Sunday
It was soooooo hot out today. Harry was dripping with sweat just from lunging. That also meant he was tired enough to cooperate =] He was fantastic gaiting today. We worked for about an hour. I also stopped lunging him around the pole, since Paco pointed out that there aren't any working poles at shows. When I lunged him without the pole it was quite successful. He didn't bolt away or get really close to me. We worked inside then went outside. I was a little nervous about riding him outside since the last time I rode him outside was when Ray was training him and he kept rearing. Harry was perfect. He was rushing the soundboard a little bit. It seems like getting him to not rush the soundboard and get a more relaxed walk is the key to winning at our next show. I also need to find where his largo is that way I won't break into a canter and lose points.
Apparently, Nina was really bad today. My brother is having a hard time lunging her since she keeps wanting to walk on top of him. He's been using the carrot stick in order to push her on from behind, never actually touching her, just holding it out to make sure that she would see it behind her.
I never thought I'd look forward to riding Brie as a break. She's been doing fantastically the past few weeks. She's perfectly calm and just goes along. It's almost like she's an impostor horse! I'm so pleased with her and hopefully she'll stay like this for show.
Monday
It was thundering really bad today. When we walked into the stable, Harry was in the corner of his stall corner, shaking. We calmed him down and got him out. He was really wary of the rain outside the barn though and kept looking behind himself out the door at the rain. I was nervous riding him today because I didn't want him to freak out and bolt, causing me to fall or something. But he actually did pretty well. Everytime I saw a big lightening I prepared myself for the cracking thunder that followed it and he was pretty good. He only got freaked out really bad once and that was when we were cooling off. I stopped by one of the large doors looking outside and he saw the huge lightening and immediately stiffened up and bolted away from the door when he heard the thunder. I held on and turned him that way he wouldn't have the chance to rear up though, and he was a little shaken after that but I walked him until he calmed down. He was also rushing the board again today. I'll really have to work on that.
I didn't really pay attention to Nina today except for after I put Harry away. She kept sliding off the soundboard on the side. I think it's just a matter of the rider centering themselves over the board so she knows where to go. Other than that, she's been fantastic letting us put the jaquima and the bit on and has been keeping her head down really nicely. I hope she gets her act together before the Michigan show.
Once again, Brie was the dream ride today! I never thought I'd reach the day when I could just plop on and barely move my hands and use my leg then entire time to control her speed and direction. I just love that horse more and more every day. I feel like this time training her has been such a success, but we'll only find out when we hit the next show.
Michigan, here we come!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Equestrian Team Day 12
Absolutely GORGEOUS outside! We got to ride outside.
I may not have explained how lost we were last week. We were an hour late. We didn't have the GPS that we came to take advantage of, so I printed out directions from Google Maps. Well. Google Maps is WRONG. It led us into a sub division. We tried first going on sight and after we got lost we turned to the Google Map. Led us to the subdivision. Desperately we accessed Google from someone's phone and managed to find our way back to to the stable an hour late.
Tonight, also without the GPS, I printed out Map Quest directions. The lead to a mysterious, nonexistent Buckley Road exit off the highway. Why are all these directions wrong?! So I flipped over the paper, found a pen, and we decided we were doing it on sight. We already knew how to get lost, we only needed to find out how to make it there.
We were only 20 minutes late!
And on the way home, we only made one wrong turn and missed one turn but easily corrected it! While these directions seem to work, hopefully we'll have a GPS next week when I can match up these directions we travelled tonight with the GPS directions and see how it goes. Then we'll send them out to the rest of the team because we don't want anyone getting lost in Northern Illinois, or worse, Wisconsin (and trust me, it's happened).
