Home!

Well I’m home…you guys had a hard winter hu??? it’s crazy to see that outside Wellyworld, everything is still in hibernation!!! (its going to be 36 tonight….not cool!)

 

I wanted to write a blog summing up in the WIT program….. while I would love to tell you guys EVERY little thing I learned, there is way too much for me to write out( and I still have to unpack)!!

I’m going to start with saying that going through the WIT program this winter changed my life. It opened my eyes to the world of dressage, and to the professional world of equestrians. I learn so much about ridding, theory, horse care, and what being a professional rider relay means. Leo and I both grew and learned much more then I would have thought possible! Coming away form a winter of being in the middle of the dressage seen, I know for a fact that there is where I want to be!

This amazing experience would not have been possible without the major support team I had!

I want to say THANK YOU.

Thank you mom and dad, for making it passable for me to go to FL (for surviving the winter here!) and for always doing everything you can to make my dreams reality.

Thank you Lendon Gray, for teaching me so much, for opening doors, and for becoming a role model for me.

Thank you Kim Boyer, for opening your home to us WITies!! Being at HG all season was truly an amazing experience!

I want to thank Renee Isler and The Dressage Foundation, for supporting me.  

Leo and I want to thank Rachel Chowanec, for helping us in our training!

Thank you to all the amazing people who donated there time and skills to teaching us to the best of their ability!  Thank you!

 

Ok, now to the million dollar question, WHAT ARE MY PLANS!??? ( cue the lights)

My plans for this summer are to train and show (we are going to shoot for regionals this year!). I am going to be in OH at my barn, giving lessons, ridding, and training (give me a call if you are interested!). I am also going to be raising money for whatever the future holds for me. (I am hoping to go back to WIT next year, if it all works out!) My long-term goals, I hope to be able to do Young Riders with Leo. oh and sometime in the middle of all that I am planning on doing school.. ( ya that’s important..)

 

As this adventure ends, I am keeping my eyes up and looking forward to the next one!

J

oh, no worries, ill keep you guys up-to-date on what I'm doing!

real quick!

Hi guys!!

I’m on the home stretch….. in the last week… its crazy. I want to take this last week to really a moment to apresate WIT and Wellington, I like it here, and would not have traded this exsperice for anything!

 Ok, now on to this past week.

 

Frist I’m going to tell you about a ground breaking lesson I had with Susanne Hamilton. She told me that Leo needs to learn to use his hind leg correctly (by bringing it up and under himself). And that when he does, he will be balanced, and able to do more things. Wow what a difference it made! she had us do pretty much the same thing we have been doing, but was able to describe it in such a way that it clicked!! Awesome moment right there! ( we had the best canter transition EVER!!!) she also told me that I can ( quietly) use my voice in the test when I need it, and as she is a judge, she was able to tell me how loud was to loud! Leo loves it when I talk to him so that was relay helpful!!

Ok so this week we SHOWED….dun dun dun….

It was not to bad! Let me say, Global is a big scary place and I am so proud of Sir Mystic Smoke ( yes that is his show name….) for not only being a good boy there, but getting there without having a BIG  melt down!! ( yes, we HACKED to a show!!! Only in wellington folks, only in wellington!)

We showed training 3 and First 1, got a 61% on both! With some big spooky moments! ( im talking whole long side, full-on spokes!!) Go Leo right??? That boy loves to show…his prusnalitny in the ring is so funny…he’s all strutting his stuff, and then he sees the flower pot!! And then goes back to strutting! Such a funny boy ;)

There are deftly some story’s to be told of this showing experience, but I am so happy that I was able to go down centerline at Global, it made my day to hear my appendix QH be announced on the loud speakers!!!!

The rest of this week our lessons were great! Everything is coming together, it’s a mater of strnagh now ( we need hills to build some up!!! FL is so flat!) its amazing to see how far we have come!

Well, im off to do some packing!!

J

Pictures

Ok so counputers are way harder to deal

With then horses!!!! Here are some pics from my phone, to hold you guys over until I figure out how to deal with the good ones on my laptop!!!

 

KT tape! 

Love our DSB boots!!!!

The drive to palm beach. ( go until you hit the beach, trun left and park!!)

Just a random one.....

Thank you Katy for the gloves!!!!!! Love them!

The flag at globle. 

Thank you Tred Step!!!! They are. generously sponsoring all the WIT kids. have some awesome stuff! Like wow love it!!!!

