Rol

Rode today, just a slight ride, and while I've no intention of blogging every ride this year, I think this was an important one. I keep getting out of the groove and I'm hoping today was back in it. We just walked and trotted as she hasn't been doing much and the arena was sloppy, changes of bend, staying round, stretching, transitions. She was wonderful.

epilog to prolog

Working backwards, I guess, I had a mahvelous time in the costume contest. But that was very little in the way of riding.

I was well pleased with Rolinette, my ride in the show, and the progress we've made. Our score was 63.2 and I was .8 out of first (got second -- strangely my first red ribbon in the newest collection). Got 7 in both canter circles and an 8 in one trot circle. Canter transitions up were prompt and obedient but not forward until the second stride ever. Canter transitions down tend to be a bit against the hand and we'll be working on that -- hopefully with some lesson help there. I'd determined to push the free walk, did, got a jig step -- you pays your money you takes your chances -- that's fine. I did what I wanted to do and am well pleased.

The stretchy circle is something else again. I mean, it is better than it was. But it. is. not. good. I think I will work this winter in the fields (because she seeks out the contact best there) and then try to bring that into the arena. The Friesian propensity to get behind the bit is quite difficult to know how to correct. She's got some lengthening . . . she could move up.

Before the show I rode as I said I would . . . Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Friday was very windy so we didn't even approach the judge's stand -- one doesn't want to create issues. I don't specifically remember now the others.

This is, I think, the end of documenting every ride. For now anyway.

yeah yeah yeah

I did ride another time that didn't make it on here. Am I tired of the chronicling? (that's how you spell that? really?) Maybe. I'll take it to the last horse show and then we'll see. Maybe I'm just tired as it has been -- not full, not busy, but relentless time sucks -- lately.

I did a typical arena ride, with the ladies, had fun, Rol was good. I'm just not gonna worry too much about the show -- it will be what it will be. This coming week I will try to ride Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

And evidently I rode twice since I posted here, Wednesday and Thursday. We did take Friday off. Wednesday was windy and she was strong and we tried like crazy to relax. Our stretchy circle isn't likely to be much better than last time I'm afraid. But hopefully canter will be better, and I'll be more aggressive at the free walk.

rode, finally

We didn't really, totally, take two weeks completely off. Last Tuesday I hopped on bareback and we walked (mostly, trotted enough for me to know that I can't trot bareback on that horse for long at all, and cantered enough for me to be happy but mostly walked -- there is so much you can to at a walk). She was a lot of fun bareback in that I could just almost audibly hear her thinking, "umm, hey, did you realize you forgot the saddle? Are you sure you won't fall off?" But once she got used to it (and assured herself that I wasn't going to fall off), she was fine.

Today I finally made it on again. Saddled during the sunshine, got to the trot serpentines and it rained. Not hard but it was chilly and not my saddle so we went inside where we waited the short drizzle out then finished the work out. She was great considering how long she's been off. A few almost really good upward canter transitions. One almost decent stretchy circle. She's really just a lot of fun to ride.

A bit less than two weeks to the show. T3. And costume, bareback.

after a week off

After we had a week off, we rode yesterday. She was a tiny bit hot but she's always so very willing and I do so love that. She didn't really want to do the whole shoulder fore thing but she had some nice moments. And some of the canter transitions, up, were half nice in that we had a nice and I think clean jump into it but forward took two or three strides for me to get. But she did keep the canter nicely, gave me a little lengthen and a little come back.

And the strangest thing was that I felt back enough, not tippy. Would like to keep that part.

two rides

Two rides this week -- I haven't figured out quite how to ride Wednesdays with the farrier there. I mean, I do KNOW how -- just do it -- but still. We did the usual arena work both rides, except concentrated a bit on the canter work going for lots of transitions, and lots of changes of bend, and lots of stretchy circles!

Walking

That's what we did Tuesday; we walked the hills. That's all. She was hot when we came back.

But here is what I'm thinking. Due to circumstances, I didn't ride today so I thought about it. A lot. I mean, it isn't like I don't do that anyway. But I don't think we can use the "better shape physically" mantra anymore. We've simply got to improve, do the work, and that means primarily arena work. I need to quit playing and see how much improvement I can get in the next month.