I rode Two Socks today. I rode him once before when I was still learning how to generally get my diagonals. But today we jumped a lot! I loved Two Socks's canter, it was fabulously smooth. Once I get my diagonals down pat I should clean up at shows! I jumped two jumps in a row today. Granted, they're only the little X's still, but I'll get there, especially if I take lessons over the summer. I'm excited for next week, our last lesson for the year, because I'm supposed to ride Cameo. I love her to death! Something about those mares. =]
I may not have explained how lost we were last week. We were an hour late. We didn't have the GPS that we came to take advantage of, so I printed out directions from Google Maps. Well. Google Maps is WRONG. It led us into a sub division. We tried first going on sight and after we got lost we turned to the Google Map. Led us to the subdivision. Desperately we accessed Google from someone's phone and managed to find our way back to to the stable an hour late.
Tonight, also without the GPS, I printed out Map Quest directions. The lead to a mysterious, nonexistent Buckley Road exit off the highway. Why are all these directions wrong?! So I flipped over the paper, found a pen, and we decided we were doing it on sight. We already knew how to get lost, we only needed to find out how to make it there.
We were only 20 minutes late!
And on the way home, we only made one wrong turn and missed one turn but easily corrected it! While these directions seem to work, hopefully we'll have a GPS next week when I can match up these directions we travelled tonight with the GPS directions and see how it goes. Then we'll send them out to the rest of the team because we don't want anyone getting lost in Northern Illinois, or worse, Wisconsin (and trust me, it's happened).
I rode Two Socks today. I rode him once before when I was still learning how to generally get my diagonals. But today we jumped a lot! I loved Two Socks's canter, it was fabulously smooth. Once I get my diagonals down pat I should clean up at shows! I jumped two jumps in a row today. Granted, they're only the little X's still, but I'll get there, especially if I take lessons over the summer. I'm excited for next week, our last lesson for the year, because I'm supposed to ride Cameo. I love her to death! Something about those mares. =]
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 62
Accomplishments!!
It was mega hot out today. Not pleasant. We had to clean our stalls again, but didn't have to strip them, thankfully. The horses didn't even want to stay outside, so we brought them in and braided all of their hair! I wish I would've taken pictures. They looked really cute.
After the hair braiding festivities, my brother and I set out to tack up Nina. He had been working with her playing the Friendly Game for a while before I showed up, so she was fairly calm. Fairly calm as in it took us at least 30 minutes to get the jaquima on her head. I insisted on not having her on the cross ties while doings this because for one she'd feel trapped and two I would be getting choked/hit in the face with the cross ties every time she jerked her head back. After our huge accomplishment we still needed to get the bit in. At that point my parents were getting antsy (grrrrr) so my mom stepped in, hooked her to the cross ties, and put the bit on her (after another 15 minutes of my brother and I trying).
We rode. Harry was okay, I only got to ride him. =[ He's just a little engine! I worked to make him walk without me having to pull on his bit and when he did that once around each way I ended the session.
All in all, it was a good day =]
It was mega hot out today. Not pleasant. We had to clean our stalls again, but didn't have to strip them, thankfully. The horses didn't even want to stay outside, so we brought them in and braided all of their hair! I wish I would've taken pictures. They looked really cute.
After the hair braiding festivities, my brother and I set out to tack up Nina. He had been working with her playing the Friendly Game for a while before I showed up, so she was fairly calm. Fairly calm as in it took us at least 30 minutes to get the jaquima on her head. I insisted on not having her on the cross ties while doings this because for one she'd feel trapped and two I would be getting choked/hit in the face with the cross ties every time she jerked her head back. After our huge accomplishment we still needed to get the bit in. At that point my parents were getting antsy (grrrrr) so my mom stepped in, hooked her to the cross ties, and put the bit on her (after another 15 minutes of my brother and I trying).
We rode. Harry was okay, I only got to ride him. =[ He's just a little engine! I worked to make him walk without me having to pull on his bit and when he did that once around each way I ended the session.
All in all, it was a good day =]
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 61
What was the hardest working day in a while turned out to be the most fun I've had with horses since we moved to the new stable.
I already told you that we decided not to go to the Springfield show this weekend, which means that we had to truck back everything we brought home for the show.
