Gia - sessions 1085 and 1086 - jumping and flatwork

 I took Gia out in the field last Wednesday.  I worked with her on keeping her poll up, and I also asked her to flex left and right while it was elevated.  That is quite a task!  I worked on transitions between halt, walk and trot with both those things in mind, as well.  I also asked her for a bit of bending and straightness work.  Finally, I pointed her at a few jumps at the end.  The jumps are just a test of whether or not the flatwork is working.  It was!  Before the jumps, we had all those things together, and we got right back to it after each jump!


On Friday, I worked with her on her flatwork in the arena.  It was more of the same stuff from Wednesday, but I started with her in-hand on lifting and flexing her poll.  Then I repeated the work from the saddle, mostly at the halt.  This work is very tedious, but oh so important!


On that note, I have decided to take a step back with both Gia and Phillip from competitions for a while.  There was a time in my past that I had a strict rule where I would not compete at a level until I was schooling at a level higher than that.  In this industry, it is so easy to be swept up by things that are more exciting, or more fun.  And I allowed myself to drift into that and go along with it for quite a while.  So much, that I can't even remember when it started.  Over the past year or so, possibly longer, I have been doing a LOT of introspection.  I can't remember if I've talked about it on here or not, but I went to an amazing clinic a few months ago, and it was kind of the jolt I needed.  It reminded me of exactly the type of rider and trainer I want to be, and to be known for, and that my horses deserve.  I want to take it slow, methodical and correct.  And if that means that I can't compete for a while, then so be it.  That doesn't mean I won't take my students to shows, it just means that I will be quietly at home, working with my horses and honing my skills, until I feel we are ready.  REALLY ready.  These amazing creatures deserve nothing less, than all the time I have to give.    There are NO shortcuts in this business that are worth taking.  It just takes time and proper training.  And I owe them that, at the VERY least, for all that they have ever given me.

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