Day 200!

A couple of days late, but Ta-Da! My first ever vlog post, made especially for Day 200 of training!

In short, I only rode on Sunday. I now have to wear crutches and a boot cast because I may or may not have a stress fracture in my foot and I made a horrible decision to ride on Sunday in order to get footage for this, but I'm glad I got to make the video. After this post, I'll be on leave for a while because I won't be able to ride and therefore won't be able to train. But I might be able to get some lessons in with this one girl I want to instruct who hangs around our barn a lot. We'll see!

Basically, I didn't actually train very hard on Sunday because I was more concerned with taping. But Harry was awful. He was so bad at longeing! You can get a glimpse of this from the clip. I think that while I'm sitting out at the barn and watching everyone else ride for the next couple of weeks, I'll be reading up on how the heck to finally get this longeing problem solved, once and for all, because it's one of the most aggravating things on the planet. Other than that, he really was a doll.

I even rode Brie for a little bit too. We cantered (as I show you) =] She's getting better at it with me, although I think my mom asked a little too hard because Brie kept trying to bolt out! Then again, my mom uses double reins on her now and Brie clearly thinks those are for babies, so I can tell she's mad about that too all the time.

Nick and his family are officially moved in! Now they just have to paint and arrange their apartment just the way they like it and Paco is waiting for his new apartment to finish being constructed so he can move out of the downstairs office into a real home! Nick seems super nice, but I'll just be wary of him until I see him ride.

Day 199

And now it's time for my exciting news. Drumroll, please!

Our barn has a new trainer!!!

I've seen Nick at shows but haven't really talked to him, but I'm glad that he's now going to be at our barn. He hasn't officially moved in yet. He will next weekend. I just find it so funny that he's going to be moving in on my 200th day of training! It's amazing how things have changed in 200 training days, 100 weekends, a little over two years!

My foot was really bothering me today, so I went to ride Brie first because my mom wanted to ride Harry again. Nick was watching us ride and then he got on Nina. I was just warming up Brie when my mom called me over to switch so I could show Nick and because Harry was kind of acting up. I started working with Harry and calming him down, but Nick had to leave. It didn't matter to me, he can ride whenever. Harry calmed down very nicely and we got a consistent couple of boards. I'm really pleased with how he's coming along, at least with me. His ground manners still need some work though.

After I was done with Harry, I got back on Brie and we worked on walking and corto some more. Then we went for canter circles and I know now that yesterday wasn't just a fluke! She was just as awesome today as yesterday.

It's funny. It takes moments like this weekend after bad weekends like last week to really appreciate how far I've gotten in this whole journey. I just can't wait to plan next weekend's 200th day of training post!

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!

Days 188 + 189

Saturday

Worked with Harry again today. I noticed that he had a crack in his hoof...maybe we're making them too hard? We've been using Tuff Stuff on them and since we started using it, he's been cracking. We're going to switch back to Rain Maker tomorrow. I didn't know, but Paco longed him during the week. He was much relaxed when I longed him and only stopped on me twice. Major improvements!

He was good in the gait and even went pretty fast for largo! I'm super proud of him, he's really coming along now that I'm not trying to do everything for him. I know it's only been a weekend, but he seems happier.

Brie was giving Mom a hard time today. She kept hopping and skipping and overall being Brie. I'll get some sense into her tomorrow.

Sunday

Mom rode Harry first and I rode Brie first. We don't know if she's still kicking the stall. I do know that I want to make her a salad for Christmas! I've looked it up and it's not bad for them as long as you don't give them a lot. So I'm going to make them all a small salad with apples and carrots. I hope they like it!

Paco cut off the chip in Harry's hoof today. The farrier's not coming back out until January, so we'll have to make sure it doesn't crack any further up his hoof.

Mom said that Harry was being an angel! I'm so glad that he's getting better, it's like he's growing up. She worked him longer on the barbada rein than I usually do, but she said that when she switched over to the bit rein, he was "as smooth as glass"! He sounded awesome on the board too, so mission accomplished!

Brie was really pulling, maybe because she was a bit confused. I wanted to work on leg contact, since it's something we never do and I figured that since I've only been trying to teach her to canter FOREVER it would be a good idea to get her used to since she jumps in reaction to when I ask her with my leg as opposed to just loosening the reins. If I ever want to teach her flying lead changes, she'd need the leg contact part, not just the reins, so I want to do it the right way. So we worked on maintaining a good speed while I kept contact in the walk and corto. She largo'd a bit, but only after a long time of working at a corto. When I did start asking her at the very end for canter, my main goal was not only keeping it at a sane speed, but picking it up right away instead of pacing and then getting the lead. Every time she'd start pacing to pick it up, I'd slow her back down into a corto and try again at the next corner. She was eventually getting it, but then lost the canter halfway down the long wall, but as long as she's picking it up, our goal was accomplished! I only hope she doesn't think that means to charge the corners from now on, as we've been working so hard to stop from doing that.

