Saturday
We got out late today because my car was dead at school and my dad had to come jump it. =/ Thankfully it's working now and he charged up the battery so it should work for a while!
That said, my dad had to stay home because he would've been late for work otherwise. It was so nice going and not having to rush. I got our new carrot stick in the mail, so I used that with Brie. She didn't seem too into working today. She barely came out of a walk on the longe. I think it was because it was so hot out today. We played a bit of the friendly game, yo yo game, and porcupine game. I can't get the front end down pat yet. Instead of moving sideways, she just goes forward and I don't know how to get her to change it. I need to look into it more.
She's been giving me trouble on the mounting block lately, so I squeezed her between the block and the fountain next to the sound board. She knew it was coming from last week, so she resisted, but I got her in there. I didn't get on and go right away, but got on and off a couple of times, that way maybe she would get the picture that I want her to stand still at the block. She was doing so well but now she's testing me again!
She had a wonderful walk and we walked outside a bit in the arena too. She was a little hyper walking around the fields, but manageable and good all the same. She got a bath afterwards and I led her out for some grass =]
Sunday
This is it. The last day of posting. I feel like maybe I should've done something more, but this was really a perfect day. What a great ride to make a last post about.
I played with the carrot stick more with Brie today and tried to do the driving game but she was not having it. I think she actually fell asleep...it was pretty warm out, so I don't blame her. The mounting block was better today and she was a little limpy at the beginning but worked it out. She had a wonderful walk, corto, and largo. I couldn't ask for more. If she keeps up calm like that, we'll definitely win at Michigan.
After we worked, we went outside and walked around. She actually walked!! We had a slow corto going too. She was absolutely amazing. No issues, no drama, just a great, enjoyable ride. Like I said, even though it was nothing spectacular, it was spectacular just in itself. I couldn't have asked for a better ride than that to make my last post about.
After the ride, I gave her another bath and grass, like yesterday, fly sprayed her up, and gave her carrots. Today was the exact kind of day that everyone dreams about at the barn, and I wish I didn't have to ever leave.
This weekend we might not be going out, because we're trying to go to Spectrum in Miami. It's a giant horse show down there, bigger than Nationals even, and we've always wanted to go check it out and now we have the chance, so we'll see.
This feels so weird, knowing I'm not going to post anymore. I'll see where we're at with shows at the end of the summer and make that my final update on this blog. I don't know what's in store for me in the future, with graduation next month and law school starting in August, but I hope that I still have time to ride. Riding is what I look forward to the most in my life, like I'm sure it is for many. It gives me time to focus on animals that need me to take care of them, a chance to bond with them, and a way to get away from all of the problems from the rest of my life to just focus on what is right there in front of me. I have to say that I'm sad, ending this blog, but I know it's just opening up for a new journey ahead. Who knows, I may start another one, and this time I may even be a real horse trainer. Not just a horse trainer in training.
So with this post, I wish you all luck on your journeys with your horses, wherever you may be. Don't ever give up on them, because even if it takes 3 years, you will get to where you want to be and you will never regret it.
With love,
Lexa
Showing posts with label Mounting Block. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mounting Block. Show all posts
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Day 295
Saturday
We switched Harry's bit today back to Nina's expensive bit. I went back and read posts from this time last year, when he was doing really well, to try to solve his pacing problem and that was one of the changes we had made and he was gaiting really well. So we did that today and he didn't pace at all in a corto! He had a hard time doing a largo, though. He's not a very fast largo horse, so all we can really do is make sure his corto is super slow, that way there is a difference in speed when they ask for a largo.
My mom and I both rode Harry, plus my mom rode him outside for a bit, so he was super tired when we were finished. I hosed him off and of course the first thing he did was roll around in his stall after that!
I also rode Brie, which was nice to do after not having ridden her for a couple of weeks. She gave me a bit of a hard time trying to mount, and I started getting angry and it wasn't working even more...so I really made myself relax, I pet her for a bit, which calmed both of us down, and after that she let me get on quickly. Just goes to show that anger will not get you anywhere!
Brie is doing really well and I can't wait to show her! I hope she doesn't have any show anxiety, because then we'll definitely win 1st places!
Update: Sunday
We didn't go out today...my mom had a headache and I was too nervous to drive out by myself...
My mom's also decided that we're not going to St. Louis for the show next week...Harry isn't prepared enough. Even though I would love to bring Brie instead of Harry, since I feel confident in her, we're just not going at all...
Now to wait until Michigan.
We switched Harry's bit today back to Nina's expensive bit. I went back and read posts from this time last year, when he was doing really well, to try to solve his pacing problem and that was one of the changes we had made and he was gaiting really well. So we did that today and he didn't pace at all in a corto! He had a hard time doing a largo, though. He's not a very fast largo horse, so all we can really do is make sure his corto is super slow, that way there is a difference in speed when they ask for a largo.
My mom and I both rode Harry, plus my mom rode him outside for a bit, so he was super tired when we were finished. I hosed him off and of course the first thing he did was roll around in his stall after that!
I also rode Brie, which was nice to do after not having ridden her for a couple of weeks. She gave me a bit of a hard time trying to mount, and I started getting angry and it wasn't working even more...so I really made myself relax, I pet her for a bit, which calmed both of us down, and after that she let me get on quickly. Just goes to show that anger will not get you anywhere!
Brie is doing really well and I can't wait to show her! I hope she doesn't have any show anxiety, because then we'll definitely win 1st places!
Update: Sunday
We didn't go out today...my mom had a headache and I was too nervous to drive out by myself...
My mom's also decided that we're not going to St. Louis for the show next week...Harry isn't prepared enough. Even though I would love to bring Brie instead of Harry, since I feel confident in her, we're just not going at all...
Now to wait until Michigan.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Days 292 & 293
Saturday
It was absolutely freezing today, such a difference from last week.
During the week, everyone got their hooves done...well, mostly. Nina didn't get her hooves done because the new farrier said that there wasn't enough growth to trim or put nails into, so he is going to let her grow until next time. He said that Brie's hooves were too small to support her frame, so he's going to work on letting them grow in a certain way so that they are more effective. I'm not entirely sure how much he wants them to grow, as they've never been very big her whole life. We'll see. And Harry was a good boy and didn't need to take the tranquilizer so I was proud of him =]
I didn't ride Harry today. I was more focused on Brie. I was super proud of her for not embarrassing me at the mounting block in front of everyone. She let me get on in one try! She was in a very fast mood today and we worked on reversing. She is getting better at not speeding through them and breaking into a canter. It took a while for us to get into our groove, but once we did, I felt her collecting a little bit. Not as much as those couple of times, but it was a definite improvement. I felt her rounding her back and really settling into it.
