~ ~

Well Today was so good, I feel very good about what Klassy and I worked on, She was very very relaxed and decided to use ther back and hind end for momentum and we werent slugish like the last two rides I had on her. She does so great on the lounge line with her side rains and I think is really finding that when she is balanced properly she can be faster and I praise more. lol

She is now on Ulcer suppliments and I think that is making her feel better so she is more willing to work! She got her new sheet, as you can see its the baby blue plaid one and the new turnout blanket fits very well :) TAHNK YOU LORI!!!! Today Klassy was very relxed and did alot of streching and only threw a tantrum cause she was tired nad it was the end of our ride, we did 10 minute sof walk and 10 minutes of trot, but as soon as I told her she was done soon and that she just had to relaxe again, move of my leg both ways that she was done she decided that listening and working through it was the best option, That is just a huge improvement rom 4 months ago when she wouldnt go at all when she dicided that she was done. She just marched on after i made her move forward and acted like she hadnt put up a fuss at all! I was so proud! We have our 1st show on May 1st!! Myabe doing some clinics soon, Meghan is going to hual a few of us soon to some gig harbor schooling dressage shows. I am soo happy! More later!

pictures 2/2/10

10 months and 13 days Till One Year!

I think you should take a look at all Klassys old pictures from when i started this Blog when I baught her and then check out an compare to The pictures I got yesterday when I went out to the barn. When I baught her I could lay over her back while standing on the ground and give her hug. I could clearly see over her rump and her shoulder where about at 14.2 hands high. Klassy now is 15.2 almost 15.3 at the rump, still working on getting those shoulder up but They are about at 15.0 hands.

We will be riding with Meghan 3 times a month in lessons. Klassy and I LOVE HER!

Just wanted to share these cute pictures with you! I will put them in a 2nd post :)

Klassy's First Lesson undersaddle

Hey there everyone! Hope you are well!

Just wanted to tell you all about Klassy and I's First lesson togther undersaddle, as you know I have been dealing witha slow healing knee injury and I am not 100% back yet but I have been gettng stronger, taking less pain meds,and going out to do more things. What has been getting me mostly is crouching down, seems to lock my knee in a very painful place, so wrapping polos are tough for me, and bending down to apply boots on the legs.

As of today at 230 I had my first real ride back! It felt really good to, I wasnt even soar after the ride, I think keeping it to light riding and not straining it further then I feel I can go is key right now. I have a DR apt witha orthipetic surgon on wensday at 10am sadly I have to miss class at the college, bumbed cause I am really starting to make new friends nad getting really into it.. anyways this is a blog about Klassy really not my life other then her! LOL

My lesson with Meghan started out with Klassy on the lunge line with loose side reins, and we had her working at the extended trot to help her carry herself better, and man can she really move out, Megahn lunged her to the left first so I really got to see her move out, where as I am ussaly the one focusing on her legs and my feet for lounging so on and so on. We did this both directions, at first she thought we asking her to go in to a dead run...but she figured it out with lots of praise and half halts. After she figured out that we were asking her to extend her movement at the trot and relaxe a bit she was able t sorta put her neck in frame nad bring her shoulders a little bit up, and might I add she looked so cute and great! I found it hard to take her to the right, but that is her bad side. Anyways Meghan makes it look easy but truth is, Klassy likes to make the circle big and making sure she is moving out and forward while half halting and then praising and queing to move off and out again was pretty darn tricky! I figured it out in the end and we ended our warm up on a good note.

