And So I Fell...

I finally have something to post!

We had a great little ride on Saturday and I told myself that we were going to do it again the next day. Well, that didn't really happen.

I was excited to go on a ride, I had waited so long for some good weather to get out and ride. But that day was a little windy and although Ava may have seemed calm she was really just on the verge about to blow... I looked passed the fact, tacked her up, and got on (without round penning her first). I thought it would be fine, all I wanted to do was walk around the arena a bit, she was great yesterday. Sadly she started to get really ansy and I did my best to calm her down and keep her feet moving but the BO suddenly walked around a blind corner and Ava had a spook attack. Then after that she spooked like three more times, the saddle slipped, and off I went. Luckily I was wearing my helmet (never ever riding without one!) but that didn't do much for my wrist. It took a while for me to notice the injury but after it kept being persistently painful I moved my sleeve and saw the damage. It looks like my watch smacked into something as I fell but I have no clue as to what it could have been and it left my wrist in a lot of pain. You can't tell from the photo but there is a massive bruise under the skin and some swelling. It has been agitating me off and on so I have been keeping it wrapped in a bandage or in a brace. I was a really bummed when it happened and of course it scared me (I couldn't help but cry a little bit). I just hope this doesn't set us too far back. I hope we still get to go out on lots of trail rides this summer. I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

Thanks for reading everyone, I hope to get some more posts up soon. I've almost hit 200!!

Introducing: My New Saddle!

Some of you may know that for a long long time I have been in search for a saddle that would fit my goofy backed girl. Well, today my search is over!

A little over a week ago I saw that a blogger friend of mine, Mary (all of you probably know her amazing blog) was selling her Wintec 500 Dressage saddle. Of course I was interested but after I read more about it I knew this was the saddle for Ava and I. After messaging back and forth (quite a few times may I add, lol) it was settled that I was going to buy the saddle. So after anxiously awaiting it's arrival it finally came in the mail. I am so freaking excited!

I brought it down to the barn, brought Ava in and tried it on her. It fit so well! Praise the Lord for Wintec saddles! I can't wait for many new adventures in this saddle.

Tags still on girth :P

Flexy Pony

Lots of hugs and kisses for my girl today. She tried so hard and you could tell she was concentrating, boy, I was even concentrating!

We warmed up quickly in the round pen and then tacked up. I've been using my old Stubben for Ava lately and love it but sadly it is too small for Babe and too big for me so I think I may sell it to make some cash for my new saddle. Anyways, on with our day! I started Ava at a walk and began asking for some vertical flexion, she was doing okay when all of a sudden she KEPT the posture! Not for a half a second but for many many seconds! I was so proud of her. We then moved on to the trot and worked on some more flexion, looking good but still needs work. We also worked on sidepassing, leg yields, and arena patterns. I then asked for the canter, she didn't do too bad, cantering needs the most work. Towards the end of the ride I was trotting her and then asked for the canter while asking for her head down and poll broken, she did it! That was one of the best transitions into cantering she has ever done. Of course, I am so proud! After that I ended it, although wanting to do that same thing over and over again I didn't want to push her, at least not yet. We cooled off, untacked, then went on a walk towards the outdoor arena, it was so warm, it must have been close to 40 degrees! I may have said before under stress and frustration that I didn't love Ava anymore but the truth is that I could never stop loving her, she is apart of me. If I stopped loving her it would be as if I stopped loving myself.

The Still Life of Ava's Training

Here are two stills from the riding session I video taped of Ava and I. She doesn't stay in this position, but we are working on that. After I took these stills I noticed that in the first one she looks like a western horse and in the second she looks more like an English horse. I am still deciding whether to do western dressage or classical. I may be weighing towards classical a little more just because that is what my gut is telling me but western dressage is new and would be a great way to get my name out there if I wanted to become a WD trainer or whatnot, ya know!

Western looking pony

And an English looking pony

Which looks best?!

Hot but Connected!

I started Ava with some dressage training the other day. It is literally going to be perfect for us! Dressage gives Ava something to focus on, strengthens her muscles, works her mentally, teaches her to respond well and calmly to my aids. I didn't wear spurs for the first time in a while and couldn't believe how well she did. I didn't even notice that I wasn't wearing spurs until now! It also makes me concentrate so much more, I couldn't believe how focused I was, I usually can't focus very well, haha! We started working on leg yields and then worked more on breaking at the poll, she can do it but won't stay that way. I also video taped one of our sessions and couldn't believe that she was actually becoming connected, it was lovely, no hollow backed pony!

I need to work on transitions a lot. I end up working in one gait for too long and basically just wear her out and get her too overheated, which I don't want. She has a lot of potential and in my gut it just feels like the right thing for us.

Not only did I discover classical dressage for us but I just found western dressage! How amazing is that?! It is still very new to the horse world but this intrigues me and we may end up doing this. The downfalls to doing WD is finding a western saddle that fits Ava for a decent price (less than $1000) and finding shows locally will be near to impossible. As for classical dressage I already have a saddle that would be perfect for Ava (less than $800 and english saddles fit her conformation better) and shows would be a million times easier to find around her. I will be thinking about it but for now we will just be working on the basics. This is so exciting! You can check out what WD is below, it is a simple test that someone is performing.

Here is miss girl in her new cooler, it finally came! I love it, I thought it would be more of a light blue but this looks just fine, I am happy with it. I have been wanting a cooler for quite some time and now it has come!

Back to Packed (Schedule that is..)

Sad, sad, sad... School started yesterday. I ended up changing classes at last minute and I am much happier with my choices, I am already liking them!

I worked a little with Ava today. Since no one was at the barn I told myself not to ride. I just lunged her for a bit. She did great, a little nervous but actually handled herself well (she is not quite used to no horses in the barn, so quiet!). Afterwards we did a wee bit of showmanship, flexing, and then I went to groom her and pick out her feet. My cooler should get here either Thursday or Friday, so excited! I then took her on a walk around the barn then let her get some dinner. I think the new horse that was put into their pasture is chasing Ava and/or Poco off their water, she has done this before but it was more severe, that is why my BO moved her in the beginning; I don't know why he moved her back with them... I am going to let him know the next time I see him, it is really agitating me. I also noticed that Ava has a bump (possibly a bruise) on the lower part of her nose, it was a little sensitive if touched but I put some Sore-No-More on it and hopefully that will help will the swelling. Other than that it was a decent day.

When I got home I discovered something. I discovered what I want to start Ava in! Dressage! I feel like it just clicked when it came to mind. Can't really go wrong with it either, it can lead you in many different directions. I think this will be perfect for us and gives us something to work on every single time we ride (we get bored sometimes). So this will be quite exciting, we can go to little shows and work our way up, just what we need.

Thorowgood T4 Dressage Saddle, around $700.

This was the saddle I was thinking of saving up for, much less expensive than a new roping saddle and it has a changeable gullet, Ava is an extra wide! Anyways, life has become busy again, well, busier than before. Can't complain though, I'd much rather be busy than bored!