Saturday
We got out late today because my car was dead at school and my dad had to come jump it. =/ Thankfully it's working now and he charged up the battery so it should work for a while!
That said, my dad had to stay home because he would've been late for work otherwise. It was so nice going and not having to rush. I got our new carrot stick in the mail, so I used that with Brie. She didn't seem too into working today. She barely came out of a walk on the longe. I think it was because it was so hot out today. We played a bit of the friendly game, yo yo game, and porcupine game. I can't get the front end down pat yet. Instead of moving sideways, she just goes forward and I don't know how to get her to change it. I need to look into it more.
She's been giving me trouble on the mounting block lately, so I squeezed her between the block and the fountain next to the sound board. She knew it was coming from last week, so she resisted, but I got her in there. I didn't get on and go right away, but got on and off a couple of times, that way maybe she would get the picture that I want her to stand still at the block. She was doing so well but now she's testing me again!
She had a wonderful walk and we walked outside a bit in the arena too. She was a little hyper walking around the fields, but manageable and good all the same. She got a bath afterwards and I led her out for some grass =]
Sunday
This is it. The last day of posting. I feel like maybe I should've done something more, but this was really a perfect day. What a great ride to make a last post about.
I played with the carrot stick more with Brie today and tried to do the driving game but she was not having it. I think she actually fell asleep...it was pretty warm out, so I don't blame her. The mounting block was better today and she was a little limpy at the beginning but worked it out. She had a wonderful walk, corto, and largo. I couldn't ask for more. If she keeps up calm like that, we'll definitely win at Michigan.
After we worked, we went outside and walked around. She actually walked!! We had a slow corto going too. She was absolutely amazing. No issues, no drama, just a great, enjoyable ride. Like I said, even though it was nothing spectacular, it was spectacular just in itself. I couldn't have asked for a better ride than that to make my last post about.
After the ride, I gave her another bath and grass, like yesterday, fly sprayed her up, and gave her carrots. Today was the exact kind of day that everyone dreams about at the barn, and I wish I didn't have to ever leave.
This weekend we might not be going out, because we're trying to go to Spectrum in Miami. It's a giant horse show down there, bigger than Nationals even, and we've always wanted to go check it out and now we have the chance, so we'll see.
This feels so weird, knowing I'm not going to post anymore. I'll see where we're at with shows at the end of the summer and make that my final update on this blog. I don't know what's in store for me in the future, with graduation next month and law school starting in August, but I hope that I still have time to ride. Riding is what I look forward to the most in my life, like I'm sure it is for many. It gives me time to focus on animals that need me to take care of them, a chance to bond with them, and a way to get away from all of the problems from the rest of my life to just focus on what is right there in front of me. I have to say that I'm sad, ending this blog, but I know it's just opening up for a new journey ahead. Who knows, I may start another one, and this time I may even be a real horse trainer. Not just a horse trainer in training.
So with this post, I wish you all luck on your journeys with your horses, wherever you may be. Don't ever give up on them, because even if it takes 3 years, you will get to where you want to be and you will never regret it.
With love,
Lexa
Showing posts with label perfection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perfection. Show all posts
Monday, May 20, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Day 296
Sunday
We didn't end up going out yesterday because on Friday, our new puppy, Pepina, accidentally ate one of my brother's pills and she had to stay in the overnight ER. She is okay, thank God, but we stayed home on Saturday just to make sure that she returned to her normal, happy self.
I rode Brie today, since we're aiming to take her to the Michigan show next month, and I wanted to make sure that she stays focused and calm like she has been. We rode in the outdoor arena because it was absolutely beautiful out today, even a bit hot!
I never thought I would say this, but I think that Brie is pretty much finished. At 11 years old, I think that she is done trying to one-up us and has settled into the program -- we come out, we pet her, we groom her, we want to have a nice ride, we give her carrots, we go home for a week. Her attitude is completely relaxed in comparison to the whole rest of her life. I have to say, I think it's probably the magnesium that she's on that's helping break down the sugar in her blood so she's not so hyper all the time. But I also have to give us some credit. Without our understanding and patience, I'm sure she'd still be a crazy fool.
