Saturday
I was super exhausted today from staying up really late the past two days working on finals. Finals week is awful.
I only rode Brie today. She was really good, I think she knew I was tired. She wanted to go really fast, so I let her because it felt nice to just let go. Nothing really productive today.
I watched my mom work with Harry. While I was in LA last week, she started working him on the ground. He is taking a break from riding. He was setting his head really nicely and looked like he had to think a lot. He didn't tap dance with his back legs the entire time she was working with him, so I think he's making progress.
Sunday
Today I got to work with Harry. My mom taught me what she was teaching him. We let him go out on the long lunge line to shake off his energy and stretch out before we switch him onto the shorter line. He is wearing bell boots on his front legs and weighted bracelets on his back legs. We're trying to make him remember to keep his legs in rhythm. So on the short line, we work on flexing his head towards us while moving away with his back legs, crossing all of his legs over as he rotates around us. After he does that, we hook him up to our makeshift Pessoa system and lunge him like that with a snaffle bit. He seems to be getting on pretty well. The true test will be when we get to ride him again, and I'm not sure when that will be.
After I worked with Harry, I got to ride Nina! I love riding her since I don't get to ride her that often. She is so cool! Of course since there are such long gaps in time when I get to ride her, she is always different in her progression. She got so fast! She goes as fast as Brie now! She seems really happy too. She is very responsive to the leg and such a smooth ride. Just the coolest little horse ever. If only Brie and Harry could get their acts together like Nina did!
Showing posts with label lunging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lunging. Show all posts
Monday, December 10, 2012
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Day 131
I rode Nina today! My dad and brother stayed home to put in our new sink, so I got Nina all to myself =]
We let them all run around a bit in the paddocks before we rode. They seemed really happy about it, bucking and snorting. We brought them in when they started shuffling through the winter-old hay on the ground to eat. Yuck!
Mom said she had a really good ride with Harry.
Nina was super relaxed...which means she completely took advantage of me! Granted, I was trying to figure out exactly what to do with her, but she seemed content just trotting along, not really gaiting, not really collecting. Oh well, I don't really mind, she needs a fun break once in a while. It's not like I'll ever show her as long as my brother's around!
I lunged Taco for Jane today. Man was he a pistol! He kept drifting and at one point he was confronted with the flowers on his way around the circle, so he took a BIGGG JUMP over them! As if they were 6ft tall corn stalks instead of little petunias! As crazy as he was, it's good that he got out. I'm teaching him the YoYo game. A little respect and brainpower never hurt anyone.
After I put Taco away, I rode Brie for a little while. We walked outside...and only because my mom was there walking next to her! Brie was so cute, following my mom around outside. Too bad she doesn't walk that quietly outside when it's just me and her! But we came back in and ran around a bit until Ray came in the arena with a horse, then we showed our manners. We're bringing a cake there tomorrow to share for both her birthday this week and Harry's birthday last week. A carrot cake -- how fitting!
We let them all run around a bit in the paddocks before we rode. They seemed really happy about it, bucking and snorting. We brought them in when they started shuffling through the winter-old hay on the ground to eat. Yuck!
Mom said she had a really good ride with Harry.
Nina was super relaxed...which means she completely took advantage of me! Granted, I was trying to figure out exactly what to do with her, but she seemed content just trotting along, not really gaiting, not really collecting. Oh well, I don't really mind, she needs a fun break once in a while. It's not like I'll ever show her as long as my brother's around!
I lunged Taco for Jane today. Man was he a pistol! He kept drifting and at one point he was confronted with the flowers on his way around the circle, so he took a BIGGG JUMP over them! As if they were 6ft tall corn stalks instead of little petunias! As crazy as he was, it's good that he got out. I'm teaching him the YoYo game. A little respect and brainpower never hurt anyone.
After I put Taco away, I rode Brie for a little while. We walked outside...and only because my mom was there walking next to her! Brie was so cute, following my mom around outside. Too bad she doesn't walk that quietly outside when it's just me and her! But we came back in and ran around a bit until Ray came in the arena with a horse, then we showed our manners. We're bringing a cake there tomorrow to share for both her birthday this week and Harry's birthday last week. A carrot cake -- how fitting!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Day 123
Worked a lot with Harry today. Did a lot of lunging just on the Parelli halter before I rode. We made little bracelets for his back feet so he would pick them up more, but they didn't really keep an effect while I rode.
I think that trying something new, letting him romp around before we got down to business, was a mistake. I think that it messed with his head and set off the day in a bad direction that took way too long to get back on track. I guess now I know. He just needs a lot of warming up, not losing his focus, and to just keep being reinforced when he's doing the right things. It'll take some time for him to get all his legs in sync, but we can do it before show season starts.
Brie was wonderful. Didn't ride for very long, but she listened really well. I can't wait until it gets warm outside--I can't wait to start trying trail rides again with her! I just need to find some trails.
I think that trying something new, letting him romp around before we got down to business, was a mistake. I think that it messed with his head and set off the day in a bad direction that took way too long to get back on track. I guess now I know. He just needs a lot of warming up, not losing his focus, and to just keep being reinforced when he's doing the right things. It'll take some time for him to get all his legs in sync, but we can do it before show season starts.
Brie was wonderful. Didn't ride for very long, but she listened really well. I can't wait until it gets warm outside--I can't wait to start trying trail rides again with her! I just need to find some trails.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Day 122
Started Harry again today. He got really annoyed that I started him off lunging the direction that he hates, but he just has to deal with it! I need to remember that, as much as I'd like to deny it, he IS an 800lb animal and that a stand-off with him will not help matters.
Paco gave me some advice: go back to basics. So it's back to lunging on the noseband for him instead of on the pisador. I have to remember not to take it as an insult, but rather take it as a challenge that I have to go back and review things with Harry. I also have to take into account that it's winter and he's not being let out because of ice and that we aren't there all week to ride him. So we're going to work on more groundwork more often with him, especially to help him pick up his feet more in the back and get everything all in sync so he doesn't look like a clumsy 2 year old! He needs to look like the polished 5 year old that he should be =]
Brie? Oh goofed around. A tiny bit of canter. All without stirrups!
Looking forward to tomorrow more. I hate that Saturdays are so short!
