"There is a time and a place to go dominatrix on your horse. Know those times." -Gayle
So today I was presented with one of those opportunities. As soon as I got on, Pro made it very clear that he didn't have any intention of settling down into whatever I wanted. He cranked his face up by the bench and tried to scoot sideways. I realized I could play with some pirouettes for awhile, or move somewhere else, or just flat out say "THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE." I decided to try the last option so as he whirled his butt away from the bench I "got in the backseat" (as my old eventing instructor used to say), pushed both reins forward and just booted the snot out of him. He bucked a few times but eventually scooted up toward the bench. Then it was HEAD DOWN and 10m circles by the bench (complete with massive booting for any hesitation) until he walked by it like a gentleman. Apparently I effectively conveyed that I wasn't taking any crap today, because after a few circles he settled right down and that was the end of that!
From there, we had a pretty decent ride. I played with using my outside rein to get some shoulder-fore, rewarding him with inside rein pats and practicing maintaining my hand position while using the inside rein to reward. When I was ready for the walk pirouettes I was surprised to see a BIG improvement from the last time I tried them. He's quickly learned that I don't want a 360-degree spin when I relax my inside rein and use my outside aids to turn him to form the "corner" of the "box". Just a 90-degree rotation! He also isn't putting his head up anymore during the turns. From there, the trot wasn't too bad. I managed to keep my hands where they were supposed to, and sort of convinced him that it was still okay. I tried some more "light posting" to get him to step up and under himself and relax his back - seemed to work.
Going to the left was a bit tougher, since he really prefers to counterbend right. I kept resisting the urge to pull with my left rein, and just focused on my outside aids. I did TRY the outside leg back thing that Andrea described but couldn't get it to work for me. However, a few quick canter-trot transitions seemed to get him to soften, and he eventually was mostly straight (ie, bent) at the posting trot. I let him walk on a long rein and ended there. :)
Monday, September 8, 2008
Desi to the Roundpen
I have been working her just haven't had time to do daily posts.
Last Thursday was the first day I could get her into the roundpen. I initially wanted to make sure she wasn't terrified of the flag so we worked on that with the rope halter. I have to brag, this is one of the smartest mare's I have ever met in my life. She is probably the ONLY horse I have EVER worked with that transfers what she learned on one side to the other by herself. She changes eyes VERY willingly and on her own without getting upset.
Initially she wasn't too thrilled with the flag.
Last Thursday was the first day I could get her into the roundpen. I initially wanted to make sure she wasn't terrified of the flag so we worked on that with the rope halter. I have to brag, this is one of the smartest mare's I have ever met in my life. She is probably the ONLY horse I have EVER worked with that transfers what she learned on one side to the other by herself. She changes eyes VERY willingly and on her own without getting upset.
Initially she wasn't too thrilled with the flag.
I don't have any pictures of me working her. We were mostly focusing on keeping her nose to the inside and her focus on me. I did get some videos though. They may not make sense, some NCHNers asked me to demo some things for them. I have NO idea how to get them on here though.
Teaching sidepassing loose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_EPp-_9lAo
Following my shoulder in all directions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnka97A84og&feature=user
Bits?
I'm currently riding Skate in a single jointed snaffle with a small diameter mouthpiece since he has such a tiny mouth. He doesn't love it, but seems to like it a little more than the french link. He doesn't pull, just seems to want to evade contact. He will toss his head sometimes - I think the joint might be bothering him.
Anyone tried a mullen mouth? I'm thinking he would like the stability of that bit and it wouldn't wack him in the roof of the mouth, either. Plus, I think they are good for horses that are hesitant about seeking contact, no?
Other options: waterford - he's been ridden in this before and I happen to like these bits b/c unless you really crank on them (or they are poorly made) they are pretty mild.
Happy mouth- don't love this option because he's a gnawer and I'm afraid the mouthpiece might start getting rough, nor do I own one, but I'll give it a try.
I dont want to go with anything that encourages playing with the bit...he does this enough on his own. Nor do I want to go with copper - its a little soft for such a gnawer.
Any other ideas?
Anyone tried a mullen mouth? I'm thinking he would like the stability of that bit and it wouldn't wack him in the roof of the mouth, either. Plus, I think they are good for horses that are hesitant about seeking contact, no?
Other options: waterford - he's been ridden in this before and I happen to like these bits b/c unless you really crank on them (or they are poorly made) they are pretty mild.
Happy mouth- don't love this option because he's a gnawer and I'm afraid the mouthpiece might start getting rough, nor do I own one, but I'll give it a try.
I dont want to go with anything that encourages playing with the bit...he does this enough on his own. Nor do I want to go with copper - its a little soft for such a gnawer.
Any other ideas?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Andrea and Pro - Breakthrough(s)!
I bet Kate is freaking out right now just from that title ;).
