It's so good to be riding again. After only a week on vacation, I've missed my horses so much. I could've easily traded my vacation in Hawaii for a week at the stable.
Harry was so full of it after not being exercised for a week and a half. It was refreshing, a nice little mental challenge for both of us, having to work to be on the same wavelength. Normally it would probably annoy me, but it was nice after a week away. We went out to the round pen, which was extremely muddy after some storms, and worked. He took off speeding when I sent him out after I took off the line and he slipped and fell on his rear. All I could see in my mind was him snapping his legs if we kept it up so I called him in. Paco, who was watching, told me to keep working in there and that the mud would help him with his balance. I sent him back out and he lifted his tail, using it like a rudder. He slowed and started using his back legs more noticeably. After about 30 minutes of lunging off rope outside just using my carrot stick and speaking commands, I went into the arena to lunge. Once inside, he didn't want to go out, he kept his front on top of me, especially clockwise. So after a few good tries we went back out and worked specifically on clockwise for a while off rope. Once he was working well, I put the line back on and he started hanging on me again. I kept after him, waving the carrot stick behind him to push him onwards and eventually he went out. Last step was putting the carrot stick aside and just using my arm to push him out. He went well and after using just arm signals and speech to get him to reverse and go out we went back in the arena. No carrot stick.
He was fantastic! He walked! He never tried to pull out on me. Such a good feeling. He was a little excited when I first got on to ride, but he calmed down and we even managed to go outside in the arena and one of the paddocks to ride. The only problem I'm having now is getting him to ride on the rail. No matter how I push with my leg he won't move onto the rail unless he's walking, never while gaiting. Suggestions? I have a month to work on this before the State Fair, no pressure for next week because I'm pretty sure we're not going to the Ohio show anymore.
Never ever get to ride Nina!! =[
I was so proud of Brie today though. We rode outside and I got her to go through a big scary puddle!! It had to be the scariest puddle she ever saw AND there was a frog sitting next to it that we didn't even squish. I also found out while getting her to step in it that she responds soooo much better to leg pressure than bit pressure while turning. When we first saw it and I used the bit more to turn her she was sidestepping. As soon as I eased up for a second and pressed my leg, boom, turned on a dime. We had a good romp outside and after marching back through the puddle, we headed back in for a shower. I really need to wash them all tomorrow. Just looking at them makes me feel all dusty and gritty, no matter how much we clean them.
While we were gone, a farrier from Florida came up and we had our horses trimmed. Nina didn't even need to be sedated! I'm so happy that our work with her has been paying off. Either that or she doesn't like girl farriers. He fixed the huge cracks in Harry's hooves that he got from riding outside. Now we need to put some Rainmaker on his hooves when we're out so they get stronger.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Day 81
One word to describe today: phenomenal.
Gary and Georgina were out today. It's been such a long time since we were united! We talked about the Youth Mundial, which is the kids' world championships, in Puerto Rico last week. Georgina sadly didn't place but they said the USA team didn't really do so well anyways compared to the Latin countries. Figures.
Lunged Harry like yesterday. While lunging him, it occurred to me that he has a big horse body and tiny little horse legs. You don't notice it at first, but it's kind of funny when you do. He's cute in that way. He worked amazingly on his own and did an great board. I took him in the outdoor, which in the walk on the gravel from the indoor to the outdoor led in a huge split in his hoof. He worked well out there though and didn't want to take off. Outside we worked on our largo and he's got it pretty down pat. He never broke into a canter. I think I'll put him in pleasure the rest of this year, maybe one performance class in Ohio in three weeks, but we'll continue working on largo control until next year.
After the outdoor, I took him into one of the grassy paddocks next to the outdoor arena that had some decently sized trees and we walked. I didn't want to just go out in the open yet. We went back in and he worked very nicely, better than ice expected, riding next to three other horses. All in all, he had a great day and I am so proud of him!
Brie was giving my brother a bit of a hard time, but that's probably because he doesn't ride her often and didn't know how to handle her since before I started working with her. She was great for me. We went around the property again, raced up "the mountain" in back and zig sagged around the hay field in front.
Life and weekends are so much happier now that I know what to do with Brie. She's just fantastic outside and in good moods most of the time now. Win win situation!
