Notes for this week...

Thanks for posting the pictures, Sarah! It doesn't matter if they aren't great - it's always fun to see young horses under saddle for the first time!

We will definitely try to get some additional pictures and maybe some video when Sarah is here tomorrow.

Here are some updates from earlier this week:

Duncan: He is progressing each day! On Wednesday he was good in the cross ties and also pretty good under saddle. He still bucked one time on Wednesday, but after I got after him he was great. It is still relatively hard for him to balance in the canter, and he wants to fall on the inside leg. But with a combination of leg and moving my weight to the outside, his balance is getting more consistent. He's been very solid on the lunge line, and I know the lunging will help his balance. My goal for next week is to get solid work without any bucking! :-)

Cessna: We cantered on Wednesday!!! He was quite unsure about himself, but he did it! His steering is getting better every day. He sometimes has a hard time focusing on me instead of his surroundings, but that will get better. Next week I'll just continue to introduce more canter. He does spook once in a while, but because he is so BIG, it always seems like slow motion! Ha!

Diva: Wow, I have alot of young horses! Diva has been the exceptional one of the bunch. With Lisa's help this week we went from sitting on her - being led around - and then doing some trot on the lunge line! Of course it would be the girl that was the fastest learner!! If all goes the same, I'll probably try her solo this week. That's always an adrenaline rush!

William: William has been my challenge for the last couple of months. After seeing that Jeremy can get on him and get 18 ones, it is obvious that he can do it, but he doesn't do it with me! Ugh! Nothing like a little humiliation to motivate you... ha! Anyway, I've gone back to working on twos instead of ones and getting them really solid. I think I need to get my aids more consistent and I need to get William more forward in the tempis. Next week will be all about tempis!

Percy/Lisa: Lisa had a lesson on Percy on Wednesday and it is always so fun for me to see how he reacts for the first lesson! Lisa did a splendid job with him - especially for the first time! It is quite helpful for me to see how everyone's seat affects Percy's gaits. If anyone tightens up their hips, Percy will passage, canter in place, or do his famous lateral walk. He is a great teacher for soft legs and hips, and really makes the rider be honest. Lisa had some great work on him and did a wonderful job of figuring him out! Of course, he pulled his "I have to go pee" routine both before and after the ride!

Rex: I had a couple of really good rides on Rex this week. It really amazes me how much he has learned in a short time. I keep having to remind myself that dressage is completely new to him. At this point, Holly and I are trying to teach Rex how to disengage his neck from his shoulders so that he can bend without just following his nose everywhere. It has been pretty hard for him, but he is starting to get it. Once he softens in the base of his neck, his back comes up and he starts using his hind end. Of course, you always get the expressive grunts to let you know how hard he is working!

Tomorrow we will be getting ready for the Devonwood Blue Ribbon Schooling Show. I am really looking forward to this being a blast!! Come and join us for a glass of champagne on Friday or Saturday!

The brave souls are:
Monica and Gen
Holly and Rex (1st show together!)
Kathy and Welka (1st show together!)
Sarah and Bella
Tracie and Ali

This will be Ali's first time out, so any and all prayers are welcome!!

More later!!!

Tracie