Before arrival, we realized we forgot one important thing: all of the head gear. We can ride at least Brie bareback, but with just a halter on? I don't think so. My mom was thoroughly upset while I took it as a good sign: now we'd be able to work with Nina without the pressure of wanting to ride!
That all ended once we walked in the stable. The stalls were FILTHY, like they haven't been cleaned for days, and there wasn't a scrap of hay in any of the holders. Not again, we thought. This kind of incident has happened too often in our horse-owning history. It's been really good at the stable now because of Paco. Paco is amazing at staying on top of the cleaning and handiwork around the stable; but he is at the show this weekend as well, cleaning and being on top of handiwork over there. I don't even know who was hired to clean and feed, but to say it was disappointing is to say the least. So we broke open a bale of hay, flaked it up, and fed it to the horses on our side. Later on, the electrician said he saw the temporary help feeding at 6 AM. Oh. Well that would make sense why there's no food in the holders. At least it was only hay. Lunch won't hurt them (horses are actually supposed to be fed three times day, but at most places are only fed twice).
We put the horses outside and my parents, my brother, and I got to cleaning stalls. We had to strip down Nina and Harry's stall because they're messy when they go to the bathroom. Brie's stall we only had to sift through the enormous mound of poo and move more shavings over the stripped wet spots. That's one thing I love about Brie: she's very neat. My brother was excited because he got to drive the Gator back and forth between the stalls and the manure mound. My brother and I ended up doing the colt's stall on our side (we love him to death, his nickname is Ken) and Taco's stall as well. I think that is probably the cleanest their stalls have ever been. John came by, Jane's boyfriend, he actually owns Taco, and thanked us for cleaning the stall and asked that we put Taco outside in the grass pasture, so I did.
After seeing the mudcakes that Harry, Nina, and Brie had become after playing in the mud pastures, my mom wanted to give them all baths. She did Brie first while my brother and I stayed outside with Harry and Nina. We took this opportunity to go after Nina's ears and head. Harry went next while I let Brie get her 10 minutes of grass, which undoubtedly made her life the happiest it's been since the last stable. She rarely gets grass because of her insulin resistance problem. After bringing her and Taco back inside, I held Harry outside while watching my brother chase Nina around the pasture and try to go after her ears. Let me tell you, Nina was not a happy camper. My mom took her inside, I brought Harry inside, and before we gave Nina a bath, we decided to do some Parelli with her.
The most basic Parelli game, the Friendly Game, involves using your hand, carrot stick, or string (or all three if you can multitask) to just rub the horse all over. If they're skittish, the point of the game is to get them to stop wincing or dancing around when you touch them. All the games have one goal: trust between the horse and rider(or non rider owner). Since the moment we got Nina, she was pretty much bomb-proof. She was the quickest learning and most eager to play the games.
Not today. She HATED the game and kept wiggling around and trying to hop away, but that wasn't happening. She was in the shower stall anyways. So after working herself up for about 10 minutes while I wiggled a piece of string around her legs and neck, she started calming down and let me throw it over her ears. I switched with my brother and he did the same. Then I got to the front of her head, facing her, and started wiggling it on her face. After initially freaking out, she started to calm down (along with the help of some peppermints and carrots). By the end of the session, which was about 45 minutes, I was about to get the bit hanger sans bit over her ears and off again without her flinching. With this, we stopped and bathed her, feeling the most accomplished and proud we've felt in a while. I felt especially proud because I haven't bonded with Nina that much, as my brother took a liking to her right away and I was focusing on rehabbing Brie.
All in all, it was a fantastically accomplished laid back day with a minor downfall of filthy stalls. Thankfully Paco will be back tomorrow afternoon.
I already told you that we decided not to go to the Springfield show this weekend, which means that we had to truck back everything we brought home for the show.
Before arrival, we realized we forgot one important thing: all of the head gear. We can ride at least Brie bareback, but with just a halter on? I don't think so. My mom was thoroughly upset while I took it as a good sign: now we'd be able to work with Nina without the pressure of wanting to ride!
