Deuce's blog is back!

So much has happened in the year and a half that I have not written on this blog. There have been a lot of changes in my personal life since I last wrote and at one point I even thought of selling my horse. We are here now though and I'm excited to start up Deuce's training blog again. Thanks to my dad, I was able to send Deuce to Roger for 3 months. The training really did wonders for him and made him much more confident and balanced under saddle. Now with me, Deuce is starting dressage training in earnest and I have been very happy with his progress. Below is a picture of us from last June. I love how much he is reaching under with his hind leg. :) He doesn't look so much like a baby anymore...he looks like a real dressage horse! I will hopefully get video up here soon and be able to show you how much we have progressed.




Here is an update on our training:


Deuce is recovering from a splint bone fracture (sounds really serious but thankfully it healed up 100%.) The picture was taken just before the fracture happened. For the past month I've been trying to keep to light riding until he builds back up his muscles. We are just now starting back up cantering regularly and working on the bit. He gets so tired because he lacks fitness after 2 and a half months of no riding or turnout.



Right now I'm also concentrating on getting him more forward and responsive to my leg. I made a mistake in his early training of not making him as forward as he needs to be so I am retraining it now. He's slowly getting it but the subtle pressure from my leg doesn't always register. Once I get him forward and relaxed though, he is so wonderful to ride!


We are planning for a little schooling show in November at a nearby barn. I think we will do Training Level Test 3 and 4. Before the show I need to work on riding precise figures and on getting good canter transitions. He also needs to be better at bending and suppling. Once he gets stronger in the canter I am sure the transitions will be much easier.