I decided I want to do hunt seat eq (in addition to sms and hms) at Santa Barbara so I gotta get my legs stronger...been doing a lot of stirrupless work the past week or so, and lots of riding without spurs. Gets both of us working off my calf better (normally she doesn't need the spur, but when we practice without one and put one on - its loads better). Today we focused on my 2 point (stirrupless of course, lol) at the canter, and a little at the walk. It's tough because Val'd slightly downhill...

It's been a while, Val's as good as ever. School starts next week, good and bad. good because it's my last year and I'll be glad to get back into the routine and see my friends again and stuff. But bad because, well...it's school. Ick!!

Did horsemanship today and Val was pretty good. Hadn't done it for a while for various reasons - but she was good considering that. I was able to polish up her lope to walk transitions, extended lope to slow lope, and spin to backup. Those are her hardest...

Liz got back on thursday, and rode Val over poles. She was super good, wasn't rusty at all - acted just like she had been schooled over poles the entire 2 weeks. I did showmanship too and she was super duper. I was happy with her.

Then I had an intense horsemanship lesson this morning, and we worked on lots and lots and lots of hard transitions, like the extended lope to the slow jog, fast walk to slow walk, extended jog to walk, etc. All those tough ones. Val was very good, and I...

Val was good in showmanship today, I was happy with her. Then I rode her around bareback, since today is her last vacation day until liz gets back. Tomorrow nancy (an older lady who rides liz's horses to keep them tuned up) will ride her, and liz will be back on thursday, and will want to ride her first thing.

I also rode Ty and Missy, both were very good. Ty's my favorite to ride though - because he does EVERYTHING! haha!

Yesterday I rode Val and worked on horsemanship, she was suuper good. All the turnouts have helped just like I hoped. She was so good I stopped early and had Katie ride her so I could see how she goes. She looks really good, I'm happy with how she looks. Katie absolutely loved riding her, and threatened to steal her - haha

Today I did showmanship with her and she was lazy at first but then warmed up and was back to normal. She was a good girl - especially on her back ups.
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