A Great Year!

Here is video from Renny's first schooling session when he arrived at Hunters Run.  He's an amazing pony and he gave me the gift of a wonderful year!

My Sweet Goofy Gunner-Loving Pony!

These photos are from Saturday, August 20th, after Renny and I had a fun challenging riding lesson.  He took a cool bath, happily received a bracing wash, ate some treats, accepted hugs, and then rolled and rolled and rolled in luxury in the sand.  He was a chocolate-covered cherry pony!  So, I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 21st, and my little sweet guy was hilarious.  When I arrived at the barn, I saw that he and his pals were just running around in their pasture.  He was just smoothly flowing around the pasture, like he does.  Anyway, He was glad to see me and came striding up happily.  Because he was troubled by flies, I put fly spray on him and his nose sunscreen.  I gave him treats.  He was all happy and sweet, but still wanted to give me his angry ears, just to show me that he's boss!  Then I watched him for awhile and he was a little happy guy with his buddy Gunner.  They spent their time cozying up to each other, walking step-by-step together, swishing their tails on each other with love.  When I left, Renny was looking at me all bright-eyed and ears forward standing behind Gunner's tail!  So cute!

Renny Goes to College!

These photos and video are from July 26th, the second day of Hunters Run.  I love the photos because you can see Renny moving sweetly and smoothly and well-balanced and engaged. And you can see his riding companion giving him a kind reward for his sweetness, a round pat to his neck.  He's a wonderful boy!  Anyway, this past week, I went to Quicksilver Farm to visit where Renny will stay for for two months to continue with his education as a well-schooled show pony.  I love him.  I was very happy with the place and the people and I know he will enjoy himself and enjoy meeting 27 other ponies!  

Renny Goes Wild with Coolness!

x

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 21st, the night before Fall semester.  Renny has had an amazing good-natured, hard-working summer.  In early May, after he turned 3, he proved that he was a good solid citizen by jumping sweetly.  And this summer, he was so fun with Grama, jumping courses. And he got a little crush on Kelsey who helped him win ribbons in his very first two classes against all horses.  And now he's getting ready to go for more training as a hunter pony.  Yesterday I could not have been more proud of him.  We were in our Saturday morning lesson and he was happy and mellow and sweet.  So we rode in our class with Mary, Cheri and Baker and their wonderful mounts.  And Renny was so happy to be with his buddies.  In his class, he was so calm and mellow and sweet and hard-working as he rose to every single challenge.  He cantered a small figure 8 and gave simple lead changes.  He trotted a circle of 4 cavaletti.  He cantered a circle of 4 cavaletti!  He worked in a cone box to make tight turns with only the outside rein.  He cantered within that box on a small 20 meter circle!  He was just stellar at everything we asked.  I was so proud of my sweet boy! And before we rode, he wanted me to kiss him, place my face against his, and stroke his ears and jaw.  He's a loving sweet boy!  Happy Birthday to me!

Violet's Dressage Lessons

Here are late June photos of my girl, taking a private lesson and learning how to be soft.  In these photos, she looks like she is working hard to supple and bend and give her best.  And now I'm writing in late August and she's had many lessons with Janet Harms and worked hard with Stacey, so now she knows she has to try her best at being round, engaged, soft.  She is trying to get to the next level!  And I am having tons of fun with her doing whinny widgets and practicing cone, cavaletti, ground pole, and other lateral games!  This summer we bought a dressage saddle and gear and a dressage bridle and when I see my Violet wearing her dressage tack, I just feel nothing but pride!

Violet Jumps Sweetly

These photos are from June and I'm writing this entry on Sunday, August 21st, the evening before the first day of the Fall semester.  This past week, Violet and I made real progress on our flat work and our jumping.  I had been watching all these videos of hunter ponies jumping their courses and they all looked so sweet and quiet and smooth and even, so in our Thursday evening class, I decided to try and ride my girl that way.  We had such fun.  We jumped a course with two overs, and a double roll-back.  We were smooth and sweet.  And I felt like I was riding a cloud!

Merry Christmas!

Dressage Improves Team Tenderness

This summer I used some of my extra teaching money to purchase Violet a used dressage saddle and girth, and a new dressage bridle and bit -- all Passier!  And we've been taking regular dressage lessons.  It's been truly wonderful.  I'm loving it.  It makes me feel like a more involved active engaged rider -- makes me realize that I need to be fully present with my partner!  And I've liked it so much that now I want to buy Renny his own dressage bridle and bit.  And I am hoping my dressage saddle fits him!  Crossing fingers.  It'd be loads of fun to work on dressage with him too!

Dancing to Thriller!

Renny is so ridiculously fun to ride that I've decided to shake things up and bring joy to our routine.  For example, he had a week off when I went to visit my family and when I came back, the very first night he was soft, quiet, sweet, obliging, talented, wonderful in his riding lesson.  He was pure joy to ride and Stacey even commented how good he was, how great after his break, how willing.  And we jumped in our lesson and he was just a hoot always getting the correct lead coming off the jumps.  Truly great.

