Last post of 2011! Of course I spent the last day with my lovely horses. I couldn't help but have that "holiday" feel while I rode them though -- like even though I was riding, it was a break.
I rode Harry for the longest. As usual, Saturday isn't his best day, but we're getting better at longeing. I think it's partially because Paco is longeing him whenever he gets the chance now, which I appreciate. He wanted to go a bit fast today, so I let him. I wasn't really worried about keeping him in a collected corto as opposed to a relaxed corto. I think he's finally getting comfortable and confident with himself.
My mom, on the other hand, who rode him after I did, said that she was having a hard time. I couldn't really notice because I was trying to keep Brie from flying away with me. Not saying that she was bad, she was just very hyper today. If there was ever a day that Brie wasn't hyper, I would have to be seriously worried about her!
After, we wished them a Happy New Year and said we wouldn't see them until next year. It's so weird saying that, it feels like such a long time, but I can't wait to go out and ride this weekend. It's back to school for me on Tuesday (ugh), so I know I'll need the break!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Day 190
Saturday
As you all know, I was super excited to feed them all their Christmas salads today! I made them with iceberg lettuce, golden delicious apples, and baby carrots. Brie, Harry, and Nina each got their own. I think it's safe to say that they enjoyed them! Harry has found a new favorite food in lettuce =] But before they got to eat their salads, they had to face the big scary tarp in the middle of the aisle. Paco put it up to keep the heat on our side since there aren't any horses on the other end and they all freaked out when they stepped out of their stalls and saw it!
After I fed them their salads, we tried to teach Harry some Bella Forma. For those of you who don't know, it's basically like a confirmation class. The horse has two handlers on the ground and we hold lines attached to his bridle and walk around withe him to show his gait. We did this with Nina when she was little, and my brother wanted to try it with Harry because it was Christmas. He tried with my mom and I could tell they were getting stressed, especially my brother because he was having Nina-like expectations of Harry, who knows nothing about Bella Forma. I went and tried with my mom and Harry I got scared at one point that Harry would kick me because he swung his butt over towards me, so I dropped the rope like I'm supposed to and he freaked, bolted out on my mom and got the rope twisted around his leg. He was running in a circle around her until she managed to get him in close enough to stop and untangle the rope and after that, no more Bella Forma for Harry. We don't want to get killed and we don't want him to break a leg. It's really the sort of thing that you're supposed to start with a horse when they're young.
So after that, we rode for a little bit before we stopped and talked to Paco and Gary for a long time. We cleaned em up, said Merry Christmas, and then left...only to return so I could grab my camera hanging on Brie's stall. So now I can show you pictures!!
As you all know, I was super excited to feed them all their Christmas salads today! I made them with iceberg lettuce, golden delicious apples, and baby carrots. Brie, Harry, and Nina each got their own. I think it's safe to say that they enjoyed them! Harry has found a new favorite food in lettuce =] But before they got to eat their salads, they had to face the big scary tarp in the middle of the aisle. Paco put it up to keep the heat on our side since there aren't any horses on the other end and they all freaked out when they stepped out of their stalls and saw it!
After I fed them their salads, we tried to teach Harry some Bella Forma. For those of you who don't know, it's basically like a confirmation class. The horse has two handlers on the ground and we hold lines attached to his bridle and walk around withe him to show his gait. We did this with Nina when she was little, and my brother wanted to try it with Harry because it was Christmas. He tried with my mom and I could tell they were getting stressed, especially my brother because he was having Nina-like expectations of Harry, who knows nothing about Bella Forma. I went and tried with my mom and Harry I got scared at one point that Harry would kick me because he swung his butt over towards me, so I dropped the rope like I'm supposed to and he freaked, bolted out on my mom and got the rope twisted around his leg. He was running in a circle around her until she managed to get him in close enough to stop and untangle the rope and after that, no more Bella Forma for Harry. We don't want to get killed and we don't want him to break a leg. It's really the sort of thing that you're supposed to start with a horse when they're young.
So after that, we rode for a little bit before we stopped and talked to Paco and Gary for a long time. We cleaned em up, said Merry Christmas, and then left...only to return so I could grab my camera hanging on Brie's stall. So now I can show you pictures!!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Days 188 + 189
Saturday
Worked with Harry again today. I noticed that he had a crack in his hoof...maybe we're making them too hard? We've been using Tuff Stuff on them and since we started using it, he's been cracking. We're going to switch back to Rain Maker tomorrow. I didn't know, but Paco longed him during the week. He was much relaxed when I longed him and only stopped on me twice. Major improvements!
He was good in the gait and even went pretty fast for largo! I'm super proud of him, he's really coming along now that I'm not trying to do everything for him. I know it's only been a weekend, but he seems happier.
Brie was giving Mom a hard time today. She kept hopping and skipping and overall being Brie. I'll get some sense into her tomorrow.
Sunday
Mom rode Harry first and I rode Brie first. We don't know if she's still kicking the stall. I do know that I want to make her a salad for Christmas! I've looked it up and it's not bad for them as long as you don't give them a lot. So I'm going to make them all a small salad with apples and carrots. I hope they like it!
Paco cut off the chip in Harry's hoof today. The farrier's not coming back out until January, so we'll have to make sure it doesn't crack any further up his hoof.
Mom said that Harry was being an angel! I'm so glad that he's getting better, it's like he's growing up. She worked him longer on the barbada rein than I usually do, but she said that when she switched over to the bit rein, he was "as smooth as glass"! He sounded awesome on the board too, so mission accomplished!
Brie was really pulling, maybe because she was a bit confused. I wanted to work on leg contact, since it's something we never do and I figured that since I've only been trying to teach her to canter FOREVER it would be a good idea to get her used to since she jumps in reaction to when I ask her with my leg as opposed to just loosening the reins. If I ever want to teach her flying lead changes, she'd need the leg contact part, not just the reins, so I want to do it the right way. So we worked on maintaining a good speed while I kept contact in the walk and corto. She largo'd a bit, but only after a long time of working at a corto. When I did start asking her at the very end for canter, my main goal was not only keeping it at a sane speed, but picking it up right away instead of pacing and then getting the lead. Every time she'd start pacing to pick it up, I'd slow her back down into a corto and try again at the next corner. She was eventually getting it, but then lost the canter halfway down the long wall, but as long as she's picking it up, our goal was accomplished! I only hope she doesn't think that means to charge the corners from now on, as we've been working so hard to stop from doing that.
I was amazed that it was warm out, well, warm enough out, so we gave them all a hose down. Next time we see them will be Christmas Eve! I can't wait to give them their salads!
Worked with Harry again today. I noticed that he had a crack in his hoof...maybe we're making them too hard? We've been using Tuff Stuff on them and since we started using it, he's been cracking. We're going to switch back to Rain Maker tomorrow. I didn't know, but Paco longed him during the week. He was much relaxed when I longed him and only stopped on me twice. Major improvements!
He was good in the gait and even went pretty fast for largo! I'm super proud of him, he's really coming along now that I'm not trying to do everything for him. I know it's only been a weekend, but he seems happier.
Brie was giving Mom a hard time today. She kept hopping and skipping and overall being Brie. I'll get some sense into her tomorrow.
Sunday
Mom rode Harry first and I rode Brie first. We don't know if she's still kicking the stall. I do know that I want to make her a salad for Christmas! I've looked it up and it's not bad for them as long as you don't give them a lot. So I'm going to make them all a small salad with apples and carrots. I hope they like it!
Paco cut off the chip in Harry's hoof today. The farrier's not coming back out until January, so we'll have to make sure it doesn't crack any further up his hoof.
Mom said that Harry was being an angel! I'm so glad that he's getting better, it's like he's growing up. She worked him longer on the barbada rein than I usually do, but she said that when she switched over to the bit rein, he was "as smooth as glass"! He sounded awesome on the board too, so mission accomplished!
Brie was really pulling, maybe because she was a bit confused. I wanted to work on leg contact, since it's something we never do and I figured that since I've only been trying to teach her to canter FOREVER it would be a good idea to get her used to since she jumps in reaction to when I ask her with my leg as opposed to just loosening the reins. If I ever want to teach her flying lead changes, she'd need the leg contact part, not just the reins, so I want to do it the right way. So we worked on maintaining a good speed while I kept contact in the walk and corto. She largo'd a bit, but only after a long time of working at a corto. When I did start asking her at the very end for canter, my main goal was not only keeping it at a sane speed, but picking it up right away instead of pacing and then getting the lead. Every time she'd start pacing to pick it up, I'd slow her back down into a corto and try again at the next corner. She was eventually getting it, but then lost the canter halfway down the long wall, but as long as she's picking it up, our goal was accomplished! I only hope she doesn't think that means to charge the corners from now on, as we've been working so hard to stop from doing that.
I was amazed that it was warm out, well, warm enough out, so we gave them all a hose down. Next time we see them will be Christmas Eve! I can't wait to give them their salads!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Day 187
Sunday
Whenever I get told I'm doing something wrong, I feel insanely stupid. I feel even worse about it when I came up with it on my own and wanted to believe my hardest that it was working.
Longeing Harry today was kind of hard. Apparently, it made Paco nervous as he watched, so he came over and intervened. Grumbling, I did what he told me to, which was to throw the carrot stick on the floor, tie up the pisador, and longe Harry from his noseband like he had said two weeks ago. Sigh.
Harry is entirely different from Brie and Nina in that he won't longe if you push him from behind and he'll only go if you literally lead him by the nose. It's really weird and I have no idea how to get him to do it the proper way, but if this works, then I guess I'll have to go with it.
Once we got the longeing out of the way, his ride was great. Sundays are (almost) always better than Saturdays because we've had Saturday to warm up and remember "Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be working". He was going a tiny bit faster in his largo than yesterday which was great! The only thing is it wasn't entirely in gait, but it was closer to gaiting than pacing, so that's progress. I'm just gonna keep pushing the speed until he's confident that he won't lose his step.
Brie, on the other hand, is still kicking the wall. Jane heard her the other day when she was visiting Taco and said she was going to town on the wall. So we've decided that, if it's okay with Gary, that we're going to install rubber mats around Brie's stall. Oh Brie, she's going to live in a padded cell!
Whenever I get told I'm doing something wrong, I feel insanely stupid. I feel even worse about it when I came up with it on my own and wanted to believe my hardest that it was working.
Longeing Harry today was kind of hard. Apparently, it made Paco nervous as he watched, so he came over and intervened. Grumbling, I did what he told me to, which was to throw the carrot stick on the floor, tie up the pisador, and longe Harry from his noseband like he had said two weeks ago. Sigh.
Harry is entirely different from Brie and Nina in that he won't longe if you push him from behind and he'll only go if you literally lead him by the nose. It's really weird and I have no idea how to get him to do it the proper way, but if this works, then I guess I'll have to go with it.