I then got on her, and she actuly decided to stand for me at the mounting block after only trying to walk off once.... thats improvment in itself. I then continued the work I was doing on the lunge line in the saddle, by asking her to move off her hind end and flex/bend to the inside, as this made her think going into a frame was her idea and that it was eaiser for her to move into and out of. I didnt feel like I was on a whoobly little gangly pony anymore, I was now on a small horse! GOOD JOB KLASSY! we had alot of good walk moments where she firgured it out and used her back and her hind end to lift up and she relaxed through the poll and neck, and she almost went limp but limp soft in my hands and still was moving off my leg and I wasnt kicking her to move faster then a stand still comatose! LOL This was enough just to make my day..or week...or month! When I asked for the trot she went right up into it! Still she didnt feel whoobly or unstable, I think part of this is that she is growing more shoulders :) We did repeated what we worked on when we walked but in a steady foward trot and her right side is what gave me tummy muscle aches! but we made it through both ways. This is somthing we will be working on all next month for our warm ups. She really picks up on things fast and loves praise...and sugar cubes! The few good strides and moments where we held it togther and wored as a team felt like cloud 9! She tried so hard for me and didnt protest once! Just a little confuzed mishaps that we pushed her along through and she moved out again. It was such an amazing first lesson that I am so excited to work with her till my next lesson and show Meghan how much we have worked on this and practiced!! I am telling you.. she is getting clipped next winter..... no more long cooling out sessions! GAW!

I talked to Meghan and we dicided to try Smartgut for what we think might be ulcers, if it doesnt clear up in a month I will talk to the vet but crossing my fingers this suppliment works for her! It might show a new side f Klassy, as she will get perkier?! LOL

Klassy also has some "presents" comming in the mail soon, as well as a nice new turnout blankie given to us by the great VASHON GMA! LOL she always has somthing when I least expect that I will get it anytime soon, like my mom and I where looking at Olsens for blankets and such, okay I was she was reading a book lol. Since I knew I could get a cheaper one that I wanted online I held off from buying one there, low and behold a few days later I am with Karen doing stalls at her place and Lori asks me "What size blanket does Klassy wear?" I wound up with a very nice Blankie that if doesnt ft her she wil grow into, freaking better fit cause I dont really love the one she has now (what she came with) Her belated Xmas presents that she is geting are: New stable sheet for after clinics and or shows or cooling out ect. Pocket Wahl clippers for trimming whiskers, feathers and bridle-path and ears... we will work on the ear trimming) Leather side reins :) A saddle rack that hooks on to the stall wall so I dont have to have it in a "iffy" spot while getting her ready for Meghan or for me to ride. Also getting show sheen to help the tail stay pretty! By the way found out my saddle fits very well on Klassy's back and still gives her some growing room in the shoulders.

I am hoping to take her to some clinics with a nearby trainer who I have been talking to online and telling her about Klassy she also knows Meghan and a few horsie friends. That most likely wont be until march or later.

I felt very god about all the work I have put into Klassy on my own and it really showed today cause the last lesson we both had togther was last March or April before I had started even just sitting on her back! Meghan says I have taught her all the basics very well and that we are now fine tuning them and adding in some more work for the basics, like now we are on basics level 2! lol I am so proud of her, and how well she worked and how happy she seemed t be worked and learn!

I will have pictures soon!

Hope you all have a good rest of the week!

Training 1/21/10

Hello there!

So far we have had some sunny days here in the NW, finaly fter the raining of a billion days
Klassy has settled in very well at Sawda, Daily turn out, 4-6 flakes of hay a day, she is drinking enough water we decided to take her off of the Electrolites and she is doing great with out them. Yesterday she got her feet trimmed and I have decided to put front shoes on her due to the really wet ground making her feet softer and help control the splaying of her hoove snad flares. So that happens in March. Wensday (1/27/10) Klassy gets worked by Meghan, looking forward to watching. I am also going to really be getting her into shape this next couple months to be ready to ride in some local clinics and dressage schooling shows. So since I have school 4 days a week and 3 of them are only in the morning at the Community College I will be biking over to the barn 3-5 days (aiming for 4 or 5 days a week) to lounge her with side rains and work on our ground work as that has gotten a little rusty. Klassy will be getting rides by Meghan as much as possiable 1 ride per week I am hoping and I can work on that stuff till her next ride.

I snaped some shots of the barn yesterday some of Klassy. Till then enjoy and happy trails! ~ sam & Klassy

SAWDA

We are now at Sawda :) I am very happy about it. Klassy loaded pretty good. No tnatrums or fits. only took about 30 minutes.

