DefinitelyDressage.com

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Congratulations and what a wrapper to her - she'll be a looker for sure.

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Fingers Crossed (and toes LOL)!

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My sincere condolences to you Abby. It sounds like George was as lucky to have you as you were to have him. It's never easy to lose such giving partners. That's awesome Kelo! on both accounts! I rode the stinker pony on his first official trail ride in 2 years. He was the bomb! He's 17 this year and...

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Glad to hear that the new arrangement is working out so well for you and Autumn. As you know she never had issues with spooking here, was actually rather bold especially when trail riding. Of course from the time she was born until she left here she had pretty much always been turned out 24/7 even i...

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I RODE THE STINKER PONY TODAY!!!! and stayed on! We decided to trail ride after another unusual Arizona rain storm. When I got home, I put the stinker on the lounge line. He did go a little 'ape sh!t' at the canter but darn it looked so good. I haven't done xrays but clinically all the signs point t...

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Thanks for the pics! Chantal, I think you guys are looking good. I'll add that we're all a work in progress, LOL.

Quinta, Autumn looks simply dashing. Really miss her.

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I finally have my arena footing finished and in the perfect shape; so, we were able to set up cavallettis and work on the walk. Of course as we've been focusing on the canter and transitions especially the proper balance/bearing within those transitions......all of a sudden......I have the walk to c...

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How and how long it takes me to reach my goals will be predicated on my family's needs; so, my first goal will be to make sure I carve out time to ride. Junior - We'll be focusing on much of the same - improve balance and strength and maintain what we've achieved on establishing straightness. By doi...

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We had a lesson yesterday and I was very pleased with Junior's progress with his canter and willingness to lift his front end without speeding up. He's taking half-halts within the canter now. The next couple of months will be working with that and building more strength. We'll be developing relaxat...

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I have to agree with MC on this one Blob. The stinker pony is a classic example. I am preparing to get back on him and just use him for trail but even so I know his launch to unseat me mode (he does this during mounting) is well entrenched and even at 17 will revisit me. She is absolutely right in t...

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Agree with all of the above and have owned the one who wanted to 'test' when pushed. Finding the motivation in the 'tester' is a challenge. We all know those horses that just love to rev it up and 'shine'. I am really hoping Junior is going to be one of those of course. I think we have a decent chan...

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Probably not an option but it is why I have and have had a small herd for many years of Jack Russells. Of course I have never owned one who didn't do their job well but I will say my females have always been infamous killers - not a squirrel or rodent on the property and rabbits take mind to know wh...

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Thank you for the kind words everyone. I really appreciate them. Sue B I should probably have a colleague I work with come out here and do it but I just look at my 2K amount of equipment which is all in great working order and haven't completely given up on that ghost. In fact I just sucked it up an...

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I can commiserate Sue B in more ways than one I'm afraid. I have an albeit short list of clinicians/judges I will not ride under in a clinic setting based on similar experiences. One insisted I use draw reins on a half draft I was riding at the time in order to get her to submit to the bit and roll ...

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I agree, lovely photos. I miss doing hunger paces and hill topping back east. While we've had really nice weather lately and an over abundance of flowers, I miss the springs I had growing up on the East coast.

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Thank you khall. I wish we lived closer too. I think we could share a lot of resources to help each other out on many fronts. I agree that in hand work will be the key to preventing some issues I've had with others as well. I also have a skid steer now which will help me finish my arena. The footing...

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Thank you heddylamar - the spooky things were mostly the flags flapping in the wind, the big gulp cups (trash) blowing by and the various tents that were being noisy due to the wind that was kicking up at the time. Nothing extraordinary to be sure but the typical things that will scare horses that a...

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Thank you Chantal. I agree in the high expectations vs. realistic endeavors. I learned a long time ago with this breed that high scores at the lower levels (meaning training and riding to those scores) unfortunately doesn't usually give you the beast ready to make it happen at the higher levels. My ...

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Here is a video. I know there isn't much to say - no lengthening, no difference shown, rushing and not particularly signing up to accepting the bit in the canter departs......he was just stiff and reticent though obedient with the exception of the first canter depart where we almost left the arena (...

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Interesting that the topic of teeth has been brought up because I think that is what I need to address next. We went to our show yesterday and didn't do great but didn't bomb it either. Junior was simply not signing up to the idea of being relaxed and swinging. He wasn't bad or misbehaving. In fact ...

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Well our first level debut wasn't all that inspiring. Junior did well schooling yesterday, almost too well. There were several things we'd been working on and assumed I just wouldn't have it for the show that he seemed to miraculously pull out of his hat and had several light bulb moments where thin...

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My heart goes out to those struggling with horse health issues, people health issues and the other challenges life throws at us that always seem to throw a wrinkle or temporary road block in our plans for riding progress. Junior gave me heart failure earlier in the week when he kicked the fence in a...

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Don't let anyone tell you that dressage doesn't have a purpose! We went riding late yesterday afternoon out on the preserve next to our property. There's been an overabundance of everything alive - flowers, plants, and animals due to our weather. It's breeding season for the rattlesnakes. We're usua...

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I'll PM you. There's a young horse in that vicinity that has peaked my interest.

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We have two lessons scheduled this week, then we school at the show grounds on Friday, then Saturday it's our first level debut, tests 1 & 2. I'm showing open so we'll see how well we do. I think Junior is ready. This week of course we'll know for sure. I haven't ridden the tests yet but looking...

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Well if it's any consolidation I LOVE second level. I wish we were there now. So for those of you who are contemplating doing it (again or not) you have my envy.

Hey Mountaineer how far way from SLC are you?