Gary and Georgina were out today. It's been such a long time since we were united! We talked about the Youth Mundial, which is the kids' world championships, in Puerto Rico last week. Georgina sadly didn't place but they said the USA team didn't really do so well anyways compared to the Latin countries. Figures.
Lunged Harry like yesterday. While lunging him, it occurred to me that he has a big horse body and tiny little horse legs. You don't notice it at first, but it's kind of funny when you do. He's cute in that way. He worked amazingly on his own and did an great board. I took him in the outdoor, which in the walk on the gravel from the indoor to the outdoor led in a huge split in his hoof. He worked well out there though and didn't want to take off. Outside we worked on our largo and he's got it pretty down pat. He never broke into a canter. I think I'll put him in pleasure the rest of this year, maybe one performance class in Ohio in three weeks, but we'll continue working on largo control until next year.
After the outdoor, I took him into one of the grassy paddocks next to the outdoor arena that had some decently sized trees and we walked. I didn't want to just go out in the open yet. We went back in and he worked very nicely, better than ice expected, riding next to three other horses. All in all, he had a great day and I am so proud of him!
Brie was giving my brother a bit of a hard time, but that's probably because he doesn't ride her often and didn't know how to handle her since before I started working with her. She was great for me. We went around the property again, raced up "the mountain" in back and zig sagged around the hay field in front.
Life and weekends are so much happier now that I know what to do with Brie. She's just fantastic outside and in good moods most of the time now. Win win situation!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Day 80
Today was probably the best day in the entire summer so far.
While I was grooming Harry, I got this idea: what if I lunged him in the round pen without his lead rope, just using the carrot stick? I don't know why I didn't think of this before. It seems like the most obvious thing in the world now. So after I braided his mane to train it on one side and his forelock so he can see, we headed out to the round pen armed with only the carrot stick and a lead rope (for some ideas later).
We entered, I unclipped him and walked to the middle and he followed, probably still thinking he was attached. I put my carrot stick and arm out to the side, waved it a little, and off he went. He started out slowly and then realized he was free. He has the cutest little gallop! He galloped around counter clockwise for about 10 minutes until I switched hands and yelled "Reverse!". Well he didn't really get that so I ran to the side of the pen where he saw me, yelled again, and he turned to go clockwise. I did that for a couple of reverses until he got the hang of what a tiny two-legger meant by yelling "reverse" at him. Then I tried to get him to stop on command. He didn't really get it so I had to run to one side and then the other, like the reverse, saying "whoa!" and keeping him from speeding off the other direction until he stopped and looked at me all puzzled. I held out my hand and he came to me, then I told him whoa again. Sent him back out and repeated until I just put my hands down and had to say whoa and he was coming right to me. That impressed Paco =]
After free lunging, I hooked him back up and put my carrot stick to the side and lunged like that. He was gaiting beautifully and keeping his distance from me. I called the reverse just as if I had the carrot stick and he reversed. He did try to stop a couple of times, nothing like Wednesday, but I got him back out without having to chase him; I just waved my arm like I had the carrot stick. He did so well! I let him back off for some final runs around before I called the final whoa, hooked him up, and walked him for a bit because he was dripping hot!
Saddled up and rode. He was positively charming and it makes me so smug to know that Ray watched me the whole time. The only complaint I have today about Harry is that he liked to rush the soundboard in the counterclockwise and so I'm trying to break him of that. Only one shot in the show and the sound board can make or break you! If I wanna win some money, we better have a good sound board!
I finished up completely happy and asked my mom to wash him off while I rode Brie around. A little miffed that I took her away from the crossbreeze in the doorway, we went over to the poles. Is it bad that she knows the pattern I do for the poles? We went around the indoor 4 times before heading out. She was wonderful! It's hard to believe she's the same horse! I have to keep thinking of new routes to take around the limited property, but we have fun. She didn't crowhop at all! I think she genuinely enjoyed herself. I'm so happy I finally found something she likes. If we keep working at it, maybe I'll even get a trail ride down the end of the country-block before summer's over!
While I was grooming Harry, I got this idea: what if I lunged him in the round pen without his lead rope, just using the carrot stick? I don't know why I didn't think of this before. It seems like the most obvious thing in the world now. So after I braided his mane to train it on one side and his forelock so he can see, we headed out to the round pen armed with only the carrot stick and a lead rope (for some ideas later).
