I’ll start this post by explaining the TE in stadium for the NWEC Mothers Day Classic. I went off course. Nothing complicated about it; I jumped the wrong fence. I’m seriously disappointed in myself since my horse has been jumping so well (knock on wood) and I knew this would be a good course for him. The two riders before me were clear and I was really looking forward to my ride. I mentally struggle with the final phase and I really let myself and my horse down. Something about the show jumping phase gets me very rattled. It’s definitely something I plan to work very hard on and I’m glad I didn’t make this mistake when there was prize money on the line. Better here than at Rolex…. While I’m upset about giving away the win and not getting the points, I’m not disappointed about missing out on the tiny ribbon or cheap cooler. NWEC isn’t known for generous prizes.
The real gem for the weekend was my XC ride. Safari was so game and quite a punk in warm up. I love his attitude and how he really understands his job. While the course was rather soft, with fairly small fences, I still rode like I was excited to be there. Safari skipped around like it was novice and made great time with very little effort. I barely touched the reins, which makes for a steady and efficient round. The footing was quite awful in places and we did slow for those areas and I put medium bullets in all the way around. But he was so easy and balanced we didn’t slipped once despite the fact it never stopped raining all weekend.
It’s onto Aspen for Safari. We can definitely expect a stiffer course and I plan to bring my A game. I plan to work on my dressage and improve my score over NWEC. I left some points in the arena because I didn’t ride as accurately and with enough bend and angle throughout the entire test. I know this horse can get the job done; I just need to ask for it.
I want to congratulate Anna and Sophie Ernst for riding great last weekend and both girls finished on their dressage scores.
I head back to NWEC for the Baywood Pony Club One day this Sunday. The forecast is depressing; rain Saturday and a 90% chance of rain Sunday. Ugh. My poor tack is still recovering from last weekend. Clyde will be going BN and I will have a few students up there as well. Unfortunately I don’t have studs drilled for Clyde so we may be opting for a slow and steady round if the footing if awful. Hopefully I will get some pictures and video of Clyde this weekend if all goes well.
Cheers.
The boys and I drove to Aspen Farms April 30th for the final spring derby. I arrived just in time for Clyde to run the BN stadium schooling course then head out to the derby field before the class changed over to Novice. All the tracks were similar and the footing was surprisingly good in front of the fences. There were a few soggy spots but they were kindly filled with gravel so we didn’t sink into the bog. Clyde was a champ and wasn’t at all impressed with the BN fences. He even jumped his first up bank and walked calmly thru the water and trotted out. He was a little distracted by Safari calling for him at the trailer. But over all a great first out for him and I’m very pleased. He will definitely be a ready for Novice in about a month.
Safari and I had to wait around for the Novice and Training rides to finish. I did a very smooth stadium course with him. He felt very rideable and jumped really well. I only wish the fences were bigger. The derby for the prelim was fairly straight forward. Safari rode well and I was working on being forward and controlled between the fences. He got distracted and a bit off our line at the last fence and had a hard rail there. I’m a little disappointed with myself and felt I could have given him a better ride.
I enjoyed the weather and seeing everyone again and I’m glad I went. But… I really wish the courses were more challenging and longer. It took me an hour to get both boys ready and packed in the morning and then 2 hours to drive there. It makes for a pretty expensive ride when you spend so much money and time and you’re only on course for 30 seconds……
I’m looking forward to NWEC this weekend with Safari. The boy feels great and ready to go. Too bad the weather looks like absolute crap L
I just want to make a couple comments about Rolex. I was so incredibly busy and didn’t get to watch any of it on the web or TV, but I did see highlights and tried to read as much as I could. I have to say I am incredibly impressed with Mary King. She is a crazy good rider and I loved watching her pilot her horses around the courses. She has an amazing position and her lower leg never moves! I loved how she smiled like a little girl as she talked about her horses. You could tell she cares dearly for them and really knows their personalities and what type of ride they need. I also love how she rides XC in her stock tie and pin. So very British! Congratulations Mary King! And congratulations to Sinead Halpin for an incredible first time around a 4 star to finish in 3rd. These two ladies are truly inspirational.
Well the rain came back with force this week. We have been plagued with grey clouds and serious showers all week. The only ray of hope is the prediction of partly sunny for the weekend.
I’ve been busy with the horses all week. Wednesday I had a great jump lesson with John. I even got the chance to have a lesson on a catch ride. It was a good experience to have two great lessons on two very different horses.