Sunday
Day to night, this weather is. It was 70 degrees out today, so I took advantage of it by riding outside. Brie is so much more relaxed now in the outdoor arena than she has been in the past and I really think it's because I take time before we tack up to go longe out there. I think it helps her set up where we're going to be for the day. I will have to try to get to the arena early at the shows so that we can do that there too. The main arena, not just the warm up one.
She was SO good walking outside today! We actually walked out in the pasture. AND on top of that, we all went for a mini ride down the street! Down the street from Gary's place is a dead end, so we rode down to the end and back. Everyone was super calm, even Harry. I can't even tell you how proud I am of everyone, especially with a barking dog in someone's yard. I feel like their good behavior out on trail means that they really trust all of us that nothing bad will happen to them, which is exactly what we want them to understand. It's nice to finally be getting there.
I suppose with our first show coming up in 2 weeks that I should start riding Harry more. I will have to make it a point to ride him each day every weekend until the show comes to make sure that we're on the same page. If he stays in gait, he will sweep the pleasure classes.
It was absolutely freezing today, such a difference from last week.
During the week, everyone got their hooves done...well, mostly. Nina didn't get her hooves done because the new farrier said that there wasn't enough growth to trim or put nails into, so he is going to let her grow until next time. He said that Brie's hooves were too small to support her frame, so he's going to work on letting them grow in a certain way so that they are more effective. I'm not entirely sure how much he wants them to grow, as they've never been very big her whole life. We'll see. And Harry was a good boy and didn't need to take the tranquilizer so I was proud of him =]
I didn't ride Harry today. I was more focused on Brie. I was super proud of her for not embarrassing me at the mounting block in front of everyone. She let me get on in one try! She was in a very fast mood today and we worked on reversing. She is getting better at not speeding through them and breaking into a canter. It took a while for us to get into our groove, but once we did, I felt her collecting a little bit. Not as much as those couple of times, but it was a definite improvement. I felt her rounding her back and really settling into it.
Sunday
Day to night, this weather is. It was 70 degrees out today, so I took advantage of it by riding outside. Brie is so much more relaxed now in the outdoor arena than she has been in the past and I really think it's because I take time before we tack up to go longe out there. I think it helps her set up where we're going to be for the day. I will have to try to get to the arena early at the shows so that we can do that there too. The main arena, not just the warm up one.
She was SO good walking outside today! We actually walked out in the pasture. AND on top of that, we all went for a mini ride down the street! Down the street from Gary's place is a dead end, so we rode down to the end and back. Everyone was super calm, even Harry. I can't even tell you how proud I am of everyone, especially with a barking dog in someone's yard. I feel like their good behavior out on trail means that they really trust all of us that nothing bad will happen to them, which is exactly what we want them to understand. It's nice to finally be getting there.
I suppose with our first show coming up in 2 weeks that I should start riding Harry more. I will have to make it a point to ride him each day every weekend until the show comes to make sure that we're on the same page. If he stays in gait, he will sweep the pleasure classes.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Days 288 & 289
Saturday
We got up and out super early. Surprisingly, I was full of energy! It was also super nice outside, so I decided that I would ride outside. I was a little hesitant, since they haven't been ridden outdoors since fall, but I took Brie out to do our little program like nothing was different and after a few bucks of happiness, she settled right into it! We got ready to ride and were out there riding before anyone else was ready and she was sooo calm! It was a really nice surprise. She walked so slowly and was just happily going along with no problems. She tried to speed up a tiny bit when we would turn the corners to face going towards the gate, but with a little correction she regained her focus and settled back into a beautifully slow walk. Our corto was equally as calm. It was fantastic! Once everyone else came out she got a little hyper, but not really badly. We went outside in the fields to walk around and she was not super crazy so that was a plus! She actually wasn't bad at all. Never tried to stop or run away on me, just plugged along in her corto. =] It was truly a great day.
In other news...we're changing farriers. Our current farrier, according to the vet, cut Jane's horses hooves at all different angles. This lead to mass confusion but when confronted about it, the farrier had good explanations (supposedly) for what he did. After talking more with Nick, he explained how just being off on angles a tiny bit can make the horse not gait well or go into a pace. Harry has been pacing...so now we're concerned. We've decided on going back to a previous farrier that Gary and Nick fly in from Puerto Rico who supposedly specializes in Paso Finos.
This whole farrier v. vet business makes me anxious. Do farriers and vets ever really get along? And I'm not entirely convinced that Pasos need a special farrier just for their hooves. If the farrier is good, he should be able to comprehend adjusting the angles as necessary for the breed and conformation of he horse, right?
Sunday
Rode Brie some more today. I didn't use the mounting block because everyone was standing around it like a herd of cattle. I don't get it, really. No one outside of my family uses the mounting block for their horses, but they keep it in an area where they all stand. I might just move it to the corner or something, that way I don't have to keep asking everyone to move so I can use it and then feel judged if Brie doesn't stand still the first time. Also, there is a gazebo in the middle of the arena for this gathering purpose! Can't they go in there?!
It was crummy out today, so as much as I wanted to go back out, we got stuck inside again. Oh well. I'm really confident that Brie is going to do well if we take her to Michigan. This whole spring and show season is getting hectic, at least for me. I want to go to Michigan to show Brie, but my best friend has her graduation on the second day of the show...I'm not sure if my parents will want to drive back on Saturday night so that I can go to graduation. Otherwise, I might just stay home and then Brie will miss another year of showing, since I think Michigan is the last local one before State Fair, which I won't be able to go to because of law school starting, so no one will bring her to show anyways...plus I wanted to be the one to show her...
Anyways. This weekend is Easter! Maybe we'll go out on Friday and Saturday to make up for missing Sunday.
