Hello Water

It's POORING outside as I speak...

Last night got what I intended to be a quick lunge in... H was HIGH so it took us longer then I anticipated which made me late to picking up B but so is life.

He only looks calm in these pictures.. notice how sweaty his neck is in the head shot. And my phones flash made his eye look CRAZY!!!

From last weeks lesson... I like how I am balanced and in a good position post jump :)

My trainer did something with him today- not sure what but she said he was good.

Lesson tomorrow.

I need life to slow down...

I am feeling a little like life is out of control right now...

Wen to GM yesterday and it was POOOORING. They still charged us the full audit fee and we didn't really get to see much- I mean yeah I got to listen to GM teach but I felt like it wasn't worth my $120 plug gas money. 

I was supposed to have a lesson this am but had to much going on at work to step away.. then we were going to ride tonight but no one else could come except me so it got canceled. I am going to lunge Henry cause he is going to be a nut case if he doesn't get out since he was off yesterday.

Tomorrow he is supposed to have a trainer ride but due to a situation that won't be happening. I am going to see if he can be worked in the round pen or something.

I have a lesson Saturday.

The Monday after a Vacation

Rough I tell you rough!

Sunday Henry got turned out...

Monday... hacked tonight. But let me back up- Henry had a chiropractor appointment today. I called the Dr and he was in my area so he came out today. He gave me lots of kudos for how good H looked... said he was muscled really well and chiropractically he didn't need a lot of work. Our goal now is to soften him up... Henry is heavy heavy heavy! Especially to the left and he was able to work out a nice loud POP in his left shoulder/neck.

On to the hack...

Kat and I rode together which was nice to have a buddy.

Since Henry had the chiropractor out earlier, I didn't want to be to hard on him but also wanted to make sure we got a good solid workout. I started out just trotting around- he was looking at everything and the 25 million pigeons that were all fighting for a spot on the railing in the roof were not helping our cause. 

Anywho we moved onto some haunches in down the long side and then a normal bed through the corners and on the short side. Then did shoulder in... did this both directions.

Walked some then cantered. Did a bunch of collected canter and then went to long low relaxed canter... I wanted him to really stretch out and relax. I don't know if it's just in my head but I felt like his canter felt better :)

Sporting his new blanket :)

Hack tonight, GM clinic tomorrow to audit, lesson Thursday, trainer ride (maybe) Friday and lesson Saturday.

AYE!!!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=383289895081672

N O  T H A N K  Y O U!

Was there a holiday?!

Why when you have time off does it go by so fast!!!????

Saturday night we went to the reunion.. what a bust! Such a waist of $110 for tickets and $70 for the babysitter! Not to mention the gas we spend driving there and back. So for $55 a tickets you would expect more then 1 drink, chips and salsa, veggies and ranch, bread and cheese and water.

I should have skipped the reunion and used the above $180 to audit both days of the GM clinic this week.

Anywho my best friend from HS and her hubby were there so we had people to hangout with. I just am not into going up to people and giving them a hug and pretending we were friends and I missed them. It was also funny how the girls who were "popular" in HS huddled together the whole night. I am so grateful that I have a life LOL!

Don't get my wrong I liked HS but not the pretending to be friends business :)

Hubby and I

BFF and I.. doesn't she looks awesome 8 month prego?!

Anywho after about 2.5 hours of hanging around the blah reunion, the 4 of us left and went to our fav pizza place and hit another bar getting one last drink before heading home.

Also here is the video from my lesson last week. Thanks Kat and Andy! :)
http://s83.beta.photobucket.com/user/00slvrgt/media/Horse%20lessons%202012/Nov%202012/11_20_12/Karleyvid-1.mp4.html?sort=3&o=2
Enjoy the good, bad and ugly LOL!

Hack tonight, hack Tuesday, off Wednesday cause i am going to audit the GM clinic and cheer on Lyssette and Carlos, Thursday lesson, Friday trainer ride (maybe), Saturday lesson.

10 Year Reunion

Friday Henry got a trainer ride and despite being really strong he was good. My trainers long time friend was out and he commented that Henry was a really nice horse :)

Saturday I had a lesson. The round pen was wet and sick so I opted out of lunging. Got on and could tell I had a nice sweet horse under me- NOT. He was sassssssy. I should have known by the way he was acting while I tacked him up.

We flatted- trot, sitting trot, no stirrups, canter.

Moved onto jumping. We all went one at a time so that my trainer could have us do something that was level appropriate... Canter to the right up over the 3 ground polls, down the outside line (4 stride), up the polls again and over the liver pool. We had some moments with that but worked through it... Henry was a pistol and it was frustrating. I felt like I was going to puke at one point but just pushed through.

Then we moved onto polls, outside line in 4, oxer to the liver pool... ended up doing the liver pool lots both ways and the oxer lots both ways.

