Notes From Around the Arena
May 8th - 13th, 2012
A special note of congratulations to Sally and Linus who rode at the Pope Valley Gymkhana this weekend. Sally had Caroline there to coach her through and support her to stay on track for Linus' training. Starting the day with cloverleaf barrels and poles, which they worked there pattern positioning at the trot. Linus proved to be a solid mount and never got too over excited so Sally worked the canter with a trot turn in speed barrels which landed them in the ribbons. And cantered down for speed ball with a precisions stop perfectly place for the ball drop into the cone and cantered home for a 2nd place win. Great job Sally and Linus! We look forward to having you our team at the Clements Gymkhana.
Ok, so Sunday at Skyline, really just a fabulous day all the way around. The 6:00 am gather with the full moon being 14% larger and the sun cresting the mountain as we watched, was the set for the stage that would be our day. The show was well attended with 9 riders for the 11-17 English division, which included Maddy, Katrina and Chloee. Clair had the similar count for her western classes. Judy rode western with the over 18 group with 7 or so riders which made the open division both English and western class count in the teens.
Maddy and Cowboy really did a nice job, in such a big group Cowboys competitive edge was really taxed and he had a bit of trouble relaxing to walk. However, their trot was fluid as Cowboy has learned to carry his body very balanced. Maddy was our only Canter rider and again did very well. Maddy and Cowboy did place well in the jumping portion of the day. Congratulations you two.
Chloee and Sierra as part of the beginner show team were able to ride 3 classes for the day. And I would say the education outside of the arena was abundant. Sierra as she sometimes does became a crazy girl. She could not stand still, unless she was eating. She could not be too far from Zen for too long or her anxiety really took over. Chloee worked very well to keep Sierra re-directed, had two very nice classes. After which I had Chloee take a break and we left Sierra tied to the trailer for a while. When the jumping classes came up we went to get Sierra and we really were not sure if this was going to go well. But Chloee was brave and did the class. Her rail work was the best Sierra had been. And Chloee navigated the jump line as directed by the judge with so much grace we were all so amazed and relieved. They ended up placing 2nd of the 6. Wow! Way to go Chloee. This was Chloee's first English show.
Katrina and Zen had there first show together and I have to say, we are looking good for Texas! Katrina's mom Chris, was there to watch as the judge used the pair in the top 5 in almost every class they rode. And Katrina having never jumped Zen (oops! my bad) won the Jumping class. What an elegant pair. Great Job Katrina.
Catherine and John brought Natalie out for her lesson, she was a great team player assisting Chloee with Sierra during Chloee's classes. Sierra did settle down some and I was able to get Natalie on for the defensive management class that Sierra is so fond of teaching. At one point Sierra at the trot, did a little hop and a skip and Natalie did very well. Not wanting her to expand that explanative, we took Sierra around the grounds with Clair and Rocky and Judy and Frenchie. Natalie did a great job and even got to do trailer loading at the end of the day. Great Job.
Judy and Frenchie started off a little excited but drawing on their experience stayed cool and just kept riding and getting better and better, placing in the top 5 a number of times. I think the big mile stone for this duo was the trail class. Not only remembering the very unusual pattern but they managed that darn "rope style gate" to open and close with accurate success. So proud of you Judy.
And last but not least, Clair and Rocky were amazing! Not one time during the entire day not even in the trail class, did Rocky's hart go into palpitations of fear. He did all his classes with a calm acceptance. Rocky placed in a very large line up. And was called for reserve a few times. Even the Trail class, around cones, over poles at the trot. That darn rope gate was even half way done. And trotted in, stopped and backed through an L. Congratulations Jan and Clair! And thank you for working with me for so long on the project that is Rocky, and for being open to the healing alternatives I have subjected you too. May we be getting somewhere.
Ok, so Sunday at Skyline, really just a fabulous day all the way around. The 6:00 am gather with the full moon being 14% larger and the sun cresting the mountain as we watched, was the set for the stage that would be our day. The show was well attended with 9 riders for the 11-17 English division, which included Maddy, Katrina and Chloee. Clair had the similar count for her western classes. Judy rode western with the over 18 group with 7 or so riders which made the open division both English and western class count in the teens.
Maddy and Cowboy really did a nice job, in such a big group Cowboys competitive edge was really taxed and he had a bit of trouble relaxing to walk. However, their trot was fluid as Cowboy has learned to carry his body very balanced. Maddy was our only Canter rider and again did very well. Maddy and Cowboy did place well in the jumping portion of the day. Congratulations you two.
Chloee and Sierra as part of the beginner show team were able to ride 3 classes for the day. And I would say the education outside of the arena was abundant. Sierra as she sometimes does became a crazy girl. She could not stand still, unless she was eating. She could not be too far from Zen for too long or her anxiety really took over. Chloee worked very well to keep Sierra re-directed, had two very nice classes. After which I had Chloee take a break and we left Sierra tied to the trailer for a while. When the jumping classes came up we went to get Sierra and we really were not sure if this was going to go well. But Chloee was brave and did the class. Her rail work was the best Sierra had been. And Chloee navigated the jump line as directed by the judge with so much grace we were all so amazed and relieved. They ended up placing 2nd of the 6. Wow! Way to go Chloee. This was Chloee's first English show.
Katrina and Zen had there first show together and I have to say, we are looking good for Texas! Katrina's mom Chris, was there to watch as the judge used the pair in the top 5 in almost every class they rode. And Katrina having never jumped Zen (oops! my bad) won the Jumping class. What an elegant pair. Great Job Katrina.
Catherine and John brought Natalie out for her lesson, she was a great team player assisting Chloee with Sierra during Chloee's classes. Sierra did settle down some and I was able to get Natalie on for the defensive management class that Sierra is so fond of teaching. At one point Sierra at the trot, did a little hop and a skip and Natalie did very well. Not wanting her to expand that explanative, we took Sierra around the grounds with Clair and Rocky and Judy and Frenchie. Natalie did a great job and even got to do trailer loading at the end of the day. Great Job.
Judy and Frenchie started off a little excited but drawing on their experience stayed cool and just kept riding and getting better and better, placing in the top 5 a number of times. I think the big mile stone for this duo was the trail class. Not only remembering the very unusual pattern but they managed that darn "rope style gate" to open and close with accurate success. So proud of you Judy.
And last but not least, Clair and Rocky were amazing! Not one time during the entire day not even in the trail class, did Rocky's hart go into palpitations of fear. He did all his classes with a calm acceptance. Rocky placed in a very large line up. And was called for reserve a few times. Even the Trail class, around cones, over poles at the trot. That darn rope gate was even half way done. And trotted in, stopped and backed through an L. Congratulations Jan and Clair! And thank you for working with me for so long on the project that is Rocky, and for being open to the healing alternatives I have subjected you too. May we be getting somewhere.