1-2-3, change-2-3

Ellen keeping cool while giving Eva a lesson

We had a fabulous week with Ellen at her place in Templeton. Eva, Jen and I all trailered down last Friday and got back on Thursday with our ponies Final, Paloma and Moneypenny. The horses were great, the lessons were superb and the company and time with Ellen was priceless.

Ellen's place is like a second home for me. When I go there it feels like going home to Tahoe - relaxing, comfy and warm. Plus it is so fun to catch up with Ellen and just be around her. Katie, Ellen's working student, was the true all star of the week. She is such a bright light in the universe and a truly talented horsewoman. I didn't catch and pictures of her riding, but hopefully next time we'll get some glamor and cowgirl shots of her!

Ellen keeping cool and giving Jen a lesson

All of the horses and their riders progressed nicely. Eva and Final are working towards their FEI frame and sealing the deal on her flying changes. Aren't they pretty??

Jen and Paloma and big breakthroughs on several fronts, the most important being that Paloma learned she can canter right. Paloma is a Thoroughbred/Lusitano mare that Jen and I were given as a project. As you can see from the pics, she's a fun project!! Jen is now her owner and is working towards showing her this fall. She'll do really well at a show.

The dreaded right lead canter. Katie showed Paloma she could do this.

It's good to be of Spanish heritage.

MP and I had several mini breakthroughs. Ellen rode MP and found that she wasn't quite "through" the reins - that is when you asked her to wait with the reins, she just kept on trucking. By waiting, she would then take bigger strides behind for a better carriage and a much smoother gait. It's like riding in a Cadillac vs. a dirt bike. We also had a breakthrough in our changes. Ellen noticed that rather than just riding the changes in stride I was essentially riding like their was a lull in the stride before the change. Ellen called this an "and." So I was riding the stride like 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3 AND change. The timing should actually be 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, change-2-3. So it is part of the stride. This has seemed to stick quite well. We've been home three days and I've had good changes all three. Plus I walk around all day riding changes in my head.

We're all getting pretty pumped for the Annual Show in LA, I think Ellen's team is going to do quite well!