I'm on call today at work...for a Sunday, that means I (1) get to the hospital by 9am (2) am soley responsible for 45 psych patients (3) get to do all the psych admissions and consults all over the hospital (4) get to stay here overnight and work as normal tomorrow until federal law says I have to go home by 2pm. But...I rode this morning. One horse, for exactly 32 minutes, but the barn is 45 min each way from home/work, add in catching/grooming/tacking/cooling out/putting away time, and you can get a ballpark idea of what time I got up this AM. Was it worth it? You bet it was :)
Huey is progressing well in his walking rehab...despite a setback last week when we tried him out with a new pasture buddy, which lasted all of 10min before the new buddy was rearing up and sinking his teeth into Huey's neck and withers :( That bought Huey several days off since his poor withers puffed up like a balloon, and there was no way I could put a saddle on that! Huey will trot for the first time this friday...so I am VERY excited. He seems to be getting a little bit bored with the walk work...as am I. I know it's good for both of us...and his walk and suppleness have really improved...but I think we're both looking forward to the far distant day when we get cleared to go for a nice gallop :)
I took Surfie to a jumper show yesterday, as we've been having some stadium "issues." Apparently I've decided that throwing myself up on Surf's ears will make him stop putting in a dinky little stride before the jump...when I know I know I know I need to SIT UP (insert very loud voice of Trainer here) and SUPPORT HIM WITH MY LEG (again, insert loud trainer voice). So while everyone at home was off at the Fair Hill HT, we packed up and went to a local schooling show. We did the 3' jumpers (we'd signed up for the 3'3"-3'6" but were the only ones in the class, so we dropped down so they wouldn't have to set another course for us) and put in 3 solid rounds. We weren't going for speed (eventhough the 3 classes were Speed, Power and Speed, and Table 2 sect b), as I wanted to jump the courses as if I was jumping at an event...so nicely forward but not always taking the tightest turns. We had 1 "Flyby" where I went past our jump having gotten my courses confused...but the other 2 rounds were clear and without our usual sticky spots, so I was happy. I just need to remember to:
1) SIT UP
2)PUT MY LEG ON
3)not have my hands in my lap...carry my hands or plant them in his withers/neck
4)not be afraid of the Swedish Oxer...think of it as a x-rail in the air :)
We ended up with a 4th in the Table 2 sec b, a 4th in the Speed, and a 3rd in the Power and Speed...not too shabby for intentionally trying to go at a slower pace.
We've got a little break from shows, as I've got to work the next few weekends (and I'm going on VACATION!!!!), but we're doing a great schooling HT at the VA Horse Center labor day weekend and I'll start lessons with Jimmy Wofford again in September -- what a treat!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Kate & Pro (8/9) and (8/10 with SPURS!)
So after Pro decided to be very naughty, distracted, and disobedient on Friday, I knew I had to do something different to get his attention. Friday was just a battle of wills - he was INSISTENT that there was something awful and spooky in all parts of the arena. The bench, the poles, the tree, the fence... Even with giving my inside rein forward and booting the snot out of him repeatedly (WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP) he just wasn't caring a bit. I think we walked the entire ride, and I only stopped when he finally gave a bit. Otherwise, his ears were perked straight and his neck was tense and rigid.
Yesterday - spurs! I couldn't find my old spurs but Tara dug through her tack trunk and found smooth rowels. Admittedly, rowels weren't *exactly* what I was hoping for with my first spur ride on Pro...(I even asked her - "Do you happen to have spurs? Any kind except rowels will do!"). Oh well, I could always take them off mid-ride if needed.
I was grateful to Gayle's teaching of "keep the leg off until you need it" once I got on, realizing how easy it was to keep the spurs separate from his sides until I needed them. His face must've been hysterical when I first rolled the spur gently across his side with my inside foot - he'd wanted to look at the fence, and I said no. No bucking, though! He tried to look again and I gave him a light bump, "no no, pay attention". Within a few minutes, I had him more within my hands and in front of my leg. Woohoo!! Again, I spent a lot of time making sure my hands were in their correct place (which feels oddly saddleseat-ish...but I know that's just my body telling me lies!). it helped to have Erik on the ground who could tell me when my elbow-bit line was actually straight. Gayle taught him how. :) This continued into the trot - keeping my line straight, bumping him lightly with my inside spur if needed. Considering that the leg whacking from Wednesday's lesson left my peroneal muscles inflamed (side of my calves)...it was MUCH nicer to be able to just nudge with my spur. And it got a lot better response!!! He wasn't as fussy about me not "diving" with my hands so maybe that's a bit of progress. Overall, huge improvement over Friday's ride.
