Ready to be inspired!

If you don't know the Olympics start tonight!!! Everyone should Watch and support our country's athletes who have worked so hard to represent us. I am so excited to watch and be inspired by them! Webby and I are doing really well! But I think we are about to up the ante ;) my core and seat are getting stronger and so is Webby. We are truly making some great progress!

GERMAN!

Over the past couple days we have taken a few videos of Webby an I. I am ver happy with his progress (hopefully I can post it soon. It's on Betsy's video camera), but after watching them I saw things that I really want to fix! So yesterday I told Betsy that I want to go into hard core training- no more loosey goosey in my core and no more too tight curb reign! Also I wanted to work on getting Webby more forward with more jump at the canter. Well she gave me what I asked for and went totally German on me! She told me I need to respond more quickly and not take so long to prepare for each movement, transition, adjustment, etc. "boom. Halt now. Canter now. Small zig zags on and off the rail in canter with flying changes. Off the rail now. Quicker. And change. Back to the rail quicker. Stay strong in your core. Engage your abs, now come with power from your flutes and hamstrings and bring him up to your hands. Watch your curb reign. Don't let his shoulder fall out. Make him quicker behind. Come bump bump with your lower legs. Come on! More. Watch your curb. Bring your right shoulder back and down. Lift him up to your hands. Soften him in front. Flex flex to the inside, support his outside shoulder, a little kick with the inside leg, tap with the whip. Give with your hands but come immediately with more power from your seat." This was Betsy's commentary durin my lesson! Very intense! I did get a compliment out of her though ;) "nice position here." Haha it was a lot to take it, but I liked being pushed! And Webby was even more fabulous today than yesterday! So it's working! Webby's hairs have really improved- he is lovely, up, round, through, and has a nice bounce and swing. I am very very happy with him :)

Update

Betsy has been out of town at a clinic so I have just been riding on my own for the past couple days. Webby has been a rock star though :) so I'm very pleased with him! Just thought if give y'all an update so no one thinks I've fallen off the face of the earth :P

Double bridle

I have been struggling the past couple of days with Webby being to heavy in my hands. I had not asked Betsy to get on him because she had knee surgery a few weeks ago. But when I told Betsy a couple days a go that Webby was really heavy she offered to hop on him to feel what was going on. She was able to get him lighter, but suggested that I put Webby back in a double bridle. Sometimes it's just not worth fighting over some things with a horse :P also Betsy felt that I have been driving Webby too much with my legs, and thy I need to lighten up and relax more. Let him do the work! A double bridle is exactly what it sounds like. It is a bridle with two bits and two sets of reigns. It is only allowed to be used in 3rd level and above. Webby has been much better in the double bridle the last couple days :) but I would like to note that a few weeks ago he could not have gone in it. It has been important to get him to stretch his neck down and bring his back up before putting him in the double which gives the rider more leverage. If I had put Webby in the double too soon it would not serve the correct purpose. With that being said, we practiced 4th level movements on Saturday and Sunday and Webby was a champ! He has developed the muscling and habits of being properly through his back so now with the double bridle he is very light and lifted through his shoulders. We are going to a schooling show tomorrow evening to do our first 4th level test! Although things did not go perfectly while practicing, I am feeling very confident that Webby and I are ready! I am also interested to get a judge's point of view on where we are and what we need to improve on before we go to the recognized shows in August :)

Long Lining

I have started to learn how to long line Webby! Not only is this a great skill to have in general, but Webby is responding to it very well AND it is helping me literally see the improvements he is making instead of me just feeling them or Betsy telling about them :)

Basically long lining is a form of lunging except there are two lines that connect to either side of the horse. So when then horse goes around you in  a circle, you hold the two lines like they are reigns. The main purpose of long lining is to allow the horse to find balance and roundness in their body. Long lining is an important toll because it allows you to teach the horse things without someone on their back getting in the way or muddling signals. Long lining is a very straightforward way of show the horse how you want them to use their body, and you have more leverage on the ground so you don't have to fight with them if they are having a hard time understanding.

Good news though is that Webby is doing so well! He totally gets the long lining and seems so happy to do it! It has greatly improved the quality of his gaits, and I hope that it will continue to have this effect. I am also taking to it pretty well- Betsy said I am a natural :) which is exciting! I am excited to continue to learn more and get better at this and continue to watch how it helps Webby grow. The best part is after a few times of long lining, I could really feel a significant difference is Webby's movement the next time I rode him. So we are long lining Webby at least once a week since it has been so successful thus far.