Archive for July 3, 2010

Exercise Cass six days a week
Get him fit and work on cardio and topline
Be able to do training level dressage
Jump 2′9 consistently
Get his transitions really smooth
Refine aids to invisible
Post/two point without stirrups
Ride bareback at all gaits and over a small jump
Go on a real trail
Go to a show
Learn nutrition
Learn anatomy and movement

Read the rest of the goals here

Monday: Turnout and a bit of longe
Tuesday: Turnout and free longe
Wednesday: Free longe and ride w 10 min
Thursday: Ride w/t 20 min
Friday: Ride w/t 20 min
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Off

Read the full schedule here

January: Cass spent this month getting fat in a pasture.
February: This one too...
March: Mid-month Cass moved to a new barn and I discovered a) an abscess, b) really long feet, and c) stiff hind legs. This is the recovery month. No riding for the rest of it probably, just healing.
April: This is the month my butt is getting back on Cass. And working his butt into shape. Lots of easy stuff, but make it meaningful – refining transitions or working up hills and a lot of trot work. We might hit some easy trails this month too.
May: We're definitely going to be out of the arena by this time. Mostly arena work still, but a lot more getting acclimated to the great outdoors on the trails. In the arena, it's going to be dressage and flatwork focused. This is a good month to start preparing for intro level tests. We're also going to be working on fitness. Over a year out of work hasn't been good to either of us. Begin interval training several days a week.
June: Summer's here and school is out. That means long trail rides are in order. Fitness work is also still happening - intervals, hills, and a ton of trotting! I'm on the hunt for a big open field where we can practice flatting and eventually jumping outside of the ring. Basically, get comfortable working outside of fences this month.
July: Continue the work of the month before. We're still outside as much as possible. Limit arena work to one or two days a week, if that. We should also be schooling first level dressage by this time. Outside of the arena if possible.
August: The last month of heavy field work. 'Arena' should be a foreign word by now. Begin to refine our first level dressage and introduce the gallop. The theme of this month is going to be letting go, but still being in control. But put some trust in Cass! He can do it,
September: Back to school and the arena. We'll still be working outside of it too, but this month is going to be more about working over poles and cavalletti and making our first level dressage show ready.
October: Continue the work of the previous month, but do more cavalletti work. Begin the six week cavalletti plan.
November: We're still working on the cavalletti plan and our dressage work here. 1st level dressage should pretty much be ready to take to a show ring by this time.
December:

View the full calendar here