Practice Makes...Mediocre

Apparently the pitfall in this relationships is me.

Yankee has been pretty brilliant and I thought I was pretty fly myself, until I looked at picture evidence of my delusion.

I have a serious case of hand in lap.

MUST. FIX.

When did this happen? How did this happen? Why did this happen?

We may never know.

Tuesday I ran through our first test (since I can only sort of memorize one USDF test at a time. Sort of) and it felt a little tense, but overall it was okay. Just okay. WE wouldn't win any classes with it, but he feels a thousand times better than he used to, so that right there is a win. All of our mistake are mine and mine alone.

Down centerline was actually very nice. Solid bend and pretty straight...

Our first extension was...barely there...But I will take a relaxed frame more than a fabulous fip toe and extend anyday even if the judge doesn't...

Merrr..

The canters were relaxed and our best movements. The injection magic is most noticeable in our canter...

Nice and uphill

Good OTTB

The stretchy circle was half our best move in the test. Literally EVERY SINGLE TIME I SCHOOL him he immediately really reaches for contact and is gorgeous, but EVERYTIME I do a test he's like.."contact, hwat is dis?" And only reaches slightly forward and down in the last 1/3 of the circle...better than nothing I guess...

dats okay I supposes

At least he's round and pushing!

The second extension was..better but still nothing like it could've been...

Our trot circles were inconsistent. He was falling out a few times..but I blame my dismal riding and eq...

Hunched shoulders, hands in lap, collapsing much?

Our free walk was aight, I would've guessed we got a 7. He needed more impulsion but he had swing and reach. Pretty hit or miss movement in tests. I've gotten anywhere from 4's-9's so it really could go whichever way his OTTB ADD takes him...

Overall it was just okay. I think it was mostly in MY head and terrible rising so I'm major pep talking myself before we head out early in the AM. The weather is going to be perrrrffff and we (my team) got matching polos! HASHTAG SWAG.

And here's Yanks being derp per usual. I accidentally flipped the reins over when I got off and he just stood there..

After our ride I went through our regular carrot stretchies. I firmly believe these help and he's gotten WAY better since I started them.

Also I don't know if you've seen his trick but its pret-tey imp-pressive

Hopefully our next update will be positive and possibly with some pretty ribbons! I
m really nervous about our leg yeilds in our second test..they're seriously inconsistent in shows. EEEKK.

Go Team Stoney Hill!

All The Happenings

This week was the most eventful of sorts and has put me in a fantabulous mood.

IT began by saying goodbye to my semi-trusty sexual but ancient truck. I've had it since I was 16 and its 14 years old this year...I think I spent more on new tires and repairs than what its worth and spent quite a while worrying about the trustiness of hauling long distances. It was time.

I will miss Big Sexy (yes thats his name. We name all our cars) but he served me well and I shall always remember his service and rusty spots and sticky gear shift and rumbly roar and searing leather seats and crooked headlights that barely worked. Love you baby.

In his place I bought an SUV. And I am madly in love. Its perfect. I LOVE driving it around AND it can haul. My new baby is a savvy Honda Pilot 4wd, 6 seat piece of metal ass.

Out with the old, in with the new

My parents called it the Great Car Switch of Summer 2013. I sold the Big Sexy, in the process of selling the trailer and my car (Green Bean), I took The Boss from my dad for a massively discounted price, Dad took my brothers sports car, The Silver Bullet, bought my brother a new car, Smiley,  Mom kept RedGreen, her Prius and they bought a truck, Ghost. Dad drove Boss here, got Big Sexy and the trailer and went back to OH. Did you get all of that? All in all...it worked out nicely and I don't owe a bank A FRICKING DIME.

So that was much excite.

I am in need a of a trailer though. One that weighs 2k lbs without a horse. Soooo if any of you in the Missouri area know of one...thatd be sweet to hit me up.

I also went on my first float trip ever this weekend and it was SO MUCH FUN. Nothing like drinking for 9 hours on a river with hundreds of other college kids soaking up the sun.

Also much excite.

Yankee has been a DREAM since the first horrendous ride and I am REALLY looking forward to the USDF/SMSG Area 4 Champs this weekend!

Looking very dressagey

The injections melted away his tense attitude and he has literally been perfect since then and oh so sexual in every transition and halt. Hopefully getting pics tomorrow of some schooling!

Levi dog went to the vet and got his nads removed. He is a very sad pup. He hasn't perked his ears once since we left the vet office. I think he thinks I tricked him because he went into the office super duper happy bouncy playful and came out with a look on his face like, FUCK YOU I HATE YOU. Kind of funny in retrospect. Some pain meds and a week of healing he will be brand new though.

 

 

Sad dog is sad.

This week it FINALLY stopped feeling like satans sweaty ballsack outside and cooled to  tolerable mid 80s temps. The Yankee has been feeling very derp lately, whether due to feelin' good or the weather. But its pretty ridiculous.

How special

Very much looking forward to a show that isn't a thousand face melting degrees outside!!