So, I decided that it would be fun to learn a dressage routine to Michael Jackson's Thriller for a new training exercise for us.  And today, August 13th, Saturday, was the first day I began work.  We practiced circles, leg yields in both directions, side passes, turns on the hindquarters and the forehand, canters from the trot and walk.  And we did Training Level Test 3 dressage pattern with real ease.  My pony is responsive and willing and spectacular!  It's gonna be lots of fun to learn a dance routine with him!

Violet Gets Softer

Here is some July 10th footage and photos of Emily working with Violet.  From the very first moment that Emily stepped up to her, Violet brought her best spirit to the task.  And this work was not easy for her.  She never had formal training, so learning how to carry herself, be soft and supple and engaged and balanced is not easy.  But each time Emily rode her, I could see the difference.  And I can feel the difference too when I ride her -- she's plain softer and more obliging and I can feel her trying to learn new tasks!  She wants to be a high quality dressage and hunter horse!

My Responsible Pony

My little Renny is just barely three years old, but he has been a responsible kind-hearted pony every day of his life.  He brings love and kindness to all his work.  And this summer, he has brought a true champion's heart to his work with Kelsey.  He wants to learn.  It's like he's studying the memos each night!  LOL!  Kelsey has got him braver and more confident about jumping.  He knows how to canter from the trot or walk.  He's happy to practice side-passing, leg yields, and turns on his hindquarters and forehand.  He's just a genuine pleasure.  I'm so very proud of him.  He looks like a  powerful fancy athlete, but has the kindness and sweetness of a gentle creature!

Jumping Three Oxers!

Here is a June 28th photo taken by Patrick Woolf, during one of our Thursday evening riding lessons with all of our favorite girls.  I just love my red girl.  She jumps so easily and gracefully.  These past few weeks, the challenges have been more involved -- curving lines through bounces, waves to jumps, bending lines to oxers, three oxers in a course.  She does everything with willingness and responsiveness.  She's a blessing!

Violet Works Hard!

This summer has been extraordinary for my hardworking Violet.  Here is a video and photo from July 10th when she was working with Emily to learn how to be softer and more supple.  She's worked so hard to be more engaged and rounded.  She carries herself better and just brings a true champion's heart to her tasks.  I can literally say that at one point this summer, she worked ten days in a row without complaint or reservation.  I'm proud to do dressage with her, flat her, jump her.  I'm proud of her intelligence and good nature!

Ribboned Athlete!

Rock on! Namaste!

Cowpony Walks to Get His Ribbon!

I love these photos of my relaxed cowpony, who just delivered a picture perfect performance in his first class, and who is now walking leisurely and relaxed to receive his ribbon.  He will be happy and surprised when he not only receives a ribbon, but a bunch of girls and Grama fuss over him like he's the grand old poobah!

Blue Easy Renegade!

Here he is, in line with 17 horses, hearing his name called for the very first time in his very first class to collect his 4th place ribbon.  Grama was so happy, blissfully happy.  And she did let out a whoop!

Renny and His Good Friends

Renny has had many loving advantages in his life.  And among them are his trainer and exercise rider.  Stacey has given him such good support, love, and training.  And Kelsey is someone that he thinks of as a friend.  You should see how sweet and happy and agreeable he becomes when she shows up and takes his reins.  One day I was riding him and she stepped out of the barn to call her brother.  Renny got happy and looked toward her.  He feels bonded to her.  And who wouldn't.  She's a remarkable kind talented rider.  She gives him confidence!

Renny and His Relatives!

Here are photos taken by Lexie of Renny in the act of winning his ribbon in his very first class ever.  He looks soft, sweet, agreeable, engaged.  He looks like a hunter pony in action!  So, anyway, he's supposed to go to college in September and October and I am going to the farm he'll attend after the Pony Finals and Auction in mid-August.  So, I decided to take a peek at this year's auction catalog.  I was able to easily guess which ponies were Renny's relatives.  They were the cutest ones!  And then I decided to take a look at the sales prices of last year's auctions.  And guess what?!  Renny's relative was the high-selling pony in last year's auction.  The pony's name was Blue Note and Renny and he share a Grampa in Blue Rain!

Renny and His Team!

Here is a photo after Renny earned ribbons in his first two classes!  Here is Team Renegade -- Grama taking the photo, his Aunts Lillian and Lex, his trainer Stacey, and his good dear friend, Kelsey!

My Baby's Show Day!

Here are some early morning photos of me and Renny on his first show day.  I'm so proud of this little guy.  And here's some more video coverage of his first class ever.  Walking in that arena with him that morning was just wonderful.  The grounds were beautiful.  My pony was sweet.  I was already proud of him.  And little did I know that later that day, he would enter that arena twice more and win two ribbons.  He's a wonderful wonderful sport pony!