Schlesese came out and did an valuation on the my saddle it was pretty neat! ( don't know if you can see it but there is calk on Leo)

Out for our grazing time! (

He had to roll every time. It's so cute!)

Ok I'll work on my laptop and get it posting some good pics!!!!

J

the mother of all blogs

Ok so here is the mother of all blogs!

What I have been up to in my laps of bloging…well for startedrs lets talk about how my main man Leo is doing!

With some help from Rachel, ( one of the girls at HG, she is an amazing talented rider!) we have really been coming along! Leo is doing better and better, showing a night and day differences from when we started! Its awesome and I am so proud of him! AND we entered a show at Global! This coming week, the 19^th and the 20^th, Its going to be fun(lets pray it goes well!)!

As for letures and things that have been going on. Im going to talk about them in no praticuler order, so bare with me!

We had Maryanna Haymon’s ( she owns Marrydell farm)  come talk to us about breeding, confirmation, and what horses are being breed for today. This was fascinating! I learned so much about confirmation. Did you know that a lot of good dressage horses are cow hocked? It was fascinating to here her talk about blood lines, and the vast knowledge of what sires produces what.  Later in the week she also invited us to come watch her home-breeds be worked, and we talked about her horses. I really enjoyed talking about bloodlines and horses, and I can see myself sometime down the road becoming involved in breeding my own horses!

 

We had Lauren Samase a two time veteran at the Pan Amen games come and talk to us about her experience as a professional she now runs a sale barn for imported horses, and her views on the horse biasness was inspiring! One of the things she told us is that leggy and dark horses sell, and I must say,….yes I agree!! J she also strested the fact that there are really two things you can do to help yourself in this world, work hard, and be honest! Such good words of wisdom!

 

Kim Boyer ( our host at Hampton Green!) talked to us about her passion, the PRE horses. Wow what a cool bread of horse, with a history!! I love hearing about how the pure Spanish horse has a history that can be traced back into roman times! Its so cool how these amazing horses are still around, and how they are modernizing along with the rest of the world.

 

Beth (of the Horse of Course) came and talked to us about bits, it is amazing how much a bit can affect a horse, and the craftsmanship and thoguth that goes into bits! Wow that is a whole field in and of its self!

 

Another one of our field trips we went to see Leslie Morse’s horses. (she owned and road Kingsten, and Tip Top). I felt an instant connation to her as she is dyslexic as well!!! some of the things she stressed was to think outside the box, to be creative, and not afraid to put your back into it and get the job done! Got to love good down to eath people who love their horses the way she does!

 

Ok, well it’s my bed time, stay tuned for pictures!

J

ok....

So this is a quick shout out.
IM SORRY FOR THE LACK OF BLOGS!!!!!!!!!


Iv been crazy busy, however I am working on the mother of all blogs for you guys :)
( and have pictures comeing!)


Just wanted to let you all know I am still here, and to keep an eye out!
J

im still here!!!!

I did not realize how long it’s been since I blogged! I apologize guys! Wow….time flys.

 

So I will just give you a rundown on this week, kind just whatever popes in my head!!

My lessons this week have been great! I feel like everything is coming together in my head, and in Leos strength, and it’s all “clicking”!!! So existing to finely feel like a “dressage RIDER!”…ok I’ll tell you about yesterday’s lesson now, cuz it was so awesome!!!

Yesterday we FINLY had everything click. We warmed up and then started in on the canter work, and while cantering across the diagonal is still messy, we no long want to swap leads at X! After that we played with some lateral work and THEN, when we went back to trot Leo was coming round, and through, he wanted to stretch down when I offered it! he was using his topline and I could SEE ( ok I looked down….) his shoulders being lose and free swinging!  And we got a “he is almost too deep!!!” ( that has been the goal the entire time, to have Leondn be able to say he is to deep)  By the end of the ride Ledon looked at me as asked where THAT came from! It was so cool, like all the pieces of everything I have been learning ( about how a horse muscles move and work, riders position plays a big part, all my lessons, as well as watching great riders) came together  and clicked! :D   

 

Ok now back to telling you about my week!

This week I was the barn manger, which means that I was the first to the barn in the mornings ( at the barn by 6:00), and often the last to leave!! Let me tell you, it’s been a LONG week!!

But its been a good week! We got to sit in on a Jan Blinks clinic, and as I said last week, I LOVE the way he teaches!