Yesterday - spurs! I couldn't find my old spurs but Tara dug through her tack trunk and found smooth rowels. Admittedly, rowels weren't *exactly* what I was hoping for with my first spur ride on Pro...(I even asked her - "Do you happen to have spurs? Any kind except rowels will do!"). Oh well, I could always take them off mid-ride if needed.
I was grateful to Gayle's teaching of "keep the leg off until you need it" once I got on, realizing how easy it was to keep the spurs separate from his sides until I needed them. His face must've been hysterical when I first rolled the spur gently across his side with my inside foot - he'd wanted to look at the fence, and I said no. No bucking, though! He tried to look again and I gave him a light bump, "no no, pay attention". Within a few minutes, I had him more within my hands and in front of my leg. Woohoo!! Again, I spent a lot of time making sure my hands were in their correct place (which feels oddly saddleseat-ish...but I know that's just my body telling me lies!). it helped to have Erik on the ground who could tell me when my elbow-bit line was actually straight. Gayle taught him how. :) This continued into the trot - keeping my line straight, bumping him lightly with my inside spur if needed. Considering that the leg whacking from Wednesday's lesson left my peroneal muscles inflamed (side of my calves)...it was MUCH nicer to be able to just nudge with my spur. And it got a lot better response!!! He wasn't as fussy about me not "diving" with my hands so maybe that's a bit of progress. Overall, huge improvement over Friday's ride.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Trail Ride w/ the Moose...
So, I went out on a trail ride with the giant gelding, aka the Moose (cause he's so tall and leggy with antler ears!). I really have mixed feelings about the experience...I must admit, he was spookier than I expected he would be. Now, some excuses for him were that he was with another horse that was pretty spooky and he was wearing a fly mask due to the evil deer flies. You know, he wasn't nervous or tense at all about the situation...he was very relaxed, actually. He just happened to do a few of those giant spook in place moves over the deer that kept friggin popping up in front of us - and the tiny rabbit - and then he moved onto one big spook and pivot over something silly I never even saw. Squirrel, maybe? I know for most people his minor spooking wouldn't be a big deal...unfortunately, spooking is something that really gets to me. In order for me enjoy riding, I have to have full trust that my horse isn't gonna spook at everything. I've had too many falls from spooky horses. Its just something I dislike immensely.
On one hand, he's such a neat horse and really fun to ride. On the other hand, he's so fun to ride because he's really BIG and powerful, so unfortunately, anything he does unexpectedly can quickly turn into a disaster. We trotted and cantered around a big cross country field and he was really good...nice and adjustable...but, he stumbled at the canter once and got the horse sillies and tossed his head around for a few seconds. Now, on Hobbes, this would have been no big deal, but on this horse, since he's just so big and strong, I had a moment where I was certain I was gonna eat the dirt. We worked through it, I picked my stirrup back up and took a deep breath and we carried on. The horse sillies don't bother me at all, its more my lack of ability to easily ride through them on him.
On the good side, his owner had me take him over some maiden CC jumps (including a dreaded ditch) and he was a superstar...very fun. I bet he would be awesome to start out my eventing career with (if I ever really want to).
Sooo...after being all long-winded, now I'm just confused. Because he's at the very top of my price range, I'm a little more resistant to just overlook little things that aren't perfect. I don't think he's overpriced or anything, I think he is a really nice horse and I don't think the opportunity to have such a nice horse that you can afford comes along that often. My issue is more that something about him makes me nervous...probably that he's just so big and powerful. I don't know if I'm a confident enough rider to deal with silly little things that would be NO BIG DEAL on any other horse. Argh.
On one hand, he's such a neat horse and really fun to ride. On the other hand, he's so fun to ride because he's really BIG and powerful, so unfortunately, anything he does unexpectedly can quickly turn into a disaster. We trotted and cantered around a big cross country field and he was really good...nice and adjustable...but, he stumbled at the canter once and got the horse sillies and tossed his head around for a few seconds. Now, on Hobbes, this would have been no big deal, but on this horse, since he's just so big and strong, I had a moment where I was certain I was gonna eat the dirt. We worked through it, I picked my stirrup back up and took a deep breath and we carried on. The horse sillies don't bother me at all, its more my lack of ability to easily ride through them on him.
On the good side, his owner had me take him over some maiden CC jumps (including a dreaded ditch) and he was a superstar...very fun. I bet he would be awesome to start out my eventing career with (if I ever really want to).
