raising the bar at FV

Another day, another schooling trip. I REALLY like FV's arena and the horses have settled into the routine. Well - Isabel was never NOT settled (after all - she's been traveling every week since last April...), but Wick really impresses me. He just goes with the flow!! 

I really don't love the drive to this farm tho - twisty, hilly, and NARROW - but still with high traffic volume, esp around 5:30pm when we're heading home (and it's dark out). I always end up with loonnnng lines of cars behind me.... but sorry guys - the ponies are way more important than shaving 5 minutes off the commute! 

ANYWHO - I finally watched a couple of the George Morris sessions from earlier this month. In particular - the no-stirrups day with group 2, where GM got on that super resistant mare and turned her around very nicely into being soft and submissive. The mare reminded me slightly of Isabel and I paid close attention as GM explained his methods with her.

So as I rode, his voice ran through my head telling me to 'lift my hands and close my fingers.' When the horse resists I resist. And when she softens, I soften. My big priority was to get my hands OUT of my lap (aided by *shortening* the reins please!!) and 'play' with Isabel like GM did with that mare.

These are obviously not new concepts - and nor was this the first time I heard them. But you know how it is - sometimes a slightly different wording or presentation helps clarify things.... 

In any case - I also tried to integrate the simplified leg yeilds from last week's lesson, plus the different flat work exercises GM had the riders do in his clinic. This entailed a couple steps here and there of leg yield, some shallow serpentines, and lots of transitions focused on tuning Isabel in to my seat.

And you know what? It was maybe our BEST flat work to date. Sure, Isabel fussed here and there - but when I'd lift my hands and close my fingers (and legs, obvi), she'd just quit it. Like magic. 

To the point where she just sorta naturally reached into this soft roundness that WASN'T a result of me pulling her face down. I tested it by letting go of my inside rein for occasional neck scratches - and she stayed perfectly steady. We even had a few steps of what I *think* was an honest-to-god stretchy trot!!! Woo hoo progress!! 

The jumping was good too - tho not really in any kind of 'break through' sense. We had 'em set up higher today to practice at actual competition height. Plus, I was riding in the Stubben and wanted to really test it out. 

We struggled again with some rhythm issues that leave me wondering if the jumps are maybe just not measured very well?? (tho that sounds like a cop-out, doesn't it haha). And there was one nasty-ish bobble at a square oxer where Isabel took the front rail down with her knees.... helloooooo poultice! 

video of the jumping. not perfect (plenty of room for improvement) but I like where we are

(updated - accidentally posted the wrong video first. it's fixed now!)

But I do still feel ok about it all - bc even with squishy distances and some rubs and rails down, neither Isabel nor I lost composure. We just loped around hopping over stuff like nbd. 

Isabel discovered the self service station lol