Sunday
We didn't end up going out yesterday because on Friday, our new puppy, Pepina, accidentally ate one of my brother's pills and she had to stay in the overnight ER. She is okay, thank God, but we stayed home on Saturday just to make sure that she returned to her normal, happy self.
I rode Brie today, since we're aiming to take her to the Michigan show next month, and I wanted to make sure that she stays focused and calm like she has been. We rode in the outdoor arena because it was absolutely beautiful out today, even a bit hot!
I never thought I would say this, but I think that Brie is pretty much finished. At 11 years old, I think that she is done trying to one-up us and has settled into the program -- we come out, we pet her, we groom her, we want to have a nice ride, we give her carrots, we go home for a week. Her attitude is completely relaxed in comparison to the whole rest of her life. I have to say, I think it's probably the magnesium that she's on that's helping break down the sugar in her blood so she's not so hyper all the time. But I also have to give us some credit. Without our understanding and patience, I'm sure she'd still be a crazy fool.
We had a beautiful ride and even did a slow canter...A SLOW CANTER. It was fantastic! And also she was strangely nice to Sadie today, and Sadie was nice to her...we think it's because there's a new mare on our side, Isabel. Brie and Sadie hated each other, but maybe they're teaming up against Isabel. Thankfully they're not all put out together!
My mom was having a hard time with Harry today. I blame it entirely on the wind, which is kind of dumb, but horses make up things in their heads to be afraid of, and it was pretty windy outside. So my mom took him in the indoor, and then the round pen, where he apparently had a magnificent largo. I wish I would've watched, but Brie and I were roaming around the property at that time. Once Harry came out of the round pen, he joined Brie, Nina, and Sadie for a ride around the property. We went a little ways down the street before a big gust of wind came by and Harry got a little iffy, so we turned around and went back.
Afterwards, we scrubbed them with a good bath! Brie was soooo dirty. When I was brushing her at first, the more I brushed, the more dust came up! She was pretty grey by the time she was "clean"! After a good bath, they all felt smooth and I took them out for some grass in the sun before bringing them back in and worming them. For me, it was the perfect day at the barn. Doesn't get much better than that!
Showing posts with label Michigan show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan show. Show all posts
Monday, May 6, 2013
Monday, June 20, 2011
Michigan Show - Saturday
With only a little difficulty, we got Harry into the trailer! We managed to leave in the shortest amount of time that I can remember! But then we made up for it getting stuck in some ridiculous traffic for 2 hours, only moving about 15 miles. Talk about a delay!
We arrived at about 7:30 pm yesterday night, and we didn't work the horses because of our prior experience from the Midwest Classic, when they got all pooped out on Saturday for the show.
Today, I only had one class. Mom had ridden with Nina and Harry in a class before mine and she got 3rd on Nina and 5th on Harry. Nina had a great ride and Harry was so-so. You could tell that she was struggling with him in the class because he kept wanting to take off. We rinsed off both of them for the lunch break and then I started working with Harry immediately after I ate lunch, that way he'd be warmed up enough for my class. He worked fantastically! I could swear that he was Fino-ing down the drive between the warm up and the show arena! I took him in the arena for my class and he behaved beautifully! It was a big class, so I only came away with a 5th, but I was satisfied with his behavior. After that class, I decided to take him into the championship class just for fun and he did wonderfully in that one too, even though we didn't place. I was really proud of him! He's coming along great!
My brother showed after my first class and he took a 3rd with Nina. He was in the championship with me too, and he got 4th champion. So today was a good day!
One thing that definitely threw off everyone we talked to was the judge---she was judging really strangely, placing horses that weren't even gaiting over ones who were behaving absolutely HORRIBLY! In my brother's class he placed 3rd under some little kid who's horse was rearing! I would've liked to pick that judge's brain, but she was never around. I can't understand WHY she would place some horses who refused to reverse, were acting horribly, and were whinnying the entire way around the arena as first place. If I saw a horse even rear a tiny bit, he would be excused. Sometimes judges don't make any sense. And the worst part is that she SAW these horses acting badly! I swear, I should go to judging school.
We arrived at about 7:30 pm yesterday night, and we didn't work the horses because of our prior experience from the Midwest Classic, when they got all pooped out on Saturday for the show.
