Ready, Set, Go(als)

This week has been busy with a mix of schooling and getting organised for the show. It seemed like yesterday that it was weeks away. But time marches on and all of sudden ride times are getting emailed. 

It's been an interesting week with Quaid. He's been a little challenging earlier this week. On Sunday he was fixated on Carmen and what she was doing out in the field. For the record Carmen was just moseying around living her best life and couldn't have cared less about Quaid. At one point we were cantering a circle and he was counter bent. I asked him to bend to the inside and he got pissy and kicked out. I probably held the aid too long but anyway he hooked his leg over the bottom tape and pulled it out. Which freaked him out. I got him stopped but had to dismount to put it back. I was irritated and felt like I shouldn't ride but didn't want to stop. So I popped him on the lunge and worked him until his focus was totally on me. Then I got back on and worked him at WTC until he was soft and tuned in. It felt like a breakthrough. 

pony can trot nice when he wants to

Then I rode him Tuesday and he was really up. The work was going really well until he threw a few spooks, one of which almost got me off. I realised that I wasn't being consistent with my outside rein. He as also being really reactive about going to a certain spot of the ring. So I had to work on riding him forward, keeping my outside rein and having the expectation that he can definitely go to that spot without freaking out. It was good work and we ended on a good note. 

Today, butter wouldn't  melt in his mouth.  Everything was yes ma'am, no ma'am but in a good, tuned in way.  I've added two new mantras to my collection: 

I sit up when I ride

I ride with an outside rein 

Carmen continues to be nearly perfect.  I had a lesson on Saturday and it was so good. Even though, through a miscommunication, I got on her way too early and ended up riding her for 90 minutes. Fortunately she's fit.  It really neat riding her and feeling things click together.  It's requiring me to up my riding and be more refined with my aids. I'm loving it. 

I'm having so much fun

Which brings me to the show. I'm showing Carmen 2nd level 2 & 3 and Quaid training 1 & 2.  It's easy to get caught up in the whole show thing and lose sight of what's important. So I've thought about my goals for the show: 

Carmen: 

• keep her stepping under and into a recieving hand
• straightness and rhythm
• warm up to get her supple and on the aids

Quaid: 

• ride him forward
• be proactive and give him clear direction 
• use the warm up to get him focused and relaxed
• make sure I have him in the outside rein
• if things go wrong, regroup and carry on

Me: 

• stay out of my head and remember that I actually do know how to ride. Repeat my mantras
• sit up and keep my seat in the saddle. 
• keep the outside rein, for the love of god. 
• Breathe during the tests
• have fun 

So if I meet all of these then the showing part should be a piece of cake, lol. 

Carmen: don't worry, I've got this