Once we got the longeing out of the way, his ride was great. Sundays are (almost) always better than Saturdays because we've had Saturday to warm up and remember "Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be working". He was going a tiny bit faster in his largo than yesterday which was great! The only thing is it wasn't entirely in gait, but it was closer to gaiting than pacing, so that's progress. I'm just gonna keep pushing the speed until he's confident that he won't lose his step.
Brie, on the other hand, is still kicking the wall. Jane heard her the other day when she was visiting Taco and said she was going to town on the wall. So we've decided that, if it's okay with Gary, that we're going to install rubber mats around Brie's stall. Oh Brie, she's going to live in a padded cell!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Day 186
I knew this day would come, but I was really hoping winter would put off the below freezing temperatures for just a couple more weeks.
I worked only with Harry today. While I was grooming him, he unzipped my coat. Silly horse, I need that to stay warm! I got the carrot stick again and went out to longe him and he was sure feeling the nip in the air when he tried to take off before we even started! I got him back and moderately calm and then Ray came in the arena with Ken, the colt. I mentioned it before and I'll say it again: Harry does NOT like Ray at all. After Ray came in, Harry was a nervous wreck. He finished longeing quietly while Ray longed on the opposite side of the arena. When I got on Harry to do circlework, Ray was also riding around, and Harry was running out from under me and skipping and tap-dancing...everything. I was trying my best to keep him calm and make him pay attention to me. I would be lying if I said it worked, because he was only slowing down as I pulled the reins, but still skipping and jumping. He only calmed down when Ray left the arena.
After Ray left, Harry and I flexed and worked serpentines. We went out on the wall and it took a lap or so to get him in gait without jumping or pacing after we walked, but once he got there, he was beautiful. He felt confident in his step and perfectly in gait! We're trying to work on lengthening his largo now and it will definitely take some time for his confidence to build while largoing, but he was doing well today. He'll to even better tomorrow! Hopefully it's not as cold!
I worked only with Harry today. While I was grooming him, he unzipped my coat. Silly horse, I need that to stay warm! I got the carrot stick again and went out to longe him and he was sure feeling the nip in the air when he tried to take off before we even started! I got him back and moderately calm and then Ray came in the arena with Ken, the colt. I mentioned it before and I'll say it again: Harry does NOT like Ray at all. After Ray came in, Harry was a nervous wreck. He finished longeing quietly while Ray longed on the opposite side of the arena. When I got on Harry to do circlework, Ray was also riding around, and Harry was running out from under me and skipping and tap-dancing...everything. I was trying my best to keep him calm and make him pay attention to me. I would be lying if I said it worked, because he was only slowing down as I pulled the reins, but still skipping and jumping. He only calmed down when Ray left the arena.
After Ray left, Harry and I flexed and worked serpentines. We went out on the wall and it took a lap or so to get him in gait without jumping or pacing after we walked, but once he got there, he was beautiful. He felt confident in his step and perfectly in gait! We're trying to work on lengthening his largo now and it will definitely take some time for his confidence to build while largoing, but he was doing well today. He'll to even better tomorrow! Hopefully it's not as cold!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Day 185
Harry worked so much better today! I started out longeing him right from the get go with the carrot stick and using his jaquima instead of the bosal band, just to see how he would react and if he would try to fishtail. He was so calm! He only got a little nervous and didn't really fishtail, more like stop and look at me when another rider went over the sound board, but he was a very good boy longeing today.
Getting on, we worked circles and flexed like yesterday, except today I had a couple of goals. One, I wanted to work only on the bit rein once we were done flexing, and two, I wanted to stop trying to do everything for him and let him figure it out for himself. After reading a bit of Casey's blog yesterday, I realized how is Harry going to perform better if we're always trying to tell him exactly what to do and do everything for him, like he's incapable of figuring it out himself? I'm proud to say that we accomplished both of those goals! I never had to pick up the second rein the entire time we rode and while we started off a little bumpy, Harry worked things out for himself beautifully.
When we first started out, he was tap dancing and skipping and speeding around the corners, and apparently he wasn't looking too show-y according to my mom. But as we worked and as I gave him more freedom to find his place in what I wanted, an energetic and collected corto, he grew right into the part! We even went for a largo that was surprisingly well collected! Even my mom complimented me on what I did with him when she got on him to ride afterwards. I'm so proud of Harry and proud of myself for letting my overbearing tendencies go and letting him figure it out for himself, because he's really a smart boy! I hope that today was an indicator of things to come!
Then afterwards, I got on Brie and we had some fun for a short ride. Going from Harry to Brie is like night and day! Maybe part of it is going from a Passier saddle to a Wintec, but she's like a mountain compared to Harry, and they're only really a hand's height of difference! She wanted to run run run, but I calmed her down and kept her back in a manageable corto. We ended nicely and they got another bath! I thought that the last of them would come last weekend, but it was warm enough in the barn to get them wet. I really do think that this week we need to prepare some vinegar to spray them with to clean them this weekend, since it's expected to snow this week!
Getting on, we worked circles and flexed like yesterday, except today I had a couple of goals. One, I wanted to work only on the bit rein once we were done flexing, and two, I wanted to stop trying to do everything for him and let him figure it out for himself. After reading a bit of Casey's blog yesterday, I realized how is Harry going to perform better if we're always trying to tell him exactly what to do and do everything for him, like he's incapable of figuring it out himself? I'm proud to say that we accomplished both of those goals! I never had to pick up the second rein the entire time we rode and while we started off a little bumpy, Harry worked things out for himself beautifully.
When we first started out, he was tap dancing and skipping and speeding around the corners, and apparently he wasn't looking too show-y according to my mom. But as we worked and as I gave him more freedom to find his place in what I wanted, an energetic and collected corto, he grew right into the part! We even went for a largo that was surprisingly well collected! Even my mom complimented me on what I did with him when she got on him to ride afterwards. I'm so proud of Harry and proud of myself for letting my overbearing tendencies go and letting him figure it out for himself, because he's really a smart boy! I hope that today was an indicator of things to come!
Then afterwards, I got on Brie and we had some fun for a short ride. Going from Harry to Brie is like night and day! Maybe part of it is going from a Passier saddle to a Wintec, but she's like a mountain compared to Harry, and they're only really a hand's height of difference! She wanted to run run run, but I calmed her down and kept her back in a manageable corto. We ended nicely and they got another bath! I thought that the last of them would come last weekend, but it was warm enough in the barn to get them wet. I really do think that this week we need to prepare some vinegar to spray them with to clean them this weekend, since it's expected to snow this week!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Day 184
Harry had a reintroduction to the carrot stick today.
First, let me start off by saying that Taco is now on our side! They were all set up like I described last week, but Paco told us that Brie is still kicking and kicked out a board in the front of her stall this past week, so we moved her back on the end so it's just her next to Harry and a wall. I hope she stops kicking. I don't know what to do! We're gonna look for toys to put in her stall to occupy her from the kicking, and if that fails then we're gonna have to suck it up and buy some rubber matting for the walls. If you have any suggestions on how to deal with this, please tell me!!
Back to Harry. I worked him today. We started out longeing on his bosal (noseband) like we had decided last week and he was doing okay in his usual direction and then started pulling me around the arena in the clockwise direction. After about 20 minutes of being slowly dragged across the arena by his fishtailing, I had enough and got the carrot stick. Using it behind him was such a transformation! He didn't run away from it and he just walked, observant of it behind him. After doing that for a while, we stopped because that's all I really wanted from him at that point, to not drag me around anymore and go about it calmly! Then I put it on the ground and he was scared to step over it. *shakes head* What a strange horse.
Getting on him, we worked lots of circles and spirals and serpentines to warm up first, then we went at a walk. He started out nicely and then started speeding up, but I managed him. Going into his corto, he was tap dancing a lot and I had to play around with my weight and position until he stopped and was happy. Then I started trying to push him faster into a largo and we go faster counterclockwise than clockwise...makes no sense! But we'll keep working at it. I'm so confused as to how to go about this with him. Should I work on collecting his corto or should I keep pushing him to go faster? I don't know. All I know is that I watched a video today of when Paco used to ride him as a stallion and he was sure speeding around (in comparison to how he goes now) without breaking gait! Is it the bit? Is it me? What is going on?! I have no idea. Maybe tomorrow I'll take off the jaquima rein and just work the bit and see how that goes.
First, let me start off by saying that Taco is now on our side! They were all set up like I described last week, but Paco told us that Brie is still kicking and kicked out a board in the front of her stall this past week, so we moved her back on the end so it's just her next to Harry and a wall. I hope she stops kicking. I don't know what to do! We're gonna look for toys to put in her stall to occupy her from the kicking, and if that fails then we're gonna have to suck it up and buy some rubber matting for the walls. If you have any suggestions on how to deal with this, please tell me!!
Back to Harry. I worked him today. We started out longeing on his bosal (noseband) like we had decided last week and he was doing okay in his usual direction and then started pulling me around the arena in the clockwise direction. After about 20 minutes of being slowly dragged across the arena by his fishtailing, I had enough and got the carrot stick. Using it behind him was such a transformation! He didn't run away from it and he just walked, observant of it behind him. After doing that for a while, we stopped because that's all I really wanted from him at that point, to not drag me around anymore and go about it calmly! Then I put it on the ground and he was scared to step over it. *shakes head* What a strange horse.
Getting on him, we worked lots of circles and spirals and serpentines to warm up first, then we went at a walk. He started out nicely and then started speeding up, but I managed him. Going into his corto, he was tap dancing a lot and I had to play around with my weight and position until he stopped and was happy. Then I started trying to push him faster into a largo and we go faster counterclockwise than clockwise...makes no sense! But we'll keep working at it. I'm so confused as to how to go about this with him. Should I work on collecting his corto or should I keep pushing him to go faster? I don't know. All I know is that I watched a video today of when Paco used to ride him as a stallion and he was sure speeding around (in comparison to how he goes now) without breaking gait! Is it the bit? Is it me? What is going on?! I have no idea. Maybe tomorrow I'll take off the jaquima rein and just work the bit and see how that goes.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 7
Tuesday
This was officially my last lesson of the quarter! It was spontaneous. One of the girls was able to get her car and drive us out there, and I'm glad that I got to end my quarter on such a good note.
I rode Wonder, this little white mare. She was kind of hard to get going, but Stacy had me working on transitions more than anything else. I wish I could just pick up the right diagonal when I start posting, I always have to switch and it bugs me that I know that I have to switch right as Stacy's telling me to. Ugh! I wish there were some trotty horses at my barn so I could practice for free over the winter without going out to lessons, especially when I'm not working over break, paying every week for lessons sure adds up!
