So I did a little bit better setting up my phone on the tripod today- it’s not at an angle this time!

Today was the last lesson before our schooling show this coming weekend. It went really well! Rio is learning to horse quite well these days. The first few jumps during our ride always seem to be the best; it’s like he remembers what I want from prior rides and gives 110% right out of the gate. After about 10-15 jumping efforts though things tend to start to deteriorate a little and small mistakes start creeping in. Rio gets tired and I also tend to get a bit sloppier/tired as well and I don’t always help him when he needs it. It’s all super little stuff too, like he gets a bit behind my leg and a bit on the forehand and I wait a bit too long to correct it and then we get an awkward distance. Considering how far he has come in the past few months, I am THRILLED with how well he is doing, and try really hard to not let those little miscommunication and general lack of stamina throw off our mojo.

We plan to show in the 2’6 Jr/Am division at our schooling show. I am so excited, because this is the first show I’ve gone to where I actually plan on competing. Our first official show was just meant to be a schooling trip to get Rio exposure at the show grounds, but we ended up adding 2 Eq classes super last minute since he was being SO GOOD. That all being said, this is our first REAL show where we have actually been practicing for it. We have been schooling lead changes for about 2 weeks now so those are definitely going to be hit or miss at the show, and I won’t be upset if it doesn’t happen. I think I got a bit over ambitious trying to school them and he started anticipating pretty bad this week so I mostly did simple changes during our lesson today.

My main goal for the show is to focus on track, pace, and balance. I am going to try not to mentally berate myself if we miss the occasional distance, and if the changes don’t happen that’s also ok. If we get around the course calmly, and I can remember to make the occasional correction here and there and not totally zone out and go on auto pilot I will be one happy adult ammy!

Rio5.7.17 from Kelly on Vimeo.