I was amazed that it was warm out, well, warm enough out, so we gave them all a hose down. Next time we see them will be Christmas Eve! I can't wait to give them their salads!

Day 129

Short day. So I only rode Brie today.

I'm so disappointed with the weather! It was looking promising for while but now it's started snowing again =[ I can't even describe how much I have the urge to just scrub them!

Brie is really coming along nicely, I can't believe how far we've come. I got her to canter a bit in the lunge before I got on. My reins were so light today, probably the lightest they've been ever! She didn't really try to take off or pull me. So after some walking and corto-ing, we tried some walk-canter-walk transitions in a circle. She has a tendency to not exactly complete the circle and veer out a little bit but I think that might be my fault. I need to ride more without stirrups to get proper balance. Ever since the whole "heels down" thing has been ingrained into my head, it's been hard for me to focus on anything else. While I know that heels are essential, I feel like balance is more important for fluidity rather than aesthetics. It's not like I have ballerina-toes when I ride stirrupless either.

So after I finally got a nice little jog out of her instead of a crazy "ahhh what I'm a racehorse let's go!" canter, we cooled and I switched with my brother to mope around on Nina for a bit. What I was most proud of with Nina is that I managed to fix her hair.

Nina has a bit of a headshy problem and it drives me insane so while I was walking along with her I noticed that some of her hair from her outgrown bridlepath was stuck so I tried to pull it out. After much head shaking I just left my arm up there until she stayed still and fixed it. While I untacked her, I also bugged her about it by just leaving my hand on the top of her head and petted her until she stayed still, then rebraided the section that we're growing out. Now to see if my efforts payed off tomorrow!

Day 127

Worked a lot with Brie today. She's like a pro over that white pole now. But I forgot my camera! =[ So I can't show you her trick. I worked on transitions for a while today between walking and cantering. We're getting better at it....there were a couple of tries where she didn't want to just bolt where she seemed like she was paying attention. I was wary of it today though because there was a puddle in one of the corners of the arena, so I had to keep avoiding it.

Afterward.... I RODE HARRY! Who is behaving marvelously, if I do say so myself. All that we need to work on is going straight down the soundboard and WALKING. Lots of walking. He's so full of energy and so eager to work that he has a hard time listening to when I ask him to slow down. So we shall start working on that from now on.

At the end of the day, my brother and I took Nina and Harry over the scary white pole while they were cooling. We walked them on foot, or tried to walk them, over the pole. It took a while for them to not be so scared of it and go around it. Nina actually pushed it quite a ways with her nose! Harry took a big leap over it like it was a huge jump, it was pretty adorable. They'll get used to it. They have to learn how to trust us when facing new and scary things (because there will be SO many white poles out on trail), otherwise we put both of us in danger.

Day 120 & 121

Saturday

Baby!!!!!

 He's so adorable!! I wish my camera/the lighting was better =[ He's very very curious for such a little guy! We all stuck our hands by the stall, of course, and he just marched right up to us and let us pet him, and kept nudging his whole face into our hands! Sooo soft! Brie was very curious about him too, but the momma didn't let her get anywhere near him of course. She just settled for looking at him over the side, just kind of watching him.

I started Harry today again. He was better lunging, but we had our fair share of games. In the end, he lunged pretty well. His gaiting could be a little better, but it sufficed. I have a bittersweet thing with Saturdays: I look forward to them, but I hate them because we always have to leave early!

I rode around on Brie afterward. Nothing too big, just roaming around the arena for fun.

I can't wait until it's warm out. I want to give them all a good scrubbing, especially in their tails! So dandruffy.

Sunday

I rode only Brie today. My mom and I had a disagreement, but I'll get to that.

So I lunged her as usual and walked to warm up, did some figure eights and serpentines. We walked and corto'd a lot. Then we finally did some largoing and right at the very end, I wanted to work on cantering. She's really good at picking up the signals and everything, I just wanted to work on the pace because she canters super super fast and I just get scared that she'll slide in a corner or I won't have enough time to avoid a collision in the arena. So to try to remedy this problem while still keeping a canter (since she goes back into a largo when I tug on the reins), I did circles along the wall and it worked: she did slow down her canter a little bit.

Now, my mom said I worked her too hard today. Brie was pretty hot afterward and I had to put her under the cooling sheet. But I don't think that I did. It wasn't like I was fighting with Brie to canter. She likes going fast, she always has. I didn't run her around the arena over and over again. And I was trying my hardest to keep her from running like a bat out of hell, and it worked. I don't know. I'm just thinking about it now, because what if I did work her too hard? Then I feel awful.

Then there's the whole showing issue. She doesn't like showing...but I always thought that I would be able to work her up to it, and that some day I would be able to get her to win a class where it's not just herself in that category (costume class). I mean...that was the whole point of this blog. To chronicle our journey to a blue ribbon. If I just stop trying to get her to go to shows, what am I supposed to do? There aren't any trails around, and I'm not too keen on the idea of letting her just waste away in the pasture and becoming a wild child. I'm honestly at a loss for ideas.

