I spilled alcohol on my laptop...

consequently, it`s in the shop being fixed. I have written about how TREC went, but it`s on another computer. I will update when it`s back.

In other news, the 3 Rocky mares are in heat after their course of Regumate and hormone injections, and will be inseminated tonight! Exciting!

frustration

I have a lesson each week on one of the gaited horses with a top reining rider and trainer. I like her a lot. She`s kind to the horses, she`s nice, and the horses always come first. This is great, until you simply cannot work out a problem! I`m riding a 6 year old who has some training and is very kind and sweet with a lovely gait and movement, but she`s unfit and hasn`t been schooled for a while, so I`m learning right along with her, as this trainer`s methods are Western, and I`ve always ridden English. I`ve introduced young horses to flatwork before, sure. But not like this. My co-ordination is off. She`s asking me to approach the wall at 45 degrees, then ask the hip to move over with a leg bump, then block the shoulder with the hands halfway up the neck, then leg bump, then block, then bump. Whilst keeping momentum, on a horse that doesn`t quite get it, with me, who doesn`t get it a lot! I understand the principal, but I`m so darn frustrated, trying to forget everything I know so I can ride this different way with a horse who`s not on the ball either! The only positive I can take from today, apart from a couple of steps of leg yield, is that I didn`t take out my frustration on the mare. When I was younger, I`d have blamed her for it. If anything, I was maybe too nice, apart from when she was staring out of the window and resolutely ignoring my leg so I smacked her one with the crop. I`m going to ride her again tomorrow and try again, without the pressure of someone yelling instructions, however well-meaning! Then, the mare is going to be put in foal, hopefully, to try to increase the Rocky Mountain gene pool here in Quebec. Meanwhile, I`ll stick to lateral work with the dressage horse. After we`ve completed our TREC!

preparing for TREC!

So, in a bit of a twist, there is a mini TREC competition being held on Sunday. We had a theory day - In French! - this last Sunday and 8 or 9 of us will be trying out the three phases this week. Given that the stable mainly has youngsters and inexperienced rocky mountain horses in at the minute, my best option for this is Maverik! Spooky, freaky Maverik. Joy.

So, we`ve been practising obstacles and trails as much as possible. i.e. not much. We`ve put a bright blue tarp weighted down with poles in the indoor school, made a bridge out of planks, made a cone slalom, a little maze with pieces of wood, some small jumps and a couloir for rein back etc. Everyone`s pretty doubtful that Maverik will do the course, and maybe he won`t, certainly not without penalties, but he`s better than he was, and we`re going to give it a go. Another practice session tomorrow, and we`ve built a `gate`, which is a leadrope attached to a carabiner between two jump wings and added in a couple of other tasks. My main worry would be a ditch, I think. He gets a bit spooky and likes to dither before leaping like a frog over them. I grab mane and hope! The control of paces section will also be tougher than I anticipated. Lengthened, fast walk is ok, but collected canter will be tough outside. Tough for everyone though. I will update with any further progress!