Final & Eva - Late Summer Update

I've been riding again, for about a month now. Ellen was up last weekend and we had 2 lessons with her. They were great, as always. I'm going to post a video so you can see what I'm talking about...Final feels fantastic! I'm really glad I had Susan ride him for me while I was busy having Izzy. Final is loose, supple, forward, and light! I'm enjoying each ride very much! With Ellen we worked on the usual, but I'm learning a very small aid that makes a huge difference. I'm trying to get the feel of catching Final's front feet as we ride. I started at the walk, and the ultimate goal is to catch his right and left front before they hit the ground into the next stride, and take it into a step backward. This makes such a difference in the trot and canter. It feels and looks as if I'm placing each foot exactly where I want it to go. The goal is to make him step higher. It's going to take continued practice to get this aid down, but man, it felt so great! Ellen said it's time to order my tail coat. PSG, look out! Hahaha. Watch for the video soon!

Back in the Saddle!

I'm back to riding y'all, and it feels great! I rode 4 times this past week. The first two times were just at the walk with a thick bareback pad on, and then last Sunday I rode at the walk and canter in my saddle! Last night I rode for about 30 mins., walking, trotting (posting) and cantering. It was great! Final feels good thanks to my friend Susan who has been keeping him going for me while I was "out on maternity leave". I couldn't imagine starting to ride him if he had 2.5 months off! That would have been terrible for him and I.

Now that Izzy can eat from a bottle, it allows me a little more time and freedom to ride and do other things, providing Ali is game for hanging out with her, which he almost always is. I'm going to ride again tomorrow evening after Susan rides him. Pretty exciting! I'm even thinking of maybe a show in November...Starr Vaughn perhaps. We'll see...

Final's Showing this Sunday!

Susan is going to show Final at the Dressage Derby this Sunday in Vacaville. They are doing Susan's Para Test, and then Fourth Level Test 2. I still haven't had the baby, and wonder if I'll be able to watch the show. I sure hope so...but that means I'd better hurry up and have the baby, or be overdue and not have her until after the show on Sunday. Ha, we'll see!

Susan is also going to show Final at Pebble Beach over Fourth of July weekend. I have a hotel room booked for that, but of course, we'll see what happens with Isabella. I may be overwhelmed and not be up for traveling with her so soon, so we'll just have to wait and see. At any rate, with them luck! :)

Officially let go, for now...

I have been going back and forth, trying not to ride since I am in my 9th month of pregnancy, but every now and then I get an urge to get on and I can't shake it! But Susan is back from Chicago, and has started riding Fin again, so I feel like he's in good hands and I can officially let go of riding him until after the baby.

Susan rode Fin the past 2 nights, and it was pretty exciting! The first ride she had to remind him of the things he's learned over the past year or two, since he had 2 weeks off before that. He's getting older, his memory doesn't work like it used to, at least that's what he says. Hehehe. But her ride went very well last night. They did the hard movements from fourth level test 2 and he performed them with ease. Of course he has a good pilot on board, but still. He even got all of his flying changes, allbeit "expressive".

Fin will have an evening off tonight, I'll take him for a walk, and then Susan will be back tomorrow night for another ride. We're signing him up for a show in Santa Rosa on June 14th where Susan will show him 4-2 and her Para-Test. I won't be able to go since I'm supposed to be close to home in case I go into labor, but she promises to take great care of him and call with a recap. After that show, it's a visit from Auntie Ellen where they will work hard on all things, but especially flying changes, and then it's off to Pebble Beach in July, which I'm really hoping to be able to attend!

Wish them luck!

Great Ellen Lesson!

Ellen was here this weekend, and we had the most wonderful ride yesterday. Final was calm, relaxed and an overall good boy. We worked on keeping an active canter in the pirouettes which really made a difference. He was becoming quicker with his hind end and elevating him front end, and it took very little effort on my part, just lots of concentration. I would slow his front end down, and liven him with my lower legs, all while sitting very still and a little lighter in the seat so he was really able to step under himself.

And the flying changes were PERFECT! Well, maybe not perfect, but they were pretty close, especially for Final and I. :) Ellen mentioned tempi-changes, and Prix St. George, and tail coat. Yippieeeeeee!!!!!!! Probably not until late Fall/Winter because of the baby, but that's okay, we need the time anyways. To even compete one time at that level would be so exciting. FInal is getting older (he just turned 18!), so I know our time in the upper levels of dressage is limited, but it would be such a treat!

I love my lessons with Ellen. She has taught me so much and more than anything, she has helped my riding relationship with Final bloom. We always have such a blast, and he tries really hard. He always has a happy expression on his face and tries to do something every time I ask, I think that says so much. I remember the days where he would pull me around the arena, and I used to think to myself, why am I doing this? I'm tired, sore, and he's grumpy. It wasn't any fun. I will never go back to that feeling again!

Fun Riding, Baby Bump and All!

Ellen was here last weekend for a clinic, and it was great, per usual! Baby Final was very good, although very sensitive. Silly boy. He felt great under saddle, supple and light. We worked on the usual stuff, but he got a little amped on the flying changes, which was funny. He just makes me laugh. Even when he would jump and buck a little, I have to laugh. I know it may not be the best combo, what with me being pregnant, but I never felt unsafe and I know he wouldn't try to get me off, so it's okay. If you get mad at him, his feelings get so hurt and he gets scared, so you just can't go there with him.

Susan snapped a few photos, some were EXCITING! I'll post a few when she sends them to me...

Poor Final

He's stiff, and reluctant, but we're trying to get back in the swing of things. I'm managing to ride 3 days a week, and Leila is riding 1 day a week. Leila does the ever important riding at the walk for about 30 mins. Just asking him to walk actively forward and lots of changes of direction to try and loosen him up. Then I get to do all the hard work! 4 days a week of riding isn't bad, but I find I'm just managing his fitness level and suppleness rather than actually improving on anything. But that's okay, I do what I can. At least the days are getting longer so I should be able to squeeze another riding day in there so hopefully we can start improving again, rather than just maintaining. :)

This weekend should be a great weekend for riding. This Spring-like weather has put me in a great mood! :)