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Looking like he forgives me for my fuck ups as long as there are cookies |
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In of the 1 |
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Out |
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To the 4 |
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Still jumped it just fine in spite of the multiple leads around the turn |
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Looking like he forgives me for my fuck ups as long as there are cookies |
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In of the 1 |
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Out |
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To the 4 |
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Still jumped it just fine in spite of the multiple leads around the turn |
Starting the wrap up for July with some updated conformation pictures. Never mind the fact that these were taken in August and post-ride hosing. Not ideal, but y'know, if I was only willing to take them when he was perfectly clean and not sweaty we really wouldn't get any summer shots. I tried, and failed, to remember to take them the day his feet got done. Because I haul out to my friend's place, once he was done I just tossed him straight back on the trailer. Also, on closer inspection, her mats are over sand and not as even as the wood that this spot at Ms. GY's.
I keep panicking about him gaining weight, so here's our June comparison. Which I think actually does show some weight gain. UGH! He's more dressage horse round right now than svelte event pony. We've still got a couple months of good grass, but it is sooooo sweaty/easy to create rubs right now that I'm reluctant to put his grazing muzzle on him. I need to either do that or submit another insulin level to at least make sure we're not creeping up there. It would be silly to put all this work into his fitness and supplements and such and then let that happen...
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June |
|
Butterball |
Training rides |
3 flat rides with my friend while I was
out of town |
Lessons |
4-
3 dressage + 1 jump |
Hacks |
3- including 1 pond splash |
Jump rides |
3 |
Flat rides |
6 |
Conditioning rides |
2 |
XC school |
0 |
Shows |
0 |
But we did manage to get in three dressage lessons, and the changes are absolutely amazing. I was cantering around yesterday feeling like it was the easiest thing in the world, which is such a huge change. Our lessons in July focused A LOT on the canter. We started with straightening it, particularly to the left. The next lesson we introduced SLOWING the canter. Which was a gigantic struggle with lots of breaking to trot and making me feel like I couldn't ride my pony. I asked JV if he did training rides. He said he did, but mostly he wanted me to learn how to do it. He cited people asking him to get on to get clean changes. He said it was useful if the horse didn't understand the concept of changes, but not useful in all other cases. He did say perhaps Butterball was unclear on the concept of slowing down the canter, so a training ride might be beneficial.
Then I went out of town and my friend who rides with the same two trainers rode him while I was gone. And when I got back, we had more easily accessible buttons. Our last lesson in July, on the 31st, we ACTUALLY slowed the canter down and I felt much less incompetent.
Honestly the lessons with JV make me want to focus on dressage the majority of the time. Butterball feels totally happy when ridden in this clear 2+2 = 4 kinda way. Even when we were struggling majorly with slowing down the canter, JV laid it out clearly for me... if he broke to trot, was the trot slower than the canter had been? If so, then pick the canter right back up to correct the break. But if the trot was faster than the canter had been, then SLOW the trot, since SLOW was what we were initially asking for. Anyways, stay tuned for our transition to dressage and trail pony extraordinaire, at least until I look at the costs of USDF showing...
Even though we didn't get to many jump lessons, now that we're back with Ms. GY, we have the ability to set mini courses at home. Her arena is a bit larger than a standard dressage arena, so it isn't a full, full course, but we can still string 5-6 jumps together in different ways. It is GREAT to have this ability. The decision to move back to her place wasn't without some angst, especially because our former barn owner took such great care of the difficult to care for Goggles, but overall it was the right move for Butterball and me at this point.
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This.. this is why the pony is getting more and more round, but also tell me you don't want to gallop across that field |
Overall July was a productive month for us. Butterball is still sweating and feels great in his work. This time of summer in Florida always feels just focused on maintaining and surviving, so it is great that we've continued to progress in the dressage work. Knocking furiously on wood, we've only had to deal with tiny little patches of rain rot. And his feet look FANTASTIC! At his farrier appointment this week, at four weeks, his farrier gave him an award for most foot grown. And he grows strong, beautiful hoof, even in the WET summer. Thank goodness for pony feet!!!
I started August going out of town again, but the rest of the month will be pretty focused on getting to Chatt successfully. We are headed to a schooling jumper show Wednesday and then a dressage lesson on Friday. Ms. GY is going to bring her thoroughbred, and I'm so excited to watch their lesson. I'm aiming to keep up weekly trot/canter sets OR pond rides for the remainder of August. Then in September we start our twice weekly conditioning rides for the three day in October.
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His fave water source at home because... Horses |
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The energy level Butterball had after this lesson. Pony was TIRED. |
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Zing out cross country |
Pony Club SJ rally |
In my dad's backyard |
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Beach pony |
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Trail pony extraordinaire |
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Winning our BN division at the horse park when he was 22 |
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Playing XC in a field many, many years ago that is now a housing development about 20 minutes from where I currently live |
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Photo by Victoria DeMore Photography - since it was the first day of June I'm posting it again |
|
Butterball |
Training rides |
0 |
Lessons |
5-
2 DRESSAGE(!!!) And 3 jump |
Hacks |
5- including our lake adventure |
Ground work, lunge, long line |
1
hand walk around the GY’s neighborhood |
Flat rides |
8 |
Conditioning rides |
0 |
XC school |
1- Magnolia Sands |
Shows |
0 |
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North Georgia was absolutely lovely |
The big news this month was starting lessons with our new dressage trainer. In the first lesson we focused on reaction. The second lesson we worked on balance and a few down transitions. The third lesson we worked on turn on the haunches, left lead canter, leg yields, and a bit of shoulder in and extension.
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How perfect is this pony? |
We also got his saddles checked. The jump saddle needed a bit of flocking added in the front, but the dressage saddle was still great.
Butterball moved to the GY's this month.
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Enjoying the shady barn for sure |
He had a brief run in with Ms. GY's thoroughbred who, noting that Butterball was willing to be submissive, then tried to kill him. It was horrifying. Fortunately other than a few bites, that ended okay. Butterball actually now goes out with her other two horses who both bit Goggles and Ben incessantly. But Butterball is very willing to be under them in the pecking order and stay out of their way, in a way that is smarter than both TBs were. So he actually hasn't gotten bit at all.
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Back on these beautiful trails |
The other big news was that we bought property. And while I initially planned on a five year plan to getting there, that quickly changed... I would love to have him at home much sooner. So now we're plotting fifth wheel options until we could afford to build. Which has meant some fun playing with possible property layouts. And also some sobering moments asking the internet to approximate costs of things. Realistically, I think a 1-2 year time frame would be reasonable...
We did get off property for one trail ride/pond splash with plans to go again (or to a different location) at some point in July with Ms. GY.
Overall a super productive, albeit warm, June. I'll be out of town for a bit again this month, but we'll keep working at our dressage and jump lessons. I think August will be our return to competing with a trip up to Bouckaert Farms (formerly Chatt) for another Novice run.