We had a beautiful ride and even did a slow canter...A SLOW CANTER. It was fantastic! And also she was strangely nice to Sadie today, and Sadie was nice to her...we think it's because there's a new mare on our side, Isabel. Brie and Sadie hated each other, but maybe they're teaming up against Isabel. Thankfully they're not all put out together!
My mom was having a hard time with Harry today. I blame it entirely on the wind, which is kind of dumb, but horses make up things in their heads to be afraid of, and it was pretty windy outside. So my mom took him in the indoor, and then the round pen, where he apparently had a magnificent largo. I wish I would've watched, but Brie and I were roaming around the property at that time. Once Harry came out of the round pen, he joined Brie, Nina, and Sadie for a ride around the property. We went a little ways down the street before a big gust of wind came by and Harry got a little iffy, so we turned around and went back.
Afterwards, we scrubbed them with a good bath! Brie was soooo dirty. When I was brushing her at first, the more I brushed, the more dust came up! She was pretty grey by the time she was "clean"! After a good bath, they all felt smooth and I took them out for some grass in the sun before bringing them back in and worming them. For me, it was the perfect day at the barn. Doesn't get much better than that!
We didn't end up going out yesterday because on Friday, our new puppy, Pepina, accidentally ate one of my brother's pills and she had to stay in the overnight ER. She is okay, thank God, but we stayed home on Saturday just to make sure that she returned to her normal, happy self.
I rode Brie today, since we're aiming to take her to the Michigan show next month, and I wanted to make sure that she stays focused and calm like she has been. We rode in the outdoor arena because it was absolutely beautiful out today, even a bit hot!
I never thought I would say this, but I think that Brie is pretty much finished. At 11 years old, I think that she is done trying to one-up us and has settled into the program -- we come out, we pet her, we groom her, we want to have a nice ride, we give her carrots, we go home for a week. Her attitude is completely relaxed in comparison to the whole rest of her life. I have to say, I think it's probably the magnesium that she's on that's helping break down the sugar in her blood so she's not so hyper all the time. But I also have to give us some credit. Without our understanding and patience, I'm sure she'd still be a crazy fool.
We had a beautiful ride and even did a slow canter...A SLOW CANTER. It was fantastic! And also she was strangely nice to Sadie today, and Sadie was nice to her...we think it's because there's a new mare on our side, Isabel. Brie and Sadie hated each other, but maybe they're teaming up against Isabel. Thankfully they're not all put out together!
My mom was having a hard time with Harry today. I blame it entirely on the wind, which is kind of dumb, but horses make up things in their heads to be afraid of, and it was pretty windy outside. So my mom took him in the indoor, and then the round pen, where he apparently had a magnificent largo. I wish I would've watched, but Brie and I were roaming around the property at that time. Once Harry came out of the round pen, he joined Brie, Nina, and Sadie for a ride around the property. We went a little ways down the street before a big gust of wind came by and Harry got a little iffy, so we turned around and went back.
Afterwards, we scrubbed them with a good bath! Brie was soooo dirty. When I was brushing her at first, the more I brushed, the more dust came up! She was pretty grey by the time she was "clean"! After a good bath, they all felt smooth and I took them out for some grass in the sun before bringing them back in and worming them. For me, it was the perfect day at the barn. Doesn't get much better than that!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Day 198
Saturday
You know how last weekend was really horrible for my emotions? How I just felt awful going into it?
Well this weekend was the complete opposite =]
I went into it with the attitude of just trying to make Brie the best Paso Fino that I can instead of trying to turn her into a dressage horse (because I actually don't know how to...) and our ride was spectacular. She longed for way longer than she usually does and that's because she was charging and bucking and overall being full of energy. She started out really dragging, but then she picked it right up and between her bursts of energy, she had a super relaxed trot going and the cutest little bunny-hop canter. She has pretty much no extension in her canter and no upwards leg movement, but just kind of bounces herself up in the air in a cantering motion. I'm not entirely sure how to fix this...but I'll make sure to read a lot about it before I start trying anything!
Then we spent 30 minutes trying to make her stand still at the mounting block, but that's another story and it's a work in progress. It's not that she really...runs away from it. She swings her butt out away from the block so you'd have to jump from it onto her, which is unacceptable. So it's mostly just trying to make her realize she has to stand straight parallel to it.
