Our Day Alone

So today although it was GORGEOUS out for a fall day (especially after the torrential downpours of yesterday that flooded our airport and freeways) there was next to no-one at the barn! It was super quiet but for the light breeze and the upbeat spanish music on the radio (hey, they are the ones who clean up after my spoiled boy--so they can have their music lol!)





I forgot to wash Tango's tacky purple polos that he won for being Top Five in Reg V HA Hunter Pleasure Jr Horse. But hey, they were free! Anyhow, so I wrapped him in his dirty polos and went and hunted through his paddock for his missing bell boot (found it!) and groomed him all up. I also clipped his nose, eyes and bridle path by myself with no extension cord. I opted not to try the legs and ears on my own...I didn't have much range on my clipper cord and Tango was trying to suck on the cord. It was sunny and remarkably warm for a fall day in late October for Washington, so I left the cooler behind. I longed him for maybe 2 minutes each direction (he wasn't feeling very forward today) and then proceeded to lead him around the outdoor arena with the jumps etc. He was very unconcerned with the jumps, and decided the water that was settling on top of the faux stone boxes (wood painted like stone) was a perfect thirst quencher. He also attempted to pull the (not very scary, although I thought it might be) outdoor umbrella over on top of us. We trotted over a few ground poles and cavaletti in hand, just for something different.

Then I took him back up to the barn and got tacked up. This last week I had ridden him for the first time ever (he has always been in a twisted snaffle when I've ridden him) in a smooth snaffle. He was a tad heavier, but really took to it quite well. Anyhow, put that and Lindsey's Grand Gilbert saddle on. I led him to the mounting block (in the freshly drug indoor with nobody in sight) and got Tango to stand nicely next to the mounting block, threw my reins over his head and got on...right away he felt unusually unresponsive. I was pulling his head to the right and he kept resisting and turning it left...got him to finally pull right and I had crossed the reins. DUH! Off I got and back to the mounting block and got them right this time. We had a good ride with no naughtiness (I don't know if hes even capable of being naughty under saddle) and even schooled the first part of the Training Level test #1. As I was cooling him out, we worked on yielding to the leg...steering him strictly off of leg and getting him to move out at the walk. I got off and led him out.

Still nobody in sight. Wow, should I ever get hurt riding, I wonder if anyone would know? I untacked, cleaned and replaced all the tack I had used. I groomed Tango again, and unbraided his mane and tail, which haven't been done since he got home. Brushed, cowboy magic'd them both and rebraided. In the photo next to this you'll see Tango's annoying but beautiful mane in all it's glory. I didn't get any pics of his tail. We'll leave that for when it's clean and pretty:)

So all in all a successful, beautiful Sunday ride. Can't ask for much more! Maybe by next Spring I'll feel confident enough to ride in the outdoor by myself. I think maybe this winter I'll ride out there even! It's such a pretty view, and so quiet!

Tara

Our New Chapter

So as you read below, Tango is home and we are getting to know eachother again. Yesterday I went out for my first dressage lesson with Lindsey. She likes Tango, but like most dressage trainers would, is encouraging me to stick strictly with dressage. She says his best natural gaits are his walk and canter. She thinks his trot is a "6" but she says that is okay because as you move up in levels, you get the most emphasis on the canter which he is naturally cadenced at.

I have a lot to learn. For instance, I don't know what a 20, 10, 5 meter circle is, or what my touch points should be for a circle or serpentine. Pretty basic stuff. I am a western rider...the only thing you need to know is slow and steady. Now I'm doing a "pattern" and trying to teach myself about lengthenings, extensions, speeds, collection, going to the bit, cadence and trying to do it all so that it is pretty and my horse and I look like we have "harmony".

I have to say, Tango was so considerate and did everything I asked of him. I could not be happier with the job Ron and Josie did with him. I also couldn't be happier with Lindsey's teaching methods. I feel like I get praise all the time, and really great visuals. I think our biggest obstacles are going to be getting Tango to get a true extension and using his back. And of course I'm going to need to do some studying of tests and watching some videos to get an idea of what I'm up against! I really welcome the challenge though, as Lindsey thinks we will be very competitive at training and first level. I hope she's right!

After our lesson was over and Lindsey and I were discussing how it had gone, and she felt that he was a very well trained horse who will be very patient with me while I am learning. She thinks that he will do well in the training level this year, and that during my lesson she thought he had an "8" canter, and his walk is pushing that as well that we may perhaps have the ability to score in the mid-seventies this year, which would definately give us a shot at a Top Five at regionals, and if we continued to progress, may even be competitive at Nationals!