Something strange has been going on here lately. The last 5-6 dressage rides I’ve done with Henry have been… like… pretty decent. And not just decent for us (our standards are lower) but decent in a normal, general sense.
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been doing our dressage rides out in the field
or because it’s been warm and therefore he’s a bit more, ehm, rideable
but I’ve actually been able to use BOTH of my legs… AT THE SAME TIME. Not only that, he’s been letting me ride him into the contact. Legit IN the contact, no faking. I keep thinking “Oh, so this is what it’s like for normal people to do dressage. This is way better.”. It’s amazing how much easier everything is when you’re able to use all your aids. 15m circles happen. Decent transitions happen. Lengthenings happen. Stretchy circles happen. I actually had to keep both legs on in our canter squares or he’d break to trot.
The only thing I seem to give up a little bit is the lateral movements. Henny no move sideways when Henny chill. Whatever, man. I’ll take the rest.
$20 says it all goes flying out the window this afternoon when I pull into Dressage Trainer’s barn for a lesson, and when we trot up centerline on Sunday, but hey… it DOES exist in there somewhere, sometimes.
Side note: it’s amazing how fast I fall out of horse show mode. Last year we were showing pretty much every month until October and I always had all my stuff organized and ready to go. Last night I spent 20 minutes looking for my white breeches… they were still hanging in the laundry room… where I left them in October…
breedrideevent.com 
Yay for good rides! Hopefully the lesson goes better than expected. 🙂
My horse surprised me by being reasonable in the grooming area and the indoor arena the other night. Two places he threw a total fit last time. Being alone is scary.
When will the Winston contest winners be announced? 🙂
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Like I said, dressage is fun. ❤
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Only if your horse is normal.
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ha he just wants to keep you guessing right up til the very end. good luck at the lesson!
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He’s probably planning something. Based off the first picture, he may have gotten a taste for blood (looks like a hand in his mouth), so he wants to lure you into a false sense of security until l he can unleash his rampage upon society. He is waiting for the right moment.
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I’m much more likely to believe this theory rather than a sudden attitude shift toward dressage as a whole.
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We all know there’s no rules that govern horse logic
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HAHAHA
yes this is my life
This year, we can have normal horse rides sometimes. Then I’m like “oh hey I get this this isn’t that hard” and then the next day, I can’t even get on.
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That’s what happens when you go places without me! Can’t find your shit!
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Probably because you stole it.
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Just don’t look at what I am selling on eBay….
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Which is it this time? Your body, your dignity, or your pride? Can’t be your dignity, there’s none of that left…
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D. None of the Above. It’s all your missing shit… minus your soul, that’s long gone.
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No it’s not, I keep in my purse along with your balls.
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Nope, mine have been firmly attached for quite a while… They must be yours – time to strap them back on.
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They’re rainbow colored, they’re definitely yours.
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Mine are pink – you know I don’t like glitter and shit. You must have snagged someone else’s by mistake.
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Rainbow isn’t the same thing as glitter, moron. You’re the worst gay ever.
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Clearly I am! Look at my hag!
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Pfft please I’m your Straight Eye for the Queer guy.
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Ha i was sure Bobby’s balls were wintec material 🙂 Not rainbow OR sparkly glitter 🙂
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You’re probably right. Wintec material and the velcro on and off.
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Thank you, Martidoll! Rainbow is WAY too flashy for me.
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You can’t say shit like this now that you have a helmet with red piping.
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Fingers crossed Val starts having the same epiphanies!
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The banter between you and Bobby made this all worth reading.
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Damn, Henny looks good in that fancy cooler.
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Funny how they keep us on our toes! It’s nice when the tricky ones finally settle down a bit, but then your always wondering when you’ll wake up from the dream.
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Okay so this post was great, and very relate-able (wonder where my white breeches are?) but the comments section was what made me snort out loud at my desk. So thanks for that. 🙂
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You should see it in person, it’s way better with all the cuss words and super inappropriate comments/hand gestures. This is very G rated in comparison.
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This dressage juju… I needs it.
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