no new media but so much going on

I really need to invest in a helmet camera or tripod or something because the lack of media is disappointing...but there is much to be said!

waiting for our lesson - See the giant scalped portion on her tail...

After Tillie's near miss this weekend, I took it real easy on her Sunday and Monday and did a short trail ride with some trot sets and then maybe a 15-20 minute dressage school. One I did in our smaller enclosed ring, the other in our grass dressage arena that we only set up in the summer around show season when we do mini shows for our students.

I have chosen to stay in the smaller rings lately because of the realization that when I ride tests, I get a bit claustrophobic and panic slightly when doing movements at how fast the boundaries come up. My new goal was to get comfortable not only riding in the smaller arena, but ride FORWARD in the smaller arena.

It was a nice exercise since it was during feeding time in the morning before work and Tillie was a bit unfocused to start...not unlike at a show. It was also nice because we did ultimately end up getting relaxed and a nice school in there!

I will supplement photos with all the healthy food im trying to eat

With Training level on the horizon, I am starting to take my own rider fitness more seriously, which includes eating better. The salad above was my take on paneras Asian sesame chicken salad with avocado and boy is it yummy! Ive pre-measured breakfast portions of fruit, really trying to drink more water and seriously considering getting a fit bit to track my steps to force myself to be more active.

This also means being more aware of Tillie's fitness so Ive been conscious of trying to incorporate hills, trot sets and soon to be gallop sets.

strawberry-blueberry basil infused water with pineapple salsa pork roast,
cilantro-lime shrimp green beans and roasted rosemary garlic mushroom potatoes

Why the sudden focus on this? Well, my recent dressage lesson with C on Tuesday really kicked my ass...and while I am getting better at events not getting winded, I know when we go up a level I need to be able to get out of my horses way and help her as much as I can when/if she gets tired.

Waiting to tack up for our dressage lesson

My dressage lesson with C on Tuesday was much needed and by far the highest level stuff we have worked on to date. We spent a lot more time in sitting trot (which I got a "its definitely improved!") and in canter. We really focused on more of the outside aids which is a newer thing/feeling for me because I dont think shes bent enough, but she is...

LONG overdue pics of my dressage saddle

Tillie's work on extending the trot has come leaps and bounds and we worked on riding them more into the corner and not just peeling wheels around the turn. So in essence, this lesson was all about the half halt.

As much as I worry about Tillie getting too strong in canter and not stopping, she kept breaking because of how hard the canter work was. I know its an old out of date fear, so C reminded me that when I half halt I need to make sure I add even more leg to keep the canter going. Part of the breaking at first is her saying OMG this is hard, the other part confused and responding to my half halt.

Front of the saddle!

We practiced cantering BIG and then bringing it back, cantering across our diagonal and at X asking for trot and making sure it wasnt a running trot, but balanced - again really using a nice clean and QUICK half halt.

We did some tear drop exercises and canter transitions were on point.

I worry we cant come close to that at home or on our own without C around...but Ill keep trying!! C is pushing us more and more to do more dressage shows. She thinks we would do quite well...but I responded that I would only go if she could to coach us lol.

So who knows maybe more dressage in our future!!

Tillie gets what Tillie wants

The story of my life...and now officially broke due to buying a dressage saddle Tillie prefers. BUT at the end of the day, it was needed and honestly fits ME the best too.

Literally eating away at alllll my money

Apparently finding a saddle that fits us both is a bit like trying to find a unicorn. The major issue being she's fairly wide for a thoroughbred but also short backed and bum high. As for me, many saddles have exacerbated my crooked issues and finding one that didnt in addition to fitting Tillie has been less than fun.

So i am now locking up my credit cards and resolving to pay down all my crazy debt. Anyone know of someone needing a website!? Lol but seriously...I dont regret buying it

Look at that face...of course she can have whatever she wants

We ultimately did purchase the Custom Saddlery VLX. I got extremely lucky and was able to snag the leathers, girth and crazy nice stirrups that the top adjusts and twists to wither 45 or 90 degree angles. P.S. its also brown. What are the chances of that?! Ill be sure to show photos in my next post but for now going to condition and clean it up a bit.

Tillie after getting traced

It was probably the most expensive saddle fitting I have ever had, but he also looked at my Stubben Roxanne jump saddle and agreed it wasnt perfect, but if we both were going well in it there is nothing alarming about it to have to sell to get anything new. That was a relief to hear. He did recommend using the prolite pad for both saddles and said prolites are great pads and the next best thing to a thinline, the only reason he doesnt carry them is the material being a bit slippery. Luckily we havent had too much of a problem with that happening.

Tillie was a perfect lady for the fitter and when it was all said and done, I got to hop on and try it out. It was exactly as awesome as I remembered riding in it the first two times. I felt really even and Tillie felt nice in it.

Mare glare

I only trotted her around a few times since I had been talking with C for a while about her riding Tillie to hopefully give me some insights from her perspective to help keep us moving in the right direction. 

Tillie's mind was pretty instantly blown as C started putting her through the paces and was talking me through what she was doing. C laughed at Tillie because she got herself emotionally worked up and was super sweaty despite not working all that hard. Luckily Tillie internalized most of it and really was thinking very hard and trying...sometimes trying many different ways to evade but eventually would give the correct answer. 

Happy Tillie

Here is what C says we need to focus on:

• Start ridding her on both sides of her body and get straighter
• Be more through on the outside aids 
• Bend her more off the thigh...basically use my thighs more to get what I want
• Keep the movability in her neck...work on this in canter especially as she likes to lock
• Do not let her get low on downward transitions

Tillie posing for the pretty dressage horses here

C didnt stay on too long and said she wanted me to get back on her and ride her now that she had and talk me through how to achieve what she did. 

Tillie cooperated and tried very hard...it just felt really different to me! It was a bit of a game changing ride and something I will need to adjust to. I know with this stuff there will always be more or new and I went through a similar feeling just a few months ago.