I think this is what I want: clean canter transitions; a decent stretchy circle; and to get that free walk better. Now, I should be able to get clean canter transitions . . . if I can. What I mean is, that is a matter of training and riding. The stretchy circle is more iffy because I'm more iffy on it so I just have to try and get her to try, and so what if it isn't perfect but to be better. And the walk, in some ways I can't do much about how she walks, but then again, when I first get on her, she has the best walk so I just have to figure out how to get that walk in the middle of working her instead of just after I get on in warm up. It isn't going to be an 8 walk, but it can be better than it has been in tests.

Of course, we've also got to work on that change of bend thing. And lots of shoulder fore in everything. And in front of let canter (and trot and walk).

I need to incorporate at least two different canter sessions into the workout, probably something like walk-trot-canter-trot-walk-trot-canter-trot-walk. I also need to think, constantly, half halt half halt ask.

So those are things I was thinking about today.

Rode

With the ladies. Pretty regular ride. Rol was up about something (at least one neighbor was mowing his hay and she was suspicious that others were also doing . . . stuff). It had been a week since our last ride (should I preface that sentence with, "forgive Epona for I have sinned"?).

I concentrated on getting her "straight" with lots of shoulder fore. We did not do a lot of transitions to and from canter (and the four we did do were not good) but we held the canter for the circle, the long side and another circle at least. On the long side I thought of shoulder fore even at canter because I could feel the crookedness, the haunches falling in. So I think the info I got from the show a very good thing indeed. Also asked for more canter down the long side, which she responded with. What she doesn't know is how to pull back from that -- the thinks a downward transition from canter means to trot, so we've got to work through that.

After the work, the ladies and I played "follow the leader", walking (mostly) and trotting serpentines, circles and diagonals.

I did ride

although I was about to forget to record it. Not Sunday, yes Monday, not Tuesday. I walked a hill in the back then went to the flat front field and trotted and cantered some. I don't think either one of us got anything out of it. But it was a try. Back to shoulder fores and canter transitions in the arena. And hopefully review the video of the test today.

that which you manifest is before you

The day before horse show day. A day for hanging out at the barn, having that last prep ride, bathing the horse, cleaning all the tack, polishing the boots, making sure all the equipment is gathered, doing whatever else around the barn/show grounds needs to be done, stuff.

I did pretty much what I said I would do in the last post and everything went so well, so smoothly, I was rather "done" in just, maybe 30 minutes. I had sworn I wouldn't ride the test again but the dressage arena was freshly dragged and no one was out and about and Rol was fresh and I went for it. Much better. Most trouble today was holding that canter -- she hits those long sides and thinks she's supposed to trot.

The biggest thing is me -- be quiet and subtle but definite. Always ride the current movement, not the last one. Enjoy this magnificent steed. All that combined would equal a very good ride indeed.

Kind of ironically, I'm thinking I like the pattern of T3. We'll see. Breathe.

musings

Rode three times and none of them ideal, just in distractions, which, ironically, is fine, maybe even perfect. Sunday it had been very wet and I didn’t ride until the last thing before evening chores. I started on some hills but not my usual ones because the back gate of the back arena was closed and I didn’t want to dismount to open it. They were a bit slick, so we just did a few and went to the back arena and did a few things, the laterals and trying to work (without a lot of success I must say) on that stretchy circle thing. And we didn’t buck into canter.

Monday I was getting on first thing after morning feeding and as I walked into the arena, lawn mower guy drove in. Rolinette hates pretty much anything motorized. We were able to school just fine as he worked a little ways away from the arena but when he got to mowing right around it, she wanted to scoot. So having had a fine work already, we quit. I had wanted to ride the test again just to feel how it flows. It still seems to be a really fast moving test.

Tuesday the lawn mower guy was finishing up the weed eating early and I didn’t get on until he left. So as soon as I got in the arena, the next door tractor started up. Which isn’t as bad as the lawn mower guy but still created some tension in that end of the arena. Nonetheless, I did a regular sort of warm up, about twenty minutes, and then rode the test. Three times. She’s in really amazingly good shape. Of course, it wasn’t as hot as it has been, but she wasn’t huffing at all really. She was sweaty and I think at the end tired (she stumbles when she is tired, and sometimes when she isn’t but more when she is), but not in bad shape at all.