Paco gave me some advice: go back to basics. So it's back to lunging on the noseband for him instead of on the pisador. I have to remember not to take it as an insult, but rather take it as a challenge that I have to go back and review things with Harry. I also have to take into account that it's winter and he's not being let out because of ice and that we aren't there all week to ride him. So we're going to work on more groundwork more often with him, especially to help him pick up his feet more in the back and get everything all in sync so he doesn't look like a clumsy 2 year old! He needs to look like the polished 5 year old that he should be =]
Brie? Oh goofed around. A tiny bit of canter. All without stirrups!
Looking forward to tomorrow more. I hate that Saturdays are so short!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
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.
Baby!!!!!
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.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Day 114
Merry Christmas everyone!
Paco stayed with us since Wednesday and we brought him back today. It was really nice having him and everything, but I have to admit, I'm glad I can sleep in my own room again!
Since we all stayed up so late last night celebrating Christmas, we slept in and got out to the stables late today. We didn't really have time to do much, so we just gave everyone their Christmas carrots and let them all run in the arena and play. I decided that I wanted to ride on Harry bareback while my mom lunged him. He was such a good boy! I thought he'd act up a little bit because it would be the first time that I had ever done something like that, but he was such a sweet heart! He didn't try to take off or anything! I was so proud of him.
Then my brother, after seeing me, tried with Nina. I need to strengthen my arm muscles, because seeing him just hop and swing over Nina and mount was really disheartening after having to use the mounting block! So I walked him around and lunged him on Nina, then he got two lead ropes, stuck them on her halter, and rode her around.
Brie knew it was coming. =] So she half cantered/half largo'd a couple of times, reversed, and then decided she was done.
Meanwhile, the pregnant mare across from Brie is looking quite large! We're all taking bets on when she'll have her baby. I'm betting on New Year's Eve!
Give your horses and families Christmas hugs for me!
Paco stayed with us since Wednesday and we brought him back today. It was really nice having him and everything, but I have to admit, I'm glad I can sleep in my own room again!
Since we all stayed up so late last night celebrating Christmas, we slept in and got out to the stables late today. We didn't really have time to do much, so we just gave everyone their Christmas carrots and let them all run in the arena and play. I decided that I wanted to ride on Harry bareback while my mom lunged him. He was such a good boy! I thought he'd act up a little bit because it would be the first time that I had ever done something like that, but he was such a sweet heart! He didn't try to take off or anything! I was so proud of him.
Then my brother, after seeing me, tried with Nina. I need to strengthen my arm muscles, because seeing him just hop and swing over Nina and mount was really disheartening after having to use the mounting block! So I walked him around and lunged him on Nina, then he got two lead ropes, stuck them on her halter, and rode her around.
Brie knew it was coming. =] So she half cantered/half largo'd a couple of times, reversed, and then decided she was done.
Meanwhile, the pregnant mare across from Brie is looking quite large! We're all taking bets on when she'll have her baby. I'm betting on New Year's Eve!
Give your horses and families Christmas hugs for me!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Day 97
We are the owners of the reincarnation of Houdini.
That's right. Harry Gardener is actually Harry Houdini, but I'll get to that.
I lunged Harry for about an hour total between me and my mom. I went out in the round pen and lunged him out there. I'm going to ask Gary if we can move the round pen inside once it gets cold out before it starts snowing. After that, we reverted back to lunging on the pole. First, he snapped the pisador again! So I tied that back up for decorative purposes, since it's pretty much shot now, and got my Parelli line to lunge him with. He only pulled out a couple of times, but boy those times were strong! The first time, he almost pulled the pole out of the ground! It rotated!
The second time Harry pulled back, he slipped out of his jaquima and his bit and just stood there looking at me with my jaw dropped and a rope in my hand, all "haha you look stupid, but my trick was magnificent!"
After that, I tightened the jaquima and my mom wanted to lunge him. He pulled out a bit on her but then he calmed down, so I got on.
I was a tiny bit nervous and, again, kept telling myself "I won't get hurt, I won't fall" until I relaxed myself and forgot. He didn't want to reverse clockwise, so my mom suggested working on one wall reversing into the wall, that way he was up against a corner when he reversed clockwise. I did that for a good 20 minutes or so and then took him back out in the rail.
In order to keep him on his toes and prevent him from thinking about all the ways to make me cry those strange, yet amusing noises of yesterday, I made him write words in the sand. It's really weird: he doesn't like going in circles clockwise, but he has no problem turning clockwise to make a letter I have in my mind.
Then, the ultimate test: we went on trail. We all went out into the wooded trails in the back of the property and rode around. He actually behaved quite well, even better than Brie! After some time playing back there and getting bitten up by bugs, we headed in. Mom gave him a bath while I rode Brie.
We worked inside mostly, because she was kind of cuckoo today for my mom. I got her to calm down by relaxing back into a walk like we usually do before we start, and then we went out into the outdoor arena. This was a little bit of a challenge that i Sanhedrin fix because Brie likes to sidestep out the door, running over everyone in the way. After she did that, I made her march right back in and go out straight. I just walked down to one end of the arena and wanted to walk back out straight into the indoor, but again she sidestepped almost into a lawnmower, so we turned around and she actually walked calmly back in. After one more round in the indoor, we went out straight again and into a grass paddock, then back. She was kind of hoppy, so I had to keep stopping her and going, but she went straight! Then we just walked and cooled. I was so proud of her! It made me feel all happy and warm inside knowing that I accomplished that little thing with her.
I only got to brush Nina today. I'm perfectly happy with that, because usually I never even get to do that. I wish I could ride her, but all my time is consumed with Harry's craziness. I barely get to ride Brie. As long as Nina still gives me her horsey hugs, though, I'll always be happy with her.
That's right. Harry Gardener is actually Harry Houdini, but I'll get to that.
I lunged Harry for about an hour total between me and my mom. I went out in the round pen and lunged him out there. I'm going to ask Gary if we can move the round pen inside once it gets cold out before it starts snowing. After that, we reverted back to lunging on the pole. First, he snapped the pisador again! So I tied that back up for decorative purposes, since it's pretty much shot now, and got my Parelli line to lunge him with. He only pulled out a couple of times, but boy those times were strong! The first time, he almost pulled the pole out of the ground! It rotated!
The second time Harry pulled back, he slipped out of his jaquima and his bit and just stood there looking at me with my jaw dropped and a rope in my hand, all "haha you look stupid, but my trick was magnificent!"
After that, I tightened the jaquima and my mom wanted to lunge him. He pulled out a bit on her but then he calmed down, so I got on.
I was a tiny bit nervous and, again, kept telling myself "I won't get hurt, I won't fall" until I relaxed myself and forgot. He didn't want to reverse clockwise, so my mom suggested working on one wall reversing into the wall, that way he was up against a corner when he reversed clockwise. I did that for a good 20 minutes or so and then took him back out in the rail.
