Sunday, March 8, 2009

I hate Spring daylight savings, okay hate is a strong word. I DETEST daylight savings! Is that better? I do like the increased daylight at night.

I had to change times at home and dial into a few systems. I didn't have to be at the barn at the crack but wanted to get there early to check on my little girl. When I left she was snarfing alfalfa crumbs. Today is dressage so there was the triple checking to make sure I had everything. I had my spurs but forgot to put them on and remembered halfway to the arena.

I got into the arena early so we warmed up without stirrups. Josie was totally accepting of all distractions. I think she was a little wound up from not being turned out as she normally is.

The garage door was malfunctioning and kept going up and down - most annoying. At first I looked at it as a training op but when we don't get to focus and produce what we are trying for it becomes damn annoying. So anyhooo . . .

One major thing was taking my spurs off and lowering them. I have shorter legs so if I put my leg on the spur goes into Josie without me trying to use it. You could really feel the difference - I could put my entire leg on. I didn't have to be on the lunge - yahoooooooooooooooo! As usual I need to look up where I am going.

Another tool was figure 8 between the short sides of the arena. I need to do what I need to do to get the right side bend. Right now it is taking leg and opening rein eventually it won't take so much rein. I have been doing smaller circles so felt okay doing this. Of course the window and the heater are where it is hard for me to get bend.

Another tool is to make half circles down the centerline, a mini serpentine if you will. Bending side - leg at the girth, outside leg back to keep her from motoring out and avoiding the bend. I had already been doing this - one less thing to remember. Lastly, and most importantly, we did a canter transition - walk to canter. It felt stupendous! Circling at walk on the right rein when I am parallel with the wall and before the corner, look up and ask for it. OMG! It felt wonderful. This area helps as it makes her bend naturally. Once we got to the open side I was messing with the inside rein and sure enough she came down to trot. Leave the inside rein alone - that will break the canter. We did a couple more and I returned to trot sooner so she actually stayed in the bend - yeeeeee! At this point my loin area of my back was starting to ache - looking at this positively I will be stronger for asking the right side bend.

I much enjoyed this weekend but it will be good to have my horse home and life back to normal.

Josie hadn't eaten much hay during the day so I watched her for a bit. She ate her grain and then milled around the feeders. She came when I called and would take a treat so she just must not have been hungry as she chowed on some alfalfa in the trailer. She rolled but not a colic roll. I watched until I saw her return to the hay feeder and keep her head in there for a while. She will be just fine. My little champion. Sweet dreams little peanut or should I say Jose?