Really Long Time, No Post

Hey so a quick re-cap of whats been going on in my world....

1. I went for and passed my H-B rating for United States Pony Club, thus becoming a full fledged C-3 Traditional.
I'm looking at taking my C-3 Show Jumping Specialty around March to hopefully become the 6th rider with that specialty in the United States. I have received very good comments about my ability to pass this rating from National Examiners so I'm feeling pretty excited already! The C-3 Show Jumping is done at Level II and III show jumping heights.
I'm also looking into going for my B Traditional in September. I am almost positive I will fail at that rating because so many examiners refuse to pass young candidates and refuse to pass people on their first time through the test. It will be a good learning experience and while I plan to be a prepared as I can be, I am also going to be realistic. The B Traditional is based on Preliminary level eventing.

2. Jazz has been doing AMAZINGLY well with his dressage training despite the fact that I have only had one lesson (a jumping one!) since August. I've learned a TON off the internet and by watching/listening to much better dressage riders verbalize what they are doing on their horses. Jazz has fantastic relaxation, rhythm, contact and the beginnings of true, good impulsion at the walk and trot with it really developing at the canter. Some days are better than others but on our good days we have a lovely extended trot, stretchy trot, free walk, medium trot, 20/15/10 meter circles and a very nice balanced canter. At this point the fact that our canter is not perfect is not bothering me. I found this quote "Walk for muscle, Trot for balance and canter for wind". It was more directed at conditioning training but I use dressage to make a better jumper so I feel it connects to us. The walk and trot give us muscle and balance. The canter, as long as it is freely forward, balanced and rhythmical, is just fine for jumping around a course.

3. The big chestnut Dutch Warmblood, Togey, is now living at my barn! He had a bit of a rough settling in period but now that everyone is use to the addition, he is AWESOME to have around. The woman that lives on the property and feeds in the morning has always dreamed of having a 17 hh Chestnut Hanoverian and Togey is just close enough to her dream that she has totally fallen in love (after a brief period of being scared of the new big, somewhat wild-ish horse). He's buddied up with my old pony Largo who Jazz continuously tries to beat up and together they hang out becoming best friends.
The first few days of riding Togey were rough with him throwing me the first two times I rode then trying really really hard to throw me the third day (I ended up holding onto the check pieces, mane and reins with my legs wrapped around his neck.. BUT I STAYED ON!). Yesterday we had a super good workout with him quietly jumping 2'6" WITHOUT rushing or bucking and WITH flying changes so he can STAYYY! (well until the show in the 12th/13th then we will have to re-evaluate). I'm really excited to see what we can do together.

4. This isnt a re-cap but on the 12th and 13th, Jazz, Togey and I are going to a schooling show to hang out with friends, show some new heights and generally have some fun. At this point I am either doing Training or Prelim CT, High Jumpers and High Gamblers Choice with Jazz. And with Togey I am looking into doing the High Hunter/Eq division and some flat classes. Depending on how the next couple weeks with him go we might make some adjustments to that.

Anyway, I'll post some more later!