Year in Review - 2014

Thought I would post a 2014 Year in Review since I quit blogging last year in May.  This should catch everyone up on what The Diva and I have been up to!

January

Alexis put in daily training rides on Riva to work on responsiveness to the aids and working over her back.  I spent most rides watching from the sidelines and soaking it all in.  We did take a walk thru the KY snow.

  

February  

Alexis continued with training rides with me in the saddle for the second half of the ride.  We incorporated a box exercise to set visual boundaries to gain control of the outside shoulder.  My Valentine sweetheart!

March

 I had the chance to watch Alexis ride in a clinic with Conrad Schumacher and gain some valuable tips and exercises to incorporate into my own rides.

April 

Rolex!  First time to attend and it was fantastic!  Alexis and I spent cross country day shopping while my husband took fabulous pictures.  I also got the chance to meet fellow blogger Emme of  ipickcrazy - we met up at our barn and went out for some Mexican afterwards. 

May 

 Learned I won a helmet courtesy of Bit of Britain and Charles Owen from a drawing sign up at Rolex!  I got to order any helmet of my choosing!  Best prize ever :)

Competed at my first show of 2014 at Masterson Station in KY.  Despite a wicked approaching thunderstorm right before I went in the ring

we pulled out a respectable 61.8% and 3rd place for Training Level Test 3.

June

We move back to Indiana mid June due to my husband's employer.  We decide to move our horses to a different boarding facility than they were previous to our move to KY.  Both horses settle in easily and we get back to work!

July

At the beginning of July, we have our semi-annual saddle fit appt.  I try out the County Perfection and fall in love!  Definitely on my wish list :)

We attend the July IDS show in Edinburgh and compete Training Level 2 & 3 with the goal being 2 qualifying scores in order to compete in the Fall IDS Championships.  We achieve this goal with scores of  59 % - 4th place & 58.9% - 4th place.

August

One more qualifying score is needed to compete in the Fall IDS Championship, so we head to Noblesville to compete - our first time at this facility.  We were impressed with the grounds and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere for this competition.  We earn our needed qualifying score and end up Training Level High Point Champion with scores of 63.8% - 1st place & 66.25% - 1st place.

September

Diva develops a stone bruise, abscess, or lameness from a hot nail a few days after her farrier appointment and we take a few days off.  Next, she clips an inside rear leg hard enough to cause lameness again.  We spend most of this month getting her sound and back to work.

October

We compete at the Fall IDS Championships on a blustery cold day and do not have the ride I envisioned.  Riva spooks hard twice at blowing over dressage letters and we end with a score of 61% and 3rd place for Training Level Championships.

November

We have our first lesson with Jennifer Conour since moving to KY and back again to IN.  She gives me a lounge line lesson on Riva to work on my body position and it is a light bulb lesson!  I realize I have been gripping with my thighs and blocking forward movement.

December

Second lesson with JC and we work on keeping my elbows in the correct position by riding with paper towel rolls under my upper arms.  This is very difficult but so helpful in not giving the outside rein away.  

  

 

 

First Ride of 2015

Just a quick post with a video clip of our first ride of 2015!  2nd day of January...in Indiana...and we went for a short hack in the field.

My plan is to get back to blogging on a regular basis!  I have been reading everyone's posts but seriously neglected my own.

SHE'S 7!

Princess Riva Diva turned 7 on Monday, May 26th! 

We celebrated by having a photo shoot, a short ride, and her favorite treat...a shiny red apple.  

Here is a look back at the past 7 years!

  Baby Riva before we knew her

My sweet husband bought Riva for me as a yearling and made a life long

 dream of mine come true.

Riva at 2 - learning to wear a bit

3 years old and off the farm as a show buddy for the weekend

Age 4 and learning how to hack out

5 and schooling at Edinburgh

Schooling at home at 6

This year at 7

Happy 7th Birthday Riva!

First Show of 2014

We attended our first schooling show of 2014 on May 10th.  First time to show at this venue where we had been to watch Karen & Hampton of Contact compete last year.  Love it there - so pretty and peaceful!