That all ended once we walked in the stable. The stalls were FILTHY, like they haven't been cleaned for days, and there wasn't a scrap of hay in any of the holders. Not again, we thought. This kind of incident has happened too often in our horse-owning history. It's been really good at the stable now because of Paco. Paco is amazing at staying on top of the cleaning and handiwork around the stable; but he is at the show this weekend as well, cleaning and being on top of handiwork over there. I don't even know who was hired to clean and feed, but to say it was disappointing is to say the least. So we broke open a bale of hay, flaked it up, and fed it to the horses on our side. Later on, the electrician said he saw the temporary help feeding at 6 AM. Oh. Well that would make sense why there's no food in the holders. At least it was only hay. Lunch won't hurt them (horses are actually supposed to be fed three times day, but at most places are only fed twice).
We put the horses outside and my parents, my brother, and I got to cleaning stalls. We had to strip down Nina and Harry's stall because they're messy when they go to the bathroom. Brie's stall we only had to sift through the enormous mound of poo and move more shavings over the stripped wet spots. That's one thing I love about Brie: she's very neat. My brother was excited because he got to drive the Gator back and forth between the stalls and the manure mound. My brother and I ended up doing the colt's stall on our side (we love him to death, his nickname is Ken) and Taco's stall as well. I think that is probably the cleanest their stalls have ever been. John came by, Jane's boyfriend, he actually owns Taco, and thanked us for cleaning the stall and asked that we put Taco outside in the grass pasture, so I did.
After seeing the mudcakes that Harry, Nina, and Brie had become after playing in the mud pastures, my mom wanted to give them all baths. She did Brie first while my brother and I stayed outside with Harry and Nina. We took this opportunity to go after Nina's ears and head. Harry went next while I let Brie get her 10 minutes of grass, which undoubtedly made her life the happiest it's been since the last stable. She rarely gets grass because of her insulin resistance problem. After bringing her and Taco back inside, I held Harry outside while watching my brother chase Nina around the pasture and try to go after her ears. Let me tell you, Nina was not a happy camper. My mom took her inside, I brought Harry inside, and before we gave Nina a bath, we decided to do some Parelli with her.
The most basic Parelli game, the Friendly Game, involves using your hand, carrot stick, or string (or all three if you can multitask) to just rub the horse all over. If they're skittish, the point of the game is to get them to stop wincing or dancing around when you touch them. All the games have one goal: trust between the horse and rider(or non rider owner). Since the moment we got Nina, she was pretty much bomb-proof. She was the quickest learning and most eager to play the games.
Not today. She HATED the game and kept wiggling around and trying to hop away, but that wasn't happening. She was in the shower stall anyways. So after working herself up for about 10 minutes while I wiggled a piece of string around her legs and neck, she started calming down and let me throw it over her ears. I switched with my brother and he did the same. Then I got to the front of her head, facing her, and started wiggling it on her face. After initially freaking out, she started to calm down (along with the help of some peppermints and carrots). By the end of the session, which was about 45 minutes, I was about to get the bit hanger sans bit over her ears and off again without her flinching. With this, we stopped and bathed her, feeling the most accomplished and proud we've felt in a while. I felt especially proud because I haven't bonded with Nina that much, as my brother took a liking to her right away and I was focusing on rehabbing Brie.
All in all, it was a fantastically accomplished laid back day with a minor downfall of filthy stalls. Thankfully Paco will be back tomorrow afternoon.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Equestrian Team Day 11
We haven't had lessons for two weeks. It depresses me. Our lesson coordinator is a little overwhelmed, but there is hope. You know why?
Today I rode another new horse (for me). His name is General. Apparently, he's for the more experienced type (yesssss). He was really fun. He was such an easy ride, such light contact was necessary. He did want to break into a canter after we cantered around the first time, but I managed it. When our instructor asked us our summer plans, I replied "I'll be training horses". She then remembered that I have Paso Finos and replied "Well you'll be going back with a better seat!"
