Ivy Goes to Her First HT

Well this has been a long road.  Still can't decide if I should sell or not.  Ivy is almost the perfect horse.  She will always have a stopping issue and we may never win, but is that the goal? I can take her to any event, trail ride her, camp and she is perfect.  She is safe and loves attention.  Maybe I will just breed her.

Ivy went to her first HT and showed in BN.  I had the only horse that stood there w/ her eyes closed dreaming of food.  In dressage she got a 35 and that put her in 3rd.  Next came stadium.  In the warm up she stopped at all 3 fences including the x.  I couldn't watch after that.  All I wanted was for her to finish and that's it.  The horse before didn't even get over the first fence.  Now Ivy trots in and I walk away, but peek through some bushes.  She was looking good until the first stop, then came the second and an almost, but she made it through the combination. Now she's heading for the last oxer and she makes it w/ a big whack on the butt. She really has good form, nice square knees. Ok, we have major time faults plus 2 stops, but she made it.  Happy Dance!!!! Next day she is out on xcntry.  Double clear.  Life is almost complete, now I have to ride her.  We are Hunter Pace bound on Sunday.  Ivy finished out of the ribbons, but she jumped every single fence.  I can breath now.

Boot Camp at Lontree Farm

Ivy is now getting ready for her first HT in Oct.  I know she will learn a lot at boot camp.  Progress seems on track.  Today we attacked all the logs and introduced some new jumps.  Yes, there were a few ugly stops but in the end she did a little course. She had a stop in the second clip at the end.  She did get over it.  There is hope yet!

Great Lesson!

We have added more Alfalfa to the diet.  I have noticed a more reactive attitude toward horse eating objects.  I really don't know if a diet change could help Ivy jump more forward, but the last two jump lessons have been perfect.  Last week we asked for changes in the corners and she gave them to me.  Today we added the scary purple wall and barrels.  During the warm up she bolted from the shadow bird. 
We approached the barrels at a walk to check them out, but Ivy decided to trot over them.  I was shocked at her willingness.  The purple wall has always been an eye popper for her.  I walked her up to it and she sniffed it. I then trotted right up to it, kept my eyes up, sat the trot to the base and she popped over.  I am so happy and can't believe she has been so willing.

The scary purple wall!

Show Season had Ended

Well show season has now ended for us.  We are going to work hard to get our scores up! We ended with a 64.9,65,and 57.8. Our average at first level was a 64%.  Not bad for our fist time out.  I need to really make some changes to get her going in a first level frame.  I am too generous and throw the connection away. I would like to also chop my left foot off.  We are off to event training in September and the first HT is in Oct!! We did qualify for CDS Championships.

Ivy can Jump!!

We went to Lonetree Farm over the weekend.  Ivy was a super star.  After we unloaded we decided to ride early since the temp. was going up to 104.  Joe worked w/ us on the flat and then we popped over a few little logs.  The next day Joe wanted to see if he could get Ivy motivated.  Well I am happy to report that she can jump and that I will have an event horse after all!

Show Season is Here!

We have been to two shows so far and have moved up to first level.  I still need to have a better connection, but we are doing fine.  In April we did Test 1 and 2 with scores of 63.27% and 65.8%.  Remarks were horse needs to be on bit more and rider needs to prepare more before transitions.  Ivy really tries and I just love being the one with the horse that just hangs out. 

Our next show was last weekend at the Woodside Horse Park.  I was a bit nervous because I was going alone with out support, and it was a new venue for us.  She came off the trailer wide eyed, but didn't react to anything.  The warm up was filled with all types and even a mini pony.  I worked on spirals in and out, transitions and even a gallop.  She was soooo lazy and late to the aids.  I then tapped her from walk to trot and repeated this until she moved to the light leg aid.  Our first class I forgot to trot at C for the final lengthening trot across the diagonal. We ended up with a 63.48 and -2 error points.  Comments were to not get quick in the lengthening. In our second class I got lost again!  I swear I was sooo nervous that I couldn't focus on the next thing.  We got a 64.18 plus -2 error points.  We got a 7 on gaits and an 8 on a halt and medium walk.  Leg yield scores came down from a 7 to a 5.5 from the last show. Again comments were need better connection.  With a first and a second in hand, we had a great day!

We qualify now for CDS championships, and the Adult Regionals.  Who needs to jump.

Saddle Shopping

Since I am not going to sell, I might start saving for a new jump saddle.  I currently own a Jeffries, but feel it is too hard on her back.  County is nice and JRD, Revere... So many choices, but not for those on a tight budget.  I am borrowing my friends JRD and really like the feel.  Jeffries does make quality saddles but my saddle lacks the wool stuffing.

My show is in two weeks and nerves are showing.  Today in my lesson I worked on shallow loops at the canter.  We broke it down to each stride and moving the shoulders over every stride.  She did great and in the end I had her straight w/ out over bending her neck.  We also worked on lightness to the aids at all gaits.  I thinks she's got it! Finally, we worked on leg yields.  We started out of the corner and yielded across the whole arena.  I flexed the poll both ways as we went and tapped her haunches to get more action.  She really gave some good effort.  Since I have been hauling 2xs a week, I just hop on and go once we get there.  Today we saw horse eating Black Angus cows.  Had the hardest time keeping her from bolting away.