April 26th 2009

Calypso: He was a jerk today. After fighting a little bit, I tried to relax. We ended well. 

Jack: He was exhausted, yet a little spooky. Eventually we got over the spooky corner. He was so receptive. 

-Casey

April 25th 2009

Calypso: I hoped on him after Kellie schooled him. He was a completely different horse- incrediably forward :) We jumped a couple big jumps. He was perfect. I can't wait for Saratoga. 

Jack: He was perfect! I started jumping myself without Kellie. It worked well. No big errors. After that, I jumped with Kellie. He was amazing! We jumped a 3'9" oxer. I usually jump him small to safe him for the shows. He was so good :) 

I also taught my boyfriend how to ride today. It was actually impressive. He learned how to post fairly well without killing the horses back. He looked confident too :) 

-Casey

April 24th 2009

Calypso: We went on a trail today and worked on stamina. He was pretty good, but very spooky. He didn't want to listen when I tried to collect him. Eventually, we got that to work. We went 3.05 miles-with 26.4 mph as the fastest we went. The program I was using stopped working before I started galloping. 

Jack: He was a jerk. He didn't want to listen and spooked often. I made it work eventually. I found that if I hold his head when he spooks, he gets worse. If I let go of it, he calms down. 

April 23rd 2009

Jack: I jumped him today. He was very spooky, but manageable. We need to work on working through spooks. 

Calypso: We jumped really big today. He was absolutely perfect! I was so relaxed which helped making distances work. We need to work on going straight over the jump before turning. 

April 22nd 2009

Calypso: I took my stirrups off to ride him. He got so light at times. I need to make sure when I ask him to gallop, I do it with hand and leg. He was so great. It seems like every day he is getting better. 

Jack: He was a bit aggravating. I couldn't keep him in the corners. Other than that, he was great. 

Handy: I hacked him to show him off to someone. He is funny. You basically just stay there in a half seat. If you do anything else, he gets angry. 

that's it!

April 18th

I showed Jack, Calypso, and Cash. 

Calypso: we did the child/adult jumpers and high schooling. It was so much easier than the last time I did it. Calypso was perfect. We made neat turns and won the four classes we were in. I was especially happy with riding up out of the turns and not making dumb decisions. Calypso was perfect. 

Cash: I rode Cash in two jumping and one flat class. He was so much better than last week. He was smooth, much slower, and easier to get back. We got all our lead changes which was great! Overall, I was so proud of his attitude and my riding. 

Jack: He was perfect! We had a couple spooks at the ginny hens. They were scary. I was happy that I didn't let that ruin the course, and I continued on to the next jump. Each of our courses got better and better. I was happiest with our New England round. I thought we were going to win it, but we didn't :( It was so smooth and out of pace. We both looked like every decision was the right one. I was so happy about it! We were going to do the Maclay and USEF, but the ginny hens were making very nice horses crazy. I didn't want to ruin him.

That's it!

-Casey

April 17th 2009

Jack:  I worked him outside for a bit then jumped  a couple jumps. He was perfect. Sarah got on him and jumped to get ready for a show. He was great. 

Calypso: He was perfect. I rode him in his gag to get ready for the show. We jumped a couple jumps. Nothing was wrong really.

April 16th 2009

Jack: I rode inside. We hacked for a little bit. Then we started jumping. I was having fun, so I did much better than when I am stressing over every little thing. We jumped higher than we usually do. He was so perfect. I didn't pull on his face, so he was great. I had so much fun!

Calypso: We hacked in the outdoor. He was up. I love when he is like that. I worked on tight circles followed by galloping. He was very receptive. With him, I need to work on keeping my reins from slipping... 

April 15th 2009

Calypso: He was perfect. We worked outside first. He was very hyper and up. We jumped fairly difficult courses. I only messed up once. I need to remember to always rock my body back over the jumps instead of forward. 

Jack: I hacked Jack outside in the outdoor. He was awesome. We worked on circling. I need to work on the difference between not pulling on his mouth and not having contact. 

