Days 21-27

Day 21 Thursday January 23rd, 2014 

7AM workout with Andrea Landis, talk about getting your glutes and thighs working! It was fantastic! She mixed up the exercises and had us do some new things that I’ll be using to keep my routine fresh. 
So we didn’t have such a great lesson today. Display was really behind the leg, didn’t want to go forward and was really tripping behind. Lendon and I both agree that it might have something to do with his hocks. I bet you can about imagine how the changes went, canter halfpasses were good; the rest of the work was just a bit stuck. Around 11:30 was lunch and learn, today’s topic was soft tissue and tendon repair. In case I haven’t mentioned, getting free food while living in Florida is a HUGE plus, thank heavens for lunch and learn! 

Day 22 Friday January 24th, 2014 

Display felt awesome today! Right from the beginning I tried to push him really forward and in front of my leg. Then we went on to shoulder-ins and half passes. I tried something new today: instead of just doing the sideways “stuff” and him getting duller and loosing the forward I’d do a movement then send him on a straight line and push him really forward. It helped get him sharper and more eager to go into the movements, super exciting and fun to ride! Changes were pretty good, doing them on the quarter line makes a HUGE difference. I think once we turn on the diagonal and I start thinking changes he automatically takes over, on the quarterline I have a bit more control but it also proves how hard it is to keep on a straight line while trying to do multiple changes! Our lecture of the day was with Andrea Landis on life after highschool. She shared her story with us and gave some advice on how it would be when we got out into the real world. In the afternoon we all got to go watch the Grand Prix Freestyles. That’s the awesome thing about Florida, we have SO many top international riders right in our backyard. 

Day 23 Saturday January 25th, 2014 

One good day sometimes leads to a bad, had a really rough ride. Display was really behind the leg and felt just plain uncomfortable. Tried to do a little bit of everything to see if we could work it out but it didn’t get better. By the end of our ride we just worked in the walk, stretching and coming round just to do something productive. I made a call to one of the vets to get his hocks injected ASAP. Lecture was again with Andrea Landis, this time on anatomy and physiology. I learned a ton about anatomy and how horse and human bodies work. That evening the WITee’s “Aunt” Candy took us out to dinner and then a few of us went to jumpers with her. For those that don’t know, Aunt Candy is the one that made it possible for me to be here, she adopts us “kids” every year. Definitely the sweetest person I’ve ever met! 

Day 24 Sunday January 26th, 2014 

Just tack walked Display today, there was no use trying to work him if he was uncomfortable. Since there was no pressure I rode him in the snaffle for the first time ever since I’ve been riding him. He was actually really good and we both lived through it, I think he enjoyed the change.
 No lecture today. 
The vet was suppose to come out this afternoon but had to reschedule for tomorrow. 
Worked in the afternoon for Jackie Brooks. 

Day 25 Monday January 27th, 2014 

“Day off” typical Monday! I worked for Jackie in till around noon then was able to go home and take a nice power nap. My gas tank was running on low so it was definitely needed. The vet came out to inject Display, a little tranquilizer and a lighter wallet later: he should start feeling like a young spring chicken again after a few days off!  

Day 26 Tuesday January 28th, 2014 

I apologize if the next few days are boring! 

 Fitness at 7, did I mention I’m going to look like a fitness instructor when I return to the frigid North? Display had the day off.

We all got to go watch the USEF pipeline clinic at Global. The clinic consisted of a FEI Pony rider, FEI Junior rider, FEI Young rider, FEI Brentina Cup rider, a couple young horses and some elite riders. They all trained with Debbie MacDonald, Scott Hassler, Robert Dover and Jeremy Steinberg. The clinic organizers graciously allowed us WITee’s to join in on the pipeline’s lecture on Sports physiology. 

Day 27 Wednesday January 29th, 2014 

7AM Fitness: Stretching and coordination. That was definitely something people should have bought tickets to watch. Just because we ride horses doesn’t mean we are the most coordinated and graceful! Hand walked Display, poor guy is stuck inside and can’t be worked. Thankfully he hasn’t started tearing down his stall. 

Again went to watch the pipeline clinic.

 Lecture was with WITee Kya Enderson on crosstraining.

Finally got this to post! Hope everyone is staying warm!