We got up and out super early. Surprisingly, I was full of energy! It was also super nice outside, so I decided that I would ride outside. I was a little hesitant, since they haven't been ridden outdoors since fall, but I took Brie out to do our little program like nothing was different and after a few bucks of happiness, she settled right into it! We got ready to ride and were out there riding before anyone else was ready and she was sooo calm! It was a really nice surprise. She walked so slowly and was just happily going along with no problems. She tried to speed up a tiny bit when we would turn the corners to face going towards the gate, but with a little correction she regained her focus and settled back into a beautifully slow walk. Our corto was equally as calm. It was fantastic! Once everyone else came out she got a little hyper, but not really badly. We went outside in the fields to walk around and she was not super crazy so that was a plus! She actually wasn't bad at all. Never tried to stop or run away on me, just plugged along in her corto. =] It was truly a great day.
In other news...we're changing farriers. Our current farrier, according to the vet, cut Jane's horses hooves at all different angles. This lead to mass confusion but when confronted about it, the farrier had good explanations (supposedly) for what he did. After talking more with Nick, he explained how just being off on angles a tiny bit can make the horse not gait well or go into a pace. Harry has been pacing...so now we're concerned. We've decided on going back to a previous farrier that Gary and Nick fly in from Puerto Rico who supposedly specializes in Paso Finos.
This whole farrier v. vet business makes me anxious. Do farriers and vets ever really get along? And I'm not entirely convinced that Pasos need a special farrier just for their hooves. If the farrier is good, he should be able to comprehend adjusting the angles as necessary for the breed and conformation of he horse, right?
Sunday
Rode Brie some more today. I didn't use the mounting block because everyone was standing around it like a herd of cattle. I don't get it, really. No one outside of my family uses the mounting block for their horses, but they keep it in an area where they all stand. I might just move it to the corner or something, that way I don't have to keep asking everyone to move so I can use it and then feel judged if Brie doesn't stand still the first time. Also, there is a gazebo in the middle of the arena for this gathering purpose! Can't they go in there?!
It was crummy out today, so as much as I wanted to go back out, we got stuck inside again. Oh well. I'm really confident that Brie is going to do well if we take her to Michigan. This whole spring and show season is getting hectic, at least for me. I want to go to Michigan to show Brie, but my best friend has her graduation on the second day of the show...I'm not sure if my parents will want to drive back on Saturday night so that I can go to graduation. Otherwise, I might just stay home and then Brie will miss another year of showing, since I think Michigan is the last local one before State Fair, which I won't be able to go to because of law school starting, so no one will bring her to show anyways...plus I wanted to be the one to show her...
Anyways. This weekend is Easter! Maybe we'll go out on Friday and Saturday to make up for missing Sunday.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Day 278
Happy Super Bowl, America!
I worked again with Brie today. I repeated the flexibility program and she is getting the hang of what I want from her. I think next week I will use the make-shift Pessoa system we have going with her. She was very calm today and, once again, no problems mounting today!! So we're making progress. She wasn't collecting like yesterday, only for a couple of strides near the end, so we need to work more on that. I'm also working on not letting her break into a canter on reverses in general and corners when she's at a largo. It will take time, but I'm sure we can get there!
Harry looked kind of sore today. He got a woodchip stuck in his hoof yesterday and I think it made his hoof tender. I put lineament on him anyways, just in case, and by next weekend he should be fine. He did the strangest thing today. He was standing on the cross ties and my mom went to put the saddle on him but he kind of sank back into his back legs like he was bowing, stretching out his front legs. What a goof! We all thought he was just going to lay down or something!
Nina is just a little powerhouse. We're aiming to bring her to Extravaganza in Jacksonville this year. We were going to last year, but things came up, plus I think our car had to go into the shop. Hopefully this year is our year!
I worked again with Brie today. I repeated the flexibility program and she is getting the hang of what I want from her. I think next week I will use the make-shift Pessoa system we have going with her. She was very calm today and, once again, no problems mounting today!! So we're making progress. She wasn't collecting like yesterday, only for a couple of strides near the end, so we need to work more on that. I'm also working on not letting her break into a canter on reverses in general and corners when she's at a largo. It will take time, but I'm sure we can get there!
Harry looked kind of sore today. He got a woodchip stuck in his hoof yesterday and I think it made his hoof tender. I put lineament on him anyways, just in case, and by next weekend he should be fine. He did the strangest thing today. He was standing on the cross ties and my mom went to put the saddle on him but he kind of sank back into his back legs like he was bowing, stretching out his front legs. What a goof! We all thought he was just going to lay down or something!
Nina is just a little powerhouse. We're aiming to bring her to Extravaganza in Jacksonville this year. We were going to last year, but things came up, plus I think our car had to go into the shop. Hopefully this year is our year!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Day 273
Sunday
Didn't make it out yesterday because we were taking down the Christmas decorations!
Brie has this weird sticky spot on her flank and she doesn't want anyone to touch it. She nearly kicked my mom and I while we were trying to clean it, so I fed her carrots while my mom cleaned it off and put some medicine on it. I hope it's nothing! It was kind of hot when I touched it, but I hope it's not anything serious.
She was very full of energy when I when to longe her. She was bucking and galloping so fast, I had to reel her in and put her on the long line. After much running around, she finally calmed down. She is getting better at standing for the mounting block! Each day I work with her to stand still for me, she gets better at it, so I am very pleased with that. After all of that running, she was very calm and easy to work with today. She never tried to pull me and was willing to work with me. We worked on slowing down her corto and on not spinning her reverses and things went great!
Then I got on Harry. It is going to take some getting used to him again. I barely rode him for 30 minutes but I was frustrated. I just have to remember to be patient and not expect him to be amazing, especially after his time off. After failed attempts at a corto, I settled for just walking him without him pulling away from me. After that I was done. As long as I remember to be patient, I know we will make amazing progress. I just have to work for it!
Didn't make it out yesterday because we were taking down the Christmas decorations!
Brie has this weird sticky spot on her flank and she doesn't want anyone to touch it. She nearly kicked my mom and I while we were trying to clean it, so I fed her carrots while my mom cleaned it off and put some medicine on it. I hope it's nothing! It was kind of hot when I touched it, but I hope it's not anything serious.
She was very full of energy when I when to longe her. She was bucking and galloping so fast, I had to reel her in and put her on the long line. After much running around, she finally calmed down. She is getting better at standing for the mounting block! Each day I work with her to stand still for me, she gets better at it, so I am very pleased with that. After all of that running, she was very calm and easy to work with today. She never tried to pull me and was willing to work with me. We worked on slowing down her corto and on not spinning her reverses and things went great!
Then I got on Harry. It is going to take some getting used to him again. I barely rode him for 30 minutes but I was frustrated. I just have to remember to be patient and not expect him to be amazing, especially after his time off. After failed attempts at a corto, I settled for just walking him without him pulling away from me. After that I was done. As long as I remember to be patient, I know we will make amazing progress. I just have to work for it!