We entered, I unclipped him and walked to the middle and he followed, probably still thinking he was attached. I put my carrot stick and arm out to the side, waved it a little, and off he went. He started out slowly and then realized he was free. He has the cutest little gallop! He galloped around counter clockwise for about 10 minutes until I switched hands and yelled "Reverse!". Well he didn't really get that so I ran to the side of the pen where he saw me, yelled again, and he turned to go clockwise. I did that for a couple of reverses until he got the hang of what a tiny two-legger meant by yelling "reverse" at him. Then I tried to get him to stop on command. He didn't really get it so I had to run to one side and then the other, like the reverse, saying "whoa!" and keeping him from speeding off the other direction until he stopped and looked at me all puzzled. I held out my hand and he came to me, then I told him whoa again. Sent him back out and repeated until I just put my hands down and had to say whoa and he was coming right to me. That impressed Paco =]
After free lunging, I hooked him back up and put my carrot stick to the side and lunged like that. He was gaiting beautifully and keeping his distance from me. I called the reverse just as if I had the carrot stick and he reversed. He did try to stop a couple of times, nothing like Wednesday, but I got him back out without having to chase him; I just waved my arm like I had the carrot stick. He did so well! I let him back off for some final runs around before I called the final whoa, hooked him up, and walked him for a bit because he was dripping hot!
Saddled up and rode. He was positively charming and it makes me so smug to know that Ray watched me the whole time. The only complaint I have today about Harry is that he liked to rush the soundboard in the counterclockwise and so I'm trying to break him of that. Only one shot in the show and the sound board can make or break you! If I wanna win some money, we better have a good sound board!
I finished up completely happy and asked my mom to wash him off while I rode Brie around. A little miffed that I took her away from the crossbreeze in the doorway, we went over to the poles. Is it bad that she knows the pattern I do for the poles? We went around the indoor 4 times before heading out. She was wonderful! It's hard to believe she's the same horse! I have to keep thinking of new routes to take around the limited property, but we have fun. She didn't crowhop at all! I think she genuinely enjoyed herself. I'm so happy I finally found something she likes. If we keep working at it, maybe I'll even get a trail ride down the end of the country-block before summer's over!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Day 79
It was way too hot out today for my liking and wearing jeans certainly didn't help, but what could I do? I have to save my cotton breeches for tomorrow's riding lesson.
I was actually pretty thrilled last week when I went on Dover's and got two pairs of Kerrit's breeches for less than the price of one until I got them in the mail and the "specially made Kerrit's fabric" turned out to be mega heavy. Well...I guess I got two nice pairs of winter breeches! Still stuck with my holey, singular pair of summer breeches. What a sadness. Paycheck, please be enough! Momma needs two new pairs of breeches!
My brother rode Nina today and it looked like he was doing a good job. I was lucky enough to be in the arena for that. I didn't ride Harry today; rather, I lunged him for a good 45 minutes. He's doing fantastically in the counter-clockwise direction. It's the clockwise direction that he gives me problems with. He was so good in the counter-clockwise that I was able to step away from the pole and lunge him for about 5 minutes and he behaved. Let's see, the number of times that he pulled out on me in the clockwise: probably about 6 times. The number of times those pull outs were rears? 3 times. I know he's playing games with me and being lazy in that direction. All I can think of to fix it is to keep working on it. At the end of it, he was doing a couple of good height rears where I had to run to one side to pull him back down. There was no way he was getting loose AGAIN. We finished pretty calmly, walk-lunging around the pole and he got a nice shower.
I was so thrilled to ride Brie today. She was fantastic. We did two warmup laps in the indoor and then headed to the outdoor arena. On her way out of the outdoor in an attempt to turn to the pasture, she ran back into the indoor arena but I just pushed her right back around and out we went. We went into two of the paddocks where the gate was left open and explored the trees next to the creek (she wasn't too keen on that) and then headed out to the front hay field. We were so polite, we even got to wave to a guy in his truck! We kind of skipped back to the main drive and then walked behind Gary's house and then back to the barn. She was so good today, it really made all my annoyances with Harry vanish.