April 13th 2009

Woodstock: He is a school horse at Dana hall. I don't really enjoy riding him. It is hard to get him to go. He is kind of fat so trying not to wiggle while I take my legs off and kick him doesn't work so well. We jumped a couple courses. They were ok. I need to remember to count and take things out of stride. 

April 11th 2009

Quieno: He was great today. Now that he is sound, he is wicked comfortable. He was a little spooky. 

Calypso: I hacked him while the end of the pony rides were going on. Kellie had me jump him big because potential customers were around. I was showing off. lol. Calypso was amazing. He was only in a twisted snaffle. I worked on my position. 

Jack: I rode Jack at the horse show and schooled him for someone else to ride. I was going to show him, but I showed Cash because we needed to school him. Jack was perfect. He was up and excited, but not hard to get back. 

Cash: He was great. He is going to need a stronger bit because he gets strong. I needed to be tougher to get my lead change. I need to realize I am not going to hurt my horse by doing what needs to get done. We ended up reserve champion of children's hunter. We got some 1sts, 3rds, 4ths, and 5ths. 

April 9th 2009

Cash: I rode him in a twisted snaffle and a martingale. He was pretty good, really easy to ride. He has a smooth canter. We jumped a bit. We did a bending three perfectly the first time. I was so happy about it. I needed to land in my heels more and go straight after the jumps. 

Jack: I rode him outside. He was really great when I didn't pull on his mouth. He was pretty good. We jumped a small course. He was great. 

-Casey

April 8th 2009

Calypso: he was so great. We worked on collected cantering and small circles. We did flying lead changes on the long sides of the the ring as well as simple changes. After working for a while, he got hyper. We went and galloped in the field. He tried to buck me of! I rode him in a twisted snaffle and draw reins attached to the girth. 

Jack: He was perfect. I didn't pull on his mouth which made our courses beautiful. I wish I had been in a show. It was the perfect. I'm going to try to do that again. I just focused on rhythm and riding, not finding the perfect distances. I trusted him, and it paid off big time! I rode him in a three ring and a martingale. 

Spyder: She was hyper, but good at the end. We cantered way too fast at the beginning. I worked on slowing it down, which was much more comfortable as well as safer. We then worked on framing up at the trot and using her hind end. We did small circles and switched directions often. Then we jumped a little. I worked on keeping myself slow and relaxed to help her relax. It didn't work completely, but it did more than it used to. We got great distances. I rode her in a twisted snaffle and a martingale. 

Horse show Saturday :) 

April 7th 2009

Calypso: He was so great! We jumped a 3'9"-4' course. We refused 3x because i pulled to nothing. Other than that, he was great. It really helped with my confidence. I need to start believing in the fact that I can jump and trust my instincts. They are usually right.

Jack: was awesome! He was a little hyper, yet needed a lot of leg. We worked on jumping small jumps at the trot and canter and a lot of flat work. He was a little heavy. I needed to not hang so much. 

April 2nd 2009

Jack: I rode him in draws and a three ring. He was great. I used my leg more than my hand which worked well. Kellie made me jump with a broom stick behind my back. It really hurt, but it worked to make me land in my heels. 

Calypso: I rode him in a twisted snaffle and yoke reins. He is still a little sore from getting kicked, but we jumped over little jumps. He was so good. 

I'll probably ride Spyder, Jack, and Calypso tomorrow. 

-Casey

April 1st 2009

Calypso: He was perfect. I learned that if I put a lot of leg on him, like my full leg not just heel, he totally lightens up in the bridle. He was so great :) I rode without stirrups. It hurts 

Jack: He was a little fresh, but not bad. Once I applied more leg on him, he lightened up too! He was strong going to the right. I rode him without stirrups too. 

Spyder: I rode my mare :) She was pretty sound. I love riding her. She was pretty happy. She went hyper when we cantered. I rode her with stirrups because I didn't know how she'd be. 

On another note, this weekend is regionals. I am competing individually. I also got  chosen to compete for the team for Open Flat which is the highest level in high school :) 

-Casey