Of Silence, Awe-struck Clinics & Listing Your Loving Partner For Sale

Many apologies for my dead silence. I have been uber busy and have been having zero motivation for anything to so with technology. Think hermit. That is more or less what I have been striving for lately, lol.

 

In the past few weeks I have had some pretty awesome rides. Paloma and I even attended a Greg Kuti clinic.

Pal stole the show with her looks, lovely trot and temperament. Greg even flat out admitted that I would have zero problems taking Paloma to intermediare. :O That was pretty shocking.

Greg was probably the best coach I have ever had the pleasure of learning from and I felt that he was uber refreshing. There are not many times anymore when you come across someone talented who is truly excited to teach and just flatly be around horses.

Though, saying that he was an intense teacher would be an understatement!

 

Mich and I signed up for the 2’9/3’ division, though the majority of our fences did not exceed 2’6.

Greg was very watchful at first and was quick to pinpoint why I am likely thinking that Paloma is lazy. While he said she isn’t a ‘fire cracker, she is an easy ride and wants to please’. Then he suggested that the reason she feels lopey is because she is quick to lengthen her front end because it comes naturally to her and is easier than rocking back and thrusting from her haunches. *ding, ding ding*…. And why did I never think of this!? He is the first one to ever make this comment.

 

His fix-it suggestion was to keep my reins short-short and raise my hands up a bit. He stated that in doing so I am forcing Paloma’s energy to hit a wall, my hands, and recycle the energy back. Then the only place she can answer my request is from behind.

The hands higher also enabled my entire body to ‘fall’ into a natural position and strengthen my core. Giving me a solid seat and contact. Instantly melting Paloma’s tension. *Forehead whack*

After a quick succession warm up, Greg had us sit the trot. Ugh.

This is one area that Paloma tenses…. Because I get tense trying not to bounce. His cure… instead of letting her bounce you out of the tack, bounce yourself and catch with your core. Almost like posting with your body instead of legs. Except your butt is glued to the saddle.

This seemed to help considerably and when I would begin to feel Pal tense, I would accentuate my ‘bounce’. It is hard to explain but for whatever reason the dynamics worked well.

 

 

Moving on to jumping. We warmed up with simple steep X’s, six strides to small vertical. Greg watching how we ride it.

Greg pointed out that I tend to ride Paloma to the first fence in the line and then let her take over. Instead I need to quite the pace into the line, making Pal use her haunches instead of momentum and after the first fence, keep my hands up, reins short and make her wait a bit longer to encourage a rounder jump. Pal was pretty confused at first and I found it difficult to not release my hands forward and give her her neck between the jumps but it absolutely made all the difference when we caught on.

 

We quickly moved on to a simple hunter type eight fence course. We were even met with some pretty freaky looking grassy poles and grassy hill looking roll tops. While I mentally quivered, but physically said ‘let’s go’, Pal didn’t blink, though I know I felt her tuck her belly a bit more than usual, haha.

 

Overall, I was very proud of her. She may not have the quickness I want, she is certainly grown into a reliable hunter.

 

 

Note: I finally connected the dots as to why cross fences feel so great with Paloma. Since my inner chicken bawks, I sit up, shorten my reins, and leg on which equals what ???  = everything Greg said I should be doing.

 

 

 

 

On the opposite front. With a heavy heart I have listed Paloma for sale…

While I refuse to sell my dear Pally unless the match is perfect. I think she would be an excellent low-mid dressage mount for those who know what they are doing or a uber chill hunter packer.