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Day 256
I wish I knew what I was doing wrong and how to fix it.
So, I've started really trying to work on my seat and posture while riding. I had this terrible habit of sticking my butt out when it's supposed to be in, and while it's been proving useful on Brie and she is responding very nicely, Harry is just not having it. He thinks that when I do that, he is supposed to go faster, even when I half halt him. Do I need to just have a bad seat in order for him to perform? I don't think that can be so...
Before we rode, we took them all out in the grass out back to longe and play with them a bit. Mom put Brie on the longe line, the really long one, and had her longe around the field and up and down the hill, working her back legs. Brie was like a pro, she even had this beautiful trot going, which meant she was super relaxed. Harry at first didn't really want to do anything except eat the grass, so I just held up the carrot stick and he wiggled it every time he wanted to stop and eat and he was going nicely. Nina slipped and had this dramatic slow fall onto her butt in a muddy spot, but she was okay. When my mom took Harry to go on the longe line, he was like "Oh my god! What do I do!? I'm free! I'm free! Oh no! Why am I still on this rope?! I want to be freeee!" and she had to end up reeling him in quite a bit...I think we will be practicing in the arena with that one for a while until he gets used to being so far out away from us. Then she tried to get him to longe on the hill and he got mentally stuck trying to come back down, so after much encouragement, he tiptoed back down the hill. While she took Nina to longe on the hill, I took Harry to a less steep part of the hill and had him longe over that and he went okay.
By the time we started riding, it was raining. Thank god the heaters were all installed yesterday so we could ride indoors! I put the rear end collector on Harry today because he's been floating out for a couple of weeks and tried to use the draw reins on him as well. They did make his head set really nice, but I felt like I had no contact with his mouth and couldn't really control his speed. Plus then I realized in my autopilot state that I had put the wrong bit on, which might have added to the unresponsivemess, so I took the draw reins off and switched bits and just kept the rear end collector on. He was still a little fast, and he was a little touchy when I was flexing him before I got on, so while I tried to get him to do nice, big, slow circles, he ended up spiraling into tiny medium speed circles. He must not have been that sore if he spiraled in on his own. Then it started thundering and he got a little spooky, but I was determined to finish my ride. He wasn't too great on the board today, he was a little poopy and I don't know how to get him in that right spot where I can keep my leg on him and not have him take off. It's just really such a puzzle to me why he was so good for that 2-3 month time in the spring and now he's like just confused seeming. Am I trying to change too much with myself and he doesn't know how to accomodate that? All the changes I'm making to my posture, my legs, my hands, they're all supposed to be for the benefit of his comfort. Sitting further back and deeper in the seat, not letting my legs swing out in front of my knees, not letting my hands get really high off of the pommel area...and he just isn't doing too great ever since I started those changes. Brie has been reacting so nicely, but Harry...I don't know. I don't think that I should compromise what is supposed to be good for him, but if he doesn't like it, maybe I should go back to riding more sloppily with him. I hate to go back there, but if he performs better....
In the end, we got a good board and walked and while everyone left and we were still cooling, he was circling around the door trying to get out, so I decided to activate his brain a little by dismounting at the mounting block. He wouldn't stand on the correct side to dismount, and barely wanted to stand for the wrong side to dismount, but he did for a bit, so I got off. They built a new sounding board area, and it has patio blocks, a little fountain, and a little raised deck in between the boards, and my dad was sitting on the deck and I wanted to walk over to him, but Harry didn't want to go. I couldn't tell if he was bothered by the mounting block or the fountain, as the block was in front of the fountain, so I told him if we went by the fountain we could go inside. Well he went there and walked around it and then I said "Okay, one more time" and he looked at me like "you've got to be kidding" and just planted himself in the dirt a foot away from the fountain. So I sat down on the edge of the fountain and told him I wasn't moving until he came over by me. I must have sat there for 20 minutes, and at one point my dad left to go close the arena doors. Harry thought that my dad was going to go and push him from behind to go onto the patio to go by the fountain, so he backed up frantically, but I didn't move from the fountain, just gave him more pisador line, and waited. He took little baby steps towards the patio, and instead of going the close way to get to me, he eventually decided to go all the way around to come by me. Then I told him he was good and we left, much to his relief.
Nina was still pawing at the ground when we were leaving, so I gave her a bit of hay to occupy her until it was dinner time. I hope that she doesn't keep doing that all week, or we'll have a serious problem come the next weekend.
So, I've started really trying to work on my seat and posture while riding. I had this terrible habit of sticking my butt out when it's supposed to be in, and while it's been proving useful on Brie and she is responding very nicely, Harry is just not having it. He thinks that when I do that, he is supposed to go faster, even when I half halt him. Do I need to just have a bad seat in order for him to perform? I don't think that can be so...
Before we rode, we took them all out in the grass out back to longe and play with them a bit. Mom put Brie on the longe line, the really long one, and had her longe around the field and up and down the hill, working her back legs. Brie was like a pro, she even had this beautiful trot going, which meant she was super relaxed. Harry at first didn't really want to do anything except eat the grass, so I just held up the carrot stick and he wiggled it every time he wanted to stop and eat and he was going nicely. Nina slipped and had this dramatic slow fall onto her butt in a muddy spot, but she was okay. When my mom took Harry to go on the longe line, he was like "Oh my god! What do I do!? I'm free! I'm free! Oh no! Why am I still on this rope?! I want to be freeee!" and she had to end up reeling him in quite a bit...I think we will be practicing in the arena with that one for a while until he gets used to being so far out away from us. Then she tried to get him to longe on the hill and he got mentally stuck trying to come back down, so after much encouragement, he tiptoed back down the hill. While she took Nina to longe on the hill, I took Harry to a less steep part of the hill and had him longe over that and he went okay.