Sooo...after being all long-winded, now I'm just confused. Because he's at the very top of my price range, I'm a little more resistant to just overlook little things that aren't perfect. I don't think he's overpriced or anything, I think he is a really nice horse and I don't think the opportunity to have such a nice horse that you can afford comes along that often. My issue is more that something about him makes me nervous...probably that he's just so big and powerful. I don't know if I'm a confident enough rider to deal with silly little things that would be NO BIG DEAL on any other horse. Argh.
Andrea and Pro (8/7)
Pro overload for all you blog readers today. :)
Pro and I ended up riding around 7 last night, which with the clouds meant the light was starting to get iffy. Pro immediately seized on that as an excuse to spook at everything. Typically rides that start out with 3 spooks in less than 1/4 of the arena do NOT go well, but this was a rare exception.
First we worked on going forward (hands separated to funnel the energy forward, whip on the inside so he'd stop trying to run sideways, legs OFF but there for him to run into if he tried to scoot). Once we did that then I tried doing the inside leg bumping/giving inside rein to get him soft. It would work some, but then he'd find something to be scared of and his entire body would invert. So I used my new tool (which I'm aware I'm over using, but but but it WORKS) of leg yielding. He had to leg yield until he was doing it properly (not over bent, not just scooting sideways, but actually properly bent and THINKING) and then he'd get to go straight and forward. Well, we didn't spend a whole lot of time going straight for the first part of the ride, but eventually he got tuned into me and as long as I didn't let my attention wander, he was happy to cooperate.
We did quite a bit of work on circles once he'd softened. I was trying to make sure to keep my hands up since Kate gave me advance warning of how her lesson had gone. So we'd do soft, up, forward, straight and if any of those things got lost on the circle I'd ask for a step or two of leg yield. Especially at the trot I could feel him rebalancing through the leg yield and going much better. So then I cantered him. While holding the whip. I'll admit I wasn't sure how that would go. He tried to fall through his inside shoulder, but I'd ask for a leg yield at the canter and he'd sort of stumble and then there'd be a stride where I could feel him fixing his legs during the elevated moment, and then, omg, BALANCE. We never did more than one or two leg yield steps at the canter, but by the end of the ride we could canter a 15m circle and I probably could have done 10 if we weren't both getting tired. Just to prove he was still Pro though, I couldn't walk him out on a loose rein because he'd try to spook at stuff.
So, was overall really happy with him by the end. I actually got to use the whip for a reminder once or twice without him trying to run for the hills, his canter was amazing, and he even was willing to go forward at a much better tempo at the trot while staying soft and round. Now, anyone want to attempt to explain to me how to get him to bend IN to the canter so I can leg yield? I kept catching myself bringing the outside rein in and that's obviously not correct. I'm guessing it means we need to work more on bending with our seat/legs and less with our hands, but when I'm not supposed to use legs I just end up confused. :) Luckily I've got a lesson scheduled for next Wed, so it should help if Pro will not pitch a fit like last time.
Pro and I ended up riding around 7 last night, which with the clouds meant the light was starting to get iffy. Pro immediately seized on that as an excuse to spook at everything. Typically rides that start out with 3 spooks in less than 1/4 of the arena do NOT go well, but this was a rare exception.
First we worked on going forward (hands separated to funnel the energy forward, whip on the inside so he'd stop trying to run sideways, legs OFF but there for him to run into if he tried to scoot). Once we did that then I tried doing the inside leg bumping/giving inside rein to get him soft. It would work some, but then he'd find something to be scared of and his entire body would invert. So I used my new tool (which I'm aware I'm over using, but but but it WORKS) of leg yielding. He had to leg yield until he was doing it properly (not over bent, not just scooting sideways, but actually properly bent and THINKING) and then he'd get to go straight and forward. Well, we didn't spend a whole lot of time going straight for the first part of the ride, but eventually he got tuned into me and as long as I didn't let my attention wander, he was happy to cooperate.
We did quite a bit of work on circles once he'd softened. I was trying to make sure to keep my hands up since Kate gave me advance warning of how her lesson had gone. So we'd do soft, up, forward, straight and if any of those things got lost on the circle I'd ask for a step or two of leg yield. Especially at the trot I could feel him rebalancing through the leg yield and going much better. So then I cantered him. While holding the whip. I'll admit I wasn't sure how that would go. He tried to fall through his inside shoulder, but I'd ask for a leg yield at the canter and he'd sort of stumble and then there'd be a stride where I could feel him fixing his legs during the elevated moment, and then, omg, BALANCE. We never did more than one or two leg yield steps at the canter, but by the end of the ride we could canter a 15m circle and I probably could have done 10 if we weren't both getting tired. Just to prove he was still Pro though, I couldn't walk him out on a loose rein because he'd try to spook at stuff.