I am unlikely to ride the test again so from here on it is seeing it clearly in my mind. Ride serpentines to practice changing that bend. Ride specific canter transitions. Practice walk-trot-canter in a short period instead of “I’m gonna trot until I get it together and then canter.” Stretchy trot stretchytrotstretchytrot. And lots of halts and all other transitions of course. In the walk series, I have to keep her energized in that first medium walk to free, but when we come back to medium, legs almost off or she’ll jig. Ask her to relax AND do the work. And hold that canter.

And so a VI girl came back from her summer the other day and informed me, while I was cleaning a stall, that cleaning stalls was what Mexicans were for. I kid you not. Such a position of privilege and self-importance overlaid with complete cluelessness. But there is also the how small a peon she was talking to in her estimation. That would be me and pretty much everyone else at the barn too. I’m sure this is not a politically acceptable response but we’ve all got our “Mexican” names now: Juan, Julio, Lupa, Taco, Carlita, Margarita, Corona, Pedro.

But in all seriousness, wouldn’t we all like to ride more? I’d asked someone I’d run into who has seven or eight horses if he needed any of them ridden and boss asked if I didn’t have enough riding opportunities with her. My response was in the form of a question: “Do you have enough riding opportunities?” “Not that people want to pay me for.” Well, bingo. What if I could ride his horses and get paid? Would that be so bad?

Someone observed the other day that I was doing what was perhaps my “dream” job. Well, it isn’t my dream job. It is, perhaps, my ideal job, the job I can actually do and be good at and LOVE and progress and still be multifaceted as a person. My actual dream job is probably something I either don’t have the skills for or would take me entirely away from my real life, the stuff that really matters to me. But I’m always looking at how to move toward that ideal without ruining my real life. I’m not sure how much of that is possible, but I’m real sure that more of it is possible than is currently manifested. I would prefer to get there through my friends moving toward their ideals too.

tippy tippy tippy

That's what I am, riding. Tippy. I once had a cat named Tippy, well, not mine but my brother's at a time when we each had a tom cat. Mine was Midnight and another was Spike. Spike was white. Tippy was Tiger's son. We gave Tippy away and Tiger and all her other kittens went hunting and found some poison on a strip job or something, anyway, they all died. And Tippy came back home. After we went looking for him at the drag strip. See what an interesting childhood I had?

I rode today. Nice warm up in arena and then I went in the dressage arena to ride through the test for the first time ever. Since we had practiced a couple of canter transitions already, I walked the whole and entire pattern of the test in the arena before we actually rode it. Anyway, the test wasn't bad. It wasn't good but you wouldn't expect it to be. My main learning was that this test goes really fast. Start off with that trot figure eight which is the slowest part, but after that it is f.a.s.t. And anytime I felt rushed, my body position got tippy. And it is just about impossible to get a round transition when you are tipping. Got to sit back.

After that we went and walked hills which is the first time we've ever done a short work then hills. Then she got a bath.

And I'll tell you what else. DO NOT do divination if you don't plan on listening to and acting on the results. Because of that, I'm planning on riding under the instruction of not Pierre himself later in the week.

I also got two lessons, a short one on Saturday solo and one on Sunday with Dianne and Adonis. I am sorry, I think too much time has gone by for me to do a blow by blow. I was really glad Lisa got to see how Rol, her horse, is going. And Lisa's main lesson to me on Sunday was to stay in the moment, to ride the next stride not the last one, and not just in the test but all the time. There is time to think about it later.

Oh, and I think we did decide to ride T3.

dream, show, ride

The alarm woke me up Monday morning, early, for work. It woke me up in the midst of a dream.

I was trotting up to a judge. It was actually up an incline in the dream. And looking back, from the waking state, I know what I was doing was piaffing and passaging but as far as I was concerned in the dream, it was just trotting. I noticed, in the dream, that it wasn't really going anywhere (piaffe) and when I thought forward, it went forward, and I could control how far by just thinking about it. And partway there I thought, oh, this is a lot of suspension and at that exact moment I knew the judge wrote on the test, "nice suspension" and I thought, oh, I have to think the right things! What I should think at the end of each movement is, "EIGHT!" Anyway, the alarm rang but the dream stayed.

