Saturday
Short day =[ I rode Brie today. Her canter is coming along so nicely! I'm so proud of her, she's really starting to realize she can't just bolt. I'm thinking of putting her in trail class when we take her to shows. There are jumps, you have to close gates, and do various things that you might have to on trail, like stepping over a tarp or something. It sounds really fun and I have a feeling she'd do great. She really seems to trust me except when the sunshine demons are out and we actually go outside haha.
Mom rode Harry today and got kind of annoyed with him. It looked like he was just a lot to handle. Tomorrow it's trailer time!
Sunday
TRAILER TIME!
We brushed them all off and took Harry outside to face the trailer. My mom had the first go and after a couple minutes of little rears, Harry finally realized that he had a chain lead on his nose and that he better behave! She got him in, but he kind of hopped backwards out. Paco led him in and out again, of course Harry was beautiful for Paco. So then my mom gave it a few more times and then I did and the even my dad did! He's getting better at it. With a couple more weekends of practice, he'll be going in and out like a pro. We also put Brie in there just for kicks to show Paco how we blindfold her and lead her in. Poor baby hit her nose on the inside because she walked too far. I'll have to take a video of us leading her in blindfolded sometime for all of you =]
I started off riding Brie. I was so thrilled when Annie and Jane showed up with Annie's new horse, Brenner! Annie went to tacking up Brenner and we were cruising around the arena, my mom working with Harry again. Brenner was kind of spooked at the noise of us going over the soundboard, so we stopped until Annie got on. Annie only took a couple of steps before someone when on the soundboard again and Brenner got spooked.
He bucked, and it looked like she had him under control, until he bucked again and lept over the soundboard, when Annie landed on the horn, he bucked again and it looked like she was going over his head when she half jumped/half fell off of him as he bucked again and I rounded him into the corner with Brie when he started to take off. Annie was okay, thank God, but she'll be feeling a pain in her butt, literally, tomorrow morning from that saddle horn. After that, she went in the outdoor arena to work him.
After seeing that, it really made me stop and think. Holy crap! He was a huge horse! He had to be at least 16 hands, which may or may not be normal to other people, since our little Pasos are around 14/15 hands. It really made me wonder if I could handle bigger horses. And Annie is a tough girl, her motto is "If I'm going down, he's going down with me"! For her to get half thrown off really shocked me.
After the whole accident, I switched Brie for Harry. Oh. My. Gosh. Was he AMAZING today! I got a really good video on my dad's phone, but unfortunately it was too big of a file to send to email =[ Now I have to figure out how to get it off of there. He was relaxed and worked beautifully and his gait sounded phenomenal! If he shows like that, we'll surely be cleaning up!
I switched Harry for Nina and just plopped along on her, cooling her off after my brother rode, and then we hosed them all off. Sadly now I'm back to classes. It'll be hard to get used to again. And this Saturday I won't be going out to ride because I'm going to a competition for an X Factor "front of the audition line" spot! I still have to figure out which songs I want to sing! Wish me luck!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Day 134
Sunday
Today, two things were accomplished:
1. We got Harry in the trailer.
2. We gave Harry a bath.
I spent two hours trying to get him into the trailer.
It started off really hopeful and then we hit a big roadblock. We started out just calmly looking at it, examining the ramp. We played the YoYo game a bit and I got him to come up to the ramp and put one of his feet on it. After that, he kept trying to jump into the trailer, but never actually jumped in.
He kept rearing into the jump and flailing his legs up in the air. I kept trying to get him to just walk into it, but he wasn't having it. He kept rearing up, jumping sideways over the ramp, never onto it. We got the nose chain to wrap over his nose on the leadline so that he would feel something if he tried to rear up again. After an hour and a half, I was still patient, but I knew I was no where near as strong enough to pull him sideways when he goes up to knock him off balance. A couple more rears with the nose chain on and my mom suggested that I give him to Paco, who was watching the whole time (quietly, thankfully. If he had been telling me what to do I probably would've bitten his head off), and grumpily I handed Harry over.