In order to keep him on his toes and prevent him from thinking about all the ways to make me cry those strange, yet amusing noises of yesterday, I made him write words in the sand. It's really weird: he doesn't like going in circles clockwise, but he has no problem turning clockwise to make a letter I have in my mind.
Then, the ultimate test: we went on trail. We all went out into the wooded trails in the back of the property and rode around. He actually behaved quite well, even better than Brie! After some time playing back there and getting bitten up by bugs, we headed in. Mom gave him a bath while I rode Brie.
We worked inside mostly, because she was kind of cuckoo today for my mom. I got her to calm down by relaxing back into a walk like we usually do before we start, and then we went out into the outdoor arena. This was a little bit of a challenge that i Sanhedrin fix because Brie likes to sidestep out the door, running over everyone in the way. After she did that, I made her march right back in and go out straight. I just walked down to one end of the arena and wanted to walk back out straight into the indoor, but again she sidestepped almost into a lawnmower, so we turned around and she actually walked calmly back in. After one more round in the indoor, we went out straight again and into a grass paddock, then back. She was kind of hoppy, so I had to keep stopping her and going, but she went straight! Then we just walked and cooled. I was so proud of her! It made me feel all happy and warm inside knowing that I accomplished that little thing with her.
I only got to brush Nina today. I'm perfectly happy with that, because usually I never even get to do that. I wish I could ride her, but all my time is consumed with Harry's craziness. I barely get to ride Brie. As long as Nina still gives me her horsey hugs, though, I'll always be happy with her.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Day 91
It just occurred to me that I only have one Wednesday left going to the stable until I go back to school. That I only have one entire weekend left before I go back to school. Next Saturday I have to do fund-raising for the equestrian team. And it's only hit me today that I'll be gone for almost all of October's weekends. I'll only get one weekend that month. So now I have a huge issue to face...
Who's going to ride Harry?
He's so easy for me to handle now. It's amazing how far we've come since April. I like to think that my work with him did more than his testosterone levels decreasing from being gelded in February did. I have to take full advantage of this weekend, finding someone to ride him, either my brother or my mom (maybe even my dad...). I can't help feel like while I'll be gone, one of them will always be a bit neglected. My dad doesn't usually ride, so that leaves my mom and my brother to split 3 horses between themselves.
Will Harry even remember me come November? How much will he have changed? I'm really only worried about him because Brie is...well...she's not changing much. She's had her attitude for 9 years already, so I don't think it's going any where. I can read her like a book. But Harry...I'm more than reluctant to let him go. If only we could afford to board closer to school! I could ride almost every day.
Enough of my sadness. Let's talk about training.
We got Harry a new jaquima and changed things up with the barbada and bosal (please refer to Paso Fino encyclopedia link). His bosal is stronger now and has a ring sticking out for me to lunge him from. I can say it worked out pretty well! He only pulled out once and he didn't travel much as he circled like he usually does. He was perfectly in gait today, although a little fast paced. I'm so proud of him though! We all went on a mini trail ride through the back of the property and while I remained on guard for him to spook at the slightest thing, he was perfectly fine! He walked most of the time until he saw the barn on the way back, then he started moving a little quicker, but nothing extreme like Brie. She was giving my mom an arm workout! And Nina, she just plopped along like always.
But wait. I forgot to say how we started this day: by putting all three of them in the same paddock. Yes folks, even though Brie seems to dislike Harry, I put them all in the same paddock. It was slightly unnerving and ended up within a minute we began to try catching them all, but it was progress. First, Brie and Nina chased Harry around. I believe Nina was playful but Brie was a little aggressive with her ears pinned back. She took a few nips at his butt but never went after him when they skidded to a stop in one of the corners. It was Nina who then had a problem with Harry rubbing up against her (because boys have cooties, don't you know) so she got in a little kick to his butt. I figured that as long as no one was lunging for each others throats then it was fine. Then Harry proceeded to chase Nina and Brie around. I think it was a good first time exposure all at once. No one got hurt, but they were breathing super hard afterwards from all that running! I might try again on Saturday and see if they can handle being nice to each other for a little longer than 5 minutes.
I didn't get to ride Brie or Nina today because we were pressed for time. No one wants to get stuck in rush hour traffic. I'm just thrilled about Harry's new jaquima. Finally he doesn't have to ruin his show bridle or be stuck with one where the cheek straps keep sliding into his eyes!
Who's going to ride Harry?
He's so easy for me to handle now. It's amazing how far we've come since April. I like to think that my work with him did more than his testosterone levels decreasing from being gelded in February did. I have to take full advantage of this weekend, finding someone to ride him, either my brother or my mom (maybe even my dad...). I can't help feel like while I'll be gone, one of them will always be a bit neglected. My dad doesn't usually ride, so that leaves my mom and my brother to split 3 horses between themselves.
Will Harry even remember me come November? How much will he have changed? I'm really only worried about him because Brie is...well...she's not changing much. She's had her attitude for 9 years already, so I don't think it's going any where. I can read her like a book. But Harry...I'm more than reluctant to let him go. If only we could afford to board closer to school! I could ride almost every day.
Enough of my sadness. Let's talk about training.
We got Harry a new jaquima and changed things up with the barbada and bosal (please refer to Paso Fino encyclopedia link). His bosal is stronger now and has a ring sticking out for me to lunge him from. I can say it worked out pretty well! He only pulled out once and he didn't travel much as he circled like he usually does. He was perfectly in gait today, although a little fast paced. I'm so proud of him though! We all went on a mini trail ride through the back of the property and while I remained on guard for him to spook at the slightest thing, he was perfectly fine! He walked most of the time until he saw the barn on the way back, then he started moving a little quicker, but nothing extreme like Brie. She was giving my mom an arm workout! And Nina, she just plopped along like always.
But wait. I forgot to say how we started this day: by putting all three of them in the same paddock. Yes folks, even though Brie seems to dislike Harry, I put them all in the same paddock. It was slightly unnerving and ended up within a minute we began to try catching them all, but it was progress. First, Brie and Nina chased Harry around. I believe Nina was playful but Brie was a little aggressive with her ears pinned back. She took a few nips at his butt but never went after him when they skidded to a stop in one of the corners. It was Nina who then had a problem with Harry rubbing up against her (because boys have cooties, don't you know) so she got in a little kick to his butt. I figured that as long as no one was lunging for each others throats then it was fine. Then Harry proceeded to chase Nina and Brie around. I think it was a good first time exposure all at once. No one got hurt, but they were breathing super hard afterwards from all that running! I might try again on Saturday and see if they can handle being nice to each other for a little longer than 5 minutes.
