Sunday, July 31, 2011

Cool in the 90's


The girls and I spent a week in Wyoming having a lovely time in the mountains.  I missed my YaYa Sisters but managed to get a ride in the Absakora Mountains.  My lovely mount was a percheron cross named Frosty (guess Grey with brown ears). Click this link for more Wyoming Pix .


Then, back in overheated OK, I spent the work week playing catch-up and with a bit of lunging work Friday night, rode in the Under the Stars dressage schooling show on Sat. eveing.  Ivy and Pico had a rough start with major spooking, off-course, dropped/added gaits, and etc. during her T-3 but had good rides for Prix Caprilli and F1.  Alaina and Sister were a bit tense in Intro B and noticed spurs still on her boots so removed them for Intro C - not bad considering - even got both canter leads.  Splash and I had a pretty decent Intro-C before a 90-min break.  Back in the arena, Splash was very clear - we were done and what did I think I was doing expecting obedience this late w/o supper.  The good news - I didn't fall off... The bad news - it wasn't pretty.  Ah, good to know there is room for improvement.  YaYa!

The heat wave is expected to continue but we won't get to ride next week since Patty will be off to Clayton's Wedding.  Mallory and Roxy will show at the Morgan show, so perhaps a horsey fix is possible.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Did you sell all your hats?

No, but one did find a new home - the blue hat Ivy modeled looked best so now I have no excuse for sunburn.  It is still my birthday month so we did birthday lunch at LaMansion in Catoosa since Graham's was closed and Ramona's was moving.  Our amigo the server looked cute in a pink hat too.



Krystal's birthday was June 28, Clayton's was the 10th and Larry's the 12th but I got the singing and the home made chocolate cake by master chef Nancy.  YUMMY.

The four girls rode in the "cool" of 10 am and Mallory, Kathy, and I worked our usual mounts and Reilly joined us on Eddie.  Other than the first left lead canter depart, Splash was fairly good.  Some head fussiness at the trot but no break of gait.  Mallory worked to slow Raffles down while I try to move Splash out a little faster.

We will all be sweating this weekend at the 4-H point show with more record temps expected - we hope to run a very fast / casual dress show at Expo on Sat.  The next dressage show is July 30 into the "cool" of the evening.  Alaina is considering Prix Caprilli on Sister but will ride 2 intro tests on her for sure.  Ivy is planning on First Level and Splash and I will try Training level. 
I am wait listed to ride training level with Splash at either the Sept. or Oct L-program so cross fingers that both Kathy B and I will get to ride (Kathy is wait listed to ride ahead of me).  Ivy is game to ride Pico so I will talk with Patty and Anne about that - she thinks it will be fun.  It is to hot to YaYa, but I think an Aug. 1 social is in order.  Maybe it will happen.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Birthday Ride

Had a great lesson on Splash - but it was short - 'cause it was HOT.  No neck stretcher or spurs - but its was OK.  We didn't need to WARM up but we warmed up anyway with some dropped stirrups, neck rolls and arm circles.  Trot work included changes of bend in and out along the long side - very hard for Splash to the right.  After leg yield exercises and bends into corners we concentrated on canter departs.  Splash took correct leads (just one miss to the left) and held together fairly well (just one drop to trot).  Mallory and Raffles make those canter departs look easy.  No LAL until next week. 
The next show is July 30, so cross fingers for continued good work at the party lesson next time.
My sister and bro-in-law were here for the week, so horsey stuff was limited to bringing Trisha to the lesson.  She got several pix of the girls in the trusk and on their horses.  Doesn't want to ride or be a YaYa Rider - its a mystery.  Trisah and Jim unhooked the Invader and headed east/south on the 4th and we headed to the annual Nowata bash.