At the barn, the boss and I both rode early. During the free walk warm up we were talking and I told her about the dream. She said, "Did the judge tell you you were over-achieving for training level?" I thought that was funny. My friend Dianne, she knows.

I had talked to her about whether to do T3 or T4. So, what I'm thinking now is that I'd really like to do both of them. I wonder if I can talk her into that. Last night I would wake up in the middle of one of those tests or the other. We're doing a lesson Saturday so I suppose we'll decide then. She'll pretend it is my decision. But what is she willing to do? What am I willing to ask for?

Another thing that is going on is that she's going to an A show in September when I will be otherwise engaged. She'll be showing one of her training horses. I want her to take Rolinette to show her too! I want her to know how far Rol has come, I want Rol to do great in a big, real show, and I think it would be totally cool for her to do well with someone else on her (and particularly her "mom"). And yes, I think it would speak well for my "training" of her. I mean, is there anything I would like more than the opportunity to do more of what I've been able to do with her? I'll let that go now.

So the rides were thus: Sunday we walked hills, did some lateral work in the back arena, did some hills, did some trot work in one of the fields. That was the first time to do trot work on uneven ground. Then I went to the front, sand, softer arena to do some canter transitions. Monday was an arena ride, did the usual all around. She's too often bucking into canter which I think is me not being subtle enough. More seat, more inside leg, don't take that outside leg back hardly at all -- that's what I'm thinking I need to do. Or something in that direction anyway. I also desperately need to SIT BACK. Oh, the photos from the last show! Of course, I did shorten those stirrups and that would encourage a little more forwardness in the upper body and that's certainly what the photos look like. Ugh. Anyway, I also went into the dressage arena and practiced the figure eight trot circles and the canter pattern from T3 and the loop de loop from T4.

Did not ride Tuesday.

August already

Rode as early as I could as it was already very hot and just got hotter. A usual arena ride starts out with a long free walk to get the juices flowing and the muscles warmed up and free. Then I put her together and begin asking her to work at the walk, doing circles, leg yields, shoulder fores/ins (she can mostly do ins at walk now, fores only at trot), sometimes some beginning pirouettes, all alternated with stretches and transitions.

Then the trot work begins. She no longer seems to require a lot of ugly trotting to get to the pretty trotting but goes into a real trot in the length of probably half a 20M circle. And then she's ready to work at trot. We start out at trot doing transitions, larger circles to smaller circles, some leg yields, shoulder fores, and intersperse these with stretchy trot circles which is the movement we have to learn to do T3. She will stretch, and she will circle, however, she rarely holds the stretch for an entire circle and her circle tends to fall in and get smaller. I need to figure out at least the keep the circle big part.

She is getting more lateral which is very good -- it will mean more step under, more engagement, more acceptance of the bit. She can do the quarter line to the track in by M/B now without losing rhythm or creating tension. She can hold the shoulder fore half the arena too, then do a 12M circle and continue the fore for the rest of the long side. Most times we do two circles in a long side instead of just the one, but still, she can hold it that long on occasion.

Also at trot I throw in transitions at different places, to different gaits. She almost has trot to halt (like two walk steps) but up is harder for her. Although she is wonderfully willing. But we do them at C/A sometimes, or on a diagonal, or long side, or quarter line, or circle. We try to maintain round and bend/straight.

We did the trot/canter circle thing but this time at a serpentine. That idea was somewhat complicated by the guy working on his shooting backstop which was freaking Rolinette out so we just did two circles at the other end/middle of the arena, not the full three loop serpentine. They are still not absolutely consistent but they are getting better. We were mostly doing transitions and very short canters but I did ask her to hold it one time, past a short end and down the long side and she thought that was a bit excessive -- although part of that opinion was influenced by the guy working on the backstop. I still have to work a bit much at canter -- remind her to not lean, to hold herself up, to keep going, because she will still try all that, but just a bump here or there gets it pretty much.

After we did that, we went in the set up dressage arena to test ride the figure 8 that is at the beginning of T3. One never, ever rides circles that intersect at X so it is a very odd figure. It will take us a good amount of riding those circles to get them right.