Everyone but Big Horse was outside when I got to the barn so that put me in a good mood (not having to clean 6 of the 7 stalls? score!) so I was all set to give Pro as much time as he needed if he had issues. He started off sort of resistant and was doing the counter-bending trick when I held the outside rein and let go with the inside rein. But then two things clicked in my head "hey, wait a second, outside bend means his butt is swung to the outside" and "Kate said you have to control the outside of the horse." So I put my outside leg back a couple of inches and held it there strongly but passively and anchored his head and neck with my outside rein. A couple taps with my inside spur to tell him to pay attention and suddenly he was a straight, balanced, soft pony! He worked great at the walk, trot, and canter. I was particularly impressed with his trot-canter transition, he just stepped up smoothly and with no head/back tension. Pro didn't even get upset that I'd figured out how to counter his counter-bending (haha), he just did that "Oh, why didn't you say so sooner?" thing they do that makes you feel like you've wasted several weeks.
So we turned around to repeat this breakthrough in the other direction and then I had my second breakthrough/realization of the ride. My left leg is no where near as strong/solid as my right leg. So when I tried to use my left leg as the outside solid wall it was sort of more like a sand dune than a rock wall. I eventually bribed myself into one really solid circle at the trot, but I clearly need to do some strengthening exercises in and out of the saddle to improve that leg. Kate's letting me go back to 3x per week rides so maybe that will help. I was very happy with the way the ride went though.
Everyone but Big Horse was outside when I got to the barn so that put me in a good mood (not having to clean 6 of the 7 stalls? score!) so I was all set to give Pro as much time as he needed if he had issues. He started off sort of resistant and was doing the counter-bending trick when I held the outside rein and let go with the inside rein. But then two things clicked in my head "hey, wait a second, outside bend means his butt is swung to the outside" and "Kate said you have to control the outside of the horse." So I put my outside leg back a couple of inches and held it there strongly but passively and anchored his head and neck with my outside rein. A couple taps with my inside spur to tell him to pay attention and suddenly he was a straight, balanced, soft pony! He worked great at the walk, trot, and canter. I was particularly impressed with his trot-canter transition, he just stepped up smoothly and with no head/back tension. Pro didn't even get upset that I'd figured out how to counter his counter-bending (haha), he just did that "Oh, why didn't you say so sooner?" thing they do that makes you feel like you've wasted several weeks.
So we turned around to repeat this breakthrough in the other direction and then I had my second breakthrough/realization of the ride. My left leg is no where near as strong/solid as my right leg. So when I tried to use my left leg as the outside solid wall it was sort of more like a sand dune than a rock wall. I eventually bribed myself into one really solid circle at the trot, but I clearly need to do some strengthening exercises in and out of the saddle to improve that leg. Kate's letting me go back to 3x per week rides so maybe that will help. I was very happy with the way the ride went though.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Pepsi Loves Me!!
So, I went out to see Pepsi yesterday morning (notice I said SEE him, not RIDE him!) and he was a very good boy! Ok, at first he wasn't because he completely ignored me. But then after I called to him for about 30 seconds he finally walked over to me for some petting and some scratches. (I was standing outside the fence, and he just walked over to the fence line to me.)
It was 7:20 at the time, and I had to be at school by 8:00, so I was literally only there for like 10 minutes. But hey, at least I SAW my horsey!
Oh, and Alex- Pepsi's boots FINALLY came last week! I'm going to try them on Monday after my freaking huge Anatomy Test. And Hannah- send me good A&P vibes please!!! Actually, that goes for everyone!
It was 7:20 at the time, and I had to be at school by 8:00, so I was literally only there for like 10 minutes. But hey, at least I SAW my horsey!
Oh, and Alex- Pepsi's boots FINALLY came last week! I'm going to try them on Monday after my freaking huge Anatomy Test. And Hannah- send me good A&P vibes please!!! Actually, that goes for everyone!
Dare and Mandros-after the storm
Today I didnt do too much with Mandros because he was so tired. He probably didnt get any sleep last night due to the storm. I only rode 35 mins and it was so hard to get him moving.
The ring wasnt bad, it was wet but it had just been dragged, so it was nice. Once warmed up I trotted for about 2 minutes, and he was out of breath. I gave him a walk break and then trotted a little more. I cantered one 20 meter circle each way and he picked up the canter nicely (unlike the previous ride). After that we cooled out.
Im going back tomorrow so hopefully he will get a good night's sleep.
The ring wasnt bad, it was wet but it had just been dragged, so it was nice. Once warmed up I trotted for about 2 minutes, and he was out of breath. I gave him a walk break and then trotted a little more. I cantered one 20 meter circle each way and he picked up the canter nicely (unlike the previous ride). After that we cooled out.
