Lessons with Karin

It has been a while since I have posted. We have been winterizing the property. Here is a photo of our new barn. You can see the dutch doors leading from the stalls. I will get some interior photos to post soon.

I have been riding Tokaj quite a bit. We have not hunted as we had anticipated due to the cost of formal hunt clothing and other issues. Tokaj and I have been trail riding with Sandy, working at a nearby indoor arena, and having lessons with Karin.

Last week I had a lesson with Karin and she confirmed something I had been feeling all along... that Tokaj travels crooked to the left. Karin helped me with some exercises to help her learn to travel straight (meaning properly curved to the left if she was traveling left... the horse's spine should follow the curve of any circle or turn). This habit is something that Tokaj has been doing, and re-training her to balance herself and carry herself straight will take time. It is like learning to write with your left hand if you are right-dominant. Anyway, we are definitely making progress!

In all her paces, Tokaj and I are improving greatly. She is becoming more connected, stepping under herself and carrying more weight on her haunch rather than on her front end. She is becoming more capable of stretching into the bridle and creating an elastic connection instead of being stiff and resistant. It is fun to ride her when she goes from stiff to suddenly elastic and bouncy... like hitting a tennis ball with the "sweet spot" on the racket rather than near or on the frame. She makes me glow!

I have had another wonderful opportunity presented to me. Karin is going to go to Chicago to work with a very high level trainer for the months of January and February. She is taking her two high level horses. She has a warmblood going Grand Prix, and an Andalusian horse who is young, but she just won a young horse National Championship on him in both Florida and Texas. We all need help and eyes on the ground... even Karin, so she is headed to Chicago. Karin offered me her stalls at Stonewall Farm. Stonewall is a wonderful facility with a large indoor arena with synthetic footing that is great for horse leg and joint health. I can only afford to take one stall for Tokaj, but this will afford me the opportunity to train during the worst winter months here in Missouri. I was not looking forward to trailering in snow and ice, so this will be great for us!