By the time we started riding, it was raining. Thank god the heaters were all installed yesterday so we could ride indoors! I put the rear end collector on Harry today because he's been floating out for a couple of weeks and tried to use the draw reins on him as well. They did make his head set really nice, but I felt like I had no contact with his mouth and couldn't really control his speed. Plus then I realized in my autopilot state that I had put the wrong bit on, which might have added to the unresponsivemess, so I took the draw reins off and switched bits and just kept the rear end collector on. He was still a little fast, and he was a little touchy when I was flexing him before I got on, so while I tried to get him to do nice, big, slow circles, he ended up spiraling into tiny medium speed circles. He must not have been that sore if he spiraled in on his own. Then it started thundering and he got a little spooky, but I was determined to finish my ride. He wasn't too great on the board today, he was a little poopy and I don't know how to get him in that right spot where I can keep my leg on him and not have him take off. It's just really such a puzzle to me why he was so good for that 2-3 month time in the spring and now he's like just confused seeming. Am I trying to change too much with myself and he doesn't know how to accomodate that? All the changes I'm making to my posture, my legs, my hands, they're all supposed to be for the benefit of his comfort. Sitting further back and deeper in the seat, not letting my legs swing out in front of my knees, not letting my hands get really high off of the pommel area...and he just isn't doing too great ever since I started those changes. Brie has been reacting so nicely, but Harry...I don't know. I don't think that I should compromise what is supposed to be good for him, but if he doesn't like it, maybe I should go back to riding more sloppily with him. I hate to go back there, but if he performs better....
In the end, we got a good board and walked and while everyone left and we were still cooling, he was circling around the door trying to get out, so I decided to activate his brain a little by dismounting at the mounting block. He wouldn't stand on the correct side to dismount, and barely wanted to stand for the wrong side to dismount, but he did for a bit, so I got off. They built a new sounding board area, and it has patio blocks, a little fountain, and a little raised deck in between the boards, and my dad was sitting on the deck and I wanted to walk over to him, but Harry didn't want to go. I couldn't tell if he was bothered by the mounting block or the fountain, as the block was in front of the fountain, so I told him if we went by the fountain we could go inside. Well he went there and walked around it and then I said "Okay, one more time" and he looked at me like "you've got to be kidding" and just planted himself in the dirt a foot away from the fountain. So I sat down on the edge of the fountain and told him I wasn't moving until he came over by me. I must have sat there for 20 minutes, and at one point my dad left to go close the arena doors. Harry thought that my dad was going to go and push him from behind to go onto the patio to go by the fountain, so he backed up frantically, but I didn't move from the fountain, just gave him more pisador line, and waited. He took little baby steps towards the patio, and instead of going the close way to get to me, he eventually decided to go all the way around to come by me. Then I told him he was good and we left, much to his relief.
Nina was still pawing at the ground when we were leaving, so I gave her a bit of hay to occupy her until it was dinner time. I hope that she doesn't keep doing that all week, or we'll have a serious problem come the next weekend.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Day 213
Saturday
I didn't really have a specific goal for today. My mom wanted to ride Harry because he's less bouncy than Brie, and her back hurts, so she rode him. I knew that I wanted to try switching Brie's bit. So I switched it from her baby bit to something else in our bit box that didn't look too severe, but didn't look super ignorable...I should've taken a picture. But anyways, it didn't really work any differently than her baby bit, so sometime when she's not being ridden the same time as Harry, I want to try the bit that we just switched him into on her and see if it makes a difference, that way I know if we should buy another identical one or not.
It took me 30 minutes to mount today.
I could've just hopped around on one leg, one leg in the stirrup, as usual while Brie moves around and swing up onto her. But I figured that since my mom isn't feeling too well lately (and the fact that Brie is supposed to STAND STILL while I mount), that I wasn't going to put up with it today.
We lined up with the mounting block, but I figured I didn't want to get too ahead of myself today, so I made enough space between the block and myself to mount from the ground, but just close enough that she would get the idea that mounting block = standing still. At first, every little step that she took away from the block, I would walk back around and line up again. When that wasn't working, I made her longe, and then come back to line up with the block. We spent most of our morning doing this. I only wanted to accomplish this goal once I started out with it, and it may have taken quite a long time to do it, but when she finally stood still as I put my leg in the stirrup, stood mid-air, and then finally swung my leg over onto her to sit, it was all worth it.
After that, I found out that the bit wasn't working as well as I thought it might. But we walked and corto'd and then worked on not bolting once we get outside. All in all, it was a successful day with Brie.
Once we came back in, my mom asked if I wanted to ride Harry. He is just amazing. I couldn't be more proud of him, and I only hope that he keeps it up for the shows! Even Nick (who laughed at me last week) had to stop and watch as I passed over the board with Harry, we were THAT good =]
I'm really quite annoyed with Gary and Paco though...Gary bought some new horses from Florida, and two of them are with foal, so they're going to be taking up the only two grassy pastures that he has until they foal, so Paco said that no one is going out anymore. The only other paddocks that are there are these little mud ones that aren't as nice as the grass ones...Gary better be putting in other pastures for the rest of the horses, because he never cared about putting any of his previous pregnant mares outside, and now he suddenly does, so no one else gets to go out and have grass. Once again, it's things like this that remind me why I need to be successful enough in life to have my own property.
To end on a nicer note, here are some pictures I took while they were playing in the pastures they won't get to be in anymore. Poor Harry, Nina kicked him square in the chest while they were outside!!
I didn't really have a specific goal for today. My mom wanted to ride Harry because he's less bouncy than Brie, and her back hurts, so she rode him. I knew that I wanted to try switching Brie's bit. So I switched it from her baby bit to something else in our bit box that didn't look too severe, but didn't look super ignorable...I should've taken a picture. But anyways, it didn't really work any differently than her baby bit, so sometime when she's not being ridden the same time as Harry, I want to try the bit that we just switched him into on her and see if it makes a difference, that way I know if we should buy another identical one or not.
It took me 30 minutes to mount today.
I could've just hopped around on one leg, one leg in the stirrup, as usual while Brie moves around and swing up onto her. But I figured that since my mom isn't feeling too well lately (and the fact that Brie is supposed to STAND STILL while I mount), that I wasn't going to put up with it today.
We lined up with the mounting block, but I figured I didn't want to get too ahead of myself today, so I made enough space between the block and myself to mount from the ground, but just close enough that she would get the idea that mounting block = standing still. At first, every little step that she took away from the block, I would walk back around and line up again. When that wasn't working, I made her longe, and then come back to line up with the block. We spent most of our morning doing this. I only wanted to accomplish this goal once I started out with it, and it may have taken quite a long time to do it, but when she finally stood still as I put my leg in the stirrup, stood mid-air, and then finally swung my leg over onto her to sit, it was all worth it.
After that, I found out that the bit wasn't working as well as I thought it might. But we walked and corto'd and then worked on not bolting once we get outside. All in all, it was a successful day with Brie.
