Love my pony!!!!

Firstly, thank you so much to all the people that have supported and encouraged Oslo and me along on our journey! I could not be happier with Oslo after this weekend. I am one lucky girl!

Oslo and I showed our first Intermediaire II test on Saturday. We were the last ride of the day and it was pretty cool to have so many people stay and cheer us on! I have to admit I was getting pretty nervous when I was tacking up, but once I was in the warm-up ring, I don't think I have ever been so excited! Oslo felt great and he seemed to be very focused. Mom as always is so helpful and encouraging in the warm-up ring, getting us to get the rhythm more established in the passage before heading down centreline. His changes even felt pretty reliable. I didn't school a bunch of one tempis as I know we are not super strong or fit at this level yet, but the few we did felt solid. So, with a fairly short warm-up ) we wanted to have everything possible for the show ring!) we went down centreline with Hilda Gurney sitting at C. Our first extended proved he wasn't quite enough in front of the leg and I needed to work at getting him sharper. Through the trot zig-zag he was bending well so I tried to use the lines the best I could to get him slightly more in front in preparation for the passage/piaffe tour. The first few steps of passage were definitely rocky! It took us some time to get the rhythm established - obviously still not enough in front of the leg! The piaffe almost seemed to help as Oslo really seems to get the steps and it quickens him up. Overall though, the passage was a bit shaky but I was happy with the two piaffes. The walk work was pretty relaxed for it being Oslo and he jumped beautifully into the canter to start the next big tour in the test. Our extendeds were not as brilliant as they can be, but they were necessary to get him more in front of the leg again. Oslo loves his steep canter half-passes, as did Hilda! We got 7s and 8s on those! Next the pirouettes on centreline. He was sitting really well, but I need some practice at placing them on centreline apparently. It is tricky to not "get lost" in them as he turns and it seems you have no point of reference to come back to. Gina Smith taught me the trick of looking to the other end of the ring for A and then back to C while you are turning, but it all happens very fast! I was happy with the pirouettes themselves though, so we will work on the placement. Now our favourite movement, the two tempis! Oslo rocks those! 8.5 from Hilda :) Now the ones..... haha. The bottom line is we are not quite confirmed with them and they are not reliable. But, we did our best and got 9, then missed one, and then 2 more. So, just one mistake which I am perfectly fine with. Pretty darn good try for the show ring I figured. Overall, Hilda gave us a very generous 68.289%!!!!! Pretty encouraging for our first I2.

Sunday morning was the Young Rider Grand Prix. Again, I was very excited and having the I2 under our belt, I was considerably less nervous. Still, I knew we were expected to do 15 one tempis and that was definitely in the back of my mind for the entire evening! And the passage/piaffe tour down centreline at the end of the test was more than a little daunting as well.  Oslo obviously didn't have the same concerns though as he felt the best he has ever felt! He was more in front of the leg and so focused. The passage felt more reliable and almost easy! The first two piaffes were not as consistent in the steps as they have been, but our last one down centreline was very good! It was like Oslo knew that passage to piaffe at X, to passage tour down the last centreline! And the one tempis - we were so darn close!!!! 14, yes 14 beautiful, gorgeous one tempis and then the last aid just didn't get communicated through properly or something! One more and it would have been perfect, but you know, I am more than ok with that. The 14 we had felt incredible and we got the last one within two strides, so we still got a 6 on for the movement. The fact that Oslo and I were able to hold it together for 14 lovely one tempis in the show ring is enough to make me feel like the luckiest girl alive right now! I could not have asked for anything else from Oslo this weekend. I love my pony!!!!

Thanks again to everyone for your support. Oslo and I owe you a lot!

Cheers,


Linds and Oslo

Oslo and Lindsay's First GP!

Hello again everyone,

Oslo and I have spent the summer, since coming home from California in the middle of June, training for the Grand Prix. It has been a great summer with some mixed weather, but I remember all the sunny days out in the arena at Trakehner Glen and at the farm! Those are the best days, especially when you get to work on piaffe, passage, and one tempis! Don't get me wrong, we have had some frustrating times as well. One day we have 6 one tempis, the next we have none, and then a couple weeks later we have 15! Unfortunately, we are back to somewhere around 7 or 9, but we know it is possible to get 15! One step at a time.