We had a lecture by Dr. Does on KT Taping, as well as chiropractic. We pulled out one of the horses and ALL evaluated him, and how he moved, and then Dr. Does adjusted  him and taped him with kinesiology tape. KT tape is an adhesive tape applied to the skin. It provides support for muscles, aiding in pain relief, as well as “showing” the muscles the correct poster and alignment for them to move.  It was so cool to have her point out the muscles in a horse and how they work for what job, as well as when they are tight how it effects how the horse works. After our demo horse got adjusted and taped we all watched  him move and saw a huge improvement! Dr. does also was kind enough to tape all of us!!! I got my neck and shoulders taped for pain, as well as a “shoulders back” training tape. Loved it! All my pain went away, and I could tell ( and others commented) on my poster in the saddle!!!! So cool

 

This weekend was the Youth Dressage Championships at gobble. We had three pepole from the program riding in it and it was so fun to go watch and support them! ( they all did well!) there were also lectures, and a party ( with a DJ!!!) that us WITies got to attend! On top of that there was a show at White Fences that two of our riders were in, so we went to watch them, and also volunteered at the show! What a weekend Hu??

 

Well, those are some of the “cool points” from this week!!! I WILL  be more diligent in my posting!

J

OH! something else that is cool, the WIT program, (and sometimes me) have been mentioned in several articles around the web!!! So cool to see this awesome program being put out there and getting noticed! I hope that other young riders hear about it, and apply!

 

 

Half way point….

 

Hi all! So I’m hoping you saw the quotes…..cool stuff hu? So to go on with the rest of my week.

 

Happy bleated valentine’s day ‘yall!!! I must say…I kinda get into valentine’s day, I even went as far as to bake ( red velvet oreo brownies…. Also named “those awesome sinful things”) and I wore…salmon!!!! ( almost pink)

It was a vary good day, it was hack day, ( Fridays) so some of us set up a Jumping lesson across the street with Miranda. I pulled out my jumping tack, and we had a lot of fun knocking off the dust and playing around! I must say, Leo is a much better dressage horse then jumper! There were these butterflies…. he kind of had a little fit over them! such a diva… ;) Haha! It was good for us to go have some fun though!

 

We also had a lecture by Jessica Ratter. She talked to us about how to define our goals, and how to lay the bricks down in order to achieve them. She had some really good points, and the way she laid it out made the whole thing about thinking about the “next step”  much less scary!!!

 

Yesterday!

 Our lesson was good! we busted out a little bit of lateral work, London said “your horse really does not mind going crooked at all!!!” ha-ha as funny as it is its true (both a good, and a bad thing)

Yesterday we spent the day at the Global Dressage Forum North America 2014. (we are taking turns, half of us went today, and half  will go tomorrow)

There were many speakers, and presenters who talked about he spore of dressage, and its growth. This was followed by presenters!

Jan Brink ( from Sweden) work with a young horse, as well as teach a young rider. Jan has a vary nice since of working with the young ( both people and horses) and I loved how he displayed throw his riding and talking that the young in the sport should be both nurtured, and pushed past there “safety” zone!

 

Then Christilot Boylen and Udo Lange  spoke and rode for us.  One of the things I really took away from hearing her talk, and watching Christilot and Udo ride was the importance of TIMEING and precision. Timing is everything! In any movement, of your timing is off, your horse will not do it correctly! All in all it was an excellent day, and I enjoyed seeing and listening to the “movers and shakers” of the dressage world!

 

Today- started off with an early lesson. We worked more on counter canter! The most existing thing was the Lendon said that Leo is now at the point were he is though enough to start working on making him a dressage horse!!! so existing to see how far he has come! ( oh and did I menschen, Friday was also the half-way point of the program!! Wow, I cant believe I've been here 6 weeks! Crazy hu?)  

Since the other “wave” of WITs went to the Form today, I had an easy day. So I went to Wal-Mart…. Man, people in there are CRAZY!! They’re zooming around with their shopping carts like it’s the high way! ( and they re crazy on the high way as well!) ya…that was an experience to say the lest! But I made it out alive, and got what I needed!

 

Well time for me to go watch a movie! ( tomorrows my day off, so I feel like I can stay up a little later tonight!)

Oh and not to rub it in or anything…but I’m going to the beach tomorrow!!!! Whoot whoot!

J

 

 

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

Pic post!

So here are some random pics I have on my phone! Haha. 

Bath day.....

Oatmell baths to help with hives.... He wanted to eat it!

Watching Nick Fyffe at Stillpoint

FL sunset.....

The clinic! ( this is Steffen!)

