Trafalgar ARC Combined Training Day

A frosty morning, a flat equestrian park with views as far as Mt Baw Baw. A passing train to Warragul goes "hoot hoot hoo-oo-oot". Princess freaks out. The dressage judge is wondering why I bother. Between a rubbing saddle, and an improvised medical armband, we find a horse shoe for good luck. The showjumping course rides beautifully - every ounce of my showjumping training with Greg Smith is put to good use. The eucalypt jump, the dazzle boards, and the pot plants don't faze us. Clear. I manage a smile.

It's good to feel humble.

On the way home ... the car plays up. Must have been talking to the horse.

Frosty

It's frosty. The ground is slippery. Can't jump until it thaws out. Princess is not working well. There is not an ounce of "give" in her neck. We muscle it out for over an hour. Working through resistance they call it ... apparently. We achieve some good transitions and finish on a good note. Too late to jump now. We will do that tomorrow.

Rally Day - Neerim AEC

Princess comes with me to the Drouin Pony Club grounds. Showjumping and Dressage lessons go well. Then Georgina takes us Cross Country. My horse baulks at a tiny log. I freak. Where is the girl who wanted to do eventing? Princess gets attitude, I lose my trust. Georgina understands where I'm coming from. We work it out in the end and do some nice jumps and some lovely canter/gallop/canter.

Husband is frustrated that I get home so late on Mothers' Day.

Tuck your seat in!

Riding position according to me is:

1. Core strength
2. Inner peace
3. Strong lower leg

Riding actions are:

1. Look up
2. Leg snug
3. Tuck the seat in

Of course there is more to it, but these are the principles. Get these wrong, and you can forget about any sort of control.