He looked so concerned when I walked away and knew that Paco was there, like, "Oh crap, this is a man." and tried the same thing with Paco, except Paco was able to give him a good yank back down. He got Harry into the trailer, and I was sour that I wasn't the first one to get him in. After a few walks in and out and teaching Harry to not race and rear out of the trailer on his way out, it was my turn.
He was like an angel. Once he knew that he wasn't going to meet his doom if he stepped onto the ramp and sat in the trailer for a while, he was a little cautious, but wasn't scared. We've decided that, no matter how long it'll take, we're going to do this every weekend. It might suck for the next couple weekends, but after that he'll get better and faster at getting in and out, and by show time, it'll be a breeze.
We gave him a good scrubbing and after he smelled like peaches, we put him away with carrots. Brie was pretty happy that we came, didn't ride, and still gave her food. It was the best of both worlds for her! Nina looked a little depressed when we didn't take her out to play, but she was easily satisfied when we gave her carrots.
We're going to go with Jane and Annie to a local show coming up some time. We're going to bring Harry and Brie. Harry for the trailer practice and show exposure and Brie just so she can maybe start getting used to strange horses around her. It'll be good for both of them.
Today, two things were accomplished:
1. We got Harry in the trailer.
2. We gave Harry a bath.
I spent two hours trying to get him into the trailer.
It started off really hopeful and then we hit a big roadblock. We started out just calmly looking at it, examining the ramp. We played the YoYo game a bit and I got him to come up to the ramp and put one of his feet on it. After that, he kept trying to jump into the trailer, but never actually jumped in.
He kept rearing into the jump and flailing his legs up in the air. I kept trying to get him to just walk into it, but he wasn't having it. He kept rearing up, jumping sideways over the ramp, never onto it. We got the nose chain to wrap over his nose on the leadline so that he would feel something if he tried to rear up again. After an hour and a half, I was still patient, but I knew I was no where near as strong enough to pull him sideways when he goes up to knock him off balance. A couple more rears with the nose chain on and my mom suggested that I give him to Paco, who was watching the whole time (quietly, thankfully. If he had been telling me what to do I probably would've bitten his head off), and grumpily I handed Harry over.
He looked so concerned when I walked away and knew that Paco was there, like, "Oh crap, this is a man." and tried the same thing with Paco, except Paco was able to give him a good yank back down. He got Harry into the trailer, and I was sour that I wasn't the first one to get him in. After a few walks in and out and teaching Harry to not race and rear out of the trailer on his way out, it was my turn.
He was like an angel. Once he knew that he wasn't going to meet his doom if he stepped onto the ramp and sat in the trailer for a while, he was a little cautious, but wasn't scared. We've decided that, no matter how long it'll take, we're going to do this every weekend. It might suck for the next couple weekends, but after that he'll get better and faster at getting in and out, and by show time, it'll be a breeze.
We gave him a good scrubbing and after he smelled like peaches, we put him away with carrots. Brie was pretty happy that we came, didn't ride, and still gave her food. It was the best of both worlds for her! Nina looked a little depressed when we didn't take her out to play, but she was easily satisfied when we gave her carrots.
We're going to go with Jane and Annie to a local show coming up some time. We're going to bring Harry and Brie. Harry for the trailer practice and show exposure and Brie just so she can maybe start getting used to strange horses around her. It'll be good for both of them.
Day 133
Saturday
We rode in the outdoor arena today. It was so nice to pull into the barn and see that the horses were all outside! I hope that it doesn't go back to freezing for a long time!
I figured that, since Brie goes kind of cuckoo outside, I would give my mom a break and ride her and she could ride Harry.
Ha, yeah.
Brie was kind of antsy warming up, mostly wanting to take off screaming "I'm free! I'm free! Look birds, look grass! I can run!", but she calmed down and I actually got a superrrr nice canter out of her! It's exactly what I've been looking for! She did almost run over Taco though, who Paco was riding (haha, Paco and Taco)--while I was slowing down to pass them, she decided that she wanted to play bumper cars and smacked him with her but, then when I pulled to turn her away, she pushed her butt into Paco's leg before she finally moved over into the inside of the arena. I felt so bad and kept apologizing! So after that we had a little lesson about passing other horses nicely.