So, we may be considered a bit crazy and out of our league, but Oslo and I have entered the Intermediare 2 test and the Young Rider Grand Prix for the Calgary Gold show this weekend. I figure, neither of us is getting any younger and we have been having a great summer, so we might as well try it! I am feeling fairly confident about the piaffe and passage (he has really seem to have taken to the piaffe now that he truly understands it!) and all of our lateral work is quite good. The one tempis will almost guaranteed be an issue, but we have a plan of attack and as Lientje texted me the other day: "ride the test one movement at a time because the judges score it one movement at a time." If I keep in front of the leg and on my half-halt I know we can at least demonstrate a number of very good quality one tempis. If the stars are aligned, we may just be able to do the 11 required for the I2 test and the 15 required for the GP. Otherwise, if things fall a bit off the rails, we will do as many one, two sequences as possible, with a one, two, three at the end. Try to keep it neat and tidy, but go for it when it feels good!

That is our game plan for the show anyways! This week we are focusing on exercises to get, and keep, Oslo super in front of the leg. He can do everything in the tests, but in order for it to be reliable, he needs to be in front of the leg. So, not too much test practising over the next couple of days, more transitions and a serious focus on keeping Oslo engaged and soft in the connection, which of course, is just another way to say "truly in front of the leg". We have practised the movements and tests already in the past few weeks, so I am trying to mix things up a bit for Oslo to try and avoid any anticipation in the ring.

We are very excited for the weekend and we hope to see many of you there! I need to send out a huge big thank you to our show clothing sponsor, the DRESSAGE BOUTIQUE and Indie Equestrian. Christel, has the most comfortable and stylish breeches out there. I cannot wait to show in my new white Euro-Star ones! Also, check out Christel's very own fashion line, Indie Equestrian. She has great dresses, scarves, jackets, etc. Something for everyone! You can check out her store at http://www.dressageboutique.com/.

Happy riding and enjoy this beautiful sunshine!  :)

Lindsay and Oslo

Until Next Time.....

Tomorrow is our last day in sunny California for this trip. It will be a sad day as we have made many friends here and had amazing lessons. We will especially miss Lientje! She is a truly amazing coach and person. Thank you so much for everything Lientje!

Oslo and I are out of the starting gate and have big hopes to be able to do that Grand Prix test in the next couple of months! Things are starting to come together and we just keep gaining strength and timing for all the movements. I feel I have so many more tools now to work on the movements and start to piece together the movements in the test. Oslo has been feeling incredible and keeps trying his little heart out. This trip has made me realize again how lucky I am to have Oslo. Yes he has been very difficult at times, but we seem to understand each other now, and I am so ecstatic that he just keeps learning!

Cashew and I have had really good rides lately as well. We are starting to work more cohesively and Cashew seems happier in the work now. She is getting more supple every day and it has been a learning experience for me to be able to get the true suppleness throughout her entire body. It is amazing how different she is from Oslo, making it very difficult but a terrific learning opportunity for me.

We have early morning lessons tomorrow as we need to get packed, send mom to the airport, and then get the ponies, dad, and me on the road to Vegas. With us having lessons in the morning, we will only go as far as Vegas for the night to give the horses a good rest before the two long hauling days back home.

That is all for this trip. Thank you to everyone here, back home, and the ponies for this tremendous experience. Hopefully we get the chance again next year and we would love to have some other Alberta friends join us too! :)

Until next year!

Cheers!


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Soaking up the dressage!

I think we are all getting a bit sad already since this is our last week here. Time of course has flown by and we are desperately trying to learn as much as we can before Friday!

Oslo and I are truckin' along and are chipping away at those Grand Prix movements. Today was a very exciting day as we worked the piaffe and passage with transitions in between. At first I was asking Lientje, "how does one get the big lofty passage down into the short quick piaffe smoothly?" as I was struggling with the aids and rhythm. Lientje just helped us work the transition slowly and gradually, while keeping Oslo in front of the leg (THE KEY!!!) and boom - Passage to Piaffe!!!! And the crowd, being mom and dad, go wild!  :) Love my biggest fans!