It wasn't one of my finer rides but we accomplished a lot :)

I also bought Henry a new blanket today.. I am not sure why but out local tack store has it for like $30 cheaper then anything I could find on line- SCORE!


I have my 10 yr high school reunion tonight- should be interesting!

Off tomorrow, hack Monday, hack Tuesday, Auditing the George Morris Clinic Wednesday (so Henry will be off), lesson Thursday, trainer ride Friday and lesson Saturday.

So Thankful!

Wednesday Henry got turned out and was WILD! The pictures below don't show that but I swear it's true :)

Henry is spoiled!!

Today Hubby went for a run while I was cooking and turned Henry out too. Then tonight after all of our guests left, I went up and put his blanket back on him.

I am very thankful for all of the wonderful things that I am blessed with in my life- seriously God has blessed me more then I could imagine!

Trainer ride tomorrow and a lesson Saturday :)

Two lessons in a row

Monday I had a mini type lesson. Since I am not getting my normal Thursday lesson I hopped in on one that was going on Monday. It was very laid back... more like I hacked and was allowed to hop over a few jumps. I don't think I have EVER had a lesson like this from my trainer ha!

Tuesday we had our normal lesson. As always I love riding with these ladies! I didn't lunge because the round pen was slick so I just got on... he was spooking at who knows what but other then that it was a good ride.

Flatted- even some no stirrup work! Posting! And I didn't think I was going to die!

We were split up into groups to jump. The first group went- while waiting for my turn my mind started to worry me- haven't had that happen in a while. Once it was my turn I put on my big girl panties and went. Henry was ok- no stops but he was quick after the jumps. I got in-trouble for my loud/mean whoa at one point but he wasn't listening LOL.

We did an X, lattice panel and lattice oxer. Andy took video so that will be up as soon as I get em :)

Not sure what today will entail.. off tomorrow.. trainer ride Friday.. lesson Saturday.

Learning about ...

Splurge or save: 
1. saddle splurge
2. board save as much as I can w/o compromising his care
3. halter splurge
4. bit  use what my trainer says
5. bridle middle of the road
6. saddle pad  both
7. trailer wish I had one!! I would love to splurge lol

First thing that comes to mind: 
1. Haflinger .. no thanks
2. Quarter Horse Rockey
3. Thoroughbred Henry
4. Warmblood Tucker
5. Welsh Cob Want One!!

This or That:
1. English or Western
2. tall or short
3. trail ride or beach ride
4. long mane or short mane 
5. hunters or jumpers
6. XC or barrel racing
7. outdoor arena or indoor arena
8. trot or canter 
9. canter or gallop
10. paddock boots, tall boots, or cowboy boots
11. horse shoes or barefoot
12. saddle or bareback

About you: 
1. How long have you been riding? 19 years (since I was 8 but there were two years - first two years of college- where I didn't ride)
2. Do you own or lease a horse? own
3. Breed? Age? Height? Name? (if you don’t own or lease, you could talk about your lesson horse) Thoroughbred, 6, 16.2hh, Henry!

4. Do you have any other pets?   yes Zoe and Ally (dogs)
5. If your horse was a person, what kind of voice would they have (you can use a celebrity for an example) Id say Henry is a jock but a sweet one. He isn't mean at all but isn't the sharpest tool in the shed- super athletic and in great shape though!

6. Does your horse have a “color”? If so, what is it, and what do you have in that color? We dabble in hunter green/navy/maroon

7. Does your horse do any tricks? Escape artist? Knows how to get his stall door open.

8. Have you ever dressed your horse up for Halloween? Nope

Favorites: 
1. Breed? TB/Warmblood

 2. Discipline? Hunters.. one day Eq when I get refined more :)
3. Coat color? I say gray but my two fav horses have been Chestnut
4. Famous horse? Don't have one
5. Horse race/competition? Best memories are Pebble Beach
6. Brand of tack? I haven't had much experience with the finer things in life lol though I did LOVE riding in Lyssettes Antares!
7. Thing to do with your horse? having a good ride or making him beautiful.. it's funny how I can bath and clean him all day but I HATE cleaning the house lol!

Saturday Lesson + Video

First.. here is the video of two Tuesday night lessons. There are some rough- really rough- moments but hey it's the life of training right!? haha!

http://s83.beta.photobucket.com/user/00slvrgt/media/Horse%20lessons%202012/Nov%202012/Karley.mp4.html

Yesterdays lesson (Saturday)... there were only 4 of us which made for good amount of room and attention for each of us :) It wasn't a particularly hard lesson but it was a good one.

I didn't lunge cause it was raining and Henry was a good boy for the ride. A bit up but nothing I couldn't handle.

Flatted around .. even did lead changes!