Uhm. About that. I think it's a little funny sometimes when people comment on Paso Finos because they're so different than other breeds. You don't even have to concentrate on a good seat, you just have one. You don't have to check your diagonal because there is none! You can spend all your time devoted to making sure your heels are down and that the horse is behaving. It's basically a no-brainer ride---until you get to the brio, the spirit of the horse. If I ever am a riding instructor, I will make all of my students, at one point or another, ride a Paso Fino. Then they can tackle anything that comes their way!
In short, I had a great ride. She complimented my improved seat on the canter and I got my diagonals right 75% of the time! Improvement!! I'm stoked for the summer when I can get more lessons and hopefully show so I can start off at a higher level in IHSA in the fall.
Speaking of showing....we're not going to the Springfield show this weekend anymore. After Paco informed us that we would need to be taking our own hay, grain, and bedding, we remembered how horrible the show was last year, how no one showed up, and how Randy won pretty much everything. So we're going to spend these next two weeks (since we're not going to Spectrum either) to work with Nina on her head-shy business.
I'm looking forward to the weekend so badly. Until then, happy trails!
Because I'm the new lesson coordinator!!
Yup, I'm gonna be scheduling everything for the next year. I'm so excited for it, I really want to prove how good of I job I can do that way I can run for president of the team.Today I rode another new horse (for me). His name is General. Apparently, he's for the more experienced type (yesssss). He was really fun. He was such an easy ride, such light contact was necessary. He did want to break into a canter after we cantered around the first time, but I managed it. When our instructor asked us our summer plans, I replied "I'll be training horses". She then remembered that I have Paso Finos and replied "Well you'll be going back with a better seat!"
Uhm. About that. I think it's a little funny sometimes when people comment on Paso Finos because they're so different than other breeds. You don't even have to concentrate on a good seat, you just have one. You don't have to check your diagonal because there is none! You can spend all your time devoted to making sure your heels are down and that the horse is behaving. It's basically a no-brainer ride---until you get to the brio, the spirit of the horse. If I ever am a riding instructor, I will make all of my students, at one point or another, ride a Paso Fino. Then they can tackle anything that comes their way!
In short, I had a great ride. She complimented my improved seat on the canter and I got my diagonals right 75% of the time! Improvement!! I'm stoked for the summer when I can get more lessons and hopefully show so I can start off at a higher level in IHSA in the fall.
Speaking of showing....we're not going to the Springfield show this weekend anymore. After Paco informed us that we would need to be taking our own hay, grain, and bedding, we remembered how horrible the show was last year, how no one showed up, and how Randy won pretty much everything. So we're going to spend these next two weeks (since we're not going to Spectrum either) to work with Nina on her head-shy business.
I'm looking forward to the weekend so badly. Until then, happy trails!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Day 60
Bobcats and tractors and dump trucks, oh my!
That's what was at the barn today. The owner is digging a very large pond in the back of his house/barn. I'm sure it'll be beautiful when it's finished, but it was a bit of a pain in the butt today.
Nina. Is. A. BRAT.
I don't know whether something happened to her that she doesn't want to give her head to us or if she's just playing games, but she was acting completely unacceptably today. It took me, my mom, and Paco to hold her down to put the bit hanger over her ears and I felt horrible because Paco had to twitch her ear. I'm completely against twitching and sorts of related techniques, I think they're mean and will only harbor mistrust from the horse towards you. While it may help in the short run, I believe the horse will then never want to give you her head because she anticipates being twitched, which will result in more problems.
I've decided not to bring Harry to this show. I don't trust him enough. I feel like that's a valid reason. I don't trust that I'll be able to get through the class with him. I've only had a couple of experiences with him so far riding him with other horses and the majority of those are with Brie and Nina. Today I had an experience with another horse and he wasn't too keen on it. While I would've liked to work with him longer today but I didn't feel completely comfortable with the new horse in the arena and the machinery outside so I only went once around the arena after multiple circles on the far end of the arena.
