Cob Jockey

I said in my 2013 wrap-up post that I need to plan more, so here you go: my first-ever monthly goals post (nevermind that it's already the 8th, I feel like a lost a week in there):

Me:
1. Get back to Crossfitting 4 days per week
3 is too few, 5 was awesome, but is unsustainable if I also want to ride Connor 4 days a week/keep my job/see my husband every so often.  Priorities...

2. Spend $0 on any non-budgeted items during January.
This means saying no to our first winter warmup Dressage schooling show, which is not a bad thing.  Showing in January is typically a chilly affair in Indiana.

Last year's January show...brrrr!

3. Work up to wearing the Shoulders Back the entire work day
At the time of writing this, I've been wearing it for 10 minutes and my back muscles are already sore.   So far, so good  effective.

This photo contains better posture and some sweet post-workout hair!

4. Break in the brand new Effingham tall boots that have been sitting in their box in my closet for five years
This is a really long story, but they were given to me by my mom's friend who bought them at a tack store going-out-of-business sale. I thought they didn't fit and have tried to sell them several times. After reading Gingham's post about how much she loves her Effinghams, I gave them a second try, and it turns out they do fit, or they will when they drop.  Now to break these monsters in...tips appreciated, I've never done this before.

Currently pushing my kneecaps toward the sky, how long will it take for them to drop? Also, my husband's desk area is his own to clean, just to absolve myself of the blame of the background of that photo.  I asked him to take this photo and agreed as long as he didn't have to get out of the guest bed.

Connor:
1.  Warm up every ride by first establishing forward, then establishing body control.

2. Gradually increase the amount of time spent cantering each ride, with a goal of 10 minutes per ride.  There's so much to get done at the walk and trot, but now that he's getting better at the canter, he needs to get totally comfortable at the canter.  This is admittedly hard in the indoor.

3. Pull his mane??
I have a "no pulling under 50 degrees" rule, but we often do hit 50 degrees once or twice in January, so this is really a bet on the weather.

Bonus goal: not get nervous about about not getting to see him due to the weather.  Repeat after me: the topline will return, the topline will return...

I did something I never thought I'd do yesterday.

• Yes, seriously!  This brings your pelvis underneath you and into the proper position.  

• This is the amount of ab tension you should have at all times in order to maintain a neutral spine.  Think of ab tension on a scale from 1-10: 10 is max effort weightlifting, 4 is riding ("use your core!"), and 2 is normal/maintaining your neutral spine.  
• Because sitting (and riding) deactivates the glutes, you need the abs to maintain the position that you discovered by engaging your glutes.  You also wouldn't be able to hold the "squeeze as hard as you can" position for very long, but can hold the abs at a tension of 2 all day.

• Ever heard “Shoulders back!”  from your trainer?  Did she have to say it again later?  It’s easy to go too far in the opposite direction and to create tension in your upper back if you pull your shoulders “back”.  Instead, think about pointing your shoulder blades down and letting them move down your back.

Okay, now a final check: If your upper body is collapsed forward and your shoulders are slumped forward, your palms will be facing the front of your thighs when you’re standing.  If your shoulders are back where are they supposed to be, your palms will face the outsides of your thighs.