Calm, Forward, Straight

Calm, Forward, Straight

Sunday, February 26, 2012

In the Arena # 106 - Bareback dressage - it was fun while it lasted + chores get done...

Amidst all of the saddle shopping excitement, we managed to fit a couple more rides in this week.

Wednesday, we worked on building up our fitness with more trot work. I am finding leg aids tricky to apply effectively and consistently (half halts especially) without stirrups. This resulted in petering out / unbalanced corners. I also suffered (worse than usual) from inside rein-itis, which skewed our steering. My big clue was how I kept swinging Val's rump almost into the electric fence. I guess admitting you have a problem is half the battle...  almost getting shocked helps too. Yes - I forgot to turn the fence off before our ride. As per usual, once we got some forward action, the other issues were easier to resolve. We ended the ride on a good note with a series of crisp transitions.

On Thursday I set up a cone course. Time for remedial steering class. Let me tell you, steering works waaaay better when you keep the outside rein contact steady. Being a classic over compensator, when I get rattled and have to think about handling the reins, I tend to abdicate inside rein contact entirely, before (eventually) finding balance. Once I got it together, Val appreciated my efforts and rewarded me by reaching for the bit and smoothly motoring around the cones. For a few minutes there,  I would think and Val would do. Sublime. Then we commenced to do an excellent imitation of a barrel pattern - extreme slow motion style.


Theoretically, we only have one more week of mandatory bareback rides. I'm awaiting, dare I say anxiously, the tracking number of my new Sattermeister saddle. Yes - Sattermeister. Haven't you heard of them? Ummm - me neither. While compulsively checking each and every dressage saddle available on ebay one night, I ran across a pretty saddle with an unrecognizable name. I emailed for extra pictures and asked if there might be another name stamped on the flap. Could Sattermeister actually be Sattlermeister - master saddler in Austrian -  maybe? Email came back with happy gullet pix, and the words Karl Neidersuss 17 W Symphonie. After mulling over it for a day or two, I emailed back offering something between the starting bid, and the buy it now price. They said yes. Who knew you could do that? I'm just not cut out for the stress of ebay auctions.

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

Other goings on... I began unpacking and organizing my jewelry studio - finally. And, the seemingly endless search (over a year) for an electrician to run power to my tack room, studio and light pole may be over. Cool - next winter I won't have to shine my car headlights on the paddock to pick poop in the morning. Equally as stressful as the saddle search, and oddly enough equally expensive.


one side hay barn...
one side studio...
piled high...
oh - it exploded!
Made me tired just watching..
us too...

zzzzzzzzzzz...

10 comments:

  1. Love the drooping lip in the last photo!

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  2. Sleeping sweetie boy - so adorable.

    Good luck waiting for your new saddle - very exciting. Equally thrilling - your jewelry studio. How cool is that?

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  3. Love how all the loose ends are coming together now...!!

    And the sleeping Val is too precious. He's having a sweet dream!

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  4. You've certainly been busy! Sounds like a nice ride with Val. Hope your saddle is everything you hope for and that it gets there quickly.

    Great studio, I'm sure you'll create many masterpieces in there. Love all your pictures all the critters are adorable.

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  5. You need better help. Either that or you're working your help far too hard. Poor things.

    And, yay saddle! I had a Neidersuss for quite a while and loved it. I hope yours comes soon and is exactly what you and Val need!

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  6. Oh no - looks like the aliens hit your place with the sleep ray. I'm glad you fought off the effects long enough to reorganize your studio!

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  7. P.S. - I forgot to say that I just found the Shimmy Shack slideshow - totally love! Simple space living - more Val and puppy and kitty time! Makes sense to me!

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  8. HI THERE C!!
    Thought I'd jump in randomly and catch up a little. This rehabbing horse and family member is exhausting!

    Isn't that building the best...hay and office makes for Equine thoughts in designing -with the sweet small of hay, hanging in the air!

    Moving anywhere is messy...cleaning ,sorting and arranging is tiring...Val and the pups have to recoup, just watching!!

    The bareback experience,with softsaddle, Is still happening in my world. It has tested my following seat, balance, aides and all! Of course I'm still in the country and not in the ring like you and Val. Cudos to you for continuing while the.saddle is on the way.
    Did you get a trial period?

    KK

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