Mary's ponies

Listening ...

Today's Challenge!

Don't forget to stop by and audit (jump crew is always appreciated too!). We have chairs, refreshments and plenty of watching available all day!

The Counter Canter Miracle: Part 2

If you're a friend on facebook, you're probably sick of my gushing posts about Lissell.  So if you're expecting anything different today, you'll be disappointed.

LISSELL IS AMAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had lessons with Susan Graham White today, and I've started to really look forward to my dressage lessons on Lissell.  Who knew!?  Today's theme was establishing a steady, solid connection by engaging Lissell's hind end. Over the past few months, Lissell's balance has been improving, but she can sometimes get stuck, and it's like her hind legs just stop moving.  So we've been working on keeping her active behind.  The cool thing is that Lissell can now take a correction (aka a sharp tap from the whip), and instead of having a meltdown, just does what she's supposed to.  Yay!  Success!

From there, we moved on to the counter canter. No biggie, Lissell and I have been practicing this, but just for short periods stretches.  We completed 2-3 loops of the arena and I'm thinking, "Wow, go us!"  Then Susan tells me to come in on a circle around her, and the warning signs start going off in my head.  I was thinking there was no possible way this was going to end well.  But Miss Lissell just settled into it. Wowza.  Then Susan said to bring her nose to the inside of the circle.  Again, I was thinking this would be the breaking point.  No possible way.  But Lissell just did it, and did it with this, "What's the big deal!?" type of attitude.

Back to the trot, and I think I would have done a happy dance if possible.  Next up was the right lead, which is typically Lissell's harder direction.  Not tonight!  She was straighter, more balanced and had a better rhythm.  I think it also helped that I had a more confident attitude towards it, and instead of waiting for the blow up, was relaxed and concentrating on the movement.  So back to the left we went, and perfection.

Seriously, this mare just astounds me.  She shows up ready to work every day, and has become so incredibly rideable, I just can't believe it.  If I think too hard about how far this mare has come, it brings tears to my eyes.  When I took Lissell back, I would have been happy to just watch her eat grass every day.  When I started riding her again, Kelley asked me what my goals were, and I remember saying something about wanting to soak up all the learning Lissell had left to give me.  Never in a million years did I think this is where we would be today.  The lessons I learn from her every day are priceless. Listen to your horse, and you'll be rewarded.

March Clinic with Stephen Bradley!

Stephen will be back at A Bit Better Farm (Brookeville, MD) on Monday, March 12th. 

Lessons are limited to 3 riders and cost $110/rider.  We have to be done by 5pm, and I'll just work the schedule backwards from there. 

So ... e-mail me (margaret@mythiclanding.com) if you'd like a slot!


PS I have space left with Susan Graham White next Monday, February 20th.  Let me know if you'd like a slot!

February Susan Graham White Clinic Dates

Susan & Huey

  Susan Graham White will be returning to A Bit Better Farm (Brookeville, Maryland) for two days of lessons in February.  All lessons are 45-minute privates and cost $125.  Cash, check and credit cards accepted.  Auditing is always free and I generally have coffee and tea available.

Please e-mail me at margaret@mythiclanding.com to let me know if you'd like to ride on one or both days:

Saturday, February 4th

Monday, February 20th

Stay warm and I hope to see you all soon!

Note: Please let me know if you would like to be added to the SGW Clinics e-mail list.  OR if you'd like to be added to the Stephen Bradley Clinic e-mail list.

More lessons with Mr. Bradley

Yesterday was cold, windy, cold ... so the perfect day for lessons with Stephen Bradley!  We were back at A Bit Better Farm, and oh so thankful for their sturdy indoor arena.  :-)

I didn't get to ride until later in the afternoon, and Miss Lissell was perfect.  She came in from the field with mud caked to every exposed surface, including her forehead (not sure how she did that one, and not sure I want to know!).  My Aunt Susan came out to watch and stepped in as super groom. While Lissell loooooves to get muddy, she hates to be scrubbed clean.  Susan seemed to have the magic touch that kept Lissell happy and got her clean.  Even better, I think I now have a groom for the spring season.  Yay! 

I was a bit nervous when I first got on, as Lissell felt like a coiled spring and kept shaking her head (never a good sign for good behavior!).  I was pretty sure yesterday was going to be the day that my horse would jump me clear out of the saddle just because she thought it would be funny.  But then I remember that Lissell is perfect, and it was all just awesome.  Now that we're jumping bigger, I have to work on staying with her in the air.  Thankfully my body mostly cooperates with my efforts, I just have to make a concentrated effort to release more in the air, land with my weight in my stirrups and shoulders up, and so on and so forth.  Practice, practice, practice, and then it will all be natural.  I hope!

A few highlights of the day were Holly coming over with Mr. Moosetracks for a private lesson.  They've been on a bit of a roller coaster lately, but I think they're on their was up right now.  Moosetracks seemed quite pleased with his efforts after.

The last lesson of the evening was Mary and Kelley on their Intermediate (soon to be Advanced??) horses Beast and Bomber.  It's so fun to watch these two horses go because they're so different, but both get the job done.  Beast is the firecracker, and makes us all giggle with her insane jumping efforts that make you realize why Mary has a neck strap on.  And Bomber is the cool, casual one. I love them both.

Here are a few videos from their lessons, including the incredible skinny barrel exercise:

Kelley and Bomber through the grid.

Mary and Beast through the grid.

Kelley, Bomber and the skinny barrel.

Mary, Beast and the skinny barrel.