About Me
- Jill Murray
- USDF Region 1, United States
- Rigitta is a 2005 Lipizzan mare,(Pluto II Dixana x Rheia), that I finally found Dec 2010 after a 2 year search for a Lipizzan. Many adventures and new found friends later, Rigitta and I begin our partnership and eventual dressage competitive career. Rigitta has not been started yet so this will all be from scratch just like my 2007 Dutch Warmblood, Cedar(Theo), has been. I am an over 50 Adult Amateur Dressage competitor. I am a supporter of the Nokota Horse and have owned several. ... www.nokotahorse.org ... Amy Dragoo is helping me with my Blog photos. Majority are from her. ... AK Dragoo Photography, LLC ... www.akdragoophoto.com ... You can follow her Blog here: http://akdragoophoto.squarespace.com/view-all-posts/ ... Also a shout out to Sarah Casey and Waltzing Horse Farm Berlin, New York where I got Rigitta ... http://www.waltzinghorsefarm.com/ ... Make sure you click on "older posts" at the bottom of the page to see everything that has been happening since the beginning of the adventure!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
All Good!
Things are progressing finally, with another good work session for Rigitta. We lunge , long line and spend just 15 minutes under saddle all to get her stronger without emphasizing any one thing. She stretched down in the last 5 minutes undr saddle.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Schooling Show for Theo
Gitta had another good work today.
and Theo had a schooling show
and Theo had a schooling show
Canter Warmup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp89ubJj6j4USDF B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNZ7pDb0mKsUSDF C
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRDne9BIsKQSaturday, May 21, 2011
Training with Melanie Adams
Good two days working with Melanie Adams this weekend. Nice roadtrip for Rigitta down to Maryland for a "sleep over".
Thursday, May 19, 2011
New saddle
I have a saddle for Rigitta now that fits her. It is a 39 CM Duett dressage Saddle. What a difference!
She has recovered quite well from the bad saddle fit and is relaxing again on the lunge in side reins. I sat on her in the round pen tonight at the walk and she seemed to be feeling comfortable. Will slowly re-introduce undersaddle work mixed in with the lunging and long lining. Will keep to the walk and make sure she has the steering and gas pedal well understood and moving away from the leg.
Gitta and I are going down to Melanie's tomorrow thru Saturday for 2 training sessions and her second off farm trip.
She has recovered quite well from the bad saddle fit and is relaxing again on the lunge in side reins. I sat on her in the round pen tonight at the walk and she seemed to be feeling comfortable. Will slowly re-introduce undersaddle work mixed in with the lunging and long lining. Will keep to the walk and make sure she has the steering and gas pedal well understood and moving away from the leg.
Gitta and I are going down to Melanie's tomorrow thru Saturday for 2 training sessions and her second off farm trip.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Saddle Fit
It is well into May and I have not blogged for awhile. Rigitta is having trouble with saddle fit. She was not doing well under saddle the last 10 days of April. I have her back on the long lines and lunging in a Pessoa. She needs to build up her top line and I need to get a saddle for her that fits. She measures to a 40 CM. So I expect to start her all over again June 1st, all things being equal.
Theo is continuing to develop well doing 2 schooliong shows and 1 day clinics with Bob Orton and Julio Mendoza. I ride him for Julio and Anecia rides him for Bob Orton.
Gitta's saddle fit issues have slowed down her progress so Theo will be doing the 2 Spanish riding School Clinics.
Theo is continuing to develop well doing 2 schooliong shows and 1 day clinics with Bob Orton and Julio Mendoza. I ride him for Julio and Anecia rides him for Bob Orton.
Gitta's saddle fit issues have slowed down her progress so Theo will be doing the 2 Spanish riding School Clinics.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Let the fun begin!
May is going to be busy. I start riding both horses 2 x a week. Theo is entered for RyeFox May 6 USDF B&C and again at DVCTA May 22nd, Anecia in the saddle. Another session with Bob Orton for him on the 13th. Theo will stay in training at least through July, then it is time for me to take him from there.
Gitta is doing a one day clinic with Julio Mendoza May 7th and then a 2 day clinic with Melanie Adams May 21&22, me in the saddle. I pick up the rest of her training with help from Anecia on the ground on May 16th. Anecia has her 2 more weeks to stablize things.
Gitta is now cantering undersaddle and learning to move off the leg. She is very stiff longitudinally so she needs to do a lot of bending. Any non-compete time at schooling shows for her will start in August after she has done her 2 SRS clinics in July.
Gitta is doing a one day clinic with Julio Mendoza May 7th and then a 2 day clinic with Melanie Adams May 21&22, me in the saddle. I pick up the rest of her training with help from Anecia on the ground on May 16th. Anecia has her 2 more weeks to stablize things.
Gitta is now cantering undersaddle and learning to move off the leg. She is very stiff longitudinally so she needs to do a lot of bending. Any non-compete time at schooling shows for her will start in August after she has done her 2 SRS clinics in July.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
One step forward, one step back
Gitta got insecure yesterday so went back on the lunge line. Today she was very good and happy, she will stay on the lunge line the rest of the week while lessons on moving off the leg and turning continue. She is starting to respond to both.
She is so connected to who ever is on the ground that she gets lost when they go away, so a weaning process will need to be done!
She is so connected to who ever is on the ground that she gets lost when they go away, so a weaning process will need to be done!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Trotting off the lunge
Big day today. Walk and trot off the lunge in the round pen. Still needs a lot of work on steering but sure has the go and whoa part.
Everbody had a good day today, Theo too... working through his canter depart issues. He goes off farm tomorrow.
The farm goes to Morven park for a show this weekend. I am looking forward to riding Theo again Friday thru Sunday and long lining Gitta while Anecia is away.
Everbody had a good day today, Theo too... working through his canter depart issues. He goes off farm tomorrow.
The farm goes to Morven park for a show this weekend. I am looking forward to riding Theo again Friday thru Sunday and long lining Gitta while Anecia is away.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Rigitta's Marvelous Adventure
Off to a schooling show today with the rest of Second Nature Farm. Went to see how Rigitta would be off farm at a small show. She was fine, as if she was at home. Not a bit of trouble. She lunged in the warm up going right to work. She looked around of course and was on high alert but extremely well behaved!
I thought I would need to take her to a few shows in hand for that experience but looks like, NOT! We are going to wait until she is ready to be ridden off farm and go again. She is headed to Morven Park recognized show May 6-7-8 as a non compete under saddle.
Anecia has both the horses back in training again April 1st. I had fun working with them the last week but back to school! Gitta is now on the lunge line under saddle.
Theo will start to go off farm this week, and he has a session with Bob Orton April 15th. He is entered in the April 17th DVCTA schooling show USDF A and B. He will do an away recognized show non compete the end of May.
Let the fun begin!!!
I thought I would need to take her to a few shows in hand for that experience but looks like, NOT! We are going to wait until she is ready to be ridden off farm and go again. She is headed to Morven Park recognized show May 6-7-8 as a non compete under saddle.
Anecia has both the horses back in training again April 1st. I had fun working with them the last week but back to school! Gitta is now on the lunge line under saddle.
Theo will start to go off farm this week, and he has a session with Bob Orton April 15th. He is entered in the April 17th DVCTA schooling show USDF A and B. He will do an away recognized show non compete the end of May.
Let the fun begin!!!