On a non-horse note, I can smell changes afoot in the barn. Ray's been a real jerk to everyone lately and now he's starting up with Paco. Everyone is fed up with him and I'm surprised that he isn't gone yet, because Andre was no where near as disliked as Ray (he wasn't even disliked at all, it was his family situation that caused him to leave) and the amount of crap that Andre had to put up with over little things like not being there on Sundays is tremendously ridiculous compared to the pushovers that Ray's turned the boarders into. It's sickening. Ray's taking advantage of all of us (well, not us personally, we fired him) and trying to create problems amongst us boarders, not to mention the back-progress he's done with Gary's horses (which included gelding a formerly magnificent stallion that Andre had looking like a million bucks). I can only hope that he leaves after Nationals and that we can finally get some peace and a non-confrontational trainer, even if I won't be using him or her.
I was actually pretty thrilled last week when I went on Dover's and got two pairs of Kerrit's breeches for less than the price of one until I got them in the mail and the "specially made Kerrit's fabric" turned out to be mega heavy. Well...I guess I got two nice pairs of winter breeches! Still stuck with my holey, singular pair of summer breeches. What a sadness. Paycheck, please be enough! Momma needs two new pairs of breeches!
My brother rode Nina today and it looked like he was doing a good job. I was lucky enough to be in the arena for that. I didn't ride Harry today; rather, I lunged him for a good 45 minutes. He's doing fantastically in the counter-clockwise direction. It's the clockwise direction that he gives me problems with. He was so good in the counter-clockwise that I was able to step away from the pole and lunge him for about 5 minutes and he behaved. Let's see, the number of times that he pulled out on me in the clockwise: probably about 6 times. The number of times those pull outs were rears? 3 times. I know he's playing games with me and being lazy in that direction. All I can think of to fix it is to keep working on it. At the end of it, he was doing a couple of good height rears where I had to run to one side to pull him back down. There was no way he was getting loose AGAIN. We finished pretty calmly, walk-lunging around the pole and he got a nice shower.
I was so thrilled to ride Brie today. She was fantastic. We did two warmup laps in the indoor and then headed to the outdoor arena. On her way out of the outdoor in an attempt to turn to the pasture, she ran back into the indoor arena but I just pushed her right back around and out we went. We went into two of the paddocks where the gate was left open and explored the trees next to the creek (she wasn't too keen on that) and then headed out to the front hay field. We were so polite, we even got to wave to a guy in his truck! We kind of skipped back to the main drive and then walked behind Gary's house and then back to the barn. She was so good today, it really made all my annoyances with Harry vanish.
On a non-horse note, I can smell changes afoot in the barn. Ray's been a real jerk to everyone lately and now he's starting up with Paco. Everyone is fed up with him and I'm surprised that he isn't gone yet, because Andre was no where near as disliked as Ray (he wasn't even disliked at all, it was his family situation that caused him to leave) and the amount of crap that Andre had to put up with over little things like not being there on Sundays is tremendously ridiculous compared to the pushovers that Ray's turned the boarders into. It's sickening. Ray's taking advantage of all of us (well, not us personally, we fired him) and trying to create problems amongst us boarders, not to mention the back-progress he's done with Gary's horses (which included gelding a formerly magnificent stallion that Andre had looking like a million bucks). I can only hope that he leaves after Nationals and that we can finally get some peace and a non-confrontational trainer, even if I won't be using him or her.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Day 78
Didn't ride Brie or Nina.
I got really frustrated with Harry, so much to the point that I actually gave up and let Paco ride him for me. Let me start from the beginning.
I lunged him, it was good. He lunged very calmly and only ran out a couple of times. With the bit changed, I got on him and rode in the indoor. He was pretty uptight about it so I was easy on the bit rein and focused more on the jaquima rein. It worked pretty well. He was decent on the board and overall pretty good.
Then they wanted me to go outside. Not outside running around, but the arena. I'm still not exactly comfortable with that whole idea yet because I don't trust him and he's really skiddish sometimes, but I went out anyways.
He. Would. Not. Walk.
All I want in my life is a horse that will walk calmly. I have one, Nina, but my brother hogs her.
