And We Are Off
I have spent the past two days here at Bea and Derek’s house and farm in Carmel Valley to get in some final practice and finishing touches before the weekend begins. Ginger was a bit of a hot tamale this morning our final jump school. The enthusiasm was welcomed and served to make a great final jump school before the show. When I was warming up this morning, I thought about the first time Ginger and I came for training at Stillwater Farms in January of 2009. At that point Ginger and I were trying to get through training level and were running into some difficulty...
Read MoreButterflies Already!
The past few days/week has been a bit of a whirlwind. With a microbiology midterm, three lab reports, and relentless hours at school, I have still somehow managed to ride Ginger everyday for an hour and a half as intended. It is exhausting and hilarious how it is possible to ride and be a full time student as a double major. When people ask me how I do it, I simply say the word sacrifice. For example, at this moment, I am updating my blog in the library at Fresno State with my breeches, boots, and spurs still on from the barn. I sacrifice make-up, a regular...
Read MoreOnto longer practices and pictures
Today was my first real ride back on Ginger. I rode her for an hour and a half like I will every day until the CCI**. Right before I got on, I realized how much more time I had to practice each part of my test and really practice each detail of my riding. The dressage test that we will ride in at Twin Rivers is harder in my opinion with turns on the haunches and more walk movements. I got access to photos from Galway Downs so I hope you all enjoy. Ginger and I are going to keep training and work our way into some more fitness and more accurate...
Read MoreVideo from Galway Downs
Thanks to a great friend, Nora Battig, and her awesome family I have, at this point, one clip of the drop to corner and second water that I spoke about in my blog. It is posted on the link below. Ginger and I start our ride at the 40 second mark. We are the second pair in the video. Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLgiUWhcV9Q Until next time,Ginger and LaurenPS Ginger is enjoying her much needed two days off, but will be back to light work...
Read MoreGalway Downs CIC** Wrap Up
What a weekend! Today was an interesting day. I woke up this morning wishing it was over already because my nerves were beyond words, but seconds after my cross country course was over, I was wishing I could do it all over again. Ginger was a dream today. After walking my course one last time this morning, tacking down all the distances, and fully understanding my strategy, I headed back to the barn to prepare for my ride. I got on and warmed-up; Ginger took each jump with ease and seemed very well adjusted after our new warm up strategy to jump softer, by...
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