Monday's Lessons

Today was awesome!!! All 3 horses were super and mom, Lientje, and I all feel like the horses are making lots of progress =)

Starting with Cashew at 8:15 am, it was actually chilly here. I rode the beginning of the lesson in a jacket! haha. Anyways, Cashew was very forward today right from the start. She was a bit "saucy" as Lientje said, actually taking the bit and running through the shoulder a few times. Nothing serious and we worked things out. Her frame was higher as well, so we worked on lots of suppleness and moving away from the leg. She was brilliant! Forward and pushing in a good frame. What more could you ask from a 4 year old!?!?! Both mom and I are very excited for her progression over the next few weeks.

Oslo went next at 10:30 am and he was also brilliant! Big, exuberant trot, and a much better jump in the canter today. The trot was so much steadier today and Oslo seemed more confident in the work, so we took the big trot into the lateral to see if he could sustain it. It was a success! I really have to ride it and help him out most of the time, but Oslo is really starting to be able to hold the throughness while pushing so much better from behind. It sure feels like we are on the right track! Now we just have to figure out the mental part of Oslo and we will have one heck of a horse! =)

Last, but certainly not least, was Skippy. Again, we were working on a bigger trot and a steadier connection. As soon as he would hit the bit we went to the half-steps to sit him back down and get him more on the seat. It took a lot of half-halting and quick hands to keep him supple, but in the end we had a much bigger trot without me being pulled out of the saddle! His canter was great as well. Much more active and again, a better connection. Lientje officially wants an "I Love Skippy" t-shirt now too!

So, overall a great day with the horses and I am so excited for all of them! Hopefully we can keep this up for the next couple of weeks!

This evening we are taking mom out for dinner before she leaves for home tomorrow morning. She is flying out of the San Diego airport tomorrow morning and then meeting us in San Fransisco in a week and a couple of days for the Woodside show.



Linds