At the end of the lesson, Stacy said that she thought that Wonder was "too much horse for me". I'm not really sure what she meant by that, because I thought I was handling her fine. She got spooked twice on one end of the arena because of construction noises and although I could have handled it like I would've the Pasos, I didn't know if I would get yelled at for flexing her far to the side into a circle to stop, so I did a big-ish circle to calm her down. It's not like I was going to fall off. I mean, yeah they shouldn't spook, but I don't know if they've worked under construction before, so it could've been okay for them to be scared of the noise. I thought I had a great lesson because I was able to recognize the wrong diagonals and not have to wait until Stacy told me when they were wrong and that as the lesson continued I got better at asking lazy Wonder to pick up her trot and canter.
Oh well. I can't wait to show Stacy how much horse I can handle! She's going to come out and ride at my barn over the break! I can't wait to show her what I deal with, where my roots are. I'm sure she'll just be amazed at how much we stress being like rubber-band flexible, because every time I circle a horse in a circle that I think is huge compared to what we do, she's always like "Not so small! You don't do that on these horses until at least third level dressage!"
Oh and a random note -- that show I was going to go to this upcoming weekend, yeah we're not going to it anymore. There aren't any gaited classes. I supposed I could take Brie for the barrel racing class for fun, but it wouldn't be worth giving up a day of training just for that, especially since it'd be the first time we'd ever do that!
This was officially my last lesson of the quarter! It was spontaneous. One of the girls was able to get her car and drive us out there, and I'm glad that I got to end my quarter on such a good note.
I rode Wonder, this little white mare. She was kind of hard to get going, but Stacy had me working on transitions more than anything else. I wish I could just pick up the right diagonal when I start posting, I always have to switch and it bugs me that I know that I have to switch right as Stacy's telling me to. Ugh! I wish there were some trotty horses at my barn so I could practice for free over the winter without going out to lessons, especially when I'm not working over break, paying every week for lessons sure adds up!
At the end of the lesson, Stacy said that she thought that Wonder was "too much horse for me". I'm not really sure what she meant by that, because I thought I was handling her fine. She got spooked twice on one end of the arena because of construction noises and although I could have handled it like I would've the Pasos, I didn't know if I would get yelled at for flexing her far to the side into a circle to stop, so I did a big-ish circle to calm her down. It's not like I was going to fall off. I mean, yeah they shouldn't spook, but I don't know if they've worked under construction before, so it could've been okay for them to be scared of the noise. I thought I had a great lesson because I was able to recognize the wrong diagonals and not have to wait until Stacy told me when they were wrong and that as the lesson continued I got better at asking lazy Wonder to pick up her trot and canter.
Oh well. I can't wait to show Stacy how much horse I can handle! She's going to come out and ride at my barn over the break! I can't wait to show her what I deal with, where my roots are. I'm sure she'll just be amazed at how much we stress being like rubber-band flexible, because every time I circle a horse in a circle that I think is huge compared to what we do, she's always like "Not so small! You don't do that on these horses until at least third level dressage!"
Oh and a random note -- that show I was going to go to this upcoming weekend, yeah we're not going to it anymore. There aren't any gaited classes. I supposed I could take Brie for the barrel racing class for fun, but it wouldn't be worth giving up a day of training just for that, especially since it'd be the first time we'd ever do that!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Days 182 + 183
Saturday
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans! While I'm sad that today was probably the last warm day of the year, it's a good thing because it's supposed to be cold in November. Unfortunately, that means that my horses will be quite stinky until it warms up enough to give them a bath. I can only shudder when I remember how dirty they got last year.
I thought that Brie was perfect today. She was responsive, well-mannered, and flexible. Perfect in every way --- until she hit the board. It was the most bizarre experience, being on Brie when she sounded like she was pacing. She's never been out of gait since she finished training 7 years ago. I thought, "Could I possibly be doing something wrong? Could she not really be as flexible as I thought she was being?" So we did circles and she still wasn't gaiting. My mom suggested that I ease up and let her just walk because it might have been her arthritis acting up. I felt so bad after that! It's so hard to remember that she might be in pain...my poor baby is getting old. =[ But after a nice (most likely) final bath of the year, she seemed pretty happy to go back and continue eating, as usual.
The reason why her leg could be bothering her is because she's KICKING THE STALL so much!!! I don't know what's her problem! Is she hungry? Is she bored? She has a salt lick and a Jolly Ball to play with. She gets outside. It's the saddest thing, especially when it looks like we'll have to be replacing the boards on the wall soon!
Mom worked with Harry today. He was being such a brat longeing! Paco had to step in and we've now made the decision that he won't be working off of the pisador when he's longeing anymore. He'll be working off of his noseband. I do not understand him. It's not that he ever wants to go too fast to stop him, it's that he speeds off and then fishtails out and back, pulling you forward. You would think that after a year of working on this, he would get the picture without having his nose held.
Sunday
Exciting news today! Taco is going to move over to our side of the barn! But now the baby has to take his place on the other side. I'll miss him =[ We don't usually go over there because it's where Ray keeps all of his horses and where the Gary keeps his and Ray just generally excludes us, but we'll have to wander over now and then to visit the cutie pie!
So now that Taco is moving over, we have to rework the stalls. Going back to Brie's kicking, Paco mentioned that maybe even though Nina and Brie grew up together, it's just a mare thing. It's funny that we never thought of that before because we humanized them so much. "Oh they love each other! It must be something else." But it's worth a shot. We know that Brie hates Harry from when she first started kicking to make damage to her stall and it stopped when she was on the end next to Nina for a while, but Paco says it's gotten horrible lately. So we're going to try moving Brie in between Taco and Harry and then putting Nina on the end. It might make her mad that she's next to Harry, but she seems to like Taco and hopefully her like for Taco outweighs her hate for Harry.
She was much better today, gaiting like normal. It must've been her leg bothering her yesterday. We worked more on flexibility today and keeping her corto contained after a largo, because usually after she largos she just wants to fly at a corto, but that won't do if I want to convince my parents to bring her along to shows this year!
I also got to ride Harry today after my mom worked with him. We put weighted bracelets on his back legs again to see if they would help with his tap-dancing, but I don't think they did...Anyways, we're figuring out what we want to do with his largo/corto difference and we're trying to collect his corto a little more and push is largo a little bit. Just a little in each direction. Going counterclockwise he works phenomenally, but clockwise is a little harder (just like longeing). After some fighting on the counterclockwise, we settled into a super collected corto and a smooth but not very fast largo. Clockwise, I fought with him the entire time until Paco told me to just walk and then quit after he gave in at a walk. I have a feeling that if Harry were a person, we wouldn't get along very well, we're both stubborn. But he did give me a nice walk at the end, so I'll give him that.
The farrier also came this afternoon. We did Brie without tranqing her, which is what's normal. She's 10, she's used to this, but he wanted her tranq'd every time he came out before this. I'm glad she was able to show what a good girl she is for the farrier. We started Harry but when he got to the front feet Harry started to try and rear, so we had to tranq him. Of course we needed to tranq Nina. I wonder if she'll ever be able to do it without being drugged...maybe we should lessen the amount each time until she can remember that it's okay? They're all going barefoot for the winter time, so I hope they don't get any cracks!
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans! While I'm sad that today was probably the last warm day of the year, it's a good thing because it's supposed to be cold in November. Unfortunately, that means that my horses will be quite stinky until it warms up enough to give them a bath. I can only shudder when I remember how dirty they got last year.
I thought that Brie was perfect today. She was responsive, well-mannered, and flexible. Perfect in every way --- until she hit the board. It was the most bizarre experience, being on Brie when she sounded like she was pacing. She's never been out of gait since she finished training 7 years ago. I thought, "Could I possibly be doing something wrong? Could she not really be as flexible as I thought she was being?" So we did circles and she still wasn't gaiting. My mom suggested that I ease up and let her just walk because it might have been her arthritis acting up. I felt so bad after that! It's so hard to remember that she might be in pain...my poor baby is getting old. =[ But after a nice (most likely) final bath of the year, she seemed pretty happy to go back and continue eating, as usual.
The reason why her leg could be bothering her is because she's KICKING THE STALL so much!!! I don't know what's her problem! Is she hungry? Is she bored? She has a salt lick and a Jolly Ball to play with. She gets outside. It's the saddest thing, especially when it looks like we'll have to be replacing the boards on the wall soon!
Mom worked with Harry today. He was being such a brat longeing! Paco had to step in and we've now made the decision that he won't be working off of the pisador when he's longeing anymore. He'll be working off of his noseband. I do not understand him. It's not that he ever wants to go too fast to stop him, it's that he speeds off and then fishtails out and back, pulling you forward. You would think that after a year of working on this, he would get the picture without having his nose held.
Sunday
Exciting news today! Taco is going to move over to our side of the barn! But now the baby has to take his place on the other side. I'll miss him =[ We don't usually go over there because it's where Ray keeps all of his horses and where the Gary keeps his and Ray just generally excludes us, but we'll have to wander over now and then to visit the cutie pie!
So now that Taco is moving over, we have to rework the stalls. Going back to Brie's kicking, Paco mentioned that maybe even though Nina and Brie grew up together, it's just a mare thing. It's funny that we never thought of that before because we humanized them so much. "Oh they love each other! It must be something else." But it's worth a shot. We know that Brie hates Harry from when she first started kicking to make damage to her stall and it stopped when she was on the end next to Nina for a while, but Paco says it's gotten horrible lately. So we're going to try moving Brie in between Taco and Harry and then putting Nina on the end. It might make her mad that she's next to Harry, but she seems to like Taco and hopefully her like for Taco outweighs her hate for Harry.
She was much better today, gaiting like normal. It must've been her leg bothering her yesterday. We worked more on flexibility today and keeping her corto contained after a largo, because usually after she largos she just wants to fly at a corto, but that won't do if I want to convince my parents to bring her along to shows this year!
I also got to ride Harry today after my mom worked with him. We put weighted bracelets on his back legs again to see if they would help with his tap-dancing, but I don't think they did...Anyways, we're figuring out what we want to do with his largo/corto difference and we're trying to collect his corto a little more and push is largo a little bit. Just a little in each direction. Going counterclockwise he works phenomenally, but clockwise is a little harder (just like longeing). After some fighting on the counterclockwise, we settled into a super collected corto and a smooth but not very fast largo. Clockwise, I fought with him the entire time until Paco told me to just walk and then quit after he gave in at a walk. I have a feeling that if Harry were a person, we wouldn't get along very well, we're both stubborn. But he did give me a nice walk at the end, so I'll give him that.
The farrier also came this afternoon. We did Brie without tranqing her, which is what's normal. She's 10, she's used to this, but he wanted her tranq'd every time he came out before this. I'm glad she was able to show what a good girl she is for the farrier. We started Harry but when he got to the front feet Harry started to try and rear, so we had to tranq him. Of course we needed to tranq Nina. I wonder if she'll ever be able to do it without being drugged...maybe we should lessen the amount each time until she can remember that it's okay? They're all going barefoot for the winter time, so I hope they don't get any cracks!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Day 181
Oh Harry. I don't know what I'm going to do with him.
