dividing + conquering (slowly)

In this week's episode jump lesson, we worked on two problems mostly separately. Eventually they will need to be addressed simultaneously.. but for now, one thing at a time.

still no media from these early morning lessons... maybe i'll bite the bullet and strap my helmet cam to the fence line just to get something. in the meantime, enjoy my latest attempts and selfies - and virtual cookies to whoever can name that handsome pony i'm manhandling on the left. hint: i got to see him and his equestrian blogger mother at their recent outing at Plantation.

• First up: horse doesn't get in front of my leg or respect leg - she's either got a nice tempo but with no impulsion, or too speedy.
• She needs to learn to take the leg to go forward. But forward does not equal fast - you can go forward into a collected gait or a downward transition or whatever - forward means activating the hind end. 
• But we currently can't activate the hind end without changing tempo.
• So, in other words, I still don't have a half halt.
• I need to be more preemptive about putting my leg on before she goes against my hand. Which means basically any time I know I'm going to do anything, be prepared with more leg.
• For the record, Isabel was really very fussy and did not want to play. "Giant Bitch" was the description I used. #scientificterms

and here's another pic of the ever-photogenic Chatty Cat, bc why not. don't you try to tell me that seeing those whiskers doesn't improve your day at least a little bit!

• Through the warm up trot I aimed to ride her deeper and rounder bc she was very tight through her topline. 
• Then we worked on flexing slightly out, then flexing slightly in, then going straight, rinse repeat. Not unlike our lesson with Stephen Birchall last spring. Dan was very clear that the flexion should be slight and only just from the poll - not to the point of getting actual bend in or out. 
• And then we would think "passage trot" down the long side to develop more collection (this was a shit show every time ugh) before heading up a long-ish line of trot poles on the other long side. 
• Dan wanted Isabel staying round and collected through the poles - not hollowing and flattening out.
• When she did this right (which she did, a few times) it was LOVELY.
• Otherwise... she got beat haha. (kidding.. sorta)
• All of this work was in an effort to develop thrust and impulsion and get the horse in front of my leg. 

also we're still hitting the trails like it's our job... esp on lesson days when i come back out after work and ride the horse again haha bc she needs fitness work and motion is lotion and all that, right? twice in one day will certainly not kill this horse who barely works 4x a week right now!

• The second big focus was getting Isabel straighter. Particularly while tracking left. 
• Dan noted that Isabel has developed a nasty habit of swinging her haunches away from the whip instead of just going forward or activating her hind end (which is why she's getting tapped in the first place). 
• He wants me carrying the whip in my outside hand until further notice. 
• (And yes, I basically school Isabel exclusively with a dressage whip. On the flat and over fences. For reasons.)
• We worked on the same exercise as last week of building from collected walk up to collected canter without stirrups, using the size of the circle to help control speed instead of my hands.
• I needed to think "haunches in" through this whole process - starting at walk all the way to canter.

no media from dan lessons, but hang onto your hats bc there are shit TONS of photos from our latest dressage clinic adventures. including gratuitous face shots of isabel looking totally zonked bc obviously haha

• It's hard bc it feels super unbalanced and out of control and Isabel's head is flinging around every which way and all I want to do is pull the inside rein and create bend that way... 
• Even tho I *know* that what she's doing with her head and neck are just symptoms of what's happening behind me. 
• So we just tried to ignore the head and ride the haunches, with my inside leg stretched DOWN at the girth and my outside leg reaching as far back as I possibly could (Dan: "Right now your leg is about 2/3rds of the way back to her flank, I want you reaching her tail"), with torso still stretching UP and not twisting.
• The point of doing this without stirrups is to keep me honest about staying centered over the horse, instead of getting twisted around or letting the horse throw me wherever she wants me. 
• All the while, my seat still needed to stay active, needed to push the horse's back up. Dan repeated this again and again - my seat shouldn't just follow, it had to show the horse where to go. 
• That's still really hard for me - separating all my individual body parts into independent aids that can be applied or be silent in tandem is something I'm still working on. And my seat is absolutely very far from being independent. But I'm starting to feel an inkling of what that might be like eventually. And I guess this lesson is just a stepping stone down that path?
• And, as a somewhat brief aside - it was interesting to feel where I sat as we circled left with my outside leg stretched alllll the way back trying to push her haunches in. I was actually sitting left, on the inside. Perhaps you'll recall - basically the ENTIRE lesson I took with Grant Schneidman last March was devoted to getting me sitting more on the left side. Methinks this is alllllll related haha. 

