Elegant has be really good the last couple days. My coach helped me with some shoulder-in, and rode her a bit. I couldn't believe how much better she looked! She was keeping her shoulder up when she was just trotting around, reaching further underneath with her hind end, and looked way more consistent in her frame. I'm so happy with her.

Jill Clinic

2 day jumping clinic this weekend. It was our first jumping of the year.

Day 1:
It took about 5 minutes to settle her down, but as soon as we started going over some cross rails she settled down and got to work. During the warm up we went down a small line of 2 sets of 3 trotting poles. Went over the first 3 no problem, but I guess she decided we were most certainly jumping today and jumped the next 3 in one leap. It was pretty funny because she wasn't spooky about them, or rushing into them, just jumped them as if they were a long jump, cantered off straight on the correct lead. Funny little girl. Other than that, we had a really nice little ride, and got almost all our leads on the landing.

Day 2:
She was pretty hot for the first 5 minutes or so again, just took it slow and walked around, but she really just wanted to get to work and settled really well as soon as we started doing some exercises at trot. I think she was probably a bit stiff today, body sore, because she was a little more reluctant to stretch out today. The last 15 minutes were really nice though, she became more forward and soft like her normal self, and was jumping really nicely. Even got a lead change. I liked the grid we did. It was a trot in bounce to a one stride to a bounce to a one stride with an oxar. It helped keep her up, and bring up her shoulder. As a result, the more we rode, the better she jumped. Definitely giving her the day off tomorrow though, she worked really hard.

Clipping the beast!

Haven't been able to go out for a few days so I just lunged her. It was a good decision too, she was a but full of herself and we worked through it pretty well. She was being a bit ignorant of downward transitions (especially trot to walk), and it didn't really get better until she was more tired, but sometimes that's how it is. If she's going to ignore me until she's tired, that's when she's going to have to work! By the end she was going well though, responsive and submissive, back to her old self.

When we got back to the barn my coach was clipping, so we decided to do Elegant's under neck, chin, chest, and jaw. She was unbelievably good! Stood perfectly still and didn't flinch at the clippers once. Not even when they were close to her eyes, muzzle, throat, and ears. It probably helps that she was tired and was on her best behavior. :)

Clipped the crud

Had a good ride today, started off not too great. It was cold and windy and overcast, not like the lovely weather we've had the last few days. Didn't lunge today, I was feeling lazy. She was a bit inconsistent in the bridle, and a little bit stuck and would bring her head up when I put my leg on sometimes. After we cantered she was a lot better, more willing to stretch along her topline. Got our leads both ways twice, right on the button which is good, because we struggled with the left lead last year. Though to the left was defiantly not as good, she way trying to organize herself.

At the end of the ride she seemed really pooped, just was kinda tired today I guess. Back at the barn we decided to clip her a little, just a small section under her belly and between her front legs where she's really hairy and crud likes to build up. Ended up taking off about a square foot. After that we did her bridle path. The whole time she stayed still (except once when she lifted her front foot as if to paw which actually made clipping easier) while other horses in the barn were whinnying, people and dogs were milling around every where, and the tractor was going right next to us. Such a good girl.

Why don't I just always lunge?

Had a great ride today. She was a little strong and dull yesterday, so today I decided to lunge her with side reins. She was really good on the lunge line, and just as good when I rode. Our trot was a lot more consistant and foreward without being strong. Canter was lovely. One transition we had she stayed completely round and the first step was really uphill. Cantering her hard way wasn't quite as good; she was leaning a bit and it took some efficient riding to keep her shoulder on the circle. At the end of the ride we had some amazing leg yeild. Perfectly straight, with some crazy crossing over, loose, instant... it was just great. After a little cool down I took her up the road a bit and boy was she spooky haha. But it has been months since we've ridden up the road, so I'll just give it sometime, she was really good about going up the road last year.

I've got her up to a scoop of grain a day, going to keep it low like that though until school gets out and I can be up there everyday.

Introduction!

Elegant is a coming 5 year old (2005) flaxen chestnut mare. She's just over 15.3 hh, and is a Swiedish warmblood TB cross. She's owned by my coach and I've known her since she was couple days old as she was born on the farm.

I am a 20 year old college student and this will be my 7th year riding. I'm hoping to get into the x-ray tech program.

I've been working with Elegant since she was a baby, spending a lot of time with her as a foal and yearling playing with her and teaching her to do things like lead and pick up her feet. As a 2 year old I worked on showmanship like things with her like trotting in hand, backing up, turning, all very softly, as well as tying, grooming, clipping, and getting used to wearing a surcingle.

When she was 3, my coach helped me quite a bit for the first couple weeks, watching most of our sessions as we taught her to lunge, wear tack, long line, and of course the first few rides. I was the first one on her and by the end of her 3 year old season she lunged very well, WTC, was learning how to yeild to the bridle, could trot over poles, and had a little bit of bending and leg yeilding. We also had our first few trips down to the public arena and small trail rides. Good start for the little mare.

Last year as a 4 year old was a great year for her. We entered in and did well in 3 shows. We then had a solid leg yeild, the baby steps of shoulder-fore, worked on leads (which as still a bit iffy but coming), started some small jumps, had walk to canter, halt to trot and visa versa, lovely simple changes, good lengthening and compressing, went on a couple longish trail rides, and went to her first out of town show. The highlights of the year were probably jumping a simple 2'-2'3" hunter course at home, and winning first in our first cross rail hunter class ever, scoring 77% in W/T dressage, and the fact that she has yet to refuse a jump (even ones with scary flowers under it!).

This year, as a 5 year old we can begin the start of some serious riding. We seem to be having an early spring this year and the arena is already melted and rideable in. My goals at home this year for her are to have a solid shoulder-in, leads, flying changes (at least her good way which she does sometimes already), jump a 2'6 course (with some element of difficulty), a consistant and round canter, the starts of renvers and travers, and to go on a lot more trail rides. Show goals, I'd like to take her in some 2'3 classes, at least training level dressage but would like to do one first level, and try our hand at eventing for the first time (small stuff, like logs).

She's a very sweet mare with great work ethic, and I can't wait until she and I are fit for the riding season and getting back into training again!