Since I was only entered in one class, Training Level Test 3, we showed out of our trailer, which was another first for Riva.  She had no interest in standing tied to the trailer or eating out of the hay net.  She is not nicknamed 'Princess Diva' for no reason!  She was much happier with my sweet husband hand grazing her :)

We walked to warm up with storm clouds rolling in and thunder sounding in the distance.  I let Riva walk the perimeter of the warm up arena and have a good look around.  Once we stepped into the sandbox, she was all business and knew why she was there.

We decided to head to the ring a little early on the chance we might be allowed to compete before our scheduled ride time, as it was getting a bit scary looking in the sky.

I was very happy with our ride and enjoyed it!  Riva was forward but listening and adjustable.  It was the first test I have rode where I felt totally in control and that I could make adjustments as we went.  I had two different competitors tell me what a nice test is was.  I frequently have fellow competitors comment on Riva's looks, but it was a first to be complimented on our ride!

The rain started to fall on our walk back to the trailer but quickly cleared off.  We hung around to wait on scores - 61.8% and a 3rd place out of 8 in our class.  We got nailed for the free walk and stretchy trot circle - 4 on both, for not enough stretch.  The rest of the scores were 6 and 7's.  Certainly not our highest score on this particular test, but I felt this was the best test we have competed, so I left feeling really good.

Next show - most likely not till mid-end of July.

I Won Something!

I sign up for giveaways quite frequently, especially at horse related events.  Rolex was no exception.
I can not say I have never won anything.  I have won several blogger contests - thank you to all the bloggers who hold contests!

I was elated and surprised to receive an email from Bit Of Britain following Rolex!  What did I win?

A Charles Owen helmet of my choice!!!

An AYR8 Leather Look Helmet is on its way to me :)  Since this helmet has some custom features, it will take 6-8 weeks to arrive.  

So sign up for contests everyone - people you know sometimes win!

Rolex 2014!

Wow - where to begin!

Rolex fever started building with each day last week - everyday driving into work was proof that a BIG event was about to take place at Kentucky Horse Park.  My normally quiet, peaceful walks at lunch were now spent taking in the tents being erected to house all the shopping vendors, Land Rovers appearing all over the grounds, and giant wooden ducks resting in the ponds.

I tried to watch as much Dressage on Thursday and Friday from my second computer screen as I could and still get some work done.  I did get to see Allison Springer's amazing test on Arthur - lovely!

Thursday evening, I finally got to meet Emme from ipickcrazy !  We had already made plans for her and her best friend to come meet Riva and then to go out for dinner.  Emme is a warm, energetic, and enthusiastic lady and it felt like we had known each other for years.  She brought Riva a tub of apple pie flavored treats and was immediately a friend of the Diva.

After a short ride with me on board, Emme got to take a turn on Riva, with some instruction from Alexis. Emme did a super job and Riva was a champ.  After the barn, we spent the evening getting to know each other better over yummy Mexican food and margaritas.  I hope Emme and her friend enjoyed their time in KY!

Saturday was cross country day and shopping!  My husband spent his day taking wonderful photos and Lex and I spent ours shopping :)  I bought a few things:  schooling gloves, hair bow for shows, a joint supplement to try on Riva and a bottle of wine of local wine.  I also picked up free samples of fly spray, wound spray, and herbal liniment wash.

I know lots of fellow bloggers were there Saturday - I did get to see and talk to :

Karen of finalchapter-karen
Hillary of equestrianathart
Kristen of stampyandthebrain

Although, I was pretty wiped out from shopping and would not have seen them if Karen had not called out my name!  So great to see Karen again and get to meet Hillary & Kristen!

So happy we got to experience Rolex for the first time - will not be the last!

One Year

Even though my blog posts have been few and far between, Riva and I are still working.  This winter has been rough in more ways than one - weather played a huge part and cut our work days dramatically.  Even though we have an indoor, it is not insulated and the footing froze on a regular basis.

The plan going into winter was to work toward showing First Level this season.  I starting hitting a wall with Riva and we were fighting each other more than working as a team....imagine that, with a mare!  Alexis stepped in and had boot camp for about 3 weeks - the trainer rode and I watched.

My sweet husband took some pics earlier this week and put together the following comparison for me:

First pic was taken early March 2013 during a lesson - Second pic March 2014

I was happy to see progress!  Sometimes, I ride day after day and think we are getting no where.  All the thanks to my trainers since we moved to KY - my daughter and husband!

Ky has some gorgeous sunsets - had to share!