The passage we are really starting to build now with me focusing on "pretending we are transitioning out of the passage" because that is where the passage has the best cadence, power, forward, and balance. We have been pushing that and I have really had to develop the timing of when to support him with my leg and then half-halt it all like crazy to transfer all the forward energy into the cadence for the passage. Let's just say, Oslo has never been this in front of the leg before! He has been feeling incredible and I am hoping I can take all of this back home with us and keep building upon it all! The one tempis are coming as well. We keep working more on the straightness and true roundness over his back in order to get the quality of the changes better. Most of the time we can get quite a few in a row, so we are focusing on building the changes now. We often throw in a few one tempis across a short diagonal in the middle of the ride, just to test the reliability and to be able to maintain the canter quality through all the work.

Cashew had a really good go today and was more relaxed again. Her suppleness is really coming and she seems to be settling into the work. I am thinking she is really missing her green grass and large field though! They are both going to go crazy when they get home and are able to run as much and as fast as they want in their field!

As with the horses, I am also getting a bit home sick. As nice as it is here, it still isn't Canada and I miss the wide open spaces, friends, and Canadian drivers :)

A few more days to try and soak up as much information as possible. We will do our best!



Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Last Week

We are coming into the last week of our stay here. Time has seem to flown by, but I feel we have already made a ton of progress and it has been a tremendous learning experience in so many ways. But, saying all that, we still have a week to go and we will try to absorb as much as possible in the last few days!

I do feel the lack of real turnout is starting to get to both of the ponies. Oslo has been quite spooky and I have never felt Cashew with so much extra energy! Both have already had their food quantity cut in half, but the good quality hay here and lack of opportunities to run around are combining to create quite the handfuls of ponies!

I have included a couple pictures of Cashew that dad took on the weekend during a trail ride. She is always looking her best and loves the camera!

Oslo was "Mr. Superstar", as Lientje called him, on Saturday. We had the most amazing lesson and we manage to do it all! 11 one tempis, canter half-pass zig-zag on the first try, steep trot half-passes. passage and piaffe (on our own!). I could not have been happier with what Oslo gave us! He just keep working and offered everything he had. The exciting part is all of those things are starting to become easier for us and even semi reliable! Oslo is becoming much stronger and my timing and feel has improved significantly in the short work. Therefore, hopefully we will be a force to reckon with once we figure out how to put all the movements together in a test!

Looking forward to one last intense week of training!

Cheers,


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Cashew enjoying rolling in her new fine shavings!

Chipping Away....

We will have had lessons Tuesday through Saturday this week. It has been very exciting to build the passage and piaffe each day with Oslo. I feel I am finally getting the timing of when to "help with the leg", meaning to squeeze and ask Oslo to be more in front, and when to "trust him and relax and have a long leg". The latter is the harder thing to do actually! I used to come into the passage with the expectation Oslo was going to quit and fall behind the leg. Therefore, I would come into the shorter work with a lot of leg on already and have nothing left to get him in front once we were actually in the passage. Instead we are trying to get Oslo to maintain the passage with a longer, more relaxed leg of mine, and then when he starts to slow or loose the rhythm, I can put a bit of leg on for a couple of strides and build the passage again. It has been terrific as the passage is getting more consistent and we are even working on building the cadence in it now. The piaffe we are also starting to get more rhythmical and consistent. It is similar to the passage but the aids are even less and I have to focus more on keeping Oslo in front and his poll up. Otherwise, when the poll collapses, the front legs start to be more earth bound and he doesn't have the freedom in front to step up and quick. So the rhythm is thrown off and his hind legs are going perfectly, but the front are shorter and closer to the ground, throwing the energy and balance off. But trust me, it is a lot harder to keep the poll up and Oslo over his back at the same time then it sounds!

The canter with Oslo is also coming along and I am getting more solid and confident with the counting in the half-pass zig-zag. I swear that is one of the hardest movements in the Grand Prix, especially when you have a problem counting to 6! The counting is not the difficult part, it is the counting while changing bends and then asking for a change and repeating without panicking! The key is not to panic because it only takes a second to lose the count and/or straightness and then everything is thrown off from there. We are at the point now though where we are working on the quality of the half-passes in between, so we are getting there! It actually started to throw me off because Oslo was bending so much more in the half-passes, that it made it more difficult to straighten and I needed more time before the change. So there went the count again!!! haha, but with Lientje's advice and calming outlook, I quickly got it back :)

Cashew seems more relaxed again in the work and she has been so much rounder and over her back. She is starting to get a bigger trot and more expressive. Likely this is all because she is giving more in her back now and her suppleness has increased significantly. She definitely still has her tricks to try and do things her own way, but we are trying to work out an agreement!