Today, I only had one class. Mom had ridden with Nina and Harry in a class before mine and she got 3rd on Nina and 5th on Harry. Nina had a great ride and Harry was so-so. You could tell that she was struggling with him in the class because he kept wanting to take off. We rinsed off both of them for the lunch break and then I started working with Harry immediately after I ate lunch, that way he'd be warmed up enough for my class. He worked fantastically! I could swear that he was Fino-ing down the drive between the warm up and the show arena! I took him in the arena for my class and he behaved beautifully! It was a big class, so I only came away with a 5th, but I was satisfied with his behavior. After that class, I decided to take him into the championship class just for fun and he did wonderfully in that one too, even though we didn't place. I was really proud of him! He's coming along great!
My brother showed after my first class and he took a 3rd with Nina. He was in the championship with me too, and he got 4th champion. So today was a good day!
One thing that definitely threw off everyone we talked to was the judge---she was judging really strangely, placing horses that weren't even gaiting over ones who were behaving absolutely HORRIBLY! In my brother's class he placed 3rd under some little kid who's horse was rearing! I would've liked to pick that judge's brain, but she was never around. I can't understand WHY she would place some horses who refused to reverse, were acting horribly, and were whinnying the entire way around the arena as first place. If I saw a horse even rear a tiny bit, he would be excused. Sometimes judges don't make any sense. And the worst part is that she SAW these horses acting badly! I swear, I should go to judging school.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 152
Brie's cut is looking better. She does not like being out by herself though! When I rode by her near the end of my ride, she whinnied (which she rarely does), ran toward the gate and watched me with Harry. Then she proceeded to do figure 8s around the paddock until my brother came and got her while I was still working. How silly!
My mom rode Harry first today and we still had the problem of pacing. Luckily, I don't think there's a soundboard at Michigan, so as long as we can kind of check him out of pacing and back into gaiting whenever he does, we might still do well. It's far too late to try to minute-fix this, so we'll just have to keep working on it until the next show. Harry had a longgg workout today. After my mom was finished riding him indoors, she went into the outdoor arena to work him then had me get on. I worked on walking around the arena and then tried to start gaiting and largo-ing, but he was not having anything to do with largo-ing correctly, so I ended up doing a lot of circle work, which turned out well, then tried to get him on the rail, which didn't work out so well.
Rather than fight with him the rest of the ride, I moved to the round pen. Good old round pen. I worked on keeping his headset and getting out of pacing in there. We also did a little bit of a canter -- I figured that if he could keep a rhythm at a canter then it might improve keeping his rhythm at a largo. It ended up working, either because I was right or because he was tired. We finished with a short walk around the back pasture and a nice bath.
Then we shaved their ears. Or tried to.
Nina snapped out of her halter. AGAIN. This is the second leather halter she's broken! She gets so freaked out whenever anyone goes by her ears, especially with the clippers. It took a good 15 minutes to do her ears and now we have to find someone to fix the halter or buy a new one. Hopefully it can be fixed, those leather things are expensive!
Harry was such a good boy. He was kind of hesitant, but he was done in a snap. Brie was just thankful she didn't have to participate in the nonsense.
Here's to hoping we have a good show this weekend!!
My mom rode Harry first today and we still had the problem of pacing. Luckily, I don't think there's a soundboard at Michigan, so as long as we can kind of check him out of pacing and back into gaiting whenever he does, we might still do well. It's far too late to try to minute-fix this, so we'll just have to keep working on it until the next show. Harry had a longgg workout today. After my mom was finished riding him indoors, she went into the outdoor arena to work him then had me get on. I worked on walking around the arena and then tried to start gaiting and largo-ing, but he was not having anything to do with largo-ing correctly, so I ended up doing a lot of circle work, which turned out well, then tried to get him on the rail, which didn't work out so well.
Rather than fight with him the rest of the ride, I moved to the round pen. Good old round pen. I worked on keeping his headset and getting out of pacing in there. We also did a little bit of a canter -- I figured that if he could keep a rhythm at a canter then it might improve keeping his rhythm at a largo. It ended up working, either because I was right or because he was tired. We finished with a short walk around the back pasture and a nice bath.
Then we shaved their ears. Or tried to.