and ok fine, here's a teaser pic from the actual ride too - just as a little reward (?) if you've made it this far haha

• Anyway, the jumping efforts were just a continuation of the flat work. 
• Drop the stirrups at walk, establishing haunches in and collection up into canter, pick stirrups back up, and approach any of the three random singles spread about the arena, then drop stirrups and go back to circling after the fence to reestablish the haunches in at collected canter. Rinse repeat. 
• Going off the right lead was surprisingly easier - it was easier to get the right positioning, the jumps came up better, etc. Surprising bc that's the lead we had about 95% of our refusals off of... Go figure. 
• Left lead was tricksier so we spent more time there, ultimately finishing by going through a bounce grid a couple times. 

So it was a pretty intense and physical lesson. Have no fear tho - there were lots of walk breaks for both of our sake. The no stirrups work was hard for me, and the haunches in and collection stuff was legit hard for the mare (who had ZERO problem letting us know). But Dan was pretty clear that he wasn't just having us do it for the sake of doing it. It's not just torture.

Rather he sees these issues as our biggest weaknesses. The mare resists getting in front of the leg, and resists traveling straight, thus the root of all our stadium woes. So if we can just fix it, everything should be gravy, right?

the "what if" rabbit hole

It might not have been clear to readers, but I had suspicions that this year would turn out very differently for my horsey life than last year. Tho how differently has honestly surprised me.

As early as last fall, it was looking more and more likely that I would eventually change jobs (started at the new firm in April!). Which, in a way, was convenient timing for my new employer bc I was laid up with a broken leg and was already living the life of limited horsing.

limited horsing is not best horsing

But it was clear that the new job would require significant adjustments in time and priority management etc (still ongoing, for the record!). Plus. Ya know. I had to recover from that pesky broken leg. So my last true goals post in December noted that I would not be writing new goals for the following quarter, and they've been left by the wayside ever since.

That's worked out perfectly fine for me too, since my riding so far this year has not exactly followed the trajectory I expected anyway.

My confidence was slow to recover after missing so much saddle time from the injury. Our jumping started coming apart at the seams in March (this post was the first time I wrote about crashing through the tiniest of fences from a trot...). And ultimately I decided to drop back to BN instead of N for our season opener at Loch Moy - in the name of confidence building, not confidence proving.

overcome your fears! literally!

The story didn't quite end there, tho, and a few more seriously shitty competitions (replete with eliminations, rider falls and withdrawals) brought us to where we stand today: focused 100% on correcting training holes, with any thought of competing pushed far out of mind.

This is hard for me on a few different levels. Yes, I love horses and even the quietest moments spent with them can improve my spirit and mood. Yes, Isabel is a very special horse to me and the investment I've poured into this partnership is immeasurable. And Yes, the work we are doing right now will ultimately (hopefully, fingers fucking crossed) make me a better rider and horsewoman in the future, even if it's not very glamorous right now.

But. (And you knew there had to be a 'but,' right?)

But dammit, it's just not what I wanted to be doing. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that Isabel's and my performances at shows this spring have cast doubts on whether Isabel is a realistic competitive partner moving forward.

all the pretty ribbons

The new job has meant that I have to be more careful with time management, sure. But the flip side is that the budget now allows for me to do all the things that might reasonably fit into the calendar. There's liberty now that is new and exciting and that I'd love to exploit.

