Lucas

[Jasmine]

Rode Lucas outside again today. Now that the footing is decent in the outdoor I will never ride inside again! Well not until next winter anyways. Lucas had been inside all day because of the weather so he had lots of energy when I rode.. which was a good thing because I put it to good use. He was really supple and giving in the jaw today so it only took a few minutes to get him to round and in a frame. I worked on having flowing switches of bend when we switch direction. That still needs some work but it'll get better.

Since it's getting easier and easier to keep Lucas round all three gaits I tried a couple of movements today. I *attempted* a shoulder fore and leg yield. The shoulder fore didn't go to well, the trot leg yields weren't bad and the walk leg yields were actually pretty good. There's some stuff to work on in my next flat lesson

Now that I can get Lucas to balance his canter a project for the summer is to teach Lucas his flyings. He can physically do them with a rider on his back.. just not on command yet

[Kelsey]

Sounds like he's doing great Jasmine!!! I saw him today and he looked great.... keep it up

[Jasmine]

Thanks

Schooled Lucas on the flat yesterday and he was excellent! Before I got on I lunged Lucas with side-reins. He was a little distracted though. Then I popped on. I went around in walk for like 15 minutes putting Lucas together. I made myself keep my outside rein steady (that's my biggest problem right now.)

Once I had Lucas round at walk I moved on to trot. Did lots of figures and changes of rein to supple Lucas up. I also did the exercise I'd counter bend Lucas then I'd straighten him and then I'd bend him to the inside. I had Lucas together at trot in a few minutes. I did lots of transitions from trot to walk and walk to trot. I practiced keeping Lucas round through my transitions. It's not prefect yet but it is getting easier.

Then I did a bit of canter work. I'm finally starting to figure how much inside leg and outside Lucas needs to stay round at canter. I had a few really nice strides of canter so I was happy. Then I did some more trot and walk work and then I cooled out.

I think I might head out and jump today so I'll update this later if I do.

[Jasmine]

I did go out and jump today. I had an ok ride. Lucas was pretty good, he was a little flat in the canter but that's because of rider error. I wasn't in the mood to jump high today (plus I jumped Lucas over a 3' course a couple of days ago) so I stuck to smaller fences (2'3-2'6) and worked on my eq. I tried to let Lucas push me out of the saddle and to bend at my hip more instead of just standing up. I got one really nice picture where my eq is pretty good. I'm like in love with it lol.

[Jessica]

Aw Lucas is loving it. You guys look great!

[Jasmine]

Thanks. In every single over fences picture I have of Lucas his ears are pricked forward. He loves his jumping lol.

Schooled Lucas on the flat today. I rode outside in the rain which wasn't too bad actually. I was working hard so I stayed warm and I had Clovelly's huge outdoor all to myself

Lucas was nice and supple right from the get go. I just had to keep even pressure on my outside rein and his nose went down. I didn't do a whole lot today. I did lots of w/t work and some canter work as well. Lucas was a gentlemen today and I was very pleased with him. He was a little spooky though lol. The scary planes that were flying over us were going to come down and eat him ha ha. Oh my horse is from the loony bin

[Jasmine]

I had a really good lesson today. I got to jump outdoors (yay!) no more slippery indoor arena footing!!! Once Lucas was warmed up Liz had me trot over a vertical a couple of times. Trotting in made Lucas really push off his hind end. Then I cantered to the vertical. Then Liz made the vertical a parallel oxer and set up a course.

My first course went like this: parallel oxer to diagonal vertical, rollback to a fan oxer. I did that a few times then Liz made all the jumps bigger (2'6 - 3') and made me do another course.

The second course went like this: Fan oxer to parallel oxer to diagonal vertical. Since the two oxer's made Lucas's stride really strung out I had to work on balancing his canter before the vertical. The first time I did the course he nicked the vertical but it didn't fall. The second time I did the course I rode it beautifully! I had nice spots to all my fences and Lucas was really balanced to the vertical. I think both Lucas and I had a blast today

Oh this is a fan oxer. They're like the best jumps ever! They're really easy to ride to and are inviting to the horse.

[happilyeverafter]

Sounds great Jasmine. Fan oxers used to be my favorite too ... back when I jumped (hah.)

