Prep

.... For our "Big Mini Trial" on Sunday!! This will mark the first time we go cross country in a competition, which is both scary and exciting. It's all three phases in one day, which is going to be really exhausting and potentially miserable, depending on the temperature and humidity. YAY for summer in the Ohio valley =|. 

So far, we have had one jump school and two dressage schools in which I specifically practiced things for the show. The jump school was on Sunday, hence my new banner photo! Lim was a superstar and I believe the jump shown in the banner picture is the biggest overall that we've jumped to date. It was roughly 2'6", with a decent sized spread and a polka-dot panel that you can't really see from the picture. The attempt in the picture was our third and best, though the other two were not bad. Limerick launched himself over it the first time, we got a bad distance the second, and I guess third time really is the charm :) 

Limerick definitely understood the "question" ...

A better view

Down we go

This was the bad distance... notice the left-behindedness! I was clearly trying to slip my reins

Magic :)

Yesterday, Hill was kind enough to help me practice my dressage test and read from it when necessary. It wasn't terrible, but Limmers and I fought more than I was hoping we would. We're doing starter at the show, but for some reason we've been assigned BN test A. I'm not unhappy about this, but we have never had a dressage test with canter in it until now, which caused the majority of our problems. Our circles were more like ovals, though we did have some that were darn near perfect! Limerick also was not really feeling the whole canter thing, and many attempts were made on his part to break to trot (GAAAHHHH). I was stiff, he was unwilling, and it was mostly us fighting against each other with some magical moments interspersed here and there. We ended with a nice walk around the farm property and I vowed to make today's ride better and more positive. 

We both survived our first bareback hack! Yes, I'm a chicken, but his spooks are difficult to sit with a saddle and stirrups

Finally, E returned just in time for me to have a lesson this afternoon. It was positively disgusting outside (helllloooo humidity) and I was dripping in sweat before we even started working... E decided to give us a new warmup routine today, in which I'm supposed to get Limerick really moving, first in trot and then in canter. Holy hell is he hard to stay with when he really gets moving! His trot throws me out of the saddle and it was all I could do to keep my stirrups. Canter was a little bit easier, but once again made my legs really sore. However, it was definitely fun and new for both of us, and I think it'll be a perfect warmup given how free and loose he was afterwards :) 

Once we were done running around the ring, E had us practice collection and bending on a circle. We had some fabulous, swinging trot work and there were definitely multiple moments where I could actually feel his back come up underneath me! The coolest part of the whole lesson was when I had him somewhat collected, on the bit, and working through his back. When he really looked good, E had me look down at his neck, where I could see a huge muscle bulging out and bouncing with our movement, showing just how relaxed he was through his neck!! WAY COOL. 

The rundown for the rest of the week:

Wednesday- group jump school with Hillary and Hue! 

Thurs.- hopefully a flat lesson so I can practice my dressage test again

Fri.- XC schooling!

Sat.- pack, braid, and do last minute tweaking of dressage test

Sun.- show

Mon.- Florida for the 4th :) 

Notice that shiny silver thing through the rear window ;)