Long Time No Post!

It has been about 3 years since my last post! How can that be? 

So much has happened! I am now showing 1st level and trying to earn my scores for my bronze medal! Gryfon and I have come so far under the instruction of CG! She has really stuck with us helping us improve day by day, week by week. I went to 4 rated shows last year but didn't get me scores for 1st level. I need 2 scores of 60% or over. This highest I got was a 59.7% SO CLOSE! 

In other news, I started showing a training level freestyle! What a rush! CG helped me with the pattern, but I created my own music! I am super proud of it!

Check it out on my YouTube channel HERE!

Enjoy the 2025 Halloween Show pictures! We KILLED it!

Did anyone get the plate number of that truck?

My lesson last night started off fantastic.  We did our normal walking warm up with lots of bending, circles and serpentines. We moved on to a little bit of leg yields and Gryfon was really trying. I am finally getting the feel for how much contact he needs and how firm my leg aids need to be. I'm also working on using my outside aids to turn and not my inside rein as much.

We moved on to some trot work and did a few movements from the Intro B test. I had a great time lengthening and shortening his trot stride! It felt great! In-between trot circles we took walk breaks and worked on leg yields from different areas in the arena. CG blew my brain by asking me to leg yield a few steps in one direction and immediately doing a leg yield a few steps in the opposite direction! I finally got a handle on my aids after a few attempts. 

Towards the end of our final trot work, Gryfon spooked and took exit stage left and I went right. I came off and landed in the dirt. (I'm fine, sore, but fine, annoyed that I need to buy a new helmet, but fine) I'm feeling like I was in a car accident today.

CG got on Gryfon while I pulled myself together and found out Gryfon spooked at a very narrow sunbeam that had crept its way into the side of the arena. Gryfon was absolutely convinced it was going to eat him in one bite. Once we figured out what spooked him,I hopped back on and did some walking around until we both a relaxed a little. 

Post "El Diablo Sauce"

I got off work a little early and the sun was actually shining! I immediately headed outside to tack up and ride! I turned the horses out at lunch so both boys got to get bucks and wiggles out. I loaded up my mobile tack cart and rolled it out to the arena. I got Gryfon and groomed him and tacked up right in the arena. I walked him down to the end of the arena to set up my Pivo. I must have hit the "stop recording" button putting my phone on the pod. I got a .7 second video of my hand...ugh

I began walking him on a fairly loose rein but asking for big loop serpentines. As he warmed up I shortened my reins and asked for smaller circles. We did figure 8s as well as some leg yields from center line to quarterlines. Then we started on trot work!

He was such a good boy with so much try tonight. I tried to support his outside shoulder with my leg in each direction. I paid attention to his bend and kept a steady tempo. It felt magnificent! There is a soft spot in my arena, not surprising after the horrendous weeks of rain we've had, so I tried to adjust my geometry to keep him from stepping in it.

After trotting, we took a break, working on a free walk corner to corner, with a medium walk on the short sides. After the break I moved on to a little canter work. I was able to pick up both leads multiple times! 

To cool down we practiced down Centerline and halt at the walk. All in all it was such a fabulous ride. I was so relieved to have my normal steady Eddie, mild sauce boy back! We finished off the night with another BEMER treatment.