So – WOW. The weather this week has been absolutely NOTHING short of amazing. 70’s ALL week!! I bet you can’t guess what’s projected for Saturday? Oh wait – you can?? You mean you know I have the worst luck with weather EVER?? ;-) j/k But you’re right – RAIN. All day. I guess I need to learn how to tough it out, but seriously – after this week, RAIN this weekend just seems entirely ALL too unfair.
So – Sudi is scheduled for his first CT this season at Jasmine Farm. Should be a busy day! We have dressage first thing at 8:40 and then his jumping round at 9:40. Then he gets a lunch, I get a nap, and we’re back on for dressage at noon. Yep – long day!
I’m trying not to put any pressure on us for this show as I’m using it basically as a warm up for this season, and to just keep him in the show atmosphere. I’m glad it will be a somewhat busy show since that’s good for him. My goals are to hopefully have him stretching through his dressage test, make it over all our fences (and me stay on!), and to have a great time – even if we ARE getting rained on! Eventers are tough right?! (I feel like I need a big, tough guy beside me grunting in encouragement - hehe).
Kehbir had a FANTASTIC ride this past weekend. We had a lesson with Susan, and although he started off as a COMPLETE spaz, he calmed and ended actually VERY nicely. He’s a very smart horse, and always tries to figure out what I’m trying to ask before I ask it. This makes him a bit nervous – once he settles down though and learns to wait on me, I think we’ll start doing much better.
Susan made a BIG emphasis on the fact that he really wants me to be his “head mare” and take over. He’s a big wimp and doesn’t want to handle the scary white box by himself. Once I get his attention and get him focused on his job, he forgets all the scary places in the world. He’s not one of those horses that can be allowed to go check everything out first to calm down. He HAS to be ok because I’m on him – he HAS to know that’s his safe place. I think that was a big a break-through “AHA!” moment for me – understanding him just a bit better. The more I understand him, the more I feel I can ride him correctly. We’ve come a good ways in the few weeks I’ve been schooling him, so I’m excited to see where he’ll be at the end of this month!
Ok, and to wrap up – our future goals:
Sudi will be taking some jumping lessons with Susan. My goal is to have him ready for a Sr. Maiden HT up in Southern Pines by the end of May. I feel this is reasonable. I also have the free schooling pass for Full Gallop from when I was jump judging, so I need to take him up there by himself to do a practice run in April-ish I think. If the ht in May goes well, he’ll move up to the next level – Pre novice. If I feel we need another run, we’ll hold off on the Pre Novice (really BN) and run the Maiden again. I really just want him (and ME!) to get the feel of cantering/galloping to the fences and taking them in stride. I want him to feel confidant at the end of full of himself!
Kehbir has his upcoming (REAL USDF SHOW!!!) dressage show in March here at John’s Island. If all goes well with his training, I plan on having him up to training level by the end of the year. I have some tentative dressage shows planned out – although I really want to get him into some kind of clinic this year as well. We’re also doing some cross bars at home – he seems very confidant about them, and doesn’t seem to be real worried. I don’t plan on any CT’s/HT’s with him until the spring of next year though. I just want to take it slow with him – he comes along so much better that way.
Ok – well enjoy the weather! I’ll be jealous that I’m stuck behind my desk…*sigh* one day!!
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