I only rode him today and we worked for a longgggg time. We started out just doing some circle-work and some serpentines around different parts of the arena. I was trying to get him to work off of my leg and he was getting it, slowly but surely. His corto was great, but we've had better. Then we start working on the largo and all he's doing is pacing. He's completely out of gait 90% of the time. I try shuffling my reins to regroup him -- doesn't work. I try pushing him back and forth in rhythm with my legs -- doesn't work. I try gently pulling his head to the side every couple of steps to regroup -- doesn't work. I try stopping and starting, slowing down the gait, flexing...nothing is working. I have no idea how to get him into rhythm when he starts going faster. He seems to completely overwhelm and lose it.
At least we worked on going on the rail straight. We got that down great after a couple rides around. But it's that darn gait that's going to get us. My mom's been working on it since August, but I can't tell any improvement. All we know is that he can't go very fast in the largo otherwise he loses it. So where are we supposed to go from here? Are we supposed to work on collecting and shortening his corto even more, or are we supposed to try and get him to relax and lengthen into his largo? Either way, we need a bigger difference in speed than we have right now.
I only rode him today and we worked for a longgggg time. We started out just doing some circle-work and some serpentines around different parts of the arena. I was trying to get him to work off of my leg and he was getting it, slowly but surely. His corto was great, but we've had better. Then we start working on the largo and all he's doing is pacing. He's completely out of gait 90% of the time. I try shuffling my reins to regroup him -- doesn't work. I try pushing him back and forth in rhythm with my legs -- doesn't work. I try gently pulling his head to the side every couple of steps to regroup -- doesn't work. I try stopping and starting, slowing down the gait, flexing...nothing is working. I have no idea how to get him into rhythm when he starts going faster. He seems to completely overwhelm and lose it.
At least we worked on going on the rail straight. We got that down great after a couple rides around. But it's that darn gait that's going to get us. My mom's been working on it since August, but I can't tell any improvement. All we know is that he can't go very fast in the largo otherwise he loses it. So where are we supposed to go from here? Are we supposed to work on collecting and shortening his corto even more, or are we supposed to try and get him to relax and lengthen into his largo? Either way, we need a bigger difference in speed than we have right now.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 6
I think this was my last lesson of the quarter. And guess what! I didn't canter or jump! Nope, I got stuck with riding without stirrups. I'm seriously wondering how I didn't break my pelvic bone after that, it was so painful. Clearly, I'm not very strong-legged.
I got paired with Ranger today, who is probably the size of a T-Rex. I kid you not, he's the most massively tall horse that I've ever ridden, but he's super sweet and SUPER SLOW. I could not get that sucker to trot quickly for more than one long wall. Hence, why Stacy put me on him. She said my legs are "like a jello mold. They look good, but are ineffective." Thanks. I like jello, anyways...
Even though I was annoyed that I couldn't get Ranger to keep a steady pace, I'm happy I got paired with him. I can handle almost any type of high-strung horse, but stick me on a half-asleep snoozetown like Ranger and who I picked for the show last weekend and I'm completely useless. I kind of hope I get paired with him more until the next show because all of the IHSA horses are like Ranger and I need to know how to keep them awake!
I got paired with Ranger today, who is probably the size of a T-Rex. I kid you not, he's the most massively tall horse that I've ever ridden, but he's super sweet and SUPER SLOW. I could not get that sucker to trot quickly for more than one long wall. Hence, why Stacy put me on him. She said my legs are "like a jello mold. They look good, but are ineffective." Thanks. I like jello, anyways...
Even though I was annoyed that I couldn't get Ranger to keep a steady pace, I'm happy I got paired with him. I can handle almost any type of high-strung horse, but stick me on a half-asleep snoozetown like Ranger and who I picked for the show last weekend and I'm completely useless. I kind of hope I get paired with him more until the next show because all of the IHSA horses are like Ranger and I need to know how to keep them awake!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Day 180
I really want to start working Harry first again.
I worked with Brie, which was fine. She was a firecracker today and even cantered on her longe, which she hasn't done in a while. But it took me a while to work out the skip in her step in the beginning and then we flew around the arena in a corto much faster than I wanted, so I was working on slowing her down. The fun show is in 3 weeks and I'm not expecting to win or anything, it would just be nice to make it through the class alive and not excused! So maybe I'll just keep working her first the next three weekends.
But I miss working Harry first. I got him second today and didn't really know how to handle him. We're supposed to be working on his largo, but I really enjoy his collected corto so I never want to and then when I go to, I don't know fast he can go without breaking or pacing so it's frustrating. Just as I was started to get frustrated with him, my brother decided that he wanted to play horse show with everyone riding. This ended up being a good thing because it took my focus off of being frustrated with Harry and put it on listening to my brother's speed commands.
I feel bad that I was angry with Harry. He's really a good boy and I know he's trying. It's just me who doesn't know how to get what I want out of him. This is why I want to work him first, because I feel like after my mom rides him, I feel like I can't work him as much because he's tired and I feel bad asking him to do a lot. I wish I could ride every day...then I'd have so much time to figure him out.
I worked with Brie, which was fine. She was a firecracker today and even cantered on her longe, which she hasn't done in a while. But it took me a while to work out the skip in her step in the beginning and then we flew around the arena in a corto much faster than I wanted, so I was working on slowing her down. The fun show is in 3 weeks and I'm not expecting to win or anything, it would just be nice to make it through the class alive and not excused! So maybe I'll just keep working her first the next three weekends.
But I miss working Harry first. I got him second today and didn't really know how to handle him. We're supposed to be working on his largo, but I really enjoy his collected corto so I never want to and then when I go to, I don't know fast he can go without breaking or pacing so it's frustrating. Just as I was started to get frustrated with him, my brother decided that he wanted to play horse show with everyone riding. This ended up being a good thing because it took my focus off of being frustrated with Harry and put it on listening to my brother's speed commands.
I feel bad that I was angry with Harry. He's really a good boy and I know he's trying. It's just me who doesn't know how to get what I want out of him. This is why I want to work him first, because I feel like after my mom rides him, I feel like I can't work him as much because he's tired and I feel bad asking him to do a lot. I wish I could ride every day...then I'd have so much time to figure him out.
Equestrian Team Fall - NU @ Notre Dame
My first team show of the year! I had a lot of fun. I was debating whether or not I should drive down with the team or go home and drive down in the morning with my family and I decided to go with the team. I'm so happy I did, I feel like I bonded with people =]
On our drive down Friday night, we stopped to see one of our team mates who's in the hospital. This was the first time that I'd meet her. She's so sweet and so young (she's a freshman)! I really hope that she gets better soon.
Then we hit the road for Indiana. The drive seemed so short and as soon as we got to the hotel, I crashed. I didn't even hear another girl come in to share the bed upstairs, that's how tired I was.
There's something about waking up early for a horse show...you know? It's so hard to wake up early for school or work or anything else except a horse show. I could probably wake up at 3 AM for one if I had to! Waking up bright and early, polishing my boots and heading out to the arena, we watched the home team warm up the horses.
Now, I find out that my class is second to last. Wonderful. At least it gives me the opportunity to watch everyone else compete, which is one of the most fun parts. One of our riders, Amy, lost a stirrup on her jumping class and completed the course almost spot on! Of course, she didn't get first, but it was amazing to see someone be able to do that! I certainly would've fallen and probably broken my neck.After a long day of photography, it was finally my class. In Intercollegiate showing, we just randomly pick a horse out of a hat really and have no time to warm him up and aren't allowed to ride him before we get into the show arena. It's supposed to make it a fair test of horsemanship or something like that. Anyways, I get a horse and he's supposed to be push button. Of course, I didn't know that meant half-asleep!
I start off the class switching from what I thought was the wrong diagonal to the actual wrong diagonal then have to switch back again. That really bugged me because I switched 3 times until I thought I was right, then found out I was wrong. Ugh! So points marked for that. Then going into the canter I could not get this guy to canter soon enough and his canter was really wonky so I couldn't tell if he had the right leads either. On the reverse, I thought I had the wrong lead, so I broke into a trot to pick it back up and apparently it looked really bad...
In the end, I got 5th...it's an understatement to say that I was disappointed. I really just wanted to win. I thought I had everything down pat before I got to the show and the one thing that REALLY bothers me is that I messed up my diagonals. I'm not even mad about the cantering. It's that I STILL don't have those darned diagonals down. So more work. The next show is in March, so I have a long way to go to perfect that and really feel them, since I'm just starting to be able to. Here's to working to ensure my first place next time!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 5
It's so funny how one week can be the complete opposite from the next.
So remember last week when I was all moody and felt like crying in the middle of my lesson for no apparent reason? Well my hormones are back in check and this week was AMAZING.
First of all, I got to ride with my shmexy show boots a la my mom. I'm telling you, putting the $60 into reconstructing the soles was really worth it, because I didn't have to go through the pain of breaking them in. Thank God that younger-version-of-my-mom and I have the same calf width and shoe size!
So after shining them up from digging them out of the basement this past weekend, I was feeling mighty awesome. Once again, I'm riding Tommy (who looked like he fell into a mud pit for about a week). And I have exciting news.
I CAN FEEL MY DIAGONALS! I never felt them before! It's only taken a year to finally feel that I'm on the wrong one (when I'm paying attention) and switch. I just hope that I don't get too freaked out at the show to forget that and ride the wrong diagonal the entire class, but I'm sure that won't happen.
But wait, there's more.
I JUMPED PERFECTLY!
The first one I got left behind on because I was hesitant, thinking about last week. But then I told myself to get over it and I GOT OVER IT! LITERALLY! My heels were down, my legs on contact, my speed perfect, my position right on key. It was such an incredible feeling to just sail over my little oxer and not fall forward or backwards and stick the landing! I'm so happy =]
Stacy had nothing but good things to tell me. She's confident that I'll place in the show this weekend if I ride like I did today. Also, I'm banned from wearing anything else except my mom's boots from now on. Stacy said that I rode much better in them and I could feel it too. While they still kind of hurt because of one of the wrinkles digging in my ankle every once in a while, they were much better than my Steed paddocks that I've been wearing. Those are especially stiff on my ankle. So I'll just bring those back home to kick around the barn in when I feel like wearing jeans, which will pretty much be all winter until it snows and I wear my insulated Mountain Horse boots.
It's an understatement to say that today was a good day. Can't wait to compete this weekend!
So remember last week when I was all moody and felt like crying in the middle of my lesson for no apparent reason? Well my hormones are back in check and this week was AMAZING.
First of all, I got to ride with my shmexy show boots a la my mom. I'm telling you, putting the $60 into reconstructing the soles was really worth it, because I didn't have to go through the pain of breaking them in. Thank God that younger-version-of-my-mom and I have the same calf width and shoe size!
