Days 29-34

 Looks like this is my first post of February, hope everyone is still reading! I apologize for not updating sooner!


Day 29 Friday February 1st (!!) 2013
Hack day! A group of us decided to take our horses out in to the front field and do some pole/jump work. I galloped Tee for a bit then even jumped him. He did surprisingly well and (anyone that REALLY knows him knows that he just crashes through jumps without a care) actually jumped!
In the afternoon we had another current events discussion with Theresa  on the Islamic religion and the middle east.
After our current events we had a little conference call with Lendon. During which she announced the top scores from our re-taken written test on the training scale, the top scorers won tickets to the Grand Prix Freestyle that was going on that evening. We even got dinner and boy was it fancy!


Day 30 Saturday February 2nd 2013
If I could give a title to this lesson it would probably be: "Discovering crookedness, beginning to fix it and becoming frustrated in the process"
 We started using shoulder-in to help with crookedness then used shoulder-fore (slight shoulder-in) in the walk-trot and canter to help correct his shoulder from falling out. Lendon warned that once I felt the crookedness it would become frustrating and I would probably obsess over trying to make him straight and she was correct! Although everything started working and Tee wasn't so frustrated/confused I was able to find my outside aids and become a bit more tactful. Also worked on stretching and being consistent in leg yields and a few extensions.
No lecture, but did go to the Global showgrounds to watch a couple of the WIT girls ride their JR/YR tests.

Day 31 Sunday February 3rd 2013
Again worked on shoulder-fore in Walk-trot and canter (told you I'm becoming obsessed with it!).
We introduced haunches-in with no issues or fussiness unlike what would happen in the past. Also tried a bit of halfpass in the walk and that was also successful. 
Lendon and I discussed some of the First level test 3 movements towards the end of our lesson. We tried the lateral trot work found in that test and besides some rider errors it went pretty well. She wants us to start seriously schooling those movements along with shallow counter canter serpentine, changes of lead through trot on a serpentine, rein-backs and walk pirouettes. Let the fun begin!!! :-)

Day 32 Monday February 4th 2013 
 Day off! Not much to write about except I got to sleep in :-P because I had been sick for the past couple of days and I still had my sleep in day that I won from the last written test, I decided to try to catch up on some sleep and beat my cold. 
Jenny and I also joined a local gym so that we can be a bit more serious about our work outs and conditioning.

Day 33 Tuesday February 5th 2013

Worked in the field over some cavalettis of different hights.
Began schooling some counter canter and changes of lead through the trot. Both of which were super messy at first but got a bit better as we went on. Also addressed the over bending issue to the right which is part of the crookedness issue. By bending a horse to much to the inside it puts more weight onto the outside shoulder, in most cases causing the shoulder to fall out. 
Even though it was a semi crappy ride I still think Tee has improved A LOT his ride ability, softness and overall temperament have come a long way.
 In the after noon we went over to Janne Rumbough's farm where she talked to us about her small breeding program. The head of her breeding program is her fantastic PRE stallion Gaucho III. She showed us some of his off-spring and talked a bit about stallion behavior.

Day 34 Wednesday February 6th 2013
I'll be riding perfect shoulder-ins, renvers and haunches-in in my sleep tonight, Tee was fantastic and did all those lateral movements like a star! We also tried some trot half passes, canter halfpass, counter canter and walk-canters. Now don't get to excited because those weren't that terrific but we got them done!
We have a few minor issues to deal with with Tee, Lendon has pointed out that hes a bit off behind and has been since he arrived, so tomorrow I will probably find him a joint supplement to see if something along those lines will help.
After watching Jennifer Marchand's lesson with Lendon we had a group chat with Lendon to discuss the weekends plans and other fun things :-)




I hope everyone up North is prepared for the 2ft+ of snow we are predicted to get! I love how I still say "we are predicted to get" even though I'm in Florida, might I mention its also currently 75* and I have a pretty awesome tan ;-)


Thanks for reading everyone!
Stay warm!