It's a scary thought tho, and I suspect a very deep rabbit hole. So many 'what ifs' there.

What if Isabel isn't the right partner anymore? Frankly both of my jump trainers have reminded me that there are other horses in the world - and have both gone so far as to describe (unprovoked) specific creatures they thought might be good matches. And Isabel is not mine - let's not forget. She has a forever home with a woman who loves her deeply, if from afar.

she's pretty easy to love

So what if I go horse shopping? That idea is so shiny and sparkly and enticing - but not without its own frustrations and pitfalls (just ask Lauren and Britt). Plus - here's a wrench: my current barn is full, so I'd need to switch barns.

What if I move to OF? It seems like an obvious choice - I'd be able to keep my current stable (puns haha) of trainers. My current barn friends wouldn't be far away and we would probably still lesson together regularly. And ya know, have trailer, will travel right?

Except. Well, I work in DC now with a commute that spans 2hrs each way - and OF is even farther in the opposite direction. Sure, I only go into DC  2-3x a week... but wouldn't life be easier if I lived closer? And supposing Isabel weren't part of the picture, wouldn't I be a fool if I didn't at least explore the possibility?

the path forward?

Aaaaand that's about as far as I get into the whole chain of "what ifs" before burying my head in the sand at the sheer horror of all that potential change. I'm a creature of habit, what can I say.

So rather than actually addressing any of those questions, I continue to plug away at fixing the problems in my ride with Isabel. It might not necessarily be easier, but at least it's a known evil.

We will see what comes first: things improving enough so I can get back to doing what I love doing with horses in the first place; or acknowledging that my goals (vague and nebulous tho they may be) are not a match with what Isabel has to offer any more. Time will tell, I suppose.

FCE Review: Harry Hall Zeus Body Protector

'Tis the season of reviews here at 'Fraidy Cat Eventing. Things are going well with the princess mare... but that doesn't necessarily make it super exciting to write about (for anyone but me, that is). Especially bc I have very limited media at present. 

So instead let's talk about cross country vests. Specifically, the Harry Hall Zeus Body Protector that my incredibly kind mother gave as a birthday present while I was laid up with a broken leg. 

Dino & Alli photobomb!!

I had previously ridden in an old, slightly beat up Tipperary. It was a steal from eBay when I first started thinking about eventing, but wasn't prepared to really invest. 

But after our first full season it seemed like time, esp since Amanda had helpfully provided recommendations for budget-friendly Beta 3 certified vests from the UK in the comments section of this post. The Beta 3 refers to a more rigorous safety approval process that is standard abroad but not yet a requirement here in the States.

let's all just embrace that vests are kinda ridiculous

Anyway, the vest description according to the website: 

The adult's Zeus Body Protector is designed with safety and practicality at the top of the list. It conforms to the EN13158 2009 BETA Level 3 safety standards to maximize your safety in the saddle. This paneled body protector features separate lightweight shock absorbing foam panels that mold around the body to give a close yet flexible fit. The air mesh outer with contrast binding and reflective piping on the front and back also ensures safety and flexibility in the saddle. The red fitting indicators included on the Body Protector help ensure the correct fit is achieved for the greatest protection.

It retails in the UK for ~$120

heavy-duty velcro attachments across the chest, with flexible side panels

The biggest differences between this vest and the Tipperary are the wrap-around side panels. Where the Tipp just laces up, this vest has significant additional padding over the rib cage.

the back panels have conformed over time to my shape

The vest also feels considerably more substantial - heavier and thicker. The kind of vest where you just *know* the typical guy might jokingly strap it on saying, "Ok punch me as hard as you can!!"

individual panels on the inside allow for a closer, more comfortable fit - while still protecting from punctures

For all that, tho, it's surprisingly comfortable. It doesn't come down as far on my back as the Tipperary did, meaning it doesn't interfere with my saddle while I ride, nor does it bunch up around my shoulder blades. 

