Barn Dog

Panda is learning to be a barn dog!

She has a healthy fear of Whin which I think is great, I would rather never have her chase Whin or be under Whin's feet.

Whin is learning to be a third level horse... well OK we have a long ways to go, but she is trying her heart out. We had a lesson and we worked on flying changes again (I swear by the time we get this we will have tried every trick in the book) We started out doing canter, walk leg yield the direction we were just cantering then pick up counter canter. 

Whin did well with it, she did keep bulging her left shoulder out, but she did well.

Then we tried flying change, She reacts now and she is trying her hardest to figure out what I want. to the right she was changing behind when I asked and then the front a while later, 

To the left she was changing the front and then the back... far from perfect but Whin sure is trying. I think if I play around with it enough she will start understanding.

She can do nice flying changes... just not when I ask for them. 

I am very pleased with Whin for trying so hard for me.

All King Edwards Horses Call Me Blessed Fool

PS I may or may not have ordered a little more Bling, and polos to match my new saddle pad.

Dressage Diva Photo Shoot

Dressage Diva's are always refined.

                                And that of course is how I ended up with the following pictures.

nothing sexier than a photo looking up your nose

I was trying to get some nice photo's of Whin's head... but Whin was convinced I was hiding cookies!

Whin was a superstar today!

We did lots of transitions today. With in the gait and in the leg yield and shoulder in.

Whin thought it was unfair to make her do squats like that but boy does that make her sooo balanced and her poll can come up and she no longer looks like an overgrown Western Pleasure horse!

Then we worked on Simple Changes and I discovered something very awesome, if I halt her and just as she is making the downward transition I give her just a little tap she tucks her haunches under and has no trot steps! She is so brilliant, I really feel that she has become very willing lately and she has been so lovely to ride.

All King Edwards Horses Call Me Blessed Fool

shoulder in

I did shoulder in exercises again today, they went very well.

I did a serpentine and asked for shoulder in each way changing in the middle. This exercise gets her really balanced. She sits more and that is great. I should do this more to build her strength.

I also want to play around with transitions with in the gait in lateral work. I think that it will help her build strength and make the movements easier in the tests.

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Puppy

Introducing Panda!

 My families new puppy

She is a Sheltie, Border Collie cross

My brother picking Panda

We were not even home yet and she is a snuggle bug already!

Panda and I

Panda isn't sure about itchy collars, but I think she looks good in baby blue

Thanks for letting me share all my pics!

Catch up

Whin and her new boyfriend

 

So last Thursday I had a lesson, It was really good we worked on Flying Changes and Half pass. The way we did flying changes before was not working... at all. She was just learning to be more and more balanced in the counter canter (which I am not complaining about.)

So we fiddled around with it and if I really half halt and then aid for the new lead she will take a tiny walk step and switch leads.

So that is where we are with the Flying Change.

Half pass started off good and then I got a little discombobulated and it went down hill. The movement doesn't fluster Whin, its just getting me to aid correctly, I think that will come soon, but now at least I know what is should feel like.

All in all I have been very happy with Whin lately, I also found  an article on why mares are better than geldings, if you have a mare you should give it a look.

Also Whin found a new boy friend to add to her harem.  Aren't they cute together? I think a Pas De Duex is in order!

No more Guilt

We got a bit of snow today and it was generally windy and cold so I don't have to feel bad about having good weather.

Whin was lovely again today, by the end of the ride she was really forward. She has really had a breakthrough with the shoulder in to Renvers, all I do is shift my weight and she switches.  I also tried at trot half pass. I don't really have the feel for it yet, and my instructor wasn't there so I have no idea if it was correct, but she felt nice.

I do want to start doing more canter lateral work with Whin. 

All King Edwards Horses Can Make Best Friends

Hill Work

I am not going to lie, I feel a little bad.

It has been lovely here, I know most of the nation is dodging Yetis and Blizzards but I guess living in a desert has its upsides. The trails were mostly dry and because they were working the arena (for like an hour, ask me if I was happy about it. Ask me) I decided to do hill work.

I need to start working on this more (weather permitting) because Whin was trying to break to a trot at the top of the hill because she was tired. Those are just the muscles I want to develop so that her canter can improve!