Nina snapped out of her halter. AGAIN. This is the second leather halter she's broken! She gets so freaked out whenever anyone goes by her ears, especially with the clippers. It took a good 15 minutes to do her ears and now we have to find someone to fix the halter or buy a new one. Hopefully it can be fixed, those leather things are expensive!
Harry was such a good boy. He was kind of hesitant, but he was done in a snap. Brie was just thankful she didn't have to participate in the nonsense.
Here's to hoping we have a good show this weekend!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 151
Well, we haven't heard back from the vet yet on those X Rays, so hopefully no news is good news.
Today we found out that Brie is just a magnet for bad things lately! She had a small gash on her hock, looking fresh, and low and behold one of her boards in the stall was split and she must've rubbed on it and cut herself on the part that was pointing out. We told Paco and he'll have it fixed. We cleaned the wound with some warm water on a rag, then put some iodine on it and finally put this blue paste for cuts my mom found in some vet magazine. It works fantastically! I'll have to get the name of it for you all.
Harry...well, he wasn't exactly bad today, but he wasn't good either. He was having an off day in the most literal sense of the word. He couldn't find his rhythm in his gait, no matter what we tried. Circles, different hand positions, different seats, but nope, he just never really settled into a nice clean gait. Always pacing. I hope that this was just a one day thing, because tomorrow is our last practice before we go to the Michigan show next weekend, and I want to keep up placing highly with him!
I would like to be somewhat productive this summer, so I'm signing up for this Parelli Connect thing online. I'm not sure if I told you all, but last summer I could've had an internship with Parelli in Colorado! I kind of wish I would've taken it, even if it was unpaid. But then again, if I had, I wouldn't have made it so far with Harry! Remember the wild beast he used to be? I'm so glad he's turned out to be so sweet. I'd rather have him be a sweet, not so great show horse, than an uncontrollable blue-ribbon winner! And I like to think I did a good job of taming him, thank you very much.
Oh, so remember when I was on the Equestrian Team? I quit back in October basically because of the facilities not being up to my own personal standards. I just found out that they've decided to move locations to a WAY better stable (one that I suggested way back when) and I'm joining again when school starts. I'm so excited! I missed jumping, and now that I know for sure I have to stop with Brie, it'll be nice to get it somewhere. I plan on starting lessons by the end of the month again, if not sooner!
Today we found out that Brie is just a magnet for bad things lately! She had a small gash on her hock, looking fresh, and low and behold one of her boards in the stall was split and she must've rubbed on it and cut herself on the part that was pointing out. We told Paco and he'll have it fixed. We cleaned the wound with some warm water on a rag, then put some iodine on it and finally put this blue paste for cuts my mom found in some vet magazine. It works fantastically! I'll have to get the name of it for you all.
Harry...well, he wasn't exactly bad today, but he wasn't good either. He was having an off day in the most literal sense of the word. He couldn't find his rhythm in his gait, no matter what we tried. Circles, different hand positions, different seats, but nope, he just never really settled into a nice clean gait. Always pacing. I hope that this was just a one day thing, because tomorrow is our last practice before we go to the Michigan show next weekend, and I want to keep up placing highly with him!
I would like to be somewhat productive this summer, so I'm signing up for this Parelli Connect thing online. I'm not sure if I told you all, but last summer I could've had an internship with Parelli in Colorado! I kind of wish I would've taken it, even if it was unpaid. But then again, if I had, I wouldn't have made it so far with Harry! Remember the wild beast he used to be? I'm so glad he's turned out to be so sweet. I'd rather have him be a sweet, not so great show horse, than an uncontrollable blue-ribbon winner! And I like to think I did a good job of taming him, thank you very much.
Oh, so remember when I was on the Equestrian Team? I quit back in October basically because of the facilities not being up to my own personal standards. I just found out that they've decided to move locations to a WAY better stable (one that I suggested way back when) and I'm joining again when school starts. I'm so excited! I missed jumping, and now that I know for sure I have to stop with Brie, it'll be nice to get it somewhere. I plan on starting lessons by the end of the month again, if not sooner!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Michigan Medallion Show '10
Let me start with the best news.
