Saturday
It was absolutely freezing today, such a difference from last week.
During the week, everyone got their hooves done...well, mostly. Nina didn't get her hooves done because the new farrier said that there wasn't enough growth to trim or put nails into, so he is going to let her grow until next time. He said that Brie's hooves were too small to support her frame, so he's going to work on letting them grow in a certain way so that they are more effective. I'm not entirely sure how much he wants them to grow, as they've never been very big her whole life. We'll see. And Harry was a good boy and didn't need to take the tranquilizer so I was proud of him =]
I didn't ride Harry today. I was more focused on Brie. I was super proud of her for not embarrassing me at the mounting block in front of everyone. She let me get on in one try! She was in a very fast mood today and we worked on reversing. She is getting better at not speeding through them and breaking into a canter. It took a while for us to get into our groove, but once we did, I felt her collecting a little bit. Not as much as those couple of times, but it was a definite improvement. I felt her rounding her back and really settling into it.
Sunday
Day to night, this weather is. It was 70 degrees out today, so I took advantage of it by riding outside. Brie is so much more relaxed now in the outdoor arena than she has been in the past and I really think it's because I take time before we tack up to go longe out there. I think it helps her set up where we're going to be for the day. I will have to try to get to the arena early at the shows so that we can do that there too. The main arena, not just the warm up one.
She was SO good walking outside today! We actually walked out in the pasture. AND on top of that, we all went for a mini ride down the street! Down the street from Gary's place is a dead end, so we rode down to the end and back. Everyone was super calm, even Harry. I can't even tell you how proud I am of everyone, especially with a barking dog in someone's yard. I feel like their good behavior out on trail means that they really trust all of us that nothing bad will happen to them, which is exactly what we want them to understand. It's nice to finally be getting there.
I suppose with our first show coming up in 2 weeks that I should start riding Harry more. I will have to make it a point to ride him each day every weekend until the show comes to make sure that we're on the same page. If he stays in gait, he will sweep the pleasure classes.
Showing posts with label trail riding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trail riding. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Days 282 & 283
Saturday
Got out late, so I had even less time to ride. There were also a ton of people at the barn, so I had small space to work in. I managed to force my way in there and longe Brie and work on our flexibility program, which she is getting better at. I think she's getting bored with it now, so I have to figure out something new to add to it.
She was fairly calm while riding, but we're still working on headset. She's gotten really lazy without the pressure to show, so it's taking a lot of work getting her back into show mode.
As show season approaches, I find myself in the same place that I usually end up at this time of year -- wondering if I even want to show. On one hand, it's fun, but it's only fun if you win, which I don't do too often...I can't help but get the feeling that, despite all of my effort, everyone thinks I'm completely incapable of doing anything "right" with horses because I continue to ride horses that don't place firsts while my brother, for example, took over Nina and always wins firsts. It's just very discouraging.
And while I like going to have fun with my horses for the majority of the day and spend all that time with them, I feel like I'd rather be going trail riding or something. I don't know. Since I started riding, I've had this shift in interest from showing to trail riding. It just gets so boring going around in the arena, doing almost the same things every week, constantly trying to make your horse perfect...maybe they just want to relax a bit and go sightseeing.
Sunday
I got to ride Harry today! He was a bundle of anxiety and no matter how many circles I tried to do, he never really calmed down for me...for my mom, he was better, but for me, not too great. He walked really nicely, so I guess that's a plus, since I've struggled with getting him to walk calmly. But he only stayed in gait going over the soundboard and that's just because he's vain.
Brie is putting my patience to the test, once more. Now that I know she knows exactly what I want from her (to stand still at the mounting block), she is seeing if I can keep making her do that. It took at least a few tries to make her stand still at the block, and even then, she wasn't right next to it and I had to scoot it over.
I found out recently that one of my friends got an internship at a barn in Florida. I'm so jealous of her...I wish that I got to go work under a professional and spend my entire day with horses.