Im going back tomorrow so hopefully he will get a good night's sleep.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Andrea and Pro
I rode! :D Two days in a row even. Yesterday was just a really quick 15 min ride because I had to get home at a reasonable time. He was good though, until I turned him around and made him trot in the opposite direction towards the bench and then he got a little looky. I noticed that I was tipping forward and dropping my hands though, so I really worked on that tonight.
The barn manager's husband was sitting on the horse-eating bench, so I opted to ride by the bunny tree instead. He wanted to look at that, but I made him do 1/2 walk pirouettes to just walk back and forth in front of it until he went quietly. He did pretty well at the walk and trot, though I still had to struggle with dropping my hands. He'd go to drop his head and stretch into a nice trot, but when he dropped his head I'd drop my hands. We got better, but then he really wanted to canter so I tried to work on keeping him rocked back on his haunches and soft at the canter. I had to push him quite a bit to get him to balance himself. He punished me for it by going into a jackhammer trot after. Well, he'd either tip himself/me onto his forehand or do jackhammer strides. So, not the best ride ever, but I'm still excited when he has an 'honest' ride and is focused on me.
The barn manager's husband was sitting on the horse-eating bench, so I opted to ride by the bunny tree instead. He wanted to look at that, but I made him do 1/2 walk pirouettes to just walk back and forth in front of it until he went quietly. He did pretty well at the walk and trot, though I still had to struggle with dropping my hands. He'd go to drop his head and stretch into a nice trot, but when he dropped his head I'd drop my hands. We got better, but then he really wanted to canter so I tried to work on keeping him rocked back on his haunches and soft at the canter. I had to push him quite a bit to get him to balance himself. He punished me for it by going into a jackhammer trot after. Well, he'd either tip himself/me onto his forehand or do jackhammer strides. So, not the best ride ever, but I'm still excited when he has an 'honest' ride and is focused on me.
Dare and Mandros-lesson
I had my lesson yesterday but it wasnt much of a lesson. I was practicing my test and about 1/3 way through the first test, I asked him to canter, and he wouldnt. I tried and tried and he wouldnt canter to the left, he was fine to the right.
The owner got on and couldnt make him do it either. He kept wagging his head and neck. It looked like what it would if the rider was seesawing the bit, but she wasnt. He kept trying to throw himself on the forehand. She was finally able to get him to canter, but it was a struggle. I got back on and was able to get him to canter but had to really collect him to do it, and REALLY push from his hindend.
His owner thinks that his arthritis might be acting up. He was fine two days before, but the weather has changed some, so who knows with an old horse. You couldnt tell anything was wrong from the ground. He was x-rayed last year and the arthritis didnt show up, but it did when she bought him 8 years ago.
The show was canceled because of the hurricane, so its probably a good thing. We'll see how he is after after this storm passes. I know it seems like Mandros is always hurt but its because he has had a really hard life. He used to be a grand prix jumper, then he hurt his back, and he was sold and then trained for dressage up to grand prix, so he has been there, done that.
The owner got on and couldnt make him do it either. He kept wagging his head and neck. It looked like what it would if the rider was seesawing the bit, but she wasnt. He kept trying to throw himself on the forehand. She was finally able to get him to canter, but it was a struggle. I got back on and was able to get him to canter but had to really collect him to do it, and REALLY push from his hindend.
His owner thinks that his arthritis might be acting up. He was fine two days before, but the weather has changed some, so who knows with an old horse. You couldnt tell anything was wrong from the ground. He was x-rayed last year and the arthritis didnt show up, but it did when she bought him 8 years ago.
The show was canceled because of the hurricane, so its probably a good thing. We'll see how he is after after this storm passes. I know it seems like Mandros is always hurt but its because he has had a really hard life. He used to be a grand prix jumper, then he hurt his back, and he was sold and then trained for dressage up to grand prix, so he has been there, done that.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Celebrating my 3 year anniversary of going over to the dark side...
This past weekend Surf and I went down to Lexington VA for the Virginia Horse Center's Starter Trials -- a fabulous schooling show put on by a beautiful facility. Seriously, for anyone who's never been to the VA horse center, it's gorgeous -- http://horsecenter.org/view.asp?id=home -- 600 acres, stabling for 1200 horses, 19 show rings (with 2 big indoor rings, several smaller indoor rings, and a 4,000 seat coliseum), 2 cross country courses, and a combined driving course. They have a xc schooling day saturday, then run a horse trial sunday, so you get a chance to school everything before the show.
Surfie and I drove down from Baltimore -- a 5 hour drive -- because a group of my eventing buddies from FenRidge were driving up from NC. They hadn't met Surf, and I've been missing my NC buddies, so it seemed like a fun way to spend Labor Day weekend :) On the way down, I was thinking about eventing...and how it feels like I've been doing this forever...but I realized that I went to my very first horse trial exactly 3 years ago on Labor Day weekend, with the same folks from FenRidge that I was driving down to spend the weekend with!