It's still got plenty of room around the shoulders for me to have full range of motion with my arms without ever feeling impeded or even noticing that I'm literally covered in heavy-duty padding. Oh and while YES, it is warmer in the heat than not wearing any vest at all, it's not noticeably hotter than the Tipp was.

vest has an understated and classy silhouette 

The fit is surprisingly adjustable too, especially given some reviews I found while researching the vest. Some reviewers said it felt too stiff and didn't accommodate a larger bust line. This has not been my experience - and I've happily experiment with different degrees of tightness through the chest and shoulder panels to find exactly what feels most comfortable.

the gray piping adds a fun accent

My only complaint is that I feel like the vest comes up kinda high around the neckline. It doesn't really look like it in the pictures tho, so maybe it's just my imagination. Or just how any safety vest might feel? Idk haha. I mean, I like a protected collar bone and all that so I guess I'm cool with it!

plenty flexible for lots of pats while riding

The vest has also held up perfectly to use so far this season - some shows, a couple more schoolings, and generally just getting tossed around in the truck. Hasn't discolored anywhere, no loose seams or non-sticky velcro. Everything still snaps up like new.

So all in all I'm quite pleased with it. It's safe, comfortable, and looks nice - plus it's actually more affordable than a brand new unapproved Tipperary. What's not to like?

Are you in the market for a new vest? Have you considered the Harry Hall or other similar Beta 3 vests from the UK?

"i see dead.... branches"

This post is a mishmash of two stories, one told through bullet points, and the other with pictures. Both are mostly unremarkable in and of themselves (like that's ever stopped me before), but perhaps paired together it becomes .... better?

Eh. Probably not. Let's just call it a subject matter dichotomy (bc fancy terminology fixes everything) and move on with it.

one must be dressed for success before hitting the trails. prerequisites include ridiculous tack that may or may not have a history of falling apart, and a mouthful of stolen hay.

Anyway. Bullet points reflect on takeaways from our recent lesson with trainer Dan. Photos and captions (and post title) are from yet another trail ride.

then it's off to the woods! 

And onto the lesson:

• Biggest focus was on the use and strength of my legs.
• Our whole picture needs longer legs (mine, not Isabel's). My stirrup length is fine, but my legs get too short - needed more stretch down through my calf, while keeping it ON the horse and under me, not pushed back.
• As always, we gotta slow the walk way down to really start the conversation with the horse about connection and coming through.
• The most extreme half halt is the 'walk at nearly halt' exercise - with horse remaining active. Dan noted that Isabel does actually have a half halt in there, he had it while he was riding - but I need to be stronger myself to put it to use.

wherein recent rainfall has brought down TONS of small clusters of leaves and branches that are all now scattered along the path

• I rode in the nathe for this lesson too - despite some initial skepticism from Dan. 
• Ultimately, tho, he said the fussiness in the contact could be in part due to the nathe, but probably that's just an excuse and it's mostly bc the horse is behind my leg. 
• I MUST improve my timing in adding leg when she fusses and softening the leg when she settles. 

isabel is surprisingly adept at hunting down these fallen branches. it might *look* like she's noshing on the living greenery here, but look closer and you'll see it's yet another clump of dead leaves

• At least I'm happy to report that my timing with softening/holding with the hands has improved - I feel really confident that I'm softening the reins at the right times (without giving away the contact)
• But too often, when she fusses, I go to the hands first instead of adding leg. 
• Needs more leg. always

she will actually grab the entire branch and carry it along with her, shaking it like a dog. it's... definitely weird haha

• Dan says that the greatest event riders (Phillip and Michael et al) are so great bc they use so much leg. 
• He claims that Phillip's working students can barely keep his horses trotting during conditioning sets bc of how much leg he uses. 
• And that the dressage principle of "leg OFF" unless you're doing something purposeful with it doesn't work for event horses - they need to accept the leg without leg introducing tension. 

and she's got quite the eye for them, presumably she's constantly scanning the horizon for more dead branches?!? i'm really not very clear on the attraction here?

