July 16, 2014 Update

As this is mostly a training blog, there's not much to report as there is no real training going on. I started walking Gadget under saddle last week and I am working trot into each ride this week.

I will say that I am really trying to focus on keeping my back and hips loose and moving during our rides. I find that when I start working on lateral work (such as the shoulder-in at the walk), I tend to stop moving my hips. I need to find a way to keep my seat following in all movements.

I am also trying to retrain my hand position. I am not good about keeping my thumbs on top, and I also tend to keep too much contact on the left rein. I am making a conscious effort to ride thumbs up, elbows down, and hands even. I am also really trying to stay soft in the contact and make Gadget walk or trot up to it.

So while Gadget is getting better and building fitness slowly, I am going to try to focus on my position. Maybe we will both be improved by the end of this ordeal

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When old becomes new - update to my old Pikeur Diana!

Here is the finished product! It was a plain black jacket so I added white and light blue trim with RHINESTONES! It's very sparkly! Here's a closeup of the collar, which looks better than the pocket. Now I am going to try to add coordinating trim (minus the rhinestones) to the saddle pad.

Third Level Test 1 - with comments from Judge Natalie Lamping

Here is a practice test of third level test 1 that I rode on April 27, 2013. I then submitted the test for an online evaluation by Judge Natalie Lamping at horseshow.com. I was pleasantly surprised to get a 63.2% (which may be a bit generous in the spirit of a schooling show) from Judge Lamping. This test was before my "breakthrough" of collecting the canter the next weekend. She correctly notes that the canter still needs a good bit of work. However, our turn on haunches have improved dramatically from that year, which is great since they are a coefficient score! My right flying change received a 7, and if I can line up the left one to be clean, it is an even better change. See my scores and comments from Natalie Lamping below: Apr 27th, 2013 April Dressage Festival 2011 USEF Level 3 Dressage - Test 1 Judged by Natalie Lamping Featuring Lindsey S Score: 241/380 (63.29%) 2nd place Overall Rows Test Rows # Tests Score Coef Err Comments 1 A ...

March 19, 2018 - After the Rain Comes the Rainbow -- Great Ride After Embarrassing Clinic Rides

Although I did not hear Michael say it, Hani insists that Michael said I should ride 20 minutes every day as opposed to 40 minutes a few times a week. So I've decided to take his advice to heart and try to get Iggy into a steady 5 days a week of shorter, better quality work. This new boot camp began yesterday, since it was 60 degrees and beautiful. I did my in hand work with Iggy outside, and he was very good as usual. We then did our walk on long rein to relax and loosen around the jumping ring. Then we moved into the power trot getting him to "take me forward" and moving into the contact. It is easier to the right than to the left. But the jumping ring feels like a great place to work on this since it has a slight grade that will encourage Iggy to really push with those hindlegs. We then moved to the dressage ring (freshly drug and delightful!) and went back to our big forward trot down the longside, counter flex through the shortside to keep him in the trot while ...

Dressage Day by Day

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