What chaos that first HT was -- I'd had big Quincey for a few days, there was an extra trailer spot, and I had NO CLUE about eventing other than what I'd seen on tv, watching Rolex and what I'd read on the internet -- and I promptly got eliminated at the first fence on XC :) This led to much reminiscing over the past few years and the realization that I have made some progress -- a good thing to think about on those days (of which there are many!) where I feel like I'm getting nowhere with this riding thing. I must remind myself that progres...especially in dressage...is S-L-O-W, and that I must remember to notice the small bits of progress -- the 10m circle where surf's shoulder doesn't fall in, sitting up and accepting a tight spot without crawling up surf's neck, jumping up banks out of water without freezing up, jumping my first real trakhaner...and not lose the beauty of an individual tree in the vast forest that is Eventing :) 3 years later, I have no regrets about going over to the Dark Side...I love getting ride times. I love dressage comments (though Dressage is a constant struggle for me...and my goal in life is to be mediocre at dressage...I don't want to be good, just ok...). I love how the skills you need for one phase are reinforced by your training for other phases. I love the technicality of stadium, and how it's so very different than either hunters or jumping on xc. I love color coordinating. I love the people I've met...and how friendly and open and helpful they are. I love the partnership that eventing demands of horse and rider, and the opportunity I've had to ride horses that are trained to think for themselves while at the same time protecting themselves and their riders. And...there's nothing...absolutely nothing...like the feelings you get from cross-country. The pre-start jitters as you circle the box...feeling your pulse quicken as they count you backwards from 10 seconds...the deep breath and focusing as you settle in to your irons, shorten up your reins, and whisper your last words of encouragement (for me, it's always the same thing..."ok big guy, take care of your monkey out there") to your horse as the starter gets to "3...2...1...have a nice ride!"...the relief after you clear the first fence, then the second, then the 3rd, until you get to a point where you're standing in your stirrups, hands pressed into the withers, galloping along and realize that this may be the closest you ever get to flying...the anticipation of your bugaboo fence (for me, produce stands or banks out of water) and the exhileration when you get over it...the nerves as you come to the last fence on course, knowing that it's what's between you and a clear round and a safe trip around...and the absolute exhileration of crossing through those finish flags.
(so have I convinced anyone else to come to the dark side?!?!?!?!)
With that attitude, we had a nice, if short, xc school (it was hot, and we were with a mixed group of horses in terms of their experience level, and Surf spent a good bit of time giving leads over small fences, through the water, etc) . Surf also settled into his stall well, which was good as this was our first big overnight trip away from home and the VA horse center is not the easiest place for horses to settle into. He warmed up like a champ for dressage, but was distracted in his test by the reiners warming up in the ring below us...leading to him being quite tense through his neck. However, he was forward and more obedient than our usual dressage outing, and we were in 4th after dressage with 36pp (64%). He was nicely in front of my leg in stadium, and I was able to stay more with him and remember to give in front of the fence with my hands and not lean at the fence when he got in tight once or twice...and was rewarded with a double clear round. Julia rode him for me while I was out of town 2 weeks ago and has been reminding me ever since that he jumps much much much better when you really leave his face alone -- he's funny that way, as he takes quite a bit of contact in dressage, but jumps like an A/O hunter when you don't touch his face rather than like a girraffe if you have much contact :P. Surf was a rockstar on XC...once I convinced him that the VTO tack store tent near the warmup was not going to eat him alive...and that the start box is OK (seriously, this horse has been eventing for 6-7 yrs and is scared silly of the start box...it's hard to explain to the starters, who often have to lead us into the box, that no he's not green...he's actually and ex-*/Int horse :P...). He clocked around XC and we only had one sticky jump where I had changed my mind about how I wanted to go to the next fence, and I gave him a little more leg than I should've and he attempted to jump me out of the tack...but hey, who needs stirrups anyways since these fences are only 2'11" :) He came in double clear and the fastest in our division...and we moved up to 3rd to bring home a pretty primary color ribbon :)
I don't have many photos on my work computer...so I'll add more in another post...but here's one that I think show's how much surf and I love eventing :)
Huey is doing well too...we've had several nice rides recently. He's trotting almost 15min now...when we hit 20min, we get to see our first cross-rail. He's starting to try to sneak into the canter now...which is what he did with the trot as we got to the point where we were about to introduce it into our work. The old man knows the rehab drill...he's been through this too many times before...and has come back once again. I think this horse loves his job...in a way that he didn't love being a racehorse, a babysitter, or a pasture pet. I don't know how to explain it...but if you could sit on him, even for just a few minutes, you'd know. Huey is an odd duck...when I first started riding him, Julia told me she didn't know if the partnership would work...but if Huey decided he liked me, and he could work with me, then I would have the gift of riding a horse that would jump the moon if I asked him to.