She is all settled in her new stall, she gets daily turnout, she didnt get that before.

Hope everyone is having a great New Years. I will be getting more pictures here soon. But just wanted t let everyone know we made it there safe and sound, she was a very good girl and everyone loves her. I start lessons in about 2 weeks :) VERY EXCITED. Also Am selling some of my tack and stuff that doesnt fit or work for me and Klassy will be getting about 100.00 bucks. :)

I will be going tack shopping soon for leather side rains, a set of boots, new bell boots, and looking at blankets. I got my new saddle pad from a good friend! Its in our show color, red!

Here are a few pictures. I am going over saturday or sunday idk yet but will get pictures of the barn and such :)

YAY.

Its been way way to long!

Okay well for those of you who dont know, i am back from Canada, It wasnt for me and I didnt agree with the training methods, but I did learn alot of things and wa able to work alot n my own riding and that made me really proud to come home and see and feel how much better and relaxed I was. I ettend alot of horse shows with the trainer along with the honor of going to the Spruce Meadows Masters. I relized 3 days away from home driving distance is just to far, but I wouldnt have known with out trying it out so I am glad I did. I have to say though after having Christmas over I am so glad I was home with all my friends and family, I would have missed out on alot.

I am so sorry I have been so absent from my blog, "Bad me! BAD!" I will work on keeping it updated alot better.

It has now been 10 months since I my Superstar has comeinto my life, and really it doesnt feel that long. In almost a years time I have brought a un-broke little bay filly who you couldnt really touch with out amost getting sat on or tepped on due from no handling to a horse who loves trail rides, frliking ina open pasture with her buddies, can stand in the cross ties and so much more. When I think about it we have really come so far, yet when I am cought up in the moment I dont really see that and can get frustrated witha "bad day". Klassy is now about 15.2 hands and her shoulders are really growing in finaly.

I am happy to anounce that we now have a great trainer and will be moving to her barn on tuesday the 29th. I will be getting bi weekly lessons and paying for Klassy to have a training ride by Meghan our trainer on the other week. I m very excited because along wih lesson I will be going to clinic a month with Kim McGuire and a few other clinics with Meghans Grand Prix Dressage trainer who comes to our barn.

I hope everyone hada very good Holiday!

Here are the most recent pictures on Klassy, The one on the bottem was taken on the 27th of november and the top was atken in OCtober when I came home from Canada.

Sandridge Pictures

<-- One of the Many Large pastures

<-- Welcoming barn logo and sign

<-- Outdoor arena

<-- New house

<-- Indoor&insulated arena

<-- This is the barn isle

Here are some pics I have had sent to me from another girl who works at Sandrdige and rooms right above me :)

PLAN CHANGE...Off to Canada We GO!

Well seems like our plans have made a turn..... as we are now getting the awesome chance to go and work with Tricia Dahms, in Canada...for a year! I haventhad time to write on here, due to my frantic running around getting everything ready! I will be moving on sunday (August 30th) and arriving in my new place on monday aternoon. I am so excited! I will be loacted in Edmonton, Alberta, about 14 hours away. Sadly I can not make it home or Christmas, as its the buseist time for us! I start at 5:30am and end around 6ish every day, Though I get one day off a week I will be spending all my time with all the horses!

Who is Tricia Dahms? She is a former Canadain Olympic Rider, Very well known rider. She hasa working student Program and i just so happend to get in this year!

Yes, Klassy is comming! SO im even more excited! I have to wait till Oct to get my monster up there, and it will be hard with out her there for suprot in that first scary month, away from home and everyone/everything I have ever known.

I will write on here AS MUCH AS I CAN. I will also explain more about this program later.

Here is the link to my new barn. Pics coming soon! feel free to email me, sunnylittlejumper@hotmail.com Id love to keep in touch. http://www.sandridgestables.ca/ is the site. THANKS!

Updates! Its about Time Right?!