I've also decided that, after much thought, I will be ending this blog at Day 300. I was going to do an entire year (365), but after 3 actual years of writing, I've lost a lot of interest in it. I feel my posts getting repetitive lately with no real development happening and want to focus more of my energies into seeing a change in attitude both in myself and in my horses. This blog has really been an inspiration for myself during times where I feel like I'm at a standstill and I'm thankful for it. But with graduation fast approaching and the impending uncertainty of life after college, I don't even know if I'll be able to make it to 365 days in the near future. So I would rather end on a finite note than to be constantly wondering if I will ever have the time or opportunity to come back to this again.
Got out late, so I had even less time to ride. There were also a ton of people at the barn, so I had small space to work in. I managed to force my way in there and longe Brie and work on our flexibility program, which she is getting better at. I think she's getting bored with it now, so I have to figure out something new to add to it.
She was fairly calm while riding, but we're still working on headset. She's gotten really lazy without the pressure to show, so it's taking a lot of work getting her back into show mode.
As show season approaches, I find myself in the same place that I usually end up at this time of year -- wondering if I even want to show. On one hand, it's fun, but it's only fun if you win, which I don't do too often...I can't help but get the feeling that, despite all of my effort, everyone thinks I'm completely incapable of doing anything "right" with horses because I continue to ride horses that don't place firsts while my brother, for example, took over Nina and always wins firsts. It's just very discouraging.
And while I like going to have fun with my horses for the majority of the day and spend all that time with them, I feel like I'd rather be going trail riding or something. I don't know. Since I started riding, I've had this shift in interest from showing to trail riding. It just gets so boring going around in the arena, doing almost the same things every week, constantly trying to make your horse perfect...maybe they just want to relax a bit and go sightseeing.
Sunday
I got to ride Harry today! He was a bundle of anxiety and no matter how many circles I tried to do, he never really calmed down for me...for my mom, he was better, but for me, not too great. He walked really nicely, so I guess that's a plus, since I've struggled with getting him to walk calmly. But he only stayed in gait going over the soundboard and that's just because he's vain.
Brie is putting my patience to the test, once more. Now that I know she knows exactly what I want from her (to stand still at the mounting block), she is seeing if I can keep making her do that. It took at least a few tries to make her stand still at the block, and even then, she wasn't right next to it and I had to scoot it over.
I found out recently that one of my friends got an internship at a barn in Florida. I'm so jealous of her...I wish that I got to go work under a professional and spend my entire day with horses.
I've also decided that, after much thought, I will be ending this blog at Day 300. I was going to do an entire year (365), but after 3 actual years of writing, I've lost a lot of interest in it. I feel my posts getting repetitive lately with no real development happening and want to focus more of my energies into seeing a change in attitude both in myself and in my horses. This blog has really been an inspiration for myself during times where I feel like I'm at a standstill and I'm thankful for it. But with graduation fast approaching and the impending uncertainty of life after college, I don't even know if I'll be able to make it to 365 days in the near future. So I would rather end on a finite note than to be constantly wondering if I will ever have the time or opportunity to come back to this again.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Day 252
I started off Harry today in the same way as yesterday and I've learned something --- he does not like the outdoor arena. We made a little more progress in the Friendly Game, and I got him to step up onto the concrete pad in the middle of the sound board outside all by himself, but he was very anxious and skippy once we started riding and we had to take lots of circle breaks.
Then we heard a dog barking and thought it was Paco's dog in the woods, so my brother and I rode out towards the back of the barn and as soon as we left, Harry started walking and was super calm. We ended up finding the dog -- she was just mad she was in her kennel.
Once we went back in the arena, Harry tensed back up. So my goal was to just get him to walk, since he started skipping only when I asked him to work. We ended up going out on trail again, me, my mom, my brother, and Kimmy with her horse Sadie. We rode in the road next to the property and followed it back about a half mile past the barn, going down a slow incline. Everyone was well behaved! I was a little iffy going back up the incline because there wasn't much grass to walk on and Harry has shoes, but we made it up just fine. There was even a car creeping behind us for a while and everyone was totally normal! I'm so proud of Harry and Brie for being so good.