So after shining them up from digging them out of the basement this past weekend, I was feeling mighty awesome. Once again, I'm riding Tommy (who looked like he fell into a mud pit for about a week). And I have exciting news.
I CAN FEEL MY DIAGONALS! I never felt them before! It's only taken a year to finally feel that I'm on the wrong one (when I'm paying attention) and switch. I just hope that I don't get too freaked out at the show to forget that and ride the wrong diagonal the entire class, but I'm sure that won't happen.
But wait, there's more.
I JUMPED PERFECTLY!
The first one I got left behind on because I was hesitant, thinking about last week. But then I told myself to get over it and I GOT OVER IT! LITERALLY! My heels were down, my legs on contact, my speed perfect, my position right on key. It was such an incredible feeling to just sail over my little oxer and not fall forward or backwards and stick the landing! I'm so happy =]
Stacy had nothing but good things to tell me. She's confident that I'll place in the show this weekend if I ride like I did today. Also, I'm banned from wearing anything else except my mom's boots from now on. Stacy said that I rode much better in them and I could feel it too. While they still kind of hurt because of one of the wrinkles digging in my ankle every once in a while, they were much better than my Steed paddocks that I've been wearing. Those are especially stiff on my ankle. So I'll just bring those back home to kick around the barn in when I feel like wearing jeans, which will pretty much be all winter until it snows and I wear my insulated Mountain Horse boots.
It's an understatement to say that today was a good day. Can't wait to compete this weekend!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Day 179
Happy Halloween everyone! Well, almost Halloween anyways. Harry was sure in the mood today.
We rode for such a long time today. I started off on Brie. I need to work on her flexibility because yesterday when Paco rode her he said that she was very stiff on her turns. This could be something that I had just gotten used to, but I need to work on it. I don't want her to be sore after riding just because she's not flexible. So we did lots of circles, spirals, serpentines and reverses and she was compliant. She had a bit of a fast streak, but she never broke into a canter on the corners, so I was proud of her for that. Apparently she was worse off for my mom later on when we switched, but I think it might've been just that she was angry because she was getting tired.
Before my mom rode her though, my brother and I switched. I just got to walk Nina around, which is all I ever want to do when I ride Nina. She's so laid back and relaxed. I would just bring her out on trails all the time, she's perfect for it. But after a short time on Nina, I switched with my mom who had been working Harry for a good chunk of time.
She's been trying to work on Harry's largo since he paces when he goes too fast because his legs can't keep up with his brain, so he was flying around the arena today. I wanted to get him a little bit more collected so we did our corto and crossed the sounding board and then walked to cool.
While all this is going on, Samantha, this little girl who comes for lessons, was riding Tobacco and Jane was riding Taco, while Kimmy was riding Sadie. Jane insisted that I ride Taco because John was popping in and out through out the day to see how Taco was doing. So I hop on. First thing Taco does is speed away with me and start cantering down the long wall! I try my hardest to remember to not pull on his mouth because he manages to get a hold of the bit between his teeth and pull away with the rider, so I'm quickly pulling and releasing to try to get him to slow down the first lap around the arena and then pull up to Paco, who directs me to pull his head to the wall to get him to slow down until he realizes I mean business.
So after a couple of laps around, I finally settle into Taco and we understand each other. He performs beautifully! This was probably the best ride I've had on him to date. He takes the board perfectly and I'm so glad that John was there to see it. He sent me this picture he took of me and Taco.
I would love to show him for John and Jane. He's so much fun once you know how to handle him. There's a fun show coming up in December and I fully intend on dragging Brie down there to get back in the hang of showing again since we need to beat our nemesis this year!
Before my mom rode her though, my brother and I switched. I just got to walk Nina around, which is all I ever want to do when I ride Nina. She's so laid back and relaxed. I would just bring her out on trails all the time, she's perfect for it. But after a short time on Nina, I switched with my mom who had been working Harry for a good chunk of time.
She's been trying to work on Harry's largo since he paces when he goes too fast because his legs can't keep up with his brain, so he was flying around the arena today. I wanted to get him a little bit more collected so we did our corto and crossed the sounding board and then walked to cool.
While all this is going on, Samantha, this little girl who comes for lessons, was riding Tobacco and Jane was riding Taco, while Kimmy was riding Sadie. Jane insisted that I ride Taco because John was popping in and out through out the day to see how Taco was doing. So I hop on. First thing Taco does is speed away with me and start cantering down the long wall! I try my hardest to remember to not pull on his mouth because he manages to get a hold of the bit between his teeth and pull away with the rider, so I'm quickly pulling and releasing to try to get him to slow down the first lap around the arena and then pull up to Paco, who directs me to pull his head to the wall to get him to slow down until he realizes I mean business.
So after a couple of laps around, I finally settle into Taco and we understand each other. He performs beautifully! This was probably the best ride I've had on him to date. He takes the board perfectly and I'm so glad that John was there to see it. He sent me this picture he took of me and Taco.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Day 178
I brought Emily from the Equestrian Team out to the barn today!! It was so nice to have someone else to ride with and teach allllll about my lovely Pasos!
She comes from a polo background, and apparently didn't learn how to actually ride/do all the required horsey things before they set her on a pony and told her to chase that ball! So I got to teach her how to groom and tack up and longe. The tack part might be conflicting with the English tack, but it's similar enough.
I was going to set her on Brie, but Paco got out Extremo and warmed him up for Emily. Emily got on Extremo and oh boy, away they went! I could tell she was freaking out because Extremo kept pulling her into the middle whenever she wanted to go fast. After much instruction from Paco and myself, she finally got him under control though! She even looked like she was enjoying him because she was making the right corrections and handling him very well once she got the hang of it! Now she knows how hard of a transition it is for me from Pasos to hunter/jumpers every week! They're pretty much polar opposites!
At one point, I switched from Brie (who Paco started to ride, lucky her) to Harry. After chasing Extremo and Emily around for a while, Jane asked me if I could ride Taco, and Emily switched onto Nina. While Taco was pulling me around the arena at the start, my mom stayed with Emily and told her how to ride Nina (basically, you just sit on her). Emily liked Nina WAY more than Extremo =] Which makes me happy. My horses are awesome.
Once I got a hold of Taco, Emily offered to get off and let Jane ride Nina because she insisted Nina was so perfect. Jane was a little hesitant, but of course she fell in love with Nina who continuously walked, which is all Jane's looking for!
After that, we all gave the horses baths, mucked and fed, and then we started to barbeque. Ray wasn't there this weekend, which worked out perfectly for bringing Emily and having this little party. We made chicken and steak tacos and mexican rice and had cupcakes and apple pie and pasta salad and potato salad...a true feast! After eating until we exploded, we talked, handed out carrots, we packed up for the ride home, during which Emily, my brother, and I all slept the entire ride home.
So not much training on the home-front today, but it's always good to just get out and share your love of horses with other people!
She comes from a polo background, and apparently didn't learn how to actually ride/do all the required horsey things before they set her on a pony and told her to chase that ball! So I got to teach her how to groom and tack up and longe. The tack part might be conflicting with the English tack, but it's similar enough.
I was going to set her on Brie, but Paco got out Extremo and warmed him up for Emily. Emily got on Extremo and oh boy, away they went! I could tell she was freaking out because Extremo kept pulling her into the middle whenever she wanted to go fast. After much instruction from Paco and myself, she finally got him under control though! She even looked like she was enjoying him because she was making the right corrections and handling him very well once she got the hang of it! Now she knows how hard of a transition it is for me from Pasos to hunter/jumpers every week! They're pretty much polar opposites!
At one point, I switched from Brie (who Paco started to ride, lucky her) to Harry. After chasing Extremo and Emily around for a while, Jane asked me if I could ride Taco, and Emily switched onto Nina. While Taco was pulling me around the arena at the start, my mom stayed with Emily and told her how to ride Nina (basically, you just sit on her). Emily liked Nina WAY more than Extremo =] Which makes me happy. My horses are awesome.
Once I got a hold of Taco, Emily offered to get off and let Jane ride Nina because she insisted Nina was so perfect. Jane was a little hesitant, but of course she fell in love with Nina who continuously walked, which is all Jane's looking for!
After that, we all gave the horses baths, mucked and fed, and then we started to barbeque. Ray wasn't there this weekend, which worked out perfectly for bringing Emily and having this little party. We made chicken and steak tacos and mexican rice and had cupcakes and apple pie and pasta salad and potato salad...a true feast! After eating until we exploded, we talked, handed out carrots, we packed up for the ride home, during which Emily, my brother, and I all slept the entire ride home.
So not much training on the home-front today, but it's always good to just get out and share your love of horses with other people!
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 4
(completely forgot to post this so it's gonna be in past tense)
Wednesday I went out to my lesson with more new people, as usual. In fact, Emily has been the only person who I've driven there twice!
So we get out there and tack up and what not. I'm riding Tommy again. I'm not feeling entirely in balance, which my mom later chops up to possibly having my stirrups be too short. So I'm going to lengthen them more and see how that works this week. But anyways, so my trot is good, but I don't practice two-pointing around before I start going into jumps. The pick up on the canter was great, I was really good with my commands on that.
Then I start going into the jumps. I'm not sure why, but I just get this feeling of huge dread in my chest. I was thinking, "Why am I ready to freaking cry, I couldn't wait to jump!" So I go over the first one and he rushed over it and in my attempt to slow him down and balance the two point, we pop over it. So I tell Stacy I'm going to take a walk around before I start again because at this point in my head I'm ready to burst into tears (I don't know why I was super emotional that day).
After our walk around, now I'm determined. Control the horse, chest up, ribs down, go WITH Tommy over the fence. It was okay, but my position wasn't as straight as I wanted it to be. I was too focused on keeping my heels down. Last time over, my position was awesome, but I stood on my toes. I balanced, but I know that's the wrong thing to do so even though I felt steady as a rock with an awesome torso, I still felt horrible at the end of the lesson because I stood on my toes instead of sinking into my heels.
Good thing I'm not jumping this weekend. I was so eager to start, but after crying to my mom about it afterwards and hearing the advice about the stirrups, I'm okay with waiting a while. I'd rather not jump, even maybe waiting to enter jumping classes until after I graduate and am off the team because I'd rather have a super solid foundation and not cut corners so that way when I get my own jumper I can actually win.
I just really need to win the flat class!!
Wednesday I went out to my lesson with more new people, as usual. In fact, Emily has been the only person who I've driven there twice!
So we get out there and tack up and what not. I'm riding Tommy again. I'm not feeling entirely in balance, which my mom later chops up to possibly having my stirrups be too short. So I'm going to lengthen them more and see how that works this week. But anyways, so my trot is good, but I don't practice two-pointing around before I start going into jumps. The pick up on the canter was great, I was really good with my commands on that.
