Course Work

 Monday:

We did some speed conditioning:D It was SOOOO much fun to finally open Dock up and REALLY gallop him:P We warmed up with 1 lap of walking each way, followed by 2 laps of trotting each way, which he was constantly trying to go FASTER during...until he managed to break into a canter, and then he thought he was pretty cool. *sigh* Each lap is about 800 meters. and we finished off with a lap of canter immediately followed by a lap of galloping, each direction. he enjoyed it thoroughly, but was definitely tired by the end. LOL;)

Tuesday's lesson:

Doc and I started out the week pretty hard:P Our lesson got stepped up a notch in preparation for the show on Saturday. We started out with some similar "grid" work that we have been working on a lot to get more balanced and MAINTAIN that balance in between jumps...as Dock likes to jump flat and fast. We quickly moved on to some course, as Anne and I had decided that this week we needed to add some in, in preparation for the upcoming schooling show and getting him used to the idea of doing a WHOLE course in one long try. The course that she had devised for the day had a LOT of turns, which is very good since dock gets very focused on going straight and forgets that there are more directions than just forward. LOL! Over all he did pretty good on the course the first try, but he was NOT a fan of the random items placed underneath the jumps in the middle to make them look more solid and more impressive. So he was a bit hesitant over all 4 jumps in the middle of the course, so we did the whole course once more, and he was still fairly awkward about going over the CENTER of he jumps so we ended the lesson by repeating those 4 jumps in the middle, and we ended an a VERY good note! He straightened out, jumped balanced, got his leads all 3 times that we changed direction of those 4 jumps:D

 Wednesday:

Did a light hack of flat work and watch Sophie's lesson with Anne. I think that watching other peoples lesson are about as educational as getting a lesson yourself:

Thursday's Lesson:

...I kind of asked for it...On Wednesday morning Anne gave a lesson to ne of her other students, and she had changed the course a bit to have a bending 3 stride and continuing on the same bend to a 4 stride. Well, I watch this lesson and the bending triple looked like a LOT of fun!!! So I opend m big mouth and told Anne what I though and that I was eager to try although I was sure that it was beyond the difficulty of Dock and I...She proceeded to say "oh! Really??? we can do that in your lesson tomorrow!!!" *sigh* So we did! It took us a 3 good try's (the first 2 looked like a couple of drunken sailors were riding) BUT we did it! I am so glad that we did because there was a similar bending line in one of the courses in Saturdays show.  Once again in this lesson we were working more on course work in prep for Saturday, but a new problem arose, in that Dock had VERY little brakes on Tuesday, and I was definitely clenched and OVER using my half halts on Thursday because of it, resulting in Dock breaking to the trot in front of a 2'6" oxer...he made it over the first rail but totally took out the back rail *face-palm* I SHOULD know better, but I still have an inkling of worry that I am going to have a runaway horse...WHY??? I have no idea. Just a mental game I guess. We got over it in the lesson and finished very beautifully, but it sort of carried over into Saturday. 

Friday:
I ended up giving Dock the day off on Friday because he seemed a little sore and tired from our Thursday lesson, so we just walked on the trails in the woods for about 15 min and then he got to go play for the rest of the day:) It was a very relaxing ride though! I love riding in the EARLY morning went the air is just dewy ad icy enough to hurt your lungs a little if you breath in too fast:) its so refreshing:D

Saturday Show Day:

Dock was awesome today:) our first round was not "bad" but I was too worried about him NOT having brakes that I applied the brakes TOO much and, well, he stopped...so we got 6th, then we went back in to do the jumpers and we rocked:) had a clean jump round, went to do the jump off and had 1 RAIL GAH!!! but I did manage to beat my trainer;P hehe its not very often that you get to do that:) anyway, We got second, if I hadn't had the rail in the jump off I probably would have had first:/ oh well, live and learn! Then did the medal class, and halfway through the course I lost my way, I thought I new where I was going but I totally spaced out. NOT a fun feeling. Got sixth again, ALMOST managed to stop in the cones though:P didn't quite get the trot transition that was asked for in a 5 stride line AFTER an oxer, going to a 2' vertical...but we were pretty darn close. cant ask for much more. over all it was great day and doc and I had a great "practice" day before Lincoln Creek 1-day next weekend:) Sadly I only have video of the first round as my videographer was too busy yelling at/for me to remember to get it on tape. but there are some photos too. Over all, when we're on and pull it together and I ride him right we are REALLY on!! and when we start falling apart, we look like the "greenies" that we really are;) I am glad to know that when we are on and going WELL that it LOOKS as impressive as it feels!!! I had MANY people telling me that we looked great and that we did a really great job! YAY!!!

I think the lesson for this week would have to be that I need to "LET GO!!!" after I half halt:) and continue working on steadying my leg and using my seat to do the steering, not just my hands. Fish-tailing is NOT pretty! LOL

!!!!!!!!!!!!I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!

I will add some pics and video as soon as I get them:)