I'm going to start taking lessons Mondays and Fridays with Juilane, on Cowboy, Sarah's horse... I had my test ride yesterday (Monday), and I'm going to ride Robert on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help Stephanie and Nick out, along with trying to gain some of my muscle back! Here's a few photos from Monday's test ride...







He's a real cutie... He reminds me a bit of Sappho...

Katie

Update on the Sappho...

After not have really been ridden in months, except for walking with non-horse people on top of her on trails, my mom went out to camp with my friend to ride... She rode Sappho...

When she got there, she said she gave Sappho a head hug, and instead of doing her normal "Oh come on, none of that mushy stuff!", she just didn't move her head at all. That isn't like her at all... But when it was time to ride, she seemed to perk up a bit...







She seemed perky in the video, but the camera was shaking all over the place (Thanks Laura! Lol!), so freeze-framing it was the best I could do... So then mom gave her a bath... I think she loved the attention! :)







I think she really just wants to be loved and wants to work again... :) She's still wearing the plate on her hoof... I hope her puncture is getting better...

Katie

Like this, or like this?

Rebecca Turner is going to make a Sappho for me from a Carol William's Matriarch resin. :) I've been pondering which pose would make me happiest, and I've decided between the following. :)








And here's Matriarch...


I'm very excited! :)
Katie

Ketchup...

Since I never thought to blog about riding, I have a little to throw out there... Of course, most of this will be about Sappho, my little brat, but hopefully when I branch out I'll see places to make improvements... :)

First, the old Sappho. The old Sappho was a team penner/roper (I'm not sure which) ridden by cowboys. She loved them cows, and probably still would. She knew one speed- fast- and was a little awkward sometimes. But she's always been cocky.






After working with her for a while, I leased her from November 10th, 2007, to Febuary 28th, 2008. I took lessons with Diane Cummins, who worked with us on dressage fundamentals. Afterall, we both lacked grace... I've tried a few different bits with her. From a regular snaffle, to a full cheek french link, to a pelham, and then to a d-ring oval mouth. The D-ring oval mouth has been the best, and it must be one of the most gentle bits out there. It even curves into her mouth to make it the nicest bit. She's extremely sensitive, so you have to ride her with leg and seat mostly, anyway.

11/17/07 Testing out the Pelham with a good workout!


12/25/07 A christmas day ride to show my dad and grandmother






Then, 12/31/07.






I sure do miss her. Now, she's fat and unmuscled, but she still remembers some of the things we learned together. She learned to drop her head onto the bit with leg pressure, as well as carry herself so that I'm not the one holding her up. :) Now, she really didn't like the indoor arena, she wanted to be outside, but we managed! :)

Then, we learned to do a downward transition with seat and legs, and weaned her off using the hands. Try the last 30 seconds. :)