Free lesson!

There is so much great information packed into these videos it's like taking a lesson of your own.  I already posted the first video of this lesson here is several short clips from the same lesson. And youget to watch me and Steady fumble around in front of Peter.

Grids with Peter Atkins. Video, FINALLY!!!!

I took a long break from trying to upload any video from camp because of all the fits it was giving me.  I have been bummed about it because the amount of information that is in the lessons is something worth watching.  You get to see the real Peter in a lesson.  I went back and watched again today and I was amazed at how much I not only retained from it but have put it into practice and have made huge strides toward the exact things he was touching on.  I had so many light bulb moments during camp that I think that was the reason I was less than thrilled after leaving.  I was completely overwhelmed with information which in turn made me feel like a freaking idiot that probably didn't belong in the sport of eventing.  But I have moved on since then.  After a few weeks of  wallowing in the mire and tretcherous summer heat we started back at it.  And one day at a time have really made huge improvement in a small time. 

It seems from the get go Peter started "picking" on me be I just kept a sense of humor about it.  This was the first lesson on the first day. So without further ado this is the first of many videos of lessons from event camp.  This one is about 17 minutes long so if you want to watch the entire thing that gives you an idea.

One mans trash is another woman's treasure. Salvaging an old flowerbox jump and putting spare lumber to good use.

Months ago our 4-H leader asked if I had any use for some old beat up jumps.   I of course couldn't pass up the offer even if there was a small chance they were at all usable.  One was an old flower box jump and the other and old jump standard.  The standard appears to not be savable but the flowerbox had a little potential.  So with some extra wood pieces laying around that I had saved, I grabbed some power tools and had at it.

Here is what I started with, it's not pretty but a poor resourceful eventer can see the potential.

Pull out old rusty nails.

Sand down old boards and the new boards that will be used as legs.

Grab eight star bit screws.

Star bit screws are a gals best friend.  It eliminates stripping the threads on screws like I have never done of course.

A girl with power tools!  Oh and black pants that may not have been the best choice of apprearal when sanding down old boards.

The almost finished product!  Just needs a new coat of paint and viola and lovely 2ft jump!

Now with my new standards and flower box jump I must decide what colors to paint them.  I think I will go with white with the flower box but the standards and poles I am thinking orange and yellow.  Simply because that color is the ONLY jump Steady has ever refused.  Thoughts?

On another note, our rides just get better and better.  I am madly in love with my horse and though it has taken us a while to feel like we have made any progress I can start to see how far we have come.  He has completely changed as a horse, in a good way.  After a great ride in gorgeous weather this evening I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude especially toward my husband for providing me with this dream.  This is actually far beyond what I have ever dreamed.  I wanted to run inside and give him a big kiss and tell him thank for how hard he works to make all this happen for me and my family but when I came inside I found him sleeping on the couch after a long day at work.  So I instead said thank you by keeping the kids quiet and finishing up all the evening duties so he can get some much needed sleep.  As for my ride tonight I set up a two stride line with the flower box 2' and a cross rail just to get the strides and timing right.  Then I raised the second jump to 2'6" and he rocked it.  BTW finally at 2'6" he finally has to jump a little.  His fitness is really improving and he can comfortably do 20 meter canter circles again.  I am working to still improve balance/moving off my leg/lateral and trot/canter transitions and balance.  With fitness they are getting better and better.  Most impressive is his 'try'.  He gives his all for me every ride.  After what felt like a train wreck at event camp with our balance and steering some things have finally clicked for me.  Peter explained a few times about how when you ask a horse to canter then ask him to bend to the inside you are taking away the horses natrual 'counter balance' by taking his head to the inside.  Though I did not pick it up at camp and never got it then I happy to say I finally got what he was trying to get me to do.  He kept telling me to shift my weight from one foot to the other.  Which I would do but at the time I was only doing it because he was telling me to.  Not because I really got what he was telling me to do.  I cannot say exactly when but at some point over the past two months I finally felt 'it'.  I can now feel mine and Steady's balance and when it is off, my body almost involuntarily corrects our balance by shifting weight.  It is amazing the difference it has made and I can tell Steady is very appreciative because things seem to just come easier for him.  It is amazing to me that one simple thing, balance, can make such massive improvements in every area of our rides.  I now find myself chanting "balance, balance, balance" with each canter stride.  I want it to become second nature to feel that balance so that in the moment on course I can think of other things and that vital balance just becomes natural.  The chanting helps keep my rythym and keeps my mind and body in the moment.  Now that I think of it I am really starting to talk to myself alot while riding...hmmm...

Jump fun!!! Standard assembly and video.

Jumps have been a priority to me around here.  Making the move to beginner novice and only having 18" to 2 ft jumps to practice at my house and needing to add height to our work finding ways to do so have been on my brain.  I 'like' horsegirltv.com on facebook and this link was posted for a video on how to make jump standards.  After watching it I realized I already have everything I needed to make two jump standards.  All except the jump cups.  So I ordered some cheapo jump cups that cost me a whopping $18.00 for 4 including shipping.  So if you watch the jump making video just insert this guys 

 cute face and that is how my new jumps came about.  Yippee!!!   Here are some photos. 

Here is video of our first jumps over them.  I just 'love' my husband and daughter's vote of confidence in our abilities over a little 2'1" jump.  Gotta love them!


We started at 18" an moved them up to only  2'4" and clearly that height is just not a big deal to the big guy.  He just kinda hops over them.  But I am sooooo happy with the change in my jumping position, and my approach,again thank you Peter!  I no longer climb his neck and my leg is solid and no sliding back!!  On approach I sit back, plant my legs, push him forward and wait for him to find his spot.  Yay!  Also I am always open to critiquing, not that I am saying I will do what you say but I don't mind knowing what others see in our work.  In other words poor girl riding lessons :)