Brie is ready for show =] Finally! We have to take her off the calming supplement though because apparently it's USEF illegal for shows. I hope she still does well. I have a strategy in my mind: Last year when I won the third place, I didn't have any time to warm her up because I thought I had more time than I really did so we just had to go straight into the class. I'm going to lunge her for a while before my first class, which is Costume, and since I'm usually the only one in that class, it'll be a good way for her to calm down around her surroundings. Hopefully it works! We can only wait and see.
I'm a little worried about Nina at the show. I don't want my brother to get hurt if she gives him a hard time. He needs to gain more confidence and pay attention to everything we tell him about handling a rough horse. Even though she's not "rough", she's still playing games similar to Brie when she was 4 years old. Hopefully we don't make idiots of ourselves trying to get the bit hanger over her head.
Wish me luck!
That's what was at the barn today. The owner is digging a very large pond in the back of his house/barn. I'm sure it'll be beautiful when it's finished, but it was a bit of a pain in the butt today.
Nina. Is. A. BRAT.
I don't know whether something happened to her that she doesn't want to give her head to us or if she's just playing games, but she was acting completely unacceptably today. It took me, my mom, and Paco to hold her down to put the bit hanger over her ears and I felt horrible because Paco had to twitch her ear. I'm completely against twitching and sorts of related techniques, I think they're mean and will only harbor mistrust from the horse towards you. While it may help in the short run, I believe the horse will then never want to give you her head because she anticipates being twitched, which will result in more problems.
I've decided not to bring Harry to this show. I don't trust him enough. I feel like that's a valid reason. I don't trust that I'll be able to get through the class with him. I've only had a couple of experiences with him so far riding him with other horses and the majority of those are with Brie and Nina. Today I had an experience with another horse and he wasn't too keen on it. While I would've liked to work with him longer today but I didn't feel completely comfortable with the new horse in the arena and the machinery outside so I only went once around the arena after multiple circles on the far end of the arena.
Brie is ready for show =] Finally! We have to take her off the calming supplement though because apparently it's USEF illegal for shows. I hope she still does well. I have a strategy in my mind: Last year when I won the third place, I didn't have any time to warm her up because I thought I had more time than I really did so we just had to go straight into the class. I'm going to lunge her for a while before my first class, which is Costume, and since I'm usually the only one in that class, it'll be a good way for her to calm down around her surroundings. Hopefully it works! We can only wait and see.
I'm a little worried about Nina at the show. I don't want my brother to get hurt if she gives him a hard time. He needs to gain more confidence and pay attention to everything we tell him about handling a rough horse. Even though she's not "rough", she's still playing games similar to Brie when she was 4 years old. Hopefully we don't make idiots of ourselves trying to get the bit hanger over her head.
Wish me luck!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Days 58 & 59
Day 58 - Saturday, 5/8/10
I rode Nina today. This is the first time I've legit rode her. I mean, yeah, I rode her outside, but I never really tried to collect her or anything. It was just for fun. I only walked her around in a circle, making my invisible round pen, because I needed to get used to her. She's very different from Harry and Brie. I have to hold my hands extra far apart because she doesn't like the rein on her neck. She likes to trocha and trot when she can get away with it.
And she hates when you touch the top of her head. I don't know if it's just a game she's playing with us or what, because when Ray and even Andre used to tack her up, they would be perfectly fine getting the bit in and touching the top of her head. She goes crazy when you try to get the bit hanger and jaquima over her ears, trying to rear and everything. I insist that keeping her on the cross ties is not a good idea while trying to tack her up because you could get choked or smacked with those in addition to being pushed over or injured by her, along with them just being in the way.
