Winter Music

  What a good girl! I'm so proud of her! Today we went to the Georgia Horse Park to show a BN CT and Nov Test B. It was another chance to get in another arena and show atmosphere before RRP. Our last chance at a show (Unless I wanted to show two days before we leave for Kentucky and I don't!).  Per usual... this show morning starting out with antics. As I went to catch Lyric to get ready to give her a bath and leave for the show, Jean's friend pulled into the culdesac with a horse trailer. I managed to catch Lyric as they started to walk Galvan down the drive to haul him to Florida. And they followed with the golf cart and car full of his stuff. Which, no big deal... except it sent Dan, Fleck, and Funny into fits. They were bucking, broncing, rearing, and running. Which meant that Lyric was now doing the same. I had to yell at them as feet were flying and Lyric was a kite. I wasn't sure if I was going to get kicked or run over or if one of them was going to get kicked. ...

Good Gravy Child!!! This morning I woke up early to get ready for our 8 am lesson with Kelly Eaton at Ashland. We had scheduled for a stadium lesson as some of our final prep. I went out to the barn to give her her ulcergard while I got feed ready and.... WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO?! Her beautiful face was a giant bloody lump! Good gravy! Closer inspection revealed it to be fairly superficial. I couldn't tell if she got kicked... or was rubbing and snagged it on something and pulled back... or what. But there was a giant goose egg and a big scratch/cut. I sent a photo to Kelly and Caroline and told them I wasn't sure if I should/could put a bridle on. Kelly replied with "Let's give it a go", so... guess we're going. She ate just fine though and didn't seem to concerned. There was no blood in her nose or mouth. So, again, superficial I guess.  We got to Ashland and I just took her noseband off and she seemed perfectly fine. We walked up to the stadium arena a...

Ahhhh, today was a much better day. We had a XC lesson at Ashland with Jacel. We were riding with Laura and her new guy. Unfortunately because errands took forever, I was running a bit later than I wanted so I was tacking up quick. And Laura had walked up and was talking with me, so... I forgot her boots. But I didn't realize it at first. Laura and I had hacked out to the XC field and Lyric was already so much calmer and chill. We trotted around and neither horse really cared and Lyric was much straighter too! Then Laura wanted to canter first while we stood in case her new guy was stupid, so we did. And Lyric was content to just stand. Then we cantered and she was chill. Yay! Then Jacel showed up and we talked. I told her about the last few rides and basically that we were all on the same page. I needed to keep Lyric balanced and not get off balance myself and I needed to sit and be firm and she needed to go. Laura wanted to go first getting started so she went. And then I realize...

 Keep the shoulders in line. she's too busy and asks too many questions, so.. use the draw reins to answer 50-60% of the questions so I can focus on keeping it pure make sure to soften and give with my fingers when she answers the question, even knowing she'll immediately fall out. ride the shoulders... push in/out during the transitions kelly thinks she's happier in steel shoes

 But I did.