Now Brie. I was so excited when I won 4th place on her in the Pleasure Mares class! Right before that class all I did was lunge her and do a couple of figure 8's in the tiny warm up arena. She crowhopped into the arena, but once I passed the horse in front of us I got a huge space all to myself and she calmed down and did really well. I think that one of the big reasons I got 4th place is because of the crowhopping. The steward kept eyeballing us and I just knew he was thinking she was lame. She's not lame! She's just anxious and that's her weird way of showing it. I was super excited because my goal for this show was to not get excused and to not come in last place and so far I was achieving it!
I was so frustrated. I spent the entire period from that class until my next and final class, Pleasure Youth, in the warm up trying to make her walk and reversing and just trying to get her to listen to me and calm down and ignore the huge Saddlebreds around her (because she was watching them nervously). Near the end of that session she tried to bolt for the barns and that was enough. I was done playing nice. Before she wanted to bolt for the barn I was going to drop my class because I figured she worked enough outside after she got excused, but she was not getting away with that! I went into that class with only one other rider and got second place. It makes a good picture if you don't know I was the only other rider. But the point was that she got through the class without any acting up, barely any crowhopping and I was proud of her (although it was overshadowed by my disappointment with the prior class). Before we left, I was suppost to meet Jenny over at The Joy of Horses, but we couldn't manage it. =[ Maybe next year...
Nina won 1st place!!
She won with my brother in the Performance Junior Exhibitor class. I'm so proud of her! Everyone was talking up a storm about her, saying how she has so much potential, how she'll just clean up next year at all of the shows once she's settled in. It was fantastic. My mom also won 2nd place in the Performance schooling class and got 4th Championship against older horses, even stallions! She was tired by the end of the day, Saturday, when her showing was over.
Now Brie. I was so excited when I won 4th place on her in the Pleasure Mares class! Right before that class all I did was lunge her and do a couple of figure 8's in the tiny warm up arena. She crowhopped into the arena, but once I passed the horse in front of us I got a huge space all to myself and she calmed down and did really well. I think that one of the big reasons I got 4th place is because of the crowhopping. The steward kept eyeballing us and I just knew he was thinking she was lame. She's not lame! She's just anxious and that's her weird way of showing it. I was super excited because my goal for this show was to not get excused and to not come in last place and so far I was achieving it!On comes the afternoon classes. I'm going into Pleasure Amateur Owners. I'm excited about it because she got 4th. We go into the class last so I can get spacing. The moment we walked in, it ended. She crowhopped a good majority of the class and I'm surprised I didn't get asked to leave because of it. Thinking back on it...all she did was crowhop. She had a few calm moments but she wanted to corto after the walk-reverses. I didn't place and was "excused" at the end when we lined up.
I was so frustrated. I spent the entire period from that class until my next and final class, Pleasure Youth, in the warm up trying to make her walk and reversing and just trying to get her to listen to me and calm down and ignore the huge Saddlebreds around her (because she was watching them nervously). Near the end of that session she tried to bolt for the barns and that was enough. I was done playing nice. Before she wanted to bolt for the barn I was going to drop my class because I figured she worked enough outside after she got excused, but she was not getting away with that! I went into that class with only one other rider and got second place. It makes a good picture if you don't know I was the only other rider. But the point was that she got through the class without any acting up, barely any crowhopping and I was proud of her (although it was overshadowed by my disappointment with the prior class). Before we left, I was suppost to meet Jenny over at The Joy of Horses, but we couldn't manage it. =[ Maybe next year... I don't understand Brie. I've worked with her for the past 9 months, she's on calming supplement, she performs wonderfully at home...does she just not like showing? I can't tell. She does fantastically when she's in her own space like in the Pleasure Mares class or when we do Costume class and I'm the only one there. Is she not comfortable around horses she doesn't know?
I won't stop showing her. I'm just going to take her out of the PFHA show circuit for a while and focus on Harry's career. I'll take her to some fun shows where there are bound to be more horses and try to get her used to the idea of walking in front of and behind stranger-horses. If she does well enough then maybe I'll put her back into the PFHA circuit.
