Watch in high quality by clicking the blue link below the video.  Click here.

Clips from yesterday’s equitation and transition work.  Matt was being my mock judge and also my coach in helping me with keeping my shoulders back.  Ink was behind my leg, but we’re working on it!  Stay tuned for more and please leave suggestions on my riding.   

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I’m planning to do a series of videos with Ink, as we school and work on our faults for the show.  But also to see what I may be doing wrong and what I can work on.  Although the class is equitation, it will also be a good test for both of us.  -  I didn’t end up riding yesterday evening, but had a chance to enjoy a nice relaxing, rewarding groundwork bit with Errika.  I highly recommend watching the video in high quality as YT really loves eating the quality.

I ended up getting to the barn late because I had to pick up my younger brother from golf after work and by the time I got over there the ponies were happily munching on their dinner.  I gave them their grain which they haven’t had for some time now, since we moved.  Ink needs the grain and beet pulp to keep his weight.  The BO noticed that he had lost a little weight and suggested it be a good thing to start him on something.  My grain bins, that are at my house, are half-way full, since the last time I filled them at the old place.  

I brushed the horses while they enjoyed their dinner and then decided to take Errika out for a little one on one time, a walk in the arena.  She didn’t protest and we enjoyed a quiet walk that turned into a nice groundwork refresher.  I felt connected with her and the communication paths felt wide and clear.

It’s been 2 years since Ink became mine.  I must have forgot the day, slipped my mind.  But it was the sixth of July.  Nearly two years later and Ink and I might be entering our first schooling show.  How utterly boring it must sound, but such an accomplishment for us.  My great-aunt owns a facility the county below us and they host schooling shows.  I didn’t know this in-fact until I went to the tack store today and looked at their bulletin board.  Happens they do and I picked up an entry form and list of classes for the one in October and there is also one in August.  It sounds un-eventful, the class I’m going to enter in, but it’s really exciting that Ink and I might do this!  I’m going to do the walk, trot equitation class and I’m also considering the 2′ hunter, english pleasure, english equitation and trail class.  Errika will come too and I’ll probably do the trail class on her.  I’m really looking forward to it!

I have a list of things to do for preparation, but I’ll go over that at a later time.  For now Ink and I will have to work to achieve some goals for the show.  Matt is now my judge and will be making sure I keep my shoulders back which is my main problem with Ink.  I’m not sure if Ink will have the canter transitions down solid to do the open equitation, but definitely the walk, trot.

Quick update before I leave for work.  I wasn’t having a great day yesterday, mostly for reasons which I’ve talked about before on this blog.  I seem to have a little bit of an absent father when it comes to my horses.  I wish it was different, believe me I know I’m lucky for what I DO have, but I feel like the odd child out.  The last few weeks have been busy with him and the boys, trying to make sure Kirk’s motor gets together.  Matt and I talked yesterday and he said at times it’s like my dad doesn’t even notice me.  I had a hard time yesterday because it all was welled up again and I seemed to feel the need to let it out.  Matt is a very good friend, listener and knows it really does make me sad. 

My mom, Matt and I went to see the horses.  I was quiet during the beginning, but after mounting up on Ink and riding around a bit, I felt rejuvenated.  Although it will always be sad and disappointing that my dad isn’t involved with my riding and horses, I do know that my horses have always been important to me and I will always have them and our journey together.  They’ve been my biggest cheering crowd, my toughest teacher and an important role model in my life.  

While riding Ink I practiced on getting him to relax.  He can be a little bit rushy down the long side heading towards the exit and doesn’t seem to know many trotting speeds.  I want him to pay attention to my aids.  So I think that by asking him to maintain a slower, relaxed, almost western pleasure, trot (jog in that case), it’s getting his mind thinking because he doesn’t really know what a “slow” trot is.  Then I added a new element and we did this on a circle at the far end.  Once I felt comfortable with his circle I asked for trot to walk, walk to trot, transitions.  Then I would ask for a little inside bend going on the far corners of the circle where he tends to cheat out of because he gets that much further from the exit.  I had a great time, he’s really coming along.  I’m really comfortable with how soft he’s becoming and his response to the aids through walk and trot, so now I’m going to incorporate some canter work, but periodically throughout the ride.  Both of us need to work on that, because yesterday when I cantered him around both he and I were worn out after two laps…

Video from Sunday.  Lunging Errika and riding Ink.

Who did you know?  What did you do?  Did anyone love, respect or appreciate you? 

Who made you run?  What made you go?  Was heart apart of it, or did you do it for show? 

Where did sleep?  What did you eat?  Who were you, when you left the starting gate?  How did you gallop?  Who did you beat? 

Were there many wins, flowers across your back?  Did you enjoy who you were, did love who took care of you?  What was life like? 

Where were you?

The past is gone but what we have is now.

