Okay! Well here I am, FINALLY.
First of all, I've been having some personal issues, so I haven't been riding as frequently as I would like. But, I'm getting back on track. ;-)
Secondly, let me introduce myself and my boy. I'm Ashley (dvmintraining from NCHN). I'm a 2nd year vet student @ NCSU College of Vet Med. Artie is my 3 year old APHA gelding. I've had him for 1 year and 2 months. And he just turned 3 June 1st. In March, I sent Artie to the trainer's (luv4horses) to have 60 days put on him. He's absolutely WONDERFUL and more than I expected, especially from a 3 year old.
Due to some horse health issues, I am "stuck" on the property for 28 more days. So, for that time, Artie and I are working on leg yielding, trotting, building endurance, transitioning, and a little bit of cantering.
I went out to the barn yesterday mid-morning. Grabbed a halter and some brushes and brought Artie out to my car, er, tank trunk. :-P I try to get on using stairs or something as not to pull his back as much. The first attempt, he thought it'd be cool to try and sidestep away from me (this is due to an incident last with another certain someone). I made him back up, turn, go forward, stop, turn the other way, etc. Brought him back up to the porch and he was fine. BATTLE #1 -- ASHLEY!
Off we go to the front yard for a ride! For the first 5 minutes (and yes, I have a stop watch. Is that weird? haha) we work on a nice, forward walk; bending, circling, halting. Next, we move it up to the trot. He was doing real well. He did try and sneak out the gate (we don't have the actual gate up yet). Next trip around, I "let" him and he stops before he gets even his head through. So, I push him out the gateway and make him walk over the gate that is laying down kinda off to the side. BATTLE # 2 -- ASHLEY!
So @ this point, we've been trotting (circling, bending, transitioning) for about 20 min. I think to myself, "just two more laps and we're done". So I shortcut it through the middle and he decides to spook -- maybe @ the air release from a big rig. The place I ride is on a 4 way highway. Luckily, his spook is just tucking his butt, raising his head and taking two steps forward. So, we little circle a few times and push it out to a bigger circle and head back for the same manuever. We have to do this 3 times because he spooks 3 times. So, we do the exercise @least 6 more times, without spooking. BATTLE #3 -- ASHLEY!
I always wrap up my ride with a 10 minute or so cool out of walking. Usually walking around obstacles in the yard (trees, wheelbarrow, barrels, cars). He did wonderful with all that yesterday, too. Overall: Artie -- 0 ... Ashley -- 3! And the WAR GOES TO ASHLEY!
Overall, it was a pretty good ride. It was probably a little more uneventful than I detailed above. It was spanned over about 35 minutes. I like to keep shorter workouts, around 30 minutes; for Artie's sake and mine! I was sweating like no end yesterday!
Thanks for entertaining me!
6 comments:
I wish all wars could be that great! I think Artie won too, in a way, since he got consistent messages and packed another day of training away in his 3yo brain. :)
It seems they always try something whenever you get mentally set that you're almost done with your ride. I'll never figure that one out!!!
I am glad y'all are doing so well. He was a blast to have around here and work with.
Maybe you should set your camera on delay and get some RIDING pictures. HAHA
Hi Ashley! :)
It sounds like your 3yo baby boy is doing really good! I wish all spooks would be that easy!
Glad you had a good ride!
I was taking a lesson once and my packer decided to spook randomly...the trainer commented that sometimes the horse will spook as an evasion from the hard work you're asking them to do. I sorta passed that statement off, but lo and behold, he DOES do it when I'm asking him to really work!
Artie is just adorable. He has such cute markings!
Its so great that he is doing really well for such a greenie. It sounds like you guys are doing well together.
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