Then I just keep going back to this afternoon and my mom telling me I worked her too hard. I mean, yeah she was sweating, but she likes running...she loves running around. The majority of her life, we've had to fight with her to keep her from running and pulling out on us...

I don't know. I'm just at a loss for words, for ideas...I really don't know where to go from here now.

Days 112 & 113

Saturday

Didn't go out last Sunday because of a huge snowstorm. No one's been let outside because the ground is icy, so of course Brie, Nina, and Harry loved running around in the arena while no one was here today! Ray is in Memphis and no one was out, so we let them all play. We let Brie run around first and she had a grand old time, bucking and squealing all on her own, then we stuck Harry in with her. She kept racing him and trying to make him run into the tractor in the corner! Thankfully he's quick and smart and never ran into it, though Brie did manage to stretch her leg in some ungodly direction to try and kick at him as she ran by! We let Nina in on the fun, poor little fatty, she only made it around the arena once before she stopped and wanted to just chill with Brie. Paco chased them all around and made them run. Once again, someone said that Brie should be put on the track. I swear, she was born the wrong breed! Should've been a Thoroughbred.

I rode Nina first! I was so happy! She has a very ploppy gait, kind of just moseys along but it's really cute. She takes some getting used to -- I never get to ride her so I have to figure her out! I knew she was having problems tossing her head when you're trying to make her flex, so I worked on that with her until she was being quiet about it. We did some figure 8's, some patterns in the sand, just things to relieve her boredom of going around in circles all day when my brother rides her (he stayed home, by the way. Sick.) and eventually she kept her head down and collected for me. Her gait sounded wonderful on the board, no breaks or bumps. She worked pretty hard for not doing so much by my standards! She was sweating up a storm!

Paco rode Harry. I didn't pay attention to him much because I was trying to concentrate on Nina, but my mom said that Harry looked nice. No problems, as usual recently. His speed was a little on the fast side, but that was Paco letting him have some fun. Paco must miss having him to ride, because he rode for a long time and then gave Harry a full bath! Thankfully the barn is heated, and we made him stand in the shower stall with a fleece cooler blanket on for at least a half hour to make sure he was okay.

My mom had some problems with Brie's gait going across the board. It was very odd and she was blaming it on my cantering her all the time. I figured that I wouldn't canter her today and just work on making her understand that when someone wants her to gait, she has to gait and not try to sneak in a couple canter strides. She was pretty good after some resetting of her mind doing some patterns. I rode all without stirrups. And when she went over the soundboard she sounded perfect. Since she sounded so good, I decided to do some cantering in a circle, not the entire arena, to work on speed, and she did really well (as did I, without any stirrups!). Hopefully she'll get the hang of not wanting to bolt into a canter/gallop and keep it more lopey and relaxed soon.

Sunday

Boy are my legs sore from yesterday's no stirrup riding.

I rode Nina again today. Pretty much the same deal as yesterday, except today I worked more on making her round her reverses instead of taking them stiff like a board. She's a smart girl, so it only takes a couple of tries with whatever I want and she gets the idea. She was a little excited today though! She tried to sneak a canter in the corner, except her's is so different from Brie's because it's so short and cute you barely notice it! Brie's canter stride is about 3 times the canter stride of Nina. It's pretty adorable, watching Nina canter because she has such short legs!

I rode Harry too today. In fact, I was the only one who rode at all today! Harry was MAGNIFICENT today. I haven't had a good, clean-gaited, high performance ride like that from him in about a month, so I was thoroughly pleased. It was like he gave me a Christmas present of a fantastic ride today.

My mom, Paco, and I were all talking about the horses and how far they've come. We talked mostly about Harry and how psycho he was when we first got him. Paco attributes a lot of it to the fact that he's gelded and most of the testosterone has calmed down, but it's definitely that we're so nice to him. We love on him and everything, but we don't let him walk all over us. He's definitely successfully turned into a family horse and turned out to be the cuddliest one out of all them and the most attached to us as a family. I feel like Brie and Nina, while they are attached to us a great deal, are more attached to each other in a human-like big sister/little sister kind of way, while Harry is more focused on everything we're doing. We like to walk them around in the arena every so often without leadlines and see if they'll follow us. Brie and Nina follow us but most of the time they get distracted by little things in the arena that they decide are more interesting than watching us run around the arena, but now no matter what else is in the arena or going on, Harry always follows us around. Always focused on us. It's really sweet to see that he's turned out to be such a good horse.

I was thinking about Brie too. It seems like impossible how hard she was for me to deal with when I first started this blog. Or the one or two month time period where she'd try to kick me every time I went in her stall to go get her and how now she comes up to the door to greet me when I go to halter her. Or how I used to beg to ride Nina after Brie for a "nice relaxing end to my day", when now I look to Brie for that because she's calmed down so much. It's just really rewarding to look back and see how far I've come with them. That's probably the best Christmas present I'll get this year.