So, was overall really happy with him by the end. I actually got to use the whip for a reminder once or twice without him trying to run for the hills, his canter was amazing, and he even was willing to go forward at a much better tempo at the trot while staying soft and round. Now, anyone want to attempt to explain to me how to get him to bend IN to the canter so I can leg yield? I kept catching myself bringing the outside rein in and that's obviously not correct. I'm guessing it means we need to work more on bending with our seat/legs and less with our hands, but when I'm not supposed to use legs I just end up confused. :) Luckily I've got a lesson scheduled for next Wed, so it should help if Pro will not pitch a fit like last time.
Kate & Pro - lesson (8/6)
I had my nice photographer (Erik!) there for my lesson on Wednesday. He wanted to come so he could see how nice Pro is for Gayle. Well...Pro had different ideas. We started off fairly nice, reviewing the inside/outside rein rules and playing at the walk. Then Gayle explained the next step...told me all about how Pro has gotten me QUITE nicely trained to drop my hands just a few inches. He's actually conditioned me to do this!!! And here I thought *I* was training him. Nope. He used to put up a huge fuss about putting his head down. Once he realized that was futile, he figured that if he had to put his head down, he would (subtly!!) only put it down if my hands were lower, so he could slack off a bit and be on his forehand.
He actually has me on a negative reinforcement schedule (meaning, he keeps his head up until I drop my hands, and then he "rewards" me by dropping his head!!). Anyway, so Gayle has explained how horses are negative reinforcement animals. Meaning, you train them best by applying an aversive stimulus until they give you what you want - and then you reward them by removing that aversive stimulus. So, when Pro was spooking - we'd kick him repeatedly with the inside leg until he relaxed, and then we'd stop kicking. Turns out HE'S training ME now!!!
So at the trot, she explained this, and then had me put my hands up to their proper place. He immediately puts his head up. Not giraffe-level, but still. He was clearly saying, "Mom we've been through this...be a good mommy and put your hands back down so I'll put my head down." I didn't. You could almost see the aghast-ness in his eyes as he realized I'd figured him out. Then he was MAD. Ohhhhhhhh was he mad. Gayle said that he wasn't doing anything new - her horse tries to get her to drop her hands, other horses do it, too. She said ponies are famous for it. But I can't let him get me to drop my hands, nope.
We tried to do figure-eights but since he was already pissy about my hands, he threw a MAJOR tantrum by the bunny tree. We pushed through it a few times (Gayle had me just kick with inside leg, push my inside hand forward) but eventually he just stopped, threw a fit, and flung himself sideways. Such a toddler!! Gayle had us move to the other end of the arena (thankfully - she said that I wasn't paying her to work through silly tantrums) and he quieted.
My left shoulder was killing me - he was hanging on it - so while going to the left, Gayle had me let go of the left rein. Which was SO hard to do...I was so frustrated that he wasn't bending left (practically counterbent) but Gayle persisted and had me let go. Eventually at the end of the lesson, we got him going softly.
***I'll try to upload the videos later today - they're being stubborn!!
Dare and Mandros Aug 7th
Well, Mandros is still tight. When I got out there, I tacked up and it started to rain. So I asked the owner if there was a different saddle I could use in the rain. Thankfully she had one. So, I changed saddles and headed out.
He was stiff but not as bad as yesterday. I warmed up for longer than usual and did tons of laterals. When I trotted he was very off to the left, but once I got him off the forehand, he was better. He kept fighting to stay on the forehand. I elevated him and made him pick up his back/withers, and he gave in. To the right is feels almost normal. The canter was pretty good both ways.
Towards the end of the ride, I asked him to piaffe and he didnt want to stay round. Once I was able to keep him round, we did several nice sets of piaffe. By this time he didnt feel off at all. I tried some trot half-passes and they went great. Maybe the trick is to get him elevated and to piaffe, then ask for the half-passes. Im having a lesson Sunday, so Im going to ask to work on the half-passes then.
He was stiff but not as bad as yesterday. I warmed up for longer than usual and did tons of laterals. When I trotted he was very off to the left, but once I got him off the forehand, he was better. He kept fighting to stay on the forehand. I elevated him and made him pick up his back/withers, and he gave in. To the right is feels almost normal. The canter was pretty good both ways.