Tomorrow is lessons and then Sunday will be a day of rest before our push in the last week.

Cheers from cloudy San Diego,


Lindsay + Cashew + Oslo

Lientje's Back!

We had a great weekend working on all the homework Lientje has given us. There is so much to learn and both the ponies and I agree we need to take it a few steps at a time. I am just a little too slow at putting all the puzzle pieces together at the moment. So I find it very beneficial to have the dedicated help form Lientje for a few days in a row and then some quiet time with the ponies to try and feel for the connection and suppleness. Lientje gets the timing and then I need to work by myself to try and teach myself the feeling. This is in one case where it is about as hard as it sounds. Trying to at first feel the different feelings and then be able to identify them so you can quickly correct or soften, is very difficult. But, if you have to go around thinking about everything when you ride, you will never be quick enough. You have to feel it and then almost automatically respond without thinking about it, otherwise you are too late (and Cashew runs through the shoulder or Oslo quits in the piaffe)! That is what I find amazing about Lientje's teaching (and riding) - her knowing and/or feeling for the horse even thinking about going against the hand or leg. She most often catches it before there is any chance for the horse to follow through and become stiff or braced. She still often sees it on Oslo just as I start to feel it and that unfortunately is too late. I need to be better at feeling for that and catching it before she can see it from the ground! Some serious homework ahead.

Lientje stayed a day longer in Germany to look at a few horses so we had our first lessons for the week today. The ponies and I enjoyed some stretching and trail riding yesterday. I think it was nice for them to get a bit of an extended break as they are working very hard. Also, Lientje got to celebrate her mother's birthday over in Germany so I am happy for her that she got to stay an extra day. She is crazy to just go for the weekend, but I know that is the only way she can find time to visit her friends and relatives back home. So I think it was good for Lientje to get a extra break too :) And happy birthday Doerte (Lientje's mom)!

That is all for now from California. Have a good night every one!


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Managing on our own!

Lientje is currently in Germany for her mother's birthday so we have been on our own for a couple of days. Oslo and I had a part lesson Thursday morning - we rode while Lientje rode and she helped us on her walk breaks and while she changed horses. It was good to have her eye on me the entire time, yet it gave me a bit more time to digest some of the stuff. My brain hurts after every ride now! So much focus and concentration needed. My standards have had to be increased and Oslo is responding tremendously to the higher level of work. I have to be so diligent though and keep the standards high! Lientje expects Oslo to be perfectly supple for every second of the ride. That is a lot more difficult then it sounds! My feel still needs to be more sensitive for the soft and supple connection while being in front of the leg. Saying all that, we are making progress and I feel way more confident in the passage and piaffe now. It is such a blast riding the work with Oslo. More practice and I think we will be pretty darn close to the Grand Prix :)

Cashew and I are working on the same stuff in regards to the connection and being in front of the leg! Surprise, surprise! I definitely have new standards in regards to the connection now and Cashew is definitely testing those! Lientje has been doing a lot of in hand work with her though and then we are trying to solidify it in the riding. I already feel the difference in her whole body. She is truly round now, over her entire back through her neck to the bridle.

Friday I rode on my own with mom's encouraging words when the connection wasn't quite right. We are all learning together here and I hope mom is soaking up half as much as I am.

When I rode early on Thursday morning (I just want to point out that I was on Oslo before Steffen was even down by the ring that morning!!! haha, not before Lientje though. She has been on a horse by 6:00 AM every day this week) we got the chance to watch Shannon, Steffen, Lientje, David, and Rebecca ride their respective horses. I always find it amazing to watch the different riding styles and exercises. Very informational and it is so nice to be able to just sit and watch all the beautiful and talented horses! Young and old, green and advanced.

Today was a stretchy and trail ride day for the ponies. Sunday will be a day off so we are all ready to go again for lessons on Monday.

I will upload some photos from the past few days.

Goodnight from California!


