New Video

Until this week, I hadn't seen video of me riding Izzy for three or four months, Even though I use my Pivo Pod weekly, it can't yet cast and record at the same time. The Pivo Peeps know riders want that - how awesome would it be for Pivo to record the lesson?, but the code hasn't yet been written. So even though I use my Pivo regularly, I haven't been using it to record video.

For several weeks in a row I tried to record video, but I kept leaving my phone at home. I think my brain was begging for a technology break. My entire life is being lived online right now since I am teaching virtually. Even out at the ranch I am dragging around all of the gear needed for virtual lessons. On Sunday though, I forced myself to get better organized because I really wanted to see what we look like after seven months of working with Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage.

Blurry screenshot

Do I now look like a graceful, talented rider? Does Izzy float in all of his gaits? Well no, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. When I ride, he feels so tense and timid. As we approach each corner, I always feel as though I am preparing for an explosion. He vibrates beneath me. When I watched the video, none of that came through. His giant spooks, the ones that feel as though I've been hit by a truck, come and go in seconds. He jerks me right, and then we're once again trotting. They happen so quickly that I can barely capture them in a screen shot.

One stride and done.

I rode for about 40 minutes. While there were a few head flinging moments, see above, most of the video showed a horse who was pretty steady, not fantastic, but steady. I am in a hurry this morning, it's 5:41 and I usually leave by 5:45, so in effort to speed things alone, I scrolled through the video to about a third of the way through and clipped a random 30 seconds of video. I didn't look for anything good or bad, just random. I uploaded it, and here it is.

It's an uncomfortable feeling to share video because there are so many railbirds who love to criticize, but my skin has grown pretty thick. I only share the video so that long time readers can evaluate the progress Izzy and I are making. I see it for sure. This clip shows a much more willing horse than I have had in the past. If I have the time, I'll grab a few more sections of video and post those later.

It has been a long road, but the ride is getting smoother.