Took some pix of Beste Guess schooling in my ring July 16 a.m.

He has on his Jessica Ideal saddle and his Hastilow pad and ear bonnet.   I love the bonnet – it fits my horses OVERSIZED ears!   Guess keeps getting stronger and is improving with his pirourettes and tempi changes.   He can consistently do his 4’s. 3’s and up to five 2’s.     That is all I have asked for to date.   I love photo 6 and 7 as they really show engagement and reach!   Guess keeps getting better and better and I am delighted with his progress since he is only 8 years old.   I hope to show him PSG in the fall.  Guess has gotten bigger and wider and we just moved into a wide saddle from his previous MW.   Thanks ANNETTE, for helping me keep him fitted with the best saddles.

The other pix are from Fabuleste at her show in June where she won high point Training level and high point for the entire show on Friday.   Even tho she is a full sister she is much bigger (17.1) than Guess (16.1) and being just 5 years old, she is still learning to balance herself.  Currently, she is working on leg yielding, lengthening in the trot and canter and simple changes through the trot.   I have introduced shoulder in and smaller circles and raised trotting poles.   She also continues to get better.  She might prefer a longer frame and flatter stride but she is really starting to listen to half halts and show some balance and self carriage.  It will be fun to see how she improves this summer and fall.

I attended a Judge’s Forum in Lexington Va July 13 amd 14 and I also had a student who competed in the GP and GPFS, so it was a busy weekend.   About 20 judges attended the clinic and we got to watch and discuss all the levels from Training to GP.   Dressage is a great sport and one where you never achieve perfection.   Many riders scored from 3 -7 or 8’s in the same test.   There is always more to work on and it is an amazing and rewarding experience to be both a judge who desires to help riders improve and a rider who desires to improve herself.  I totally get how much effort goes into getting ready for a horse show.

This week I travel to NY to judge.  Then it’s off to Seattle Washington and the following week to Colorado.  I have to work hard to keep my horses fit and in proper training but it seems to be working.