• He wants to see my leg strength improve via riding sans stirrups. 
• Exercise: drop stirrups at collected walk, into collected trot (sitting), into collected canter. 
• Just ride that for a while. (when jumping, pick stirrups up once the collected canter is established then go on to approach the fence)
• I. Um. Almost fell off a lot trying to get that trot canter transition stirrupless. Oops.
• Canter to trot was atrocious stirrupless. Isabel would drop immediately into that fast hollow fully inverted jackhammer trot that is impossible to sit. #notpleasant #needswork

at least she's more or less best left to her own devices. no hands required. she's just busy picking up dead leaves. nbd. trail ride will continue momentarily - hopping from one island of dead branches to the next.

• Through all this, I MUST say 'forward' with my whole body - the seat must be encouraging forward, even as I half halt and collect. 
• The seat can't just sit there doing nothing; it can't be braced or holding tension either. It must move with and encourage the horse's back.
• And when I *did* pick up my stirrups to head to a jump, I was to maintain that same feeling of riding without them.

obviously with the occasional break for dramatic foresting lighting

• We started with canter poles (also no stirrups) - and I needed more outside rein to hold the stride together instead of getting fast and flat (flast?) 
• Then jumped a wide-ish ascending oxer on the quarter line off both leads (with the back rail rising every time we changed directions)
• First few times in each direction we repeatedly hit a gappy distance (not ideal). But I'm still happy to report that the mare rode forward to it and jumped well, and I did *not* ride backwards. Yay small victories! 
• We eventually got to a more appropriate out-of-stride distance tho, with a last half halt applied 5-6 strides from the fence. 

wait - those aren't dead branches! they're not even dead flowers, isabel, they're fake!

• The jumps actually felt really great, even when the distance wasn't perfect. I'm proud of myself for riding the long spot instead of pulling for the chip, even if Dan would prefer that neither happen. 
• So naturally I asked to be finished with that lol, But Dan said no (womp womp), and made us do a little more. Which predictably made me nervous about fucking it all up and pushing the envelope... but good little monkeys do what trainer says, right?

ahh, yes, of course, we stumbled upon the newly set up dressage court for last weekend's CT (that we did not ride in). fun times.

• So for a final exercise, he had us jump the same oxer (now square and raised a little more) off both leads on a figure 8 pattern purposefully slicing it at somewhat severe angles. 
• And said we could be done if we did it right, But if we didn't get it right, just keep going til we did. 
• Famous last words right? 

mare looks hungry still, tho. hungry for more branches i guess. who knew. is your horse into that kinda thing too?

• So how many tries did it take to get it right?
• ONE try. Boom. Good pony. 

For Dolly

Dolly is one of the sainted lesson ponies at my farm. A cute tiny Arabian whose dainty and refined face makes Isabel look downright chunky and plain. This pony tho, I swear she has the biggest eyes of any horse I've ever seen.

Face aside, tho, she's got the typical attributes you might expect to find in an aging lesson pony at a small program: ghastly conformation, questionable soundness, and bizarre muscling developed over many years of compensating for said conformation and soundness.

She is very good at her job tho, and has patiently taught many students the ropes.

such a pretty face!

A couple weeks ago she came in for stall rest after what was presumed to be a hematoma or something resulting from a kick. I'm honestly not totally clear on the details, other than it was expected to be a straight forward recovery that would just take a little time and lots of cold hosing.

Except, the poor thing went and foundered on us - rotation in both fronts.

skeptical mare is skeptical. "NEEDS MORE SCRITCHES PLZ!"

So suddenly her stint on stall rest has extended indefinitely, and obviously her whole care regimen has been modified accordingly. No grain foods, soaked hay, deep deep deep bedding, some very fancy new footwear, no treats, pain management, etc etc etc.

And of course, my own personal addition to the routine: lots and LOTS of gentle currying in all the itchy scritchy places.