Towards the end of the ride, I asked him to piaffe and he didnt want to stay round. Once I was able to keep him round, we did several nice sets of piaffe. By this time he didnt feel off at all. I tried some trot half-passes and they went great. Maybe the trick is to get him elevated and to piaffe, then ask for the half-passes. Im having a lesson Sunday, so Im going to ask to work on the half-passes then.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Finally, a pic of me riding...
Okay, so here is finally a picture of me riding. She took several, but my legs were horrible in all of them but this one (and I know, I am really leaning forwards). BUT after taking some pics, my friend answered some questions I had about my posture and how I was working with him, and she helped me pick myself up a bit more (I know my hands improved a bunch, and so did my legs).Either way, today I rode for the first time in a dressage saddle. And I learned that the way I've been holding the reins (and am in this pic) was allowing him to just pull them right through my fingers, which would account for why I kept thinking his head was sticking out a bunch. He looked and felt much nicer after she helped me, and I wish I'd had her get the camera back out. Oh well... we'll try that another day. Just wanted to share this with ya'll!
And I've been really busy, but I am trying hard to keep up with everyone's posts, and encouraging/commenting whenever possible. So please bear with me :-) I am so jealous of ya'll that get to ride every day... I can only ride Thursdays and Saturdays, but sure do wish I could every day. I bet that would help me improve tenfold. haha...
Hobbes is SO lazy!
I rode last night and good grief...that was a workout! I was relieved when the barn owner came over to chat so I could have a break from trying to get the big oaf to move. I did throw my cc saddle on so we could canter over some eensy jumps...that got him slightly moving. But only slightly.
I'm heading back to mebane tonight to take the big gelding out on a trail ride. Hopefully I can hop him over a few tiny jumps, too. If all goes well I should be on my way to a vet check and maybe horse ownership again! Am I ready? Yikes! I keep listening to all this talk about recession and layoff's and the crap economy...is it smart to be spending my life savings on a horse? Hmmm....
I'm heading back to mebane tonight to take the big gelding out on a trail ride. Hopefully I can hop him over a few tiny jumps, too. If all goes well I should be on my way to a vet check and maybe horse ownership again! Am I ready? Yikes! I keep listening to all this talk about recession and layoff's and the crap economy...is it smart to be spending my life savings on a horse? Hmmm....
Dare and Mandros aug 6th
First off, Id like to say that Im not sure why I dated my last post as 8/7. I really have no idea. I remember looking at the calender when I dated the post. Oh well.
Anyway, I rode today and it did not go well. I missed my ride Monday and the owner told me that the other girl who rides Mandros hasnt been coming out. So, he hasnt been ridden since Saturday. He is supposed to be ridden everyday to keep his leg from tightening back up.
He was so tight tonight that he felt dead lame. The owner was there and told me to work him out of it. She said he wasnt lame, he was just tight from not being ridden. So I walked about 20 mins or so and did alot of laterals to get him stretching. Then we troted and he very off. I had a hard time getting him off the forehand. Once I really pushed and brought the inside rein out for a couple seconds, he got off the forehand and wasnt as off. After we got through the falling on the forehand thing, he was alot better. I cantered a little and it wasnt that great but it was ok considering how the trot was.
When I got off I stretched both back legs. We were just stretching the one that had surgery, but the vet/chiro was there a couple days ago and said both were tight. I rinsed him off and sponged some liniment on his legs and hips.
Hopefully he will bounce back quickly. Another girl at the barn told me the shows she was going to soon and told me I was welcome to come along. So, hopefully this was just a minor setback and he will be fine soon. Im going to ride tomorrow if the other girl doesnt, I left her a message, so we'll see.
Anyway, I rode today and it did not go well. I missed my ride Monday and the owner told me that the other girl who rides Mandros hasnt been coming out. So, he hasnt been ridden since Saturday. He is supposed to be ridden everyday to keep his leg from tightening back up.
He was so tight tonight that he felt dead lame. The owner was there and told me to work him out of it. She said he wasnt lame, he was just tight from not being ridden. So I walked about 20 mins or so and did alot of laterals to get him stretching. Then we troted and he very off. I had a hard time getting him off the forehand. Once I really pushed and brought the inside rein out for a couple seconds, he got off the forehand and wasnt as off. After we got through the falling on the forehand thing, he was alot better. I cantered a little and it wasnt that great but it was ok considering how the trot was.
When I got off I stretched both back legs. We were just stretching the one that had surgery, but the vet/chiro was there a couple days ago and said both were tight. I rinsed him off and sponged some liniment on his legs and hips.
Hopefully he will bounce back quickly. Another girl at the barn told me the shows she was going to soon and told me I was welcome to come along. So, hopefully this was just a minor setback and he will be fine soon. Im going to ride tomorrow if the other girl doesnt, I left her a message, so we'll see.
