Loose ends

A real nice day for riding today--45 degrees, sunny, and 10 mph wind.  I saddled up Maddie and tied the lariat into her saddle, which I have done before, and rode out with the dressage whip as well.  I have been using the dressage whip for pretty much every ride in the last 3 weeks, and she has accepted it well.  The lariat is also no problem now--we can canter around and the banging does not bother her.

At Wendy's arena we worked with another horse for awhile and had a great session.  We played with the big ball and had no trouble pushing it all around the arena.  From the ground I reintroduced lariat work and then had her dragging a cone around by draping the lariat around her haunches and the saddle.  She handled this well.  I hopped up there and repeated, switching sides several times.  I was really pleased.  I think we will be able to handle this test in Madison.  I also picked up and put down the lariat in a bunch of places around the arena, and reached down to pick up the cone and moved it from place to place.  She shied slightly from the cone when I was carrying it in my lap, but it was pretty good.  I also closed the gate from the saddle and latched it.

Canter was only slightly better than last time--she has a messy, fast canter with a faint trotty feel to it when she is nervous and being pushed.  Circles were difficult because she just had no impulsion.  But I did the most indoor canter to date.  I am expecting that the mental challenge in Madison will not be as great--the arenas are bigger, and even though there are more things to bother her, I feel she will be so flooded that she will just deal with them.

Turn on the haunches to the left is sketchy--this will be a weak spot in the contest.  But overall I am really feeling confident.  Maddie has been exposed to so much and I really feel she is prepared for the big show.  For sure I know we can have a great weekend together.

Wendy saddled up and joined us for the ride back to the stable.  Maddie kept up well  with the fast walk of Wendy's draft cross, but we had to canter a bit when Wendy picked up the trot.  As expected, Maddie's outdoor canter was engaged and easy.  Wish she could do this inside!