I just got back from the Jimmy Woffard clinic July 12th & 13th at Caber Farms. I was in an awesome group of 3 Star and Advanced riders. We show jumped the first day and Jimmy really emphasized balance and rhythm. Keeping your heal soft and letting the fence back the horse up, so your hand can be soft too. It was also important to look at the rail and see where the horse is looking. Jimmy emphasized symmetry and making the horse soft and supple both directions. My favorite quote of the day was “The landing is the approach to the next fence”. I, more than anyone, need to remember this and work on finding the correct balance and rhythm for a smooth ride. My half halts need to come from an elastic elbow and I need to graduate from the “panic” half halt and make my riding smoother. Safari jumped well and I was pleased with him. We even got to jump some larger fences, with a couple set at 4’+.
The next day we did XC, unfortunately the rain showers showed up and didn’t let up all day. The footing held up well and we were able to jump some of the Int lines. I started the day off great and built on what we did the day before. I must remember to get my eye on the next fence early and hold the line. Our first jump into the water was a bit surprising. I haven’t ridden that water in 2 years and forgot how big the drop in is, being just over 5’. The big drop and wet reins created a bad ride and I didn’t even try to get the skinny wedge on the out. We tried it again, this time I was ready for the drop and we nailed it! Overall the clinic was a great experience and I really enjoyed Jimmy’s knowledge and theories. It was great watching the other groups ride and I felt like I learned a lot. Thanks to Liza for hauling me and Safari and letting us stay in her amazing trailer!
Clyde heads up to Caber for the Pony Club One Day event this Saturday. I’m looking forward to it. Clyde has been going really well and I plan to have a fun show. The forecast looks grim, calling for showers all day. But being able to ride a fun horse like him, I’m looking forward to it, rain or not.
The countdown for Rebecca Farms gets closer and closer. My focus these last few days before we go will be on our last jump school, our last gallops, cleaning up our changes and canter half pass and healing my poor ankle. At least my nerves aren’t completely out of control…. Yet.
I think Aspen Farms was the real winner last weekend. They produced the best footing, fair and tough courses and ideal weather. The stabling is a bit spread out, but our lot scored a great spot along the woods, right near our stalls and we were surrounded by a great group of Adult Riders. Couldn’t ask for much better.
Safari and I did dressage bright and early Friday morning, drawing number 4. I rode for Roger Haller, who I thought was fair with his scores and gave good feedback. Overall my test was nice, but definitely not great. I got a bit lulled into the consistency of it and never really asked for more. So the result was a steady, obedient test that was rather dull. I definitely need to step up my game for the Advanced test in MT. It was a good wakeup call that you have to “bring it” at the upper levels if you want to be competitive.
My initial walk of the Intermediate cross-country was positive. I really liked the fences and the track and thought the footing was pretty much perfect. I was a little worried about the coffin, with the very angled ditch and interesting striding. The double corners in the back looked fun and was easily my favorite question on the course. Thanks to John Camlin for walking the course with me and encouraging me to have a bold, accurate ride; thinking about what it would take for the next level. I knew the time would be very challenging and I was mostly concerned with having a solid go. I didn’t even wheel the course, but I did get the minute markers from Maris, thanks to her for sharing that!
Safari was a rock star over the entire course. We jumped the bounce bank to log great and did the straight line in the 4 stride at fence 4. The coffin was a bit peaky and he had quite a look at the ditch, trying to figure out how to jump the angle. He jumped in well, but jumped right over the ditch, and we got a short two strides out. The rest of the course flowed and I barely had to touch the reins. He jumped boldly over the corners in the 5 strides, but was a bit perplexed about the water after. He finished strong and came back great. Thanks to Liza for the champagne celebration!
Intermediate rode stadium early with an 8am start. I was jumping last since I had moved up to 1st after XC, only added 4 time penalties. Stadium is my weakest phase and I was quite nervous. I liked the course and thought it was large, but fair. The girl who was in 2nd had a clear round, getting very lucky with some heavy rubs throughout the course. Safari jumped really well and I only had one down in the middle of the triple. Unfortunately I didn’t have a rail in hand and I dropped to 2nd by 0.8. I am thrilled with our performance and I felt that both Safari and I have come a long ways in this phase. I’m seriously overjoyed with our round.
I’m headed to San Juan Island very early in the morning to teach Pony Club camp for the weekend. This will be my 4th year teaching camp and we always have a great time. I love the island and the weather has never disappointed. We will be on Orcas this year and I can’t wait to see everyone again.
I hope to post some pics from Aspen and camp after I get back. Enjoy the weekend!
Rebecca Farms opened June 7th and I printed out my entry for Safari for the Advanced division. The entry money with stabling is pretty steep but I just need to write the check and send it off. This year will be the 10th Anniversary and Becky’s memorial. I have never once missed this event. The Broussard Family is amazing and run the best event in the country. Safari has competed in MT since he was 4 years old, and this will be his 9th year in a row! Wow. He has always loved their XC course. I love this event and have made it a high point of my season for several years. Sending off the entry makes me feel excited and nervous. I don’t think I can keep my fingers crossed for 6 weeks, but I could use some luck leading up to this huge event.
Unfortunately, due to budget restrictions, Clyde will be sitting Rebecca Farms out. He is proving himself to be a competitive event horse and I may just have to buck up and pay the money for him to do a Novice recognized.