But Harry was psycho. I could plainly see that he wanted to dump my mom a couple of times, once while he was stopped on the soundboard, which would've been horrible, because it's wood and if he slipped, my mom would be under him. Even if he is only an 800lb horse as opposed to one of the thousand pounders, that would've been bad!!
After much struggling, we were pressed for time and my mom sent us in to hose off Brie and Nina while she went into the indoor to end on a good note. Then he pulled his "I won't go into the wash rack" trick, so I had to get out the carrot stick and prod him in there. I think that maybe it's time for Harry to get a refresher course in manners because he's gotten very naughty lately!
Tomorrow Colin is supposed to be out. It's also supposed to rain tomorrow. The last time it rained, it stormed, and Harry was a ball of nerves. That should be interesting to ride in. I also want to pull the trailer in and do some desensitizing with that because really, two hours before we get going to a show that's two hours away is beyond ridiculous. If Harry doesn't shape up soon, my mom wants to give him away to Colin for a few months to train. I guess I have to put my small dressage/non-suicidal trail riding dreams to the side with Brie for a while and really start working with Harry again for manners and overall safety, not to mention he's supposed to be our flashy showhorse! How will that ever happen if he's too anxious to get through a class without bolting?
We rode in the outdoor arena today. It was so nice to pull into the barn and see that the horses were all outside! I hope that it doesn't go back to freezing for a long time!
I figured that, since Brie goes kind of cuckoo outside, I would give my mom a break and ride her and she could ride Harry.
Ha, yeah.
Brie was kind of antsy warming up, mostly wanting to take off screaming "I'm free! I'm free! Look birds, look grass! I can run!", but she calmed down and I actually got a superrrr nice canter out of her! It's exactly what I've been looking for! She did almost run over Taco though, who Paco was riding (haha, Paco and Taco)--while I was slowing down to pass them, she decided that she wanted to play bumper cars and smacked him with her but, then when I pulled to turn her away, she pushed her butt into Paco's leg before she finally moved over into the inside of the arena. I felt so bad and kept apologizing! So after that we had a little lesson about passing other horses nicely.
But Harry was psycho. I could plainly see that he wanted to dump my mom a couple of times, once while he was stopped on the soundboard, which would've been horrible, because it's wood and if he slipped, my mom would be under him. Even if he is only an 800lb horse as opposed to one of the thousand pounders, that would've been bad!!
After much struggling, we were pressed for time and my mom sent us in to hose off Brie and Nina while she went into the indoor to end on a good note. Then he pulled his "I won't go into the wash rack" trick, so I had to get out the carrot stick and prod him in there. I think that maybe it's time for Harry to get a refresher course in manners because he's gotten very naughty lately!
Tomorrow Colin is supposed to be out. It's also supposed to rain tomorrow. The last time it rained, it stormed, and Harry was a ball of nerves. That should be interesting to ride in. I also want to pull the trailer in and do some desensitizing with that because really, two hours before we get going to a show that's two hours away is beyond ridiculous. If Harry doesn't shape up soon, my mom wants to give him away to Colin for a few months to train. I guess I have to put my small dressage/non-suicidal trail riding dreams to the side with Brie for a while and really start working with Harry again for manners and overall safety, not to mention he's supposed to be our flashy showhorse! How will that ever happen if he's too anxious to get through a class without bolting?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Day 132
Sunday
I had my camera today but it was super low on battery and only let me take a few pictures =[
We let them out to play again. We're waiting for the big paddock to dry out that way they can really run around!
And what angers me the most about low camera battery is that I thought I got this great video of my brother freaking out and jumping off of Nina, but it just got the end and beginning shots.
After he got on, we were like "Okay! Make her walk!" so off she went, but then Harry saw her walking away and got crazy and started bucking, so Nina got excited and bolted around the paddock. My brother got freaked and jumped off and onto the fence border next to Brie's paddock. It was hilarious (and pretty dangerous) and I wish I had gotten it on camera! All I got was this.
