Dressage vs. Jumping

I’ve been struggling with deciding what to do with Frankie. I’m bored right now just doing our thing. I want to compete, but Frankie doesn’t want to event, I can’t afford to compete in the jumper ring, so I decided why not give dressage a try. I even got a dressage saddle. My initial plan was to show this fall. I’m not sure if that is going to pan out with my work schedule so I’m going to play it by ear. Worst... Read More

A Bit of Control

Lots of equestrians seem to be looking for that magical piece of equipment that is going to fix everything. I know this because I’m asked a lot. About THE ONE thing that’s OMGTODESAWSUMMUSTHAV! There are a ton of gadgets, bits, devices, and tricks that are supposed to make your horse do everything correctly. Problem is, if you rode well and asked correctly, most likely you wouldn’t need all that. The only thing that is going to... Read More

Ugh…I need a clearer goal

My rides have been really good lately. Frankie has been a saint and my riding has been improving. Until this weekend. We have had a handful of really gratifying, eye opening, exciting rides. 3’6″-3’9″ courses that were delightful. Perfect. Pretty. I mean to the point that I was really patting myself on the back and ready to put the sticks back up. Frankie is still going in the loose ring “danger bit”. He has been... Read More

Big…ger Sticks

Okay, so I was planning on waiting for the weekend to jump anything bigger than 3’6″. But I got out to the barn and just couldn’t help myself. I didn’t set a full course of big jumps AND the jumps weren’t that big. The majority of the fences were between 3′ and 3’6″ but I set a line that was bigger 3’9″ and 4’3″. Yeah, big difference in fences sizing in a line. Didn’t... Read More

Set Back after Set Back after Set Back…

Well, I have ridden 5 times in the past six weeks. Yep. Not real happy about it. First, we hadn’t been jumping because Frankie needed his hocks injected. Finally got his hocks injected that was a week off. Then 2 days back to work and he comes up dead lame. I mean three legged at the walk. I freaked out. No swelling, no heat, just dead lame. The vet couldn’t get out for a week. Yes I had to wait a week, freaking out that Frankie... Read More