On a hack at HG. 

day 17

1-20-14

Today…more working at the Clinic. We did some work, but then we also got to audit! It was really cool to watch Steffen ride! Wow!!! I have to admit I’m a bit star struck by him….just a little!! ;)

That was the whole day, and I’m wiped! When we got to the barn I jumped on Leo and hacked around bareback…so fun! Ha-ha he was a good boy to.

Well…night all!

J

day 16

1-19-14

Today was a good day!

We are all volunteering at the 2014 Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers' Conference for the next 2 days. Steffen Peters and Scott Hassler are teaching and Steffen is going to ride some of the horses!!!!! But today was the basics….. We set up tables and chairs and did all stuff that goes on in organizing and running a big ordeal like this!  Fun fun! Ha-ha

After working all morning, we went back to the barn to Christmas!!! Well…at lest it felt like Christmas! Remember how I said that Lisa Wallace was giving us all DSP??? Well they came!!!! Ahahah so nice I love them! Leo got the new black patent boots and they looks sharp! I’m saving them for a special occasion, but I will most defiantly give you pics! We also had a “photo shoot with them so that was fun.

After that Judy Westlake came and gave a Lecture/stretching lesson about rider fitness. Using Eckart Meyners theory and book. I must say I’m adding in some of the stretches daily! It made so much since! I found some stretches I can use to help with my position faults ( like slumping, and looking down…in Eckarts book he has moves for lots of different things) it was vary cool.

THEN! We had a group lesson. Frist of all it was a great ride. Leo is feeling back to normal. :D Happy day! I can’t wait to add on to the foundation of thoroughness we have been working on. Secondly….i am now ready to counter the craziest warm up ring! We had 5 people riding at once, all doing their own thing in perfect harmony! Ha-ha it was impressive if I do say so.

 Well that was today!

J

day 15....and more!

HI! So It’s only been three days since I talked to you guys last….but it feels like its been forever!! Im going to give you a quick run-down of the past few days…

 

1-16-14

Thursday morning we went to Stillpoint farm (owned by Tuny Page ) to watch Nicholas Fyffe ride Fiero ( with Robert Dover) as well as watching him school a nice GP sales horse. It is so cool to see what goes into making that amazing jaw dropping test we see at the show (its not as glamorous as one might think! Nick schooled a lot of the basics with both horses.)  Both Robert and Nick were amazing teachers, letting us ask all the questions we wanted!

After that we rushed over to the show  and did a “Lunch and Learn”. This is my new favorite kind of lecture!  A Nutrena Nutritionists ( that’s fun to say) gave a presentation on horse nutrition. It was quite interesting ( and thought provoking, I cant wait to luren more) During this we got served an amazing lunch!  Then it was back to the barn for lessons and chores! Leo’s and my lesson was good. We are both still recovering, and it showed! Then (ya this was a crazy long day!) Some of the WITies went and rode a mechanical bull….random I know! But lodes of fun!

So that was Thursday!

 

1-17-14

Yesterday. Yesterday we had the amazing opportunity to be invited to Tina Konyot’s farm about an hour away from wellington. Tina ad her horse Calecto V rode for the USA in London. We got to watch her school three horses; Calecto, a training project, and her young horse. Tina is an amazing horse women, and watching, and hearing her talk about training and horses was a one of a kind opportunity.  The one thing that really stuck out to me as I watched her ride (Calecto in particular) was the sharpness of the aids both she and her horse had. Both of them were completely in tune to one another.  It was truly art in the making! I know it will be forever in my mind as a goal to one day be able to ride like that!

Yesterday was hack day! Ha-ha we took our horses “out on the town!” ( ok, we walked around the block …but still!) It’s amazing how horse centered this place is! The hack itself was…interesting ( for any of you guys who know how Leo trail rides….add in barking dogs, trucks, gardening, and polo players!) but we lived through it and I can’t wait to go out some more!

 

TODAY!

Today for me was pretty chill…. There was a “ schooling show” ( riding a test to see were you’re at) but since Leo and I have been sick we did not push it and ride a test. Instead we  schooled a little by ourselves ( it was good to work on all the new stuff we have been lruning!)  We all went to watch one of the girls show at Global ( she did awesome!!!! So much fun to cheer her on!) That and we all worked out and did chores! I’m wiped out and ready to sleep! and things start up full blast tomorrow!

 

I’m going to try to do another one of my “ photo post”  soon so keep an eye out!

Night!

J

YES!....and then not so much.