While we were outside, we also went by the trailer. Everyone went in and out except for Harry, of course. But we played the YoYo game until he got super close to the ramp (after about a half hour) and decided to call it quits.
I also have a picture of the baby for you. He's getting so big!
He loves to come up to the bars and rub his head on your hand. So cute!!
Now here's my mystery. I wrote about this last week, but got pictures of it. These are the weird things on his back legs.
This is his left foot. Those spots are kind of raw and get kind of icky like these next pictures.
This is his right foot. That little gunky on the bigger spot comes off when you rub it, and he gets kind of bothered when you do that. We don't really know what they are. We think they might be scars from when he fell through the hay trailer. The little gunks kind of look like plantar warts, but I don't know, can horses get warts??
Onto training, I rode Harry today. Colin was there for a while, and I was so embarrassed that by the time he was leaving I still hadn't gotten Harry to stand still next to the mounting block. Even though he's tiny enough that I don't need one, it's still a good habit to have, and it took forever for him to do it! He started off in a circle very relaxed and gaiting nicely, it's just that when I tried to go on the wall he kept pulling me towards the sound board and rushing forward. It wasn't the greatest ride, so I decided that we'll stay away from the sound board for a while. Manners are more important than having a great board, at least they are for me! And I believe that once the wall-calmness comes, so will the relaxed gait, so we won't need to keep practicing over the sound board. It really bothers me when people make a big deal over the board instead of actually riding anyways.
After we rode, we hosed them all down and had some of Brie's birthday cake! I can't believe she turns 10 on Tuesday! 7 years has gone by so fast. We like to describe her as "growing up to be one of those old ladies on their porch with a shotgun."
So we sang her Happy Birthday and tried to feed her a little bit of frosting, which of course she ate. Harry and Nina both spit it out and made faces once they tasted it. It must've reminded them of wormer!
My mom's car is acting kind of funny, but hopefully she fixes it soon that way I can drive it out sometime during these next two weeks while I'm home! It's supposed to be 60 during this week and I would love nothing more than driving out and giving them all a good scrubbing one afternoon.
I had my camera today but it was super low on battery and only let me take a few pictures =[
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| Harry running in the paddock |
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| Brie in mid-buck |
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| Winner of cutest picture! Don't they look like they're kissing? |
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| We dared him to get on Nina bareback in the paddock. |
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| Great picture, right? |
I also have a picture of the baby for you. He's getting so big!
Now here's my mystery. I wrote about this last week, but got pictures of it. These are the weird things on his back legs.
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Onto training, I rode Harry today. Colin was there for a while, and I was so embarrassed that by the time he was leaving I still hadn't gotten Harry to stand still next to the mounting block. Even though he's tiny enough that I don't need one, it's still a good habit to have, and it took forever for him to do it! He started off in a circle very relaxed and gaiting nicely, it's just that when I tried to go on the wall he kept pulling me towards the sound board and rushing forward. It wasn't the greatest ride, so I decided that we'll stay away from the sound board for a while. Manners are more important than having a great board, at least they are for me! And I believe that once the wall-calmness comes, so will the relaxed gait, so we won't need to keep practicing over the sound board. It really bothers me when people make a big deal over the board instead of actually riding anyways.
After we rode, we hosed them all down and had some of Brie's birthday cake! I can't believe she turns 10 on Tuesday! 7 years has gone by so fast. We like to describe her as "growing up to be one of those old ladies on their porch with a shotgun."
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| Post bath with her carrot cake! |
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Day 131
I rode Nina today! My dad and brother stayed home to put in our new sink, so I got Nina all to myself =]
We let them all run around a bit in the paddocks before we rode. They seemed really happy about it, bucking and snorting. We brought them in when they started shuffling through the winter-old hay on the ground to eat. Yuck!
Mom said she had a really good ride with Harry.