Right now, I don't want him to jump the moon...just an 18" cross-rail will do :)
I have big plans in the works for the boys next winter/spring...but I'm reluctant to put the "A plan" in writing in case things fall apart. Let's just say it involves 2 horses, my trailer, and a week down south where there are old friends, good instructors, and some late wintertime HTs. With 2 boys though, I'll need some help...anyone want to be my groom for a few days?
Surfie and I drove down from Baltimore -- a 5 hour drive -- because a group of my eventing buddies from FenRidge were driving up from NC. They hadn't met Surf, and I've been missing my NC buddies, so it seemed like a fun way to spend Labor Day weekend :) On the way down, I was thinking about eventing...and how it feels like I've been doing this forever...but I realized that I went to my very first horse trial exactly 3 years ago on Labor Day weekend, with the same folks from FenRidge that I was driving down to spend the weekend with!
What chaos that first HT was -- I'd had big Quincey for a few days, there was an extra trailer spot, and I had NO CLUE about eventing other than what I'd seen on tv, watching Rolex and what I'd read on the internet -- and I promptly got eliminated at the first fence on XC :) This led to much reminiscing over the past few years and the realization that I have made some progress -- a good thing to think about on those days (of which there are many!) where I feel like I'm getting nowhere with this riding thing. I must remind myself that progres...especially in dressage...is S-L-O-W, and that I must remember to notice the small bits of progress -- the 10m circle where surf's shoulder doesn't fall in, sitting up and accepting a tight spot without crawling up surf's neck, jumping up banks out of water without freezing up, jumping my first real trakhaner...and not lose the beauty of an individual tree in the vast forest that is Eventing :) 3 years later, I have no regrets about going over to the Dark Side...I love getting ride times. I love dressage comments (though Dressage is a constant struggle for me...and my goal in life is to be mediocre at dressage...I don't want to be good, just ok...). I love how the skills you need for one phase are reinforced by your training for other phases. I love the technicality of stadium, and how it's so very different than either hunters or jumping on xc. I love color coordinating. I love the people I've met...and how friendly and open and helpful they are. I love the partnership that eventing demands of horse and rider, and the opportunity I've had to ride horses that are trained to think for themselves while at the same time protecting themselves and their riders. And...there's nothing...absolutely nothing...like the feelings you get from cross-country. The pre-start jitters as you circle the box...feeling your pulse quicken as they count you backwards from 10 seconds...the deep breath and focusing as you settle in to your irons, shorten up your reins, and whisper your last words of encouragement (for me, it's always the same thing..."ok big guy, take care of your monkey out there") to your horse as the starter gets to "3...2...1...have a nice ride!"...the relief after you clear the first fence, then the second, then the 3rd, until you get to a point where you're standing in your stirrups, hands pressed into the withers, galloping along and realize that this may be the closest you ever get to flying...the anticipation of your bugaboo fence (for me, produce stands or banks out of water) and the exhileration when you get over it...the nerves as you come to the last fence on course, knowing that it's what's between you and a clear round and a safe trip around...and the absolute exhileration of crossing through those finish flags.
(so have I convinced anyone else to come to the dark side?!?!?!?!)
With that attitude, we had a nice, if short, xc school (it was hot, and we were with a mixed group of horses in terms of their experience level, and Surf spent a good bit of time giving leads over small fences, through the water, etc) . Surf also settled into his stall well, which was good as this was our first big overnight trip away from home and the VA horse center is not the easiest place for horses to settle into. He warmed up like a champ for dressage, but was distracted in his test by the reiners warming up in the ring below us...leading to him being quite tense through his neck. However, he was forward and more obedient than our usual dressage outing, and we were in 4th after dressage with 36pp (64%). He was nicely in front of my leg in stadium, and I was able to stay more with him and remember to give in front of the fence with my hands and not lean at the fence when he got in tight once or twice...and was rewarded with a double clear round. Julia rode him for me while I was out of town 2 weeks ago and has been reminding me ever since that he jumps much much much better when you really leave his face alone -- he's funny that way, as he takes quite a bit of contact in dressage, but jumps like an A/O hunter when you don't touch his face rather than like a girraffe if you have much contact :P. Surf was a rockstar on XC...once I convinced him that the VTO tack store tent near the warmup was not going to eat him alive...and that the start box is OK (seriously, this horse has been eventing for 6-7 yrs and is scared silly of the start box...it's hard to explain to the starters, who often have to lead us into the box, that no he's not green...he's actually and ex-*/Int horse :P...). He clocked around XC and we only had one sticky jump where I had changed my mind about how I wanted to go to the next fence, and I gave him a little more leg than I should've and he attempted to jump me out of the tack...but hey, who needs stirrups anyways since these fences are only 2'11" :) He came in double clear and the fastest in our division...and we moved up to 3rd to bring home a pretty primary color ribbon :)
I don't have many photos on my work computer...so I'll add more in another post...but here's one that I think show's how much surf and I love eventing :)
Huey is doing well too...we've had several nice rides recently. He's trotting almost 15min now...when we hit 20min, we get to see our first cross-rail. He's starting to try to sneak into the canter now...which is what he did with the trot as we got to the point where we were about to introduce it into our work. The old man knows the rehab drill...he's been through this too many times before...and has come back once again. I think this horse loves his job...in a way that he didn't love being a racehorse, a babysitter, or a pasture pet. I don't know how to explain it...but if you could sit on him, even for just a few minutes, you'd know. Huey is an odd duck...when I first started riding him, Julia told me she didn't know if the partnership would work...but if Huey decided he liked me, and he could work with me, then I would have the gift of riding a horse that would jump the moon if I asked him to.