Jumped a little course and things went ok- the glare was funky as always and Henry tried to look at the first jump or two but I closed my leg and gave his no choice but to go over. He was fast and strong so lots of stopping and backing up.

Cooled him out while L jumped some big ones!

Untacked, put on a cooler and let him eat grain while he dried and I cleaned everything up.

striking a pose on our walk back down to his stall

munching on grain while drying

moments before it started to down poor and I had to walk back to the barn- yes i was soaking wet!

Hack Monday, lesson Tuesday, off Wednesday and Thursday (will prob turn out), trainer ride Friday, lesson Saturday.

A+ Henry!

I wasn't able to make it to Henry's trainer ride today due to work but got a great report! He was awesome and jumped everything really well!!

I am thankful cause my two lessons this week I worked hard in... I feel accomplished especially since only 1 of his weekly 5-6 rides is a trainer ride. The rest are me and lessons :)

Got the pictures with "this is just what I needed today" .. proud mama!

Lesson tomorrow :)

Thirsty Thursday?

So quickly.. here is a pic from 11/6/12 that Kat's hubby took. Totally caught me taking a picture of myself in the mirror lol!

So I had a lesson today.. showed up, only one person was there so I thought maybe I wasn't having a lesson. Got Henry, tacked up and headed out the the round pen. Trainer showed up and we were still set for the torture session, I mean lesson :)

Even though I lunged, Henry was H I G H so I was instructed to gallop him around a bit.

Then we got to work.. more counter bending, then straight and counter bending again. Counter bending on a small circle. Pivoting at the walk.

Then onto jumping.

We started with this back and forth back and forth. Worked on straight straight straight- and leads which were awesome today- only ONE time did we miss it in the WHOLE lesson!!

Then we moved onto this. We went at it both ways (yes my trainer switched it when I went the other way). No stopping today but I did have to ride aggressive the first few time. It's funny how on the vertical he was drifting right and on the oxer he was going left... keep him straight Karley!

Anywho it was a good lesson. Hard but I like them like that :)

Trainer ride tomorrow, lesson Saturday and off Sunday.

One of my besties had her baby last night so I am SO excited to go see her tonight in the hospital!

Just Keep Riding Just Keep Riding

Lesson last night... boy was it CHILLY! It was nicer during the day- I even stripped Henry all the way down to a sheet.

Groomed, tacked up, lunged the wild stallion and got on. I kind of did my own thing with my trainer adding critique. Henry was still up so I needed to work him harder and more then some of the others were doing and I appreciated my trainer letting me do my thing and helping me refine while doing it.

Once I had his brain a little more I worked on shoulder in/haunches in at the trot, counter bend on a small circle at the canter both directions.

L did her thang jumping while I walked around for a bit and then watched to soak everything in that I could :)

Then it was my turn. Trotted the X back and forth, back and forth.

Then moved onto the X to the oxer... everything was good till the last second he slammed on the breaks- dirty stop awesome. Good thing is I didn't fall off and I was able to take the actions to remind him that stopping was not an option (as my trainer directed me in what to do cause my head was ringing and face numb on the right side from his neck slamming into my face). Jumped it, stopped turned around- rode aggressive to it the other way, back and forth on it.

We worked on doing a J shape... going to the right, straight to the jump and turning right immediately after the jump. Did that a few times till I got it and then reversed. Went to the left and this way we worked on straight straight straight.

Cooled out.

There was a barn meeting but I couldn't stay.

Andy took video- as soon and I get it ill post it :) YAY!

Today I went up on my lunch to take off Henry's blanket but it was cold and windy so I left it on, filled his water and gave him kisses.

Here are some pictures from my lunch date :)

Family Photo Shoot Pictures!! :)

The much anticipated pictures are here... most of you won't be getting a Christmas card from me so I can post them for you all to see :) For those of you who will get a card from me, you are getting to see the pics really early lol!

Aye!!!

Lets see...

Friday he had a trainer ride and they said he was great.

Saturday the plan was to have a lesson but B got sick and so I was on lock down all weekend with a sick baby. I have been drinking water and airborne like crazy- i cant get sick!!!!

Sunday he got a quick turn out as I had to get back home to the sick baby.

Monday I was off work soooooo I got to ride :) Spent the morning with by sweet girl, took her to daycare and then went to Mr Henry. It was SOOOO windy so I tacked up, lunged all the bucks and crazies out and then got on for my hack.

My trainer was giving a lesson so I got a few pointers here and there (work on counter bending, push his hind and over more...). It was windy and everyone was avoiding the open end of the arena so that is where I did most of my work so I could get my own space :) He was good, not great but hey what do I expect after 2 days off. Tomorrow is when he needs to be great since we have a lesson lol!

