Four in a row...maybe it isn't just luck!

[TrotAdmin]

So my last 4 rides on Diva have been great, but each time I keep giving all the credit to the hot weather. I am probably jinxing myself here, but I am starting to think that maybe we have actually made progress on one of our biggest challenges.

I have had her for 10 years, and we have always had problems coming down to a sane, controlled trot after we canter. It is like the canter makes her lose her mind and that is all she wants to do after that, regardless of how calm she was before we did it.

The last 4 times I have ridden her, I have been able to transition directly from canter to a normal speed, non-insane trot. AND, the last time, we even had an "upward yet downward" transition...haha. I would have been happy with just the non-rushing trot afterwards, but we had a canter-trot transition where she stayed "up", instead of feeling like she was falling into the trot. AMAZING feeling!

Maybe it is her age, maybe it is because she is happy in her more natural living conditions, etc., I don't know, but whatever it is I am liking it. It's been awhile since I have had anything to share, but I thought this was worthy :) Maybe we will be able to be DQ's after all :)

[Jackandmo]

:rockon:

Congrats!

[vlayne]

Awesome! Dem Saddlebred mares sometimes take a few years... erm, decades... to grow up. :sneaky2:

[sdlbredfan]

Trina, that is great news! Whatever caused it, I hope it continues.
Jeanie

[TrotAdmin]

Ok, not so hot outside anymore and Diva's new, more agreeable personality has stuck! So now the conclusions I am left with are she is just getting old, or she is just so happy with her living conditions now that she can finally relax.

Anyway, good good good stuff coming from her, and as of this month she is officially back in full time work. A friend of mine is riding her a couple times a week, and I am a couple of other days, so this is the most she has worked in years...haha

I took a video and some pictures today to use as my "before" :) I'm too embarassed to show them now cause she's almost as flabby as I am, but in a month or two when I have progress to show I will post them both.

New goal: be ready to hit some dressage shows in the spring. I think if we don't run into any injuries or I lose my second rider we should be more than ready.

Fun stuff! Great to have something "really" horse related to talk about again! :thumbup1:

[vlayne]

Congrats! I can't wait to see the comparisons.

[D_BaldStockings]

Well, since when things go wrong, one always blames the rider; I think it is high time to congratulate you on what must be YOU doing a great job with your mare!
:tooth:
Both of you: Keep it up!