Preparing for Octoberfest!

In my preparation for Octoberfest this weekend, I started thinking about what others do to get ready for a show? Let's say the week before. How many times do you try to ride in that week? Things you work on? How you get your pony spotless (especially in cold weather)? And anything else I might be forgetting! Thanks :) 

I had a productive jump school yesterday, in which I jumped a baby X a couple of times (the first few times with my eyes closed = my favorite), then went through a small grid, then the small grid to a stone wall. After we jumped in the ring, I went up to re-familiarize Tim with some of the XC jumps. He can be such a freak about them at first - he's pretty convinced that every natural looking jump is going to eat him. Super comforting behavior from a seasoned event horse...not! Luckily I had my mean girl pants on and refused to take any of his shit. Once I convinced him to jump politely, without throwing himself up in the air, we called it a day. 

Tuesday - training ride from BA dressage trainer

Wednesday - jump (?) lesson with Dorothy Crowell 

Thursday - dressage lesson with same BA trainer

Friday - head to Octoberfest! Maybe school at KHP depending on time 

The weather is supposed to be absolutely PERFECT this weekend, so fingers crossed it stays that way! Considering how crappy it has been recently, I don't have high hopes. 

The best view 

I stopped by team challenge on Sunday to pick up my loaner saddle/get pics. This was from the prelim 3 day division

Pretty meadowlake (even at a wonky angle) 

P.S. make sure to sign up for Hillary's contest over @ Equestrian At Hart

Worst Blogger Award

Yes, I'm terrible! Sadly, I don't have much to update you all on, though. Tim is good, which matters more than anything else! He is sound, fat, and happy with his life. He has also shed most of his winter coat, which makes me very happy because I HATE hair.

Unfortunately, due to stupid school stuff and 4 upper level bio classes, my riding this semester has been slightly inconsistent. Sometimes I go 2 weeks without even seeing him, let alone riding. I'm also lucky if I get to ride more than 2 days in a row... god, I cannot wait for summer. I also have a new boy in my life, a job with the school photographer, and sorority stuff, meaning I'm busier than ever and never get to see my poor pony :( Not like I think he actually cares... just means more food/napping for ol' Timmers.

However, on the rare occasion that I do get to ride, Tim has been pretty consistently good. The biggest news of the past 4 months was probably our lesson with former Olympian, Dorothy Crowell. Let me just say that she is AWESOME. If you live anywhere near KY or have the chance to lesson/clinic with her, I 100% totally recommend it. Tim and I were kind of between a rock and a hard place before our one lesson with her, and she literally breathed new life into our partnership. I'm serious, the woman is a miracle worker. She got on him and decisively told me within 5 seconds that he is painfully behind my leg, which I sorta knew, I just wasn't sure how to fix. She then proceeded to do her sensitization test on him and showed me how to do it, which has made the biggest impact on my rides! No more constantly nagging him with my leg just to keep him moving. No more sliding to a stop and feeling like I'm about to get pitched over his head. Best thing that ever happened to us, hands down. We were planning on jumping that day but ended up spending most of the time on flatwork, so this short little video is all we got:

Since then, I have been practicing all that she taught me and making some pretty good progress in terms of getting Tim moving forward and actually using himself. I cannot wait to have another lesson with her! 

The last big news is that my B.O. made the tough decision to sell CVF, which means that we'll be boarding somewhere else for senior year :( I'm still kind of in denial about this fact and I'm sure many tears will be shed the last time Kimmie, Kristen, and I ride there. It's one of my favorite places in the world and I'll miss it dearly!

Tim says 'happy easter!!'