Once we came back in, my mom asked if I wanted to ride Harry. He is just amazing. I couldn't be more proud of him, and I only hope that he keeps it up for the shows! Even Nick (who laughed at me last week) had to stop and watch as I passed over the board with Harry, we were THAT good =]
I'm really quite annoyed with Gary and Paco though...Gary bought some new horses from Florida, and two of them are with foal, so they're going to be taking up the only two grassy pastures that he has until they foal, so Paco said that no one is going out anymore. The only other paddocks that are there are these little mud ones that aren't as nice as the grass ones...Gary better be putting in other pastures for the rest of the horses, because he never cared about putting any of his previous pregnant mares outside, and now he suddenly does, so no one else gets to go out and have grass. Once again, it's things like this that remind me why I need to be successful enough in life to have my own property.
To end on a nicer note, here are some pictures I took while they were playing in the pastures they won't get to be in anymore. Poor Harry, Nina kicked him square in the chest while they were outside!!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Day 198
Saturday
You know how last weekend was really horrible for my emotions? How I just felt awful going into it?
Well this weekend was the complete opposite =]
I went into it with the attitude of just trying to make Brie the best Paso Fino that I can instead of trying to turn her into a dressage horse (because I actually don't know how to...) and our ride was spectacular. She longed for way longer than she usually does and that's because she was charging and bucking and overall being full of energy. She started out really dragging, but then she picked it right up and between her bursts of energy, she had a super relaxed trot going and the cutest little bunny-hop canter. She has pretty much no extension in her canter and no upwards leg movement, but just kind of bounces herself up in the air in a cantering motion. I'm not entirely sure how to fix this...but I'll make sure to read a lot about it before I start trying anything!
Then we spent 30 minutes trying to make her stand still at the mounting block, but that's another story and it's a work in progress. It's not that she really...runs away from it. She swings her butt out away from the block so you'd have to jump from it onto her, which is unacceptable. So it's mostly just trying to make her realize she has to stand straight parallel to it.
Anyways, after this we flexed and rode. She wasn't fighting me with the bit at all today and was walking very nicely, which I'm really proud of because as you might remember, she hates walking! Her corto was nice and we didn't go into a largo today, so she was just snorting along happily at a corto. We did reverses and serpentines and a lot of walk to corto to walk transitions and she was taking them all in stride. Her passes on the board were decent. The first ones could've been better, but her ending ones were great. Then we relaxed into cooling when we were all finished with that. Then I got an idea. She was so good today and seemed really responsive, so I'd try some canter work around the pole. I mean, the least I know is how to ask for it properly. So walked around the pole in a circle a few times, then I just ever so lightly asked her for a canter and here's the amazing part...she picked it right up! No charging out or scrambling to go. She picked up the lead and went at a normal horse's pace without taking off! I was so amazed and actually laughing as we rode, it felt awesome. We did it in the opposite direction and she maybe had two missteps and then picked it right up again and a sane pace! I may have been asking her too hard and causing her to scramble before and now that I know just how little pressure I need, I have a feeling we're only going to get better from here!!
**Now, I'm wrote that on Sunday morning, pretending it was still Saturday. But now it's present day time. Harry was god-awful yesterday for my mom. He was trying to rear and everything, overall being a complete brat. I want to ride him first today and see if he's the same as yesterday.
On another note, it's almost Day 200 of training! I should do something special. Maybe a design revamp and some videos. Especially longeing videos of Harry, that way you can see how bratty he is. Though I'm sure that he'll be an angel when the cameras are rolling!
You know how last weekend was really horrible for my emotions? How I just felt awful going into it?
Well this weekend was the complete opposite =]
I went into it with the attitude of just trying to make Brie the best Paso Fino that I can instead of trying to turn her into a dressage horse (because I actually don't know how to...) and our ride was spectacular. She longed for way longer than she usually does and that's because she was charging and bucking and overall being full of energy. She started out really dragging, but then she picked it right up and between her bursts of energy, she had a super relaxed trot going and the cutest little bunny-hop canter. She has pretty much no extension in her canter and no upwards leg movement, but just kind of bounces herself up in the air in a cantering motion. I'm not entirely sure how to fix this...but I'll make sure to read a lot about it before I start trying anything!
Then we spent 30 minutes trying to make her stand still at the mounting block, but that's another story and it's a work in progress. It's not that she really...runs away from it. She swings her butt out away from the block so you'd have to jump from it onto her, which is unacceptable. So it's mostly just trying to make her realize she has to stand straight parallel to it.
Anyways, after this we flexed and rode. She wasn't fighting me with the bit at all today and was walking very nicely, which I'm really proud of because as you might remember, she hates walking! Her corto was nice and we didn't go into a largo today, so she was just snorting along happily at a corto. We did reverses and serpentines and a lot of walk to corto to walk transitions and she was taking them all in stride. Her passes on the board were decent. The first ones could've been better, but her ending ones were great. Then we relaxed into cooling when we were all finished with that. Then I got an idea. She was so good today and seemed really responsive, so I'd try some canter work around the pole. I mean, the least I know is how to ask for it properly. So walked around the pole in a circle a few times, then I just ever so lightly asked her for a canter and here's the amazing part...she picked it right up! No charging out or scrambling to go. She picked up the lead and went at a normal horse's pace without taking off! I was so amazed and actually laughing as we rode, it felt awesome. We did it in the opposite direction and she maybe had two missteps and then picked it right up again and a sane pace! I may have been asking her too hard and causing her to scramble before and now that I know just how little pressure I need, I have a feeling we're only going to get better from here!!
**Now, I'm wrote that on Sunday morning, pretending it was still Saturday. But now it's present day time. Harry was god-awful yesterday for my mom. He was trying to rear and everything, overall being a complete brat. I want to ride him first today and see if he's the same as yesterday.
On another note, it's almost Day 200 of training! I should do something special. Maybe a design revamp and some videos. Especially longeing videos of Harry, that way you can see how bratty he is. Though I'm sure that he'll be an angel when the cameras are rolling!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Day 26
(originally started at 1130pm last night)
Today was a not so good day.
And thinking back about it, it's been my first not so good day in a while.
