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[Dolphinlover~]

Guys! (: I'm so excited! The show is THIS WEEKEND! I get to skip school on Friday to load the horses, trailer them out, and school at the show grounds.
Then on Saturday I'm just doing X's (xD) because this will be my first big show, and we don't know how Willow acts at shows, because we've never shown her. If all goes well, I'm probably doing 2 foot jumpers the next day, or possibly hunters or Eq - no idea yet.

My lesson yesterday was so much fun! We worked on a little gymnastic. (: To warm up, we started out with a pole to a low cavelletti bounce, and then a one stride to an X. It was super easy, so we stepped it up a notch - we moved up the bounce to two cavellittis at their full height, to a one stride with a 2'3 vertical. (So it went bounce, land, one BIG stride, and then vertical). My trainer said that my position was perfect, which was amazing to hear! I really enjoyed my self. Then we did the gymnastic with an added line of 2 foot verticals. So. Much. FUN! Willow was fantastic and I actually felt in control for the first time in awhile.
I think that a lot of what's helping me is my new saddle! I just got it - it's a stuuben, and it has a long flap. Thank the lord - I'm 5'11, so a long flap is crucial - and I've never been able to ride with one before, so therefor, I've always had my knees sticking over the flap while jumping. And now, in my new saddle, I actually FIT! Can you imagine? It feels so much better than the other saddles I've been using.
And it fits Willow well. She is hard to fit, due to her build.

Oh wow!!! How exciting! That's awesome that you're missing school on Friday to get the horses to the show grounds ;D That's cool that you're just starting low -- that's a good idea for your first big show ^^ Hopefully you guys can do 2' jumpers the next day if you guys do well

I am so happy to hear that this lesson was better than your last one. Sounds like you guys did awesome. That must have been so nice to her that your position was perfect <33 And cool about the new saddle. It must feel amazing to finally have one that fits perfectly. Speaking of new saddles, I actually just switched saddles, since my trainer thinks I had another growth spurt so I have a new one too and it feels really nice ^^ So now my knees also don't stick over the flap either xD

My lesson was fine I guess. I did well warming up witht the flat work stuff...but ti took me a while to adjust and get into my zone when jumping >.< I almost wanted to cry since we were doing a one stride and I turned a bit too early so Woody ran out on the second fence. I don't know what was wrong -- since I never am not focused when riding. So when we just started jumping things were not going well. Then I realized that my trainer told me in the beginning of the lesson that she wanted to shorten my stirrups for jumping. So after Woody ran out again I remembered to ask her to adjust my stirrups. After that we did the one stride really well. So she raised the fences to veritcals and we did it again which went well. Then after jumping the one stride and single vertical went well she made a course with fences 2'3" and 2'6". The course went perfectly -- we got lead changes where we needed to and we got the correct distances to the fences.
My trainer said she was really proud, and that I should have been riding like that from the start since I always ride so well So the lesson ended on a really good note, so I guess that's all that matters. Since my trainer said that I did really well when I was totally focused because the last course was perfect :3

Only one more lesson before my first away show on 28th! I am starting to get nervous...If I ride like I normally do in shows and lessons I think I should be fine though. Oh also now I am just riding with the older girl who it out of college! My trainer told my mom that now the other girl I rode with has someone else to be paired up with since they are the same level now. So that means that I am more advanced 8D That was pretty exciting too~

[Veins Of Opal]

Well now...

I got my horse out to ride him, and got him all tacked up and everything. Well, I get him down the dirveway, then he decides to be a butt and turn and gallop down the driveway and jump the railroad tie. O.O Keep in mind, I'm not superly experienced in riding, ya know. But, it turns out the one of the mares just came in heat. >.> So that's why he was actin squirrely.

[Dakotaisnotonfire]

Yay! I Have a new Horse!!! I love him

Name: Captain
Age: 2
Breed: Cob(He came from ireland)
Colour: Black and white
Would he show well: Markings are Really nice!
Temper: Really laid back and Nice

I will get a few pictures

[sam sam]

Guess who had a lesson today? Me. Guess who had a five minute melt down? Me.

So, the arena was still kinda wet, but it didn't stop Doc from bucking in the round pen. He was having a blast runnin' and buckin'. So cute <3 Anyway, I got on, warmed up with out a problem.

I just had a really good lesson all together. We worked on the first barrel, which a loped and got super dizzy, as did Doc. Dizzy Rider + Dizzy Horse = America's Funniest Home Videos.

We also worked on the new pattern: Horseshoe. Doc and I are getting pretty good at it. It were you weave three poles at about thirty feet apart, run around a barrel, and weave another sit of poles. He developing bad habits already though, so imma have to start slowing him down so he starts listening.

We also worked on pylons, and I think Doc and I are improving so much <33 I luffles him so much.