Anyways, after this we flexed and rode. She wasn't fighting me with the bit at all today and was walking very nicely, which I'm really proud of because as you might remember, she hates walking! Her corto was nice and we didn't go into a largo today, so she was just snorting along happily at a corto. We did reverses and serpentines and a lot of walk to corto to walk transitions and she was taking them all in stride. Her passes on the board were decent. The first ones could've been better, but her ending ones were great. Then we relaxed into cooling when we were all finished with that. Then I got an idea. She was so good today and seemed really responsive, so I'd try some canter work around the pole. I mean, the least I know is how to ask for it properly. So walked around the pole in a circle a few times, then I just ever so lightly asked her for a canter and here's the amazing part...she picked it right up! No charging out or scrambling to go. She picked up the lead and went at a normal horse's pace without taking off! I was so amazed and actually laughing as we rode, it felt awesome. We did it in the opposite direction and she maybe had two missteps and then picked it right up again and a sane pace! I may have been asking her too hard and causing her to scramble before and now that I know just how little pressure I need, I have a feeling we're only going to get better from here!!
**Now, I'm wrote that on Sunday morning, pretending it was still Saturday. But now it's present day time. Harry was god-awful yesterday for my mom. He was trying to rear and everything, overall being a complete brat. I want to ride him first today and see if he's the same as yesterday.
On another note, it's almost Day 200 of training! I should do something special. Maybe a design revamp and some videos. Especially longeing videos of Harry, that way you can see how bratty he is. Though I'm sure that he'll be an angel when the cameras are rolling!
You know how last weekend was really horrible for my emotions? How I just felt awful going into it?
Well this weekend was the complete opposite =]
I went into it with the attitude of just trying to make Brie the best Paso Fino that I can instead of trying to turn her into a dressage horse (because I actually don't know how to...) and our ride was spectacular. She longed for way longer than she usually does and that's because she was charging and bucking and overall being full of energy. She started out really dragging, but then she picked it right up and between her bursts of energy, she had a super relaxed trot going and the cutest little bunny-hop canter. She has pretty much no extension in her canter and no upwards leg movement, but just kind of bounces herself up in the air in a cantering motion. I'm not entirely sure how to fix this...but I'll make sure to read a lot about it before I start trying anything!
Then we spent 30 minutes trying to make her stand still at the mounting block, but that's another story and it's a work in progress. It's not that she really...runs away from it. She swings her butt out away from the block so you'd have to jump from it onto her, which is unacceptable. So it's mostly just trying to make her realize she has to stand straight parallel to it.
Anyways, after this we flexed and rode. She wasn't fighting me with the bit at all today and was walking very nicely, which I'm really proud of because as you might remember, she hates walking! Her corto was nice and we didn't go into a largo today, so she was just snorting along happily at a corto. We did reverses and serpentines and a lot of walk to corto to walk transitions and she was taking them all in stride. Her passes on the board were decent. The first ones could've been better, but her ending ones were great. Then we relaxed into cooling when we were all finished with that. Then I got an idea. She was so good today and seemed really responsive, so I'd try some canter work around the pole. I mean, the least I know is how to ask for it properly. So walked around the pole in a circle a few times, then I just ever so lightly asked her for a canter and here's the amazing part...she picked it right up! No charging out or scrambling to go. She picked up the lead and went at a normal horse's pace without taking off! I was so amazed and actually laughing as we rode, it felt awesome. We did it in the opposite direction and she maybe had two missteps and then picked it right up again and a sane pace! I may have been asking her too hard and causing her to scramble before and now that I know just how little pressure I need, I have a feeling we're only going to get better from here!!
**Now, I'm wrote that on Sunday morning, pretending it was still Saturday. But now it's present day time. Harry was god-awful yesterday for my mom. He was trying to rear and everything, overall being a complete brat. I want to ride him first today and see if he's the same as yesterday.
On another note, it's almost Day 200 of training! I should do something special. Maybe a design revamp and some videos. Especially longeing videos of Harry, that way you can see how bratty he is. Though I'm sure that he'll be an angel when the cameras are rolling!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Equestrian Team Fall - Day 5
It's so funny how one week can be the complete opposite from the next.
So remember last week when I was all moody and felt like crying in the middle of my lesson for no apparent reason? Well my hormones are back in check and this week was AMAZING.