After all, I never said she had to win a blue ribbon in a class of 10 or more in a PFHA class. =]
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Day 70
Last practice before the Michigan show this weekend and I have such a good feeling about this! I rode Brie probably for the longest amount of time since we got Harry. It was oddly strange but fantastic at the same time. I never really realized just exactly how sharply she can reverse when you emphasize your leg rather than your hands. It's beautiful. I just hope she sticks to that little trick when I'm showing her this weekend! I also got to enjoy her love of largo (it's verrry close to a fast canter) which I haven't done in a while. We bought the local farm/show/overall event magazine today while we were getting thrush medicine for Nina and I saw all of these shows I'd love to go to. They're all non-pointed (sad) but it'd be so fun to do them with Brie. Like the Water In a Cup Class, Egg and Spoon race, you know, all that jazz...
One thing I'm really interested in is barrel racing. Not like the super competitive kind, just the kind for these little local shows. It sounds like a blast and Brie is a racehorse in spirit. Annie does barrel racing with her horses, so maybe next time she comes out I'll have her show me the ropes.
I worked with Nina today. I do not understand that horse. She's so easily bored, she was looking at everything else except me and I had to keep grabbing her attention. She was completely relaxed for the Friendly Game, as I suspected she would be. She's getting the hang of the Porcupine Game. She gets it more with the back end than the front end.
So I tried something new. I went and grabbed a bucket, which makes the same plastic noise as the hoof stand, and wiggled it around her legs. She was shaking like a leaf again, but she calmed down. I just kept shaking it and petting her, assuring her that it won't jump up and eat her. I looped a string through the handle and then started swinging it around her legs. She was pretty good with the front legs but very nervous with the back and kept trying to run out on me. After about a half hour of doing that, though, I was able to kind of knock it against her legs like the stand did yesterday without her really moving. I also was able to flip it over and pull her legs out to rest her hooves on it. I think it was a success.
There is something I'm more nervous about this weekend than showing Brie though. My brother is backing out of showing Nina, so I have to show her.
Literally, I can count on both of my hands the number of times I've ridden her. I don't understand the logistics of her training (I actually think they're kind of stupid, the ridiculous things you have to do with your hands and reins to keep her going) and I know I won't be able to get her out of a trot. I know we won't place. My brother, on the other hand, totally loves the logistics of her training and is just being a chicken about it. Maybe we'll just have to make him suck it up and ride.
One thing I'm really interested in is barrel racing. Not like the super competitive kind, just the kind for these little local shows. It sounds like a blast and Brie is a racehorse in spirit. Annie does barrel racing with her horses, so maybe next time she comes out I'll have her show me the ropes.
I worked with Nina today. I do not understand that horse. She's so easily bored, she was looking at everything else except me and I had to keep grabbing her attention. She was completely relaxed for the Friendly Game, as I suspected she would be. She's getting the hang of the Porcupine Game. She gets it more with the back end than the front end.
So I tried something new. I went and grabbed a bucket, which makes the same plastic noise as the hoof stand, and wiggled it around her legs. She was shaking like a leaf again, but she calmed down. I just kept shaking it and petting her, assuring her that it won't jump up and eat her. I looped a string through the handle and then started swinging it around her legs. She was pretty good with the front legs but very nervous with the back and kept trying to run out on me. After about a half hour of doing that, though, I was able to kind of knock it against her legs like the stand did yesterday without her really moving. I also was able to flip it over and pull her legs out to rest her hooves on it. I think it was a success.
There is something I'm more nervous about this weekend than showing Brie though. My brother is backing out of showing Nina, so I have to show her.
Literally, I can count on both of my hands the number of times I've ridden her. I don't understand the logistics of her training (I actually think they're kind of stupid, the ridiculous things you have to do with your hands and reins to keep her going) and I know I won't be able to get her out of a trot. I know we won't place. My brother, on the other hand, totally loves the logistics of her training and is just being a chicken about it. Maybe we'll just have to make him suck it up and ride.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Day 68
Yay for progress!
I may have told you a while back that I started working with Harry on some Parelli games. Well, actually, game in the singular. I started working on the Friendly Game with him and he was okay with the string for the carrot stick and the carrot stick separately, but not together, probably because it looks like a giant whip (but it's really not). We made huge progress today when I was able to connect the two and rub them over him and he didn't flinch! It was fantastic. Step 1 of the trust-building achieved!
