Lymrick in training

10/29/08

2008-10-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

Well I rode today, nothing fancy. Lot's of walk trot and transitions. He was kinda a pill today, he was cranky because it was feeding time. I rode with no stirrups and that helped allot with my position. It felt so good my leg just went where it was supposed go, I felt like I really was in balance and my seat felt so good. I joined Jane Savoie's e-mail news letter and received confirmation and some GREAT papers she has written, I swear it seemed like she had written them just for me. I am reading them now, so gonna run! Talk to you all soon!

11/27/08

2008-10-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

OK, so I went to ride yesterday, WOW I felt crappy! I don't know if it was because I had spent the previous night partying and just felt tired, but Lim defiantly could feel it. He was way behind my leg and there again I don't know if it is my lack of strength, especially after camping the night before.
Just to let you all know a bit about me, I am an ex-pony clubber I was in Stones River Pony Club in TN. I went to Dressage rally a couple of times and evented in eventing rally, where my climax was winning eventing rally. I took a break after that with loosing my trainer, because she moved. I went through a spell where I was not able to ride so I worked at a Vet, and rode and handled horses that were thrown my way. Walking horses, reining horses, rode poles and barrels, nothing fancy but I was always still very firm in my dressage background, and used that in every horse I rode. After taking another break to have my beautiful son Elijah, I began working at a hunter barn in TN, I loved it. I loved the kids I had for show team, and most of the horses I rode. I was not crazy about my boss who made me for the first time question my riding ability. It was everyday and I really lost quite a bit of confidence. I left there with a fat little TB to ride, you know those horses you just see potional in, she was it. So I began working with her. She was GREAT at home but when we would go anywhere she would come unglued. The height of that situation being when I took her to a pony club clinc where she blew the dressage part out of the water, she was brilliant! Then we went in to the jumping part and she threw a fit! Rearing, spooking, running though the line. I had people coming up to me saying wow you are a really good rider to handle a horse like that, not exactly what I wanted to hear but I started to believe I did know what I was doing. I took her to Percy Warrner Park for cross country schooling, and she was very quick but jumped everything I put her at (of course BN) Then over the brush jump we had a accident( not her fault, not mine either) My stirrup flew off after the jump, so I thought I would jump off and go get it. Classic pony club dismount and when I landed I just landed wrong and broke my ankle in two places. While on rest from that I got pregnant with Gabriel, and at 5 months old Gabe was diagnosed with seizures and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex(it causes tumors to form in ALL the major organs) www.tsalliance.org Then a month later Elijah was diagnosed with Autism. That was 2 years ago, and I did not ride because my children come first and they needed there mommy. So for two years I had not ridden, but they boys are both in school and doing quite well. So now mommy time, my husband has been helpful in getting me back in the saddle. I began looking on Craig's list and asking friends, and I found a TB to ride. He was a good boy and helped me gain some confidence back but one of the owners made me again feel like I had no idea what I was doing. Maybe it was just different styles of riding,IDK? I finally called about Lim and when I went to look at him I was so impressed! He was such a good boy to bee only 5 and so big. His owner Marisa and I became best friends and that is how I have something to ride now.
Needless to say I have some of my own issues to deal with, I plan on doing lots of Dressage this winter, lessons, clinic's, schooling shows. I won 2 free months of lessons at Hunter's Court in Murfreesboro, so I think I will work on dressage this winter, with a few cross country schooling's to keep him on his toes, then take my two months of lessons there in the spring. Well that is all for now! Here are the links from our riding yesterday,please be kind!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1NB4R9KaE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqP38lxQUb4

10/23/08

2008-10-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

OK, well I finally got to ride today!Yea! I am working on a schedule so I can make sure I am riding if not everyday every other day. I am still gaining confidence with every ride, so I need to be riding everyday! So Marissa and I got him saddled, and took him to the round pen. This was the first time he has ever had to wear a flash and I wanted to make sure he was OK with it, plus it was so windy! We went to the arena and I hopped on, I let him poke around a couple of times,then work! We started bending and small circles to larger circles. I was afraid he was gonna be a little spooky because he is just 5 and it was super windy. The only time he simi spooked was as a few leaves blew past, and all he did was scoot up under me and turn around(like what was that!) After that we got down to the real work, we have about 12 to 15 poles to use. So Marissa fixed the poles to have some on each long side and two sets of 4 in the middle. So we were doing figure eights and small circles, OMG!!!! He was absolutely beautiful!! He was so soft and on the bit. He was SO good!!!! I wish we had pictures!!Next time! He was tyring me a bit, so I had to really use my seat and leg. It was hard ride for me because I was riding a 5 year old with LOTS of seat and leg. Which is totally different from any other 5 year old which not so much. So I am still getting used to him, and he to me. I loved his work ethic he was so happy and light. We did alot of collection in the corners and stretching on the long side. He was brilliant!! Soft and supple, he realized VERY quickly that if he carried himself I would stay(with the pressure) out of his face. He stayed on the bit and forward! I was so happy with him, he shows so much promise! I am so excited, I hope to not jinks myself and he will continue do great! I will keep my blog updated!!!!