Getting good

What is winter, but the perfect time for visualization and making plans.  Here is a link to a wonderful article by one of my favorites, Denny Emerson.
Developing the rider's eye.

Seriously read it, and watch the videos, especially the first one.  That is a video that I found on YouTube last spring and really enjoyed watching.  The quality of the video itself isn't great, but the info in it is so very valuable.  Not only in regard to developing your eye, but just generally riding.  He is loose and a part of the horse.  One of my favorite bits is when he puts his hand over his stomach as he sits the trot, for some reason that made not bouncing a simple task in my mind.

Face of concentration

I also love the exercise of counting strides to a pole, Steph is huge on that and I have tried to incorporate it into regular rides.  The arena is finally snow free so while we work on getting fit again and get ready for jumping I think that the pole on the ground will be a daily occurrence, as well as some work with out stirrups.

Rocking my old Overlook Farm shirt

A big thing for me and my riding is working to not just get the job done, after years and years of babies and problem horses I can get nearly every horse to do what they need to.  What I need to do now is make myself look good doing it, shoulders back, heels down, body aligned, strong core etc.  I started really working on this last year and feel like I made some great progress, but there is always room for more, plus I always get a little 'giterdone after the winter.  I finally have a horse that I think can really go places and win so the last thing I want is to be the missing link that keeps us out of the ribbons.

Good...but I want better

I will leave you with a fun little video of Prisoner and I at jump night last fall that I forgot to upload until now.

Chugging along

I had a bunch of posts I was going to write and then I had my busy week and I can't seem to think of any of them.  Prisoner continues to go well.  He is starting to bend more evenly through his body each direction, and can go through entire sets of trot on the bit.  He is figuring out his balance in the arena so I can ride him more forward without feeling like he is floundering.

This face

Concentrating*

Cantering with a grin*

He wants kisses placed right there on his pink nose

Fancy trot

Bedroom eyes*

Thoughtful boy*

Matching hats*

Tack love*

*yay for horselessinhalifax coming to town and taking great pics!

Sunday is shaping up to be a funday with a trip around the corner to Trainer S's giant arena for some course schooling in prep for P-diddy's first show next Saturday.  After we see how tomorrow goes we will decide on classes at the show, I'm currently planning on x-rails, 2', and 2'3".  There is also a 2'-2'3" gambler's choice that I might do, so much fun!  I am really pumped to see how he does.

Definitely borrowing a rig to haul with tomorrow as my truck brakes suddenly went wonky last night after (thank goodness not before) hauling hay.  Off to the shop we go, fingers crossed for an easy fix!

Feel better truck!