Spotless Training Update!

I just got to chat with Spotless' trainer! He only has 12 sessions/rides on him so far because he's been busy with his other job. I think the first 3 sessions were ground-work. He said he's been good; no bucking or naughty stuff at all. He said so far Spotless is taking everything in stride and being a good boy. He said they've walked and trotted under-saddle and should canter for the first time this weekend. They're currently working on giving nicely to the bit. He seems pleased with how things are going. I get to watch this weekend if the weather is nice, it's been raining so far this week. So, hopefully I'll get to see them canter!

Training Update!

Yesterday I got the report that Spotless got his very first ride on him! AJ got on him bareback, then put the saddle on him and AJ's wife lunged them a bit, then he rode him by himself. She said he thought about nothing more than nothing, but overall just looked confused but willing. So that is promising! Yey! With the way the weather was I think he only got about 4 sessions maybe this week, so that means he should get close to 25 rides in his month of training! Woo!

Finally happened!

The sun is here! And because the sun is here, I was able to take Spotless to the trainer! So, he is off the market for at least a month while he gets started under saddle! I'm so excited!

Windy Day Ride

Today I went with Melissa to watch her work her QH filly and then we headed to my house to work Dazzle. The sun was almost down and it was trying to rain. She was in quite the mood! It was windy on top of that, so maybe that's what was up. Melissa lunged her and all through both sides every few trot-canter transitions she was go like a fire-cracker for a few strides just full of spunk. She was listening otherwise, it was very silly.

Melissa got on and rode trot and canter and pronounced it a good ride. She didn't do any of the silliness under-saddle, she never does. Her trot is getting consistently forward and on the bit. Her canter transitions are getting sharp and they are working on being on the bit in the canter now. She's trying to get her to reach from behind more. That's their new project. It looks like the weather will be more cooperative now, so she should get lots of work in before the first show. Melissa is going to be at a clinic the weekend of the first Dressage shows, so our first one will be the last weekend of April now. That just gives her more time to have them awesome!

Spotless goes to the trainer Friday! I'm so excited! I can't wait to see him under-saddle! Wish him luck!

Quite the Adventure

Sunday was the new Appy regional club's playday at a local arena. They had an awesome extreme trail course set up to play on. I took Dazzle for Trudy to ride and Spotless for me to walk through. I want to trailer him a few times before he goes to the trainer. So we got Dazzle ready to go and I turned Spotless out to run before we went since he hadn't gotten worked last week. When I went to catch him, he just ran. He only grazed while I turned him out and then wouldn't let me catch him. Melissa finally caught him and he was all sweaty by then.

We got to the arena, a whopping mile down the road or so from my house, and Spotless was drenched in sweat. This is why I wanted to take him somewhere before he goes to the trainer, lol. So, Trudy took Dazzle in and started walking her through the obstacles. I walked Spotless through them. He had giant eyes and was jittery, but amazing went through almost everything first try. Over bridges, through the tarp tunnel, etc. He was nervous about the mud pile to walk over and wouldn't walk in the water box. AJ, the man who's going to train him, took him and ponied him around and then got him to go through the water box. By the time I put him up he was doing everything. Even big swinging hanging bags that other horses were freaking at. I tied him on the side of the arena for the rest of the time and he watched everyone. Overall, I was really pleased with how well he did. He tried everything even though he was scared and wasn't dangerous.

Dazzle and Trudy did great. Trudy was really nervous so she walked Dazzle around a long time. Finally she mounted up and walked through everything but the water box. Trudy got down and Melissa got on and walked her through everything again for me to tape and then got her to go through the water box, which is apparently much scarier than the puddles we played in last week or the chest deep water she plunged right into on the Trail Ride last year. Melissa got her to walk through the water box several times and she calmed right down about it. Nothing else really concerned her at all.

It was really neat and I really wish I could have been able to ride it myself! I really felt I was missing out! Hopefully we'll get some similar playdays next winter or something when I can ride again.









Videos of Dazzle and Spotless are now up on Youtube.com!

2010's First Trail Ride and A Great Schooling Sessions For Trot

Friday before last we loaded up Sparkles and Dazzle and Ted and headed to Bennington Lake. Ted rode Dazzle and Melissa rode Sparkles and I walked and video-ed parts of the expedition. Sparkles was a bit of a pill, but Melissa was trying to push her buttons so she could work through any attitude issues. Dazzle was awesome! The only time she got nervous was when Sparkles was being silly. She happily walked out away from Sparkles and didn't try to look back. Ted doesn't know how to ride and Dazzle took good care of him. They walked through several big scary puddles, up and down steep muddy trails and even got yelled at by pretty girls in the parking, lol. I was very pleased. If that was her "hot" and fresh she is going to be a trail-dead-head this year. Which is GOOD. Trail horses need to be relaxed and enjoying the scenery.

Yesterday, Melissa rode lunged and rode Dazzle and I video-ed. The ground was dry-ish from a horrible wind storm the last couple days and it was beautiful out! She rode her at the trot and got some of the most amazing trot she's ever gotten from Dazzle. And for the whole ride after warming up, not just a few strides. She was pushing form behind, reaching with her hind-end, extending in the front, she was on the bit almost 100% of the time. She would get super scores on a trot like that into or training, I think it could even be a 1st level trot. When we have that at the canter she'll be able to get awesome scores training and be ready to move on to the shortening and lengthening of stride for 1st level. If the weather stays nice that will be soon. Melissa will work her several days a week and they'll be able to make fast progress. It's hard when you have a snag a ride here and there when it's not a windstorm or pouring rain. Yey for spring weather, lol.

The 3 videos are on Youtube.com!

Nice Spotless Session

On Tuesday I lunged Spotless because it was sunny, even though it was muddy. He was awesome! He was listening, we actually got to focus on transitions, and he looked great! After a lunge session we went for a walk and he was very good, didn't try to climb on me for safety at all. We encountered a scary puddle and it took me about 10 or 15 minutes to convince him it wasn't going to drown him and then he walked back and forth over it with me several times. We went down the lane and saw the scary neighbors and he watched them, but still listened when I stopped and started and back, etc. He was paying attention to me.

Melissa came and rode Dazzle after I worked Spotless. It was muddy so she was being careful, but she behaved nicely, just no swinging movement like we've been able to get on dryer days. I got some video of her lunging. I haven't put it up yet though.

The big news that day was I talked to the trainer that Spotless (and Mister and Britches are supposed to go to) is going to and he is all set up to go. He is going as soon as the weather permits, hopefully the beginning of March. Then Melissa will continue him Dressage and his first show will be the 17th of April if he's done at the trainer by then. Yey! I'm excited!

Tomorrow, Melissa and I are going to haul Dazzle and Sparkles to Bennington Lake and Ted is going to ride the 2nd horse and I'm going to walk and video tape. Should be fun. I'm looking forward to getting out in nature. Hopefully it's dry and sunny for us and not freezing!