I didn't get to ride Brie or Nina today because we were pressed for time. No one wants to get stuck in rush hour traffic. I'm just thrilled about Harry's new jaquima. Finally he doesn't have to ruin his show bridle or be stuck with one where the cheek straps keep sliding into his eyes!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Day 82
It's so good to be riding again. After only a week on vacation, I've missed my horses so much. I could've easily traded my vacation in Hawaii for a week at the stable.
Harry was so full of it after not being exercised for a week and a half. It was refreshing, a nice little mental challenge for both of us, having to work to be on the same wavelength. Normally it would probably annoy me, but it was nice after a week away. We went out to the round pen, which was extremely muddy after some storms, and worked. He took off speeding when I sent him out after I took off the line and he slipped and fell on his rear. All I could see in my mind was him snapping his legs if we kept it up so I called him in. Paco, who was watching, told me to keep working in there and that the mud would help him with his balance. I sent him back out and he lifted his tail, using it like a rudder. He slowed and started using his back legs more noticeably. After about 30 minutes of lunging off rope outside just using my carrot stick and speaking commands, I went into the arena to lunge. Once inside, he didn't want to go out, he kept his front on top of me, especially clockwise. So after a few good tries we went back out and worked specifically on clockwise for a while off rope. Once he was working well, I put the line back on and he started hanging on me again. I kept after him, waving the carrot stick behind him to push him onwards and eventually he went out. Last step was putting the carrot stick aside and just using my arm to push him out. He went well and after using just arm signals and speech to get him to reverse and go out we went back in the arena. No carrot stick.
He was fantastic! He walked! He never tried to pull out on me. Such a good feeling. He was a little excited when I first got on to ride, but he calmed down and we even managed to go outside in the arena and one of the paddocks to ride. The only problem I'm having now is getting him to ride on the rail. No matter how I push with my leg he won't move onto the rail unless he's walking, never while gaiting. Suggestions? I have a month to work on this before the State Fair, no pressure for next week because I'm pretty sure we're not going to the Ohio show anymore.
Never ever get to ride Nina!! =[
I was so proud of Brie today though. We rode outside and I got her to go through a big scary puddle!! It had to be the scariest puddle she ever saw AND there was a frog sitting next to it that we didn't even squish. I also found out while getting her to step in it that she responds soooo much better to leg pressure than bit pressure while turning. When we first saw it and I used the bit more to turn her she was sidestepping. As soon as I eased up for a second and pressed my leg, boom, turned on a dime. We had a good romp outside and after marching back through the puddle, we headed back in for a shower. I really need to wash them all tomorrow. Just looking at them makes me feel all dusty and gritty, no matter how much we clean them.
While we were gone, a farrier from Florida came up and we had our horses trimmed. Nina didn't even need to be sedated! I'm so happy that our work with her has been paying off. Either that or she doesn't like girl farriers. He fixed the huge cracks in Harry's hooves that he got from riding outside. Now we need to put some Rainmaker on his hooves when we're out so they get stronger.
Harry was so full of it after not being exercised for a week and a half. It was refreshing, a nice little mental challenge for both of us, having to work to be on the same wavelength. Normally it would probably annoy me, but it was nice after a week away. We went out to the round pen, which was extremely muddy after some storms, and worked. He took off speeding when I sent him out after I took off the line and he slipped and fell on his rear. All I could see in my mind was him snapping his legs if we kept it up so I called him in. Paco, who was watching, told me to keep working in there and that the mud would help him with his balance. I sent him back out and he lifted his tail, using it like a rudder. He slowed and started using his back legs more noticeably. After about 30 minutes of lunging off rope outside just using my carrot stick and speaking commands, I went into the arena to lunge. Once inside, he didn't want to go out, he kept his front on top of me, especially clockwise. So after a few good tries we went back out and worked specifically on clockwise for a while off rope. Once he was working well, I put the line back on and he started hanging on me again. I kept after him, waving the carrot stick behind him to push him onwards and eventually he went out. Last step was putting the carrot stick aside and just using my arm to push him out. He went well and after using just arm signals and speech to get him to reverse and go out we went back in the arena. No carrot stick.
He was fantastic! He walked! He never tried to pull out on me. Such a good feeling. He was a little excited when I first got on to ride, but he calmed down and we even managed to go outside in the arena and one of the paddocks to ride. The only problem I'm having now is getting him to ride on the rail. No matter how I push with my leg he won't move onto the rail unless he's walking, never while gaiting. Suggestions? I have a month to work on this before the State Fair, no pressure for next week because I'm pretty sure we're not going to the Ohio show anymore.
Never ever get to ride Nina!! =[
I was so proud of Brie today though. We rode outside and I got her to go through a big scary puddle!! It had to be the scariest puddle she ever saw AND there was a frog sitting next to it that we didn't even squish. I also found out while getting her to step in it that she responds soooo much better to leg pressure than bit pressure while turning. When we first saw it and I used the bit more to turn her she was sidestepping. As soon as I eased up for a second and pressed my leg, boom, turned on a dime. We had a good romp outside and after marching back through the puddle, we headed back in for a shower. I really need to wash them all tomorrow. Just looking at them makes me feel all dusty and gritty, no matter how much we clean them.
While we were gone, a farrier from Florida came up and we had our horses trimmed. Nina didn't even need to be sedated! I'm so happy that our work with her has been paying off. Either that or she doesn't like girl farriers. He fixed the huge cracks in Harry's hooves that he got from riding outside. Now we need to put some Rainmaker on his hooves when we're out so they get stronger.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Day 81
One word to describe today: phenomenal.
Gary and Georgina were out today. It's been such a long time since we were united! We talked about the Youth Mundial, which is the kids' world championships, in Puerto Rico last week. Georgina sadly didn't place but they said the USA team didn't really do so well anyways compared to the Latin countries. Figures.
Lunged Harry like yesterday. While lunging him, it occurred to me that he has a big horse body and tiny little horse legs. You don't notice it at first, but it's kind of funny when you do. He's cute in that way. He worked amazingly on his own and did an great board. I took him in the outdoor, which in the walk on the gravel from the indoor to the outdoor led in a huge split in his hoof. He worked well out there though and didn't want to take off. Outside we worked on our largo and he's got it pretty down pat. He never broke into a canter. I think I'll put him in pleasure the rest of this year, maybe one performance class in Ohio in three weeks, but we'll continue working on largo control until next year.