As an older horse, she's still not really fully shed out and has been very susceptible to skin funk so she could certainly use the attention. Well, frankly, she could use a bath... but that's not super feasible right now. Plus, idk, I just get a lot of satisfaction from grooming. 

I think she enjoys the attention too - last time I went to pick her stall out, she practically pinned me to the wall with her shoulder, stretching her neck out to be like "HERE PLEASE!" I also like to think it breaks up the monotony of her day a little, especially given she was accustomed to living outside 24/7.

Plus after the grooming sessions there's lots of yawning and blinking and grunting haha. This mare can apparently make some silly faces!!

I want to be cautiously optimistic for her recovery - as she seems comfortable enough in her stall to move around from hay net to window to door. Slowly, yes. Very slowly. But not as gimpy as you might expect. I just don't know a lot of details tho, and haven't really been able to discuss much with the people closest to her veterinary care. 

So we will see. Hopefully Ms Dolly will continue to stay comfortable and happy enough in her confinement to fully heal. Founder and laminitis basically scare the shit out of me tho, so I never really know what to think or expect. In the meantime tho I'll just keep doing what I can to improve the quality of her day, and ask that you keep this sweet mare in your thoughts!

stuff i've had for a while part 3: horse gear + other miscellany

Ha, so no joke this post has been sitting in my drafts folder since February... follow these links for Parts 1 (show apparel) and 2 (schooling apparel).

Today we're talking mini reviews on other general odds and ends that I've picked up over the years and thought it might be worth expounding upon.

Horse Apparel and Miscellaneous Equipment :


Back on Track Saddle Pads (AP, colors Brown & White)

Picked these up off Tack of the Day (no joke, I had a serious addiction for a while!) a couple winters back and used them fairly religiously all winter long, and somewhat through summer.

They are nice pads that hold up well, and my mare seemed to go well in them. Do they have magical mystical ceramic properties? Idk. I mean, heat therapy is a real and legit thing, compared to some other claims made by equine products... but I can't point to anything that says they helped or hindered the mare and her comfort.

hearkening back to early last year, the test in which we set a PR that stood for a lonnnnng time, right up until MDHT this year

The pads are a little stiff and rubbed a bit near the bottom front corner, tho that went away after a saddle reflock so perhaps it wasn't truly the pads' fault...

Regardless, it's probably been literal ages since I used the brown one. Not for any real reason, other than it's a little thick and stiff and I've found myself more drawn to other pads. The white one still gets used for shows tho, even if it's technically the wrong shape for our dressage saddle haha.


Majyk Equipe Boyd Martin Cross Country Boots 

You know this post is old if these boots are on the list... They were nice and seemed well constructed, but just never quite fit the mare. Sold 'em earlier this year.


Woof Wear Sport Boots in White

Basically I <3 these boots. They've gotten a little dingy with near-constant use, but I just love the little extra flash of all white boots on my pretty little arab mare.

pictured: a little extra flash :)

Plus Isabel generally needs protection on all four, and all the way up her cannons, as she tends to knick the same spots over and over (and over ugh) again, regardless of what we're doing. These boots come with us to dressage lessons, trail rides, and have even bravely showed up to duty for an impromptu xc school.

They never turn, never rub, and couldn't possibly be easier to get on and off. I clean them by swishing around in a bucket, with the very rare full laundering, and hang dry. Only complaint is that the two pairs have slightly different color white strike pads (must have come from different batches) so I avoid making it obvious by keeping the colors matched for front and for back.

we've certainly gotten them a little dirty too, but they clean up nicely!

Compositi Stirrups

I actually wrote a brief review when I first got these (and shared my hilarious tale of woe about nearly eating shit after completing our first ever event, when I somehow didn't kick my foot all the way out of the stirrup upon trying to dismount... many laughs were had and fortunately nothing worse lol...).

The short story is that I really like these stirrups. They are very basic, economy-model composites. When I first started using them, they helped resolve some issues I had with losing my stirrups. And now I mostly don't even notice them, except to appreicate the lightness of my saddle when schlepping it back and forth to the trailer (that's actually maybe their greatest advantage haha).

