Winter Music

  Well that was depressing. I didn't cry... but could have and probably should have. I had a lesson with Liz today and I woke up rather cranky because my phone woke me up 20 minutes before my alarm went off. So I decided to ride Lyric first because... Funny is soooo sensitive. And I have way lower expectations with Lyric, so it's not as easy for me to get frustrated. Unfair, but... it is what it is. So that's what I did.    We tacked up and walked up to the arena and I did some in hand work... backing, turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches and then we jogged a lap or two. Then Liz got there and I got on and did one "power trot" around the arena. She didn't stretch out as much, but maybe it's because I didn't walk once I got on first. Liz immediately was like "what's up with the head tilt"? Right? Sigh.. It's not new, but it's more obvious. Maybe because it's worse, maybe because other things aren't as obvious anymo...

 Rode at home. Walked up in hand, as the other two were running and it was chilly and windy. but she was good. no antics. did backing and jogging in hand to loosen up. nice and soft and stretchy. then showed her the obstacles and the gate. Then got on and rode. walked.. did the gate both directions and she didn't care. Wasn't great at backing, but didn't care. then did trotting and did the single slalom. good for her. did transitions. felt stiffer and a bit more sluggish today. but not terrible. kicked out when i waved the whip at her even once though. tripped up front twice today and lost it hard behind twice. both times grunted. felt stiff tracking left and slightly lame/rooting tracking right again. sigh... argh. have lesson with kelly sunday hopefully to see. but may also just need to pivo a ride and video the trips/fallouts to see what's actually happening... stuck stifle? tripping because she wings in?  walked the hill 3 times in the pasture after. forging bad aga...

 hack at ashland with marvin. quite forward to start ohotos: happy girls

  photos; canter

 felt better today. diid groundwork then trot ini hand. got on and felt better. more forward, less naggy. less rootinig but not as steady ni the contact. have to right riight shoulder to the left tracking both wyas but helped. did some leg yiieild, some fgure 8's, some rapid transitons... trot walk trot halt trot walk, etc. lost hnd end hard a few tmes, both drectons. defintely funky bendng left but better with lower neck and had some lovely moments n there. trotted n feld and she wanted to canter so let her do a few seconds. tight collected canter because... eeeks, but... happy.  ??? photos: 5-26 canter

 darn.. she really does want to be a hunter. happy n her rubber huntery d rinig ;) did tniy biit of n hand and then rode. good girl and less mouth fussy and rooty. but still feels neuro. lost her balance a few times. still stiiff in poll bendng left. diid some leg yields though and some more rapid transitons because her trot to walk feels very delayed... neuro or ?? but trotted happily and forward ni field. and overall, more forward feelng.  shockwaved lumbars after and got good releases.  photos; 5-26 hunter