After the outdoor, I took him into one of the grassy paddocks next to the outdoor arena that had some decently sized trees and we walked. I didn't want to just go out in the open yet. We went back in and he worked very nicely, better than ice expected, riding next to three other horses. All in all, he had a great day and I am so proud of him!
Brie was giving my brother a bit of a hard time, but that's probably because he doesn't ride her often and didn't know how to handle her since before I started working with her. She was great for me. We went around the property again, raced up "the mountain" in back and zig sagged around the hay field in front.
Life and weekends are so much happier now that I know what to do with Brie. She's just fantastic outside and in good moods most of the time now. Win win situation!
Gary and Georgina were out today. It's been such a long time since we were united! We talked about the Youth Mundial, which is the kids' world championships, in Puerto Rico last week. Georgina sadly didn't place but they said the USA team didn't really do so well anyways compared to the Latin countries. Figures.
Lunged Harry like yesterday. While lunging him, it occurred to me that he has a big horse body and tiny little horse legs. You don't notice it at first, but it's kind of funny when you do. He's cute in that way. He worked amazingly on his own and did an great board. I took him in the outdoor, which in the walk on the gravel from the indoor to the outdoor led in a huge split in his hoof. He worked well out there though and didn't want to take off. Outside we worked on our largo and he's got it pretty down pat. He never broke into a canter. I think I'll put him in pleasure the rest of this year, maybe one performance class in Ohio in three weeks, but we'll continue working on largo control until next year.
After the outdoor, I took him into one of the grassy paddocks next to the outdoor arena that had some decently sized trees and we walked. I didn't want to just go out in the open yet. We went back in and he worked very nicely, better than ice expected, riding next to three other horses. All in all, he had a great day and I am so proud of him!
Brie was giving my brother a bit of a hard time, but that's probably because he doesn't ride her often and didn't know how to handle her since before I started working with her. She was great for me. We went around the property again, raced up "the mountain" in back and zig sagged around the hay field in front.
Life and weekends are so much happier now that I know what to do with Brie. She's just fantastic outside and in good moods most of the time now. Win win situation!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Day 80
Today was probably the best day in the entire summer so far.
While I was grooming Harry, I got this idea: what if I lunged him in the round pen without his lead rope, just using the carrot stick? I don't know why I didn't think of this before. It seems like the most obvious thing in the world now. So after I braided his mane to train it on one side and his forelock so he can see, we headed out to the round pen armed with only the carrot stick and a lead rope (for some ideas later).
We entered, I unclipped him and walked to the middle and he followed, probably still thinking he was attached. I put my carrot stick and arm out to the side, waved it a little, and off he went. He started out slowly and then realized he was free. He has the cutest little gallop! He galloped around counter clockwise for about 10 minutes until I switched hands and yelled "Reverse!". Well he didn't really get that so I ran to the side of the pen where he saw me, yelled again, and he turned to go clockwise. I did that for a couple of reverses until he got the hang of what a tiny two-legger meant by yelling "reverse" at him. Then I tried to get him to stop on command. He didn't really get it so I had to run to one side and then the other, like the reverse, saying "whoa!" and keeping him from speeding off the other direction until he stopped and looked at me all puzzled. I held out my hand and he came to me, then I told him whoa again. Sent him back out and repeated until I just put my hands down and had to say whoa and he was coming right to me. That impressed Paco =]
After free lunging, I hooked him back up and put my carrot stick to the side and lunged like that. He was gaiting beautifully and keeping his distance from me. I called the reverse just as if I had the carrot stick and he reversed. He did try to stop a couple of times, nothing like Wednesday, but I got him back out without having to chase him; I just waved my arm like I had the carrot stick. He did so well! I let him back off for some final runs around before I called the final whoa, hooked him up, and walked him for a bit because he was dripping hot!
Saddled up and rode. He was positively charming and it makes me so smug to know that Ray watched me the whole time. The only complaint I have today about Harry is that he liked to rush the soundboard in the counterclockwise and so I'm trying to break him of that. Only one shot in the show and the sound board can make or break you! If I wanna win some money, we better have a good sound board!
I finished up completely happy and asked my mom to wash him off while I rode Brie around. A little miffed that I took her away from the crossbreeze in the doorway, we went over to the poles. Is it bad that she knows the pattern I do for the poles? We went around the indoor 4 times before heading out. She was wonderful! It's hard to believe she's the same horse! I have to keep thinking of new routes to take around the limited property, but we have fun. She didn't crowhop at all! I think she genuinely enjoyed herself. I'm so happy I finally found something she likes. If we keep working at it, maybe I'll even get a trail ride down the end of the country-block before summer's over!
While I was grooming Harry, I got this idea: what if I lunged him in the round pen without his lead rope, just using the carrot stick? I don't know why I didn't think of this before. It seems like the most obvious thing in the world now. So after I braided his mane to train it on one side and his forelock so he can see, we headed out to the round pen armed with only the carrot stick and a lead rope (for some ideas later).
We entered, I unclipped him and walked to the middle and he followed, probably still thinking he was attached. I put my carrot stick and arm out to the side, waved it a little, and off he went. He started out slowly and then realized he was free. He has the cutest little gallop! He galloped around counter clockwise for about 10 minutes until I switched hands and yelled "Reverse!". Well he didn't really get that so I ran to the side of the pen where he saw me, yelled again, and he turned to go clockwise. I did that for a couple of reverses until he got the hang of what a tiny two-legger meant by yelling "reverse" at him. Then I tried to get him to stop on command. He didn't really get it so I had to run to one side and then the other, like the reverse, saying "whoa!" and keeping him from speeding off the other direction until he stopped and looked at me all puzzled. I held out my hand and he came to me, then I told him whoa again. Sent him back out and repeated until I just put my hands down and had to say whoa and he was coming right to me. That impressed Paco =]
After free lunging, I hooked him back up and put my carrot stick to the side and lunged like that. He was gaiting beautifully and keeping his distance from me. I called the reverse just as if I had the carrot stick and he reversed. He did try to stop a couple of times, nothing like Wednesday, but I got him back out without having to chase him; I just waved my arm like I had the carrot stick. He did so well! I let him back off for some final runs around before I called the final whoa, hooked him up, and walked him for a bit because he was dripping hot!