Then I start going into the jumps. I'm not sure why, but I just get this feeling of huge dread in my chest. I was thinking, "Why am I ready to freaking cry, I couldn't wait to jump!" So I go over the first one and he rushed over it and in my attempt to slow him down and balance the two point, we pop over it. So I tell Stacy I'm going to take a walk around before I start again because at this point in my head I'm ready to burst into tears (I don't know why I was super emotional that day).
After our walk around, now I'm determined. Control the horse, chest up, ribs down, go WITH Tommy over the fence. It was okay, but my position wasn't as straight as I wanted it to be. I was too focused on keeping my heels down. Last time over, my position was awesome, but I stood on my toes. I balanced, but I know that's the wrong thing to do so even though I felt steady as a rock with an awesome torso, I still felt horrible at the end of the lesson because I stood on my toes instead of sinking into my heels.
Good thing I'm not jumping this weekend. I was so eager to start, but after crying to my mom about it afterwards and hearing the advice about the stirrups, I'm okay with waiting a while. I'd rather not jump, even maybe waiting to enter jumping classes until after I graduate and am off the team because I'd rather have a super solid foundation and not cut corners so that way when I get my own jumper I can actually win.
I just really need to win the flat class!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 3
I'd just like you to know that there's a small hurricane going on outside my window over Lake Michigan right now. That is all.
As for my lesson, I'm so angry at myself! The flat was absolute perfection. Even though I had to fight a bit at the beginning with my new horse Sunny to get a canter as opposed to a fast trot, it was SO GOOD.
Then comes the jumping. I'm always getting left behind now! I think it's because of my fear that I'll go over the top and fall off by anticipating the jump, but I almost fell off from being left behind tonight =[ Stacy really tried to explain it in every way that she could to make me go WITH Sunny over the jump, but it just wasn't happening. Maybe I was thinking about it too much? What do you think I should do to help?
Also, I'd just like to say that after riding Paso Finos for so long and now trying to go back to hunt seat is ridiculously hard for me to conceptualize the correct leg position. I'm so not used to having my leg so far back, it feels like I'm going to topple over. I don't really understand how that's going to help me keep my balance...but I'll try.
Next week Stacy's promised Emily and I to do all no-stirrup work. Whoopee. =/
As for my lesson, I'm so angry at myself! The flat was absolute perfection. Even though I had to fight a bit at the beginning with my new horse Sunny to get a canter as opposed to a fast trot, it was SO GOOD.
Then comes the jumping. I'm always getting left behind now! I think it's because of my fear that I'll go over the top and fall off by anticipating the jump, but I almost fell off from being left behind tonight =[ Stacy really tried to explain it in every way that she could to make me go WITH Sunny over the jump, but it just wasn't happening. Maybe I was thinking about it too much? What do you think I should do to help?
Also, I'd just like to say that after riding Paso Finos for so long and now trying to go back to hunt seat is ridiculously hard for me to conceptualize the correct leg position. I'm so not used to having my leg so far back, it feels like I'm going to topple over. I don't really understand how that's going to help me keep my balance...but I'll try.
Next week Stacy's promised Emily and I to do all no-stirrup work. Whoopee. =/
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Day 177
I hate when my farrier is late.
I mean, I do enjoy that he takes his time when he gets to our barn, but that means also waiting around while he takes his time on other people's horses at their barns before he gets to ours. Which sometimes means showing up at 5pm instead of noon.
We didn't get to stick around to see Nina being trimmed because I had to get back to school, but we tranq'd her and Paco was going to be there to help out.
On the other hand, after my mom rode Harry today, we found out that he severely cracked his hoof just from being on the rocks for a second on his way out the arena into the grass. I had a picture, but I can't get it off my phone right now. So the farrier tried to fix it and basically told us we can't ride Harry until Thanksgiving now because he had to take off a big piece to fix the chunk that happened with the crack. =[ This makes me beyond depressed.
I rode Brie today. She was really good, but stocked up again. We're thinking maybe it's time for another cortisone shot for her arthritis again, because when she's warmed up and ready to start going faster, she snorts, and it took her a long time for her to snort today before she was warmed up. We're going good with the largo, we only break in the corners now in the counter clockwise direction, but we'll be able to fix that by Spring. There might be a local fun show coming up in November, so I'm hoping we can take Brie to that to get her used to being back out in the show ring!
Today, I also rode Kimmy's horse, Sadie. She's an Icelandic Pony/Foxtrotter who was trained for barrel racing...which is an interesting mix. O.o Anyways, Jane, who's Kimmy's grandma, said that Sadie could use all the practice she could get since Kimmy's having trouble with her doing anything really because Sadie hasn't been ridden too often for over a year now. Boy, was that horse snotty! She almost ran over everyone standing by the arena door at least 4 times trying to get back to her stall and tried a couple of little rear/jumps on me too until my mom had to lead me away from everyone for their safety and stand by the pole and make me do circle work. Then Sadie started to calm down. Apparently, she never gaits, but Sadie was gaiting when I was really looking forward to doing some extra trot/canter transitions. In all, Kimmy has a lot of work a head of her, but I'll take the chance to ride any horse I can get! Especially now that Harry's out for the next month =[
I was proud at the end though. Paco congratulated me on riding Sadie so well because apparently she gave Kimmy a really hard time last weekend and Kimmy got off crying. So that made me happy =]
I mean, I do enjoy that he takes his time when he gets to our barn, but that means also waiting around while he takes his time on other people's horses at their barns before he gets to ours. Which sometimes means showing up at 5pm instead of noon.
We didn't get to stick around to see Nina being trimmed because I had to get back to school, but we tranq'd her and Paco was going to be there to help out.
On the other hand, after my mom rode Harry today, we found out that he severely cracked his hoof just from being on the rocks for a second on his way out the arena into the grass. I had a picture, but I can't get it off my phone right now. So the farrier tried to fix it and basically told us we can't ride Harry until Thanksgiving now because he had to take off a big piece to fix the chunk that happened with the crack. =[ This makes me beyond depressed.
I rode Brie today. She was really good, but stocked up again. We're thinking maybe it's time for another cortisone shot for her arthritis again, because when she's warmed up and ready to start going faster, she snorts, and it took her a long time for her to snort today before she was warmed up. We're going good with the largo, we only break in the corners now in the counter clockwise direction, but we'll be able to fix that by Spring. There might be a local fun show coming up in November, so I'm hoping we can take Brie to that to get her used to being back out in the show ring!
Today, I also rode Kimmy's horse, Sadie. She's an Icelandic Pony/Foxtrotter who was trained for barrel racing...which is an interesting mix. O.o Anyways, Jane, who's Kimmy's grandma, said that Sadie could use all the practice she could get since Kimmy's having trouble with her doing anything really because Sadie hasn't been ridden too often for over a year now. Boy, was that horse snotty! She almost ran over everyone standing by the arena door at least 4 times trying to get back to her stall and tried a couple of little rear/jumps on me too until my mom had to lead me away from everyone for their safety and stand by the pole and make me do circle work. Then Sadie started to calm down. Apparently, she never gaits, but Sadie was gaiting when I was really looking forward to doing some extra trot/canter transitions. In all, Kimmy has a lot of work a head of her, but I'll take the chance to ride any horse I can get! Especially now that Harry's out for the next month =[
I was proud at the end though. Paco congratulated me on riding Sadie so well because apparently she gave Kimmy a really hard time last weekend and Kimmy got off crying. So that made me happy =]
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Day 176
It was just me and my mom today! When we arrived, Paco said he had a surprise for us and it turned out that surprise was he had been riding Nina all week. That's great and all, but I wish he would've told us beforehand. The farrier last week said to lay off her because her hooves are going over her shoes and she couldn't be tranq'd last week to do her shoes so we have to wait until tomorrow. So on top of that, Paco had been using a different, hugely different bit on her all week and trying to make her extend while we've been trying to make her collect. While I generally don't condone my brother talking back to people, I hope he says something to Paco. I mean, it's a nice thought, but when her hooves aren't done and you're using this big bit on her that's completely different from everything we've used and are teaching her to do something different than we want, it's kind of a problem.
So he rode Nina saying she looked so much better and she really looked the same. I started and rode Harry today while my mom walked around Brie. Brie had quite a bit of stocking up in her arthritic leg and it took a while for the swelling to go down. Harry was good but seemed kind of sleepy. Nevertheless, I'm proud that he didn't skip a beat on the board and his largo was very low in the amount of pacing. Tomorrow he'll be even better!
What I'm trying to work on Brie is the speed of her largo without breaking into a canter. She's going super fast but still breaks in the corners sometimes, so we need to find a speed that's still fast but so that she doesn't break.
The farrier's coming back out tomorrow to do Nina, as I said. Hopefully it'll be 1 2 3 done!
So he rode Nina saying she looked so much better and she really looked the same. I started and rode Harry today while my mom walked around Brie. Brie had quite a bit of stocking up in her arthritic leg and it took a while for the swelling to go down. Harry was good but seemed kind of sleepy. Nevertheless, I'm proud that he didn't skip a beat on the board and his largo was very low in the amount of pacing. Tomorrow he'll be even better!
What I'm trying to work on Brie is the speed of her largo without breaking into a canter. She's going super fast but still breaks in the corners sometimes, so we need to find a speed that's still fast but so that she doesn't break.
The farrier's coming back out tomorrow to do Nina, as I said. Hopefully it'll be 1 2 3 done!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 2
It was just me and another new girl, Layla, tonight! I hope my lesson isn't always half empty. On one hand it's nice to get more attention, but then it's not as fun driving there and back!
So while Stacy figured out where Layla was in her riding abilities, she let me start jumping again this week. I feel like for the most part my flat work is solid. My leg strength in picking up a canter is getting better and resulting in a quicker transition, but the downward transition can still use some more work. Nothing I won't be able to fix in time for Notre Dame in 3 more weeks though! I can't believe competition is coming up this fast. Then we have a huge break until about March when it picks back up for I think 3 more shows.
Working on my jumping position tonight, I really need to strengthen my back and core. Every jump I felt like I was getting left behind, and then when I started to think about it, I started hunching over again. It wasn't until the last jump that I got my position perfectly, but I'm still glad I got it! Now I know what it's supposed to feel like and can aim for that and perfect it until I can point up into the jumping classes, which hopefully happens by the end of the school year. I'd be really bummed if I had to show all flat classes senior year. Then I would just have to buy my own jumper to be able to show and as a recent college grad I certainly wouldn't be able to afford that!
So while Stacy figured out where Layla was in her riding abilities, she let me start jumping again this week. I feel like for the most part my flat work is solid. My leg strength in picking up a canter is getting better and resulting in a quicker transition, but the downward transition can still use some more work. Nothing I won't be able to fix in time for Notre Dame in 3 more weeks though! I can't believe competition is coming up this fast. Then we have a huge break until about March when it picks back up for I think 3 more shows.
