Elevator

Today, I had yet another lesson with E. I asked her if we could focus on trot-canter and canter-trot transitions, which have been our messiest area lately and something Limerick definitely tries to freight-train his way through. In fact, he pulled on me so badly at the beginning of my lesson that E switched us from the eggbutt snaffle to the elevator french-link. I had only used it once before (in August) and Limerick didn't seem to like it very much, so I was slightly nervous. However, it made a huge difference and effectively prevented him from leaning on the bit/pulling me forward, which was much appreciated :)

We started out asking for a balanced trot, getting him to listen to me, and then sitting and asking for the canter. Limmers is bouncy and his trot is hard to sit when I tense up, which I do when he starts his running trot thing. This makes it nearly impossible for me to ask for the canter again because I get bounced out of the tack and have to take time to regroup. She had me ask effectively and "block" him from running with my reins, all while keeping my elbows behind my shoulders and maintaining my position... A LOT to think about, but towards the end I got some pretty stellar transitions! The lesson left me frustrated, but looking back on it I realized that I was mostly frustrated with Limerick for being a lazy ass. All in all, I was pretty happy with how I rode and E was complimentary, which made me feel  good because she definitely doesn't hand them out if you don't deserve them. I also rode in my back brace today, something that I need to always remember to do (COLLYN). If I don't, I feel like I'm literally slamming into the saddle at the canter and get incredibly tense, so this is just a little reminder to myself to wear it at all times!

I'm riding tomorrow and Hill has a lesson, which I'll be taking pictures/videos of per usual. My next lesson is on Thursday, and it'll also be my last one before heading to France :o! Here are a ton of videos/screenshots from the lesson today, courtesy of my best friend in the whole wide world:

We both thought this one was funny :)

DOWNHILL MONSTER 

AND, here's video of a good portion of it :) 

Home for the Weekend!

This weekend, Kimmie, Jazz, Limerick and I went home for a weekend of fun with Hillary and Houston! It involved a lesson with my home trainer, lots of yummy food, a reunion with my dogs, two sleepovers in a row, and a mini trial at a local farm :) Needless to say, it was a total blast.

Kimmie and Hill with the flat trailer tire

Limmers and his BFFL, Levi

The adorable Mr. Leviticus 

LIMS

LIMS' NOSE

Drying in the sun after his bath

Friday, Kimmie and I got to HB (my home barn) around 7:00, unloaded the horses, and went out for sushi with Hill. Then we went back to the farm, Kimmie quickly hacked around, and Hill and I tag-teamed the Limmers in a joint effort to make him a naked pony, sans hair (except for his legs).

My best friend is supaaaa cute

yummy buche de noel 

Saturday was crazyyyy busy, and we pretty much ran around all day accomplishing the many things we needed to do. First, we got up early so Kimmie could school XC and Jazz was a total rock star! It was their first time schooling a real cross-country course, and it really could not have gone smoother. They are obviously eventers in the making :) We started packing up after schooling when Hill just happened to notice that one of Kimmie's trailer tires was flat... the same trailer that drove 80+ miles the night before! That was an eventful discovery, but we got it sorted out shortly, and luckily Kimmie was able to go buy a new tire and change it herself. After that excitement, we headed back to the home barn, unloaded Jazz, and started setting up for the tack sale. As Hillary said on her blog, is was a major flop in terms of turnout, but I did manage to sell an unused Stubben bridle for $100 and a cheap nylon halter for $10! I also gave away some old baby pads, just to free up some space in my rather large tack collection.. Shortly after the failed tack sale, I had a lesson with E, my home trainer. Limerick was a star, but E was unfortunately distracted and only dedicated 50% of her attention to me, which was really frustrating since I only get to lesson with her on breaks :( Later that night, my parents took us out for a yummy dinner at a new French restaurant in town. It was delicious and really the only time I got to sit down with them and just talk.

Finally, Sunday morning we got up even earlier (BOO) and went to HB to braid, feed, and ride. Limerick was even better than Saturday, and I don't want to jinx anything, but I think that the chiropractor really took care of all of our problems! We started out WTC in the indoor (I miss it so much) and then went out in a field by ourselves, with no protestations from the Limmers in terms of leaving his friends. For some reason, when his back was really ouchy he became sort of barn sour... it wasn't really bad and he would mainly throw a little tantrum, but it certainly was not fun. We had none of that, even though he hadn't been to HB since August. I was such a proud mommy! Also, on Friday I started riding in an eggbutt french link snaffle that I happened to find in the depths of my tack trunk, and I LOVE it. It offers much more consistent contact than we were getting from the loose ring, and Lims is also much more willing to accept the bit :) Shortly after my ride, we left for the show and got everyone where they needed to be. It was the tiniest bit hectic, but overall a really good day! Jazz had some minor meltdowns involving a few refusals, which is relatively unheard of for him, and Kimmie even had a minor fall during her jumper course. She was fine, but was really pissed at him for forgetting his brain, especially after how well schooling went the previous day. Hillary and Hue had an AMAZING day and I am so proud of them!! I don't want to steal her thunder, so you can read about it on her blog, but I will say that they left with a ribbon!

Kimmie and I got back late last night, quickly turned the ponies out and upacked, and then went back to school and promptly crashed. I'm still exhausted, but it was so worth it :) I have a lesson on Wednesday with S and I should get to ride most days this week. I'll post soon with more updates!

Hillary and Huey after an amazing XC round :)

I'm proud of this picture of Houston's braids! It's also Hill's new banner photo

Kimmie falling... 

Kimmie falling... 

Kimmie falling... 

Before the fall, looking awesome/B.A.