Well yes I know its been a long time since I have really had the time to sit down and tell you ow me and Klassy are doing, but here I am, and we are doing awsome! We have explored trails with our friends, put maney hard working, sweat producing hours in on the loungline, and are finaly starting to move farward from behind and are even cantering undersaddle now! We no longer walk all over people or kick out when wraps are being applied to legs or toss are heads when the bridle comes out, no no we are much improved and moving forward in our jurney. I am so proud of how far we have come as a team, and I am am finding it hard to see the improvements as much as others do around me just simply because I get so caught up and dont look back at were we started from, now 7 months into our adventure and friends and family are telling me we have come so far, yet I keep telling them we are just starting out still. I have been taking pictures and such since the last time I wrote on here.

Our 1st show or undersaddle work and ground work will be in Sept as I get ready to go on Vacation to Cali for two weeks, Miss Klassy will be gettinga month off.

This summer (mainly this past two weeks) it has been un barable with the heat, we are breaking records and trying to stay hydtrated as much as possiable, so we havent been doing a whole lot, thought this week it has really started cooling off and we can slowly start up again. We have deffently grown and we dont have that "Baby face" anymore, we havea horse face!

More when I can write!

~S

10 Days

Its 10 days till we move the girl to TRP (The Riding Place) and im pretty excited. I have a horse I am getting back into shape and working and will be showing this year. He is a 16.1 hand QH gelding named Spider. Lanny and I are also getting in another horse. A four year old Morgan mare. she is black witha brown mane and tail, just like my old mare Millie.

Lanny also works at TRP. He does stalls the five days I dont. He has his horse named "Not" and they are very cute together. Lanny and I go pick Klassy up on the 30th.

Here are some pics of Spider and I, Lanny and his horse. More commin soon.

S

Well hmm

Its all crazy here, life has been very hectic, as my cat had kittens and they all died and so I spent 3 days with the babies that lived, and then they just couldnt make it.

Then I had a reat lesson last sunday with Bo, she tok her time to get to know Klassy and I was really pleased with her, and Klassy.

This last week has been great and hectic, I have now Gotten on and ridding Klassy twioce, and she was so good, she didnt try anything the first ride and loved it and was great fun to ride. The second time she got a bit more frisky, and did a little playin around and bucked the smallest bucks I have ever felt! but I just worked her through it and ended on a good note.

I am sad and sorry to say I had a horrid day on Friday, as I saw Hutch o off completly on a boarder, only 2 years older then me, in front of al the other boarders, and it was just a scene and I felt unsafe, for me and my horse and I know thats not okay, I wont put myslef and my horse in a place I cant feel safe at. Not that this barn was for us to be at for a year or two or even tree, it was all in the plan to stay just for a few months. But I wishI didnt have to leave this soon, we just got here!

Money, transporrtation, time, and saftey..... all comes into play when I look at this.... Its hard for me to get out as much as I would like, its costin alot of time, Klassy isnt feelin safe around Hutch, I dont feel safe around Hutch, and its just pretty messy. I would like to trust Hutch, as he is a ood person, and I respect him, he means the best and Im sure he works well with his horses and with his clients, But from what I saw, and heard and how my horse shy's away from him, It's like sins are pointin to to move on..... So........... I talked it over and showed the good and bad with the barn we are at now with my mom.... and she arees, so I just went and took alook at this other barn with my mom today, In port orchard..... well we fell in love, its clean, safe (he has cameras EVERYWERE!) I can work off the board, it only a 30 minute boat ride away, and theni take 15 minute shuttle to the road and its right there! There are LOTS of kids there, they host shows, they havea on site, 24/7 cartaker who lives in the barn property! So I feel great about that, they havea horse they want me to ride, and work with and show in the summer and fall. His name is Spider, he is a 16 hand Foundation QH gelding, witha blaze, and look in his eye that will get him trouble. Also... Asia Thayer is a trainer there... also I worked with her about 2-3 years ago when I had a morgan mare on vashon, and I highly respect her, she is amazing, she is one of the best trainers I have ever come across, and makes me want to be a great trainer like her somday. Oh I am not done YET! They want me to start a kids camp there! they are great lovely people, who know all about horses, and saftly and are very family based, He built this amazin barn himslef and his wife and him breed QH and they have some very nice horses,