[Jasmine]

Thanks guys

Over the last few days I've been schooling flat with Lucas. Thursday I had a lesson with Liz. Before I got on I lunged Lucas with side reins to hopefully supple his jaw before I got on. We also worked on balancing his trot to canter transitions on the lunge. Then I got on. I had a bit of a frustrating ride. Lucas was 2x4, he would not give in the jaw no matter what I did. After 40 minutes and multiple exercises later Liz got on him and schooled him a bit. He was good for her but he gave her a bit of a work out lol.

On Friday I went out again and rode Lucas. Like on Thursday I lunged Lucas with side-reins for a good half hour before I got. I was very determined on Friday to get Lucas to give in his jaw. It took me a good 20 minutes or so to get him to give in the walk. Then I moved on to trot. The trot was actually a bit easier then the walk. I guess that's because I already had Lucas where I wanted him so I just had to maintain it. I did a lot of transitions and tried to keep Lucas round through them.

I ended up working Lucas for like an hour and 15 minutes or something but it was worth it. I was really happy with my ride on Friday. Sure I got my cardio and aerobic work-out for the day but I got some really nice stuff from Lucas so I was pleased. Lucas can be as suborn as a mule sometimes but you just have to be the donkey on those days lol.

[Jasmine]

Lucas and I went in the jumping camp today at Clovelly. Today's focus was gymnastic lines. Before we went out and rode Liz had us design our own gymnastic lines (I was in a group with Victoria and Eve and Marah and Musette.) Lucas kind of stood out from the two huge chestnut mares lol.

To warm up we cantered bounce poles. Lucas picked up a nice balanced canter and kept an even pace through the poles. I was so happy, he wasn't being fast and rushy at all. Then we jumped an actual gymnastic line. It was made up of a cross rail bounce then 1 stride to a vertical and then 1 stride to an oxer. First time through I didn't have Lucas moving forward enough so I got a tiny bit left behind but I fixed my position over the vertical and we were fine over the oxer. The second time through Lucas was moving at the right pace so all I had to do was sit in the saddle quietly and let Lucas do all the work through the line.

I was so pleased with him today. I thought he was going to be over energetic but he wasn't. He was very responsive and relaxed. I couldn't have asked him to have been any better. Everyone in my group did great! I think we all had fun and I can't wait for tomorrow!

[Jasmine]

Lucas and I finished Camp today. I'm sad it's over, I had a blast! Lucas was a good boy all weekend. I was very pleased with him, I had such a good time because of it. Saturday was Hunter/EQ and Monday was Jumper day. We jumped full courses each day which was a nice change for me since I haven't jumped a course since September. I won't try to explain them because they're long kind of complicated. I think in the jumper course there were 11 fences.

[Victoria]

Jasmine, you and Lucas did awesome in the Camp. It was soo much fun. I think i liked the Jumper course the best.. Anyways, you and Lucas rock! ha.

[Jasmine]

Aw thanks Victoria. You and Eve did really well too, the third day especially. The jumper course was amazing, so much fun! It's still set up in the arena so I'm thinking I might go out and jump it this weekend. I wish camp wasn't over, I'm back to riding by myself again

[Suzanne]

Awwhh, Jasmine... too bad there wasn't a camp every weekend so that us foreigners could come learn how to be pro like you! (that could get expensive! )

I'll be back out to visit! maybe we can go for a ride then! I'll at least take a few pictures of you riding!

[Jasmine]

If there was camp every weekend I'd be so happy! Sooz you need to move out to the East coast, or at least visit like you said. if you do come for a visit we definitely need to ride together

Lucas has had it pretty easy this week. I gave him to day off on Tuesday to re cooperate from camp. Then I had a flat lesson on Wednesday which wasn't too strenuous for him. We worked mostly of refining the walk and I did a bit of trot as well. I got quite I workout but Lucas didn't even break a sweat

Rode on the flat Thursday and Friday schooling the same stuff I did in my lesson. Yesterday was first day Lucas had done any real work since camp. The jumper course was still set up from camp so I picked it apart and did bits and pieces of it. I put a fence up to 3' and jumped it a couple of times then I cooled out. I think Lucas happy to get jumping again, he had his ears pricked forward the entire time I rode him. And a video I edited of my ride because I was bored:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztnqqC8pQyk