Michelle trotting Jessie and nearly getting kicked. This is exactly why I will not deal with stallions. If interested email me at michelle@atlantawebdesignllc.com. This horse does not belong to me, I'm just trying to upgrade him.

This pony needs groceries, de-worming, needs to be gelded yesterday, and more groceries. He's very, very, thin. With weight and work his neck will look a whole, whole lot better. He stood 13.3 two months ago. He should be about 2. Obviously he needs to be cleaned up. He's very narrow through the chest, but wow he's a nice mover. I did the best I could with the trotting, he's barely lead-broke. He doesn't know anything.

Jonni and Jasper



Jonni has a fabulous seat and can do a beautiful posting trot without stirrups. The area's she needs to work on is 1) her leg position - her toes tend to point straight out and they need to point forward or in. 2) Her hands 3) Shoulders back 4) look-up and watch where you are going. Jonni and Jasper are a perfect match for each other, physically, they look really good together. Jonni had a great attitude and very pleasant to work with!



No kidding, this girl can do a beautiful posting trot without stirrups. I was so so impressed. She didn't bounce, it was smooth, and just beautiful to watch.





Kathryn and Penny



Ohhhhh, we have much work to do on the hands, but fabulous leg position. You need to get your hands down and bring them in closer to you. Your elbows should be bent, they are sticking straight out.



What a beautiful leg position. You look balanced, the entire length of your calf is on the horse. You are going to be a great rider if you practice what you learn even when you are "riding for fun". You should strive to ride correctly, even when riding "for fun".



This is a beautiful picture, you look wonderful except for one thing... your whole foot is crammed in the stirrup which is DANGEROUS. If your position get's out of whack ... STOP .. and re-organize yourelf. Only the ball of your foot should be in the stirrup ESPECIALLY when you are riding for fun. Your foot could easily go all the way through the stirrup which would allow the horse to drag you if he / she took off (bolted).



You look great here, but I see a little too much foot in that stirrup.



Look at your leg... this is perfect. The entire length of your calf from knee to ankle is on the horse. Your ankle is flexed down and inward, your toes are forward, your heel is down, the sole of your foot is pointing out. Great job Kahtryn. You have great potential but your going to have to practice when I'm not around.



Your heel is digging into the horse in this picture (although I think she doesn't care, she looks like she's about to fall asleep). Keep your toes pointed forward.



This looks really nice Kathryn.



Way too much foot in the stirrup.

You need to work on 1) riding correctly AT ALL TIMES even when not doing lessons and "Riding for fun" 2) You are definitely ready to begin serious work on your hands

Connie came over and gave me a lesson in ground driving, and she gave Teri and Kathryn riding lessons.

Connie and Jack









Connie and Kathryn

Kathryn is doing so good. I was so proud to "show her off" to Connie. In the pictures below, she has a fabulous little leg position. She listened really well and did what Connie asked. Way to go Kathryn!!






Kathryn looks TOUGH AS NAILS!!!! I love it!! When she does start showing in the Hunter Divisions, she will be the one to beat!!






Connie and Teri

Teri did very well riding with someone new. She totally got what Connie was telling her and she tries so so so hard. She gives it her all and we are definitely seeing results.



(Above) I love this picture. I can totally see a bend in Penny. She is listening to your cues. You have a lot of inside leg on her and she is responding nicely. This is what you want. What's really cool is, you have almost no contact with your inside rein yet you are getting this nice bend out of her. Your leg is a little far back but you are getting the job done in this pic. This is what I mean by riding off your legs and not your hands. Don't get me wrong, you do want contact with the horses mouth but this photo is a good example of the horse responding to leg pressure.



(Above) You have very nice contact with the horses mouth in this picture. There is a nice strait line extending to the bit. You need to sit back a little, you are leaning forward. You need to get your heels down more and toes in.



(Above) Your leg position is BEAUTIFUL in this picture.



(Above) You need to get your weight down in your heals. You are getting a nice bend out of Penney in this picture.





Girlfriend!!! Get your heels down!!



You did really well taking from a new person.



Your leg position looks awsomw in this pic. You've come a long way Ms. Teri!!

When I bought Jack I quickly realized he knew only a few things such as how to lead at a walk, stand tied, have his feet handled, stand for the vet, load on a trailer, and he'll let you mount him. That is quiet literally all he knew. And he would walk on you and nip really bad.

Today he'll do the following:

• Lunge to the left and right at a walk, trot, and canter.
• Obey voice commands on the lunge line (for the most part, we're still working on it)
• Speed up and slow down on the lunge line according to my voice commands.
• Pick up the correct lead at the canter on the lunge line.
• Ground drive lightly.
• Follow the bit to the left and right (some)
• Move off my legs (some)
• He'll let me clip him.
• I trust him enough now to let the kids work with him some. He's a pretty good boy.

When I first started riding him, he was very anxious almost like he was waiting on me to do something stupid on him. He's settled down a good bit and is a lot more relaxed under saddle.