Nina was super relaxed...which means she completely took advantage of me! Granted, I was trying to figure out exactly what to do with her, but she seemed content just trotting along, not really gaiting, not really collecting. Oh well, I don't really mind, she needs a fun break once in a while. It's not like I'll ever show her as long as my brother's around!
I lunged Taco for Jane today. Man was he a pistol! He kept drifting and at one point he was confronted with the flowers on his way around the circle, so he took a BIGGG JUMP over them! As if they were 6ft tall corn stalks instead of little petunias! As crazy as he was, it's good that he got out. I'm teaching him the YoYo game. A little respect and brainpower never hurt anyone.
After I put Taco away, I rode Brie for a little while. We walked outside...and only because my mom was there walking next to her! Brie was so cute, following my mom around outside. Too bad she doesn't walk that quietly outside when it's just me and her! But we came back in and ran around a bit until Ray came in the arena with a horse, then we showed our manners. We're bringing a cake there tomorrow to share for both her birthday this week and Harry's birthday last week. A carrot cake -- how fitting!
We let them all run around a bit in the paddocks before we rode. They seemed really happy about it, bucking and snorting. We brought them in when they started shuffling through the winter-old hay on the ground to eat. Yuck!
Mom said she had a really good ride with Harry.
Nina was super relaxed...which means she completely took advantage of me! Granted, I was trying to figure out exactly what to do with her, but she seemed content just trotting along, not really gaiting, not really collecting. Oh well, I don't really mind, she needs a fun break once in a while. It's not like I'll ever show her as long as my brother's around!
I lunged Taco for Jane today. Man was he a pistol! He kept drifting and at one point he was confronted with the flowers on his way around the circle, so he took a BIGGG JUMP over them! As if they were 6ft tall corn stalks instead of little petunias! As crazy as he was, it's good that he got out. I'm teaching him the YoYo game. A little respect and brainpower never hurt anyone.
After I put Taco away, I rode Brie for a little while. We walked outside...and only because my mom was there walking next to her! Brie was so cute, following my mom around outside. Too bad she doesn't walk that quietly outside when it's just me and her! But we came back in and ran around a bit until Ray came in the arena with a horse, then we showed our manners. We're bringing a cake there tomorrow to share for both her birthday this week and Harry's birthday last week. A carrot cake -- how fitting!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Day 130
We celebrated Harry's birthday today, since it's actually on Tuesday. Next Tuesday is Brie's birthday too! I go on break next week, maybe I'll be able to go out some during the two weeks I'm off.
So for Harry's birthday he got somewhat of a break. Firstly, I wish I had my camera today. He has some scabby things goin on around his back ankles. We put some salve on them and are gonna watch to see if they spread. I really have no idea what they are and hopefully it's not a problem =\
He lunged really nicely today. Harry is a good horse to teach patience. I can't even count how many times I had to stop myself and just take a deep breath because I started anticipating some of his bad habits, so of course he started getting jumpy until I calmed myself.
After much convincing, I got him to go over the scary white poles on the leadline and he does the cutest little pops over it when I'm on his back. We have to fix that, but it's a start! He's so clumsy too, he almost always knocks the poles with his feet when he goes over.
Today I implemented all of Colin's advice, and I'm sure if I had about an hour more to ride it would've worked really nicely--I only got about a half hour once we stopped speculating about his ankles and the ground polework. I had very light contact and I actually felt him go from very up in the back all over the place with his gait to settling down and relaxing into his gait. It was pretty amazing, I'd never felt that before! Keeping this up will hopefully work. We shall see.
Jane was there today too! I now have an excuse to mess around with even more horses. She asked me to lunge Taco when I come out if I can, that way he doesn't go for huge periods without really using his brain, since she and Annie have been busy lately. She asked me to ride him way back when, but as I got more involved with Harry, I didn't have any time. Hopefully this quarter at school is slow and I can stay longer on weekends to work.
So for Harry's birthday he got somewhat of a break. Firstly, I wish I had my camera today. He has some scabby things goin on around his back ankles. We put some salve on them and are gonna watch to see if they spread. I really have no idea what they are and hopefully it's not a problem =\
He lunged really nicely today. Harry is a good horse to teach patience. I can't even count how many times I had to stop myself and just take a deep breath because I started anticipating some of his bad habits, so of course he started getting jumpy until I calmed myself.