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Lientje on Chester, a cute Grand Prix guy.

Lientje and I chattin' it up!

Oslo sitting super well :)

Nice scenery for riding.

Steffen warming up the Legolas.

David on his phone before he loses it in the afternoon (dad found it on the road) and Rebecca warming her mare up, Soleil.

Me helping Lientje out (and watching in awww)!

The famous Regalo (or 84 as dad calls him since that was his score in the FEI 5 year old test last year)

Regalo's brilliant canter.

Oslo and I warming up with Shannon in the large ring.

Week Two

Monday and Tuesday were lessons with Lientje. On Monday Lientje rode Oslo for the second time ever. She hasn't been on him for almost a year now. She wanted to get a feeling for his short work and how to tactfully get him more in front of the leg. He looked absolutely amazing with her! Lientje's timing is just incredible and her feel for the slightest incorrect pressure in the hand is remarkable. To say the least, she has very high standards! It was a matter of getting Oslo truly more in front of the leg and supple over the back. Sounds familiar, eh? Same ultimate goal for all of them. It was so minor but when I got on him Tuesday, he felt like a million bucks! Soft and supple and so properly in front. Therefore, his connection was perfect as long as I kept him on the half-halt and stepping under. His whole body shortened and he felt just that bit more rideable. I feel it is more the training of me now that needs the attention. Don't work so hard and soften your upper leg! It is a bit of a different feeling, but when I get it, Oslo has this amazing passage. It involves keeping my upper body back slightly, loose legs and maintaining the suppleness!

Lientje now calls Oslo "the smartest horse"! She thought he picked everything up so fast in the last two days. He just seems to understand the role of his body in the piaffe and passage now. I am not sure I agree with her on the smartest horse comment, perhaps SMRT smart.....! Poor Oslo. He knows I love him though! I don't think either of us would be nearly as happy without each other!

Therefore, the next couple of weeks look very exciting for Oslo and me!

Cashew has been a bit tricky! Her "red headedness" has really been showing the last couple of days. She progressed so much in the first week I don't think she realized what she had gotten herself into! We started some in hand work with her this week and it has proven to be very beneficial for her body and her mind. I have realized Cashew has never been completely focused on me and the work. She seems to be listening at about 75%. So the in hand work has focused her and caused her to be a bit more sensitive. Lientje does some in hand work and then I jump on for the last part of the lesson. It has made a world of difference in her suppleness and when she is carrying herself with her loose neck, so feels incredible. Those times may be few and far between at the moment, but I actually think Lientje is more stubborn than Cashew so I believe we will get it! Cashew isn't German so I think Lientje has a leg up in the stubborn department!

Today was a trail ride for Miss Cashew to give her a mental break from the arena work and Oslo had a nice stroll along the pond and field as well. Tomorrow Cashew has a lesson and Oslo and I are testing our new tools on our own. Lientje is off to Germany in the afternoon and returns Sunday. Therefore, the ponies and I will go Friday and probably Saturday, with Sunday as a hand walking day.

The weather has been the same every day here. I guess that is why people live here. No reason to check the weather, unlike back home! Alberta meteorologists must have much more exciting jobs than the ones here. But I guess they get to go surfing here! People down here seem very nice and everyone welcoming, until they get in their car. I will NEVER complain about Calgary drivers again, as they are unbelievable here. "California lane change" is a new phrase we learned yesterday. This is when you shoulder check and change lanes at the same time. Likely without signalling too. Drivers are erratic and just plain rude. Oh, and merging is a completely foreign concept to most. Hence why we usually take the back roads to the barn, as the interstates are a scary and frustrating experience. I am extremely thankful for having dad to drive my horses across this country. He somehow manages to stay calm and keep us all safe on these crazy roads.

Until next time,


Lindsay + Cashew + "the smartest horse" - Oslo

Progress!

