As Promised!

 The Charles De Kunffy quotes!

 I must repeat it, I really enjoyed listing to this man speak on dressage, and on dressage philosophy ( it must be the fact that I had so much philosophy thanks to PEP). I’m just going to list some quotes I jotted down, they’re in no particular order!  Some of the things he said were also quotes form philosophers, and other teachers.

~ “riding is a display of ones inner-being” ( he talk a lot about how you treat a horse shows what kind of person you truly are, how correct riding teaches people so much more then how to sit on a horse, it teaches them life-long values.)

~”you cannot have a relationship with someone who does not notice you, that is why your horse MUST be focused”

~“canter is the gate of power.”

~“ Excellence is a life-long pursuit, not a onetime act”.

~“do not try your best, do your best. You are what you do, do what you are”.

 

Pretty cool hu?? Those were some of my favorite!

J

New stuff!!!!

So today, I’m going to tell you about my lesson yesterday, and then give you the down lode of today!

We finally reached a point where I can get off the 20 meter circle and work on some “cool stuff”!! Yes!

So after working on thoroughness…we went and started what will be the first step to counter canter!! a half diagonal to centerline. I enjoyed the exercise, and I think Leo liked the new challenge as well.  it is cool to start to see his brain really work on what we are trying to do. And anyone who knows Leo knows that when we are cantering is the best!!!

Also just as a note that made me happy- (The little things in life J  ) I found out I can get the kids meal at the local Pei Wei…. and be full…yes I’m talking about my dinner. You guys know me! I love food!

 

 

Today-

Today was sweet! It started with some good sprints, which are always fun, and tend to put me in a good mood!

Our lesson was good. I feel like Leo and I are almost there, its clicking with him. We worked more on canter, today focusing on being able to keep the lead all the way across on diagonals.  Also, we did our vary first clean walk to canter!!!! Did you know that the beats if the walk matter in the timing of your canter aids? I didn’t! I could not help but bust into a grin the first time it worked!  Crazy stuff right there. ;) also a little trick to riding the diagonals we used was to ride towards centerline, but let him “drift”  so you are really riding the diagonal bent towards the lead your on!  Leo is a fun horse to show new stuff, he tries his best to understand what I want ( giving me everything he can think of when offered a new question) but he also does not let me make ANY wrong moves!

 

Today’s lecture was by Charles De Kunffy, on dressage theory. Wow, I LOVED hearing him talk! He brought us all back to the basics of what dressage is, it is a living art! We also herd about how a horse is a riders mirror, in many ways, they not only show how you ride on a “scientific” level, they mirror what KIND of person you are as a whole. He talked about how horses teach people to be mature and responsible adults. Used quotes from the Greek philosophers, (thank you PEP for making me read them!!) as well as some great story’s to show how good riding is applicable to all of life.   I have so many quotes from this lecture today, but sadly I left my note book at the barn!!! So in fear of miss-quoting, I’m going to have to give them to you guys tomorrow!! (don’t worry, I won’t forget, we are going to listen to him tomorrow as well, I can’t wait!)

 

Ok, well its off to bed for me! ( my bed time gets earlier and earlier as the week goes on!)

J

 

ok...another download....

HI guys! So a “picture update” is about due…get ready!

The rest of the week went well!

On Thursday We had a very informative lecture by Renee Isler (she sponsored me through the Dressage Foundation.) Renee is a very smart woman and she had a lot of good information about getting sponsors, keeping a budget, and building resumes! She is also having us wits all come up with a fund raising idea! On Thursday, the best idea is going to be chosen and we are going to do it!! I’m so existed! I’ll tell you guys our idea….after the “competition” is done. ;)

 

Friday was a FUN and vary full day. For fitness we all loaded up ( literally. In the back of a pick up!) went to the park to create a workout! I must say…try planking on a tire swing…its not easy!

Friday we also went to audit a Conrad Schumacher Clinic at Nancy Later’s. he showed us how to ues poles and classical dressage to strengthen  a horses back, and help supple them! it was really cool!

 

Saturday  we went to the track! That’s right! David Nunn let us come and wach him work his horse! I was so cool to see how the track works, and what they really do back there! I must say I came away with some fresh ideas to use when I ride OTTB!

Saturday we also had a schooling show. Since in our lessons this week, we have been focusing on toughness, Leo and I did training 2 to test out how we are doing. It was a good ride, and we got a 66%.  Also our judge, Lisa Hyslop, told me to think of riding Leo through with my seat, lower back and legs, up  into my hands. And to think about filling his withers up with enrgy. Putting it this way relay helped!

 

Sunday ended up being a “ esay day” as Lendon came down with a cold!!!  We all hacked, and I ran some errands. I also attended my vary first Zumba class! Ha-ha it was a blast! ( although keeping up was interesting…)

 

Today was good I got to sleep in!!! ( 6:30! Whats up!?)

 

Well its off to the gym before night check…ill talk to you guys latter!

J

day 33...or is it 34???

Leo and I  are doing well know I know…I did it again, sorry guys!!!

 

Today was a good day! We had a WHOLE DAY lecture from two representatives and practitioners of the Masterson Method. Wow it was relay cool!