When we got back from our ride, the horses were kind of sweaty so they got showers. Harry was falling asleep in the shower, silly thing! He must have been tired from doing something different and stimulating and having the chilly breeze in his face. Everyone will sleep well tonight, including me!
Then we heard a dog barking and thought it was Paco's dog in the woods, so my brother and I rode out towards the back of the barn and as soon as we left, Harry started walking and was super calm. We ended up finding the dog -- she was just mad she was in her kennel.
Once we went back in the arena, Harry tensed back up. So my goal was to just get him to walk, since he started skipping only when I asked him to work. We ended up going out on trail again, me, my mom, my brother, and Kimmy with her horse Sadie. We rode in the road next to the property and followed it back about a half mile past the barn, going down a slow incline. Everyone was well behaved! I was a little iffy going back up the incline because there wasn't much grass to walk on and Harry has shoes, but we made it up just fine. There was even a car creeping behind us for a while and everyone was totally normal! I'm so proud of Harry and Brie for being so good.
When we got back from our ride, the horses were kind of sweaty so they got showers. Harry was falling asleep in the shower, silly thing! He must have been tired from doing something different and stimulating and having the chilly breeze in his face. Everyone will sleep well tonight, including me!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Days 228 & 229
Saturday
My mom has kind of taken over Harry since she started riding again, which is okay by me because I haven't had that much riding time with Brie as I would've liked to the past month or so. I'm glad that I get to work with her again, because she's gotten a little lazy. Today we worked a lot on calmly walking and then getting more flexible again. They were doing some construction outside of the arena today though, so everyone got scared of the cranes as they went by the door except for Brie and Nina! I attribute it to their being raised outside as babies. I don't know about the rest of the horses that were riding with us yesterday, or even Harry for that matter, but both Brie and Nina were raised outside from the moment they were born up until they were weaned, and even then they were put out in the pasture with other foals that were weaned at the same time, so they had to have hardened up in that time.
Although, that doesn't explain by Brie gets so anxious going outside. My mom mentioned going on a trail ride. Like a real trail ride. I think that would be a wonderful experience for everyone. I truly believe that once Brie gets out far enough that she doesn't know where she is and doesn't see the barn behind her, she'll settle down and be a great trail horse. Harry, I'm not so sure about.
I got the wonderful chance to ride Nina today since my brother was being generous. She is such a doll! I was just going to enjoy a calm walk on a horse that really WALKS, but then I figured I might as well work her a little bit. So after getting some instruction from my brother (keep my hands low and squeeze squeeze squeeze), Nina had the cutest little corto and a largo that could rival Brie's! I can't wait to show her in pleasure class, since my brother is taking all of the performance classes with her. If I won 2nd last year just hopping on her without practicing at all before, just think of what I could win if I practice!
Sunday
Brie just wanted to go go go today, so I let her, but at a sane pace. She didn't really want to walk and I figured heck, if she's feeling good enough, then I might as well let her corto. She was going along beautifully and setting her head so nicely and eventually she slowed herself to an animated walk. We worked a lot on leg yields, which I'm proud to say she is getting great at! When she starts floating off the rail, I'm now able to just shift my inside leg a little bit back and press gently and she'll move right over, without having to use my reins at all! I can even turn her with just my legs, one pressing on the shoulder and the other behind the girth and she turns on a dime! If only she weren't so anxious for shows, she would take all the blue ribbons.
I really wish that there were more fun shows around my area. I would trailer Brie to all of them and go in all of the classes just to get her used to it and make it not seem like a huge deal. If we had a bigger trailer, I would definitely bring her to the State Fair. I mean, it's cheap enough.