I hope you all have a Happy Holiday, since I won't be writing again until after Christmas!

Days 109 & 110

Saturday

We took some cute pictures of everyone out in the snow today! Here are just a few =]

Brie running

Harry investigating the snow

Nina mid-roll

Dashing through the snowww

Brie dug through the snow to reach the grass. Fatty.

Harry's just so photogenic!

A good romp.

Since we were on a time limit today, I only got to ride Brie. Her canter is coming around...except now all she wants to do is canter! I have to work on getting her to listen to me instead of getting excited and wanting to bolt all of the time!

Sunday

I RODE EVERYONE TODAY! YAYY!

I started Harry. He's sooo much better lunging now, it's magnificent! For the most part, he's good. I have to read up on how to tighten his gait. I know he can give me so much more, I just don't know how to ask for it. I don't want to fail him. Good thing I have winter break coming up so I can spend quite a bit of time researching and learning new techniques.

Then I hopped on Nina. What a cutie. Her walk is so bouncy and fun, just not when you're in a hard saddle! That Australian saddle is so hard on my butt. She was a very good girl: very responsive, kept her head down, gaited beautifully across the board.

Brie. What a baby. She needs to learn how to listen!! She gets so excited when we start working on something new (i.e. cantering), that's all she wants to do! While her canter was beautiful today, it was unacceptable that she took off for it on her own without me asking her to. What should I do? Spend one day on her listening skills and the other on her cantering skills? It's just so difficult when I can only go out two days a week. I'd get so much more done if I could go out more. I can only work with what I have though.

I can't wait for break to start. My only final is tomorrow afternoon and after that I'm a free woman! I plan on reading up on dressage for Brie and Classic Fino training for Harry. Hope my brain doesn't explode from all that information!

Day 107

Sooooo cold today!

We bought Harry a Christmas halter. His is green and Brie and Nina's are red. I'll have to take some pictures to show you! While I just brushed off Harry and lunged him, he lunged really well! He started off kind of crazy, but I just let him go, figured it was excess energy. He was sure full of it today, he kept pulling me while I was riding him, but I'll get to that in a bit.

I rode Brie first. It's so nice to ride Brie--she's really calmed down since I started really working with her such a long time ago, it feels like. She responds really well to weight shifting and leg yielding for turns. I'm trying to teach her how to pivot on her hind legs. It'll take some time and some figuring out what the heck I'm doing, but we'll get there. Her canter is coming along nicely too. We worked on slowing it down a bit today so she's not too much like a bat out of hell and then we worked on lead changes. She's automatic! I reverse her and she takes a couple of strides in gait to collect herself and then switches without much effort from me! Maybe she's missed her calling all along. It's the funniest thing too--when I lunge her, she trots but then when I ride her she gaits! Silly horse.

No Nina =[ Maybe tomorrow.

Harry's been having some difficulty keeping his back legs in step with the front legs this past week. So instead of trying to collect him, I let him move out and learn how to keep everything in sync that way...I'm not sure if that was the right thing to do if I'm trying to promote him going Fino, but I'd rather have him be comfortable and know what he's doing that forcing him into something just because I want it. Boy, was he pulling today! I think he's ready to be worked on just one rein, but I'll have to see about that. It was so cute, he wanted to largo really badly but then when he got up to speed he couldn't keep his back legs in time with the front at that speed either! So we just settled for a corto. Afterwards, while I was trying to cool him, I let him have a loose rein and he just corto'd around forever, completely responding to shifts in my weight for turns. It was a fantastic surprise! We did all sorts of serpentines and spelling out things in the sand. I just hope that he figures out his legs soon enough. I'm sure he will.

Day 102

What a magnificent day!!!

I got my one wish so far: for Colin to see me ride Harry! My mom worked Harry first while I was working with Brie and my brother worked with Nina. Brie really wanted to walk, Whig was a surprise, and so we walked while mom worked. We were just finishing up our rounds of corto and largo when my mom asked if I was ready to ride Harry.

Boy was he phenomenal! We started out walking and I was working with reverses because he still doesn't like to give to the right side. We picked up a fino and went across the board: it was the tightest and loudest he's ever been! I could feel his joy as I rode and all I thought was "wow, I wish Colin comes back and can see" and no less than 10 minutes later he's back! We said hi and I took the board and it gave me so much gratification to know that Colin, Ray, and a new trainer were watching as I tore up that sound board. I only wish I had a camera so I could show you guys!

So after that they all left and I hopped back on Brie and we worked up to our canter. We're working in a large circle around the pole before I ask her to take the entire arena. I also want to get her to slow her canter down a little bit, because she will only go right into a largo if I ask her to slow down a little. Overall, I'm really pleased with our progress.