It was thunder-storming today. Last time I rode Harry in a thunder-storm he got kind of freaked out. He was okay today, probably because the thunder was far away and it was just raining hard. I lunged him for quite a while and then started working. We changed his bosal and barbada (noseband and chin piece) and his entire jaquima because of Paco's recommendation yesterday. After working for a while, trying (unsuccessfully) to get him to walk on the rail, Paco adjusted the jaquima and told me that sometimes I have to give a little to get something in return from the horse, otherwise he'll just be mad at me. Makes sense. So he told me to just work on going straight down the line, not necessarily on the rail, and that each time to push Harry over a little bit and soon he'll be on the rail. Hopefully that works.
I also have exciting news. Exciting for me at least. Ray was watching us today while he was training and he told me as I passed by on Harry that I was doing a good job and to keep it up, I'll get there eventually. That may have just been a crock, but it gave me a smug feeling to know that he complimented me.
Didn't ride Nina. Again.
Rode Brie. This is our second to last practice before our Michigan show next weekend. I'm excited for it. She was a little uppity today, hopefully she's more calm on Wednesday for our last practice. I really hope she does well, I have to admit, I'll be really disappointed if she doesn't. All I'm asking for is to NOT get excused and to NOT come in last place. Second to last place is completely acceptable at this point. I gotta work my way up.
I may have told you a while back that I started working with Harry on some Parelli games. Well, actually, game in the singular. I started working on the Friendly Game with him and he was okay with the string for the carrot stick and the carrot stick separately, but not together, probably because it looks like a giant whip (but it's really not). We made huge progress today when I was able to connect the two and rub them over him and he didn't flinch! It was fantastic. Step 1 of the trust-building achieved!
It was thunder-storming today. Last time I rode Harry in a thunder-storm he got kind of freaked out. He was okay today, probably because the thunder was far away and it was just raining hard. I lunged him for quite a while and then started working. We changed his bosal and barbada (noseband and chin piece) and his entire jaquima because of Paco's recommendation yesterday. After working for a while, trying (unsuccessfully) to get him to walk on the rail, Paco adjusted the jaquima and told me that sometimes I have to give a little to get something in return from the horse, otherwise he'll just be mad at me. Makes sense. So he told me to just work on going straight down the line, not necessarily on the rail, and that each time to push Harry over a little bit and soon he'll be on the rail. Hopefully that works.
I also have exciting news. Exciting for me at least. Ray was watching us today while he was training and he told me as I passed by on Harry that I was doing a good job and to keep it up, I'll get there eventually. That may have just been a crock, but it gave me a smug feeling to know that he complimented me.
Didn't ride Nina. Again.
Rode Brie. This is our second to last practice before our Michigan show next weekend. I'm excited for it. She was a little uppity today, hopefully she's more calm on Wednesday for our last practice. I really hope she does well, I have to admit, I'll be really disappointed if she doesn't. All I'm asking for is to NOT get excused and to NOT come in last place. Second to last place is completely acceptable at this point. I gotta work my way up.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Day 67
It takes a young horse to remind me that we all have our bad days.
With that said, Harry was a bit of a psycho today. I worked for the longest time with him to the point where I was as hot and sticky as the horse. He doesn't want to walk on the rail, doesn't want to go straight when he walks on the inside, doesn't want to WALK period. Everyone tells me to just let him get his energy out of his system but wouldn't that defeat the point I'm trying to make? Do I need to stop trying to make a point and try to bond with him? Is he doing this to test me or because he doesn't trust me? I was going to do some Parelli games with him, but was so exhausted that I completely forgot about that intention.
One reader last week answered the question I asked: should I bring Harry or Brie to Michigan next week? I thank you for your advice, saying that if I never bring him to the show then he'll remain the horse that's never been shown. After today, though, it's clear to me that something isn't clicking between us and I don't think we'll get anywhere until we work on this unsolved issue between us. Tomorrow I'm going to work some Parelli before I ride, that way I won't be tired out. That means I'll have to reassemble the round pen. Fantastic.
I've finally accepted that everyone, no matter who you are or what you're doing, will look at you and laugh because you're not doing things to their expectations. It takes a strong person to ignore all of that and proceed to prove them wrong. I'll have to be that strong person if I want to fix this trust between Harry and I.
