Big Updates!

So I started this blog with the intent of writing much more often than I have so far. Chance and I went on a campaign to canter in February only to discover after several epic falls that we needed to work on our foundation before we cantered. So since February until now Chance and I have been taking weekly lessons to improve our riding skills. We have worked almost all the kinks out of the trot and together my trainer Katie and I are developing a plan for Chance and I to master the canter.


We had to work through several of the bad habits Chance's picked up while we learning to canter. And although I can safely say I that I did not expect to fall off quite this much when I first bought Chance, each fall has helped me improve my seat and prevent the next fall. I know that another horse could not have helped me improve my riding skills as fast as Chance has. I have learned about the importance saddle fit and the occasional massage.

I feel like Chance and I have a special bond, Chance was getting his feet trimmed yesterday and he was very nervous last time. This time I was stroking his head and just talking to him since I hadn't been out to the barn for a while to see him. He was so calm that Mike who was trimming Chance's feet asked if I had tranquilized him! Chance and I were just in our own little world.

Success!

Thursday morining (1/14/10) I started a new training regiment with Chance in order to make the goal of being able to canter a circle with a confident seat in time to make a video to send in to Global Equine Academy instructors in about 6 weeks. I have to send in a video of  me riding Chance walking in several circles, trotting in several circles, and cantering in several circles. I went to the barn Thursday morning to try and squeeze in extra riding time to make sure I am able to make the goal. 

I rode in figure eights and circles and we just kept trotting and really getting comfortable with trotting so we can progress. I felt really good after riding like it made the rest of my day go better, I was in a good mood the whole day.

I made time to ride again on Sunday and made some more progress and then today Chance and I did it.

WE CANTERED!!!!

we still have some work to do to smooth it out and make it longer and consistent. He still bucks and kicks a bit but I think we have made very significant progress. I am so excited! This means by the time I have to send the video in we should both have a deep seat and smooth canter.

All in All - a very successful ride

Horse Career!

So I have officially changed from an Elementary Education major to a University Studies major with Equine minor. The program is really cool actually, it's totally online and is actually through Dickinson State University in North Dakota. The Equine minor is taught by Sandy and Gene Miller who offer classes through Global Equine Academy. I will be able to finish my bachelor's degree way sooner than I ever would at Eastern.

This is quite a change of career move for me, especially given the fact that I don't necessarily know what I will do after graduation. Part of me really wants to go on and get a master's degree from Prescott University in Arizona. They also have a distance program, though it may require more funds that what I will have initially. I continue to love my job as an assistant preschool teacher though I don't think it's what I want to do with the rest of my life, I am eager to start my courses and learn more about horses and training them which is what my second half of this semester is going to be, it requires me to be at the barn like multiple days a week. It will be nice to have a motivation to see Chance and get out there. I need to get out and see Chance more often.

Life Long Horse Lover

When I was younger I was so jealous of my next door neighbor, she had a pony. I like most elementary school aged girls was bit by the horse crazy bug. I was lucky enough to take lessons on and off from age 7 or 8 til age 14 or 15 when boys took the place of horses as did school work and non horsey friends. To most it would seem I had gotten over my horse crazy 'phase'. Yet every time I got near any horse I couldn't help but feel this awe and attraction to it. Years went by and I was essentially horse free, I hardly rode or had any contact with horses. 

Fast forward 5 years!

 I rediscovered my passion for horses by a simple roadside sign offering horse lessons. Suddenly all the feelings of being around those marvelous creatures reemerged and I knew I had to get back to it. I also knew with my busy sometimes absurd schedule lessons or leasing didn't seem like a good option. I knew that if I really wanted to start riding again I would need my own horse. After all I didn't want lessons so much as I wanted to be in the presence of my very own horse.

The search began for not only  a horse but also a boarding facility. We looked at 2 other horses before Chance, but neither was exactly what I was looking for, until Chance. Chance was already at the boarding facility we liked and he was a Quarter horse Appaloosa that reminded me of the horse I rode the most during my 7 years of lessons.

Chance became my baby, my first horse, perfect in his imperfections