Thursday I had my first dressage lesson with Jessica. I have to say it was great and she put a dialog to all the problems I have been feeling and helped find solutions. She also gave me some great tips on my position and how to get a better trot from Safari. I have to admit that I am a bit sore today. I have another lesson with her next week before Safari and I head north for the Mothers Day event at NWEC.
I had a fabulous jump school on Clyde last night. I have been cantering more fences and starting to put together courses. I finished my ride with a fantastic little course. It’s amazing how well he goes when I ride a balanced and rhythmical canter. He was even getting his changes! I really enjoy Clyde. I’m looking forward to the Aspen Derby this weekend and the Pony Club One Day in May. I have the entry filled out for the One Day at Inavale. I have him entered in BN on Saturday and N on Sunday. After our school last night I feel good about riding him N, but I’ll wait to send the entry off until after the derby.
The boys and I head north early this Saturday for the Aspen Derby. Clyde will be first up and he’ll do the BN derby as well as a show jump school. Safari will be late in the day for his Prelim class. I’m hoping for blue skies, good footing and clear rounds!
Well, a lot is happening right now. The sun finally made its way back to the Pacific NW and has stuck around off and on for the last week. It's a very welcome sight.
I spent last weekend teaching Willowbrook Pony Club camp at NWEC. We had a blast, great kids, parents and ponies. The weather held off for us and I officially got my first sunburn of the year! Felt great.
Safari has new shoes and is feeling great. He made my arms sore from a gallop last week. The boy is ready to go. I'm really looking forward to the season. It's a bit of a late start for me since I didn't go to CA this year. Our entry is officially in for the OI at NWEC May 6-8th. That's only TWO weeks away! I just looked at the dressage test today. We will be starting lessons with Jessica Wisdom next week. Hope she can help us put some polish on our flat work so we start the season with a solid test. With riders on the East Coast and CA scoring in the high 20's I really need to step up my game. I also have a lesson with John next week. I'm really looking forward to that. He has been keeping the pressure on us and putting up the fences. I'm happy to say that Safari has been jumping great and I'm mentally handling the larger fences well.
Clyde just got a full set of shoes and he's entered in his first PC One Day HT May 15th. I'll take him out BN. I'm actually more nervous about the dressage than anything else. He's jumped most all of the BN and lots of N fences at NWEC. He was a star over the ditches and water. His dressage can be a little wiggly. He still struggles with the right bend and picking up the correct leads. But he keeps getting better and just needs more miles and muscle. I was very proud of him last week. A student rode him in a show jumping lesson and they did great!
It’s great having goals for the horses and it helps keep me happy and focused because work has been stressful and troubling the last two weeks.
I am missing the late winter/early spring events in CA this year. I have to say the warm weather and early start to the season would have been good, but the budget didn't allow this year. Feels strange not going down.
I filled the pain of missing the CA events by going XC schooling this last weekend. The weather was less than ideal, with some serious wind and rain showers. But it wasn't all wet socks and cold hands. We actually got to jump some XC fences. I met a number of students up at NWEC and we had a good time enjoying the few fences that remained available for our use. The water jump was VERY full from all the rain and we were only able to trot thru.
I brought both my boys. Safari didn't have much to entertain him, so my student, Devon, got the ride on him Saturday and Sunday. I have to say she did a great job on him and I really enjoyed watching him go. He has been feeling great and jumping really well this spring. I’m really looking forward to starting our season. It’s going to be a good one!
Clyde was an absolute star and handled himself better than expected. He is a very easy horse and I see a bright future ahead of him. He jumped all the BN fences, the ditches and splashed thru the knee-high water. He was a star, despite the awkward "puddle jump". He will do the BN at the Aspen Derby at the end of April and most likely the BN at the Baywood PC One Day in May. I’m seriously excited about this horse.
Thanks to all my students who braved the elements and joined us in a fun and successful day of schooling. A special thanks to Dana and Devon for their amazing hospitality. I’ll be back up to NWEC April 10th for another round of XC schooling. Hopefully with better weather!
Kola left for her new home in Oakland, CA this morning. I'm very excited for her and know she will be a wonderful partner for her new owner Katie. She loaded right onto the big semi trailer with several other horI hope the trip goes smoothly from Vancouver, WA to Oakland. It's a long trip!
My sister and brother in law have a great TB who is no longer racing. He was a winner in 2009 but didn't have any starts in 2010. I want him to come and be my new event horse. His name is Clyde, because he looks like a Clydesdale. So handsome.
Safari went to see Dr Solomon today. All was good news. But Safari was due for a float. He hated the procedure, but I think he's much happier and I'm curious if things will be different when I ride him Friday.