I didn't get to ride Nina like I wanted to today. I was still working Harry when my brother put her back in the stall.
Speaking of trust, Harry now has this problem going into the wash rack. Popped out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago and you have to do this ridiculous back and forth trickery nonsense to get him in and even that didn't work today. Paco had to get him into the wash stall for me and you know I'm not too pleased about having to have other people help me out. So that's another goal to add onto Harry's list: get into the wash stall.
Brie was apparently psycho for my mom outside, but we all know that's because she was outside. Have you ever had a horse who hated trail rides? How did you fix that?
She was great for me indoors though. I'm confidant about next weekend. Michigan, you better watch out!
Doesn't it seem that in the past couple of months this has turned from Brie-centered to Harry-centered?
So now the goal of this blog is to not end when Brie gets a blue ribbon in a class of ten or more; it has turned into a blog with the goal of living happily with my three horses and eliminating all of their problems, whether they're trust issues, showing issues, or trail issues.
Looks like I'll be here for a while.
With that said, Harry was a bit of a psycho today. I worked for the longest time with him to the point where I was as hot and sticky as the horse. He doesn't want to walk on the rail, doesn't want to go straight when he walks on the inside, doesn't want to WALK period. Everyone tells me to just let him get his energy out of his system but wouldn't that defeat the point I'm trying to make? Do I need to stop trying to make a point and try to bond with him? Is he doing this to test me or because he doesn't trust me? I was going to do some Parelli games with him, but was so exhausted that I completely forgot about that intention.
One reader last week answered the question I asked: should I bring Harry or Brie to Michigan next week? I thank you for your advice, saying that if I never bring him to the show then he'll remain the horse that's never been shown. After today, though, it's clear to me that something isn't clicking between us and I don't think we'll get anywhere until we work on this unsolved issue between us. Tomorrow I'm going to work some Parelli before I ride, that way I won't be tired out. That means I'll have to reassemble the round pen. Fantastic.
I've finally accepted that everyone, no matter who you are or what you're doing, will look at you and laugh because you're not doing things to their expectations. It takes a strong person to ignore all of that and proceed to prove them wrong. I'll have to be that strong person if I want to fix this trust between Harry and I.
I didn't get to ride Nina like I wanted to today. I was still working Harry when my brother put her back in the stall.
Speaking of trust, Harry now has this problem going into the wash rack. Popped out of nowhere a couple of weeks ago and you have to do this ridiculous back and forth trickery nonsense to get him in and even that didn't work today. Paco had to get him into the wash stall for me and you know I'm not too pleased about having to have other people help me out. So that's another goal to add onto Harry's list: get into the wash stall.
Brie was apparently psycho for my mom outside, but we all know that's because she was outside. Have you ever had a horse who hated trail rides? How did you fix that?
She was great for me indoors though. I'm confidant about next weekend. Michigan, you better watch out!
Doesn't it seem that in the past couple of months this has turned from Brie-centered to Harry-centered?
So now the goal of this blog is to not end when Brie gets a blue ribbon in a class of ten or more; it has turned into a blog with the goal of living happily with my three horses and eliminating all of their problems, whether they're trust issues, showing issues, or trail issues.
Looks like I'll be here for a while.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Days 65 and 66
Sorry I'm late with this one--I've just finished my first year of college! I was bogged down by studying and moving out worries over the weekend but I'm here now! I'm gonna write them in pseudo-past tense because it's easier for me to remember things that way.
Saturday
I worked a lot with Harry today. He's surprisingly calm lunging without the pole. I'm thrilled about that because I find having to walk around the pole and not trip all while trying to not get dizzy and focus on the horse in front of you a very difficult task, especially the not tripping part. It's so nice that I can lunge him like normal now. He is kind of uppity in the clockwise direction, not sure why, but we'll work on it.
It's the strangest thing too. He's perfectly fine staying on the rail while he's gaiting but he won't keep his butt on the rail when we walk. Any ideas why this is? He doesn't really understand leg yields yet and I do get a little nervous trying to do them with him because I don't want him to freak out, but I just keep reminding myself that I have control and that I will NOT be thrown off or injured in any sort of way. Of course this is not ignorance. It's confidence. I'm confident I can get off before then!
