Sorry!

Time to update. Sara and I have reached a new level in our training as Holly would say we have finally arrived at the game! On the flat Sara is finally moving straight. She is no longer compensating for herself and I am no longer compensating for her.  She is tracking on a straight line and moving forward!  Sara has also decided that she can stretch herself down without going any faster.  So our next dressage test our stretch marks better be 8's! Her jumping has also improved. We are now learning to jump more technical elements and thinking in the air. As you move up the levels, it gets more and more important to think through every step. You no longer have 5 strides of LA TE DAH nonsense. You now think about every foot fall and every fence that's coming your way and those 3 seconds you're in the air you're thinking about the next turn and jump you're coming to.  So the jumping is coming along fabulously and I'm really excited for our next event so we can show what we have been working on.  Along with Sara I'm also riding the training horses Al, Ralph, and Pilgrim, who are all teaching me in their own different ways.  With Al it's important to not use much hand and get him through the bridle with your leg. Pilgrim on the other hand you have to have a hard hand and strong leg to convince him of anything.  Rolex and The Fork are quickly coming.  I will be shadowing Holly's groom for both shows.  95% of the upper level riders do a lot of things the same way but getting one of those riders to sit down and teach you things can be extremely difficult.  So I'll be the follower trying to soak up all the information about braiding, walking, the after xcountry rush, and the all important jogs so that (the few of you that read this that are involved with the wonderful world of horses ) when I come home I can show you new and different ways of looking at your horses and developing with them.  Now personally I am doing quite well - a little stressed but besides that I have really soaked into the HHE world quite well.  I am getting ready to move into my new house which I will post pictures of when I take them.  I have taken to a new strength training program Hello 25 sit ups , push ups and squats a day + 2 min planks + a 10 min jog.  Only 10 minutes any more and my knees start to hurt we don't need new knees for Maxine at the age of 16!  All in all its been a really awesome month and March is going to be even more exciting. Love and miss you all!

Pictures From Pine Top

Yes theres like 5 that are scary BUT tell me which  ones are your favorite I have to buy 2 a dressage and Jump one so describe it

http://www.hoofclix.com/Pine-Top-Farm/2011-02-13-USEA-Horse-Trial/MaxinePrestonSara205/15818608_yCGaW#1187308663_WRZvb

Home again home again jiggity jig

A week with holly has been survived I only hit her once thought the whole week :D ( yes I was having one of those I'm falling down a hole dreams and I jumped hitting holly in the face while we were sleeping oops :) ). The event was awasome it's so diffrent down here then up north. First off all those people we see riding at rolex ie Boyd Phillip will and of corse holly!! Well those ppl I am now riding with and against I got a high five and a noggie fro
Boyd today for our xcountry round. The high five for the clear round and having NO STOPS AT THE WATER :D the noggie for the 10 time penalties :/! Aiken was amazing as ive said earlier it was a great way to train consentrated lessons is exactley what I needed. The show I have no complaints except sara needs to realize were going training not grand priz dressage yes my mare was doing tempe changes at the canter but besides that her trot was fantastic all 7 and a 8 on her halt :) stadium was fantastic we had my 2 evils a triple bar and a sweetish all we were missing was the triple but Sara being Sara jumped them both fantadtaticley!! Xcountry was the bomb another huge difference beteween east coast and michigan is the courses everything was 33 maxed and drops and width were all maxed so for our first show since august it was a tad daunting but she was a superstar in all her combinations :). We finished 9th out of 19 so were thrilled for my first event if were starting Herr then our season is going to ve great hello prelim!!!!!!! Ok off to hollys house where I will be staying because little girls should not be out driving this late :D ok biii peeps ttys!!!!!

And the first show of the season!

We are down in Georgia at Pine Top Sara was a super star in her stadium lesson this morning so I'm praying for a great weekend!! I have no idea whats going on all I know is that I ride dressage at 1:02 tommorom then stadium 3ish. On Sunday xc at 5:20 FEEL SORRY FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it'll be fun!!!!!!

First Cross Country School of the Season!

The horses were as excited to be out just as much as we were.  With only a few bucks and screams being just a small gratuitous verbal incourment which i was told would NOT be exceptable in this program!  But we all got through without any major issues.  The footing was fantastic and the 50 degree weather was nothing to complain about.  Sara was very fresh like extremely fresh! Sara was excited to be out its not easy being Sara shes such a princess :)  Went back to boyds/phillips today for jump schooling with the bad word Pilgim (a students horse) and the Freddy mac fredister Pony (Holly's baby horse).  Boyd was on Stewie on the falt which I could not see becasue I was being a working student when Boyd went to switch helmets I became the human hat rack for the purple floppy hat he was previousley wearing! Both ponies were a little fresh but we'll have better luck on thursday! Well life here in Aiken is super an were already making plans for next year! Love and miss you all!

Aiken!!

So yeah down in Aiken watched Boyd ride Stewie (whose training facility is next to Phillip's )who has not welcomed me yet into the world of Holly. So now I am waiting and will probably keep waiting till after Rolex soo far away! Any who at Boyd's which may I add was an awesome piece of property.  The barn is like something out of a picture book with each little pony in there cute little stalls.  The footing at Boyds is amazing its I add this because its like perfect try Rolex footing + 2.  Boyds riding is somewhat amazing he's a little stiff in the seat with stewie but his led does not move. Helped groom Nevial (Boyd's W.E.G. Horse).   Settled the horse's in at Jumping branch where we will be training for the next few days and getting Sara's cute little but in the water.  Have i mentioned the trainers Steven Bradley and  Jan Bynne are schooling with us.   The weather was not so fantastic today BUT! the rest of the week calls for Sun and Warmth!

On my way to Aiken with Holly a week of training sessions with philliP Boyd and holly! No idea what this week will bring no idea what well be doing all I know is that Freddie and Sara are my responsibility other then that I'm in a little bit of trouble they need to make a working student for dummies handbook!!!! Well wish me luck eventing in a week!!

Sigh!

Today is my firt day as Holly's only working student and I've offically been here a week! The work is not that hard and challenging but it is a lot! Holly really is liking Sara and I'm really liking Holly the only real thing left to do is get bitten by Stewie :)