Shawna was able to tell me that the coefficients on T3 are on the free walk and the stretchy circle. Effectively they are on both canters too in that you get two different scores for each canter -- one for the transition, one for the canter & figure themselves. This test probably doesn't have the thing in it she's best at -- trotting a straight line. She tends to fiddle with her head more trotting a circle. Well, it is our challenge. I guess I need to ask Cheri what helpful hints Lisa & Andre give for this test. I need to ask Lisa if I can come get a lesson. But not this week.

surprise

Well, the first one wasn't a surprise -- it was Rolinette in the arena. The normal long walk warm up, lateral still getting better every day. Trot, which now really doesn't even start off ugly although I usually give it a few circles in each direction to loosen up the muscles before we pose many questions at trot. And those questions are, of course, leg yield, shoulder fore, circle large, circle a bit smaller, bend, on bit, steady rhythm, steady head, and maybe just a tiny inkling of lengthening on every other diagonal or maybe once on a long side. Oh, and slip in stretchy walk and stretchy trot in there too. Pretty much did canter just as previously reported, several on each side. To the right she's getting downright nice. Still some more work to the left but coming along.

The surprise was in the afternoon when Lisa was tacking up Nicole, she said, plan on taking the last ten minutes of my ride. Ok. I got to a stopping place in the barn and went to watch her, then got on, walked while she checked out a different horse's progress, then got some instruction. Nicole, when she's round, is SO beautiful. However, she resists round, a lot. So she resisted. But she didn't get hot. She resisted less when asked for shoulder fore because she had to think and can't use as many braincells for resistance. But we had some moments that were nice. Which was pretty good considering that Lisa pissed her off when cantering her before I got on.

However, that canter work gave me my next technique with Rolinette -- the trot-canter circle thingie but just one transition per circle, working consecutive circles in serpentine up the arena, then change rein and do it again which done once will give you three transitions in each direction.

I also got some terrific compliments on my riding from Lisa today. I want to mark that, and I wouldn't mind remembering what they are except I don't want to be immodest. And some of it was kidding. But then again, you don't kid like that if you don't mean it a little. And I talked with her some about the next show and what test to ride. She said to ride whatever test I wanted to but it is her horse and she is the coach. But I'm riding test 3. And hopefully next show I'll ride test 4. Of course, my hopes remain at 60. A score of 6, you know, is "satisfactory". One really hopes to be satisfactory rather than marginal!

• 10 Excellent
• 9 Very good
• 8 Good
• 7 Fairly good
• 6 Satisfactory
• 5 Marginal
• 4 Insufficient
• 3 Fairly Bad
• 2 Bad
• 1 Very bad
• 0 Not performed

one ride, one observe

Rolinette, regular arena ride, in the dressage arena this time. She's giving me a bit more lateral it seems every day -- we actually trotted leg yields that I thought were ok today (just one each side) although the shoulder-ins (fores) aren't yet up to snuff IMO. Some nice transitions. Did the canter circle transition thing again -- a nice buck (think that leg was too far back?) the first one but then a couple nice to the right. Left less nice, more work, but coming. Also tried the canter pattern that is in Training Test 3 in case we decide we can ride that next show -- I haven't talked that decision over with Lisa yet but 3 only adds the stretchy circle and she's getting better at that -- doesn't hold it for the whole circle but does now stretch at trot. That test is a strange pattern but it doesn't add the loop and I think it best to add one thing at a time. The canter pattern itself will be a bit of an issue since there is a corner involved and, well, a 20 M circle is about as much of a corner as she can do at canter right now. However, she does a rather nice downward transition from canter and this pattern might well show that off since it happens on center line. Just thoughts I guess.

Cheri went up to VI and took a lesson with Lisa Moose on Vinnie which I observed. It was a blast to watch as it reminded me a lot more of riding lessons at MM -- rapid fire instructions (leg back, sit down, flex more, longer leg, bend your knee . . .) and lots about position, both of which are different from the Lisa/Andre lessons. Half of it was on a lunge line which looked really cool -- would love to do that until my position is rock solid! The horse was also very nice.

