Getting Ready

 We have our first show of 2022 this weekend.  So here is a catch up on our goings on this weekend as we get ready for spring.

The state of my leg.

We escaped to Asheville for a day and very much enjoyed our quiet "us" time.

Then on Sunday, Uno and I went for a dressage lesson.  We had some really good breakthroughs.  

1. Uno figured out where to put his hind legs underneath him as he collected.  It was really cool to feel his go from trying to swing around and squirt out to, "Oh!  I just sit on them more!"

2. We used lateral work after the canter to rebalance and soften.  It made him so light and was less rushy.

3. Sometimes his rushing comes from a place of anxiety - stopping and waiting for him to breathe works, but it takes time.  We need to find a way to break the anxiety spiral.  Trainer recommended trying raspberry leaf for a few months.

Then we went out and hopped over a jump a few times.  The footing was pretty bad due to the weather, so if was just jumping on a 20 meter circle.  However, the fence was a proper size and I got to practice going forward at a jump without a long warm up.

So proud of carting his mother around like the goodest boy he is.