I had been having issues with Allie while schooling for a week or so before I decided to schedule a lesson with Ann. Allie seemed to have lost her trust in the contact in walk and was fussy in the trot and was not going forward into it, to the extent that three rides had me cracking her on the arse with the whip to stop her from reversing violently and just go forward even without a contact. She kept stopping and hitting reverse, ignoring leg and generally chucking a hissy fit. Each of these rides she eventually warmed out of it but I was not happy. She was reefing the reins out of my hands, causing small sores in her mouth. She was fussy. She was not happy. Teeth were fine, she was just blergh. Cue lesson. We had had time off when my bruise was healing after that kick I copped from Gracie, then I bought the jump saddle and fluffed around with that for a few rides, then we have been getting back into schooling properly and I stupidly thought I could pick up where we left off without going through the couple of weeks of suppling rides first. Plus I have been working on my sitting trot which hasn't helped. Ann says the drama was Allie trying to tell me she was a bit sore and we spent the lesson getting her through in a longer frame. She went excellently. Trot work:

Canter is still giving us drama but we just need to work through it. This one is funny - watch what she does when I ask for right canter:

Fairly consistent canter right:

Inconsistent canter left:

All about Gracie - Remember When?

Remember when we first came across this mare?

Well that was nearly 3 years ago now.

Three years of hard work, building relationships and learning how to deal with an inexperienced moody mare.

Three years ago, I couldnt touch her AT ALL. Now, I can touch her wherever I want.

Three years ago, she put me in MY place because I was affraid of her. Now, I am the boss.

Three years ago, she fell in love with a big goofy thoroughbred. Now, her bestfriend is a goofy warmblood mare.

My heart feels like it will explode when I think about how far she has come. All the big obstacles she has leaped and hurdled over. How much she has developed mentally and physically. And its all our doing.

Allie Dressage Lesson 22.12.12

I had been having issues with Allie while schooling for a week or so before I decided to schedule a lesson with Ann. Allie seemed to have lost her trust in the contact in walk and was fussy in the trot and was not going forward into it, to the extent that three rides had me cracking her on the arse with the whip to stop her from reversing violently and just go forward even without a contact. She kept stopping and hitting reverse, ignoring leg and generally chucking a hissy fit. Each of these rides she eventually warmed out of it but I was not happy. She was reefing the reins out of my hands, causing small sores in her mouth. She was fussy. She was not happy. Teeth were fine, she was just blergh. Cue lesson. We had had time off when my bruise was healing after that kick I copped from Gracie, then I bought the jump saddle and fluffed around with that for a few rides, then we have been getting back into schooling properly and I stupidly thought I could pick up where we left off without going through the couple of weeks of suppling rides first. Plus I have been working on my sitting trot which hasn't helped. Ann says the drama was Allie trying to tell me she was a bit sore and we spent the lesson getting her through in a longer frame. She went excellently. Trot work:

Canter is still giving us drama but we just need to work through it. This one is funny - watch what she does when I ask for right canter:

Fairly consistent canter right:

Inconsistent canter left:

Ballymount Alleycat, #Supermare

I haven't got time for a giant update, but Allie is doing good. She had two more teeth out in November, and then a stubborn sinus infection that would not resolve with antibiotics. But, left to her own devices, it sorta just... cleared up. After months of agonising and stressing and literally spending over $11,000 in vet bills, we started her back in work and I took her to Silver Hills hunter trials last weekend where she did awesome. I fell off (unhurt, just a bit too ambitious!) but we had a ton of fun.

I recently went through all our comp photos and put all my favourites into one folder. I'm going to attempt to put them all into one post, here. Because she really is a supermare.

Purchase pending

Purchase pending