First of all, I got to ride with my shmexy show boots a la my mom. I'm telling you, putting the $60 into reconstructing the soles was really worth it, because I didn't have to go through the pain of breaking them in. Thank God that younger-version-of-my-mom and I have the same calf width and shoe size!
So after shining them up from digging them out of the basement this past weekend, I was feeling mighty awesome. Once again, I'm riding Tommy (who looked like he fell into a mud pit for about a week). And I have exciting news.
I CAN FEEL MY DIAGONALS! I never felt them before! It's only taken a year to finally feel that I'm on the wrong one (when I'm paying attention) and switch. I just hope that I don't get too freaked out at the show to forget that and ride the wrong diagonal the entire class, but I'm sure that won't happen.
But wait, there's more.
I JUMPED PERFECTLY!
The first one I got left behind on because I was hesitant, thinking about last week. But then I told myself to get over it and I GOT OVER IT! LITERALLY! My heels were down, my legs on contact, my speed perfect, my position right on key. It was such an incredible feeling to just sail over my little oxer and not fall forward or backwards and stick the landing! I'm so happy =]
Stacy had nothing but good things to tell me. She's confident that I'll place in the show this weekend if I ride like I did today. Also, I'm banned from wearing anything else except my mom's boots from now on. Stacy said that I rode much better in them and I could feel it too. While they still kind of hurt because of one of the wrinkles digging in my ankle every once in a while, they were much better than my Steed paddocks that I've been wearing. Those are especially stiff on my ankle. So I'll just bring those back home to kick around the barn in when I feel like wearing jeans, which will pretty much be all winter until it snows and I wear my insulated Mountain Horse boots.
It's an understatement to say that today was a good day. Can't wait to compete this weekend!
So remember last week when I was all moody and felt like crying in the middle of my lesson for no apparent reason? Well my hormones are back in check and this week was AMAZING.
First of all, I got to ride with my shmexy show boots a la my mom. I'm telling you, putting the $60 into reconstructing the soles was really worth it, because I didn't have to go through the pain of breaking them in. Thank God that younger-version-of-my-mom and I have the same calf width and shoe size!
So after shining them up from digging them out of the basement this past weekend, I was feeling mighty awesome. Once again, I'm riding Tommy (who looked like he fell into a mud pit for about a week). And I have exciting news.
I CAN FEEL MY DIAGONALS! I never felt them before! It's only taken a year to finally feel that I'm on the wrong one (when I'm paying attention) and switch. I just hope that I don't get too freaked out at the show to forget that and ride the wrong diagonal the entire class, but I'm sure that won't happen.
But wait, there's more.
I JUMPED PERFECTLY!
The first one I got left behind on because I was hesitant, thinking about last week. But then I told myself to get over it and I GOT OVER IT! LITERALLY! My heels were down, my legs on contact, my speed perfect, my position right on key. It was such an incredible feeling to just sail over my little oxer and not fall forward or backwards and stick the landing! I'm so happy =]
Stacy had nothing but good things to tell me. She's confident that I'll place in the show this weekend if I ride like I did today. Also, I'm banned from wearing anything else except my mom's boots from now on. Stacy said that I rode much better in them and I could feel it too. While they still kind of hurt because of one of the wrinkles digging in my ankle every once in a while, they were much better than my Steed paddocks that I've been wearing. Those are especially stiff on my ankle. So I'll just bring those back home to kick around the barn in when I feel like wearing jeans, which will pretty much be all winter until it snows and I wear my insulated Mountain Horse boots.
It's an understatement to say that today was a good day. Can't wait to compete this weekend!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Day 29
I didn't get to go to the stable on Saturday. But I went yesterday! So this is a very late (and very short) post.
Brie was absolutely perfect!
She was so good. I got her out of the paddock no problem. She was very calm when I rode her. We even went outside and she had minimal freak outs!
I think it's due to my Parelli training =] and due to the new supplement we got her started on, Calmex-V.
I can't wait for this weekend.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Brie was absolutely perfect!
She was so good. I got her out of the paddock no problem. She was very calm when I rode her. We even went outside and she had minimal freak outs!
I think it's due to my Parelli training =] and due to the new supplement we got her started on, Calmex-V.
I can't wait for this weekend.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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