Harry would not walk if I gave him all the carrots in the world. He kept charging forward and I kept holding him back. I kept trying to make him stop and he'd kind of stop and then tap dance, a sign that I learned from Brie that means he wants to rear, so naturally I got really freaked out a little unnerved. After a bunny hop and a spin cycle, I was done. I couldn't handle that emotionally today, so I asked Paco if he could work Harry a little bit for me. I assumed it was just the bit that he was trying to get used to or even didn't like.
So I watched Paco work Harry for almost an hour. Harry had a good few tries at trying to dump Paco, but Paco is just as stubborn as Harry (which is more stubborn than me in recent years, I've become too tame). Back and forth and back and forth they went. Every time Harry went over the sounding board he tried to dump Paco so Paco kept at him until he went straight.
At the end of the day, Paco told me that I need to work him longer. Lunge for at least a half hour, train for at least an hour, and then ride for another hour. I don't know where I'm going to get all of this time and still be able to ride Brie.
Paco insisted that I get back on Harry, despite the emotional changes I was going through, and so I did. I completely blanked out on all of those equitation rules that have been being drilled into my head every Thursday for the past 5 months and just rode. It was beautiful. I'm sure I was the poster of a disastrous equitation student, but I don't care. It was a good ride. With a great deal of help and work from Paco, I also decided that training is not the place for worrying about how fancy and put together I look, because trainers will look like crap most of the time. Instead of focusing so much on how far I'm keeping my heels down, I need to be focusing on what I need to do to stay on for that ride.
So I now need to wake up even earlier on barn days than I do when I work. Fantastic. As much as I'd love to use my weekend to sleep, I know that this will pay off in the end. Now I just need to work on controlling my emotions.
I got really frustrated with Harry, so much to the point that I actually gave up and let Paco ride him for me. Let me start from the beginning.
I lunged him, it was good. He lunged very calmly and only ran out a couple of times. With the bit changed, I got on him and rode in the indoor. He was pretty uptight about it so I was easy on the bit rein and focused more on the jaquima rein. It worked pretty well. He was decent on the board and overall pretty good.
Then they wanted me to go outside. Not outside running around, but the arena. I'm still not exactly comfortable with that whole idea yet because I don't trust him and he's really skiddish sometimes, but I went out anyways.
He. Would. Not. Walk.
All I want in my life is a horse that will walk calmly. I have one, Nina, but my brother hogs her.
Harry would not walk if I gave him all the carrots in the world. He kept charging forward and I kept holding him back. I kept trying to make him stop and he'd kind of stop and then tap dance, a sign that I learned from Brie that means he wants to rear, so naturally I got
So I watched Paco work Harry for almost an hour. Harry had a good few tries at trying to dump Paco, but Paco is just as stubborn as Harry (which is more stubborn than me in recent years, I've become too tame). Back and forth and back and forth they went. Every time Harry went over the sounding board he tried to dump Paco so Paco kept at him until he went straight.
At the end of the day, Paco told me that I need to work him longer. Lunge for at least a half hour, train for at least an hour, and then ride for another hour. I don't know where I'm going to get all of this time and still be able to ride Brie.
Paco insisted that I get back on Harry, despite the emotional changes I was going through, and so I did. I completely blanked out on all of those equitation rules that have been being drilled into my head every Thursday for the past 5 months and just rode. It was beautiful. I'm sure I was the poster of a disastrous equitation student, but I don't care. It was a good ride. With a great deal of help and work from Paco, I also decided that training is not the place for worrying about how fancy and put together I look, because trainers will look like crap most of the time. Instead of focusing so much on how far I'm keeping my heels down, I need to be focusing on what I need to do to stay on for that ride.
So I now need to wake up even earlier on barn days than I do when I work. Fantastic. As much as I'd love to use my weekend to sleep, I know that this will pay off in the end. Now I just need to work on controlling my emotions.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Day 77
I only rode Harry today.
I think I'm going to switch up his bit tomorrow. Right now he has a pretty falt one and I think I'm going to switch it with Nina's. The one that Harry has we originally purchased for Nina, but then Carmello told us that Nina was better off with one like Brie's so we ended up buying another one and gave the leftover to Harry when we got him. Paco said that he had a different bit than one like ours when he was working with Harry, one like Nina's so we're going to try it tomorrow. I only hope that Nina is okay with everything and she doesn't regress.