Monday, August 4, 2008
There is Hope
This weekend was crazy! Saturday it was almost too hot to even stand outside in the shade. Apple did NOT get worked. Sunday was MUCH prettier. It was muggy in the morning but then it cooled off some and there was hardly any humidity.
I had 4 lessons yesterday and rode 2 new horses in for training. Afterwards I put my brand new saddle pad on Apple, tacked him up and got ready to head out. One of the other boarders guilted me into babysitting her and her pony out on ther trail. So we headed out for a SLOW ride. It was good for Apple, he really likes to work other horses and there were spots that we had to pony the pony( haha) and I think it helped him mentally. Physically it wasn't very challenging and shorter than I had wanted to ride.
There were a few steps in the ride that felt like he might be sore but then there wouldn't be one for a long time. Those of you that have brought a horse back into work............do you find that they tend to "step sore" if they THINK it will hurt?? It seemed like that is what was happening, when there would be a footing change the first step especially with the hind left would seem very sore but then there wouldn't be another bad step.
I will try to get someone to take pictures tonight. I need to at least get some of the horses I have in for training.
I had 4 lessons yesterday and rode 2 new horses in for training. Afterwards I put my brand new saddle pad on Apple, tacked him up and got ready to head out. One of the other boarders guilted me into babysitting her and her pony out on ther trail. So we headed out for a SLOW ride. It was good for Apple, he really likes to work other horses and there were spots that we had to pony the pony( haha) and I think it helped him mentally. Physically it wasn't very challenging and shorter than I had wanted to ride.
There were a few steps in the ride that felt like he might be sore but then there wouldn't be one for a long time. Those of you that have brought a horse back into work............do you find that they tend to "step sore" if they THINK it will hurt?? It seemed like that is what was happening, when there would be a footing change the first step especially with the hind left would seem very sore but then there wouldn't be another bad step.
I will try to get someone to take pictures tonight. I need to at least get some of the horses I have in for training.
Dare and Mandros 8/7
I rode pretty late on Saturday so I didnt get any new pictures. It was too dark and my camera doesnt like the dark.
Mandros was being fussy the whole ride and I kept trying to feel if he felt lame/off and he was fine. He didnt want to get into a frame, he kept poking his nose out. The frame got better as the ride when on. I cantered him and put him into a frame and then trotted again and he kept it from then on.
He was being weird about doing the trot halfpasses too. He wouldnt move over off my leg, and when I booted him, he thought that meant piaffe. So the next couple of halfpasses, he tried to piaffe. They got better after a couple times and I quit once he did them "okay". I cantered somewhere in there, and it went fine. We mostly worked on the trot halfpasses. I need to remember to stay unlocked on the reins. Sometimes when I get ready to do a movement, I lock on the reins. So, I have to remember that and Ive got to ask him to really move over and stop doing it half-ass. haha, he's doing the halfpass, half-ass. thats kinda funny. He also tries to rush through it. I need him to move over, not more forward.
Anyway, I figured out why he was being a butthead the whole ride. He had to PEE!! I dont know why this horse wont pee or poop under saddle. I stopped a couple times to take a drink, so he could have peed then. We got to the washstall and he peed and pooped there.
Mandros was being fussy the whole ride and I kept trying to feel if he felt lame/off and he was fine. He didnt want to get into a frame, he kept poking his nose out. The frame got better as the ride when on. I cantered him and put him into a frame and then trotted again and he kept it from then on.
He was being weird about doing the trot halfpasses too. He wouldnt move over off my leg, and when I booted him, he thought that meant piaffe. So the next couple of halfpasses, he tried to piaffe. They got better after a couple times and I quit once he did them "okay". I cantered somewhere in there, and it went fine. We mostly worked on the trot halfpasses. I need to remember to stay unlocked on the reins. Sometimes when I get ready to do a movement, I lock on the reins. So, I have to remember that and Ive got to ask him to really move over and stop doing it half-ass. haha, he's doing the halfpass, half-ass. thats kinda funny. He also tries to rush through it. I need him to move over, not more forward.
Anyway, I figured out why he was being a butthead the whole ride. He had to PEE!! I dont know why this horse wont pee or poop under saddle. I stopped a couple times to take a drink, so he could have peed then. We got to the washstall and he peed and pooped there.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Kate & Pro - 8/2
What a good pony...I was so pleased with our ride tonight that it only lasted about 20min!!!