I cant wait, also My friend Brooke ( this sweet 19 yr old, my friend, wsa the oone who was harrased by Hutch.) is also moving her horse, and is looking into moving Miley (her Irish Draught Sport Horse) with us to the new barn, Its called the riding place. I love it here. more then Hutchs, adn OMG is Hutchs place nice.

well thats all for now, I havea lesson tomarrow. with BO, im looking forward to it. Yet i do have to say i am nervouse to go out there because of what i saw with hutch. and it just made me feel unsafe. and i hate that feeling. so nite loves.
miss you all

SPRING BREAK! almost 1 month w/ Super Pony <3

Here are some great pictures I got at the barn today of Super pony and her horsie "boyfriend" Marco. He is alot like my morgan mare I owned for 3 years! He is in the stall next to her, and they get turned out togther with Cheif and PJ. He is very in love with Klassy, and protective over her, its just adorable to watch.

Today I sat on her again and she did great :) Just worked on the same old, wrapping legs, and she stood still, walked on the trail, all tacked up with her cooler over her, and she enjoyed it alot :) and did our ground work. We have our lesson on Sunday and hoping for good weather and a postive fun time with Bo!! I am thinking on moving her to the island alot sooner then planned... Its proving hard to get out to Fall city, Klassy needs lots of work and day to day training to keep up practicing what we have learned so far and getting to do more muscling work to get her in shape. Hutch's is a great Place and has really been great for us.

I live 5 minutes from the vashon/Southworth boat and its a easy bus ride (10 minutes or less) to the dock and then I can easyly walk to the barn were id like to keep her. Just want to stay out of the "Vashon Horse Drama" or VHD lol

Hope all is well with everyone! enjoy the beautiful fun pictures!

sam and Klassy

Spring break :)

I start my spring break tomarrow :)
I will at the barn pretty much ALL week, I brught my westernt saddle home from my grandma Lori's and will be letting her get used to it, I am going to start breaking her this week and i am hoping for sunny warm weather, so lets all cross our fingers, ITS MARCH ALREADY! LETS SEE SOME SUN!

Wish us luck, and yes I will take tons of pictures:)

Lesson cancled :( 3/22/09

(Horses coming to say "Hi" to us on our walk)


Well I will keep this short, as my lesson with Bo was canceld due to her being sick, as am I, or at least I have a good cold. I should have stayed home today but no, i went and took care of my brothers dog in Clumbia City and took my two mutts to the dog park along with my brother's dog Magoo. Then headed out to the barn.



I free lounged her in the arena and then did some ground work with her, and she is really smart, she is remembering alot of what I teach her.

We can now walk, halt, set up, hind end turn 180 degrees. halt. Trot forward and halt set up. and back. It sounds all very long but very straight farward, the main thing I am working with her on this pattern is keepin her head and shoulders straight. She is one to look at you and ask did I do it right?!



So then I decided to work with her on bridling. When I first worked with her before I bought her she wouldnt let me bridle her. she would stick her ead up and turn away, she was only used to one person doing it. So every day I am out working and playing with her and getting to know her more and more I have been teaching her to put her head down. So i expected the same behavior as before, head up and not wanting to except the bit or have the bridle put on over her ears.

I was so proud of her when she just stood there, her head at my level and she excepted the bit as soon as I showed it to her and slid the crown peaice over and she was fine, she even let out a sigh on relife! i was so proud of her!!

So i still had her halter in under the bridle, and I took her for a walk on the trail that we walked on the other day just leading her with the lead rope. she was so good.



she also just stood there and let me wrap all her legs in polo's again, even stood still and played witha bucket when I hosed her legs off when I brought her in.



SH eis now no longer in the paddock, Hutch has put her out in a pasture, she is out witha morgan gelding who looks alot like Millie!! A huge fat bay gelding, and one other horse, also a Bay. She seems to love it vey much. she now has 12 hours of nibbling on grass with her buddies.