Why am I making all these changes you ask? I just feel like I can't control Harry. Between the crappy jaquima (we still need to order one) and this bit, everything seems ineffective. He just keeps on plowing onwards. It's like he has no respect for me. I took him outside today and as much as I would've liked to stay outside, I went back in because he would NOT respond to anything I asked of him (such as slowing down) and just did as he pleased. The most I could get him to do was turn, but even that was a yank. I don't want my fists to be up at my shoulders while riding him because that's how much effort I have to put into it, it's just ridiculous.
He was much better lunging today though, now that I know what I'm doing. He only ran out on me maybe twice. I was also very proud of him because I got him to get into the wash rack, something with which he's been having some trouble with the past couple of weeks. He's been scared of it. So I was very proud of both myself and him when I got him in there today.
Mom rode Brie outside for a while. Paco told us that he rode her yesterday and that she was all uptight and upset because she knew after about 20 minutes Paco would take her back into the barn so he stayed out a while longer and she calmed down. I wish I could ride Brie outside but I have to deal with Harry.
My brother rode Nina inside and outside. My mom and he also worked on her legshyness since she's informed us that the farrier should be out in about three weeks. I wasn't there to watch, but it sounded like it went well. No panicky yells or pounding dancing hooves on the concrete, so I assume it all went well.
Wish me luck with the bit change tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be one heck of a day!
I think I'm going to switch up his bit tomorrow. Right now he has a pretty falt one and I think I'm going to switch it with Nina's. The one that Harry has we originally purchased for Nina, but then Carmello told us that Nina was better off with one like Brie's so we ended up buying another one and gave the leftover to Harry when we got him. Paco said that he had a different bit than one like ours when he was working with Harry, one like Nina's so we're going to try it tomorrow. I only hope that Nina is okay with everything and she doesn't regress.
Why am I making all these changes you ask? I just feel like I can't control Harry. Between the crappy jaquima (we still need to order one) and this bit, everything seems ineffective. He just keeps on plowing onwards. It's like he has no respect for me. I took him outside today and as much as I would've liked to stay outside, I went back in because he would NOT respond to anything I asked of him (such as slowing down) and just did as he pleased. The most I could get him to do was turn, but even that was a yank. I don't want my fists to be up at my shoulders while riding him because that's how much effort I have to put into it, it's just ridiculous.
He was much better lunging today though, now that I know what I'm doing. He only ran out on me maybe twice. I was also very proud of him because I got him to get into the wash rack, something with which he's been having some trouble with the past couple of weeks. He's been scared of it. So I was very proud of both myself and him when I got him in there today.
Mom rode Brie outside for a while. Paco told us that he rode her yesterday and that she was all uptight and upset because she knew after about 20 minutes Paco would take her back into the barn so he stayed out a while longer and she calmed down. I wish I could ride Brie outside but I have to deal with Harry.
My brother rode Nina inside and outside. My mom and he also worked on her legshyness since she's informed us that the farrier should be out in about three weeks. I wasn't there to watch, but it sounded like it went well. No panicky yells or pounding dancing hooves on the concrete, so I assume it all went well.
Wish me luck with the bit change tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be one heck of a day!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Days 75 & 76
Sunday
Another rough day lunging Harry. He keeps fishtailing out and I can't pull him back in because he starts to go up. All I can do is stupidly chase him around and try to get him to lunge. It's frustrating. He kept pulling a lot today and wanted to go faster. My hands were tired by the end of the ride. He's doing well though. Paco said for me to use the double reins still. The past couple of times I took them off because he was doing okay, but I guess I need to use them up until a week or so before the show.
Speaking of which, I think our next show is in the beginning of August in Springfield, Ohio. We're leaving Brie behind (that was decided before her meltdown) and bringing Harry and Nina. I'm both looking forward to bringing Harry and our first show together and dreading it at the same time. I hope he doesn't spook at anything that could get me injured. I'm not as young and fearless as I used to be.
Paco's ride yesterday seemed to carry over to today with Brie. She was a complete brat! All I wanted to do was practice walking and corto-ing without stirrups but she kept bunny-hopping so I had to wear them. She wasn't walking straight, she tried to run into Harry (which would've been okay if it was Nina, she loves Nina, but she's not too keen about Harry and I didn't want any kick-battles), and she would NOT reverse properly at all. After a few times cantering around the outdoor arena, she got tired and I brought her in.