I rode Nina today. She's a tricky one. I guess part of the reason that I'm not good at riding her is because I never get to! My brother is always the one who gets to ride her. For me, she seems very all over the place (because I don't know what to do with her), but hopefully my brother has better luck in shows. I want to start riding her more often because, after all, she is the horse in my name!
Brie didn't really work that hard today. I mostly sat on her while listening to my parents talk to Gary, the stable owner, about Spectrum two weeks ago. It sounds amazing, I wish I could've gone. So Brie didn't really do anything. She got it easy today.
Sunday
I won't go into full detail, but today SUCKED and not because of the horses. Harry was absolutely PHENOMENAL. His gait was perfect, the kind of gait that will sweep a performance class. I like to think that I can feel the fino in him, but I don't want to push him. He's having a little trouble keeping his back legs going the same speed as the front and I saw it on the board when my brother rode. Sometimes he gets unsure of what to do with those feet so he hesitates and it makes the gait sound off. He also has a problem of rushing the board and going into it at a canter so I'm trying to break him of that habit by stopping him and making him back up before we take the board.
The Michigan show is in two weeks! (fingers crossed) Hopefully we will actually go through with this show! It will be the first show we've done this year so far and I'm wondering who we will take. Since I know nothing about Nina's abilities, I'll leave that to my brother. But now it's down to Harry and Brie, since we only have a two horse trailer. Harry did fantastically yesterday but he's kind of nervous passing and being passed. Brie has been doing wonderfully consistently but, well...she has past history with freakouts in the show ring. This is going to be a tough decision to make. Should I bring Brie, the horse I've been working on for the past 8 months to get to this point, or should I bring Harry, the horse who shows lots of potential but I've never shown him before?
Saturday
I worked a lot with Harry today. He's surprisingly calm lunging without the pole. I'm thrilled about that because I find having to walk around the pole and not trip all while trying to not get dizzy and focus on the horse in front of you a very difficult task, especially the not tripping part. It's so nice that I can lunge him like normal now. He is kind of uppity in the clockwise direction, not sure why, but we'll work on it.
It's the strangest thing too. He's perfectly fine staying on the rail while he's gaiting but he won't keep his butt on the rail when we walk. Any ideas why this is? He doesn't really understand leg yields yet and I do get a little nervous trying to do them with him because I don't want him to freak out, but I just keep reminding myself that I have control and that I will NOT be thrown off or injured in any sort of way. Of course this is not ignorance. It's confidence. I'm confident I can get off before then!
I rode Nina today. She's a tricky one. I guess part of the reason that I'm not good at riding her is because I never get to! My brother is always the one who gets to ride her. For me, she seems very all over the place (because I don't know what to do with her), but hopefully my brother has better luck in shows. I want to start riding her more often because, after all, she is the horse in my name!
Brie didn't really work that hard today. I mostly sat on her while listening to my parents talk to Gary, the stable owner, about Spectrum two weeks ago. It sounds amazing, I wish I could've gone. So Brie didn't really do anything. She got it easy today.
Sunday
I won't go into full detail, but today SUCKED and not because of the horses. Harry was absolutely PHENOMENAL. His gait was perfect, the kind of gait that will sweep a performance class. I like to think that I can feel the fino in him, but I don't want to push him. He's having a little trouble keeping his back legs going the same speed as the front and I saw it on the board when my brother rode. Sometimes he gets unsure of what to do with those feet so he hesitates and it makes the gait sound off. He also has a problem of rushing the board and going into it at a canter so I'm trying to break him of that habit by stopping him and making him back up before we take the board.
The Michigan show is in two weeks! (fingers crossed) Hopefully we will actually go through with this show! It will be the first show we've done this year so far and I'm wondering who we will take. Since I know nothing about Nina's abilities, I'll leave that to my brother. But now it's down to Harry and Brie, since we only have a two horse trailer. Harry did fantastically yesterday but he's kind of nervous passing and being passed. Brie has been doing wonderfully consistently but, well...she has past history with freakouts in the show ring. This is going to be a tough decision to make. Should I bring Brie, the horse I've been working on for the past 8 months to get to this point, or should I bring Harry, the horse who shows lots of potential but I've never shown him before?
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