After much convincing, I got him to go over the scary white poles on the leadline and he does the cutest little pops over it when I'm on his back. We have to fix that, but it's a start! He's so clumsy too, he almost always knocks the poles with his feet when he goes over.
Today I implemented all of Colin's advice, and I'm sure if I had about an hour more to ride it would've worked really nicely--I only got about a half hour once we stopped speculating about his ankles and the ground polework. I had very light contact and I actually felt him go from very up in the back all over the place with his gait to settling down and relaxing into his gait. It was pretty amazing, I'd never felt that before! Keeping this up will hopefully work. We shall see.
Jane was there today too! I now have an excuse to mess around with even more horses. She asked me to lunge Taco when I come out if I can, that way he doesn't go for huge periods without really using his brain, since she and Annie have been busy lately. She asked me to ride him way back when, but as I got more involved with Harry, I didn't have any time. Hopefully this quarter at school is slow and I can stay longer on weekends to work.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Day 129
Short day. So I only rode Brie today.
I'm so disappointed with the weather! It was looking promising for while but now it's started snowing again =[ I can't even describe how much I have the urge to just scrub them!
Brie is really coming along nicely, I can't believe how far we've come. I got her to canter a bit in the lunge before I got on. My reins were so light today, probably the lightest they've been ever! She didn't really try to take off or pull me. So after some walking and corto-ing, we tried some walk-canter-walk transitions in a circle. She has a tendency to not exactly complete the circle and veer out a little bit but I think that might be my fault. I need to ride more without stirrups to get proper balance. Ever since the whole "heels down" thing has been ingrained into my head, it's been hard for me to focus on anything else. While I know that heels are essential, I feel like balance is more important for fluidity rather than aesthetics. It's not like I have ballerina-toes when I ride stirrupless either.
So after I finally got a nice little jog out of her instead of a crazy "ahhh what I'm a racehorse let's go!" canter, we cooled and I switched with my brother to mope around on Nina for a bit. What I was most proud of with Nina is that I managed to fix her hair.
Nina has a bit of a headshy problem and it drives me insane so while I was walking along with her I noticed that some of her hair from her outgrown bridlepath was stuck so I tried to pull it out. After much head shaking I just left my arm up there until she stayed still and fixed it. While I untacked her, I also bugged her about it by just leaving my hand on the top of her head and petted her until she stayed still, then rebraided the section that we're growing out. Now to see if my efforts payed off tomorrow!
I'm so disappointed with the weather! It was looking promising for while but now it's started snowing again =[ I can't even describe how much I have the urge to just scrub them!
Brie is really coming along nicely, I can't believe how far we've come. I got her to canter a bit in the lunge before I got on. My reins were so light today, probably the lightest they've been ever! She didn't really try to take off or pull me. So after some walking and corto-ing, we tried some walk-canter-walk transitions in a circle. She has a tendency to not exactly complete the circle and veer out a little bit but I think that might be my fault. I need to ride more without stirrups to get proper balance. Ever since the whole "heels down" thing has been ingrained into my head, it's been hard for me to focus on anything else. While I know that heels are essential, I feel like balance is more important for fluidity rather than aesthetics. It's not like I have ballerina-toes when I ride stirrupless either.
So after I finally got a nice little jog out of her instead of a crazy "ahhh what I'm a racehorse let's go!" canter, we cooled and I switched with my brother to mope around on Nina for a bit. What I was most proud of with Nina is that I managed to fix her hair.
Nina has a bit of a headshy problem and it drives me insane so while I was walking along with her I noticed that some of her hair from her outgrown bridlepath was stuck so I tried to pull it out. After much head shaking I just left my arm up there until she stayed still and fixed it. While I untacked her, I also bugged her about it by just leaving my hand on the top of her head and petted her until she stayed still, then rebraided the section that we're growing out. Now to see if my efforts payed off tomorrow!
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