Winter Music

  Who'd have thought? Early on... Lyric was anything but easy. But today... she was just.. my steady eddy... And I'm grateful for that. And feel bad now for telling someone that she... was just a mediocre horse. She doesn't scream upper level. She doesn't scream broodmare potential. Her conformation leaves a lot to be desired. She's not a flashy mover. She's not a brave jumper. BUT.... but... she is kind... she tries... she's steady.... she's a good girl. And I love her.  Today I met Laura to jump but unfortunately Smarty had a fat hock, so... she just watched me and then we went on a hack. Lyric felt a bit reluctant starting out. Not jumping... just... a bit stabby in the front end maybe. I told Laura she felt a little bit like a "lesson horse". Just... not real thrilled but doing her job. She watched her go and thought she looked a bit sore/weak in her stifles. So maybe that's what it is... I don't know. I was going to give her the mo...

  Today was a wonky day. Our Tuesday lesson got moved to today but then Jacel had to cancel because she couldn't find a petsitter. So then Laura and I had made plans to ride together at 5:30, and then she wanted to do earlier. But then Dan was an idiot and lost his shoe and Russel said he could come by around 2:30/3 to put it back on. Which would have still been plenty of time for me to meet Laura at 4:30. But then Russel didn't get here til 3:15. And as soon as he got Dan's shoe back on, I said bye and then grabbed Lyric from her stall and went to load her up. I realized that even though I had checked before Russel left to make sure they all had their shoes (they did!) I didn't realize that she had half flipped out her pad. So... I called him and he said he would turn around. Luckily he only made it to the stop sign at the end of Dixie.  So.. he came back over and pulled the shoe and replaced the pad. Doh. So then I was about to load up again but Laura messaged and sai...

  I didn't necessarily want to ride today. But I didn't necessarily not want to. It was a beautiful day and I had already ridden the other two. But I figured if I didn't ride Lyric today, then she wouldn't have been ridden much before our lesson. And, I kind of wanted to ride. I just kind of wanted to do other things too... in theory. But I didn't actually want to do them. I wanted to get them done, but not do them. Ha! So riding won out.   We rode at home and she was a good girl. We started out in hand and did some yielding the forehand and yielding the hindquarters and some bending through the barrel. Then we side passed the pole and then we trotted in hand. Then I got on. We did some lateral work at the walk. She still is not really able to bend her body around my left leg and put her haunches in without counterbending in the neck. I don't know why though! So we picked up the trot and did lots of figure 8's on ten meter circles to help stretch out her bac...

 Rode at home. Was rather nice earlier but got hot and steamy quick! Good girl though. Still very stiff laterally, especially tracking left. but much improved if I thought of sitting on her right hind and lifting her left shoulder. I think she falls onto that left shoulder both directions.. helpful but still struggle. may need to try to help her understand that/fix some fascia/ ?? but overall quite good and had some lovely movements. she was offering forward and upwards with minimal ask. a bit more self carriage but did have to remind her frequently. got more correct leg yields today. and even played with haunches in and shoulder in. Definitely HARD to haunches in left. 

 

 

 jump lesson got cancelled. so jumped with julia anyways. thought we were gonna get stormed out so didn't do a ton. definitely need to get back to it with her. She is NOT funny. But she's so much better than before. Braver and bolder but still needs more support and encouragement. She did take a flyer though. good girl. But also chipped a bunch. But she did still jump even when I jumped a stride ahead. And did the bounce. good girl.  I just need to be more encouraging instead of doing nothing.  walked julia home and then hacked back. didn't get rained on but it rained around us