After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time! most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the
Day #28 - The current status of my horse's training
Reva
Reva is the least trained of my horses, with only seven months of under saddle training. She is solid walk/trot, while her canter is coming along. She will pick up the left lead without issue but the right lead only about 80% of the time. She understands how to reach into the connection with the bit and has a pretty decent rhythm as long as she stays relaxed. Her relaxation is an issue at times though and she is currently resisting true straightness/ bend/shoulder fore. When she resists, she gets quick. She hold her tension in her jaw, specifically her TMJ, and will grind her teeth. She will get a complete chiropractic work-up this spring, or maybe even earlier. (Her teeth are done every 6 months and were just floated at the end of September...) There are moments of absolute brilliance, where her trot becomes amazing and she is so soft in the bridle. And there are moments of garbage too...LOL! I have to remind myself she has only been under saddle for seven months now. And before that she had ~30 rides on her. So I am pleased where she is in her current training. :-) She is going to be at Intro level next year and if we show in open shows again I will keep her in 2-gait. I hope to move up to Training level and 3-gait with her in 2013.
Dreamy
Dreamy can school all the First level movements minus the canter loops. Well, we can do them but they are not good enough for competition. :-0 And we can do Second level movements of shoulder-in, renvers, travers (harder), and turn on the haunches, but she will never show at that level. She is safe and handy over fences up to 2'6" and I will keep her at that height or lower. I know she could do higher, but as she is almost 21 years old I am happy with keeping her sound. :-) Dreamy is probably trained as far along as she is ever going to be. Her canter is not a "normal" dressage canter, but it is pretty decent. Right now my only plan is to do a few Beginner Novice events with her next year and foxhunt in the fall. If we do any straight dressage it will be at First level and 3-gait at open shows.
Sparky
Miss Sparky is retired. :-) She is as trained as she will ever be. She reached First level movements, jumping up to 3', and Preliminary level combined driving before retirement.
Reva
Reva is the least trained of my horses, with only seven months of under saddle training. She is solid walk/trot, while her canter is coming along. She will pick up the left lead without issue but the right lead only about 80% of the time. She understands how to reach into the connection with the bit and has a pretty decent rhythm as long as she stays relaxed. Her relaxation is an issue at times though and she is currently resisting true straightness/ bend/shoulder fore. When she resists, she gets quick. She hold her tension in her jaw, specifically her TMJ, and will grind her teeth. She will get a complete chiropractic work-up this spring, or maybe even earlier. (Her teeth are done every 6 months and were just floated at the end of September...) There are moments of absolute brilliance, where her trot becomes amazing and she is so soft in the bridle. And there are moments of garbage too...LOL! I have to remind myself she has only been under saddle for seven months now. And before that she had ~30 rides on her. So I am pleased where she is in her current training. :-) She is going to be at Intro level next year and if we show in open shows again I will keep her in 2-gait. I hope to move up to Training level and 3-gait with her in 2013.
Dreamy
Dreamy can school all the First level movements minus the canter loops. Well, we can do them but they are not good enough for competition. :-0 And we can do Second level movements of shoulder-in, renvers, travers (harder), and turn on the haunches, but she will never show at that level. She is safe and handy over fences up to 2'6" and I will keep her at that height or lower. I know she could do higher, but as she is almost 21 years old I am happy with keeping her sound. :-) Dreamy is probably trained as far along as she is ever going to be. Her canter is not a "normal" dressage canter, but it is pretty decent. Right now my only plan is to do a few Beginner Novice events with her next year and foxhunt in the fall. If we do any straight dressage it will be at First level and 3-gait at open shows.
Sparky
Miss Sparky is retired. :-) She is as trained as she will ever be. She reached First level movements, jumping up to 3', and Preliminary level combined driving before retirement.
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