Right now, I don't want him to jump the moon...just an 18" cross-rail will do :)
I have big plans in the works for the boys next winter/spring...but I'm reluctant to put the "A plan" in writing in case things fall apart. Let's just say it involves 2 horses, my trailer, and a week down south where there are old friends, good instructors, and some late wintertime HTs. With 2 boys though, I'll need some help...anyone want to be my groom for a few days?
Desi is SPOILED
Well one of the big drawbacks to having an evergreen 8yr old is that by 8 they are VERY set in their ways. She is smart but she is also a mare with an opinion.
Last night my plan was to do some groundwork with her. I brought her out of the paddock, through the evil barn and to the hitching post. She did SO well. She remembered all of our coversations from the day before and was super soft.
**Yes I do actually occassionally brush my horses!**
We headed out to the arena to get some good work in. Tracking left she was SUPER soft, she remembered all her lessons about bending and was very attentive. Tracking right she is more resistant. She gets soft but not until she has done some ugly moves. lol She wants to brace against the line and push her neck and shoulder at me.
Once she was good and soft on both sides I went and got a bridle. She was being so good and attentive. She was a little nervous about taking the bit but didn't fight. So I took it off and put it back on 2-3 times. Then we worked on bending on the ground. I wanted to get a feel for how soft her mouth was or wasn't.
She is very soft on her left side and still a little resistant on her right. So I got situated and went to step up. I treated her like a greenie. I hip-popped and leaned over her, rubbed her, bent her neck and just as I was getting ready to step over she took off bucking. I hopped back and ALMOST landed on my feet. HAHA Got up and went to get her. Had another bending conversation and got back on. 
Then we started bending under saddle. We went right and left over and over again. I would give her the chance to go forward and if she started to sull up we would bend and bend and bend. We ended after she would walk past the gate 20ft or so in both directions calmly. She is going to need a lot more saddle work than I anticipated but she is smart and willing so that is promising.
I will have to brag a little........she looks DAMN good in that saddle!!Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Dare and Mandros
Ive been gone over the weekend so I havent ridden Mandros in several days. His owner did ride him once and said he was good.
When I rode him Monday he was really good. I used spurs for the first time with him and it really helped him stay in the canter. I practiced both the tests that Im doing at the show. I think I have both of them remembered. He did really well in both tests. We had a little mishap with him being scared of the kids on the trampoline, but other than that, he was good.
Im having a lesson this Wednesday so Ill be able to get advice on my tests.
When I rode him Monday he was really good. I used spurs for the first time with him and it really helped him stay in the canter. I practiced both the tests that Im doing at the show. I think I have both of them remembered. He did really well in both tests. We had a little mishap with him being scared of the kids on the trampoline, but other than that, he was good.
Im having a lesson this Wednesday so Ill be able to get advice on my tests.
Kate & Pro - alright, who doped him with Ritalin?!
I'm back! Okay so last Thursday I rode Pro after a few days break due to rain. I was surprised to find that he was calm - not looky at the bench or anything else. I generally stuck to a 20m circle and just focused on releasing my inside rein, getting him to relax his neck even though I was keeping my hands up in their proper position.
Friday morning was my lesson. I committed the Student's Mortal Sin of Riding - I left my tall boots at home (#*#&!) so I had to ride in sneakers, but Gayle said she could look the other way. ;) We started off by getting him looser at the walk, since he'd had a few days off. Gayle also said the words "and his age", hahaha - 16 is not old!!!! - so yes, it was JUST from the days off. We worked on getting him moving evenly, tracking up, and then focused on that darn outside rein. For that, walking on a "square" with quarter-pirouettes. Except I had to make sure that I did NOT touch the inside rein during each pirouette. Outside aids only. Which turned out to be very awkward - when I put my outside leg on and started to move him over with the outside leg, his brain thought "oh, Western spin!" so he would put his head up and try to do a 360-degree spin. I had to carefully bump him over with the outside aids and quickly "catch" him and send him forward with my inside leg so he didn't spin all the way around. Stupid Western training.
