Saturday, January 2, 2016

so many updates to come!

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years!! I'm still super far behind in all things blog-related, including responding to everyone's comments - so sorry about that! I'm reading everything, I promise, but just have not had a chance yet to reply. Hopefully that will happen in the next few days! I will also hopefully get caught up on everyone's posts soon too... soon!!

'does this cooler make my butt look big?!?' - isabel
In the meantime tho, here's a little preview of what's been going on with us over the last couple weeks. And brace yourself - it's a whole bunch of stuff!! All with posts to come!

fiercest, most expressive canter transition EVAR
For instance, we finally returned to our regularly scheduled lesson program, with mixed results. Isabel and I have been a bit out of sync on the flat since getting back into work, and it definitely showed in this lesson. Nothing awful, but it meant that when we met our first fences together since October, things were a little hit-or-miss.

soupy arena footing = nbd
We had some redemption tho schooling at home over this simple figure eight exercise (exactly the same as a lesson at OF last year, and that Boyd Martin used in his recent clinic). From the camera's perspective, jump the far blue and white vertical off the rail on the left lead heading away from the camera, land and turn right to catch the closer blue and yellow vertical on the right lead, land and turn left back to the fence and repeat until horse is nicely in rhythm and landing the leads. 

And guess what? It took about 3 reps for Izzy before she nailed it. Good mare!

'yea, I'm pretty much the best' - isabel
We also had a little redemption on the flat wherein we spent 30 solid minutes working on stretching at the walk and trot using the methods taught to us by bio-mechanics clinician Kirsten Nelson (and written about here). It honestly felt like hitting the 'reset' button, and we were rewarded for the efforts in a recent lesson with dressage trainer C at TM, where Isabel and I finally clicked back together and actually made a couple breakthroughs too. 

gettin back in sync!
I also managed to switch back to driving my normal daily driver car (hadn't been able to operate the clutch since breaking my leg) rather than driving my truck everywhere. And the switch was highly reminiscent of switching between two dearly beloved horses haha - I'll let you try and figure out which two I mean, and which horse refers to which vehicle (virtual cookies if you get it lol). 

More thoughts to come on that and how it's changed my riding. And also how differing expectations and standards and mental spaces have been brought to light by these two horses as well. Funny how something as simple as an attitude adjustment is all it takes to completely change the outcome of a ride...

And generally, more updates to come on Bali as well. 

'what is expectations?' - bali
Plus there was a super awesome group trail ride - and even more virtual cookies to anyone who can name any of the horses and riders in the following pic (+5 for each correct guess lol).

that's a lot of chestnuts!

Anyway, that's a quick preview of all sorts of fun posts to come. Hopefully I can get them all written soon!! Enjoy the weekend !!


32 comments:

  1. You have been busy! The trail ride looks like fun and I have my guesses :)

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    1. sooooo busy, but in the best kinda way possible. i take the week between xmas and NY off each year and it's pretty much the best

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  2. I knew I saw you in the trail ride pics on Facebook!

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  3. You should give the commenter with the highest points a massive carnival style stuffed animal. Just a thought. ;)

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    1. lol wanna chip in for postage costs ;) looks like it's going to idaho

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  4. Austen in green, Jen S in burgundy. You're the ears at the back. Don't know the one at the front. That's +15!

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    1. good eyes! tho i suspect you could figure out the fourth rider too - she's not a blogger but is featured with her ottb gelding on this blog quite frequently, and has even written a couple guest posts ;)

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  5. It actually looks like Izzy is 'locking on' to the jumps while your standing there to take the pick. She is the best! BTW all you people without snow right now...so jealous. ;)

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    1. ugh it flurried here this morning so we'll be getting ours soon enough. but yea isabel really is the best! she likes to jump the jumps! (usually)

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  6. Look at that gorgeous scenery!!

    Busy girl for sure!!

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  7. Haha @ truck/car/horses comparison!

    So excited for your 2016 girl!

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    1. thanks! and yea the truck/car comparison never really struck me before bc i only ever drive the truck to haul. after driving it daily for two months tho i have some opinions lol

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  8. Love the chestnut trail riding picture!

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    1. ha awesome - glad to hear it bc i snapped literally 60 pics, so brace yourself for more to come ;)

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  9. I cannot wait to read all about that epic chestnut meet up!!!!
    Sounds like fab things have been happening and i look forward to each and every update you post! Bring on 2016 ☺☺☺

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  10. I've been away from the blog world for too long - I think last time I read blogs, you had just broken your leg. So glad you're back in the saddle now!

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    1. yes finally!!! broke my leg in october and starter riding again a couple weeks ago

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  11. Whoa, busy is right! I think Isabel is a manual transmission...don't tell her I said that :P

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    1. ha i think she would agree with you tho ;) (and so would i!)

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  12. Yay! Glad you've been having fun despite the crazy time of holidays!!

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    1. for whatever reason, my holidays very happily managed to avoid a lot of the typical 'crazy' - really i just got to hang out and enjoy myself and friends and family and HORSES!!

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  13. I'm really behind in blogging too, I feel your pain! Glad to hear you've been having fun though.

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    1. thanks! hope you have been too! keeping up is hard to do sometimes...

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  14. Moe and I want to join in on a chestnuts-only trail ride!! :P

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  15. Yay for your leg being so much better!! Can't wait to read about all the things!!

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    1. i'm so so so happy to be healed enough to get back at it :)

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  16. Looks like a blast! Glad your leg healed quick, can't wait to hear about all the adventures

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    1. thanks!!! the adventures are coming in hard and fast to try and beat the snow (tho sadly we didn't beat the freezing temps, boo) - fortunately my leg is good enough to get in one last good whack at some fun times ;)

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