Saddled up and rode. He was positively charming and it makes me so smug to know that Ray watched me the whole time. The only complaint I have today about Harry is that he liked to rush the soundboard in the counterclockwise and so I'm trying to break him of that. Only one shot in the show and the sound board can make or break you! If I wanna win some money, we better have a good sound board!
I finished up completely happy and asked my mom to wash him off while I rode Brie around. A little miffed that I took her away from the crossbreeze in the doorway, we went over to the poles. Is it bad that she knows the pattern I do for the poles? We went around the indoor 4 times before heading out. She was wonderful! It's hard to believe she's the same horse! I have to keep thinking of new routes to take around the limited property, but we have fun. She didn't crowhop at all! I think she genuinely enjoyed herself. I'm so happy I finally found something she likes. If we keep working at it, maybe I'll even get a trail ride down the end of the country-block before summer's over!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Day 79
It was way too hot out today for my liking and wearing jeans certainly didn't help, but what could I do? I have to save my cotton breeches for tomorrow's riding lesson.
I was actually pretty thrilled last week when I went on Dover's and got two pairs of Kerrit's breeches for less than the price of one until I got them in the mail and the "specially made Kerrit's fabric" turned out to be mega heavy. Well...I guess I got two nice pairs of winter breeches! Still stuck with my holey, singular pair of summer breeches. What a sadness. Paycheck, please be enough! Momma needs two new pairs of breeches!
My brother rode Nina today and it looked like he was doing a good job. I was lucky enough to be in the arena for that. I didn't ride Harry today; rather, I lunged him for a good 45 minutes. He's doing fantastically in the counter-clockwise direction. It's the clockwise direction that he gives me problems with. He was so good in the counter-clockwise that I was able to step away from the pole and lunge him for about 5 minutes and he behaved. Let's see, the number of times that he pulled out on me in the clockwise: probably about 6 times. The number of times those pull outs were rears? 3 times. I know he's playing games with me and being lazy in that direction. All I can think of to fix it is to keep working on it. At the end of it, he was doing a couple of good height rears where I had to run to one side to pull him back down. There was no way he was getting loose AGAIN. We finished pretty calmly, walk-lunging around the pole and he got a nice shower.
I was so thrilled to ride Brie today. She was fantastic. We did two warmup laps in the indoor and then headed to the outdoor arena. On her way out of the outdoor in an attempt to turn to the pasture, she ran back into the indoor arena but I just pushed her right back around and out we went. We went into two of the paddocks where the gate was left open and explored the trees next to the creek (she wasn't too keen on that) and then headed out to the front hay field. We were so polite, we even got to wave to a guy in his truck! We kind of skipped back to the main drive and then walked behind Gary's house and then back to the barn. She was so good today, it really made all my annoyances with Harry vanish.
On a non-horse note, I can smell changes afoot in the barn. Ray's been a real jerk to everyone lately and now he's starting up with Paco. Everyone is fed up with him and I'm surprised that he isn't gone yet, because Andre was no where near as disliked as Ray (he wasn't even disliked at all, it was his family situation that caused him to leave) and the amount of crap that Andre had to put up with over little things like not being there on Sundays is tremendously ridiculous compared to the pushovers that Ray's turned the boarders into. It's sickening. Ray's taking advantage of all of us (well, not us personally, we fired him) and trying to create problems amongst us boarders, not to mention the back-progress he's done with Gary's horses (which included gelding a formerly magnificent stallion that Andre had looking like a million bucks). I can only hope that he leaves after Nationals and that we can finally get some peace and a non-confrontational trainer, even if I won't be using him or her.
I was actually pretty thrilled last week when I went on Dover's and got two pairs of Kerrit's breeches for less than the price of one until I got them in the mail and the "specially made Kerrit's fabric" turned out to be mega heavy. Well...I guess I got two nice pairs of winter breeches! Still stuck with my holey, singular pair of summer breeches. What a sadness. Paycheck, please be enough! Momma needs two new pairs of breeches!
My brother rode Nina today and it looked like he was doing a good job. I was lucky enough to be in the arena for that. I didn't ride Harry today; rather, I lunged him for a good 45 minutes. He's doing fantastically in the counter-clockwise direction. It's the clockwise direction that he gives me problems with. He was so good in the counter-clockwise that I was able to step away from the pole and lunge him for about 5 minutes and he behaved. Let's see, the number of times that he pulled out on me in the clockwise: probably about 6 times. The number of times those pull outs were rears? 3 times. I know he's playing games with me and being lazy in that direction. All I can think of to fix it is to keep working on it. At the end of it, he was doing a couple of good height rears where I had to run to one side to pull him back down. There was no way he was getting loose AGAIN. We finished pretty calmly, walk-lunging around the pole and he got a nice shower.
I was so thrilled to ride Brie today. She was fantastic. We did two warmup laps in the indoor and then headed to the outdoor arena. On her way out of the outdoor in an attempt to turn to the pasture, she ran back into the indoor arena but I just pushed her right back around and out we went. We went into two of the paddocks where the gate was left open and explored the trees next to the creek (she wasn't too keen on that) and then headed out to the front hay field. We were so polite, we even got to wave to a guy in his truck! We kind of skipped back to the main drive and then walked behind Gary's house and then back to the barn. She was so good today, it really made all my annoyances with Harry vanish.
On a non-horse note, I can smell changes afoot in the barn. Ray's been a real jerk to everyone lately and now he's starting up with Paco. Everyone is fed up with him and I'm surprised that he isn't gone yet, because Andre was no where near as disliked as Ray (he wasn't even disliked at all, it was his family situation that caused him to leave) and the amount of crap that Andre had to put up with over little things like not being there on Sundays is tremendously ridiculous compared to the pushovers that Ray's turned the boarders into. It's sickening. Ray's taking advantage of all of us (well, not us personally, we fired him) and trying to create problems amongst us boarders, not to mention the back-progress he's done with Gary's horses (which included gelding a formerly magnificent stallion that Andre had looking like a million bucks). I can only hope that he leaves after Nationals and that we can finally get some peace and a non-confrontational trainer, even if I won't be using him or her.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Day 77
I only rode Harry today.
I think I'm going to switch up his bit tomorrow. Right now he has a pretty falt one and I think I'm going to switch it with Nina's. The one that Harry has we originally purchased for Nina, but then Carmello told us that Nina was better off with one like Brie's so we ended up buying another one and gave the leftover to Harry when we got him. Paco said that he had a different bit than one like ours when he was working with Harry, one like Nina's so we're going to try it tomorrow. I only hope that Nina is okay with everything and she doesn't regress.