Best quote: "Riding is a weird thing -- you have to tighten your stomach and loosen your butt."

threes

yeah, it was three rides this time.

Sunday I rode Rolinette, a regular arena ride. Working a bit more on "baby shoulder-ins" and leg yields, and transitions remaining round (instead of getting hollow). It is like I can feel her giving me a little more lateral every day. Well, maybe not everyday, but it is coming along.

Monday I got to ride the incredible Sage again, this time with input from Lisa -- she rode another horse she has in training while I rode Sage and she'd do an exercise and then I'd do it (although we could walk together) and get her input. I had to work really hard just to get him to walk on, first of all. We did some decent walk-trot transitions, but only after reminding him that's what I expected . . . and reminding him every time (like every second transition was good . . . well, maybe a bit better than that).

The main trot exercise was just shoulder-in (well, fore) then circle asking him to step out. Now, riding him was a trick because he was really unresponsive so you had to ask really hard BUT the mandate is to not nag him (which is what his mom has taught him to expect -- nagging). And then Lisa says to out of breath me, if you are working that hard you are doing it wrong. Well, ok, tell me how to do it right then. Actually, that would just be riding him more, and getting him accustomed to a quieter rider. To me, he was very wiggly. Lisa described him as very responsive but I don't particularly experience him that way -- more like he's looking for incessant direction and reassurance and he's wiggly doing that and then resistant when you do ask him for something. But gosh, he's such a nice horse and of course you just want to ride him GOOD and make him look his best.

The canter exercise, which is where I failed, was just this: 20 M center circle, prelude with a few sharp walk-trot transitions, then trot forward, collect a few strides (like three), leg back ask for canter -- if you get it, canter; if you don't, reorganize and do it again. Right was fine -- managed a couple nice transitions that stayed round which is really the aim. Left was a different story. Epic fail. Lisa said, "Put your leg further back." I said, "I'm about to touch his hip! for godsakes." Which, I will point out that the good part of that is that evidently my seat and leg are VERY independent of each other since she couldn't tell from inside the circle that my outside leg was doing that gymnastic. Now, ole Sage knows what this is and is capable of it but just didn't, and riding that and not being able to cowgirl up a little and have him pick up the dang canter was frustrating . . . but perhaps needful to him. I would be tending toward asking him to reliably pick up canter without being in a frame probably as my default seems to be to ask the horse to move forward and then come back from there instead of go quietly and gradually try to incorporate forward (not that I'm supposed to say forward at all of course but hey). I'm certainly willing to watch and participate and learn new stuff.

We didn't ride until like noonthirty and it was blazing hot and the sun came out to boot, and when it is that hot I can't wear my sunglasses riding (because they fall off my face -- I need those glass holding thingies) and if I'm in the sun without my sunglasses OR if I severely overheat, I get monster headaches, so I was cooked after this one. But it was well worth it. I did manage to not get really sick from it though.

Today I rode Rolinette again of course. I went out back, did a few hills, used the back arena to do the trot exercises I'd done with Sage, then more walking of hills, then the trot-canter circle. Rol was far more willing than Sage had been and this is going to be a great exercise for her I think, to get her to start picking up the canter while staying round. She's actually been better with the down canter transition than with the up one, so this is great with her. She was so responsive and willing, and we even managed a couple roundish.

one two three four

I've ridden four rides I haven't recorded here yet.

One was Friday, on Sage. Sage is a little Nakota horse who's been showing at T3 & T4. I remember the first time I saw him, how impressed I was. He moves like a big horse, but he's small. Oh how he moves. He's also quite personable and sensible and I like him a lot. Ok, I'd give my eye teeth to have a horse like him maybe. (I already don't have any eye teeth, just for the record) I'd been on his back once before for just a few minutes -- compared to the giants Friesians, he's downright skinny, almost not even there below your knee.

Just getting a ride or two on him, and no lesson or anything, I wasn't trying to accomplish anything except exercise him and give me the experience. He was waaaay lazier than I expected. And a bit more on the forehand than I expected. I don't think I got any actually prompt and forward upward transitions on him. Although he did seem perfectly willing. Which is a little confusing. His person had told me her latest thing to work on with him was for her not to cue him every stride because it was making him dull. He was sort of waiting every stride for you to tell him something.