Working on my jumping position tonight, I really need to strengthen my back and core. Every jump I felt like I was getting left behind, and then when I started to think about it, I started hunching over again. It wasn't until the last jump that I got my position perfectly, but I'm still glad I got it! Now I know what it's supposed to feel like and can aim for that and perfect it until I can point up into the jumping classes, which hopefully happens by the end of the school year. I'd be really bummed if I had to show all flat classes senior year. Then I would just have to buy my own jumper to be able to show and as a recent college grad I certainly wouldn't be able to afford that!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 1
Tonight was my first lesson with the team since I got back to school. The team was at a show last weekend and I'm proud to say that they did super well! No blue ribbons, but we got some red ones and other nice placings =] There was never a class we didn't place in, so I take that as a victory!
I was the only driver tonight and there was only one other girl in my lesson, Emily. She's super nice and a senior, so I'm kind of bummed she won't be here riding next year! But she's a beginner, even though she played polo in England. I didn't know this, but apparently playing polo doesn't require much skill other than staying on, going fast, and neck reining other than trying to hit the ball. It was nice being the more experienced hunter/jumper in the lesson for once though =]
I rode Tommy again tonight and she rode Chris (it's so weird when horses are named after people...). Tommy was being a little bratty, so I had to use a crop. But Stacy told me I did a fantastic job tonight. My upwards transitions are great, but I need to work on the downward from canter to trot. Apparently I stick my legs out in front of my like I'm trying to skid to a stop while on the horse when I make that downward transition, so I need to fix this, obviously. No jumping today because Stacy was trying to figure out where Emily is in experience, but next week I will be jumping again. Hopefully we get more people in our lesson too!
I just am so thrilled that Stacy kept telling me at the end of the lesson how great I rode. It makes me feel super awesome, like I'm gonna kick butt at the show at Notre Dame next month. I can't wait until next week's lesson!
I'm bummed that I won't be out riding this week, and next weekend they're getting shoes put on, so I'll only get one day of riding. =[ I'm gonna miss my horsies this weekend.
I was the only driver tonight and there was only one other girl in my lesson, Emily. She's super nice and a senior, so I'm kind of bummed she won't be here riding next year! But she's a beginner, even though she played polo in England. I didn't know this, but apparently playing polo doesn't require much skill other than staying on, going fast, and neck reining other than trying to hit the ball. It was nice being the more experienced hunter/jumper in the lesson for once though =]
I rode Tommy again tonight and she rode Chris (it's so weird when horses are named after people...). Tommy was being a little bratty, so I had to use a crop. But Stacy told me I did a fantastic job tonight. My upwards transitions are great, but I need to work on the downward from canter to trot. Apparently I stick my legs out in front of my like I'm trying to skid to a stop while on the horse when I make that downward transition, so I need to fix this, obviously. No jumping today because Stacy was trying to figure out where Emily is in experience, but next week I will be jumping again. Hopefully we get more people in our lesson too!
I just am so thrilled that Stacy kept telling me at the end of the lesson how great I rode. It makes me feel super awesome, like I'm gonna kick butt at the show at Notre Dame next month. I can't wait until next week's lesson!
I'm bummed that I won't be out riding this week, and next weekend they're getting shoes put on, so I'll only get one day of riding. =[ I'm gonna miss my horsies this weekend.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Day 175
Didn't go out yesterday because I went to our rivalry football game. We lost =[
Yesterday, though, my mom told me that Harry was working super well next to Brie in the arena and that he's finally getting his speed and coordination down in his largo. My mom wanted to warm him up today, so I rode Brie, who is getting along just fine. She really does hate the double reins though -- she thinks they're for babies!
When I got on Harry, he tried to take off. There were a couple other horses in the arena, so I was not having that. Suddenly he got scared of the sunshine, that goof. So after a couple of halts, circles, and tugs, he calmed down and settled into a really collected corto. It was magnificent to ride. It could almost be Fino, but he could never compete against, say, the stallion who just won Nationals. I would put up a video, but it's not on YouTube yet. He was mindblowing. But to compete up here in shows, Harry would be great in Fino. And when we let loose into a largo, he never tap danced! I'm so happy with him and how my mom's been working him to get him like that. Now if we could just keep this up until the Spring when showing starts again!
What I thought was really cute was that he really wanted to go outside. After we went across the board indoor and outdoor and came back in to cool, he stopped in front of the door and looked outside all sad-like. So my mom hopped on Brie and my dad got on Nina (!!!) and we went out into the trails in back of the property. My dad's starting to ride, since he really doesn't, and I think it's great!
Yesterday, though, my mom told me that Harry was working super well next to Brie in the arena and that he's finally getting his speed and coordination down in his largo. My mom wanted to warm him up today, so I rode Brie, who is getting along just fine. She really does hate the double reins though -- she thinks they're for babies!
When I got on Harry, he tried to take off. There were a couple other horses in the arena, so I was not having that. Suddenly he got scared of the sunshine, that goof. So after a couple of halts, circles, and tugs, he calmed down and settled into a really collected corto. It was magnificent to ride. It could almost be Fino, but he could never compete against, say, the stallion who just won Nationals. I would put up a video, but it's not on YouTube yet. He was mindblowing. But to compete up here in shows, Harry would be great in Fino. And when we let loose into a largo, he never tap danced! I'm so happy with him and how my mom's been working him to get him like that. Now if we could just keep this up until the Spring when showing starts again!
What I thought was really cute was that he really wanted to go outside. After we went across the board indoor and outdoor and came back in to cool, he stopped in front of the door and looked outside all sad-like. So my mom hopped on Brie and my dad got on Nina (!!!) and we went out into the trails in back of the property. My dad's starting to ride, since he really doesn't, and I think it's great!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Day 174
These past two days experimenting with the fruit basket on Brie have made me realize on thing: she's perfectly fine. With the basket on, she kept pacing and was out of gait on the board for the first time in 7 years. She rode beautifully when I took off the basket. I think that I can just work on flexibility without the basket.
Harry appeared to have worked better today for my mom. She didn't put the bracelets on today. What we really have to work on is getting him to collect his corto so that his largo appears more extended. He can't go very fast at a largo without getting confused, which I think is caused by his early Fino background. It's good that we're figuring this out early because now we have all winter to perfect both him and Brie.
Nina is doing better. Her skin came off when we washed the wound again so it's slightly pink now but it doesn't look very deep. My brother longed her and then put her out in the pasture. When we were done riding, we walked by her and then behind the trees and she started screaming and running around looking for us, so we had to turn right back around and go back by her so she wouldn't hurt herself. I've never seen her act like that! It was cute and kind of sad.
I won't be able to go out and ride this Saturday, but I can't wait to ride on Sunday. Hopefully the farrier calls back and they get their hooves trimmed on Saturday!
Harry appeared to have worked better today for my mom. She didn't put the bracelets on today. What we really have to work on is getting him to collect his corto so that his largo appears more extended. He can't go very fast at a largo without getting confused, which I think is caused by his early Fino background. It's good that we're figuring this out early because now we have all winter to perfect both him and Brie.
Nina is doing better. Her skin came off when we washed the wound again so it's slightly pink now but it doesn't look very deep. My brother longed her and then put her out in the pasture. When we were done riding, we walked by her and then behind the trees and she started screaming and running around looking for us, so we had to turn right back around and go back by her so she wouldn't hurt herself. I've never seen her act like that! It was cute and kind of sad.
I won't be able to go out and ride this Saturday, but I can't wait to ride on Sunday. Hopefully the farrier calls back and they get their hooves trimmed on Saturday!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Day 173
So this morning I was talking to my mom about what we'd do when we got out to ride. She decided that we'd put weight bracelets on Harry's back feet and Brie would get the fruit basket today. My mom wants to turn her back into a show horse rather than a "LET'S CHARGE DOWN THE TREELINE" horse. So, guessing that Brie would be the worse one, I took her today.
Somehow, whenever we choose like that, we always end up reversed. Brie adjusted to the fruit basket quite nicely (other than when she was trying to figure out how to poop). Harry, from the looks of it, was completely freaking out over the bracelets. I like to say that he looked like he was squishing grapes for wine. According to my mom, he kept pulling and charging and bucking and not wanting to walk AT ALL.
Brie and I were just floating along. =] I put double reins on her, which I soon found out she hated going backwards in her training. She kept pulling and pulling on the jaquima rein, so I took it off and she immediately set her head super nicely and tucked and stopped pulling when I used just the bit rein. I'd like to keep it that way, but until she gets more flexible again, I have to use the double so it takes the stress off of her mouth.
By the time I got to Harry, I'm pretty sure my mom wore him out. After fighting with him for a couple of minutes at the start while he kept trying to pull away from me, I set the reins down, recollected myself, and went back to how Paco used to ride him when we first got him -- high hands and loose reins.
And he was wonderful. He walked, walked, walked and when we corto'd, it was a little pace-y, but by the time we got to our last pass across the soundboard he was sounding phenomenal. I'd like to try him first again tomorrow to see if it was just him being worn out or if I was doing something right, but my mom wants him first again.
Nina, on the other hand...we came in and she looked fine. We took everyone out to be groomed and my brother calls us over and shows us this.
Somehow, she made a huge gash on the inside of her left hind leg. If we were actually going to Nationals this week, we certainly would not be showing with this! I wish I had taken a comparison picture, but this leg was swollen like a balloon compared to her right leg. After washing it, putting peroxide, iodine, and some other wound salve we had on it, we wrapped it.
Which she then took off when she got into the pasture to walk around a little bit. She wasn't limping or anything, so it must've been a day old or so. We determined that it must be from her scratching herself and the nails from her shoe catching the skin. We're not too happy about that, to say the least. We were going to do another round of shoes in a week, but because we're not showing and now this, we're just going to take them off. We'll give Nina this week rest and see how it looks next weekend before my brother starts riding her again.
Somehow, whenever we choose like that, we always end up reversed. Brie adjusted to the fruit basket quite nicely (other than when she was trying to figure out how to poop). Harry, from the looks of it, was completely freaking out over the bracelets. I like to say that he looked like he was squishing grapes for wine. According to my mom, he kept pulling and charging and bucking and not wanting to walk AT ALL.
Brie and I were just floating along. =] I put double reins on her, which I soon found out she hated going backwards in her training. She kept pulling and pulling on the jaquima rein, so I took it off and she immediately set her head super nicely and tucked and stopped pulling when I used just the bit rein. I'd like to keep it that way, but until she gets more flexible again, I have to use the double so it takes the stress off of her mouth.
By the time I got to Harry, I'm pretty sure my mom wore him out. After fighting with him for a couple of minutes at the start while he kept trying to pull away from me, I set the reins down, recollected myself, and went back to how Paco used to ride him when we first got him -- high hands and loose reins.