Why am I making all these changes you ask? I just feel like I can't control Harry. Between the crappy jaquima (we still need to order one) and this bit, everything seems ineffective. He just keeps on plowing onwards. It's like he has no respect for me. I took him outside today and as much as I would've liked to stay outside, I went back in because he would NOT respond to anything I asked of him (such as slowing down) and just did as he pleased. The most I could get him to do was turn, but even that was a yank. I don't want my fists to be up at my shoulders while riding him because that's how much effort I have to put into it, it's just ridiculous.
He was much better lunging today though, now that I know what I'm doing. He only ran out on me maybe twice. I was also very proud of him because I got him to get into the wash rack, something with which he's been having some trouble with the past couple of weeks. He's been scared of it. So I was very proud of both myself and him when I got him in there today.
Mom rode Brie outside for a while. Paco told us that he rode her yesterday and that she was all uptight and upset because she knew after about 20 minutes Paco would take her back into the barn so he stayed out a while longer and she calmed down. I wish I could ride Brie outside but I have to deal with Harry.
My brother rode Nina inside and outside. My mom and he also worked on her legshyness since she's informed us that the farrier should be out in about three weeks. I wasn't there to watch, but it sounded like it went well. No panicky yells or pounding dancing hooves on the concrete, so I assume it all went well.
Wish me luck with the bit change tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be one heck of a day!
I think I'm going to switch up his bit tomorrow. Right now he has a pretty falt one and I think I'm going to switch it with Nina's. The one that Harry has we originally purchased for Nina, but then Carmello told us that Nina was better off with one like Brie's so we ended up buying another one and gave the leftover to Harry when we got him. Paco said that he had a different bit than one like ours when he was working with Harry, one like Nina's so we're going to try it tomorrow. I only hope that Nina is okay with everything and she doesn't regress.
Why am I making all these changes you ask? I just feel like I can't control Harry. Between the crappy jaquima (we still need to order one) and this bit, everything seems ineffective. He just keeps on plowing onwards. It's like he has no respect for me. I took him outside today and as much as I would've liked to stay outside, I went back in because he would NOT respond to anything I asked of him (such as slowing down) and just did as he pleased. The most I could get him to do was turn, but even that was a yank. I don't want my fists to be up at my shoulders while riding him because that's how much effort I have to put into it, it's just ridiculous.
He was much better lunging today though, now that I know what I'm doing. He only ran out on me maybe twice. I was also very proud of him because I got him to get into the wash rack, something with which he's been having some trouble with the past couple of weeks. He's been scared of it. So I was very proud of both myself and him when I got him in there today.
Mom rode Brie outside for a while. Paco told us that he rode her yesterday and that she was all uptight and upset because she knew after about 20 minutes Paco would take her back into the barn so he stayed out a while longer and she calmed down. I wish I could ride Brie outside but I have to deal with Harry.
My brother rode Nina inside and outside. My mom and he also worked on her legshyness since she's informed us that the farrier should be out in about three weeks. I wasn't there to watch, but it sounded like it went well. No panicky yells or pounding dancing hooves on the concrete, so I assume it all went well.
Wish me luck with the bit change tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be one heck of a day!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Day 74
I finally got to ride Nina today!!
If every horse went on trail like Nina does, a lot more people would have horses. She's absolutely fantastic on trail. She's so calm and mellow and takes everything in stride. That ride with her today was definitely the most relaxing ride I've had for a longggg time.
Harry is having difficulties going clockwise lunging. I'm pretty sure it's just him being a brat. I don't know how to get over it other than more lunging, but he won't even let me get on his side to push him out, he continues to back up and match my steps. It's so much easier to do when I'm riding him. Should I just work on it riding first and then move to the ground or should I spend an entire day trying to get him to lunge?
He's collecting very nicely. He was almost in Fino a couple of times, but I think that was mostly him being nervous. But as Andre used to say "Hey, if he gives it to me, I'll take it. I won't push him" and that's exactly what I'll do. If he wants to Fino when he's nervous, go for it! It might carry over to when he's not nervous.
I'm so proud of Harry. I took him out on a mini-trail ride for the first time today. Apparently, it was the first time he's even been on trail! He did pretty well, he had a few little "omg omg omg there's a FLY IN MY HAIR" moments, but he was pretty good as long as he knew where Paco was.
Speaking of Paco.
Paco rode Brie today. It was insane.
So I don't know if you remember back when I said that she has to have some time to warm up and what not to stretch out her back legs. Well, I'm convinced of the need for stretching but Paco wasn't buying it. He was convinced that she just does that to see what she can get away with because she doesn't want to work. She stalled out on him a good number of times but he kept on. To say that she was mad has to be the understatement of the year. Her eyes were the wildest I've seen so far and she fought with him right up until the end. He went on the mini-trail ride with us and she did well on the way out, she usually does, and she was crazy (also usual) once she turned back around and saw the barn. There's a little hill in the back of the barn and Paco went up and down it on the way out and was going to go on it the way back. She literally stopped halfway down the hill and refused to move but he got her moving! Stubborn for stubborn. I would've been the same way. I remember I used to have that much energy before we had Harry to train.
But I think that today was good for Brie, as angry as she may have been. There's just one thing I was worried about at the end of the day. After we cooled her and washed her, I noticed as we were leaving that she didn't eat any of her hay. This is very unlike Brie, she always gobbles up every last scrap of food but that hay was untouched and she made no move for it when she went back in the stall. I only hope that she isn't sick and that she was so horrible because she was sick, because if she is sick, there's no way I'll be able to forgive myself for letting her go through all of that today.
If every horse went on trail like Nina does, a lot more people would have horses. She's absolutely fantastic on trail. She's so calm and mellow and takes everything in stride. That ride with her today was definitely the most relaxing ride I've had for a longggg time.
Harry is having difficulties going clockwise lunging. I'm pretty sure it's just him being a brat. I don't know how to get over it other than more lunging, but he won't even let me get on his side to push him out, he continues to back up and match my steps. It's so much easier to do when I'm riding him. Should I just work on it riding first and then move to the ground or should I spend an entire day trying to get him to lunge?
He's collecting very nicely. He was almost in Fino a couple of times, but I think that was mostly him being nervous. But as Andre used to say "Hey, if he gives it to me, I'll take it. I won't push him" and that's exactly what I'll do. If he wants to Fino when he's nervous, go for it! It might carry over to when he's not nervous.