Yesterday began as a bit of a frustrating day for Oslo and me since we were still really struggling with the connection. He seemed tense and resistant, perhaps not quite settled in yet. Also, it became more frustrating when Lientje began working on the count for the canter zig-zag in the Grand Prix with me. I am not entirely sure what my problem is with counting, but apparently counting to 3 and then 6 was too much for me! I have such a hard time with the timing of the change after each of the half-passes. Praise Lientje for bearing with me and breaking the count down for me. First we just started with the half-pass for 3 strides, then the change and ride straight for a 6 tempi. Sounds easy eh? I didn't think so by the end of the ride! Dad asked Lientje if I was hopeless at the end of the lesson! I know he was only joking (well he better have been anyways!) but I was wondering the same thing! So, I went home and watched the Grand Prix zig-zag on you-tube over and over again! Totilas was a good one to watch as the strides were easy to count.

I came out this morning with more confidence and dad and I counted all the way to the barn in the car! And you know what? I totally got it! Getting that count is the first step and then once you get that, you can focus on riding the half-passes for a 10. No point trying to get the half-passes perfect if you don't have the count solidified. One step closer now! Oslo was so much more relaxed and settled today as well. I felt it as soon as I jumped on and walked him on the trails before going in the arena. He just felt more himself. Therefore, we worked on some of the more collected trot elements, specifically the passage. It is all about keeping him in front of the leg. Slowly bring him into the more collected and then out before he collects too much, because that is the point where he falls behind the leg. No point in uber collecting him right away if I can't bring him in slowly while keeping him in front. Then there is definitely no way I can keep him in front if we get into the passage too quickly. The passage steps feel 100 times better when he is in front - round over the back and always forward thinking so we can get out at any point. I was super proud of him today! And myself for my amazing counting skills! haha.

Cashew was very good yesterday and she keeps becoming more and more supple through her body, making the connection much nicer. We put a bit more pressure on her yesterday using walk halt transitions while tapping her with the whip whenever she leaned into the hand. We are trying to use the whip to "break up" the bracing through her body which results in her pulling forward in the transitions. So a small tap with the whip causes her to sit and shift the weight back onto her hind legs and soft in front. This can be quite stressful though when you are holding them back in the halt and walk because it seems as if they have no where to escape. Miss Cashew handled it well though and her neck was starting to soften and "wiggle" (versus her bracing and setting it) by the end of the ride. Lientje decided some in hand work and long lining would be a good next step since she was able to take the pressure in the halt work. Therefore, we put the caveson on her today and Lientje worked her magic by just working her in hand. The caveson was low on her nose and we had loose side reins on her. Lientje then has a lead attached to the caveson so she can adjust her head position and keep her against the wall. She just walked and halted, as we did yesterday when I was on her, and tapped her with the whip when need. She was a bit resistant at first but let Lientje work on her for a number of rounds. I then got on and rode the trot to walk and halt transitions. I have never felt such a "gumby neck" on her before! She was soft and elastic :)

Dad is spending a lot of time on the beach these days! I shouldn't say anything because I love spending time there too. It is perfect for running on and it can be quite fun just hanging out and meeting the locals. Everyone here seems so friendly! Our neighbour has a cat, Pepper, that comes down to the beach with him! Quite the site! Dad also has started another project - he is trying to get some palm tree seeds to germinate so he can take them home and plant them in the solarium! He has this fascination with palm trees and has been tempted on numerous occasions already to buy one and smuggle it back to Canada.

I will lightly ride the ponies tomorrow and then turn them out for a while. Oslo is completely filthy from rolling in the dirt pens every day! Sunday will be a day off from riding and then back into lessons Monday through Thursday before Lientje goes to Germany for the weekend. Yes, Lientje goes home to visit her parents for a weekend. She must be immune to jetlag, otherwise I have no idea how she functions after trips like that! Australia last weekend and Germany next weekend and full days of teaching during the week. She is amazing in more ways than not!

Goodnight from San Diego!


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Pictures!

Lesson with Alfredo!

Finally getting the proper count in the Grand Prix canter zig-zag!

Smile for the camera!

Starting to get the better connection again.

Oslo starting to take over....

Passage steps :)

Lesson with Alfredo

Monday we had our first lessons with Lientje in the afternoon. Cashew was a star and I was very happy with how she handled the new arena and how great she was in the connection. That will be our main focus with her. She can get quite heavy in the contact and not balance the weight of her body properly, so I usually end up holding it in the reins. But on Monday she was fantastic and I find Lientje so amazing at getting me to get her round and over her back but then still be able to bring her frame up. I think this is one of Lientje's specialties - having horses truly round and in the perfect frame, even young ones. I feel I am not quite skilled enough to get the horse's frame up and out without loosing their back. And that is why I am here to learn from Lientje and I couldn't have a better horse to learn that on, then Cashew.

