This past week we had a recovery gallop, one crappy dressage ride, one good dressage ride, and one outstanding 3'3" jump school.
The recovery gallop was Tuesday. I wanted to get her out and do a slow gallop to stretch her out after she worked hard on Sunday. It was like she didn't do anything for a week. She was SO strong I had to fight her the entire mile and a half. We warmed up with long and low and some lateral stuff at the walk and trot then went for what was supposed to be the slow 1.5 mile. Yeah...didn't happen. I wanted to keep her at like 375 but she fought me up to 460!!! Which isn't lightning fast but it's a good clip and a lot faster than what a recovery gallop should be. She was pretty much trying to rip my arms from their sockets. I've conditioned a monster.
Wednesday she was still in the gallop mindset and it was like she was on a delay, just kind of tuning me out. So we did what we could agree on which was simple things and that was that. I wanted to get Wednesday erased as fast as possible and have a productive dressage ride so we tried again Thursday and it was much better. There were still little delays here and there where I think her mind was wandering, but there were some quality moments.
Leaning forward, yuck.
Friday, yesterday...I set up a fun 3'3" jump school. Some verticals, a triple bar, and a one stride (21ft between) vertical to a wide oxer.
The one stride.
The warm up version, the back rail was raised.She was BRILLIANT! She was so manageable and happy. She hit the PERFECT distances through that one stride each time we came through. She put in big effort over the triple bar and was super careful to the verticals. Brilliant really is the word to describe her last night because she was just out there problem solving. That is why I try to keep the jump schools filled with variety, it makes her have to pay attention, well and me too. Plus, course designers can put what ever they feel like in there so I want her to school it all.
Tomorrow, a dressage lesson and more xc!
Another gorgeous desert sunset this evening. I'm going to miss these.
6 comments:
My mind is still blown by those dressage pics. Well, they shouldn't be. Klein the Wonder Perch can do anything!
She is so cute!!
This is a question unrelated to your post... any ideas for a good watch and heart rate monitor that would double for half marathon training and something that would be useful when going XC at an event? I don't want to get the yellow event watch since it's not useful for anything other than riding, but don't want to get a running watch that is only good for running. Does such a thing exist? I know from Eventing Nation that Doug Payne uses something like that. I figured you were the best person to ask!
The system I use is this: http://www.smartpakequine.com/polar-equine-rs800cx-g3-training-system-7193p.aspx?cm_vc=Search
And you can do exactly what you are talking about. I use my Polar for running, swimming, biking, etc... when I train. You can just buy a human HR monitor from Polar and it will work with that watch :)
Wow she is a class horse!
Stacey, thanks for posting about your bad days as well as your good ones! I just had a similar ride on my mare -- one of those days when she just took the bit and ran, and nothing I tried would get her listening or responsive. It's easy to forget that everybody has bad days and that it's not forever, so I appreciate the reminder!!
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