My progress, however, could use a lot of work. I didn't realize how little I knew about riding hunt seat and it drives both me and my mom insane. I have to really work on my form rather than worrying about teaching Brie because she will jump over anything! We went from a little X to a 1.5 ft today and she just took it perfectly. The only thing that looked ugly was my form! It's so frustrating! I'll just have to keep working on it. We also have to order boots for her, hopefully for Christmas when we order all of them leather name plate halters.

Nina? Well, hopefully I'll be getting to know her and work with her over the winter. I'm not even concerned with training Nina because my mom and brother have done a fantastic job. I just need to learn how to ride her.

I'm so happy with how this weekend went. It's been such a stress reliever, it's all that I needed after everything I've had to put up with since school started. I can't wait until next weekend! The farrier is supposed to be out on Friday.

Happy Halloween!!

Day 101

Just to think, I gave up a month of this for something that wouldn't even last, but I'll get to that.

This sure was an interesting return.
I'll start with the weird stuff first. So Ray rode Harry today...yeah, that's what I said. Crazy, isn't it? My mom was having a bit of trouble with Harry lunging, since she wanted to start him out today, and Ray offered to help lunge him, so she let him. After lunging Harry for a long time and after Harry was sufficiently worked up, Ray asked if he could ride, so my mom agreed. Good news is, as far as I can tell, he didn't screw Harry up--he was still fino-ing across the board. The entire thing was just really strange though. I want to start Harry tomorrow.

I rode Brie for a really long time today! We walked and corto'd and largo'd and went outside in the trail and worked on cantering...she even jumped! Her cantering is getting really good: I'm getting to the point where I don't even have to squeeze, just shift my legs and she picks up the right lead. It's a little harder to the left, but we'll get there. As soon as she has the basic signals down pat, I want to work on flying lead changes.

We jumped a tiny X set up out of wood and traffic cones. She over shot it a couple of times, and my position needs work, but I'm so excited! I'm going to ask my Grandpa to make a set of jumps for me for christmas. I need to learn hunt seat, since all I learned on the team was equitation.

Speaking of the team: I quit. Yeah. I'm not too bummed about it. I'll miss the girls in my lesson the most, but it just became this big political power trip for the exec board, plus I wasn't too pleased with where we were at. No skin off my back, now I have $40 extra to put towards a car every week =] so I can go see my own horses.
I'm really excited to keep jumping Brie though. My mom was an amazing hunter jumper in her day, so she'll give me lessons on position and everything.

I don't know when I'll find time to ride Nina though! My dads shift is changing at work so now we'll have to leave really early on Saturdays. =\ this also means that if I want to stay on a Friday at school, I definitely won't be going out to the barn on Saturdays. I'll have to choose wisely.

Two weeks til the Iowa game, three weeks til the Wrigley game, and four weeks until normalcy.

Day 100!

I thought that Day 100 would be more exciting and milestone-ish than today really was.

So after a very long time of not going out to the stable because of team stuff, I finally made it out today. I rode Brie a lot and worked Harry a little and cuddled Nina. My mom mostly worked Harry, she's taken him over. We had an issue with him getting freaked out at a flag today while I was riding him, so once he calmed down, I got off. It was my first weekend back and I didn't want to push anything too much, and he did what I wanted him to do so I figured it was best to end on that note.

Brie hasn't been worked in a while, so she was sweating really badly after I rode her a couple of minutes! Little Miss Out of Shape! We corto'd around inside and out and then, after I rode Harry, I got back on her and asked my mom to hold the pisador that way I could teach her how to canter on command some more. She does it really well on the left but not so well on the right. I guess all horses are like that though. She did a pretty good job! I'm really proud of her and I can't wait until we get it a little bit more down pat and can start doing flying lead changes!

All of them are starting to get their winter coats. They're so fuzzy and cute! I wonder if horses can eat candy corn...I want to bring them a treat for Halloween next Sunday!

Day 94

I won't be able to go out this Saturday. I have to work the home opener football game for the team. Sigh.
I also have to start planning lessons with Nell on Friday. Might as well get it out of the way, right? Because I'd like to get at least two more lessons in before the Madison show in October. I won't be out next Saturday (possibly Sunday too) either because of move-in.
Basically, it's like this:
Sept 18th: 2nd day of move in
Sept 19th: Possibly go to train, probably not
Sept 25th: Work the football game
Sept 26th: Most likely go home to train
Oct 2nd and 3rd: U of Wisconsin @ Madison show
Oct 8th-11th: Possible trip to Albuquerque, NM
Oct 16th and 17th: Show @ NU/Augustana
Oct 23rd: Homecoming game
Oct 24th: Home

Then
Nov. 13th: Iowa game
Nov 20th: Last game of the season @ Wrigley Field
Both of which are, personally, not an option.

Harry definitely limped today when I took him out to the paddock over the rocks. We've concluded that he just has tender frogs and might possibly need shoes next time the farrier is out to keep him off of the frogs. So we left him out in the grassy pasture to relax. He gets Saturday off too, so I know what I'll be in for on Sunday!

