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!