I'm so proud of Harry. I took him out on a mini-trail ride for the first time today. Apparently, it was the first time he's even been on trail! He did pretty well, he had a few little "omg omg omg there's a FLY IN MY HAIR" moments, but he was pretty good as long as he knew where Paco was.
Speaking of Paco.
Paco rode Brie today. It was insane.
So I don't know if you remember back when I said that she has to have some time to warm up and what not to stretch out her back legs. Well, I'm convinced of the need for stretching but Paco wasn't buying it. He was convinced that she just does that to see what she can get away with because she doesn't want to work. She stalled out on him a good number of times but he kept on. To say that she was mad has to be the understatement of the year. Her eyes were the wildest I've seen so far and she fought with him right up until the end. He went on the mini-trail ride with us and she did well on the way out, she usually does, and she was crazy (also usual) once she turned back around and saw the barn. There's a little hill in the back of the barn and Paco went up and down it on the way out and was going to go on it the way back. She literally stopped halfway down the hill and refused to move but he got her moving! Stubborn for stubborn. I would've been the same way. I remember I used to have that much energy before we had Harry to train.
But I think that today was good for Brie, as angry as she may have been. There's just one thing I was worried about at the end of the day. After we cooled her and washed her, I noticed as we were leaving that she didn't eat any of her hay. This is very unlike Brie, she always gobbles up every last scrap of food but that hay was untouched and she made no move for it when she went back in the stall. I only hope that she isn't sick and that she was so horrible because she was sick, because if she is sick, there's no way I'll be able to forgive myself for letting her go through all of that today.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Days 63 and 64
Sunday
It was soooooo hot out today. Harry was dripping with sweat just from lunging. That also meant he was tired enough to cooperate =] He was fantastic gaiting today. We worked for about an hour. I also stopped lunging him around the pole, since Paco pointed out that there aren't any working poles at shows. When I lunged him without the pole it was quite successful. He didn't bolt away or get really close to me. We worked inside then went outside. I was a little nervous about riding him outside since the last time I rode him outside was when Ray was training him and he kept rearing. Harry was perfect. He was rushing the soundboard a little bit. It seems like getting him to not rush the soundboard and get a more relaxed walk is the key to winning at our next show. I also need to find where his largo is that way I won't break into a canter and lose points.
Apparently, Nina was really bad today. My brother is having a hard time lunging her since she keeps wanting to walk on top of him. He's been using the carrot stick in order to push her on from behind, never actually touching her, just holding it out to make sure that she would see it behind her.
I never thought I'd look forward to riding Brie as a break. She's been doing fantastically the past few weeks. She's perfectly calm and just goes along. It's almost like she's an impostor horse! I'm so pleased with her and hopefully she'll stay like this for show.
Monday
It was thundering really bad today. When we walked into the stable, Harry was in the corner of his stall corner, shaking. We calmed him down and got him out. He was really wary of the rain outside the barn though and kept looking behind himself out the door at the rain. I was nervous riding him today because I didn't want him to freak out and bolt, causing me to fall or something. But he actually did pretty well. Everytime I saw a big lightening I prepared myself for the cracking thunder that followed it and he was pretty good. He only got freaked out really bad once and that was when we were cooling off. I stopped by one of the large doors looking outside and he saw the huge lightening and immediately stiffened up and bolted away from the door when he heard the thunder. I held on and turned him that way he wouldn't have the chance to rear up though, and he was a little shaken after that but I walked him until he calmed down. He was also rushing the board again today. I'll really have to work on that.
I didn't really pay attention to Nina today except for after I put Harry away. She kept sliding off the soundboard on the side. I think it's just a matter of the rider centering themselves over the board so she knows where to go. Other than that, she's been fantastic letting us put the jaquima and the bit on and has been keeping her head down really nicely. I hope she gets her act together before the Michigan show.
Once again, Brie was the dream ride today! I never thought I'd reach the day when I could just plop on and barely move my hands and use my leg then entire time to control her speed and direction. I just love that horse more and more every day. I feel like this time training her has been such a success, but we'll only find out when we hit the next show.
Michigan, here we come!
It was soooooo hot out today. Harry was dripping with sweat just from lunging. That also meant he was tired enough to cooperate =] He was fantastic gaiting today. We worked for about an hour. I also stopped lunging him around the pole, since Paco pointed out that there aren't any working poles at shows. When I lunged him without the pole it was quite successful. He didn't bolt away or get really close to me. We worked inside then went outside. I was a little nervous about riding him outside since the last time I rode him outside was when Ray was training him and he kept rearing. Harry was perfect. He was rushing the soundboard a little bit. It seems like getting him to not rush the soundboard and get a more relaxed walk is the key to winning at our next show. I also need to find where his largo is that way I won't break into a canter and lose points.
Apparently, Nina was really bad today. My brother is having a hard time lunging her since she keeps wanting to walk on top of him. He's been using the carrot stick in order to push her on from behind, never actually touching her, just holding it out to make sure that she would see it behind her.
I never thought I'd look forward to riding Brie as a break. She's been doing fantastically the past few weeks. She's perfectly calm and just goes along. It's almost like she's an impostor horse! I'm so pleased with her and hopefully she'll stay like this for show.
Monday
It was thundering really bad today. When we walked into the stable, Harry was in the corner of his stall corner, shaking. We calmed him down and got him out. He was really wary of the rain outside the barn though and kept looking behind himself out the door at the rain. I was nervous riding him today because I didn't want him to freak out and bolt, causing me to fall or something. But he actually did pretty well. Everytime I saw a big lightening I prepared myself for the cracking thunder that followed it and he was pretty good. He only got freaked out really bad once and that was when we were cooling off. I stopped by one of the large doors looking outside and he saw the huge lightening and immediately stiffened up and bolted away from the door when he heard the thunder. I held on and turned him that way he wouldn't have the chance to rear up though, and he was a little shaken after that but I walked him until he calmed down. He was also rushing the board again today. I'll really have to work on that.
I didn't really pay attention to Nina today except for after I put Harry away. She kept sliding off the soundboard on the side. I think it's just a matter of the rider centering themselves over the board so she knows where to go. Other than that, she's been fantastic letting us put the jaquima and the bit on and has been keeping her head down really nicely. I hope she gets her act together before the Michigan show.
Once again, Brie was the dream ride today! I never thought I'd reach the day when I could just plop on and barely move my hands and use my leg then entire time to control her speed and direction. I just love that horse more and more every day. I feel like this time training her has been such a success, but we'll only find out when we hit the next show.
Michigan, here we come!
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