Opava Eventing

After almost a year and a half of injuries and accidents, and months of rehab and slowly bringing Ultra back, not knowing if we would ever compete again, today I ran a mini cross country course at home and we are back. Months ago Ultra and I were still not syncing up. This morning we had a few bobbles but the communication was 90%. A total confidence building run for both of us over beginner novice and novice obstacles. Feeling more comfortable about resuming competing at Shepherd Ranch in 2 weeks!!

Took Ultra to a wonderful schooling dressage show at Rose Bowl Riders on Saturday. A great low key venue. Ultra pulled a 71.03% at Training 2. Would have been a 73.03% of I hadn't made an error of course! Did a 68% at Training 1 even with tree trimmers on the fence at JPL taking down the pine tree limbs! Even took high point of the show! .org

After all the injuries and problems of last year, Ultra's back! In our jump school yesterday we took it up to 3'. The first time he's done 3'. So excited to see how effortless it was for my boy! It gives me so much hope for the future!

A good stable lower leg position is everything. Pinching with the knee, dropping your toes, not only tightens a horses back, it rounds the riders back and throws them out of position. See the progression of the riders legs and back, and the horses performance, in the video.

Had a lovely day schooling my boy Ultra and 2 clients at Shepherd Ranch. The horses stepped up to their challenges and I congratulate their riders for doing a great job! As for Ultra, we are finally over the water fear as he plunged right in all the waters every time! We stepped up to a few novices fences. He was so game! Very excited to compete at Shepherd in June. More pictures to come. Video of Ulta enjoying his line thru one of the waters!! We also had the company of the horses in pasture! They loved hanging with us!