After I rode Brie, I got on Harry because he was being a bit bratty for my mom today after being completely freaked out yesterday over the cranes. He settled down, but he is tap dancing and pacing a lot now and I don't know what that's about. He doesn't need shoes for another 3 weeks, so I don't know what his deal is right now. Maybe this upcoming weekend I'll ride him first to figure it out if I can. We were about to all go outside and ride when there were multiple gunshots from down the street, and while I know that Brie wouldn't be phased by it, I was worried about how Harry and Nina might react, so that cut our ride short. I'm sure they were completely fine with it though and getting their cool bath.
I'm kind of bummed because the past two weeks it's gotten so hot so quickly that we haven't really had time to play any Parelli with them. I'm so eager to send Harry over the tarp! Maybe this weekend will be a little cooler so that we could play.
My mom has kind of taken over Harry since she started riding again, which is okay by me because I haven't had that much riding time with Brie as I would've liked to the past month or so. I'm glad that I get to work with her again, because she's gotten a little lazy. Today we worked a lot on calmly walking and then getting more flexible again. They were doing some construction outside of the arena today though, so everyone got scared of the cranes as they went by the door except for Brie and Nina! I attribute it to their being raised outside as babies. I don't know about the rest of the horses that were riding with us yesterday, or even Harry for that matter, but both Brie and Nina were raised outside from the moment they were born up until they were weaned, and even then they were put out in the pasture with other foals that were weaned at the same time, so they had to have hardened up in that time.
Although, that doesn't explain by Brie gets so anxious going outside. My mom mentioned going on a trail ride. Like a real trail ride. I think that would be a wonderful experience for everyone. I truly believe that once Brie gets out far enough that she doesn't know where she is and doesn't see the barn behind her, she'll settle down and be a great trail horse. Harry, I'm not so sure about.
I got the wonderful chance to ride Nina today since my brother was being generous. She is such a doll! I was just going to enjoy a calm walk on a horse that really WALKS, but then I figured I might as well work her a little bit. So after getting some instruction from my brother (keep my hands low and squeeze squeeze squeeze), Nina had the cutest little corto and a largo that could rival Brie's! I can't wait to show her in pleasure class, since my brother is taking all of the performance classes with her. If I won 2nd last year just hopping on her without practicing at all before, just think of what I could win if I practice!
Sunday
Brie just wanted to go go go today, so I let her, but at a sane pace. She didn't really want to walk and I figured heck, if she's feeling good enough, then I might as well let her corto. She was going along beautifully and setting her head so nicely and eventually she slowed herself to an animated walk. We worked a lot on leg yields, which I'm proud to say she is getting great at! When she starts floating off the rail, I'm now able to just shift my inside leg a little bit back and press gently and she'll move right over, without having to use my reins at all! I can even turn her with just my legs, one pressing on the shoulder and the other behind the girth and she turns on a dime! If only she weren't so anxious for shows, she would take all the blue ribbons.
I really wish that there were more fun shows around my area. I would trailer Brie to all of them and go in all of the classes just to get her used to it and make it not seem like a huge deal. If we had a bigger trailer, I would definitely bring her to the State Fair. I mean, it's cheap enough.
After I rode Brie, I got on Harry because he was being a bit bratty for my mom today after being completely freaked out yesterday over the cranes. He settled down, but he is tap dancing and pacing a lot now and I don't know what that's about. He doesn't need shoes for another 3 weeks, so I don't know what his deal is right now. Maybe this upcoming weekend I'll ride him first to figure it out if I can. We were about to all go outside and ride when there were multiple gunshots from down the street, and while I know that Brie wouldn't be phased by it, I was worried about how Harry and Nina might react, so that cut our ride short. I'm sure they were completely fine with it though and getting their cool bath.
I'm kind of bummed because the past two weeks it's gotten so hot so quickly that we haven't really had time to play any Parelli with them. I'm so eager to send Harry over the tarp! Maybe this weekend will be a little cooler so that we could play.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Day 139
What a GORGEOUS DAY!