I know who you know, and where you have been.  The situations, people and disbelief some had within.  I know who loves, respects and appreciates you.  First, one beautiful bay mare that you love just as much. 

I know who makes you work, but we sure don’t run.  Because since your retirement, you’re one lazy Thoroughbred, who’d rather relax, be silly, not work all day. 

I know where you sleep, under the stars, there’s no-where else you’d rather be.  I know what you eat and you don’t leave one speck, often times getting down on your knees to make sure there is no more underneath the gate.  We don’t leave any starting gates, except for the ones that we imagine in our minds, but you’re one great horse, a gentle ride with an exceptional soft side. 

Flowers are none, but kisses are tons. 

Life is good, relaxing and fun, just the way this big Thoroughbred enjoys it, perfectly secure, confident, brave, jealous at times, but always demure.

One great horse, Ink by name.

I had one fantastic ride on Ink today.  I used my close contact instead of the Dressage saddle, the one I rode in during the last video.  When I first got my CC, I didn’t like it.  It was uncomfortable compared to the Dressage saddle.  That is really not the picky person coming out in me, it’s really not that bum friendly.  But now I really prefer it over the Dressage saddle.  It just feels more right.  I like being up like that and I feel I do get more response out of Ink.  I noticed the big difference yet again when I rode the big guy in it.  I also noticed and felt a bigger response with the new bit.  Steering has most definitely improved and he’s way more accepting of the contact.  I really do think he finds it much more mouth friendly with the copper dangley pieces. 

One of the horses at the barn got hurt this evening.  I was tacked up and actually on Ink waiting for Matt to hop on Errika and I heard the BO yelling and the old guy running towards the barn.  I hopped off and stopped him for the BO.  He was hurt, but after the vet came out he just has a bad cut.  Thankfully not a broken bone like the BO thought at first.  

While this was all going on, Matt had tied Ink back up to the tie post and during that whole time the big guy was playing with his bit.  Not a care in the world. 

The ride was a great one.  I asked Ink for some leg yielding a little bit, with great success.  Cantered him, with great success.  Really nice extended trot and he actually was coming into a frame here and there more and more. 

I’m very happy with how responsive to the aids Ink is getting.  I never thought he would get to this point.  I remember wondering how we were ever going to get here.  He was dead-sided and stuck his nose to wind.  If we never ever see a show ring, at least I can remember and appreciate our partnership and how we at least got to this point.

I’ve applied for a new job at a tack store.  On my visit the other day to look for a miracle collar for Ink, I saw the sign on the door.  Well Matt saw it first and told me.  Egging me on I guess.  When I went inside I saw the owner who is very nice and said hi, asked how business was and then Matt decided to embarrass the heck out of me and tell her to hire me.  I asked about the job details with a red face.  The next afternoon I came with my resume and now I’m waiting to see if I’ll get the position or not.  I wouldn’t start until later August.  She said some of their employee’s are in high school and they are going back so they need someone to fill in.  I already have obligations to my current job.  I’m a “nanny” sorry babysitter sounds too I don’t know.. lol.  I work full and part time throughout the week and watch a 8 and 2 year old.  I was thinking that we will continue to board at our current place and in August move to the one that I was really considering.  In fact I really have my sights set on it.  I’ll be covering Ink’s board while my mom does Errika’s.  I’m hoping that if I get this job I will be able to do that.  But we will have to wait and see.

We haven’t looked at any other boarding places lately.  I’m kind of worn out about it and I don’t expect to find anything better than what we did.  But I am still keeping my eyes open.  For some reason I feel that that place is right.  I could see myself really enjoying being there.  I’m crossing my fingers.

Ink and I this afternoon.  It was hot and we were both tired.  I tried a new bit on him, a full cheek snaffle to help with his steering.  It has a circle joint with attached copper dangley things.  I drove down to one of my favorite tack stores, initially to buy a saddle pad, but after the pad I wanted wasn’t in stock, I opted to take a look at bits.  I’ve been wanting to try out a full cheek and after asking the owner about her opinion and explaining Ink and the situation, she pointed me to that bit.  Ink loves it.  He plays and dangles the copper pieces in his mouth.  I let him sit with the bridle on to see what he might do and he just stood there, head down, appearing very relaxed and played with the bit.  Ink did the same thing when I got on to ride.  Improvement on steering and he was very accepting for the most part. 

The video was more creative than anything.  I thought I’d do a mini-project :).  Because I usually tell and show the good and bad, you have some not so great parts in there for your viewing pleasure. 

Errika got a bath today :).  I made sure to make it like a massage too and she really enjoyed that.  I wanted to ride hot pants but I was too hot and tired after riding Ink.  Another warm..hot.. California day!

EDIT : The actual name of Ink’s new bit is “Full Cheek, jointed Brandoon with Players.”  An image can be seen, click here