Goals:

• Ride quietly under saddle at the walk, trot, and canter.
• Pick up correct leads.
• Flying lead changes.
• Trail ride quietly.
• Prove himself to be kid safe.
• Jump.
• Become Show Worthy for the Kids

Up Coming Training Sessions Will Include:

• More lungeing working on transitions and voice commands.
• Ground Driving
• Lungeing in Side Reins.
• Trotting under saddle
• Cantering under saddle.
• Intro to trail riding
• Intro to jumping (ground poles and cross rails)
• Intro to full sized arena (Connie's)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Atlanta Spring Classic II Hunter Jumper Horse Show

Location Information

The Atlanta Spring Classic is located in the Charles Walker Arena, and Arenas 4-7. The $25,000 Grand Prix on Saturday is held in the Olympic Stadium. Free Admission!

Event Description

Come by the Atlanta Spring Classic horse show to witness world class show jumping at its very best! Over 800 horses will be in attendance. Riders ages 6 to 60 years participate. The highlights of the Spring Classic will be the $7,500 Children's/Adult Jumper Classic along with the $25,000 Grand Prix events each week. Show jumping is daily from Tuesday through Saturday from 8a.m. to 4-6pm in the Charles Walker Arena and Arenas 4-7. A $25,000 Grand Prix will be held on Saturday at 2p.m.

Some days, it's just fun to groom and hang out with your horse!

You are doing so much better! You just need to relax more and keep concentrating on sitting deep in the saddle and moving with the horse. Your hands are really in the way in this pic. I think next time you need to just rest them on your thighs. At this point it's just going to take a lot of practice. You will get it though, I promise.



You are looking down and holding on to the saddle too much. Next time, I want you to rest your hands on your thighs. That's the only way you are going to be able to get your seat. You really need to start looking up when you ride. If you are looking down you are concentrating on the horse and not yourself.




Our new little lesson pony ... Jack. I have a good leg position in this pic and I am looking up. My hands are too high and I've broken the straight line from my elbow to the bit. I tend to "cheat" when I'm working with Jack. Instead of shortening my rein real fast I just pull it across his shoulder to pull his nose back to the inside. He knows nothing and tends to be all over the place but he's getting with the program pretty fast. I really am bad about "puppy dogging" my hands.

This our new lesson / show pony named "Jack Sparrow". We believe he's part Welsh or Halflinger. He's 14 hands and 5 years old. He was a rescue horse to an extent. He was living in very less than ideal conditions, eating hog slop  - literally! So far he's been worth the $250 it took to buy him. Anyway, he seems to be reallllllly "green". I've been riding him lightly in the round pen just working on turning and bending in small circles and moving forward off my legs. He's doing very well. He learns fast and really responds well to praise and affection. I love this little horse! I do feel like I'm riding a yearling though, compared to my 16.2 hand paint named "Jasper".

This is a perfect example of what happens when you look down.... you begin to lean forward in the saddle. I'm actually a little up tight in this picture which has a lot to do with it too. This was the first time I've ridden Jack - EVER. I should be sitting up, leaning back a little and watching where I am going. My leg is in a good position, I'm just leaning forward and looking down.

Teri has been practicing a good bit between lessons and it shows. Her leg position has improved dramatically. She went up by half a size in her saddle too which has really made a difference in her seat. These aren't really lesson pics so I won't comment like I normally do.



Your leg position is awsome in this pic. Realllllly nice.

Teri's big challenge right now is obtaining her seat. She tends to slide back in the saddle at a trot. She bounces a good bit at the trot. She's a very quick learner and understands what the objective is. The objective is to be able to "sit" a trot and not bounce in the saddle. She will eventually be able to move with the horse and appear glued to the saddle. The best way to achieve this goal is to log many miles in the saddle, without stirrups, and trotting. Trot, trot, trot, and when you are done with that, go trot. Push yourself, no pain, no gain! It's ok to do some slow jogging but to really get the job done you need to do "working" trots. Keep trying to pull yourself forward until you just one day stick in the correct position. It will happen I promise.



You look a little far back in the saddle in this picture. You are looking up though, which is good.



You look really good in this picture. You look very "correct". You are not too far back, you are sitting up straight, and you are looking up.



You are looking down. When we look down we tend to slouch, everybody does it. You are a little far back in this pic.



You look like you are sitting down a little more in this pic, but you are still a little too far back.

I'm still teaching Kathryn to post without stirrups. This will help her post naturally from the movement of the horse and not from forcing herself off the horses back, in the stirrups.




Kathryn you have a great seat. You look great in this pic even though the saddle is WAY too big for you. You are sitting up nice and straight and you are looking up.



You are stiff in this picture. You need to relax, move with the horse, and look up. Let her shoulder pop you out of the saddle. Let it come natural, don't force it.



This is excellent. You are looking up. You look relaxed even though you are at the peak of your post in this picture. You are going to be a fantastick rider one day.

Kathryn, your lesson today was short but you still did great! Practice, Practice, Practice!