We started off on our regular walk circle, focused on getting my outside/inside reins into their proper roles, and getting my seatbones plugged in. As usual, he tried to evade my reins and scooted around erratically so I couldn't plug in. Within a few minutes though, he realized I wasn't kidding so he started to behave, and felt pretty good. I tested him with a bit of counter-bend each direction and he stayed soft. It's a good way to get my outside rein "remembering" what the proper feel should feel like. I "find it" in the counterbend, and keep it as I softly bring him around to the normal bend.
He tried to scoot and squiggle by the poles/bunny tree, but I insisted that his head stay DOWN. That seemed to help him realize that his foolishness was just silly. I moved to a 20m trot circle and he felt really great - a few walk transitions, still feeling soft. Lots of praise!!! Then I moved to a figure-eight (which headed straight toward the poles/tree) and kept in mind Gayle's advice about riding proactively, rather than reactively. Just focused on doing things correctly, not fixing things he's doing wrong or actively preventing mishaps and spooks. It worked!!! He almost started to give the nervous eye to the poles but I just redirected my thoughts to keeping the figure-eight correct, and he settled right down. I was so pleased!!!!
I ended with a few trot-walk transitions without leaning/pulling and he did them so beautifully that I just couldn't justify pushing the ride any harder. I let him walk out, and then let Erik hop on and work on his posting. Pro was so sweet - he stayed wonderfully long/low the whole time and was so steady for Erik. I think he enjoys Erik riding him because he doesn't have to work too hard. :) And Erik even learned his diagonals today - woohoo!!!! I explained them once, and he immediately got them right. I'm such a proud girlfriend. :)
We started off on our regular walk circle, focused on getting my outside/inside reins into their proper roles, and getting my seatbones plugged in. As usual, he tried to evade my reins and scooted around erratically so I couldn't plug in. Within a few minutes though, he realized I wasn't kidding so he started to behave, and felt pretty good. I tested him with a bit of counter-bend each direction and he stayed soft. It's a good way to get my outside rein "remembering" what the proper feel should feel like. I "find it" in the counterbend, and keep it as I softly bring him around to the normal bend.
He tried to scoot and squiggle by the poles/bunny tree, but I insisted that his head stay DOWN. That seemed to help him realize that his foolishness was just silly. I moved to a 20m trot circle and he felt really great - a few walk transitions, still feeling soft. Lots of praise!!! Then I moved to a figure-eight (which headed straight toward the poles/tree) and kept in mind Gayle's advice about riding proactively, rather than reactively. Just focused on doing things correctly, not fixing things he's doing wrong or actively preventing mishaps and spooks. It worked!!! He almost started to give the nervous eye to the poles but I just redirected my thoughts to keeping the figure-eight correct, and he settled right down. I was so pleased!!!!
I ended with a few trot-walk transitions without leaning/pulling and he did them so beautifully that I just couldn't justify pushing the ride any harder. I let him walk out, and then let Erik hop on and work on his posting. Pro was so sweet - he stayed wonderfully long/low the whole time and was so steady for Erik. I think he enjoys Erik riding him because he doesn't have to work too hard. :) And Erik even learned his diagonals today - woohoo!!!! I explained them once, and he immediately got them right. I'm such a proud girlfriend. :)
Gabby reverts back....
to intro level. Those of you that said I'd be shunned if I make it to fourth or higher will be pleased to hear that I've actually been demoted down to intro : )
My lesson this morning with Lynn Leath was highly entertaining...and enlightening. I've been riding Hobbes for so long, I haven't realized how shi++y my seat is. Maybe I should go back to hunters where you just keep it out of the saddle. Anyhoo...the RPSI gelding was great. He was thoroughly confused by my aids, but he was perfectly content to tote me around and was very well-behaved.
We started figuring out the trot and I'm feeling okay about that...but damn the canter. He's got a big 'ol stride and my uneducated seat was confusing him. We got a lot of canter, canter, trot, canter....every time I tried to sit tall, he'd break to the trot. I guess I'm sitting tall but blocking with my seat, which he is annoyingly attuned to. Things got better and I think I'll get it, but grrr...it was sorta embarrassing to suck so much.
So, without further ado, here's a classic example of my inability to get my body to obey. No, I wasn't asking for the trot! Turn the sound on...Lynn sounds like she's gonna snap! Also of note, the wierd arena fencing...listen for the loud clanging of my stirrup. We kept careening around like a bumper car off that damn fence!:
My lesson this morning with Lynn Leath was highly entertaining...and enlightening. I've been riding Hobbes for so long, I haven't realized how shi++y my seat is. Maybe I should go back to hunters where you just keep it out of the saddle. Anyhoo...the RPSI gelding was great. He was thoroughly confused by my aids, but he was perfectly content to tote me around and was very well-behaved.
