Belated clinic recap!

I'll cut right to the chase and say that it went AMAZING! Svenna really brought her A-game and got lots and lots of compliments. She wouldn't have it any other way. She did scream a lot when she was in the stable, but was energetic and focused once I got on. I was very strategic the week before with my riding, I worked her hard Sunday, then left her alone till Thursday when she had a light hack, then off again Friday. I wanted her a little bit jumping out of her skin for the weekend; my biggest fear was running out of pony. 

Jeremy really liked her, and I will give you the main takeaways in bullet form:

• More forward! Even more! Squeeze! Forward! Now! Go! 
• Poll up, she is past the long and low stage and ready to really get to work
• Use head to the wall leg yield, shoulder in, and shallow loop to engage the outside hind leg
• Don't waste the lateral work, really hold that outside rein! 
• Half halt HARD and reallllly take the outside rein going into and during the canter, and don't let her putter out, she's strong enough to keep going now
• Let her take a stronger contact
• Do a thousand transitions. Then do a thousand more. 
• My pony is really, really fun to ride and I love her

I was most surprised by having to ask her to raise her poll, I really didn't think she had it in her to work that hard, for that long, in that frame. But she did, two days in a row, without getting very tired, a clear indication that she's ready to step it up! The way he had me working her forward was different than I'm used to- there was a lot stronger contact, but it helped me harness her power- she felt more like a real horse and less like a rinky dinky pony. 

The video is like watching paint dry- I apologize for not having pictures. I wish I had more pics, we looked so beauteous and clean (for once!) but I was there alone so was only able to trick someone into videoing the second day, which was admittedly less sparky than the first.

Also I just noticed that my title is a pun...Beale-ated, get it?? 

Did I get a new pony??

Or did Svenna get a haircut? I was going to just trace clip her, but once the hair starts flying I just can't stop myself. I think she looks amazing, fit, healthy, and cared for. As a bonus it's been so nice and warm here I haven't even had to blanket yet. I also cut her mane, washed and waterproofed her blankets and bought her some new outfits. It's been a good month to be Svenna (although isn't it always?- she's such a princess). 

What is all this fuss for? Well in only THREE DAYS we have our Jeremy Beale clinic! I wanted her looking as beautiful and proper as possible...I know she is not the typical horse that shows up at a dressage clinic so I was hoping to make up for that with good grooming!

The hairy, unkempt "before"

I took some pics a few days before of her looking all hairy and drafty and uncared for. I think the clip makes her look like a little sport pony. If she didn't have the stripy Fjord mane I think I could call her a QH cob cross- she's just a fat little dun pony. I also like her mane a lot shorter like it is in the first pic, I think it makes her neck look much more refined. 

On the training front I'm happy with where we are for the clinic. She really feels like she's starting to get with the program- as long as I can get her going forward she's quite pleasant to ride. She got a lot of time off this week to rejuvinate, only worked Monday and I'll ride her tomorrow, but off Friday too. I'm hoping that all this rest means I'll have a speedy pony on Saturday. I really worked her hard the last three weeks to try and increase her fitness and I do think it paid off, although I wish she had more endurance in the canter. She huffs and puffs less, so I'll take what I can get- getting all that hair off seemed to help with her breathing too.

Svenna says "cheese!!"

My roomate bailed on taking pictures for Saturday, but she's going to do Sunday, so I'm hoping to get some good pics as well as feedback out of the whole thing. I love having pics where we are both turned out nicely and looking good!

Cross your fingers for us that everything goes smoothly and we learn a lot!