It was just my mom and I today since my brother went back to school. We decided to go for a trail ride. My mom took Nina (lucky...) and I took Brie. We went straight out into the outdoor arena first and she just wanted to canter away, but I wouldn't let her because she has to listen to me! So I tried to make her walk and she was doing okay until we went out on trail. I don't think she's ever crow hopped as much as she did today! She even started a little bit of a rearing dance, so once she put the brakes on for about the millionth time, I got off. No, not to walk back in defeat, but I lunged her right there out on the grass, got back on, and went into the indoor. We largo'd around there and when she tried to break into a canter I stopped her. We went out the back for a little bit, then back into the arena to largo some more, then out into the outdoor to largo some more. Finally we went back into the arena to cool down and she walked beautifully. I even got her to go outside and stay still so I could pick my sweatshirt up off of the fence. I think she was just mainly full of energy today, but still...just because I'm teaching her to canter properly doesn't mean that she can burst out any time she likes!

Maybe we should practice with a lunge line once the end of October rolls around for a little more structure...

Days 84 & 85

By the time I post this, I going to feel really bad for keeping this for so long. I've just been waiting for a chance to put up the videos and pictures on my computer.

Day 84 - Saturday

Today was the day to face the scariest thing ever: the trailer.
We weren't even going to bother with Brie because we all know we would've been there all day and we already have a great way to get her in without any problems: We blindfold her! Now I know some people might say "Wait, you have to blindfold your horse to get her in the trailer? That hardly seems like she trusts you at all!" Well to you I say this: Can you blindfold your horse and get them into an enclosed, tight space, while still trusting that they won't freak out and squish you? Yeah...didn't think so. To me, that represents the ultimate in trust on both ends.

Anyways Nina just waltzes in as usual. No problems. Harry's been in a trailer before but we've never loaded him or brought him anywhere so we wanted to test out his skills before the State Fair in a couple of weeks. He went in perfect the first time and then we realized that must've been a fluke. He did the typical planting his feet in the ground and wouldn't go up the ramp.You'd think it'd be less scary because we have a ramp on our trailer right? Wrong! So after much grunting and bribing, he still wasn't moving. Annie and her friends showed up for a bit to gather up Jane and we found our solution to get Harry in the trailer: Jump up and down behind him like a bunch of crazies and he'll load in just fine! Now all we need is a mob on trailering day...

After locking him in there for a bit by himself (we weren't too sure about locking Nina in there with him just yet...) we let him out and after he nervously stepped down the ramp we turned him out into the grassy pasture that I've ridden with him in. He ran like crazy and shook off his nerves. I then walked in and he proceeded to follow me everywhere around the pasture (except into the shed) like a total sweetheart. I think he likes me. =]

Riding was great, as it has been for the past couple of weeks. I'm so pleased with Harry. His lunging in the arena is getting there, but it's a HUGE improvement from last month when he kept trying to run me over and rear up and escape. I even got a nice canter out of Brie. She was happy as a clam after that.

Day 85 - Sunday

We brought the camera today! Yay! My dad, the unofficial camera man that he is, took a bazillion pictures of us but I'll show you the best.

 On our Borders trip this past week, my mom picked up this adorable book.

The idea is that you read it every day for a year. It's full of all sorts of knowledge, from breed characteristics to health issues, it's such a great buy. I recommend every horse owner or lover buy it. On the weekends, it gives you fun activities to do with your horses. For the first weekend of the book, it told us to just go on a walk with our horses. That's exactly what we did.

Nina and I

Harry in his natural state.

 I think this is the funniest picture. Look at both of their faces! My brother and Brie.

It was fun and different. Mom got Harry, my brother got Brie, and I got Nina (yay!) and we walked the back of the property. It was a great bonding experience for all of us. My brother got a taste of what handling Brie is like (mega hyper and NEEDS TO BE IN FRONT AT ALL TIMES or she might explode), my mom got to get to know Harry outside of just brushing him and I got to bond with Nina outside of just feeding her carrots!! As we walked back to the stable, Paco and Ray pulled up getting back from Ohio this weekend. Paco came out and watched us as we all took turns lunging Nina, Brie, and Harry like I'd been working with Harry: just a carrot stick and a round pen. Nina and Harry went along just fine, but Brie was being a stinker about it. She's so spoiled and never asked to do anything like that (she automatic lunging in the arena) so it was good that she got to use her brain a bit today.

I started off as usual on Harry. My mom has given Nina up to my brother for him to start and train (it's about time that he learn how on his own!) and she worked with Brie. It's the first time that I can remember her starting Brie in a while and Brie was, of course, being spoiled and trying to get away with everything and anything, including running Harry over and trying to kill him. She does not like boys...or horses other than Nina. So we're working on that, but not pushing it very much because we don't want any injuries. Harry's actually scared of her! She's such a bully.

Then my brother and I switched. Our words to each other before we started: "Don't do much, he/she's really simple and just goes." YEAH RIGHT! Nina was trotting! Not gaiting! And my brother was complaining about some problem with Harry. Sound board? We both sounded horrible!

