I know some of you have been waiting for an update on the vet visit that we promised to have up at the end of last week. After my mom was sick with the flu she got hit with a stomach bug. With my mom sick, we were not able to get a new post up this week. She is better now and we are ready to get our new photos up. My mom will meet with Andie Lane, our photographer, today and pick the photos to post. Andie still will need to upload them so please be patient with us. My mom promises this week the new post will be available. Please make sure you check back for the cool story.
This weekend we horse showed at Triton Stables. It was the first show of the season there. It was a great day for riding. My mom woke me up at 4:45 a.m. and we got to the barn at 5:50 a.m. to get Skittles loaded. My mom was still feeling a little sick so I had to help her out as much as I could. Ashley went to the show also and was able to warm Skittles up for me. After Ashley worked with Skittles I saw my mom and Ashley talking. Then the most exciting thing happened. My mom said in my second hunter round I could try to do flying lead changes since Skittles was good in the warmup and there were only two of us showing in the division. I was so excited! In my equitation over fences and first hunter round I did simple changes just like normal. I could tell Skittles was ready to do flying changes when in my equitation over fences class, after the last jump, as I tried to slow him to a trot to switch his lead he popped a clean lead change instead! In my second hunter over fences class I had to ask for the flying change twice. I was very nervous. I held my outside rein like I have been taught and sat up very tall and still and he switched the lead but had to cross canter for one or two steps before he caught on the back for a full change. I was very proud of him. We won all five of our classes on Saturday and Skittles was a perfect little boy.
On Monday it was 72 degrees in North Carolina and a great day for riding. My mom was feeling better and told me it was in my best interest to get in as much practice as possible before the Bennett Bunn show this weekend. We worked on keeping a consistent pace by cantering while singing! I would sing “one, two”…”one, two” or “good pace”, “good pace”, “good pace” around the ring. Then we added ground poles and practiced keeping the pace consistent and straight lines to get good distance. To work on my equitation, my mom made me trot and canter around the ring over and over in two-point position and then I worked with no stirrups on the flat and over ground poles. I also worked with Skittles on simple changes. Since we did the flying changes at the show he seemed extra excited when I would approach the corner or a diagnol line so we worked on getting him settled back into the simple changes. He was very good after he got the idea that I did not want him to do flying changes. For my over fence work, my mom made me recite the four reasons you sometimes get a bad distance. I told her… leaning to the jump, cutting corners, zig zagged lines, and inconsistant pace or change in pace will cause a bad distance. Then I jumped some lines working on keeping away from the four taboos and sure enough I got all my distances. It was a long and hard practice but I will be ready for this weekend.
My mom also heard from Jenn Johnston this weekend and they will be returning from Palm Beach next week. I have my first lesson back to Southern Pines scheduled March 22nd. I cannot wait to hear all about Florida. There should be a lot to share this week so make sure you keep checking back!