I'll tell you, though, his canter was just smooooooth. Delicious. I did not find him pissy at all. He would be a great deal of fun to work with and/or to take a lesson or two on.

Two was Saturday. I rode Bart early. Bart's the biggest Friesian on the farm and the first horse I rode there. Not to mention the bounciest horse. He's recently had his hocks injected and should be feeling pretty good. He seemed very willing to me. He's also much more fluent laterally than his mother Rolinette is, so that was fun to play with and get a feeling for. His person has moved up to 1st 1 this year which involves a huge amount of sitting trot and one of the main things I thought riding him was, OMG I would never be able to sit that trot! and how brave Cheri is to go in and try to! I've seen Andre do it though and I'd also love for him to teach me how! He cantered both directions, he came back, he stretches beautifully . . . and I may get the chance to ride him for Andre this weekend.

Three was also Saturday. That afternoon, because I had my wonderful husband's help, I was able to fit in another ride, this time on Rolinette. I took her to the hills and walked one more time than we've been doing. I also ask her to halt on the downhill so she can have those back feet under her. We trotted some in the back arena in the middle of walking the hills, then at the end we cantered some. In that circumstance we canter with me primarily off her back and asking her just to relax and go with it. It hopefully develops her muscles, her wind, her fluidity cantering. I ask her to think about bend maybe just a little but round pretty much not at all.

Four was this morning, Ms. Rolinette again, since she is the one I have the most leeway with and responsibility for, it is most rewarding to ride her. We did an arena ride with Star and Cathy. I think she is working better with shoulder fore and leg yield but still trails some in the behind. Lack of bend there, but we're working on that. We did a LOT of transitions, working on holding round and bend through them, both up and down, and trying to hold straight at halt. We got a few good ones, some decent ones, and stopped before driving them into the ground but on some good notes. Then I went into the dressage arena and worked on the bendy shallow serpentine thing. It is weird. If I get a lesson on anyone I'll ask to work on that some just to know more about it and riding it.

not without honor save, try two

I've ridden twice, yesterday and today. Yesterday was hill work at a walk, plus some canter for strength and wind and relaxation in the back arena. Today was a "normal" arena ride. We've talked some about working more on stretchy trot circles and the shallow loop that T3&4 require. I went into the still set up dressage arena just to play with the loop because I've never ever ridden that, but serpentines instead. So the first thing I have to do is figure out the geometry of riding that, then we'll work on that change of bend. Of course, having bend to the left would be nice. But it will come.

But there are ten thousand other things I've been thinking of, pondering through, pretty much all related to ambition. I can't seem to get them out in any way that might not be offensive to someone somewhere who I need on my side. How do I get to be the best that I can be? How do I get to offer the most that I can offer? I am happy taking care of the barn. I am happy being a person to be relied upon. It does not stem from discontent but I am more than a shit shoveler and water tank filler. I can do more. I can be better. I have more to offer. I need and I want to take lessons, but I don't need or want to take lessons to get ready for a show but in order to be a better rider/horseman.

Also, damn I'm good.

At the end of the week, I work four days in a row. Four days in which three key people are out of town. Four days in which I have three really great horses to choose to ride at my convenience so long as the rest of the work gets done and I eventually get home.

ride the horse you have today

breathe

I rode, perhaps a bit more than I had planned to, but there were things to work on. Canters weren't all smooth on depart, and there's work to do for sure, but they are improving. We get some but not all good transitions up and down without losing roundness. I think we're getting somewhere.

I did not ride the test today.

We have some nice moments but it isn't all consistent still so it is very hard to say how tomorrow will go. One can have hopes and yet, without that consistency, it is unlikely that it will all be good either. I think mostly I need to think about riding her more softly, with less half-halt "get ready" stuff going on. I think that increases her inconsistency as she starts trying to figure out what I'm about to ask for so that she can do it already. Be in the moment.

There is so much. In the end, we'll see how we do. We've improved, of that I'm sure. We still have much improvement to go. If I could ride everything perfectly, we'd be ok. Not much chance of that however. So I'll just ride as good as I can. Ride the horse you have today.