Switching, our words: "YOU SCREWED UP MY HORSE!" But we got them back.

It took a little longer to get Harry back. He gets so excited when he hears the sound board. But he finally did it.

Afterwards, mom cooled Harry and I got on Brie. Canter city, baby!

After she was all tired out, my brother and I just roamed around the arena, reminiscing about Andre and Nina and Brie played tag as we rode without reins or stirrups. They finally got that full bath I'd been promising all of them and after smelling wonderful for about 10 minutes, they all promptly rolled. Oh well...it was nice while it lasted!

Day 72

More Parelli games! Harry was able to go right to me swinging around the string and carrot stick on him and he was pretty much fine. He's also getting better at the Porcupine game and not just trying to bite or kick the stick away from him and he's mastering the Yo-yo game. After a few blank stares as to why I was waving the rope around like a crazy nutso, he understood that I wanted him to back up and it was a piece of cake from then on out!

On a side note, I'm going to start working on a Parelli and Paso Fino encyclopedia here. I'll try to have it finished by next weekend for you. =]

Let's see, the rest of today was pretty good. I lunged Harry for a while with the barbada rein instead of the pisador, which was pretty effective clockwise but he kept fishtailing out counter-clockwise. It got really frustrating so I lunged him around the pole we have cemented into the ground in the arena. After a few of his tugs launching me into the pole and a few of my tugs making his eyes go wide, we got to a happy medium. We were even able to move away from the pole and lunge like normal beings! His gait is getting really collected and I know he'll do well in show. I only hope he doesn't turn out to be another horse-show-shy-Brie type horse.
We even went outside today! My mom and my brother and I went outside, only about 30 feet to the round pen and back, but I felt accomplished! I have to admit that I don't trust him enough to go all the way back to the tree line, so we'll work up to it.

Brie. Oh Brie. Now that I'm asking her to do things other than "corto in a circle, largo in a circle, walk in a circle, couple reverses, soundboard, back up, done, let's go get carrots" she's unleashing her attitude again, which is a sign that she's thinking! I guess it's better for her to think than to be completely bored, right? I've started trying to teach her to canter on command without the crowfeet and it's going pretty well. I cantered her around the arena today instead of outside, since she was previously worked up outside with my mom. I think it's the coolest thing just going in that rhythm, hearing her snort her breaths. She would happily go like that for hours.

I, on the other hand, have a problem. I suck at keeping my heels down while cantering. It's a tiny bit easier to do it on the schooling horses for the Equestrian Team (which I've started taking lessons again by the way!), but still pretty hard on Brie. I set my stirrups the second hole from the top, almost the shortest they can go, when I ride. If I shorten them all the way, I can't properly grip the saddle with my thighs and just know I'm going to fly off over her head. What do I do? I can't punch a hole between the two, they're so close together. Is the only solution trying to be more conscious of what I'm doing or is there a trick to this skill that I'm not getting?

Day 49

We were supposed to go out on Saturday, but a wind storm knocked over my tree and we had to get rid of it, as it was laying on the power lines. Not good.

We went out Sunday. I'm just gonna write it in present tense at times, it's easier to remember things.
First thing we see as we drive up to the stable are people outside! Yay! I was mega excited to be able to use the outdoor arena for the first time since winter, it was beautiful out. Ray approaches us and says for us to not ride Harry and Nina because since he's not training next month he wanted to show us what he's been doing with them. So we just brush them off, Brie was SOOO DUSTY by the way, and get Nina first. He has this really rough looking jaquima on her, at least the underpart (I forgot whether it's bosal or barbada, but the part that goes under the chin). He told us that she might get scratched up today but that he doesn't use it all the time. He also was using a different bit on her. He worked Nina really well outside and she had her head set really nicely.
Then I noticed that she was bleeding under the chin from the bosal/barbada. My brother rode her, she was okay, then I rode her. Obviously I didn't want to move my hands or do anything really because all I could think about was that she was bleeding so she wasn't that great.
Ray got Harry next and worked with him. Harry was a little wild, he reminds me a lot of Brie. I rode him really well though, maybe because of Brie, and Ray even gave me compliments on him.
Ray also did this really backwards apology type thing which resulted in my parents considering keeping him as a trainer up until May. We're going to start Harry on the same calming supplement that Brie is on and see if it makes a difference.
Brie was FANTASTIC! Well I mean, she still didn't want me to take her out of the stall, but we rode outside in the arena and she had fun, I think. She didn't want to walk, but I managed to get her to a slow corto. We cantered! It was probably the best cantering experience with her so far because I know what I'm doing now!

Show Update!
Memphis: Week of April 19th
I don't think we're going to bring Nina or Harry to this one. If anything, I'll convince my parents to trailer Brie down there and I'll show her. Otherwise we'll just go and be spectators, which might be kind of fun. I don't know yet.