It started with trying to get Brie out of the stall. With the Parelli knowledge, I tried the same thing I did yesterday but she kept giving me her butt. Discouraged and thinking my horse hated me, I cried (which was bound to happen when you try something new) and was upset that my mom had to help me get her out. She came out, I brushed her. When I tried to get on, she kept moving. I wasn't even anywhere near the mounting block! She kept fidgeting around and moving, so I made her turn on her front legs, which she was doing when she was moving. Finally she stopped (only because my mom started looking at her ughhh) and I got on. Slightly disheartened, I figured I'd jump because she loved that so much.
Wrong.
She kept refusing the jump, and finally I got her to accept it, only after she reared up before it while deciding whether to spin around and run away or go over it and stood like that for a whole 5 seconds, without moving, which is actually pretty long to be balanced on her back legs. She hop-skipped over the jump and after that she had a better attitude.
I can't really be mad at her. This is the first time that's happened for a while now. And I can't be mad at myself for the whole stall sour issue, because so far, Parelli hasn't addressed that. I guess he assumes you can at least get your horse out of the stall without killing you.
I plan to watch more of his DVDs this week if college doesn't kill me first.
Today was a not so good day.
And thinking back about it, it's been my first not so good day in a while.
It started with trying to get Brie out of the stall. With the Parelli knowledge, I tried the same thing I did yesterday but she kept giving me her butt. Discouraged and thinking my horse hated me, I cried (which was bound to happen when you try something new) and was upset that my mom had to help me get her out. She came out, I brushed her. When I tried to get on, she kept moving. I wasn't even anywhere near the mounting block! She kept fidgeting around and moving, so I made her turn on her front legs, which she was doing when she was moving. Finally she stopped (only because my mom started looking at her ughhh) and I got on. Slightly disheartened, I figured I'd jump because she loved that so much.
Wrong.
She kept refusing the jump, and finally I got her to accept it, only after she reared up before it while deciding whether to spin around and run away or go over it and stood like that for a whole 5 seconds, without moving, which is actually pretty long to be balanced on her back legs. She hop-skipped over the jump and after that she had a better attitude.
I can't really be mad at her. This is the first time that's happened for a while now. And I can't be mad at myself for the whole stall sour issue, because so far, Parelli hasn't addressed that. I guess he assumes you can at least get your horse out of the stall without killing you.
I plan to watch more of his DVDs this week if college doesn't kill me first.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Day 25
So, based on the method I learned in the first Parelli DVD, which I finally got around to watching yesterday, it took me an hour to get Brie out of her stall. But I felt good, because I did it! And without getting kicked or angry at her.
Basically I sat in her stall for a while, she came up to me, smelled me, touched her nose against my hands and I pet her. I never made eye contact with her, because this is what predators do and we don't want to come off as predators to a prey animal. I went and got her halter and she immediately ran into the corner of her stall. So first I stood outside with her halter, then I stepped inside and stood there, then I started walking around her stall with the halter. She got curious and came up to me, and I rubbed the halter on one side before she shoved herself in the corner again and I couldn't get her. I kept walking back and forth, then started swinging the halter back and forth as I walked. She looked at the halter as it swung and kind of reached her nose out to it. So I took the lead rope and started swinging it at her. I swung it around her legs, on her back, her butt, her tail, her neck, until I got close enough to pet her with the other hand. I held the rope around her neck and then rubbed the halter on her. She finally put her head down and I put her halter on.
I was so proud of myself!
The other thing I worked on was mounting while she stood still. I took her away from the mounting block today to do this and she stayed pretty still.
I rode her in the outdoor arena. Ray finally moved in today, so he watched. He worked with Nina more, because he'll be training her for the next month.
I went over the super long sound board outside and Brie didn't get scared she'd fall off of it because now they leveled the sand with the board.
Then we practiced cantering! I was so happy with Brie, she got it at the first signal in both directions! She didn't mess around halfway gaiting/halfway cantering. I can't wait to try again tomorrow to make sure it wasn't a fluke.
New goal:
Be able to mount on the mounting block by the end of November.
Basically I sat in her stall for a while, she came up to me, smelled me, touched her nose against my hands and I pet her. I never made eye contact with her, because this is what predators do and we don't want to come off as predators to a prey animal. I went and got her halter and she immediately ran into the corner of her stall. So first I stood outside with her halter, then I stepped inside and stood there, then I started walking around her stall with the halter. She got curious and came up to me, and I rubbed the halter on one side before she shoved herself in the corner again and I couldn't get her. I kept walking back and forth, then started swinging the halter back and forth as I walked. She looked at the halter as it swung and kind of reached her nose out to it. So I took the lead rope and started swinging it at her. I swung it around her legs, on her back, her butt, her tail, her neck, until I got close enough to pet her with the other hand. I held the rope around her neck and then rubbed the halter on her. She finally put her head down and I put her halter on.
I was so proud of myself!
The other thing I worked on was mounting while she stood still. I took her away from the mounting block today to do this and she stayed pretty still.
I rode her in the outdoor arena. Ray finally moved in today, so he watched. He worked with Nina more, because he'll be training her for the next month.
I went over the super long sound board outside and Brie didn't get scared she'd fall off of it because now they leveled the sand with the board.
Then we practiced cantering! I was so happy with Brie, she got it at the first signal in both directions! She didn't mess around halfway gaiting/halfway cantering. I can't wait to try again tomorrow to make sure it wasn't a fluke.
New goal:
Be able to mount on the mounting block by the end of November.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Day 24
My mom's okay.
She's also better at getting Brie out of the stall than I am. I don't know how to fix this, but I'll find a way.
Brie was very calm today, it made me happy. I cantered her around for a little bit and then she got all worked up. Of course. I walked her around after that to calm her down, my mom did too.
We're getting better at the mounting block. She now knows that she should go to it to make us get off! Now just to get her used to standing there while we magically get taller to get on her.
We're working on bringing Nina's head down because right now it looks "like she's swimming" as my mom calls it. Her head is way high up in the air. Just the past two days we've been exaggerating how low we put our hands and it's bringing her head down to a more relaxed position. We still have much work to do though.
If I want to win first place with Brie, I can't just give her a break over the winter. I have to keep working on those tiny things that keep us from the elusive blue ribbon.
She's also better at getting Brie out of the stall than I am. I don't know how to fix this, but I'll find a way.
Brie was very calm today, it made me happy. I cantered her around for a little bit and then she got all worked up. Of course. I walked her around after that to calm her down, my mom did too.
We're getting better at the mounting block. She now knows that she should go to it to make us get off! Now just to get her used to standing there while we magically get taller to get on her.