Didn't get to ride Nina today because of Brie's psycho attitude.
Monday
It never occurred to me that Brie might actually like going outside. But I'll get to that in a minute.
Harry was better today. Paco told me I was lunging the wrong way (you can imagine how dumb I felt) with the pole and that it was being ineffective. After he showed me how to put the rein around the pole, Harry was much better and much calmer. Paco said that since Harry already knows how to charge ahead, he needs to learn how to walk, which I'd been working on, and that the pole is a good way to teach him. It definitely worked, because when I rode him, 9 times out of 10 when I wanted him to walk he walked. I'm now working on reinforcing that because Harry likes to just go when he decides to go, which is not gonna happen. He needs to learn that he can only corto when I ask him to, not just whenever he feels like it. He started out very energetic and uppity but then calmed down. Still wasn't going as slow as I would've liked, but it was progress from yesterday.
Onto Brie. She was pretty calm in the indoor arena. Walked right along, so I decided I wanted to go for a bit in the outdoor arena. She zigzagged as always out of the barn and into the arena and was pretty calm going around, snorting her little heart out. We walked and corto-ed mostly and it was really enjoyable. We worked on some serpentines which she absolutely hated at first but then got the hang of it. I was ready to go in and I assumed she was ready to go in, since every time we passed the gate she'd lean that direction, knocking my boot against the fence. I wanted to break this bad habit so I went to the other side of the arena and wanted to make a straight line out the gate.
Definitely was not happening. She would make it halfway there calmly at a walk before she started hopping. After about 15 minutes, we got out of the gate and I was trying to go straight into the barn, not sideways into the ATV and manure spreader next to the door, and she did a little rear. The first rear she's done since I was about 14 on her! I didn't even really register it because my eyes were pretty much squinted closed from the sun, so I felt it as pretty quickly and instinctively pulled her to the side. For about a split second I wanted to just go into the barn and be done with it, but we moved back into the outdoor arena for a few more laps around. After she snorted her heart out again, I tried to make the straight line out. Still not happening. It then occurred to me: "She's resisting going into the barn...maybe she likes being out here?" Which was completely weird because all the time I've had her she's always acted crazy going back to the barn from any sort of outdoor activity and I always assumed it was her excitement to go back, but it now occurred to me that maybe I was wrong.
So after my mom helped us get out the gate, we walked outside. Yes. We WALKED. Astonishing!! We walked the front pasture and she wanted to go out the gate of the property (but that was not happening. Don't wanna take a mile when given an inch). We walked back behind Gary's house and along the trees. We cantered in a circle for a while and then walked some more. I wanted her to walk along the trees but she veered off towards the mini mountain of dirt back there, snorting all the way. That's what really did it for me. She likes being outside. She's not this barn sour diva. She's a real horse. She loves the sunshine demons and the wind monsters. I was so happy at the end of the ride, which she completed by going straight into the barn without zigzags or bunnyhops, that I could have cried.
I finally know what to do with her. I don't need to "turn her into a trail horse" because she is one. I need to ride outside every chance I get and for a lonnng time and we'll both be happy. This has to be the best feeling in the world. While she may be nutty and quirky, there's never a dull moment with Brie. She really is a gift given to me to give me patience and hope that no matter how difficult an obstacle might be, I will get over it some day if I only have some patience and understanding.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Day 74
I finally got to ride Nina today!!
If every horse went on trail like Nina does, a lot more people would have horses. She's absolutely fantastic on trail. She's so calm and mellow and takes everything in stride. That ride with her today was definitely the most relaxing ride I've had for a longggg time.
Harry is having difficulties going clockwise lunging. I'm pretty sure it's just him being a brat. I don't know how to get over it other than more lunging, but he won't even let me get on his side to push him out, he continues to back up and match my steps. It's so much easier to do when I'm riding him. Should I just work on it riding first and then move to the ground or should I spend an entire day trying to get him to lunge?
He's collecting very nicely. He was almost in Fino a couple of times, but I think that was mostly him being nervous. But as Andre used to say "Hey, if he gives it to me, I'll take it. I won't push him" and that's exactly what I'll do. If he wants to Fino when he's nervous, go for it! It might carry over to when he's not nervous.
