First ride in Burbank

Today was a light day for us and the boys.  It was nice to have an easy day after the drive and before the show starts!  Most of the CDI competitors also arrived today and got settled in.  The smog is continuing to be horrible, and it is very difficult to see the mountains around us from LAEC.  Not to mention the traffic is horrible too!

Majek was an idiot, which wasn't a surprise.  He actually started ok but then got himself all wound up about something and then started leaping around and even took out the arena rails.  So I spent my ride on a circle riding basic transitions until he settled down.  He ended pretty well, luckily I have tomorrow to help him settle down some more.  I will also probably hand-walk him around the arenas and hopefully that will help.

Victor was better than Majek, but a little tense in the back and on the hand.  After doing some loosening work I worked a little on the pirouettes.  I didn't want to kill him but did need to work through his tension some.  I have a lesson with Leslie (Reid) early tomorrow morning, and my goals are to improve his throughness a little, particularly his activity behind in the trot and passage, and get some ideas on improving the pirouettes as they are in the GP (on the centerline).

It's always a little difficult to gauge how tired or amped up the horses are going to be after the long trip.  They are typically always a little dehydrated, as they don't get as much water as they normally would when they're traveling.  Plus they don't generally eat quite as well.  Standing in a trailer is actually relatively stressful for them, particularly when the ride is bumpy or involves a lot of noise or stopping/starting.  So I don't want to work them too hard on the first day after such a long trip.

Tomorrow we get serious about the show!  The jog is at 3pm so after my morning lesson I'll ride Majek, then get Victor cleaned up, braided, and ready for the jog.  The draw is after the jog so we'll know ride times for the GP then.  We did give the boys baths today so they're at least somewhat clean.