Where we are

The jump to Second Level was pretty tough for Guinness and I, and I don't think that's a very big revelation. His confidence in the bridle and flexibility had a long way to go before he was ready to tackle the increased collection and bend required at the level. My communication skills, body awareness, and general feel needed to improve ten-fold, too.

The summer and fall have been quiet on the blog front mainly due to the repetitive nature and slow progress of our rides. For about 6 months, it seemed every ride with Guinness was a huge struggle. He resisted flexing. He resisted collecting. He resisted transitions. He even started resisting contact again.

In short, he was a difficult creature to coax into the work. Soundness was there, but the strength and mental fortitude was lacking. It was a completely new problem for me, and one that took a lot of thought and, honestly, strength to tackle.

At times, I considered his suitability for the work. I wondered if his brain just wasn't cut out for the exacting and repetitive nature of dressage. I thought maybe problem solving just wasn't in his tool box.

Still, we persevered. We trailered down to my trainer's farm once a month for extra rides under her eye, and worked hard at home every week. I rode tons of other horses with varying degrees of training to improve my feel and fill up my own tool box. I also took a serious look at my flexibility and physical shape and started to really put together a routine of stretches to help me better control my aids.

Very slowly, things got a little better.

Pig felt a little more flexible. He slowly stopped throwing constant fits. He started working confidently into the bridle almost every day. Collection started to feel real. He developed a trot I could sit. One day, the work just clicked for him. He had the strength to collect and push, and the mental fortitude to take a correction and keep trying. Every ride started to have positives. Suddenly the brambles were clearing from our path forward.

The biggest changes happened for me. My mindset of riding changed. I no longer see myself as a rider. Instead, I'm a trainer. My tool box is full of enough exercises and fixes that I no longer feel lost when my horse makes a mistake. That confidence is translating to my horse.

We're flying forward now, and I couldn't feel better about our progress.

Thanks to everyone for bearing with us for the last few months!