Pletch Eventing and Saddle Fitting

From Tadpole to Training, we DOMINATED 3rd place. Except for the three that unfortunately didn’t. We survived the 5” of rain on Sat, but 3 of my 7 didn’t finish the weekend. Sally and Tru have been battling a foot bruise that despite being sound for a few weeks, choosing not to do SJ schooling rounds to be safe, and having a lovely flat school Fri- it still reared its ugly head Sat morning. Remi and Halle were having a great go, but a slip in SJ warmup caused a scratch. A first for my career- Emily and Neni having a solid start to her dressage test in the lower doom ring when Neni became overstimulated, unable to move forward from the walk and were rung out for “prolonged resistance”. Anna and Violet were absolutely stellar. Leading their division until jump 1 in SJ when the joker plank was a bit scary for her careful, spooky brain. Operation paint planks has been planned. Cadi and JoJo are actually banned from showing the rest of this year as we belive they are the rain dancers. Cadi also fought some demons in the lower doom ring, finished her test all alone as the lighting, Thunder, and rain ran us all back to the barn. She then was a trooper to do XC and SJ in the slop on Sunday. (Thank you to everyone who got it done❤️). Annie and Finn FOD on another Novice. She has been working so hard to learn and tune up all the things to be prepared for her move up to Training, and she has exceeded all my expectations, especially working on her own at home 2 hours from me. Lottie had her first go back after her pregnancy. She ran 1 training last fall and now Hoosier. We very casually skipped around, with me being a lot more rusty than her. Mr Law told me years ago, “ you have to practice and that means needing alot of horses to practice on”. Unfortunately, she is currently the only horse I have jumping over 3’, which makes practice very hard. Mrs Law changed quite a bit in my riding a few weeks ago, and implementing that this weekend was a challenge for me, but I feel very good about where it is going. My body is challenging me a bit at the moment, so I hope I can keep this momentum through the rest of the year. Sally and I will be back to HHP in 4 days for dressage!

Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend with Lesley G, She Lesley, Mrs Law- whatever you know her by. As she said, “she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea”, but she sure is mine. This woman has supported me and my students for years. She has a huge heart. From selling us Lottie to helping me get my girls to NAYC as riders and grooms, always supporting and teaching me in my riding and coaching goals, to giving me my children(dogs). It makes me sad I don’t spend winter time with her anymore because life and work, but her summer weekends with us are invaluable. I had some specific requests to get myself and Lottie back in the groove, and she had me in tip top shape by the end of each lesson. As always, I wish there I had more time, more energy, more money- she would be here once a month. I would also need a private jet because flying is really dumb right now. I watched every lesson this weekend, and I don’t think we had a single ride that didn’t work through exactly what they needed to. The most important thing I am feeling is inspired. Up next… Hoosier HT, Indiana Dressage Festival, and more saddle fitting!

Schedule for Lesley Grant- Law this weekend. Auditors welcome $15/day. Please venmo -Pletch. No Charge to my current students.

Saturday 7/18
8:00 Gina/Lottie-SJ T/M
8:45 Anna, Claire Dawson BN/N SJ
9:45 Emily- F
10:30 Cadi-F
11:15 Gina/Annie, Emily N- N SJ
12:15Lunch
12:45 Cadi, Kory Ava - SJ GAG/Starter
2:00 Colleen-F
2:45 Halle- F
3:30 Robin- F
4:15 Holly, Addie, Ava -XC Starter/BN

Sunday 7/19
8:00 Gina/Annie,Anna, Sophia -XC N
9:15 Claire Dawson- XC N
10:00 Gina/Lottie, Christina - XC T/M
11:00 Madi- SJ 1.2M
11:45 Robin- SJ N
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Cadi, Emily G. - XC GAG/S
2:00 Mallory, Bea, Amy- XC BN
3:15 Halle, Holly -SJ BN
4:15 LeeAnne - SJ S

Was home from Leg Up and Southern IN saddle appts for a second before headed back out to IDS Schooling show. Cadi and Emily had specific tasks of being able to effectively ride with clarity in their tests, and both fully conquered some demons and learned a lot about their riding and their horses. Sally and Wilbur wanted to test out the dressage life and absolutely nailed training level. Annie did 2-3 for the first time, and while she felt very tired on Sat, she tried very hard, scoring 7’s in the harder movements. I like to hope that at the ripe young age of 20, I can still continue to build her strength and suppleness to improve her balance and way of going and continue to enjoy this journey with her. What lovely mares, and one truly eventer gelding (see Sally in the absolute monsoon) we have. Next up(after I am home from Chicago appts), we have Lesley G. Law in the house next weekend!!! We will all be tuned up and ready for Hoosier Horse Trials!
📸Mariah Handlon

Leg Up- 18 rides to coach in 1 day. One 4yo on her first horse show experience. Lots of IEA BOD pitch in. It was the fastest marathon I think I have ever ran😂. Thankful for the E Bike MVP for getting me across the park. Ready for a nice localized dressage show this weekend. My people were such class. From making the best decisions to scratch for the health and safety of themselves and horses to pitching in and helping get it all done, and giving their horses the rides they needed. Our focus for this show was getting into every phase and riding the horse you have under you. Truly being able to be present in the moment at a horse show. ❤️Fran was truly a model citizen. Popped on and off the trailer for the first time in a few years. Stood quietly immediately. First stall tack. Lunged and rode just like she was at home. Then had a water adventure. She will now need done time off to get through her current growth spurt 😵‍💫

HUGELY successful weekend with our new favorite obsession- Kelli the bit and bridle fitter. Every horse came away with massively improved balance, suppleness, and happiness. We made at least two horses sounder, and all of our jobs as riders SO MUCH EASIER. I love the Fager and Artemis products. Combine that with Kelli being absolutely incredible at her job and you just can’t lose. She has now experienced the Indiana December cold snap and the humidity phenomenon, but I think she will still keep coming back. She fills up fast for every trip. If you are interested in booking her or joining us on her next trip here (hopefully Sept/Oct), reach out to me or Kelli Jackson with Moody Mare Bridle and Boutique.