Oslo was still a bit tense, but once again he settled in the work. He was not as supple as he has been at home, understandable for a 17 year old that has just come off a 2.5 day trip. Therefore, he was a bit inconsistent in the connection as well, but we managed to work through most of it in the lesson and had a very relaxing and positive lesson for both of us.

Tuesday I was lucky enough to get a lesson spot with the master Alfredo Hernandaz! He is the piaffe and passage expert that Steffen uses for in-hand work. Oslo and I were a bit nervous coming in as we are still very green. It didn't help that we saw Legolas and Steffen beforehand with their piaffe for a 10! So brilliant! Alfredo was lovely though and seemed so happy to be there. At the beginning of the lesson he said "it doesn't matter how good or how bad you are, I am here to help you and your horse". And that is exactly what he did. Once I figured out what he was saying about Oslo, "he is a tricky one" we managed to get the rhythm more clear and me not bouncing so much to get him into the piaffe. Alfredo said he had to change his tapping rhythm in order to push Oslo towards a more rhythmical passage and piaffe. Apparently this is typical for Contangos, but it was very nice of him to give me the compliment of how I have done such a good job with such a "tricky" horse. He sure made us work near the end of the lesson though as he made us get everything on our own. "I can't be in the ring with you"! Pff, I wish, then that Grand Prix doesn't seem quite so difficult! We were even working on the transitions from piaffe to passage and vie versa without much trouble with Alfredo's help. On our own it was a bit more difficult and I think I was sweaty more than Oslo! I needed to just get him to do it though and then be able to relax in the saddle. First we need to get it though and have Oslo understand the idea that neither of us can be lazy!

Cashew was even more up in her lesson on Tuesday and she didn't take a step wrong. She is really surprising me here and I hope we can ramp things up with her now!

Mom went home this morning and the ponies got today off. Mom will be back next week, but until then, Dad and I are expected to be behave! Dad and I took Oslo and Cashew for a long walk and then they had some quality turnout time with Dawn's horse and Joseph's hot Contango, Daisy! Oslo and Daisy were ripping around in those pens! Thank goodness it wasn't someone else's horse there, as some owners are very particular about their horses running around. The horses in the barn must be worth millions and everyone is very careful they don't hurt themselves. Oslo is pretty used to it though and sometimes I think it is good for him to run off the steam.

Back to lessons tomorrow and Friday. Then a light ride on the weekend with one day off.

Working on Oslo's connection.

Cashew's brilliant canter!

Sunset Sunday night after dinner with Angie.

Good night from San Diego!


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Happy Birthday Oslo!!!!

Yep, now today is Oslo's birthday! Cashew's yesterday and now Oslo's today! :) So I am sure they are both completely full of carrots now.

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day and despite some sunburn it was a great day for our first rides here. We just did lighter rides to stretch their legs and get them used to the rings and walking trails. They don't see blue herons or have to walk over bridges on a daily basis in Calgary! Cashew is doing great and adjusting well. She appears a little "shell shocked" but settled into the work today and felt tremendous. She was elastic and had a great connection in the snaffle.

Oslo is a bit of a different story, as he has never settled in anywhere new very well. He felt great during the ride and the work seemed to settle him, but the first time I took him away from Cashew, he thought the world was going to end! Cashew could care less, but if you take Oslo away from Cashew, or even worse, take Cashew away from him, he nearly loses his mind! This is his way of showing his tension and nervousness, so I expect him to relax a lot more over the next few days. Thankfully Cashew is very calm about things! I know Oslo will eventually get into a new routine here; it will just take some time.

We were pleasantly surprised to see Steffen out riding this morning! Usually he is away on weekends teaching, but we got to see him ride Legolas today! I hope Oslo was watching that piaffe!!!! The barn is generally very quiet on weekends and not many people ride. Weekday mornings are when things are super busy and the arenas are quite full.

Dad got some good pictures today that I will try and upload tomorrow (once we get internet in our apartment).

First lessons with Lientje tomorrow! :)

Cheers,


Lindsay + Oslo + Cashew

Happy Birthday Cashew!

