6 months under saddle...

[diaryofarider]

So Trudi's been under saddle about 6 months now- maybe a little longer. Wow, has she come a long way! I'm so proud of her. Of us, actually.
Somwone found Trudi's flymask. Yay!
Last night we walked around a bit with just the one spotlight on for a change of pace, and she was kind of tentative but very well behaved. I turned all the lights on after a couple of laps so we wouldn't break our fool necks, but it was kind of neat- reminded me of the moonlight trail ride I went on as a kid. Trudi continues to display her very much improved canter/transitions. It makes me happy to be able to do something, it makes me giddy to be able to do it consistantly. I think we've finally met our walk-trot-canter basic competence goal.
We did a bit more leg yielding and "pretend half pass". Basically bending her body, then asking her to go that way, which she really doesn't yet, but it really put her together and made the leg yields much better. Baby steps.
So now we move on to new goals- practicing some tests, showing (next year I think- this year's about over as far as that goes), and schooling 1st & 2nd. Leg yields (developing) shoulder in (developing) 10 m circles (got them at walk and trot) lengthenings (actually this is one of thing things I am starting to tackle now), getting mediums, getting collecteds (hee, I just invented a word), stretching (got it), walk to canter (I really think we can do these, just haven't asked yet), canter to walk, renvers (ha, not even close, not started), turn on the haunches (see renvers).
Quite a laundry list, but we've got a good start on some of it.

Comments

[halfpass-19.livejournal.com]

Hey, congrats on the milestone! It seems like you've been riding her for *so* much longer than 6 months, and she's so far along!

Have you thought about showing her in the young horse classes at all? From what you've said, it sounds like maybe she has the balance and talent for it.

[halfpass-19.livejournal.com]

Or even Materiale if not the YH classes?

[diaryofarider.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if she has the movement for the young horse classes- she's a good mover, but not "fall-over-dead-I've-just-seen-an-angel-on-4-legs" mover. And as she turned 5 this year, I think she'd have to do the 6 year old young horse classes, which has stuff like half passes and walk pirouettes. And I guess I've never been that into the young horse stuff- I always thought of it as something for top breeders. Going the more traditional training/1st/2nd/etc gives a lot more choices and a lot more practice - which isn't to say I couldn't do both-- I just don't really feel drawn to the young horse stuff. To be completely honest, I hate riding in front of people, and with scores and stuff being announced while you ride, and people actually possibly being interested in how you do (well, your horse at least)- it's a bit intimidating! I want to ride that training, or first, or second level test that NOBODY watches because it's basic and boring with nothing flashy to catch a spectator's eye :D. I would really love to get the necessary scores at 2nd to get into judging though... so hopefully that will come within a couple of years.