Yesterday
Morning: Strong Curves week 3 workout A
Evening: rode the OTTB in an AP saddle. Wow! do I miss the deep seat and massive thigh block/knee roll of the dressage saddle. I was all over the place. New respect for those of you who jump. He did very well, actually went better in the AP than the dressage so I'm going to need to consider saddle fit. He may just not have enough topline to support the dressage saddle. I did not ride the Western horse. I was too tired and my trainer had to leave earlier than normal so no one else was around. I don't like riding without another person present, especially when I'm not 100%.
Food: ate only what I packed or prepared myself. Yay me! no vending machines or fast food.

Trainer has a client moving in next month with a TB trained to 2nd level. Client works 3x3 shifts at a hospital so needs help working her horse. Gaits are similar to my TB but with higher training she thinks he'd be good for me to learn on. We'll see. I hope it I get the chance to ride him but I'm not holding my breath.

Had a great weekend riding and teaching. The OTTB is growing up and really showing me he might actually someday be a real dressage pony. The Western pony continues to impress me and my trainer (and she doesn't even like him!). We've been working on his canter because he doesn't canter naturally. I was rewarded this week by watching him canter with the rest of the herd while playing. He also doesn't jump. It's taken a bit to teach him to go OVER the jumps and not through them. Yesterday we combined cantering and jumping and he never hesitated or questioned. We keep pushing his boundaries and he just handles it.




Because of work requirements I won't get any gym time and minimal riding. Hoping for a ride on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Work audit - done
Daughter's wedding - done
Clean up storm damage to yard - yeah, about that....

This week won't include gym time or much riding. My daughter is away on her honeymoon which means I'm spending my lunch taking care of her kitties. I only get a 30 minute lunch but her apartment is 45 minutes away, round trip, so I'm coming in early instead of going to the gym to make up the time. We had a huge storm Saturday evening so most of our spare daylight hours over the next few weeks will be spent doing clean up. I'll get some ride time but not as much as normal.

Kids are back so I'm done catsitting. Most of the clean up is done - at least we have an intact fence now for our dog. The rest of it will take a few months to work through as we chip the debris into mulch. The storm highlighted a few house maintenance projects we can't put off any longer (caulking windows, for example), so working on that.

Despite all that, I've managed to have some pretty good rides. Western pony is giving me some really good lateral work (leg yield zig zags! haunches in!). His canter is coming together slowly but it IS getting better. I'm hoping the lateral canter is because of weak back and haunch muscles and the lateral work is building his strength. He got so frustrated with me he gave me a few half steps in anger while I was teaching him haunches in. Then, an honest all-four-feet-off-the-ground buck when I asked for canter. (This horse has NEVER been able to buck. My barely beginner SO experienced one of the pony's attempts at bucking and thought he had stumbled.) I was so proud of him!

The OTTB is finally showing a willingness to listen, relax, and work. And, even better, my instructor ended our last lesson BEFORE I told her I couldn't do anymore. A huge first for me riding the OTTB.

Next week, back to the gym because life goes back to normal *knocks on wood*.

Went to a fitness for riders demo session lead by a local Grand Prix rider who is also a personal trainer. She suggested 3 cardio sessions and 2 strength training sessions per week for dressage riders. Got some good feedback on what I need to work on. Unfortunately, I used her suggestion (and my soreness from the session) to not go to the gym this morning. I need to find something I can do at home. The commute to the gym then to work is discouraging and won't get easier with winter weather. I have a treadmill so no excuses for cardio. Researching bodyweight workouts that don't require equipment.

Planned rides for the week:
Monday - lesson on a new horse who is supposed to be 2nd level; his current rider is able to work him to his level so trainer wants to put me on see what he's got
Tuesday - ride on my own
Wednesday - ride on my own
Thursday - off
Friday - off
Saturday - ride on my own
Sunday - lesson on one of my own horses