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!