CAN'T. JUST CAN'T.

sort of like dressage, right?

DEEP BREATH DO NOT FREAK OUT MORE

It was a busy weekend here--I volunteered at the local (super fun) H/J show all day Friday and Saturday.

That sort of thing always inspires me to jump more, which is definitely something we're working towards.

But um.

Hello.

I AM RIDING WITH HE-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED THIS AFTERNOON.

him

it's cool. maybe he thinks fat legs are attractive?

ME. IN A CLINIC. WITH DRESSAGE.

I spent the past week reading through his book and trying to absorb enough of it to be cogent. I've been working on some of the stuff that makes sense to me (ie, look where you're going). I spent Sunday auditing a good chunk of the clinic so I at least have an idea of what to do/wear/say.

AND I RIDE WITH HIM IN A FEW HOURS.

Courage, on the other hand, has spent the last five days actively trying to kill/maim himself. And he doesn't even know who we're riding with. It's not helping my stress level, that's for sure. 

If you need me, I'm over here breathing into a paper bag.

Shifting Gears

I spent all morning puttering around the barn thinking, "Why in the world did I enter a show? I'm not good enough, Izzy will freak out, I'll probably just fall off and die."

Yes, completely the most rational thing ever.

Then everyone's favorite Rinsie texted to let me know that I wasn't on the show schedule. My immediate thought: Excellent!! Unfortunately, her note didn't pander to my nerves and pointed out that we were in this together. Rats.

I don't want to beleaguer the point, but I didn't even want to ride Izzy today because I felt like she'd somehow act the total idiot and I'd go flying, which is completely unfair to her. She's really a pretty fabulous horse 98% of the time (thank you Ellie for constantly reminding me of that).

I saddled up and rode.

You know, actually rode. Kept my eyes up, my weight in my feet, and my hands steady. We did changes of bend and flying lead changes (oh yes we can do those).

Specifically, I focused on shifting Izzy's gears within gaits. When we are approaching a jump, Stephanie always wants us to be in a rhythm that allows us to either speed up or slow down without breaking gait.

I'd open Izzy up and GALLOP down the long side (mare loves it!!), then shorten to the tiniest canter we could find at the end, then circle in a medium gait, then do it again. And then a flying change*.

I won't lie--I'm still a little freaked out about the whole going-to-a-ridiculously-tiny-show thing, but I feel better now. Izzy is a damn good horse and I can ride her. We may not blow everyone away with our awesomeness (although that would be nice), but we can certainly go canter around a nice little course.

PS For the fashionistas out there, I totally broke out the CO helmet today. It fits me so much better than the horrid thing I was wearing. Love!