We gotz no two point

Riding has been at a minimum thanks to a combination of weather and schedule.  The nights it is over 10 degrees, it seems like I have to give a lesson or something else pressing comes up.  The weekends have been so ridiculously busy that they haven't had much riding either.  Stupid winter.

I rode Mia bareback around the pasture last weekend and was very impressed.  There was no crap fit and she plodded along like it was no biggie.  It probably helped that K was riding with TWH, I will need to try to go out alone to see how she acts.  Unfortunately Mia has become pretty damn herdbound over the winter.  I can take her out alone but she does not like being left alone at all anymore. I have been turning her out in the am by herself while the boys finish breakfast and she is no longer galloping in the pasture so I guess that is a start in the right direction, gotta keep at it though.

Everyone was ridden last night, RB4 came over and rode App while K rode TWH and I rode Mia.  It was nice having everyone out and getting a little exercise.  K is now learning dressage so both RB4 and I focused a lot of our ride on K and trying to undo some of the H/J training she has had.  Getting her to relax her hips so her body follows the horse, getting her to keep her back straight instead of hollowing her lower back, riding WITH consistent contact, pointing her toes foward/in instead of out, etc.  It is certainly a learning process for her but she is getting it.

Mia was pretty good as well, the only real issues were her counterflexing to the left overall and being super stiff and fast to the right in the canter.  She was so strung out in the canter that I dropped my stirrups and rode in more of a dressage seat and then did canter figure 8's and that really settled her back down so that we could end on a good note.  Each attempt to get her to bend, relax and carry herself was short circuiting her brain so I am glad that the figure 8's help her so much.

For myself?  Geez I have no two point anymore.  Two Pointober was the last time I did two point and man does it show!  I started with a lot of stretching in my calf and could pretty easily hold two point in the walk but the trot was rusty.  I could hold position but I would teeter-totter in balance, smack my crotch in the pommel of the saddle, slip my lower leg back, not to mention I couldn't hold it for more than a few laps at a time.  Loser I am!   On the plus side, I am not sore today which I actually expected to be so that is a plus.

In a disappointing bit of news, my new instructor M's daughter B is in town this week and can give lessons Weds through Sat before she goes back to Ocala.  The bad part?  I can't go!  I am volunteering with a (car) race with SO and we are leaving on Wednesday and won't be back until Sunday night, the same time frame B will be here giving lessons.  Grrr!  I asked if she would let me know when they come back up to MI for lessons as I want to take one, talk about bad timing.  I guess if I can't do even 2 mins of two point it is probably best that I don't take a jumping lesson, but still.  Frustrating.