Anyway, even though at first he kept putting his head up (trying to weasel me into pulling his face around with the inside rein), this eventually softened him. To flex his neck, I was only allowed to half-halt on the OUTside rein. Big mental change for me. Gayle's weaning me off that inside rein dependence. So, we're learning to turn/steer from the outside rein only - it's a difficult mental change for me. But Gayle says that once you control the outside of the horse, you control the horse. That's pretty good motivation to learn this solidly!
Also due to stiffness, Gayle had me adjust my posting to 99% sitting down in the saddle on the down beat. Within two strides, Pro lifted his back!! It was a neat sensation that he clearly liked. It took a bit more effort on my part (haha, no being lazy with this) but it really helped him to develop a better, swingy trot. We also picked up the canter, and then went down to trot without letting me lean on the reins at alllll. I'm still pounding it into my head - "If I don't give him something to pull on, he can't lean on me." Tricky!
Tonight I rode him again and he was still resistant to fully coming soft since my hands no longer drop (much to his dismay) but at least he's not being an angry idiot about imaginary spooky things. He did fuss a bit over the bunny tree tonight, but I kept to a tight volte until he dropped down. But for the most part, he's been fairly focused the past three rides. :) (Hope I didn't just jinx myself!!!)
Sorry for my absence lately...I'll be better about posting!!! Gabby - you win most dedicated poster!! Hey Christie, how's Deuce doing these days? Haven't heard any updates...
Friday morning was my lesson. I committed the Student's Mortal Sin of Riding - I left my tall boots at home (#*#&!) so I had to ride in sneakers, but Gayle said she could look the other way. ;) We started off by getting him looser at the walk, since he'd had a few days off. Gayle also said the words "and his age", hahaha - 16 is not old!!!! - so yes, it was JUST from the days off. We worked on getting him moving evenly, tracking up, and then focused on that darn outside rein. For that, walking on a "square" with quarter-pirouettes. Except I had to make sure that I did NOT touch the inside rein during each pirouette. Outside aids only. Which turned out to be very awkward - when I put my outside leg on and started to move him over with the outside leg, his brain thought "oh, Western spin!" so he would put his head up and try to do a 360-degree spin. I had to carefully bump him over with the outside aids and quickly "catch" him and send him forward with my inside leg so he didn't spin all the way around. Stupid Western training.
Anyway, even though at first he kept putting his head up (trying to weasel me into pulling his face around with the inside rein), this eventually softened him. To flex his neck, I was only allowed to half-halt on the OUTside rein. Big mental change for me. Gayle's weaning me off that inside rein dependence. So, we're learning to turn/steer from the outside rein only - it's a difficult mental change for me. But Gayle says that once you control the outside of the horse, you control the horse. That's pretty good motivation to learn this solidly!
Also due to stiffness, Gayle had me adjust my posting to 99% sitting down in the saddle on the down beat. Within two strides, Pro lifted his back!! It was a neat sensation that he clearly liked. It took a bit more effort on my part (haha, no being lazy with this) but it really helped him to develop a better, swingy trot. We also picked up the canter, and then went down to trot without letting me lean on the reins at alllll. I'm still pounding it into my head - "If I don't give him something to pull on, he can't lean on me." Tricky!
Tonight I rode him again and he was still resistant to fully coming soft since my hands no longer drop (much to his dismay) but at least he's not being an angry idiot about imaginary spooky things. He did fuss a bit over the bunny tree tonight, but I kept to a tight volte until he dropped down. But for the most part, he's been fairly focused the past three rides. :) (Hope I didn't just jinx myself!!!)
Sorry for my absence lately...I'll be better about posting!!! Gabby - you win most dedicated poster!! Hey Christie, how's Deuce doing these days? Haven't heard any updates...
My New Girl
This one might be a long one....
This weekend I got my new mare Desi. She is an 8yr old Appendix bay mare. She had 60 days of training as a 3yr old and then about a year ago went for a 30 day tune up. Other than that she has been ridden 2-3 times a year and gotten to enjoy the life of a pasture horse. She needed a job though and I needed a horse that was smart and could stand up to work.
Hopefully she will end up being my training/clinic horse like Apple.
We got back late Sunday night and she was exhausted. She is so out of shape! Yesterday afternoon I got her out for some groundwork/getting to know each other stuff. The paddock she is in attaches to the back of the barn. She isn't used to barns at all. She lead through fine but when I asked her to stop for a moment she got nervous and blew past me..... We had a LONG discussion about how that was not allowed and would not be permitted. So we went back into the barn and backed up and down the isle and let her investigate and realize that nothing was going to eat her.