We're working on bringing Nina's head down because right now it looks "like she's swimming" as my mom calls it. Her head is way high up in the air. Just the past two days we've been exaggerating how low we put our hands and it's bringing her head down to a more relaxed position. We still have much work to do though.
If I want to win first place with Brie, I can't just give her a break over the winter. I have to keep working on those tiny things that keep us from the elusive blue ribbon.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Day 23
Happy Halloween! =]
I would put up pictures, but my camera ran out of battery and my charger's at school.
Today I gave apples to Brie and Nina as a Halloween treat. Brie ate it in about two bites. We're still working with the mounting block. It took me at least a half hour, I didn't keep track of time, for her to stand still next to the mounting block and let me get on. We did that twice! Not in a row, though, because that would be way too amazing. So I felt very accomplished. I try not to get discouraged when people tell me that I should just give Brie one good smack and then she'll understand what I want her to do. That wouldn't help solve anything, that'd only make her upset and even more confused. While people say that she doesn't care how I feel. I don't think that. I think she cares how I feel. Horses have to be in tune to how their riders feel, that's what makes them nervous and gives them confidence, it affects their whole mood. So I'm just going to go on the way I have been, even though it might seem soft, because I want to teach Brie by showing her primarily what I want her to do, not what I don't want her to do.
My mom fell off of Nina today. It's like a curse of bad luck at the stable. She didn't full blown fall off of her like the owner's wife did. Nina was gaiting across the sound board and turned around to go on the sound board next to it and the saddle slipped and went sideways with my mom in it. My mom sort of gracefully fell onto her butt from there. Nina wasn't moving, like the good horse she is, until she saw my brother running towards her to help my mom. She ran down the sound board and I cut her off with Brie. My mom's okay, so that's really good.
Did I mention that Dominic isn't coming? Yeah, he was supposed to come two weeks ago, but the owner cancelled it because the clinic would've only been us at the stable. We couldn't get anymore people that were interested to attend, so we just have to wait until the spring to try again.
Aside from all of that, today was a good day. I'm bringing a whole load of books with me to school this week to read about horse manners, dressage for Paso Finos, thinking like horses. I'm even bringing the entire Parelli Level 1 DVD set. Yes, I'm that bored at school. I don't have any homework ever. So this should be very productive.
I would put up pictures, but my camera ran out of battery and my charger's at school.
Today I gave apples to Brie and Nina as a Halloween treat. Brie ate it in about two bites. We're still working with the mounting block. It took me at least a half hour, I didn't keep track of time, for her to stand still next to the mounting block and let me get on. We did that twice! Not in a row, though, because that would be way too amazing. So I felt very accomplished. I try not to get discouraged when people tell me that I should just give Brie one good smack and then she'll understand what I want her to do. That wouldn't help solve anything, that'd only make her upset and even more confused. While people say that she doesn't care how I feel. I don't think that. I think she cares how I feel. Horses have to be in tune to how their riders feel, that's what makes them nervous and gives them confidence, it affects their whole mood. So I'm just going to go on the way I have been, even though it might seem soft, because I want to teach Brie by showing her primarily what I want her to do, not what I don't want her to do.
My mom fell off of Nina today. It's like a curse of bad luck at the stable. She didn't full blown fall off of her like the owner's wife did. Nina was gaiting across the sound board and turned around to go on the sound board next to it and the saddle slipped and went sideways with my mom in it. My mom sort of gracefully fell onto her butt from there. Nina wasn't moving, like the good horse she is, until she saw my brother running towards her to help my mom. She ran down the sound board and I cut her off with Brie. My mom's okay, so that's really good.
Did I mention that Dominic isn't coming? Yeah, he was supposed to come two weeks ago, but the owner cancelled it because the clinic would've only been us at the stable. We couldn't get anymore people that were interested to attend, so we just have to wait until the spring to try again.
Aside from all of that, today was a good day. I'm bringing a whole load of books with me to school this week to read about horse manners, dressage for Paso Finos, thinking like horses. I'm even bringing the entire Parelli Level 1 DVD set. Yes, I'm that bored at school. I don't have any homework ever. So this should be very productive.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Day 22
Didn't make it out yesterday because I was at my very first football game! Yay! We won, too!
So, apparently the owner's wife broke one rib and she's on her way to a recovery. I hope that it's a speedy one.
And apparently Brie was kind of nuts because my dad rode her yesterday. My dad never rides. Ever. So he didn't know what he was doing and she kind of went crazy.
Today she was okay. She was happy to see me, I could tell. I rode her inside for a little bit. My new goal: Getting her to line up and stay still at the mounting block. We've recently acquired one at our stable and I want full use of it! I don't think I'll be jumping Brie until her hooves grow out a little bit more in front. I think she's sore, because there's really no hoof wall, she's walking on her soles.
I rode her outside in the arena, where new, very long, sounding board was installed. It's slightly raised above the sand because we need more sand still, and Brie was okay with it the first time, but then when she realized she could jump to get on it, she jumped. Not good, since it's pretty much a 2 inch difference between the sand and the board. Then she kept falling off sideways and I got freaked that she'd twist her ankle or something. So I had her walk very slowly over it a few times, and she got the idea.
Nina is her pokey little self.
And next weekend is Halloween! Maybe I can go trick-or-treating with Brie and Nina =]
So, apparently the owner's wife broke one rib and she's on her way to a recovery. I hope that it's a speedy one.
And apparently Brie was kind of nuts because my dad rode her yesterday. My dad never rides. Ever. So he didn't know what he was doing and she kind of went crazy.
Today she was okay. She was happy to see me, I could tell. I rode her inside for a little bit. My new goal: Getting her to line up and stay still at the mounting block. We've recently acquired one at our stable and I want full use of it! I don't think I'll be jumping Brie until her hooves grow out a little bit more in front. I think she's sore, because there's really no hoof wall, she's walking on her soles.
I rode her outside in the arena, where new, very long, sounding board was installed. It's slightly raised above the sand because we need more sand still, and Brie was okay with it the first time, but then when she realized she could jump to get on it, she jumped. Not good, since it's pretty much a 2 inch difference between the sand and the board. Then she kept falling off sideways and I got freaked that she'd twist her ankle or something. So I had her walk very slowly over it a few times, and she got the idea.
Nina is her pokey little self.
And next weekend is Halloween! Maybe I can go trick-or-treating with Brie and Nina =]
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