We are almost there! Fitness level for Frankie is 100%, though I am dragging behind a bit.

I have been diligent about our work and progress and we haven’t jumped big fences yet. Mainly because I needed Frankie to calm down! He was way too rushed over small fences to even consider big fences.

Our flatwork has been great. I have been riding him in draw reins once a week and in his keep your fu*#ing head down de-gauge 2-3 days a week. He has really developed a nice topline through his neck, but I have been really struggling with getting him “active” behind. I can get him forward but since he is a mile long it has been really hard to get his hind end actively under him. I can do it very condensed, but without enough motor.

I also have gone back to riding with spurs, not when we have jumped and not EVERY day. Just as a reminder. This has been good, but it looks as though I will have to go back to wearing them 100% and make sure I don’t get lazy and use them when I don’t really need them.

We had a fantastic dressage lesson on Friday. I got all the tools I need to finish off that topline and really get Frankie more engaged, energized, and essentially a superball. Problem is, two days later and I still can’t lift anything over 5 pounds because my shoulders and back are so sore because there is so much weight in my hands! As the instructor said “you are riding a mans horse”. Yeah, well I’ll show you. Yeah, I showed him and now I’m SO SORE! I guess I will have to start lifting weights and playing with different bits.

I have been flatting him in a KK Ultra and a Myler D. Switching off has kept Frankie more interested and a little lighter. However, with what I am asking him, he isn’t being heavy, he just is a horse that likes a lot of contact. Problem is, I don’t weigh 200+ pounds so it doesn’t work for me for more than 20 minutes.

Hopefully I can find a balance of getting myself stronger and finding a bit that might make my life a little easier.

Jumping has been great. We have made a ton of progress. Last weekend we jumped around a 3’6″ course pretty nicely. Perfect? No. He was good in front of the fences, but it took a lot to get him back in-between. Then I didn’t have time to jump again until yesterday. I set up a new course, it’s a pretty fun one however two more jumps would make it a great course.

An outside line (5 stride) to a bending (4 stride) that can be ridden as a single as well, a diagonal line (3 strides), a diagonal in and out, a single oxer and a single on the short line of the ring. Pretty fun. I was planning on jumping him bigger (3’9″-4′). I had the course set up small (3′-3’6″) and he jumped around it twice on a loose rein, quiet, jumping well, and focused. GOOD BOY FRANKIE. I decided not to go up and really enjoy my happy relaxed horse.

YEAH!