Of course I forgot my camera =[ It was warm and sunny and there was a warm breeze and everything! We let them all out to romp in the paddocks and they loved it! They all got a pre-riding grass snack and we worked with Harry to get him into the trailer. He was a little bad today, but we got him in without very much fuss...in and out 3 times in a half hour is way better than no times in 2 hours!
I got Brie saddled up and headed out to the outdoor arena for some warm-ups before we roamed around the property today. She walked so nicely in the arena, just taking in all the sunshine and warmth. She was pretty good when we went outside too -- she didn't really pull on the bit at all. I have to keep remembering though that whenever we go outside, I have to rely on my legs more than my hands because once we're out in the grass she's pretty unresponsive to the bit unless it's a yank and I only like to keep those for the most dire of consequences (like almost running into the creek). We even cantered a bit and I was so surprised that she didn't try to take off at a gallop outside! She normally likes to do that.
After a while, Harry and Nina came out into the outdoor arena and Brie and I went back in there with them for some follow the leader games and just generally cooling down. She hit that arena and slowed down like nothing else, like she knew "Okay, arena time means work". I would've ridden Harry but I was just having too much fun on Brie since she was being so good today. Harry and my mom were going to go out in the front pasture for some walking and I was going to join them when my brother said that Brie had blood on her foot. Sure enough, she did. After much inspection and a full bath later, we came to the conclusion that it wasn't her blood and that it must've been a frog or a toad she stepped on. Ick! I feel bad now.
We gave them all baths and fly sprayed and show sheen-ed and MTG'd them, and let them on a leadline for some grass before we let them in. My brother and I brought out the big exercise ball we bought to sit on and everyone except Harry was completely fine with it! We had to move extra slowly and not wave it around in order for him to not be scared and eat his grass. The funniest thing happened though: just picture it. He's chewing absolutely obnoxiously with his mouth open and a gust of wind comes by while his mouth is open and out flies the grass! He looked so confused! That'll teach him to eat properly!
Of course I forgot my camera =[ It was warm and sunny and there was a warm breeze and everything! We let them all out to romp in the paddocks and they loved it! They all got a pre-riding grass snack and we worked with Harry to get him into the trailer. He was a little bad today, but we got him in without very much fuss...in and out 3 times in a half hour is way better than no times in 2 hours!
I got Brie saddled up and headed out to the outdoor arena for some warm-ups before we roamed around the property today. She walked so nicely in the arena, just taking in all the sunshine and warmth. She was pretty good when we went outside too -- she didn't really pull on the bit at all. I have to keep remembering though that whenever we go outside, I have to rely on my legs more than my hands because once we're out in the grass she's pretty unresponsive to the bit unless it's a yank and I only like to keep those for the most dire of consequences (like almost running into the creek). We even cantered a bit and I was so surprised that she didn't try to take off at a gallop outside! She normally likes to do that.
After a while, Harry and Nina came out into the outdoor arena and Brie and I went back in there with them for some follow the leader games and just generally cooling down. She hit that arena and slowed down like nothing else, like she knew "Okay, arena time means work". I would've ridden Harry but I was just having too much fun on Brie since she was being so good today. Harry and my mom were going to go out in the front pasture for some walking and I was going to join them when my brother said that Brie had blood on her foot. Sure enough, she did. After much inspection and a full bath later, we came to the conclusion that it wasn't her blood and that it must've been a frog or a toad she stepped on. Ick! I feel bad now.
We gave them all baths and fly sprayed and show sheen-ed and MTG'd them, and let them on a leadline for some grass before we let them in. My brother and I brought out the big exercise ball we bought to sit on and everyone except Harry was completely fine with it! We had to move extra slowly and not wave it around in order for him to not be scared and eat his grass. The funniest thing happened though: just picture it. He's chewing absolutely obnoxiously with his mouth open and a gust of wind comes by while his mouth is open and out flies the grass! He looked so confused! That'll teach him to eat properly!
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!
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.
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