We safely arrived at Arroyo Del Mar yesterday early afternoon. Luckily, the weather stayed cool for us across the desert and both Oslo and Cashew seemed to travel well.

Both ponies are settling into their new digs now. Cashew, the baby of the bunch, is taking everything in stride and starting to relax. She was a bit energetic on her first long walk this morning around the property, but she soon calmed down and was back to her normal self by the end. I am thinking she is probably wishing she was out in a large field filled with grass for her birthday today, but instead she is soaking up the California sun in her dirt pen and eating mouthfuls of carrots in her cool stall. Carrots for all!

Oslo, the experienced one in the bunch, is a bit more stressed. Which may not be a surprise for all of you that know him! He takes a while to settle in to new places and he has never been a fan of change. Already I see him starting to chill though, and he still has a bit of winter hair left, so he is enjoying his well ventilated stall in the barn.

We have met up with another fellow Canadian here - Angie Golley. She has two horses down here as well. Throughout the barn we are just referred to as "The Canadians"! When we arrived yesterday, everyone was saying, "oh goodie, more Canadians!" :) We are not the only foreign ones here though, as there are several people over from Australia training here with their horses as well.

I will ride the ponies tomorrow, just lightly. I want to make sure they have enough time to get use to the temperature and stretch out from the long trip. Then we will start with lessons on Monday. Lientje is currently in Melbourne, Australia, teaching a clinic, but is back Sunday. I have no idea how she manages to go to Australia for 4 days and comes back to teach the next day! Incredible! And perhaps a little crazy! But we still love her :)

I am putting up a couple pictures of Cashew and Oslo in their stalls. It is amazing how cool it stays in the barn, even when the sun is out in full force. There always seems to be a nice breeze flowing through.

Happy Birthday Cashew!


Linds

Back at it - California Training Trip!

Hello everyone! It has been almost a year since I have done a post and Oslo, Cashew, and I are finally back on the road again! We are headed to California, San Diego to be specific, for a month of serious training. Oslo and I are so close to the Grand Prix that we can taste it! Nearly there with all the movements, but we are in need of some dedicated eyes on the ground to help with the precision and final touches the Olympic level requires. That is where Lientje Schueler, Steffen Peter's assistant, comes in! She comes to Canada a few times a year to do clinics. We absolutely love her training methods with the different horses and just have a blast working our butts off for her! Cashew and I have a different goal, but it also requires some serious dedication and focus on both our parts. We successfully showed in the FEI 5 year old class last year and are wanting to step it up a notch this year. I feel she is right on the verge of brilliance and I am hoping Lientje can point us in the right direction so we can bring out the best in Ms. Cashew.

Over the last year I have had Oslo and Cashew in Calgary with me, at the beautiful Trakehner Glen. It is the only thing that has kept me sane in the last year! I have been enjoying my job at EBA Engineering, garbage girl as some say, but boy does the city get to me sometimes. Thankfully, I have the ponies to run to after work and on weekends. I do have to say up front that my boss at EBA and the company have been very good to me and let me take the time I need to spend riding. Not everyone would be so understanding, but Scott, my boss is truly amazing and so supportive of my crazy aspirations with Oslo and Cashew! So thank you to everyone at EBA and Scott especially!

Mom, dad, Cashew, Oslo, and I left first thing Wednesday morning from Trakehner Glen and stopped in Idaho Falls last night and are now in Vegas for the night. Tomorrow morning will be an early start as we want to avoid the heat down here - it has been over 30 degrees since we left Utah. The two long days of travel are over and it is only about 6 hours to San Diego from here.

I will be working and riding while down there, but I will try to post regularly, including lots of pictures.

Thank you to everyone that has made this trip possible and have helped out in the past! Allison Hagen, Cashew's owner, is always supportive and right behind us all the way! Mom and dad of course, I need to thank them for pretty much everything! My understanding employer, EBA! My best friend who has kept me company the last few months at the barn and groomed my ponies - Alan! Gill at Trakehner Glen who helped us on our way and everyone else at the barn who cares for Oslo and Cashew when I am not there. And of course, all my past sponsors!

Thank you everyone and I will be in touch!


Linds, Oslo, and Cashew