So I’m going to start off by telling you guys about YESTERDAY!

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 Leo was better and it was our first day back at it!  However, I woke up not feeling well…. despite that I was determined to ride, and I went ahead with my lesson.

It was great! We took it super essey (not even cantering) and worked on getting him to be submissive all the time. Leadon gave me a “bag of tricks” to help with this as Leo seems to figure out one "trick" out just as soon as it starts to work! We finished on a good note. And his hives seamed under control!

I on the other hand, ended up making a trip to the Dr. to get checked out. ( all is fine!) it turns out I’m having a allergic reaction to something, (its a lot like what Leo had, and comes with the same treatment! Go figure….) I got the meds in me and started to feel better. Meaning I made it to our 6:30 talk, and I'm so glad I did.

Carol Lavell (She won a bronze medal in team dressage at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona) gave sort of a bio of herself, and her horse Gifted. at the tack shop ShowChic.  It was amazing to hear someone who had been there and done what we all our striving for talk about her life. She gave advice, and told amazing story’s!

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So then…today! it was a rainy cloudy day! ( never that fun!)

I am feeling better (thank goodness!) but Leo broke out in more hives this morning, so we missed our lesson. L he was not sensitive on the hives, so I was told to “tack walk” him ( which means walking around under saddle….I did not know that!) today, and ride him tomorrow. however he is not allowed outside until this clears up, poor boy!

He also is going on some antibiotics to nip this in the bud! please keep us both in your prayers!

Also our lecture was canceled today. So all in all it was a rainy, slow day!

 

 

Well that’s all folks! Tomorrow is a new day! Lets hope for the best. we are having our first " lunch and Learn"...I wonder what that is all about!!!

J

Road to Recovery!

So these past couple of days have been a roller coaster! With Leo not feeling good, and then I got a little sick as well (allergies), its been rough, but we are getting thought it!

Here’s what we found out about Leo; On Friday he broke out in hives ( it was ugly, I wont share the pics!), We found out (after a vet call…) that he got a fungus.  Not fun! He got put on some meds, as well as given oatmeal baths! The hives have been clearing up and we are guessing that the fungus/hives were the case his sore back, so in a way I am thankful! He is feeling better and I’m going to lesson tomorrow on him and see how he does! Be praying!

 

The past couple of days we have had some really cool lectures,  

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we watched the CDI's at Global ( wow there are some amazing riders! ) it is so cool! I can say “hey I’m running to the show” and go five minutes and watch some of the top riders in the country compete! What an amazing experience!

Saturday during the show we had a Q & A session with Elisabeth Williams, an FEI Chief Dressage Steward at FEI, and a USEF Technical Delegate. It was interesting to hear what all happens “behind the scenes” at shows! Two of the things I took away from it were, A) read the rulebook! And B) don’t be afraid to go to the TD and ask a question!.

Sunday we did pilates with Robin Shehan.  It was really fun! I have never done anything like a platies class, and found I enjoyed it. We did mat pilates; a mix of stretching, core work, and yoga. I came out feeling relaxed, stretched, and ready to go! Its amazing how much you need the core, and balance for good ridding. I know I’m going to want to do it again!

Today ( Monday) is our day off!!! YES! I fed Leo and then went back to bed, yes I know crazy.....but I needed it.

well, talk to ya later!

J

 

 

 

Day 6

 

Today started off well. we had an interesting lecture by Laura King, about how to relax. (Relaxing helps your ridding!) She is being kind enough donate her time to us the entire three season. I am interested in seeing what she has to say, and how it affects riding.

That however, was the up part of the day. When I stared to groom Leo for our lesson, I discovered that he is extremely sore through his back. L   Because of this we had lunging lesson. Did you guys know that lunging a horse correctly is just as complex as ridding one!? I have now found a new skill that I want to perfect! The rest of the day was filled with watching people ride, and dogging the rain

 

We are trying to figure out what the problem with Leo's back is (I have a feeling it is my saddle, he has changed so much since it was last fitted) . Pleases send us lots of prayers as I try to find the problem and fix it!

J

Day 5

Today was a cold  (ok, not THAT cold….but still!) windy day! The wind lead to some spooky horses all day...fun stuff!

I’m going to take a moment to brag on my pony! He was amazing in today’s lesson! I have never had him feel so though and adjustable! It is so exciting to see how far he has come in just 4 lessons. Way to go Leo! (I’m going to try to get some video of our next lesson and show you all.) The bad news is I was informed today that I’m going without stirrups for a while.... I’m going to be in so much pain! (But it’s good for me, so I won’t complain too much!)