@Rowdy:
I just went through your dA. You and Rowdy are so purty <3 You take lovely pictures, by the way.

@Ambivalence:
Is he a stallion? If he isn't then a mare in heat shouldn't concern him. Gelding could care less for mares unless they are teasers. If he is a stallion, I would either get him gelded or get a new horse, because like you said, your not a great rider yet. Sometimes, not all the time though, stallions can be a real pain.

[Tyki-Pon]

Buddy(a walker i ride) has become a killer. Legit, he tried to jump his stall so he could kill another horse, not playing, but as in, He wanted to rip him to bits.We looked up what caused this, and its to high of testosterone levels, either we keep his in solitary confinement forever, risk horses and people dying because he now will kill, put him down, or sell him. And on top of this, my dads in the hospital, and will be for a week, he couldnt breath. What else could go wrong?

[OneRowdyNight]

Rode a bit today and Rowdy was very unhappy about wearing his bell boots he refused 5/6 jumps I pointed him at, then was fine when we took them off. I think they were rubbed a bit from working in them yesterday. They're Pro's Choice overreach boots and it said on the packaging that they don't rub? D: I don't want him to be uncomfortable, but he needs the boots on, because he clips himself alot. Tips?

Anyone?

Also, thanks sam! Zax took a bunch of the pictures of us jumping/riding. What happened to spark a meltdown? D:

TODAY WAS AWESOME. :D
Sooo, it started out with us walking in the ring and seeing a dang 4'-5' vertical and going "OMG HOLY %$@%." Then we made it into a like, 4' crossrail, which we flew over at a canter with good form! :DD Note the good form part. I have a video, but it was on a phone, so I can't put it on the computer. D: Anyway, there was a 3' vertical that we did, too. I was working mostly on cueing him and working on the take off. He got so much better in just one day! I'm so proud. <33 Though, we'll prob give his brain a break this week and do some trails/groundwork/flatwork, because he jumped for the last week straight.

[Zax]

Chu welcome Rowdy! Both for the coaching and the pictures

[sam sam]

@rowdy:

I don't really know what sparked a melt down. I just started shaking and crying, but the time a got to the arena from the barn, I was collected and ready. I lunged for my own security, which I was glad I did because he was havin' a good o' time. A actually got him loping without spurs, which is an enormous feat for me. He is such a lazy bum I just felt really good.

He only bucked once coming back for a pylon at a brisk lope. It wasn't a bad tempered buck either, it was a good natured buck.

I'm going to go see if you have uploaded anymore pics, be right back.

[Wlyrout]

After years of pony rides at birthday parties, I finally got on a real horse and really rode for the first time!
Her name is Ruby and she's a real sweetie. <3

My instructor owns, like, 20 horses, and boards several more. She's a great teacher, and she really pushes me. She's already deemed me completely responsible for cleaning the bit, grooming Rudy, putting on the saddle, putting on the saddle blanket, and cross-tying. She's promised to help me with the bridle, though, since I'm hopeless with it.

Anywhoo, she went over everything, and we were started. Mounting her was tough; she refused to stand next to the mounting block. After that it was pretty smooth. Eventually I was told to let go of the reigns and lead Ruby into a posting trot. I was mortified, and I still don't know how I survived. O.O

[simply,]

Rode a bit today and Rowdy was very unhappy about wearing his bell boots he refused 5/6 jumps I pointed him at, then was fine when we took them off. I think they were rubbed a bit from working in them yesterday. They're Pro's Choice overreach boots and it said on the packaging that they don't rub? D: I don't want him to be uncomfortable, but he needs the boots on, because he clips himself alot. Tips?

Anyone?

Also, thanks sam! Zax took a bunch of the pictures of us jumping/riding. What happened to spark a meltdown? D:

TODAY WAS AWESOME.
Sooo, it started out with us walking in the ring and seeing a dang 4'-5' vertical and going "OMG HOLY %$@%." Then we made it into a like, 4' crossrail, which we flew over at a canter with good form! D Note the good form part. I have a video, but it was on a phone, so I can't put it on the computer. D: Anyway, there was a 3' vertical that we did, too. I was working mostly on cueing him and working on the take off. He got so much better in just one day! I'm so proud. <33 Though, we'll prob give his brain a break this week and do some trails/groundwork/flatwork, because he jumped for the last week straight.

Try a different type of bell boot? That is all I can suggest. The rubber ones seem to work really well at my barns, but they make funny nosies. Also, I notice he has not leg protection on when he is jumping. You might want to purchase some polo wraps or boots to support his tendons where he does not strain them. If he strains a tendon he there is a chance that he will never be the same horse again when it comes to physical activity. We had a horse with a tendon energy at my old barn, she would start limping after she worked for a while.