I almost titled this post “Best Course Ever” but then I figured that it wouldn’t be our best ever – just the best one so far. The jumps were set from about 2’6″-2’9″ or so. Maybe a 2’3″ in there. And it was awesome. Other than the fact that he knocked the first rail down, it was pretty fabulous. … More Video: Best Course Yet & First Flying Changes
The name of this blog is Centered in the Saddle, obviously. But since the Kirsten Nelsen clinic, my perspective on being centered has changed. It’s clearly incredibly important to be centered while riding. But the problem is with being centered in the saddle. Because who says the saddle is in the right spot? Drifter – and … More New Thoughts on Being Centered
We recently had our first outdoor jumping lesson of the year. Actually, it is the only real outdoor jumping we’ve been able to do because every other time we’re planning on riding outside, it rains. #WisconsinLife Smaller heights to acclimate to the jumps that were just set up in the outdoor arena. Nice and easy, … More Video: First Outdoor Jumping of 2016
Over the weekend, I rode in an amazing clinic with Kirsten Nelsen. At the beginning, I had explained that Drifter is generally a pretty stoic guy, not super emotional or anxious. He tries very hard, and he’s a thinker. He sometimes needs to take a little extra time to think over difficult concepts; there have … More The Best Compliment I’ve Ever Gotten
About a week ago, the time came to cut Drifter’s mane. Yes, the long, flowing locks had to be chopped off in the name of hunter show ring style. (He gets to keep the Fabio forelock, though!) It really was a shame to cut it off, but he now looks a lot cleaner and even … More Drifter’s Major Haircut
It’s not dramatic when I say that riding in a clinic with Kirsten Nelsen this weekend was life-changing. Her whole philosophy is called Training for Optimal Balance, which includes both physical and mental balance for horses and riders. She is a follower of Jean Luc Cornille and his philosophy of the Science of Motion. The weekend … More The Life-Changing Kirsten Nelsen Clinic
Nope, not my new horse! Kimmie recently got a new horse, a beautiful bay mare! The day after she arrived, we went out and did a quick photo session of the pair. They’re so cute!
In my lesson last week, Drifter was pretty lazy and dopey. I was actually pretty happy about this because the last three weeks or so, he’s been pretty spooky and revved up – particularly in one stupid corner where, apparently, there be dragons. (Screw you, winter in Wisconsin!) Anyway. He mostly ignored the Dragon Corner … More Drifter Jumps Like a Big Boy
Is it possible that it was just four months ago that I posted about saddle searching in earnest? It feels like a lifetime. I had been tentatively searching for a little while before that. And I finally found one! I spent the first few months of my search doing a lot of research while I waited for … More Saddle Success!
I took a photography course last week to help me learn to use the manual settings on the new, wonderful camera that I got for Christmas. Over the weekend I snapped some photos of Drifter and I think he looks darn handsome! They’re all sort of the same, but I only had a few minutes. … More A Wintery Photoshoot
Centered in the Saddle 