Friday, December 19, 2008

Haven't ridden since Sunday, schooling show in less than a month. Gotta practice!!!!!! We are good but not that good. Can't even make a descent circle these days. I know I was very happy to get the left lead canter and I seem greedy but ve must haf excellence! Ya.

Brought the pups but the temps were falling as we neared the lovely city of Chaska. They couldn't even make it half way down the driveway before they lifted their freezin' little paws. Here I go and put the back seat up and use the really nice seat cover, have two puppy sleeping bags and they both cram themselves onto the tiny console.

Back to Josie. I let her run around the arena to get the yeeehoos out. She crow hopped a few times and did a quarter horse quick take off but was actually pretty sane. After she settled, she even stayed around me in an imaginary circle and was taking commands. What a smart girl I have. We were able to practice two of the tests and spent time practicing our circle shape in the center. I was most curious as to how our training level 1 test would ride. We haven't done much in the way of steering in the canter. In the 2007 tests, you pick up a canter in the corner before the short side, round the corner at the end of the short side and then at B or E (depending on which lead) you circle and then transition down to the posting trot. Acceleration, turning and deceleration - ya this can be done. What? We did it? We did. Josie is the best horse ever! She picked up her leads when asked. We actually had brakes on the center line today. I wasn't so bad myself - remembering most of the test and asking softly and using my upper body and looking where I wanted to go. It is so simple, NOT! I kept her trotting a bit to practice a few more circles, to keep her thinking forward even after cantering as I usually stop and make a fuss - raising the barn once again. Josie you need to keep going after the canter - we will celebrate after the ride. She didn't even sweat which was great as it had cooled even more.

The pups made it down the driveway and back. Pix got in a scrap with one of the owner's dogs - not acceptable. Big dog in a little dog body that one. The Pixinator.

Have I said lately how much I love having a vehicle that fits in the garage. I do miss the 150 and 250. The 250 the most though. What an awesome truck - no getting stuck, well, once the o-rings were fixed - no getting stuck. Not having too much faith in the SUV. It is doing well traction wise but the clearance is what will get me.

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