Spectrum- Miami: Memorial Day Weekend
I'm super looking forward to this one! It's bigger than Nationals, almost as big as the bi-yearly Mundial. Horses are coming in from Puerto Rico and Colombia to compete. Naturally, we'd go as spectators, but it would be one hell of a weekend! I can't wait for this, especially because when we get bored of the show, we can go lay out on South Beach. =]

Day 44

I took pictures! But I'm in class right now and haven't uploaded them, so when I get back from work tonight I'll have to upload them and show you Harry.

Written on Sunday, 2/28/10

I worked more with Harry and Nina today than Brie.
After trying to get Brie to canter, I realize that I have no idea what I'm really doing and that I don't even have my balance, so I'm giving up on this goal until I get my balance on school horses. It's not worth messing up Brie so that I can learn how to balance when I can practice that with the school's team.

Speaking of Brie, I've found out that she most likely won't be going to the Memphis show. =[ I really wanted to go, but now it gives me even more time to calm her and experiment riding with lots of horses in an arena. Hopefully this means that I'll win a blue ribbon this season!

I have a feeling that even when I win this blue ribbon, I'll continue to write, because until I feel like I've made a total bond with all three of my horses now, there is still much work to be done.

So anyways. Let's start with Nina. I taught her the Yo-Yo game and she learned it fairly quickly! I was proud of both her and myself. It also impressed Paco and my parents. Shows them! Patience always pays off. That's really all I did with Nina, I wanted to end on a good note. I myself have to watch the next Parelli DVD this week to learn how to do the remaining 3 games, then I just have to practice them until they're really good and somehow acquire the money to buy the next level of DVDs.

Onto Harry. His legs are getting better; the injuries are not as bad as expected. Now I believe I've told you about his phobia of one corner of the arena. First off, I started doing Parelli work with him playing the Friendly Game (basically being able to touch the horse anywhere without any discomfort or resistance from the horse). He got very uncomfortable at first when he saw the Carrot Stick and started lunging to get away from it. I got him to stop fairly quickly and after about 5 minutes he relaxed when as I rubbed the stick over him. By then end of the session, he was completely relaxed except for when I went past a ticklish spot on his stomach. I decided to end my time with him here and not going on to the Porcupine Game. Lastly, I walked with him and halted every couple of feet in the corner that he didn't like and hopefully this helps when I ride him this weekend, if he's better.

Brie. Oh Brie. Well I got her out of the stall! It took a little while. I went in and pet her, she gave me her butt. This happened a couple of times and eventually she gave me her head to put the halter on, but then I missed and she ran into the corner again! Eventually, I got it on without being rude. I decided to get her out of the stall last, since Nina and Harry have no problems coming out of their stall. I guess every family needs a spirit like Brie don't they? Just to keep us on our toes.

Days 38 & 39

Saturday

Freezing! Ray isn't here because he's in Puerto Rico with his mom, so we can't do much with Nina without him here. It was very quiet and lonely at the stable today, only us and Paco really. Played around with Nina for a bit, rode Brie. Her cantering is getting better! Better as in synchronized, so that's good, now I just have to work on slowing her down.
Rode Ghandi today, who, I found out, is not really Ghandi, apparently his name is Jardinero, and we're calling him Harry from now on until we come up with a better nickname. He is so lovely! He has the prettiest hair ever, so long and graceful looking. If only he weren't a gelding.

Sunday

People were here today! Jane was here for the first time in pretty much EVER with Annie. They brought their horse Grace and played around with Taco. I feel so bad! I almost forgot that Taco existed! I mostly walked Brie today and let my family have their fun with her. My dad rode her for the first time in a lonnggg time. I could tell he was nervous. I think that's my little mission now, to get my dad better at riding Brie. Maybe it'll make him respect me more as an adult.

I rode Grace. I think I'm finally understanding what 'diagonals' means! I did it right the entire time I trotted, even though that was not that long of a time, as Grace didn't really want to move.

Rode Harry again. We're back to thinking of buying him. If the price is right, he would be a great addition to the family. He's so adorable and really sweet. My dad just brought up the issue of who's horse would he really be? It took me a couple of months to really bond with Brie while my mom couldn't ride because of her surgery. It took my brother and I a year to figure out that Nina was really "his horse" rather than mine. I wonder who's horse Harry would be.

Probably my dad's. He seems to be the most excited about Harry. So I'll keep you updated on this little colt (4 years old!) and am so excited that the show season starts for me in the next 2 months!

Happy trails!

Day 33

Happy New Year!
I didn't get to the stables last week. I painted my room for the first time since I was 9. I figured I was due for a new color.

Now I saw the consequences of not going out last week. Brie was fiesty and I had some difficulty getting her out of her stall. I walked her for a long time and we wrote words in the sand with her feet. Just a little trick to get her mind thinking about things other than going in circles.
I also cantered her today. She's better cantering to the right than to the left, so we'll have to work on that.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I have the feeling she might be a little sore in the morning so I'll have to rub some linement on her before I ride just to be safe.
Hope you're having a good start to your new year!