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February 5, 2008 

The Florida season is under way!

Our drive south went without a hiccup. We made record time this year – 21 hours door-to-door. The horses were absolutely fine. They strolled into their new stalls for a drink, then got a few bucks out of their systems in the paddocks and life returned to normal. 

I have nine horses this year. My two are aimed at the spring one star and their first Intermediates, David and Amanda’s are going preliminary, Rose’s are going novice and training, Sally’s youngster is here for basic training, and Steph’s (my working student’s) is a nice Connemara cross here to be sold. It’s a fun group. We have a row of stalls at my coach Buck Davidson’s barn, just like last year. I’m moving up in the world though – this year my three big paddocks are in the front row, right by the barn. The property is great. Buck has 650 acres for trotting and galloping, a jump field, and two areas for dressage. We don’t have any prepared footing, but the sandy ground is fine. We do have to move the jumps frequently to avoid making deep sandy spots on take off, but that’s easy. 

Buck’s jump lessons are always technical and challenging, but his patience and positive attitude balance the difficulty. We always start with raised canter poles to a vertical, then to an oxer, then bending to another exercise. This week the poles/oxer grid went on to either of two skinnies on three strides forward to the left or the right. Last week it went on to a low bounce.  From this type of exercise we move on to course elements, often keeping the grid as the first “fence” of our courses. Much of the focus this winter has been on straight ahead adjustability – some of Buck’s lines ride very short, but some start short and then require the horses to move up for the last fence, or vice versa. I tend to use turns more in my training at home and in the lessons I teach, so this has been challenging and beneficial for me since I do not get the crutch of the turn! Needless to say I felt well prepared at the first events.

Two weekends ago was Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials I, which was BN – Training level. Everyone got off to a good start, bringing home ribbons and enjoying the straightforward courses and lovely footing. This weekend was Rocking Horse Winter II, which was Training – Intermediate. Billy stayed home as he has managed to whack himself a splint on his heretofore pristine legs, but Ping Pong had his first outing since last winter. As feared he bounced around in the dressage to earn an unremarkable 41.0, but he jumped perfectly and finished fourth in Open Preliminary A. The others went well too, with David and Amanda’s horses (Rush and Sly) both earning scores towards their One Stars. 

This weekend there are no events and Buck will be out of town teaching a clinic, so I’ll give my trusty working student Stephanie a day or two off and we’ll try to get over to HITS to watch the Grand Prix and to the Expo Center to watch a professional reining show. I suppose Steph may rather go to the beach or Disney World. Hopefully the weather will hold for her. The last 7 days have been in the 80s, but it’s windy today ahead of a cold front – it’s only supposed to be 70 tomorrow. However shall we manage?!

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