Sorry For Cursing?

WHOOPS. Probably shouldn't uploaded that to the net without listening to it...I forgot I am very verbal when I ride. We all curse right?

Anyways, the XC school went pretty good.

I googled the virtual coursewalk for the event this weekend, and most of it was CAKEpie. The only concern I had was with the bank up to a coop. Bank up combos is not our thing...and he aptly proved that by refusing this combo...

(A-bank up was fine...one stride to...)

(...B-coop, aw, failtastic.)

...4 times before realizing he was a big boy and that measly jump was too easy. Horses. Doesn't urt that I actually put the refusals past me and rode the dang fence. Humans.

"Ohhhhh, I CAN do this mom, it, like, so small and easy. What was I thinking? I get worked up over nothing."

We schooled some other fences that were pretty easy too...

I know right, what is up with my hands? In the video I don't know if you could tell, but he was being a pistol from hell and I had to bridge my reins to keep hold of him. He about ran off about 6 times, and literally ripped some skin off my hands..gloves next time.

I didn't want to do much, since it was almost 90 degrees out and sunny, but that was all the time I had to ride between exam schedules.

This fence is a pretty honkin' big'un. Matthew from Dressage Draft (it wouldn't let me link today) seems to think its pie, but I beg to differ. It is a prelim question and the ground right up to it in straight up, then its a drop on the back, to add, it is a VERY tiny skinny. looks wider in the pic, but my legs barely cleared it. I was proud of Yanks since we've never jumped anything like that and he did it the first time.

After the water and the ditch schooling I am feeling pretty good about dressage AND XC for the weekend and I'm trying to shove out any anxiety I have for stadium...3 more exams!

We Can Has Stretchy Circles?

Yesterday night was dressage day. I ran the test through twice after some warm up. I was pretty happy with it overall, but it was SO muggy and hot and Yanks was very warm right out of the pasture so he was a lil sluggish and grumpy. 

I was unhappy with the free walk and stretchy circle. This horse can touch his nosey to the ground BOTH movements so I was dissapointed I couldn't get more out of him yesterday.

I love filming the tests because then I can see where I need work!! Like my extended movements (20m. canter circles after the 15m.) need more OOMPFH! I felt like he was really gettin'out there at the canter but when I watched the tape it barely looked any different. So  more impulsion needed! Same with the extended trot across the diagonal..it was lame.

Also, my transitions UP to the canter need finesse. I have 5 days to improve till we leave, but I don't want to burn him out so he gets Wed. and Thurs off and/or short lunge sesh with a jump school tuesday ( no exams!) and a light school tomorrow in dressage with some conditioning gallops today.

I hate drilling too much before a horse trial so I will just ride today, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday maybe. Friday, I always school by the dressage arenas. I have really awesome times (D: 9-something and XC: 1145 something, stadium Sunday) so I won't have to be rushing to dressage or any jumping. 

I am pretty confident that we will rock out the dressage. My goal is less than a 35 since he has been scoring in the high 30's and LOW 40's (SUCKY I know, but we've had our issues with dressage :/). NO MORE than a rail in stadium (last show we had like 3, GAG me) and DOUBLE clear XC. 

Now, to get through sucky exams. 

Let me know what you guys think about the video! JUST realized after googling videos of the Training level test B, did the trot circles wrong...I was wondering why they were so wonky in my practice run...they are supposed to be done length wise, no width wise. DO'H!