Lesson tomorrow, off Wednesday, lesson Thursday, trainer ride Friday and lesson Saturday.

Donkeyyyyyyy

Cooling off after our ride

nom nom nom

Hello Workout!

Anyone who things that the horse works harder then the rider has never taken a lesson with my trainer LOL!

The weather was crazy- cold, windy and clouds threatening rain. Hello wild horse from the race track ;)

Tacked up, lunged aka stood in the middle of the round pen and let him run wild, screaming with his tail up over his back... then got on.

To work we went... the plan was to start inside and then go outside to jump. Henry is NOT soft or pliable on the left side... so after some trotting around with lot of bending we went to canter. He was hanging and so trainer said to counter bend him.. ha yeah right.

I tried she saw that he was being a pain so we went to the walk and worked on a circle to the right counter bending- basically pivoting. Then moved to a trot and eventually a canter. At the walk and trot he had be do one in each corner of the arena. He was much better after that.

Then we moved onto lead changes- I know I must be a glutton for punishment! Wait trainer just loves to challenge me lol! Left to right lead change no problem... left to right- Lord help us! Again he does not want to give to the left... we ended up going to the right, turning down the center line staying VERY straight, when I got 2/3 of the way down the arena I would then bend his left and side-pass with all I had to the rail and keep him held together through the turn. Did this a bunch and then my trainer said I was done... PRAISE JESUS :)

I was so so so tired! But a great lesson- I stayed in it the whole time and felt awesome when I got off.

Trainer ride tomorrow and maybe a lesson Saturday.

Ready set go...

Quick run down...

- good lesson last night
- Henry and i jived well
- jumped well and I am feeling so much  more confident and like I got this :)
- for the most part cooling out was easier, his back was still soaked b/c it isn't clipped but his neck and belly were easy peasy 

Pic in the mirror as we cooled off

new hair or lack there of

Off today, lesson tomorrow, trainer ride Friday and idk Saturday.

A little behind

I am a bit behind on the blog.. sorry!

We had some big family things happen this week- all good- so my life is about to be a whole lot crazier the next 27 weeks.

So Sunday Henry got turned out by Juliana- big thanks!

Monday I went out and had about a 2 hour window to ride. When I got there my trainer was just about to start clipping Henry so I helped. He was really good- got frigidity at the end which I don't blame him for cause the fly's were baaaadddd- they were even driving me nuts. Yes it's November and 80 degrees outside and there are fly's!

After the clipping i put him out in turn out for 10 min to help clean up and let him roll in-case he was itchy. Then I lunged him to make him work a little since I was out of time to ride.

Without further ado, the new hair cut :)

He looks so good and shinny! All that grooming, good feed and supplements!

B and I went back up last night to put a blanket on him since it got down to like 49/50 last night.

Lesson tonight, off Wednesday, lesson Thursday, trainer ride Friday and idk about Saturday.

Happy Saturday Morning.. Well Afternoon Now

Had an ok lesson this morning...

Did a quick lunge in the round pen

Got on and flatted around... it wasn't great but it wasn't bad. As always I got told to bend my elbows lol.

Onto jumping.. we all warmed up over the X back and forth. Then moved onto a course... X to outside line to vertical to the first jump  in the line on an angle to a lead change to the line the other direction.

It wasn't bad but it wasn't good. I felt like I should be able to master a course like this at this height but hey it's all part of the process- no day is predictable ;)

I bathed Henry and then started the LONG process of getting him dry... grained him in a stall with a cooler on, then went for a nice long walk all around the property and finally took him back to his stall.

Turn out tomorrow, hack Monday, lesson Tuesday, off Wednesday, lesson Thursday, trainer ride Friday and lesson Saturday (maybe).

Trainer Ride + Thinline

The trainer ride was quick today... my trainer had to get to something so they hacked Henry, popped him over a few jumps and calling it good.

Juliana and I talked for a bit after as she got her horse ready .. I headed out and blanketed tonight.

Lesson tomorrow with a longer post and pictures, I promise! :)

Does anyone have any experience with Thinline pads? I am thinking about getting this pad but am not sure... help :)

Day Lesson Durring the Week - WHAT?!

Hubby had other obligations tonight from 5-11 pm tonight so I switched my lesson to this morning.

It was an intense lesson to say the least. HA!

The round pen was a bit wet so I didn't lunge him much. Got on and went to work. Lots of bending, shoulders in, haunches in, counter bending, canter, sitting trot, stoping in a frame, backing in a frame...

Then onto jumping... started over an X back and forth... then added in a line with a vertical one stride to an oxer. It went well... I rode with confidence the first few times and then after that let Henry do his thing. I love this partnership we have developed.

Henry is going to get a trace clip tomorrow... hopefully.

Trainer ride tomorrow and IDK about Saturday.