Harry was pretty good today. His gait is phenomenal, it's just getting him to walk that's tricky. I guess it was the same problem with Brie though, too, back in the day. Ray even gave me a compliment. He told me that I was doing a fantastic job with Harry and that he looks a lot better. =]
Brie was good! She's perfectly, show ready, I feel like. I just wish my parents would agree with me and leave Harry home for this show, since I feel like he's not ready, and let me spend more time getting to know him, and go and show Brie. I feel like all this progress and hard work with Brie will go to waste if I only bring her to show in the State Fair. Ugh.
Day 59 - Sunday, 5/9/10
Today's Nina's birthday! I thought her birthday was coming up soon yesterday, so I checked this morning on her registration papers and it was today! Yay! We brought apples to them in celebration. It definitely made Brie's day a lot more than Nina's!
I didn't ride Nina today. I got in an argument with my mom over bit-inserting techniques. I wish I knew why Nina wasn't accepting the bit into her mouth, or letting us put it over her head. It's so frustrating. And it's so angering that I can only go there twice a week to work with them. It's kind of depressing knowing I've been working on Brie since October and it's only amounted to barely two months of training. If I actually did two months of training, every day, I can only imagine how amazing they would be.
Harry was a little excited when I rode him. He kind of scared me at one point, when he charged past a couple of flags and started hopping all over, so I pulled him to the side and made him flex, but not before he spun like a tornado and the saddle almost wound up underneath him and me on the floor. My mom wanted me to get off and end it, but I wasn't about to let that session end on a bad note. I got off, calmed myself down because I admit I was a little freaked out, adjusted the saddle, talked to him, and got back on. He tried to charge past the flags again on the next time around, but I handled it very well and made him walk and reverse past them a couple of times. He calmed down. He had another phenomenal board. When I do get to showing him, he'll clean up.
Brie was simply amazing today. She walked calmly, she corto-ed perfectly, and didn't break into a canter for her largo. Her performance today only makes me more sad that we might not be able to bring her to the Springfield show.
I rode Nina today. This is the first time I've legit rode her. I mean, yeah, I rode her outside, but I never really tried to collect her or anything. It was just for fun. I only walked her around in a circle, making my invisible round pen, because I needed to get used to her. She's very different from Harry and Brie. I have to hold my hands extra far apart because she doesn't like the rein on her neck. She likes to trocha and trot when she can get away with it.
And she hates when you touch the top of her head. I don't know if it's just a game she's playing with us or what, because when Ray and even Andre used to tack her up, they would be perfectly fine getting the bit in and touching the top of her head. She goes crazy when you try to get the bit hanger and jaquima over her ears, trying to rear and everything. I insist that keeping her on the cross ties is not a good idea while trying to tack her up because you could get choked or smacked with those in addition to being pushed over or injured by her, along with them just being in the way.
Harry was pretty good today. His gait is phenomenal, it's just getting him to walk that's tricky. I guess it was the same problem with Brie though, too, back in the day. Ray even gave me a compliment. He told me that I was doing a fantastic job with Harry and that he looks a lot better. =]
Brie was good! She's perfectly, show ready, I feel like. I just wish my parents would agree with me and leave Harry home for this show, since I feel like he's not ready, and let me spend more time getting to know him, and go and show Brie. I feel like all this progress and hard work with Brie will go to waste if I only bring her to show in the State Fair. Ugh.
Day 59 - Sunday, 5/9/10
Today's Nina's birthday! I thought her birthday was coming up soon yesterday, so I checked this morning on her registration papers and it was today! Yay! We brought apples to them in celebration. It definitely made Brie's day a lot more than Nina's!
I didn't ride Nina today. I got in an argument with my mom over bit-inserting techniques. I wish I knew why Nina wasn't accepting the bit into her mouth, or letting us put it over her head. It's so frustrating. And it's so angering that I can only go there twice a week to work with them. It's kind of depressing knowing I've been working on Brie since October and it's only amounted to barely two months of training. If I actually did two months of training, every day, I can only imagine how amazing they would be.