 

Today’s lecture, given by Lisa Wallace, was very interesting. She talked to us about buying, and selling horses. It was a privilege to be able to talk to someone who has been in the horses world, and making a living at it ( the goal of many of us!) for quite some time. Lisa also is the maker of dressage sport boots, and she vary generosity is giving us all a pair! WOW! I can’t wait for them to come!

Well! Until next time

J

Oh! And if you guys want me to talk about anything, just let me know! So much is happing sometime I find it hard to choose what to talk about!

One week.

It’s only been a week! I’m shocked! The time has both flown, and crawled by. I can’t believe how much I have learned, and seen in such a short time. I am truly blessed to be here.

Today was my “day off” ( all we had to do was take care of our horses). Leo was glad for the rest!

Today was also the last day of the Robert Dover Clinic. They did something very fun for the riders. Janet Foy (FEI 4* judge) and Linda Zang (FEI 5* Judge) watched  and judged the riders doing a test of their choice. Then they talked to them about the test afterwards. It was relay cool to hear what they had to say! Do you want to know what took off most of the points?? Accuracy!  That’s right! Note to self; accuracy can make or break your test.

Also today is my first night for night check..,fun fun!

well, Ill talk to ya'all latter! 

And may I just say…. It’s warm here ;)

J

day one.

The first day!
Today was a good day! 
We started off with a fitness test at 7 (my skipped workouts showed!) and after that fun event...we went on to lessons! 

I had the last lesson of the day, and as the clinic is still going on, we had partial lessons. I rode with Jaime, (who is a lovely rider) I’ll just give you guys a brief rundown of it!

After warming up (Lendon has us do 15 min of walking before every ride, I relay like this!) we got in the ring. To be honest I was a bit nerves. But that quickly went away as we started to working! 
Our goal today was keeping Leo bent, and through to the contact, and on me staying soft and with him throw the bend. Over all I was very happy with how it went! I saw an improvement in Leo, and I can’t wait to build on to it. 

Things are starting to run more on a schedule! (For that I'm thankful!) Because of that tonightI get to chill a little more than I have been! (No swimming though...the cold front is hitting FL too!! it was in the 60's today! wink wink...)

alrighty, so I'm on to the chilling!
J

Pictures!

Ok let's see if this works! They are just some quick shots I took......

Geting to wellington talk about a horse world!

Ya this boy was just chilling.....I Had some tourist moments....

In the store..... I wonder who for??

I fixed his clip! ( many thanks to those who helped!)

The clinic. 

Just a quick note...

Hi all! So I think I'm figuring out this whole blog site...I THINK! I am also extremely tired so I'm just going to tell you about one thing today!

Today... I got to audit the Robert Dover Clinic, and may I just say, wow. Robert has such a way of explaining things so that the mechanics, and the art blend, and make complete since together. The lecture this morning focused mainly on the half halts. Something that really stuck with me is what he said during one of the lessons we watched "half halt is not a subtraction, it is and addition of engagement"(Robert Dover).  I am thrilled that we get this opportunity to watch this clinic.

Tomorrow starts the program! we are having a fitness test, and then lessons begin! ( ill be sure to give you the run down on mine).
Night all!
J

 

Made it!

 ok I wrote this last night, but did not have wi-fi!  I’ll post todays as a separate thing!

Hi guys!! Sorry it took so long to get this up! ill give you a quick run down of things.

We got to Wellington around 2 on Monday, and then began a whirlwind of activity! The first day kind of went by in a blur to be honest… it was full of getting Leo settled, moving into my new home, and meeting lots of people! (I hope I’ll be able to remember names!) This is a whole new environment for Leo and I, but I think we are going to quickly adapt t!

 

This morning. I was at the barn at 6:30 to take care of Leo, Then I got to audit some lessons! Wow I have already soaked up so much! I can’t wait to have my first lesson ( which is on Friday).

This afternoon involved running around, getting lost a time or two (anyone surprised?) and getting to know people.

 

Leo got trund out this evening for the night. He was SO happy, and a little bit frisky ;)!

Its New Year’s eve (this I remembered around 3 today….) so Happy New Year to all! I’m ready to hit the hay (and its only 10??? ;) ) I most defiantly will post pictures , after I figure out how that is!

Tomorrow is up and at’em! I’m planning to hack Leo, he was a bit of a wild man in his field, so lets hope for the best!