Spring Break Fun Ride!

The best perk of spring break is having more time available to ride! I went out to Bo's place on Monday and got to ride around with his owner and work on some cueing and overall practice. Then today she brought him to the fairground for me, he got a massage too and then I rode him while his owner rode Jack. We did some practice and warm ups and then I worked on lead changes. I really focused on picking up the correct lead and did lots of figure eights. I was doing mostly simple changes and just making sure he was consistent there before trying for a flying. He isn't quite sure of what he's supposed to do so we will keep working on it. I also practiced stopping from a lope and he did some INCREDIBLE stops too. So overall I feel like it was a very productive evening. His owner rode him a little and it was educational to she how she cues him for things such as backing up. I think it'll make team a little easier on saturday for sure. It was a little rainy and I'm worried about the "big storm" that's supposed to roll in. Hopefully we don't get cancelled. Anyway here are some pictures I thought you guys might enjoy!

Monday's Ride :)

Bo saying Hi!

Best View in the World

He saw his grain inside the trailer :)

May 25

I arrived at about 7am, I graded the first half of the Dreamcatcher drill for my trainees and then raced off to ropes at 11am. We practiced a few specialties and welcomed 4 new members to our team! I watched a little bit of nighthorse at 12 and then the Blue Ropes instructor had me come help her teach class at 1 so she could better evaluate for promotions to white. It was pretty fun actually! Then I raced and got Bo ready for Royal at 2. We had an okay ride. Not great but not horrible. I was 4-6 again :), 3-6, and 4-1. Then we cooled off and Bo went off to Roman. I had a lot of time to kill before vaulting at 5pm. We rode Jack and he did great besides one or two bucks. Not to bad. I helped load up the trailer and that was the day! ! The weather has been so nice lately I love it!!!

It is starting to get warmer!

Saturday was actually surprisingly warm out! I had White Liberty 1 at 8am. It was so nice not to be stuck at 4 or 5pm for once!! Now if we could get a bgger arena that would be fantastic. We did warm ups for most of it and then did jumps. I kept the bridle on so I could work on enforcing and correcting jumps with Bo. He did much better even though he was quite spunky and was throwing his head around a lot. Then I had a quick nighthorse training meeting and we got the Dreamcatcher drills checked out to us. I still have my regular two trainees so I was pretty happy about that. At 10 I went and JI'd on Bo. We got 6 new horses. Two a few weeks ago and four this week. Banner, Woody, Jackson, Red Buck (Red), Gibbs, and Dinozo. It's very strange that I won't ever get the opportunity to ride them in JI. The class went well and we worked on some leads. At 12 Royal had a walkthrough and I walked 1-8, and 2-1. For our ride we rode with flags and it went great!!!! The drills went smoothly and not to many halt hos! The last drill I was 4-6!! OUTSIDE OF PROPELLER AGAIN!!!! I was thrilled. Bo was not doing his left lead very well though so I was concerned about him picking it up for that maneuver. I cued and he picked up his right but I cued again for a change and thankfully he switched it!! It was sooooooo much fun! I actually got to run some this time and everyone stayed in!!! I wonder if I might get that spot for my last estes.... I sure hope so! But I also want it at annual so either way. Bo was dripping sweat because it was so hot and humid in the arena because they shut the garage door for some odd reason. He had Red Roman immediately afterwards so I just helped switch his tack. After that I was done for the day. It was weird being done so early but I stayed to watch my friend in blue trick. It was sure nice to have warmer weather but I don't like it too hot hahahaha.

What a day...

Well my morning began with Red Liberty tryouts at 8am. I've never been so nervous in my life. I got Bo into the arena and he did incredible. No dodging, he did every warm up jump like a champ. Then we did one drill without jumps but my pair's horse kept biting at Bo and it was very distressing and distracting. Then we added the jumps. Bo dodged the first one, dodged a ground pole the next one, stalled and launched over the third one. It was not going well at all :( I was so upset, this was not how they were supposed to go. The same drill went exactly the same and Bo got pushed out of the pair, kicked, and bit at. Poor guy hardly had a chance. They called us over and asked 6 girls to the team, I was not one of them. I burst right there and cried for 3 hours. What if I had stayed a renter, would I have made it? I couldn't grasp the fact that my dream of red liberty had just slipped through my fingers. I was absolutely crushed. I doubt I'll get to tryout in the fall because I'll graduate so soon. I really don't blame Bo. I wish they would've considered that I've only had Bo for like a week or two.I guess it gives Bo and I more time to bond and maybe I can try for an officership on White Liberty 1 and get to ride good positions. I was thankful to go to ropes because it's something I've always excelled at. I worked on Texas and Big Loop a little bit. I was in such a bad mood that when I went up for circus horse tryouts I just couldn't do it. I burst into tears and had to leave, I couldn't even try. I kind of regret that I didn't just give it one final go, but oh well. Then Royal rode with Tenderfeet for our ride. They love riding with us so much and it was really uplifting to see how much they look up to us. Bo did amazing and I couldn't stay upset for long. Then for Vaulting we had to ride another owner horse because my leaser had a show. We rode steppes style and moved from horse to horse while moving. It was really challenging.

TRYOUTS!!!!!

I JUST GOT THE PHONE CALL TO TRYOUT FOR RED LIBERTY!!!!!!!! HOPEFULLY THE SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM. This is my last chance because I graduate this fall.... I hope Bo pulls his crap together.

First Saturday as an Owner (Officially)

No checks for each ride, no canceling horses, going to the trailers instead of the arena. My routine at Westernaires sure has changed a lot! I really didn't have a lot going on today. I decided to JI at 10am and rode one of my leaser's other horses Karma because Bo wasn't there yet, she was a lot of fun. She's a gaited Tennessee walker horse. Then I had a walkthrough at 12 and walked 4-1 and GPA 3. Our ride went MUCH better than last week. It's definitely not where we should be but it was a step in the right direction! Bo was FIRED UP! Oh my goodness was he ready to un! We ended up getting a third drill in and I was 2-6 for that one. I walked Bo out and refilled his water. I had some time to kill before Liberty at 5 so I watched a few classes in the volunteer. Then I got ready for liberty. I was so excited because of how well Bo had done in the liberty class last week. Well I was in for a shock! He didn't do well he was dodging jumps, and stalling. We made the best of it but then they said Red Liberty tryout calls would be going out this week. I'm not confident that I'll even get called, I probably blew my chance by taking this leas with Bo. I only did it because he did well at Liberty.... I hope we get a chance to tryout at least and I'm sure he will do better following. I helped load him into the trailer and headed home.