Northern Dancer up and down. How is El Prado for temperament and sport?
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My lovely “Raz” turns 14 today! I have additional baby photos <3
We have increased to two lessons a week; we are preparing for two horse shows in May!!
We will start by doing the 21" hunter equitation division. I remember doing the CET as a teenager so this is a weird feeling that Im just as nervous or more nervous to do this. I have gotten less brave with age, haha! If she’s good with the 21" hunter eq, there is a 0.65m jumper eq class which I would absolutely die to do for our second show.
This horse show is one I sponsor with “top thoroughbred” prizes and these shows are on their development circuit, but as they do rated shows as well all their jumps, decor, and amenities are all just beautiful.
I am then having surgery in June and will be off of riding for two long (show 
) months, so she will be put in full training with my coach and I will have to be happy with giving her treats and kissing her nose for a little while!
Lately she has been a lot less anxious on the cross ties, and as always so easy to get on. I appreciate her for little things too; standing quietly while I fiddle with gates, picking her feet up for me before I even ask her, how brave she is over fill. We have been jumping little 3 stride lines, trot in, and landing with a calm canter. In between the jumps she gets a little high with her head and scoots a bit, but that’ll just take time. I dont expect her to be perfect but shes so right for me. I just finished a miniMBA which sucked up time like you wouldnt believe (and my real MBA will be this fall) and she was always so gracious when I got on after not being there for a few days. Just an absolute match made in heaven.
I cant wait for it to stop freezing and thawing and freezing and snowing here- I’d love to hand graze her and maybe attempt another trail ride one day, but it’s literally disgusting mud or sheer ice here currently(Ottawa Canada).
I have picked a show name for her: “A Good One” It sounds like her dad’s name, and plays homage to a very special thoroughbred I had who passed away named “One Please”.
OK I’ll stop my babbling. Enjoy these cute photos of her!
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The white on her forehead seems so much smaller now that she’s grown. And look at that whorl! Right in the middle denoting a sensible nature. 
She’s such a cutie, even as a baby she has ‘wise eyes’. 
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Things have been - interesting.
We had a really bad ride on Wednesday, so we’re no longer feeling like going to a show so soon. We’re still going to maintain two lessons a week, however.
It was just so disheartening. All we were doing was jumping a line followed by a pole on the ground, at which she had a meltdown. She stopped at the pole- AT A POLE- and in doing so jerked my back- I am so sore. My coach says she needs more confidence at the canter. That’s entirely fair.
I want to get out there more and work harder than I have been- work and life gets in the way a little which is hard. Its rough being an adult ammy sometimes :P. I fell down the stairs on saturday and wacked my tailbone- slippery socks are dangerous. But sore as I am I still hope to get out there today and tomorrow; then Im off on a trip for five days and my coach will be riding her thankfully.
I really dont know what I would do without her- my parents moan that I have a coach: they see it as my wasting money- but thankfully I can waste it my way haha.
Anyway, here’s hoping for better rides in the future. We might show in september, possibly. Im not holding my breath though- what matters most is her confidence and happiness really.
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Tell them that pro athletes and olympians have coaches 
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