Pete and Bratitude

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That is not terribly unlike what Pete has looked like for the past 3 days. Of course, there would be both a dressage saddle and me on top of him. I would probably look like I have no idea what just happened. Because I kind of don't.

Pete has never been super good in upward transitions to the canter. I have him because he threw too many people. But I did eventually do enough work to where I had a horse I could get reasonably calm upward transitions on.

Until I gave him two and a half weeks off because the only saddle I have that fit him broke.

I now have something like the picture. For half the length of the arena. Every single time I ask for an upward transition to the canter.

I will not be going to that show my trainer mentioned in two weeks.

I will, however, be busting my butt riding that horse every day until I can get something decent out of him.

I really wish I had someone to video his freakouts.

Well, Duh.

I rode with a friend of mine yesterday and asked her to take a look at my attempts at a shoulder-in with Pete. She'd seen me do them during lessons so I was hoping she'd be able to tell me what's so different that's making it not work.

She told me I should try it at the trot.

If you can headdesk in a saddle, I did it.

Oh, and at the trot? It worked beautifully.

Radio Silence

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I'm not posting much right now because I am trying to stay very busy. The bar results come out on Friday, and to say I am nervous is an understatement. I am freaking out. I'm throwing a party this weekend, if I pass it's a celebration. If I fail it's something to obsess over other than the fact that I have to re-enter hell. It's also an excuse to clean my house that doesn't make me examine the fact that the cleaner my house is the more wrecked my mental state.

I had an OK lesson on Sunday, but I'm not really going to post about it because everything is negative to me right now. I'll post a better recap next week, when I'm no longer in a doom and gloom headspace. I did some good stuff, but all I can think of right now is what I failed at.

The plan for the rest of the week is pretty simple: Work, ride, clean, workout, sleep. Repeat.