Just came off a win at Training with Vanity's Revenge at the Hillcrest HT.... finished on our dressage score of 32. After the Tryon schooling HT, where she was a bit of a freight train on xc, I tried Livi's old jumping bit (a myler with lifters) on her. Worked a treat--we were able to gallop and go for time at Hillcrest because I had fingertip brakes! Other than a kamikaze-ish leap into the water (at least she didn't think abou stopping, and my position stayed good!) it was a great xc run. She also jumped clean in showjumping again! Her dressage felt MUCH better, though looking at the pictures it is obvious that she is a bit tight in her neck at the canter still, and my right hand KEEPS POPPING UP at the canter. Ugh!
So this weekend we have the Foothills HT, with Revi running Training and Melanie and Drayco running Novice. Next weekend Revi and I are going to a clinic with Lucinda Green in GA, which is exciting.... I've cliniced with Lucinda before and she is GREAT, and she doesn't come around that often so I'm really looking forward to it.
The weekend after the clinic is the Tryon Horse Trials which is also the NCDCTA Championships. Following that I have a couple of students doing the FRC schooling HT on the 24th.... the day after the Parade of Breeds for which I think I may have committed to providing Irish Sporthorses and Thoroughbreds.... better line up some handlers for that.... and then the NEXT weekend is the Virginia Horse Trials!
Busy month, so hopefully will have lots more updates soon!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
The leaves are turning.....!
I noticed the other day. Actually I thought they were getting scorched by the bonfire Dwayne had started in the paddock after he knocked down the old broodmare shed.... but then the next day I was riding in the ring and noticed some maples NOT in the vicinity of the fire had gotten yellow too! How time flies!
Vanity's Revenge has a full schedule of events at Training this fall, then moving up to Preliminary.... dressage is going well, and Dr. Robin and Dr. Karla (vet and chiro) are working with us to address a physical weakness that becomes a training problem.... left hip sticks, left hind has more trouble coming through, gets hollow in the right rein, compensates, left hip sticks..... which really came first? Who can say? We ran Training at Tryon a couple weeks ago and despite not running xc since Virginia she ate up the course, bringing about a switch to Livi's old jumping bit--a myler d-ring with lifters.....! Brakes are nice and jumping has been going GREAT.
Seattle Jones, our young stallion, is doing fabulously well. I only ride him a couple times a week for about 20 minutes to avoid the temptation to overdo it, since he is so smart and sensible. We did go on a little xc school last week, hopping over a couple of BN fences but mostly just going for exposure to the "Big Three": ditches, banks and water! None of which phase him in the least. He made a brief attempt to recall his racing days which lasted about 20 strides and was halfhearted at best.... then he was back to his usual mellow self cantering about. He is ridiculously EASY to ride..... light, responsive, balanced, clever, patient to the fences.....! He is so mature and definitely overall one of the nicest horses I've ever ridden. I can't wait until he starts real work next year!
Erin has been riding Dwayne's Irish gelding Scamper (aka Kildalton Splash), it is good that he finally has a job! He's done his first combined test successfully and will be doing his first horse trial soon! He is a very fancy fellow and is starting to develop a really pleasant manner.
We have a project horse, Bates.... he's gone Intermediate but his dressage is a bit of a train wreck, might have broke 50 once or twice in his career....! So he's in Dressage Boot Camp. Carrie is helping me keep him exercised and he's coming along. Mostly it is his left lead canter, and seems to be a matter of strengthening his back and hind end....! He is a big impressive looking fellow, dead honest to jump, so he'll be fun once he's 'cleaned up'.
Stormy has, alas, fallen by the wayside.... I'm so busy I just tell myself she's getting "growing up time" as she is a much less mature 3-year-old than Jones....!
Vanna had her Formula One foal, who is now the biggest 2 month old filly I've ever handled! She has an attitude but she has quickly learned the value of manners (courtesy a wee little CTJ meeting at two weeks of age) and loads, hauls, stands quietly, gives her feet, and even trots in hand already. She is still nameless, though Dr. Smith calls her Pita since she didn't appreciate her vaccinations as a newborn.....
We have quite a few showing this fall: Dana, Marshall, Laura, and Heather all starting out, Iris, Carrie, Erin and Melanie with their established mounts..... (hope I'm not missing anyone!) In October we have shows and clinics scheduled every weekend and November is not lookng much different! Go team!
Vanity's Revenge has a full schedule of events at Training this fall, then moving up to Preliminary.... dressage is going well, and Dr. Robin and Dr. Karla (vet and chiro) are working with us to address a physical weakness that becomes a training problem.... left hip sticks, left hind has more trouble coming through, gets hollow in the right rein, compensates, left hip sticks..... which really came first? Who can say? We ran Training at Tryon a couple weeks ago and despite not running xc since Virginia she ate up the course, bringing about a switch to Livi's old jumping bit--a myler d-ring with lifters.....! Brakes are nice and jumping has been going GREAT.
Seattle Jones, our young stallion, is doing fabulously well. I only ride him a couple times a week for about 20 minutes to avoid the temptation to overdo it, since he is so smart and sensible. We did go on a little xc school last week, hopping over a couple of BN fences but mostly just going for exposure to the "Big Three": ditches, banks and water! None of which phase him in the least. He made a brief attempt to recall his racing days which lasted about 20 strides and was halfhearted at best.... then he was back to his usual mellow self cantering about. He is ridiculously EASY to ride..... light, responsive, balanced, clever, patient to the fences.....! He is so mature and definitely overall one of the nicest horses I've ever ridden. I can't wait until he starts real work next year!
Erin has been riding Dwayne's Irish gelding Scamper (aka Kildalton Splash), it is good that he finally has a job! He's done his first combined test successfully and will be doing his first horse trial soon! He is a very fancy fellow and is starting to develop a really pleasant manner.
We have a project horse, Bates.... he's gone Intermediate but his dressage is a bit of a train wreck, might have broke 50 once or twice in his career....! So he's in Dressage Boot Camp. Carrie is helping me keep him exercised and he's coming along. Mostly it is his left lead canter, and seems to be a matter of strengthening his back and hind end....! He is a big impressive looking fellow, dead honest to jump, so he'll be fun once he's 'cleaned up'.
Stormy has, alas, fallen by the wayside.... I'm so busy I just tell myself she's getting "growing up time" as she is a much less mature 3-year-old than Jones....!
Vanna had her Formula One foal, who is now the biggest 2 month old filly I've ever handled! She has an attitude but she has quickly learned the value of manners (courtesy a wee little CTJ meeting at two weeks of age) and loads, hauls, stands quietly, gives her feet, and even trots in hand already. She is still nameless, though Dr. Smith calls her Pita since she didn't appreciate her vaccinations as a newborn.....
We have quite a few showing this fall: Dana, Marshall, Laura, and Heather all starting out, Iris, Carrie, Erin and Melanie with their established mounts..... (hope I'm not missing anyone!) In October we have shows and clinics scheduled every weekend and November is not lookng much different! Go team!
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