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The juggling act is a bit easier with fewer horses. I get tempted every once in a while but a quick call from my mother telling me her list of needs for the week snaps me back to reality. Despite our weather being crazy this year I consider myself so lucky to be able to ride at least 4 days a week. ...

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Clearly you've been going through a very stressful time subsequent to a devastating loss, no matter how prepared. My condolences and my sympathies. I wish you continued strength.

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Houston we no longer have a problem! Well at least one seems to be improving/lessening. I took another lesson today and we definitely have gears within the canter! It is such a relief when the light bulb goes off and no more flickers/dimmers/wishes it were true. Oh and another bonus for me today is ...

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Piedmont.....I totally get the head-shaking when others exclaim how 'lucky' one is to own such a 'well-behaved', sound or all-round nice horse as if it was a 'gift from God so-to-speak' and the heavens are shining down to show just how 'lucky' we are. LOL on the one hand I do consider myself very lu...

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Congrats Blob and nice pics. I too find showing alone less stressful and oddly cathartic in many ways. Junior and I will be heading to a show in just a few weeks to try first level. He's starting to figure out engagement and that he has power that comes from his hind end instead of just trying to us...

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Happy Birthday Junior! Well Annwylid Dare to Dream turns 5 today. It's hard to believe that 5 years ago I delivered his little orneriness! He was cussing me out when I slid him to the ground and he still talks to me all the time, giving his opinions. He's turned into a good egg even with his strong ...

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Love her color and her substance! Congrats on her development.

On another note, I too have been seeing a lot of doctors' waiting rooms lately. Hang in there.

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Well Arizona has been far wetter than a desert is supposed to be and colder! So y'all's weather has been dipping down here too. As such I haven't been able to ride as much as intended but I did get to haul out to a lesson yesterday. It was windy, cold and all the horses were ramped up and giving exc...

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I think part of our job is to ask for and expect what is reasonable in every circumstance. It's my job to temper the requests but I believe it's also my job to make sure I'm not changing the ground rules with those requests. So if it's only safe to walk due to footing, I do so but I don't change my ...

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While I agree with what most are saying, I do think there is something being left out. It comes about with the premise of most training whether it be horses, dogs or even kids - be black and white AND BE CONSISTENT. I think all too often it's the lack of consistency that sabotages our riding. Sure w...

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Goals? Hmph, well ride as much as I can. We had real snow here which lasted a few days; so, I'm done with cold weather and the like. If I have to put up with the Gawdawful heat then I don't want the winter <period>. After talking with my riding instructor/coach, we've decided that first level is whe...

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Well we finally have great weather here. Like most of the rest of you I had to deal with snow, not just a dusting, but we ended up with 12 inches of snow due to a freak storm that hit the desert. I was thankful to have 4-wheel drive in my truck. Any how the snow is now gone and I was able to have a ...

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I currently just ride 4 days a week because I work 3 days for a full-time schedule (no way at this time do I have time before or after work to ride). I spend an equal amount of time on the trail vs. in the arena/ring. That includes one lesson a week.

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"Lastly, going back to another subject about saving, what pray tell are you doing to do with a few million saved dollars at age 80? You can deplete it in a nursing home, while those that didn't save get the same services free on Medicaid." Actually MC while I get what you're saying and the...

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Thank you khall! That's probably the nicest thing I've heard in a while ;) Ponichiwa - Jr's dam is a sooty buckskin with minimal white and his sire is a sabino/splash bay. Junior did not get chrome that most do except for 'that' star which is sire stamps on each of his. However, though I don't think...

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I'm so sorry to hear about your parents khall. I lost my dad to dementia this past fall and my mother has had now 3 strokes. Due to the part of her brain where the strokes occurred they have been preparing me for the likelihood of her developing dementia. I've made several changes to help take care ...

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http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/thumbnail_IMG_0389_zpstukh5hfu.jpg http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/thumbnail_IMG_0425_zps249mbsxc.jpg http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o253/ldarling_photos/thumbnail_IMG_0209_zpsen0bomdk.jpg Yup, no longer the rider I...

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Here are pictures of 'my boy' from the latest recognized show. It was Junior's second recognized show. He is just shy of his fifth birthday (next month). We rode training level test 3 in front of two well known 'conservative' scoring judges. All I can say is that I was so pleased with his performanc...

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Beyond a horse that is sound, sane, with three decent gaits, the difference I see is always, always in the riding and training. I agree in spades; however, I will give mc credit regarding her view and that is so many of those being sold with the higher $$ often have some basic training and talent t...

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Thanks everyone. Blob, love the pictures. Looks like a real trier.

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Thank you mari. Good luck on your show. Sorry to hear about the frustrations with the FCs and especially your neck. I've definitely had my trials with FCs and tempis with my various beasts. I'm keeping fingers crossed that when the time comes it will be less of an issue for Junior. If all the talk i...

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I'm almost ashamed to say it but we had a beautiful day today for the show. I won my first class with a 69 and change (training level TOC - training level test 3) and took a third in the second class (training level test 3) under a different judge. The posted score for that class was 64 and change b...

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Wishing everyone better weather and health (to horses and mankind). We've had quite a bit of rain and this morning was cold by desert standards. I just body clipped Junior and so I was expecting the lesson at 8 am to be a bit explosive. Well thankfully it wasn't. He was tight due to the cold to begi...

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I had a lesson two days ago and one comment that keeps coming back to me is the fact that my horse likes to hold him self shorter (contracted) on the left side as opposed to the right side. It's subtle but there. When I insist quietly that he elongate his left side (actually have to keep his nose in...

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