And he was wonderful. He walked, walked, walked and when we corto'd, it was a little pace-y, but by the time we got to our last pass across the soundboard he was sounding phenomenal. I'd like to try him first again tomorrow to see if it was just him being worn out or if I was doing something right, but my mom wants him first again.
Nina, on the other hand...we came in and she looked fine. We took everyone out to be groomed and my brother calls us over and shows us this.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Day 172
Today was significantly better than yesterday, thankfully. We were on a short time schedule because I had to move back to school =[
I decided to start off Harry with some Parelli games today to kind of get him thinking. We did the Friendly Game (in which he hid behind me when I emulated a snake on the ground), the Porcupine Game and the YoYo Game. He's so good at the YoYo Game, but the Porcupine game takes a little more thinking for him. I know he'll have it down pat if I keep up with it.
As for the ride, it was way better than yesterday. He was collected and seemed calmer and didn't seem like he wanted to take off as much. He was reacting weirdly to the bit, I thought, because since State Fair we've been riding him with double reins and he works much better with the rein on the jaquima and seems to get upset with the bit. Maybe we should look into changing it? I don't really know, because before State Fair for the longest we worked just with the bit. I'm wondering whether we should change it completely or if we should take him off of it for the rest of the year and then reintroduce it in January. Any thoughts on this?
Because we were short on time, I didn't get to ride Brie =[ But I got to give them all lots of snuggles and my mom fed them carrots straight out of the bag today! Those horses have got to be the most spoiled horses ever!
I decided to start off Harry with some Parelli games today to kind of get him thinking. We did the Friendly Game (in which he hid behind me when I emulated a snake on the ground), the Porcupine Game and the YoYo Game. He's so good at the YoYo Game, but the Porcupine game takes a little more thinking for him. I know he'll have it down pat if I keep up with it.
As for the ride, it was way better than yesterday. He was collected and seemed calmer and didn't seem like he wanted to take off as much. He was reacting weirdly to the bit, I thought, because since State Fair we've been riding him with double reins and he works much better with the rein on the jaquima and seems to get upset with the bit. Maybe we should look into changing it? I don't really know, because before State Fair for the longest we worked just with the bit. I'm wondering whether we should change it completely or if we should take him off of it for the rest of the year and then reintroduce it in January. Any thoughts on this?
Because we were short on time, I didn't get to ride Brie =[ But I got to give them all lots of snuggles and my mom fed them carrots straight out of the bag today! Those horses have got to be the most spoiled horses ever!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Equestrian Team Summer - Day 7 (Final day!)
Friday
Today was my final lesson of the summer with Stacy. I thought I'd have the last one next week, but she's going to a regional dressage show with one of her other clients, so the next time I'll have a lesson it'll be with the team!
I think that maybe I needed to fall off. I was being pushed around and walked on like a doormat by these school horses, scared I'd do something wrong, and today's ride was spectacular simply because I had one goal in mind: DON'T FALL OFF AGAIN and did everything to prevent it.
First of all, I finally settled with the idea of correcting them. I feel scared correcting other people's horses because they're not mine, but when it comes between falling off and staying on, it doesn't matter to me anymore if I have to correct them, I'll do it! Also because I was scared of falling off again, my leg contact was phenomenal. To feel that contact and balance and be able to ride with one hand on the reins, one hand on my head, while in a two-point felt awesome.
I did so well today that we started going over jumps again. Having leg contact also made landing the jumps SO MUCH EASIER. I used to tend to forget to have contact over the jump and kind of just let the horse do his thing then try to recover afterwards, but not wanting to fall off has paid off in that aspect too. I did four jumps, and landed 2 of them soundly, with the first one me forgetting to sit the canter instead of stand which I immediately fixed a couple strides into it and the second one coming off on the wrong lead. The last two felt amazing, like I was flying without fear of going over the top.
I was also very strong in getting him into a canter and back into one after he broke into a trot a couple of times. (I was riding Tommy, btw). I feel very confident about moving up. If I don't move up a level this year, at least I feel like I'll place a lot in the shows and be able to move up the jumping for my senior year. By then I feel like I would know enough to jump in small shows if I got my own jumper (unlikely, but still). I just feel bitter about not having this kind of starting point last year with Nell...if I had had Stacy for an instructor last year, I might've been jumping for shows this year. Oh well, I can only move forward!
Today was my final lesson of the summer with Stacy. I thought I'd have the last one next week, but she's going to a regional dressage show with one of her other clients, so the next time I'll have a lesson it'll be with the team!
I think that maybe I needed to fall off. I was being pushed around and walked on like a doormat by these school horses, scared I'd do something wrong, and today's ride was spectacular simply because I had one goal in mind: DON'T FALL OFF AGAIN and did everything to prevent it.
First of all, I finally settled with the idea of correcting them. I feel scared correcting other people's horses because they're not mine, but when it comes between falling off and staying on, it doesn't matter to me anymore if I have to correct them, I'll do it! Also because I was scared of falling off again, my leg contact was phenomenal. To feel that contact and balance and be able to ride with one hand on the reins, one hand on my head, while in a two-point felt awesome.
I did so well today that we started going over jumps again. Having leg contact also made landing the jumps SO MUCH EASIER. I used to tend to forget to have contact over the jump and kind of just let the horse do his thing then try to recover afterwards, but not wanting to fall off has paid off in that aspect too. I did four jumps, and landed 2 of them soundly, with the first one me forgetting to sit the canter instead of stand which I immediately fixed a couple strides into it and the second one coming off on the wrong lead. The last two felt amazing, like I was flying without fear of going over the top.
I was also very strong in getting him into a canter and back into one after he broke into a trot a couple of times. (I was riding Tommy, btw). I feel very confident about moving up. If I don't move up a level this year, at least I feel like I'll place a lot in the shows and be able to move up the jumping for my senior year. By then I feel like I would know enough to jump in small shows if I got my own jumper (unlikely, but still). I just feel bitter about not having this kind of starting point last year with Nell...if I had had Stacy for an instructor last year, I might've been jumping for shows this year. Oh well, I can only move forward!
Day 171
It must be the change in weather because Harry and Brie were acting quite goofy today. (Nina, as usual, was great).
I got on Harry first. He was working lovely on the longe line and settling into circles, figure 8s and serpentines beautifully. Then taking him out on the wall he just wanted to get away from me and I was having a bit of trouble keeping him back. Then he started walking on the wall with his head to the wall instead of being straight and I didn't realize it at the time, but later on my mom blamed me for that because last week after I tried to get him to walk on the wall, most of the time I had his head into the wall to make him move over and he probably figured that's what I wanted so that's what he did today.
Allison was out today to visit and she rode one of the other boarder's horse, Extremo. We switched (I didn't like Extremo when I got on him) and she rode Harry. I felt so bad about 10 seconds after she got on. I thought she had more experience with antsy horses like Harry, and by antsy I mean horses that are willing to dump you when they get mad/nervous/confused. She kept clenching up and hanging on his mouth to try to get him to slow down and he just kept getting more and more mad. My mom decided we all needed to get out of the arena and into the round pen, and Allison wasn't too keen on riding Harry outside on our trail ride anymore, unsurprisingly. When she got out the door with him (he was behind Nina and I was in the back of him with Extremo), she must've gotten nervous and he got freaked out and started trying to rear and she looked bewildered and I just kept yelling "Pull him to the side!" She didn't manage to pull his head all the way to the girth, but moved him over enough for him to not go up all the way.
Once she got him into the round pen and my mom really explained what to do with him (as I'm not that great on relating to people about riding), he started to calm down and she had a couple of laps of a good ride, then we switched horses again. I ended up on Brie and my mom on Harry, while Allison was back on Extremo. We decided to go on a trail ride. Right after I got on Brie she started hopping and skipping and cantering in place. That lasted pretty much the entire ride. It consisted of me running into a lot of branches, narrowly avoiding the neighbor's barbed wire fence, and only getting some calm when we went back into the trees and she didn't know where she was anymore. At least it's good to know that she'll behave if she's in a new surrounding, but she was a total brat! I tell you, it's got the be the weather. She hasn't acted that brattily in a while.
Meanwhile, my brother and Nina look like the picture of relaxation. Nina was trotting along and even going a slow canter, just wandering around the property being a total doll. Harry looked like he started to calm down, Extremo was doing a cute little canter, and Brie wanted to eat everyone for lunch. After ending our trail ride and taking a couple of passes around the outdoor arena, it was time for everyone to get their baths.
What a crazy day. Hopefully tomorrow whoever I end up with gives me a great ride before I start back at school again!
I got on Harry first. He was working lovely on the longe line and settling into circles, figure 8s and serpentines beautifully. Then taking him out on the wall he just wanted to get away from me and I was having a bit of trouble keeping him back. Then he started walking on the wall with his head to the wall instead of being straight and I didn't realize it at the time, but later on my mom blamed me for that because last week after I tried to get him to walk on the wall, most of the time I had his head into the wall to make him move over and he probably figured that's what I wanted so that's what he did today.
Allison was out today to visit and she rode one of the other boarder's horse, Extremo. We switched (I didn't like Extremo when I got on him) and she rode Harry. I felt so bad about 10 seconds after she got on. I thought she had more experience with antsy horses like Harry, and by antsy I mean horses that are willing to dump you when they get mad/nervous/confused. She kept clenching up and hanging on his mouth to try to get him to slow down and he just kept getting more and more mad. My mom decided we all needed to get out of the arena and into the round pen, and Allison wasn't too keen on riding Harry outside on our trail ride anymore, unsurprisingly. When she got out the door with him (he was behind Nina and I was in the back of him with Extremo), she must've gotten nervous and he got freaked out and started trying to rear and she looked bewildered and I just kept yelling "Pull him to the side!" She didn't manage to pull his head all the way to the girth, but moved him over enough for him to not go up all the way.
Once she got him into the round pen and my mom really explained what to do with him (as I'm not that great on relating to people about riding), he started to calm down and she had a couple of laps of a good ride, then we switched horses again. I ended up on Brie and my mom on Harry, while Allison was back on Extremo. We decided to go on a trail ride. Right after I got on Brie she started hopping and skipping and cantering in place. That lasted pretty much the entire ride. It consisted of me running into a lot of branches, narrowly avoiding the neighbor's barbed wire fence, and only getting some calm when we went back into the trees and she didn't know where she was anymore. At least it's good to know that she'll behave if she's in a new surrounding, but she was a total brat! I tell you, it's got the be the weather. She hasn't acted that brattily in a while.
Meanwhile, my brother and Nina look like the picture of relaxation. Nina was trotting along and even going a slow canter, just wandering around the property being a total doll. Harry looked like he started to calm down, Extremo was doing a cute little canter, and Brie wanted to eat everyone for lunch. After ending our trail ride and taking a couple of passes around the outdoor arena, it was time for everyone to get their baths.
What a crazy day. Hopefully tomorrow whoever I end up with gives me a great ride before I start back at school again!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Day 170 in pictures!
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