If you're interested at all in giving composites a try, these are a great low-cost option.

can't even see the stirrups bc they're practically invisible muahaha. perfect for when you'd rather not draw attention to your permanently stuck-out toes!

Dover Trailer Hitch Cover

Mine is about three years old now, and other than seriously fading (but only on one side bc my trailer parks in the same direction always haha) it's still very good at its job. The cover easily fits over all the essential hitch parts and keeps them dry (even in monster storms), and the little strappy snappy thing keeps it from flying off in high winds.

5 out of 5, would buy again.

there's that hitch cover. suuuuper exciting folks!

Perhaps unusually for me, I will have a few more reviews coming sometime soon - including an update on how my Rolex haul is faring! 

what we're up to

I'm so glad you all enjoyed Amelia's post yesterday! Honestly I wasn't sure if she would even agree to write the post (THANK YOU AGAIN!!!), but it's such a compelling story! And exactly the kind of story that reminds me why we slog through this whole adult ammy thing, all the ups and downs, etc. Bc dammit, we love these horses and it feels like a fairy tale when things finally come together. Call me corny if you want!

There may have also been ulterior motives too... That whole discussion of the work we put into our horses, and the rewards we hope to reap (in this case, a happy sound horse returned to competition) is exactly the type of stuff I love to write about here. And exactly the content I have none of right now. Le sigh.

I'd be lying if I said that the current state of my riding affairs isn't disappointing. It is what it is tho and forward is the only answer.

chestnut on the left *mauled* me coming in for breakfast when the dark bay got too close. but after breakfast? they're back to being BFFs. fucking horses. 

I've been sticking to the lesson routine when possible. You already read about the last couple weeks of jump lessons at OF. There was another dressage lesson with C somewhere in there too that I never wrote about but that went just fine. Dan has been out of town or competing since the training ride he put on the mare, so no updates there.

finally conquered the goblins in this field

Mostly we're just schooling at home. And it's been fine. I've been avoiding the arenas bc of... well, footing problems. Luckily the barn has a solid game plan for fixing and redoing the whole shebang... it's just going to take a little time. So until then, we make do elsewhere.

Doubly luckily, Isabel has finally proved that she can school in our nice big upper field like a normal goddamn horse. Long time readers may recall that I've mentioned offhandedly that this field is haunted or something. We've basically never been able to accomplish anything other than a borderline-out-of-control hand gallop up there.

Now, tho? Isabel will actually put in an honest flat school. Good mare. Even if our "flat schools" mostly consist of our approximation of stretchy work at all three gaits in an attempt to build back strength lol. Not very flashy but hopefully maybe productive?

so green it practically looks tropical!

We usually only get about 10-15min in before throwing in the towel and hitting the trails instead anyway. Not because Isabel is bad - on the contrary, she's been very good. I just feel slightly aimless or directionless and don't really know where to go with it.

Trails are cool tho. They make me feel like we did something. And Isabel enjoys it. We like zipping along the fence lines and she especially likes stopping every five steps for another mouthful of grass (I dutifully reached up to undo the flash on our last ride as it was clearly impeding her progress.... maybe I should just ditch the schooling altogether and only ride in the snackamore?).

friends?

I shouldn't complain. The rides have been nice, and perfectly suit my slightly erratic schedule. We're averaging about every other day. Sometimes more, often less. In that sense it's nice not having any pressure from a competition schedule to make me freak out about not getting enough schooling and/or conditioning in...

or foes?

But it's still frustrating. What else can I say but that I love showing? I love working toward dates on the calendar, toward goals. Building and progress and fulfillment and all that.

As it is tho, one nice jump school is not enough to erase the memory of three shitastic and miserable shows in a row. Oh well.

more horse statues!

So we will keep plugging along as we are. Catching lessons when possible and otherwise just enjoying the rides. Who said boring was bad?