The Masterson Method is a way of massage that works with the horse through GENTLE touch, allowing them to release tension. It relay builds the bond between you and horse, and I could tell a big different in Leo when I hit spots that were tight, and then after he replaced them. The cool part was that sometimes you did not even need to touch the horse! I relay enjoyed it and will defiantly use the techniques I learn!

On Sunday, we went to Catharine Haddad’s farm to watch her training day. It was an incredible learning experience! She is a talented rider/trainer that has competed at GP both nationally and international. She showed us 8 horses, all at different levels of training, and talked us through what would be a typical training day for them and why they each did what she had them doing. She also talked to us about one of her past grand prix horses, Cadillac who was as spooky and unforced as could be, and what she said gave me some ideas for Leo! I relay enjoyed seeing yet another side of the dressage world. One of my favorite things that I took away from seeing her ride, was the pure joy on her face as she rode, it was inspiring to see that even at that leave, with that amount of time in the saddle simply riding her horse still make her grin!! I love it!

 

Oh, and a little on my personal workouts….I joined a gym ( first time ‘yall….) so I’m going to be doing some class ! It will be my “therapy” away from the barn! I’m existed!

I also saw today that there are some national shows at Global in March….should I shoot for one!!!!!??????

Oh! And I FINLY laid out in the FL sun on Monday!!! Ya working on my tan!

Alrighty….night all!

J

Time is flying… ( day 29)

Wow, so I looked at my blog and saw it has been 4 days since I last talked to you guys!!! So sorry! Time both fly’s and crawls by here, it is kind of weird! its been one of those weeks were you know you have done a ton, but cant quite say what you did, ya know??

 

The big thing that happed in the last few days is Leo had a relapse of hives! L Not fun. He broke out all over, and the same story of supper sensitive…so we are back to the beginning  and trying to figure out WHAT it is that he is allergic to ( or what he is getting into, or what he has!). it is frustrating to say the least, and your prayers are appreciated.

 

So today, we went on a hack (Leo is feeling better, and was ok to ride lightly today.) andwe had no crazy stuff! And made it back to the barn alive!

The lecture this evening (yes…it was after dinner) was SO INTRESTING!  Schleese Saddlery came out and gave us a through talk on saddle fitting (complete with pulling a horse out and drawing on him!) he showed us the WHY behind the things we do, pointing out how the muscles and the skeletal system of the horse, and how it relates to how we fit saddles.

Day 24

So today! Ha-ha today is my day off…. Well ok, that means I get to wear jeans and do laundry and take a nap! But still… I’ll tell you guys all about yesterday!

 

We all were EXSAUSTED yesterday…but I had a great lesson and a relay good day.

 

We (Leo and I) road with Jaimie Nunn ( our barn manager)  yesterday. It was an eventful ride!   After warming up, I went to get off so Jaimie could get on….and Leo spun away from me and I went over his right shoulder and landed on my butt! It was a shock! I got up, dusted off my pride and swung back on!

We had a lesson with Jaimie on Sunday, and she got on Leo. It is cool to see someone else ride your horse, seeing them from a different perspective. Let me start with saying Leo is one good-looking boy! ;) Jaimie loved him and after riding a little, she found were we were getting “stuck” ( I was using hand before leg) so I got on and She was able to tell how to get him going forward and into the contact! It was a relay refreshing ride. And I felt like Leo and I got our stuff back together and will be ready to move FOWERD!

 

For the afternoon we went to the Kyra Kriklen clinic. It was relay interesting to see her methods. I took away one relay good quote form her (along with many awesome ideas!);

"If you always do what you always did, you always get what you've always gotten."

~Kyra Kyrklund   

Well until next time!

J

day 21...day 21!?

Wow what a week!!!! Its been a long ( and a good!) couple of. Filled with running, working, learning, and fun!

Ill give a quick rundown ( so I can go to bed ASAP…ya I know it’s only 8:30 I’m becoming more and more like my dad ;-) )

 

On Wednesday, we had a Platies lecture/ platies session with Janice Dulak. This was FACENATING!!!! She is a dressage rider, and a dancer. So she combined the two and created different exercise that simulates what the horse is doing when they use there topline, and that uses lingo that horse riders understand. let me tell you it takes a lot of CORE I relay enjoyed her take on platies.

We also went to Kim’s (the owner of HG) PRE party and watched the show as well as enjoyed some great food. It was a lot of fun to just go and hang out as friends with the WIT group!

 

Thursday I had a lesson with Andrea Landis. She focused on me ( and man did I need it!) she is very good at spotting things I do that make it hard for Leo. she asked me questions like how can I except him to be consistent if I’m not? I enjoyed the perspective she had! She also lead the morning workout which was fun! ( we had music! Yes! Made it much more fun!)

 

Today was a long day, I think it’s just because we are all so wiped out from the week! But it was good as well. In our lesson we got given ONE draw rain (made of blue baling twine) and run though Leos nose band. This tool gave me the stability I needed to help Leo come through. He ended up fighting himself, not me. It was really cool the difference it made!

Oh and we went and watched the GP freestyles! So cool!

All righty….time for me to hit the hay!

A shout out to all of you at home….sorry your freezing! Drink some coffee and stay warm!

J