Winter Music

 We took a flyer! Great jump lesson. If I stay upright in my body and shoulders, press my hands into her neck, and keep my elbows moving (or even almost throwing away the reins) she jumps... and doesn't add unless she needs to. And even took a flyer!! And jumped big things!

  Today was fun! I took Lyric to Ashland for a ride this morning so that Mike and I could hang out this afternoon. Laura had told me I could try her bit, so I figured now was a good time.    I ended up just parking at the gray barn because it was easier to do the bit swap that way and Caroline didn't mind. We hacked out to the XC field. There was a big group that had booked it at 10:30 so I was trying to get there before they did so we could play a little. I wanted to try out that bit. We did manage to beat them so we did some trotting to warm up. She was a little fresh and.... I'm not quite sure I like that bit. She felt more braced and inverted than she does with the elevator. Granted... I'm sure the elevator creates some "false" rounding. But I can't decide if that's better because she's not in bad biomechanics or worse because it's just covering up holes. Anyways... she was a bit animated so we trotted a log and then she cantered so we just can...

  So... today was the first ride on Lyric since the show. And she was WAY better behaved that Funny, who was ridden twice this week. Ha ha... Sigh...  We had Tasida back out to check her saddles. She peeked at her jump and said it was great and we didn't need to do anything. Yay. Her dressage saddle, the new one, was sitting super low in front. Tasida flocked it up pretty good and then I got on to try it out.    Lyric was actually quite good considering. She was rusty in the sense that she felt more braced and inverted than usual... and definitely stiffer laterally. And she felt pretty out of shape because she lost her hind end 4 times. And not just a little slip... like her whole butt hit the ground almost! Good gravy girl! I hope it's just fitness (or lack thereof) and not stifle pain. But maybe some of the stiffness was because I didn't get to ride how I normally do... warm up like I usually do. I guess it wasn't that different, but it is still different.  ...