him on Thursdays loves it when you ride him. He's a little easier for her." Totally awesome compliment to my riding ability! So we were mainly working on getting him more collected and in a frame, and making him more supple. Max is so stiff sometimes! It takes me almost my whole lesson to get it together but then when I do, it's amazing. I got him to do an actual leg yield. That felt right. I was so excited about that. And I was glad that my mom was there to see it.
So that's my recap, and now onto the dressage clinic that I audited this past weekend. Chris Von Martel was the clinician, and he was a) a lot younger than I expected *and cute* and b) really good. It was really neat because I got to watch Debbie and other students ride, and then he rode and I got to see him ride. The only thing was that sitting down from 9 - 3 is SO uncomfortable. I moved around a bit, but being tired and uncomfortable does not make for a good combo. It was neat to see the things that he got the riders to do, and how similar his teaching style was to Debbie and Barbara. It was nice to be able to see what I am supposed to be aiming for, instead of just blindly going.
A video of his riding.
xoxo
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Spring!
Spring is in the air, and in the barn. The horses are shedding like mad. And by horses I mean the horse that I ride is shedding like crazy. I finish grooming him and I am covered in hair. He's a palamino too, so it's all really light coloured hairs, which show up on everything. I need to be brushed off before I can get into the car to go home!
Last night's lesson, was amazing. I'm totally loving riding Max. Such a cutie pony!! Reminds me a lot of Peter. So adorable. He's such an old man, but he's getting back into shape. Slowly but surely! I miss riding Tiffany, but Max just has such spunk about him. He's a little old man Quarter horse. It just clicked. He was on, I was on and we were working together. He was flexing, and I was using my whole body to make him work. It was amazing. Pure bliss.
The reason that I enjoy and love riding.
xoxo
Last night's lesson, was amazing. I'm totally loving riding Max. Such a cutie pony!! Reminds me a lot of Peter. So adorable. He's such an old man, but he's getting back into shape. Slowly but surely! I miss riding Tiffany, but Max just has such spunk about him. He's a little old man Quarter horse. It just clicked. He was on, I was on and we were working together. He was flexing, and I was using my whole body to make him work. It was amazing. Pure bliss.
The reason that I enjoy and love riding.
xoxo
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Another Cancelled...
Sigh. I'm not doing so well this winter!
Another lesson cancelled due to weather, spring freak winter storms!! Can't handle them!
Until next week,
xoxo
Another lesson cancelled due to weather, spring freak winter storms!! Can't handle them!
Until next week,
xoxo
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Knees Turn to Jelly
I was all ready to ride Gillian. Not looking forward to it, persay, mainly because yesterday was a bitch-ass day, and not in the good way. So expect my surprise when I get there, Gillian had just finished being ridden and I had the CHOICE to ride either Gillian or Max. I chose Max. I was like, "Today is just not a Gillian day." Fighting with Max is a completely whole other ballgame.
And one that I can win easier.
And not get as frustrated.
We stuck with simple stuff, getting him to listen to me first off. Which is fine, because he listens until he just tries to go where he wants to. So you put him in his place with a quiet "discussion". Once you get him there, he's like gold. Light on the reins, moving off leg and body, perfect. He's a little out of shape so he's not perfection yet, but he still has it there. Under the covers. Definitely doesn't act his age.
It's amazing when you can apply pressure in one area in a certain way, you can feel him move. And where you want him to move.
I'm slowly getting used to using more of my knee to make them do what I want them to do. It's insane. My legs are like jelly once my lesson is over. I never used my knees in Western other than to not make them stick out. I feel like my body position is all over the place, but when I actually use my knee, it really does work. I just have to be more consistent with it. I had him working on leg yield, shoulder fore, and shoulder in. Plus circles. He was a little bit of a bugger in the beginning, he actually kicked out with me on him, but it was so non-threatening that I was more worried that he would hit Debbie.
My knees are paying for it this morning... I need to start doing more stretches and exercises to make me less... out of shape.
Until next week,
xoxo
And one that I can win easier.
And not get as frustrated.
We stuck with simple stuff, getting him to listen to me first off. Which is fine, because he listens until he just tries to go where he wants to. So you put him in his place with a quiet "discussion". Once you get him there, he's like gold. Light on the reins, moving off leg and body, perfect. He's a little out of shape so he's not perfection yet, but he still has it there. Under the covers. Definitely doesn't act his age.
It's amazing when you can apply pressure in one area in a certain way, you can feel him move. And where you want him to move.
I'm slowly getting used to using more of my knee to make them do what I want them to do. It's insane. My legs are like jelly once my lesson is over. I never used my knees in Western other than to not make them stick out. I feel like my body position is all over the place, but when I actually use my knee, it really does work. I just have to be more consistent with it. I had him working on leg yield, shoulder fore, and shoulder in. Plus circles. He was a little bit of a bugger in the beginning, he actually kicked out with me on him, but it was so non-threatening that I was more worried that he would hit Debbie.
My knees are paying for it this morning... I need to start doing more stretches and exercises to make me less... out of shape.
Until next week,
xoxo
Friday, March 11, 2011
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