That's Unfortunate

Yesterday was crap compared to Sunday's ride. Both in the Passier.

I don't know what our deal was, but neither of us could get it together...

Yankee thought he was a 3 year old again and spooked at every leaf and decided bending and using his back correctly was not in his gameplan for the day. Instead he was gonna run around on the forehand and run through contact and be all kinds of strung out and crooked.

Now, I can't blame him all that way... my riding was COMPLETE SHIT yesterday. I just could not keep it together
.
I mean look at this picture. How HORRID is my equitation here?? Shoulders rounded, tipping forward, chair seat, hands down......WTF.

All day I could not seem to keep myself aligned and I KNOW it was causing some problems.
It was a viscous circle...he wouls act up, I would ride defensively and start to crouch, he would resist, I would get pissed.

And so it goes.

Now we had some ok moments...




But most were like this....

Thanks for the distraction Komik...

oh nice, that'll win some good points..

Anyways, just frustrating. I'm sure you all experience ups and downs but I say this over and over again...I'm sure you;re sick of hearing it.
"Oh god we had such a nice day today! I freaking love my horse! We win everything! Oh noes today sucked, I hates him. Why do we suck so much???"

Yesterday he was EXCEPTIONALLY stuck. Like, not bending at all and sucked back in the contact. I have a feeling it had to do with the major wind and Komik providing excellent distractions.

I tried everything.

Wide hand placement, half halts on inside rein leg to outside rein, no half halts, stretchy circles, transitions, renver/traver. sidepassing........NOTHING loosened him.

We fought. We bickered.

Then we both got tired and gave up and looked somewhat normal.

This was not a saddle issue. This was just a case of us both sucking ass.

Getting some bend


VERY nice L canter, his worst direction
oddly. BIG half halting here though and inside leg/rein to outside


Another pretty nice canter L


counter canter practice, again with my EQ


pretty good, except he is WAY too bent...


Some extreme haunches in




Not too hateful. Our trot work was the worst though.

ALSO...

I AM WAIT LISTED FOR THE DRESSAGE SHOW NEXT WEEKEND. noooooooooooooo!

I have an icky feeling they let ALL the riding college students from William Woods and Stephens get in first then put everyone else in if there was room because I sent my entry 2 weeks before close and I am waitlisted.

Whatthecuss dude.

Anyways...just took an exam, most likely rocked it (fingerscrossed) and now I can take a breath from school and concentrate on EA this weekend! So much to do! I shaved his face yesterday, don't know if you can tell.