Harry was a little excited when I rode him. He kind of scared me at one point, when he charged past a couple of flags and started hopping all over, so I pulled him to the side and made him flex, but not before he spun like a tornado and the saddle almost wound up underneath him and me on the floor. My mom wanted me to get off and end it, but I wasn't about to let that session end on a bad note. I got off, calmed myself down because I admit I was a little freaked out, adjusted the saddle, talked to him, and got back on. He tried to charge past the flags again on the next time around, but I handled it very well and made him walk and reverse past them a couple of times. He calmed down. He had another phenomenal board. When I do get to showing him, he'll clean up.
Brie was simply amazing today. She walked calmly, she corto-ed perfectly, and didn't break into a canter for her largo. Her performance today only makes me more sad that we might not be able to bring her to the Springfield show.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Equestrian Team Day 10 and Day 57
Thursday, 4/29
I had probably the best ride today that I've had so far with the team. I had a "more advanced horse" (puhlease) named Cameo. I don't understand why people think mares are so difficult. Actually, scratch that, they are, but I get along quite well with them. Girl power! Ha. So she was pretty short, about the same height as Brie. Apparently she likes to go super fast and refuses jumps. Well I was not about to let her have me fly over her head when she refused a jump, so I made sure to keep my leg on her when we approached jumps. She didn't pull at all. It was great! I got compliments from the trainer and felt overall proud of myself.
Sunday, 5/2
I didn't get to go out yesterday because I had to go to my cousin's communion. I went out today though. I asked Paco to teach me how to lunge Harry so he wouldn't get really excited before I rode him. Paco lunged him for about 20 minutes.
He rode the best that he's ridden since February. It was fantastic. Paco even rode him and I'm really happy that he did because he hasn't been able to since Ray got back in February. I got the chance to watch Nina today. She looked amazing! Her headset is so collected. I only wonder if she'll go back to being Fino. I feel kind of disappointed. I know that you can't make a horse be Fino. But she was at one point. So should I try to push her or not?
I rode Brie today too. She was SO AMAZING, no lie. I'm so excited to show her. I felt a little bad that my mom didn't get to ride. I also felt kind of bad that I tried to canter her. She went berzerk the first time I went around. I don't think I'll do that anymore. I think she was really happy how she was before she cantered and I felt kind of bad after she got all wound up after she cantered. I hope she forgets about that and continues being really good next week.
I also rode Taco today. He was verrrrry uppity because no one's ridden him since I rode him two weeks ago. Oye vey. Energetic horses.
I had probably the best ride today that I've had so far with the team. I had a "more advanced horse" (puhlease) named Cameo. I don't understand why people think mares are so difficult. Actually, scratch that, they are, but I get along quite well with them. Girl power! Ha. So she was pretty short, about the same height as Brie. Apparently she likes to go super fast and refuses jumps. Well I was not about to let her have me fly over her head when she refused a jump, so I made sure to keep my leg on her when we approached jumps. She didn't pull at all. It was great! I got compliments from the trainer and felt overall proud of myself.
Sunday, 5/2
I didn't get to go out yesterday because I had to go to my cousin's communion. I went out today though. I asked Paco to teach me how to lunge Harry so he wouldn't get really excited before I rode him. Paco lunged him for about 20 minutes.
He rode the best that he's ridden since February. It was fantastic. Paco even rode him and I'm really happy that he did because he hasn't been able to since Ray got back in February. I got the chance to watch Nina today. She looked amazing! Her headset is so collected. I only wonder if she'll go back to being Fino. I feel kind of disappointed. I know that you can't make a horse be Fino. But she was at one point. So should I try to push her or not?
I rode Brie today too. She was SO AMAZING, no lie. I'm so excited to show her. I felt a little bad that my mom didn't get to ride. I also felt kind of bad that I tried to canter her. She went berzerk the first time I went around. I don't think I'll do that anymore. I think she was really happy how she was before she cantered and I felt kind of bad after she got all wound up after she cantered. I hope she forgets about that and continues being really good next week.
I also rode Taco today. He was verrrrry uppity because no one's ridden him since I rode him two weeks ago. Oye vey. Energetic horses.
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