Sanchez Herd in Training

This summer I hit a small bump in confidence about Renny.  Seeing him becoming so fabulous and wonderful and agile and talented made me feel like I wasn't able to keep up with him or help him.  But Kelsey and Stacey got me over that bump and I know that they, along with Janet and Jill, will help me to become a better rider for my better pony.  He and I are having fun just working alone.  We're practicing cantering figure 8s and making simple lead changes.  And we're happy to pop over cross rails.  I have a feeling that when the time is right, I will be able to do bigger things with my little guy.

As for Violet, she and I are happily bubbling along together becoming a better team.  She likes her new dressage equipment and we are working hard with Janet.  And our jumping is getting better now that I've moved my stirrups up a full hole.  In my private lesson with Stacey this past week (I'm writing on Sunday, July 31st), she and I were very good at riding a bounce, a curve, and bending lens and even over an oxer.  We jumped the oxer nice and big.

Then on Thursday, our favorite lesson of the week, Violet was a super star.  She had to canter a diagonal to a cross rail then follow a half-circle through a bounce and over a cross-rail and turn it into a serpentine to catch an outside line turn into a cross rail again and take a bending line to a vertical and then take a bending line over a vertical to an over.  And Violet did it big and bold and loose and forward while catching all of her leads.  She was amazing.  I just loved her to pieces.

And then today in a jumping lesson with Jill Jewett, Violet again was a hard-working thoroughbred girl over ground poles, cross rails, and a four cavaletti bounce.  She was just making turns, being supple, going downward and upward with ease, changing direction, riding past gates closely.  She brought her best hunter self to the task and we got praised for how far we had come.  We are working on being a nice hunter team. And I have to say, Violet really takes pride in being a good hunter dressage horse.  She really really wants to hold up her end of Team Tenderness.  Actually, I can say that about both Renny and Violet.  They both bring their best selves to their team work!

Happy Sweet Goofy Teams!

Here are photos of me as proud as punch on my beautiful stenciled, braided and gorgeous hunter pony.  He looks this gorgeous and fabulous and he hadn't even gone to his first show yet that summer!  He's amazing.  Anyway, I just want to observe that I love my teams, Team Tenderness and Team Renegade.  

Renny Communicates

I really learned a great deal this summer from Janet, Jill, Stacey, and Emily and Kelsey.  I have such great teachers.  Anyway, one of the biggest kicks I had this summer was when Kelsey told me several times that she can feel Renny communicating with her.  He's trying to talk with her about their work.  And he likes to check in with her.  And he likes to offer his opinion, but wants to accept hers.  I loved that observation.  And I'm trying to take her observation into my own work with him again.  He's such a good-hearted loving little pony.  I'm always communicating with Violet and feeling close to her moods, opinions, and decisions, but I forget that my little guy is trying to build on his experience too and communicate with his teammates.  I adore him.  And I like his smart smart teacher!

Violet Gets Supple

Here are some photos and video again taken on July 10th of my girl bringing her best heart to the task of learning how to supple.  Look at that rounded top line and how she's lifting up her belly.  She's trying hard to bring her very best!!

Renny Bounces Beautifully

So, these photos and video are from July 10th and you can see that my little guy is comfortable and relaxed and happy with his Kelsey.  He really liked working with her this summer.  And she gave him such confidence at the shows.  He liked schooling with her and he sure liked winning ribbons with her.  Now it's Sunday, July 31st as I write this note and Renny had a wonderful week off after his big competition.  But yesterday, Saturday, I went to ride him and he was delightful.  He was so quiet and serious and hardworking.  And he gave the transitions to there canter so beautifully and precisely and without head tossing.  And his canter was so unbelievably smooth and light and lovely.  Kelsey has taken a wonderful pony and made his good qualities shine even more!  

Violet Jumps Big for Emily

These photos and video are from July 10th and you can see in the photos that Violet was working hard at collection, engagement, and framing.  She brought her best heart to her work with Emily and I was so proud of her for realizing that she has to work at trying to get to the next level.  This summer I really felt that Violet and I might be able to become even better as a team!  I was so appreciative of Emily's help!

A Wonderful Summer Friday!

This summer, Emily and Kelsey made themselves available for exercise rides.  I was delighted to have their experience.  Emily worked with Violet while Kelsey and Renny were becoming dear friends.  Friday mornings when they would ride together were the best.  I would just stand there and see both my beautiful horses being made better and better by such talented young women.  I so enjoyed this magical summer 2011!

Renny's First Blue Ribbon Ever!

So, I go over and chat with Kelsey and hug my Renny and just laugh and be happy.  And Renny is surrounded by love -- receiving love from Kelsey, from Grams, from Katie and Chloe, from Lex and Lillian, from Stacey.  Receiving love!!  And then moments later, he has to go back into the Low Hunter Under Saddle class with two other tall black horses -- and he just belts out a second wonderful ride without a false step or false note or anything other than a sweet calm loving attitude.  And so, of course, the judge has to give him the blue ribbon.  And I was happy.  Happy.  HAPPY.  But not a bit surprised.

It was a dream come true.  No lie.