Training :)

Well everyone, the story of today starts at about 8:40 in the morning. Usually Saturday mornings I go for my lesson at my Trainer's house, however she called us and informed us that she was ver sick (migrane, etc...) and couldn't teach today. So, I decided to just go for a ride. Constable was pretty good, however we're trying him without his running martengale, so he's flipping up his head a little on occasion. I'm convinced that this will stop soon enough. We worked some on our excersise (mentioned in the previous post) and did a lot of transitins. I also worked on leg yielding, and out walk-canter-walk transitions in particular. He's pretty good at picking up the canter, but coming back down to walk is still in need of a lot of work. Anyways, I was done that by ten and was occupied untill 2:30 in the afternoon (Running around in town, vet appointment, etc...) at which time me and my mom took out Java to work. Unfortunately, Java seems to have a bit of an eye infection, and so we took care of that, then decided against riding her. Instead, we groomed her and clipped her, and banded her mane so it would all stay to one side. Once that was done, I took Athena out. After doing some work with the clippers (she's still not comfortable with them) I took her out for what was her third ever lunge, and her first in about a month and a half. She doesn't seem to mind the saddle or girth too much, however the concept of a circle is still a bit new to her. For the most part though it went well, except for once when she threw a couple of bucks in and tried to gallop off. Not as dramatic as it sounds, by the way. She was just being green. Anyways, i'm very excited because monday I have a Classical Dressage lesson with a lady who teaches at the place in behind me! I think i've told you that already. Ah well.... I couldn't find a picture for this week, but i'll take some more! Talk to you later!

Cross Country

Recently, Constable and I have been schooling some Cross Country. We went out first with our Trainer and a few other girls she teaches, and schooled some of the Pre-Entry jumps/ water. Constable was excited to be out there, but we managed just fine. He really seems to like the water, and he wasn't scared of any of the jumps. He did everything pretty well. The next week, Constable and I were entered in a Cross Country Clinic, which went for two days. That was really good. We did some work in the ring before we got to the Cross Country, and that calmed him down a lot and ensured that his brain was all there. The first day of Cross Country was really good, we schooled over quite a few different jumps in the Pre-Entry- Entry range, and rode a little 7 jump course. Constable was really good, I was quite impressed. The second day, we rode through water some more, and introduced Constable to Ditches. I have some video thta i'll try to post at some point. We finnished off with another course, but a bit longer this time. I was quite happy with how much we'd learned. The Clinician gave me an excercise to do with Constable to improve turning/moving off the leg. I've tried it, and last lesson with my regular trainer I could really feel a difference. Especially in the canter. Last lesson, we did a lot of flat and then finished up with a series of three bounces. It was good. Grids and bounces and stuff like that really helps Constable and I, because our straightness over fences isn't that great. Anyways, this Monday i'm taking a dressage lesson from another trainer who teaches at the place in behind me. I'm going to take one probably every two weeks. She seems really knowlegable, and I know she's more than qualified. I'm quite excited, the girl who introduced her to me says that her riding has really improved after taking some lessons from this girl. I'll keep you updated.