planBE

Wow. Like really wow. It started yesterday morning with a call from my coach who had reflected on our great session on Friday and had a suggestion for me as we work on improving the connection and contact with Q. “Take yourself out of the equation and go back to the long lines. Practice the transitions between the walk and practice your timing with his footfalls. You will see what he is doing and will be able to do better adjustments. If he can’t do it on the long lines, he can’t do it with you in the saddle. Eventually you can add the trot.” So I pulled out my equipment from the back of my locker and did a little session yesterday for the first time in two years when I was preparing Q for saddle training. Once I got in the saddle, I stopped long lining as at that time it was only to teach him independance and lateral contact, along with transitions. Yesterday Q (and I) were a bit rusty but I quickly understand what my coach had told me about watching for the timing. I could ...

Regular lessons have not been in my wheelhouse lately. I've been mostly sporadic, opportunistic ... and much more focused on the trail riding then on practicing in the arena. Sometimes I might convert a trail ride into a training ride. But for the most part it's been about mileage, relaxation, and exposure. My Q is just fine with that. Especially if it comes with peppermints. But I was asked to join a dressage clinic at the barn this week with a lovely French Classical trainer, who specializes in lusitanos. I thought it could be interesting to spend an hour talking about our shortcomings with someone familiar with the breed type (although my Q is an andalusian, but it is close enough) and get some tips and tricks on improving our contact, connection, and slowing down the canter. Philippe Karl and the school of lightness. Not my style. I looked into her profile online, watched some videos, and hemmed and hawed. I wasn't sure I was ready to receive instruction from so...

What’s not to love? Gorgeous fall colors, blue skies, warm weather, lots of great food and wine! Favorite three-day weekend of the year. Double families means double turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes. The first dinner had a stand-out turkey (best one I had in years, including the epic turduckin of 2017), the second dinner had epic wine and cheese platter. And the beauty was we were guests at both. No panic preparations, cleaning, shopping or dishes. It was lovely. Hosting thanksgiving is a tremendous effort. In Quebec, most francophones (and/or + Catholics) do not celebrate the holiday. Its just an extra day off. But our families have thankfully been embracing the holiday for decades and it is my favorite. So I was plenty free to have some nice rides in the woods and enjoy the warm weather and gorgeous colors. I had a lovely bareback trailride one day, a zippy warm up ride another day, a group carrousel lesson, and a dressage training ride in the woods yes...

It was a cold start on a bright autumn day. I was heading out to do the club’s first ever mystery word rally in the woods. From the start to finish, it was estimated to take 2-3 hours. Me with my adopted winning team. I was a little nervous before we began, as there was supposed to be 60+ rider and buggy teams on the trails with different start times and racing for a finish. But, I nicely asked the organizers to curb the cantering/galloping so it became a walk/trot ride. Much safer for all. Sometimes at these events we have horses that haven't been ridden much in the last few months and so they get quite excited with all that is happening. Loose horse panic galloping in the woods was something I was hoping not to encounter. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. In fact the organizers made the treasure hunt so difficult that you would penalize yourself if you did anything else but walk. I was in the first depart time, and I was nauseous. Having had a sleepless night ...

It was a rainy day, but I decided to get out in the woods despite my regular companions abandoning me. I do enjoy a solo ride just the same, and chose to put on the bareback pad for a quiet amble. I also switched back to my bit bridle with a slightly bigger snaffle which doesn’t pinch Qs lips. Although I enjoyed my hackamore rides, I felt that it was hard to not put pressure on his nose (and create a rub or indent) and I also felt he was starting to disrespect it on our last ride when my buddy and I practiced side-by-side canter on the way home. Ok, maybe that was an unfair test. Anyways, we had a lovely ride in the woods heavy with fog, and lots of sprouting mushrooms. Q was a gem, and I feel he does a good job of protecting me when Im bareback. He got tense when he felt a deer nearby, and did a bit of a scoot when there was some new tires lying about, but he was quite cautious of not unseating me. Things are good. Im riding 3-4 times a week, logging about 40-50 km...