The feeling of summer is starting to kick in. But what it really means is that my already super crazy busy schedule is getting busier…. Safari and I leave for Aspen HT Thursday. We have drawn an 8:21am ride on Friday for dressage, and we run XC Saturday at 12:36. The forecast looks decent, calling for partly cloudy and temps in the 60’s for the weekend. I know we will NOT need any rain, and I’m actually a little worried about the footing. But Jonathan and Suzy are riders and they know what is appropriate.
I have a lesson with John Camlin tonight, then its bathing, grooming, cleaning and packing. And Sean is out of town all week and his family is coming on Saturday, so I have to clean the house tonight too. Ugh.
Wish us luck at Aspen!
Let’s talk about how much Clyde rocked this weekend. I entered him in the BN for Saturday and N on Sunday. I’m pretty sure I was insane when I entered him in Novice. I keep forgetting I have only been riding this horse since the beginning of March and that he’s only 5. But he’s so easy! And is such a tier.
Saturday didn’t go quite as planned…. Mostly because we competed in all phases with only one front shoe. I was having a wonderful dressage warm up and just as I was heading into the arena, Clyde goes horribly lame. I pulled up and we discovered that he had sprung his right shoe and was stepping on the clip. Poor guy. The “on call” farrier was not answering and no tools could be found, so a Pony Club Dad removed the shoe with a screwdriver. I did my test with only one shoe on. Definitely not our best. I waited around to ride show jumping until the very last minute, hoping the farrier would show. But still no farrier. I decided to give it a shot, but pulled up after the first fence because the footing was too much for his barefoot. Thankfully the shoer showed before XC and I headed out. Clyde had a small trip a stride out from the warm up fence, but I didn’t think much of it. I figured I needed more leg to help his balance….. Little did I know, that trip was him removing the shoe completely. I headed out to XC and had a great round. I had to hike out to XC warm up to retrieve my lost shoe after I discovered it was missing. It was stuck in the mud in front of the warm up fence.
I was a bit worried about Sunday when I walked the N course. The beginning was lovely and inviting, but the last few fences were solid N questions. We had to go thru the water then to a fairly large down bank (see photo below) and then to the hanging log over the natural ditch to a rock oxer with a fairly tight right hand turn to a max table. Sunday started with the farrier tacking the shoe back on and we headed to dressage. The day was already quite warm and the arena was running ahead, so I had a quick warm up and went early. Clyde was lovely, and only had one goof when he picked up the cross canter in the left canter transition. I’m still not sure how that happened…. But that earned us a “3”. But the test was decent with a few “8”’s and we scored a 35.
Show jumping was twisty and I was a bit worried about the one stride since I have never ridden Clyde thru a one stride. But I figure I have ridden lots of one strides, so we would be just fine. My nerves were put to rest as Clyde rocked around the course.
After our stadium I was feeling more confident about the XC. Clyde was focused and forward the entire ride. He trotted straight into the water and the only fence he was a little worried about was the rock oxer in the tree line. I closed my leg to support and reassure him and he sailed over it. Overall it was a much better day then Saturday. We finished on our dressage score of 35 in 4th place. Go Clyde.
Beautiful warm day in Oregon.
Saturday BN Dressage with one shoe on. Poor Clyde was having a killer warm up and sprung his shoe just as we were about to enter the arena. No farrier was available, so a Pony Club Dad removed it with a screwdriver.....
Clyde chillin in his corral in the shade.
The barn is still under a 2 week quarantine and we should be able to leave the barn May 31st pending no new EHV outbreaks. Looks like things are holding steady and nothing has blown up. I know of several shows that are going to happen this weekend, so maybe the hysteria is dyeing down. I miss my weekly lessons with my students.
I’m planning on going to Inavale farm for XC schooling May 31st. The weather looks like showers all week and hopefully the fields will be dry and we can have a fun school. I’ll be taking Clyde. I plan to school quite a bit of the Novice fences and jump the ditches and banks. I realized his first up bank was at the Aspen Derby last month. Nothing like learning on the fly….. Clyde is a great horse and I really enjoy riding him. He’s gamey and learns quickly. I’ll be taking a few students down as well.
Next up for Safari is the OI at Aspen. I’m looking forward to the course at Aspen. They usually have a challenging, but fair course. Hopefully the weather will be in their favor this year. The week leading up to the event last year was very wet. The footing in the back field was so deep, they had to remove that loop from the OI course, which made the course just over 4 min. Talk about a fast round. I felt like we were just getting started when we crossed the finish flags. I would also love to be in the permanent stalls, but I’m not holding my breath. Stabling was so packed and crowded last year. Plus all the rain made everything so slippery, I had to put my truck in 4 wheel drive after getting stuck a few times.
The field at the barn is lovely right now and I’ve been riding dressage, hacking and doing trot and gallop sets out there. I plan to get my mower over there and mow a dressage arena. Cindy has steaks for a dressage arena and I need to get my letters cleaned up. It will be exciting to have a “real” dressage arena. After that chore is done, I plan to move a bunch of jumps into the field for a xc/derby set up.
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Clyde was a champ and had a smooth dressage test. Here he is in the first trot circle scoring an 8.
Look how relaxed this horse is! Hard to believe this was his first time in a dressage arena! Check out how much it's raining.
Last fence on course. He was rolling along. Never even broke a sweat after this round. He was awesome! The footing was the worst here at the last and it never phased him.