I tied her to the hitching post and started brushing. She stood very quiet and patiently until I walked away. She started calling and moving around so I made her move and move and move until her attention was back on me. She isn't a very confident mare at all. This is something we are really going to have to work on.
After she was all clean we headed to the arena. She moved out nicely on the line but was WAY too interested in what everyone else was doing. We worked really hard on staying bent to the INSIDE and not sticking her nose to the outside. She isn't very free with her feet yet. When I ask her to back up she gets tense and shuffles back instead of stepping back. We worked until she was staying soft and bent the correct way. As we went to leave the arena, I opened the gate and she saw this as an opportunity to run through it. So we had to stand and wait and wait and wait until she wasn't nervous about the open gate.
I think she is going to be great though. She is a quick learner that just needs guidance and to understand the new rules.....like NO eating grass without permission.
The current plan is to get her out tonight and do more groundwork if she seems more calm and settled then I might ride. For right now riding is going to consist of warming up and cooling down with bending/flexing/moving shoulders and hips and working will be lots and lots of LONG trotting to get her fat butt into shape.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Mary and Pepsi are alive....
Yes, we are both still alive, but I've been too busy studying, working, studying, driving, working and studying some more to do anything other than, well...study and work.
Pepsi was also off for the last few weeks- we know why, but I still had to wait for him to not be so ouchy. We will both get back to a little bit of work this week, so look for some more blogs in the future!
Ps- I'm house-sitting right now, and it's 9:00 and I STILL need to study for tomorrow's quiz, shower, feed the cats, AND get everything ready for my 8 am class and quiz!!
I also have JUST started out-of-class massages, so if anyone is in the Raleigh area next week let me know and I can work on you for a few minutes!
I miss my pony....
Pepsi was also off for the last few weeks- we know why, but I still had to wait for him to not be so ouchy. We will both get back to a little bit of work this week, so look for some more blogs in the future!
Ps- I'm house-sitting right now, and it's 9:00 and I STILL need to study for tomorrow's quiz, shower, feed the cats, AND get everything ready for my 8 am class and quiz!!
I also have JUST started out-of-class massages, so if anyone is in the Raleigh area next week let me know and I can work on you for a few minutes!
I miss my pony....
Lesson on Skate
Well, this is turning into a blog about Gabby and Skate! Where is everyone??
I had my first lesson on my little horse tonight. She really liked him and said he'll be a very 'useful' horse for me. If you knew my instructor, you'd know that was a compliment! She also watched him go for a few minutes and asked if he was a Secretariat baby...which he is. She said she rode Romantico, Secretariat's son, for about two years and LOVED him. She said he was always the perfect gentleman. I then broke the news that Romantico is Skate's grandsire. She likes him even more, now : )
Anyway, we worked on pushing him forward when he gets behind the bit (I have never had a horse that can curl his little nose in so far his head disappears from sight!) and just keeping him forward. We then moved onto keeping my outside rein from flapping in the wind. Just keeping him bent around my inside leg while keeping contact on the outside rein helped him immensely. He's bad about really gnawing on the bit like a baby, but when I got him moving out and kept the outside rein steady, he actually closed his mouth and kept the bit steady (for a few strides, at least).
So, I have some homework to do...which is important for me. I have a tendency to ride aimlessly for about 30 minutes if I don't have a plan beforehand.
Skate is starting to grow on me, I'm happy to say. He's really so quiet and laid-back, I couldn't have found a better match as far as temperament goes. I'm beginning to get past his small stature and I feel like there is going to be a future for us as far as dressage goes. Phew, my panic has subsided.
I had my first lesson on my little horse tonight. She really liked him and said he'll be a very 'useful' horse for me. If you knew my instructor, you'd know that was a compliment! She also watched him go for a few minutes and asked if he was a Secretariat baby...which he is. She said she rode Romantico, Secretariat's son, for about two years and LOVED him. She said he was always the perfect gentleman. I then broke the news that Romantico is Skate's grandsire. She likes him even more, now : )
Anyway, we worked on pushing him forward when he gets behind the bit (I have never had a horse that can curl his little nose in so far his head disappears from sight!) and just keeping him forward. We then moved onto keeping my outside rein from flapping in the wind. Just keeping him bent around my inside leg while keeping contact on the outside rein helped him immensely. He's bad about really gnawing on the bit like a baby, but when I got him moving out and kept the outside rein steady, he actually closed his mouth and kept the bit steady (for a few strides, at least).
So, I have some homework to do...which is important for me. I have a tendency to ride aimlessly for about 30 minutes if I don't have a plan beforehand.
Skate is starting to grow on me, I'm happy to say. He's really so quiet and laid-back, I couldn't have found a better match as far as temperament goes. I'm beginning to get past his small stature and I feel like there is going to be a future for us as far as dressage goes. Phew, my panic has subsided.
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