We started figuring out the trot and I'm feeling okay about that...but damn the canter. He's got a big 'ol stride and my uneducated seat was confusing him. We got a lot of canter, canter, trot, canter....every time I tried to sit tall, he'd break to the trot. I guess I'm sitting tall but blocking with my seat, which he is annoyingly attuned to. Things got better and I think I'll get it, but grrr...it was sorta embarrassing to suck so much.
So, without further ado, here's a classic example of my inability to get my body to obey. No, I wasn't asking for the trot! Turn the sound on...Lynn sounds like she's gonna snap! Also of note, the wierd arena fencing...listen for the loud clanging of my stirrup. We kept careening around like a bumper car off that damn fence!:
And a quick bit of some so-so trot work:
I've got way more videos, but they take forever to upload...anyhoo. I'm going to go back this week to take the gelding on a trail ride, but if he's as good as he is over everything else, I'm sold. Errr...bought, rather.
Andrea and Pro (8/1)
Kate and I traded days, so Pro got stuck with me two days in a row. Though Thursday it was muggy, if less hot thanks to an afternoon storm, so all I did was go out and wave the dressage whip around him to see what he thought. He isn't scared of it, just very responsive. I didn't want to get him TOO desensitized to the whip though so once he calmed down some we left it alone.
Friday we took that to the next level and RODE with the whip. 95% of the ride was much worse than normal, but the remaining 5% was probably 50% better, so I think in the long run it'll be worth it. He spent a lot of time butt scooting and it felt like he was really rushing, but if I thought about it objectively I had to admit that it was probably a more honest tempo for the trot and walk. He can tend to get sticky even when he's going forward. We spent almost the entire ride doing some sort of lateral work because he'd relax and his back would pop up under me whenever we'd come off of a leg yield or a circle. So we'd do about 10 strides of some sort of non-straight line, then 2 strides of straight, then back to some different bending exercise ;). We ended on a very nice, good tempoed, good impulsion sitting trot that I could collect or lengthen just with my seat. Hopefully if we can ride him with the whip for a week or so he'll decide that we're not going to use it for whatever the heck someone else used it for with him and chill. He's pretty smart, so I think he might.
Friday we took that to the next level and RODE with the whip. 95% of the ride was much worse than normal, but the remaining 5% was probably 50% better, so I think in the long run it'll be worth it. He spent a lot of time butt scooting and it felt like he was really rushing, but if I thought about it objectively I had to admit that it was probably a more honest tempo for the trot and walk. He can tend to get sticky even when he's going forward. We spent almost the entire ride doing some sort of lateral work because he'd relax and his back would pop up under me whenever we'd come off of a leg yield or a circle. So we'd do about 10 strides of some sort of non-straight line, then 2 strides of straight, then back to some different bending exercise ;). We ended on a very nice, good tempoed, good impulsion sitting trot that I could collect or lengthen just with my seat. Hopefully if we can ride him with the whip for a week or so he'll decide that we're not going to use it for whatever the heck someone else used it for with him and chill. He's pretty smart, so I think he might.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Hobbes n' Me
We rode last night...and man was it humid! I was dripping sweat after a few minutes. Hobbes was a good boy, as always, although SUPER lazy. The only way to get him moving was to pretend we were gonna do lead changes and then sneak in a simple change. That gets him riled up every time..hee hee.
I mostly worked on keeping him as forward as I possibly could and keeping my equitation correct, which it wasn't. I had one of those rides where you feel totally discombobulated...none of your limbs work correctly and you feel like you're just a-flopping every which way. Hate those rides. I was either gripping with my thighs or my calves were way out of line. I was leaning forward and collapsing one way or the other. I couldn't keep my outside rein steady, my whip kept getting caught, and my eyes were anywhere but on my track. Needless to say, it was a bit discouraging. I desperately need this upcoming lesson on Sunday, especially if I'm gonna make it to fourth level by Monday. Snicker.
I mostly worked on keeping him as forward as I possibly could and keeping my equitation correct, which it wasn't. I had one of those rides where you feel totally discombobulated...none of your limbs work correctly and you feel like you're just a-flopping every which way. Hate those rides. I was either gripping with my thighs or my calves were way out of line. I was leaning forward and collapsing one way or the other. I couldn't keep my outside rein steady, my whip kept getting caught, and my eyes were anywhere but on my track. Needless to say, it was a bit discouraging. I desperately need this upcoming lesson on Sunday, especially if I'm gonna make it to fourth level by Monday. Snicker.
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