Got back to Alaska on Friday. Went out to see TBM on Saturday. The footing in the roundpen is pretty good! The timing of my Vegas trip was perfect. Missed all the mud of breakup, w00t! *laughs* Lunged TBM a bit, tacked him up and lunged in side reins. Did a bit of in hand work, just to see what he remembers. *grins* He looked good, maybe a bit tender on the harder footing than he is used to.
Had planned to go out and ride him on Sunday, but I wussed out from the sprinkles. They changed my schedule at work again on Monday. *sighs* So missed monday, too! I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, but should be able to sneak out between my appointment and work. Hope to at least hop on and see how he feels.
I've got my fingers crossed!!!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
2009 World Cup Dressage Finals in Las Vegas
So, I had the amazing pleasure of attending the WC Dressage Finals. History was made and I got to watch it! US rider Steffen Peters on the 11 year old Dutch gelding Ravel won the Grand Prix AND the Freestyle!!! His performances were AMAZING. Correct and harmonious. That pair has only been together for about 14 months, so they are only going to get better! I see them as being a strong anchor for the US team for many years to come.
I also got to watch the retirement ceremony for two wonderful horses. The first one was Brentina, and there was not a dry eye in the entire house. Wow. I also got that on video! So, for those of you who were not able to be there in person, here ya go:
The other retirement ceremony was for Bjorsell's Briar, Jan Brink's international mount for the past 8 years. It was very sad that his final performance was not stronger...sad to end a career on a less than stellar note.
After I get home, I intend to post a few videos with my thoughts on the riding and horses.
I also got some very touching footage of a wonderful tribute to Patrick Swayze from the Arabian Breeders World Cup show that was also in Las Vegas while I was there.
I also got to watch the retirement ceremony for two wonderful horses. The first one was Brentina, and there was not a dry eye in the entire house. Wow. I also got that on video! So, for those of you who were not able to be there in person, here ya go:
The other retirement ceremony was for Bjorsell's Briar, Jan Brink's international mount for the past 8 years. It was very sad that his final performance was not stronger...sad to end a career on a less than stellar note.
After I get home, I intend to post a few videos with my thoughts on the riding and horses.
I also got some very touching footage of a wonderful tribute to Patrick Swayze from the Arabian Breeders World Cup show that was also in Las Vegas while I was there.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
big update
I have been remiss in updating all week! Yipes! I will try to do a quick recap, and then some new stuff.
Last week, by some stroke of incredible luck, we had the arena to ourselves almost every time I went out. In addition, we managed to catch the arena after it had been recently groomed, and I love the difference it makes in the footing. I went back to lunging as part of the warm up, and I was VERY pleased to see some wonderful consistency in tempo developing in the trot, along with lovely stretch into the bridle. After the warm up in side reins on the lunge, I did a bit of in hand work as well. We had been working on leg yield in hand, and I added some shoulder-in. He grasped this right away, and I was really enjoying his responses and reactions. He was really grooving on it and grasping things quickly.
Unfortunately, we were still running into some stiffness on that right hind. Overall, I would say that his level of stiffness has reduced quite a bit since we start into work. Also, I have seen another nice decrease in stiffness since we started the joint supplements. However, that right hind remains a bit of a problem. At first he was working out of it nicely, and I contributed it to arthritis and coming back into work after a long time of inactivity. I still think the stiffness in that right hind is arthritis related, but we are going to play around with some management.
Since I will be gone for two weeks in the middle of April (I am going to Las Vegas to watch the 2009 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals), it was decided to move TBM home a month earlier than originally planned. It didn't make a lot of sense to have him sitting in a paddock, not using the facilities, at a boarding barn when he could be hanging out in a slightly larger paddock at home for a lot less money. I think that the larger paddock may help him stay a bit more limber as well.
So, we loaded everything up, hauled TBM home. He walked off the trailer like a gentleman, never made a peep, and just went to munching. He's such a good boy, I love him to bits. Today I went out and just walked him around the large round pen we will be working in when I get back. It is still pretty sloppy/frozen out there, so not much we can do at the moment. I am planning to ride him down the dirt roads in the area tomorrow, get some good long, straight walking in. That will help strengthen him quite a bit.
So, not much to update for about the next three weeks. Although I may post some updates on the rides I watch while in Vegas.
Last week, by some stroke of incredible luck, we had the arena to ourselves almost every time I went out. In addition, we managed to catch the arena after it had been recently groomed, and I love the difference it makes in the footing. I went back to lunging as part of the warm up, and I was VERY pleased to see some wonderful consistency in tempo developing in the trot, along with lovely stretch into the bridle. After the warm up in side reins on the lunge, I did a bit of in hand work as well. We had been working on leg yield in hand, and I added some shoulder-in. He grasped this right away, and I was really enjoying his responses and reactions. He was really grooving on it and grasping things quickly.
Unfortunately, we were still running into some stiffness on that right hind. Overall, I would say that his level of stiffness has reduced quite a bit since we start into work. Also, I have seen another nice decrease in stiffness since we started the joint supplements. However, that right hind remains a bit of a problem. At first he was working out of it nicely, and I contributed it to arthritis and coming back into work after a long time of inactivity. I still think the stiffness in that right hind is arthritis related, but we are going to play around with some management.
Since I will be gone for two weeks in the middle of April (I am going to Las Vegas to watch the 2009 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals), it was decided to move TBM home a month earlier than originally planned. It didn't make a lot of sense to have him sitting in a paddock, not using the facilities, at a boarding barn when he could be hanging out in a slightly larger paddock at home for a lot less money. I think that the larger paddock may help him stay a bit more limber as well.
So, we loaded everything up, hauled TBM home. He walked off the trailer like a gentleman, never made a peep, and just went to munching. He's such a good boy, I love him to bits. Today I went out and just walked him around the large round pen we will be working in when I get back. It is still pretty sloppy/frozen out there, so not much we can do at the moment. I am planning to ride him down the dirt roads in the area tomorrow, get some good long, straight walking in. That will help strengthen him quite a bit.
So, not much to update for about the next three weeks. Although I may post some updates on the rides I watch while in Vegas.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Missed today. =(
My schedule changed suddenly at work, and so was I not able to get to the barn today. I am not able to go to the barn on Thursdays, so TBM will have two days off. We'll see him again on Friday!
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