I'm so proud of Harry. I took him out on a mini-trail ride for the first time today. Apparently, it was the first time he's even been on trail! He did pretty well, he had a few little "omg omg omg there's a FLY IN MY HAIR" moments, but he was pretty good as long as he knew where Paco was.
Speaking of Paco.
Paco rode Brie today. It was insane.
So I don't know if you remember back when I said that she has to have some time to warm up and what not to stretch out her back legs. Well, I'm convinced of the need for stretching but Paco wasn't buying it. He was convinced that she just does that to see what she can get away with because she doesn't want to work. She stalled out on him a good number of times but he kept on. To say that she was mad has to be the understatement of the year. Her eyes were the wildest I've seen so far and she fought with him right up until the end. He went on the mini-trail ride with us and she did well on the way out, she usually does, and she was crazy (also usual) once she turned back around and saw the barn. There's a little hill in the back of the barn and Paco went up and down it on the way out and was going to go on it the way back. She literally stopped halfway down the hill and refused to move but he got her moving! Stubborn for stubborn. I would've been the same way. I remember I used to have that much energy before we had Harry to train.
But I think that today was good for Brie, as angry as she may have been. There's just one thing I was worried about at the end of the day. After we cooled her and washed her, I noticed as we were leaving that she didn't eat any of her hay. This is very unlike Brie, she always gobbles up every last scrap of food but that hay was untouched and she made no move for it when she went back in the stall. I only hope that she isn't sick and that she was so horrible because she was sick, because if she is sick, there's no way I'll be able to forgive myself for letting her go through all of that today.
If every horse went on trail like Nina does, a lot more people would have horses. She's absolutely fantastic on trail. She's so calm and mellow and takes everything in stride. That ride with her today was definitely the most relaxing ride I've had for a longggg time.
Harry is having difficulties going clockwise lunging. I'm pretty sure it's just him being a brat. I don't know how to get over it other than more lunging, but he won't even let me get on his side to push him out, he continues to back up and match my steps. It's so much easier to do when I'm riding him. Should I just work on it riding first and then move to the ground or should I spend an entire day trying to get him to lunge?
He's collecting very nicely. He was almost in Fino a couple of times, but I think that was mostly him being nervous. But as Andre used to say "Hey, if he gives it to me, I'll take it. I won't push him" and that's exactly what I'll do. If he wants to Fino when he's nervous, go for it! It might carry over to when he's not nervous.
I'm so proud of Harry. I took him out on a mini-trail ride for the first time today. Apparently, it was the first time he's even been on trail! He did pretty well, he had a few little "omg omg omg there's a FLY IN MY HAIR" moments, but he was pretty good as long as he knew where Paco was.
Speaking of Paco.
Paco rode Brie today. It was insane.
So I don't know if you remember back when I said that she has to have some time to warm up and what not to stretch out her back legs. Well, I'm convinced of the need for stretching but Paco wasn't buying it. He was convinced that she just does that to see what she can get away with because she doesn't want to work. She stalled out on him a good number of times but he kept on. To say that she was mad has to be the understatement of the year. Her eyes were the wildest I've seen so far and she fought with him right up until the end. He went on the mini-trail ride with us and she did well on the way out, she usually does, and she was crazy (also usual) once she turned back around and saw the barn. There's a little hill in the back of the barn and Paco went up and down it on the way out and was going to go on it the way back. She literally stopped halfway down the hill and refused to move but he got her moving! Stubborn for stubborn. I would've been the same way. I remember I used to have that much energy before we had Harry to train.
But I think that today was good for Brie, as angry as she may have been. There's just one thing I was worried about at the end of the day. After we cooled her and washed her, I noticed as we were leaving that she didn't eat any of her hay. This is very unlike Brie, she always gobbles up every last scrap of food but that hay was untouched and she made no move for it when she went back in the stall. I only hope that she isn't sick and that she was so horrible because she was sick, because if she is sick, there's no way I'll be able to forgive myself for letting her go through all of that today.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Paso Fino Encyclopedia post is here!
That's right! Everything you've ever wanted to know about Paso Finos has been delivered to you, as promised. Just scroll down the left side of my blog or click here. It's complete with pictures and videos!
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