Super BIG Brag

Nik went to his first schooling show today. Intro A and B with 69% in both. He was calm, relaxed and just plain fun. I was so proud! The only problem we had was he was afraid to back out of the trailer. We moved the divider and he contorted himself out.

BIG BRAG

Nikolaas made his grass track debut today. We trotted once around in each direction. He was alittle scared but soon calmed down. I was so proud!

Riding in the "Real Dressage Arena"

Nik is going nicely and has graduated to the unfenced real large dressage arena. We have even attempted to canter a 20 M circle. It wasn't really a circle but he did complete it! Today after our ride I walked him on the woods trail and trotted him too. He was perfect. He is leg yielding nicely and cantering longer distances without constant reminding from me.

Lesson during aThunderstorm

Had a fine lesson today in the indoor and of course it was raining and thundering. Nik as usual took it in stride and was perfect. Some reminders to work on:
Leg yield at trot, come down to walk if not responding
shallow serpentine
stretchy circle
TOF off left leg walk forward during
Use the Verhan saddle.

Nik's New Friends

After Chelsea pony had to be laid to rest last month, someone offered us 2 donkeys to keep our horses company. Introducing Omar and Milton. Our new welsh cob, Kade, arrived last week too and all 4 are getting along perfectly.

Nik is starting to look like a dressage horse

Nik is starting to become rounder at the trot and he is trotting nicely forward. He is really coming along. He is starting to canter but he doesn't want to go very far yet!

First Tail Ride

Nik has been going well in the outdoor arena so I decided it was time to venture even farther. Ari rode Tiki and I rode Nik. Nik actually wanted to lead! He didn't spook but was looking about at times. We did our little walk thru the woods and on the grass track and came back. Then I rode him with Tiki in the ring. He has never been ridden with another horse. He was pre-occupied with Tiki. Did I mention he is in love with her? So it did take some effort to get him to pay attention to me. Good learning experience.

Moving right along!

Nik is really learning. He has such a wonderful attitude. Could be alittle more forward in his thinking but his overall demeanor is great. We have graduated to being able to ride in the whole outdoor arena even the scarey area way at the end. I am also cantering him outside. He can't canter for a long distance yet but he did canter the other day with just voice! I am also working on turns on the forehand, off the left leg he is great off the right leg he isn't very reponsive yet. Overall he is coming along. I'm riding 4 days on and one day off. Alternating inside and out.

Update: CANTERING undersaddle

It was a great day us today. I cantered Nik for the first time undersaddle. He picked it up in both directions but only cantered for about 20 M. But he was perfect and it was a great first time. I also started him trotting over cavaletti again and he seems to enjoy it.

Update

Nik has been coming along very well. We should be able to canter undersaddle later this week or next. He is doing well cantering on the lunge. He can almost do a full circle! Bob lunged him before I rode him and really got him listening. Nik was very forward and reponsive. Ari watched me ride him last night and she was impressed that he was going so well. Our immediate goals are 1. cantering under saddle 2. learning to bend and move away from the leg 3. rounder outline.

A Good Week

Rode outside a couple of times, 2 days off, lunged some. Worked on Cantering on the lunge. We did it out of the corner and down the long side and that seemed to work. He is gaining strength and balance.

He's getting it!

Last night I did a lunge session with sliding side reins. They worked better than the side reins. We worked on cantering and got a few strides. That's our next feat to accomplish.

Today I rode inside as it was very windy. He has improved so much! We steered with a light contact and he went forward nicely.

Mother's Day Video Outside

We had great weather and enjoyed another great ride outside. Bob also led us around the farm. Nik was tense at times but calmed down after awhile.

Another beautiful day

Rode outside again. He was nice and forward but he did try and go out the gate when we trotted by. Bob then lead me around the outdoor unfenced dressage arena. Nik was alittle scared but he behaved himself. We will try and do more outdoor excursions.

Beautiful weather

Monday I lunged and today I rode outside in this beautiful weather. He behaved perfectly.

Last weekend Tiki had her first CDE of this year and at a higher level, preliminary. She was really good in the dressage phase, needed energy in the walk and her rein back was bad. Probably the best she's ever done. Bob had one cone down in the cones, usually he goes clean. The marathon was tough as the first hazard was water. She stalled and we took forever to get through. Hazard 2 and 3 went well. Hazard 4 she stalled again got hung up and then we went thru a gate that got us eliminated. Hazard 5 she did well. So we have alot to work on, but considering it was the beginning of the season we were happy.

Excellent ride tonight

Thurs. night I had a great ride on Nik. He was very forward and willing. We're off to NJ on Fri. for a CDE for Tiki so Nik will have a few days off.

Cantering on lunge

We rode outside the day after the first time and Nik was perfect. Then he had 3 days off .Today I lunged him and Nik cantered in each direction. YEAH!

First time Riding Outside

On Friday, I lunged Nik outside and he was very comfortable so I decided to ride him. He was very good. I kept it short, he went forward and steered as best as he could.

First time riding at night

Tonight was the first time I rode Nik at night with the doors open in the indoor. He did very well and after a couple of slow times around I got him moving forward enough to even do a circle and diagonal. He was excellent.

Love is in the air

Nikolaas has more than brotherly feelings for his sisters and now has to stay in his own paddock. The girls are in heavy heat cycles, even 34yo Chelsea. We had the vet out to check his hormone levels.