Spring?!

It looks like spring has sprung in Ohio, for the most part at least. I'm sure we'll get some more crappy weather, because it's Ohio. But for now, I have six weeks to get my horse back in shape before he goes into training. That does not sound like much time at all, especially with how busy I've been lately. At least it's staying light longer. I see lots of lunging in side reins in our future...he can get in shape without me bouncing around on his back while *I* get in shape.

It looks like our first show of the year will be a CT at South Farm at the end of May. Hopefully BBN...I don't really want to ride an intro test again if I can help it!

The boys survived the winter, although they probably feel very neglected since they haven't been ridden. I'm trying to figure out how to get Jodi back in shape at the same time, since I don't have much time. We might try some ponying.

The goal for the summer is

May 29th/30th - CT at South Farm, BBN?
May 31 - Stone Gate hunter pace

June 20 - Grand River mini trial - BBN hopefully

July 18 - South Farm mini trial - BBN
July 25 - Bath Pony Club mini trial?

August 1 - Grand River mini trial?
Agust 22 - Bath Pony Club mini trial - BBN?

And then in September, hopefully either the starter division at South Farm or Stone Gate, or moving up to BN at one of the mini trials. That's IF all goes according to plan, which it never does!

Hopefully I'll have some updates in the adventures of restarting Luke coming up soon :) Our first ride was pretty interesting, he decided steering was optional, but we fixed that pretty quick.

Cannot wait for the month of May! :)

2010 Goals

Dare I even try to plan? Things never seem to go as planned, but I'll give it a very preliminary shot. This week, the barn owners are out of town, so I've been doing stalls...of course, it's the week that has a high of 14 degrees...yuck. So sick of winter!

Let's see...I'm thinking riding is not going to be happening much until February or March. Until then, I'm going to try to ride other horses as much as I can. Anyway...

I'd love to be able to keep Luke barefoot when we pick up our training schedule...I don't know if that will happen or not...whatever is best for him is what he'll get.

My only goal for March is to get Luke going solidly again, picking up where we left off, and getting him back in shape. I'd love to try to get to the dressage schooling show at Chagrin, but it probably won't happen, and I'm okay with that. It's more important to me to get him back in shape and progressing in his training.

In April, I'd love to put him in at least part training. I'm setting money aside, but whenever I try to budget, things tend to come up. Again, I'd love to get him to a schooling show, but no set goal.

May...I want to have him solid on both canter leads, and I want to go to a hunter pace with him. I also want to ride him at least 4x a week...that's going to be my goal.

In June, I'd like to do the Grand River Hunt mini trial. Only if he's ready for BBN though...I can't do intro again, I'd rather save my money. So mini trial-ing might get pushed to July.

July - I think it'd be super fun to do South Farm's mini camp...I was going to go last year, but things came up. If not that, I'd like to do a couple days of lessons back to back. I'd also love to go to the South Farm and Bath Pony Club mini trials.

August - I'd like to do Grand River Hunt and Bath Pony Club. It would be AMAZING to move up to BN, but I don't know that we'll be ready...it's a wait and see thing I guess.

September - South Farm mini trial, and hunter pacing...my favorite part of fall.

October - I'd like to do the rest of the hunter pace series, it'll just depend I guess. Hopefully I'll have a truck and trailer, and this will be possible.

Then, winter starts to come again. Hopefully Luke will be at a barn with an indoor and our training will continue to progress. I hope so!

Really though...I'm happy with however 2010 turns out. I have a great trainer who understands Luke and I and our limitations, and I feel good about this year. Any time I get to spend with Luke and Jodi is good time. If something happens and we don't go to a single show, I'll still be proud to own him!

Motivation and Goals

Well, I haven't posted much...at all? lately because not a whole lot has been going on. The frozen ground, and early sunset have made it impossible to do anything other than walk if I want to ride. So the boys are on vacation. Jodi got a neck cover/hood to hopefully keep him even warmer. He's dropping weight, and I don't want him to lose anymore - I added some senior feed and a weight gain supplement, and he gets lots of good hay, so hopefully he won't lose anymore.

Since I haven't been and can't ride, it's hard to think about goals for 2010. Hopefully I'm getting a truck and trailer in the next couple of months, which would be awesome. I'd definitely get to go more places then.

So far my only goals really are to improve as a rider, and keep working on giving Luke the ride he deserves. I'd also like to never ride an intro test again, and at least make it to the 2' mini trial level this year. BN would be nice, but I don't know if it'll all come together quick enough...we'll see I guess. I also want to do a lot of hunter paces with him...I love those.

Don't know how much I'll post over the winter, but I'll try to keep updating when things happen...if they do. I'm looking very forward to starting lessons back up in the spring!!

Merry Christmas!!! :)

Barefoot and Sound!

Knock on wood, I now have two barefoot horses, both being totally sound! Luke was due for a trim yesterday, and I just had the farrier keep his shoes off, because I haven't been riding, and probably won't be riding anywhere but the sand arena for a while. I had to leave before he was done, so I didn't get to see how Luke moved out, but my dad said when he put Luke out in the pasture, he immediately ran off to be with his buddies. Crossing my fingers that he isn't ouchy on it - I'd LOVE to have a barefoot Luke. I'm thinking about experimenting in the spring/early summer with putting him on a biotin supplement and seeing if that keeps his feet hard and able to be barefoot - I do do a lot of trail riding, but at the same time, he's always been fine barefoot in back.

That's really all that's new here. School is kicking my butt. I think I've sat on my horse once in the past two weeks, and I've been horrible about getting out there. The barn owner told me the other day that Luke's been disruptive lately, and I think he's just bored - he's used to having a job. So I'm going to make an effort to spend more time with him, and see if that helps. I can't ride unless it's light outside, and that doesn't happen much while I'm out there. Can't wait til the time change. Already.

Jodi's good, maybe a little skinny, but it could just be my imagination. I added weight builder to his smartpak for the winter, so we'll see how he does on that. I might have to add some senior feed, or up his grain. They're both getting safe choice, which I've heard good and bad about, but it seems to be working out well.

I think that's all...hopefully I'll have a riding update eventually...wishful thinking probably!

Stupid Time Change...

I haven't gotten to ride much at all lately because of the time change. The way my schedule is, I'm never out there during the day except on weekends. I'm going to try to ride tomorrow before it gets dark.

That being said, on Sunday, Jen and I took Joey & Luke to Brecksville to go trail riding. It was awesome. I love my horse! He was such a good boy, even though he'd only been ridden once in the week before. He hopped on the trailer, unloaded, and stood tied to the trailer like a good boy! I wasn't taking chances though...brought the clip with me, but I don't think he pulled back at all, the rope stayed the same length. Awesome!

He didn't want to stand still when I was trying to put my gloves on, but once we were moving, he was settled. He crossed water (okay, so he wasn't so sure about the first one, but after that we were fine), and walked across scary bridges all by himself. He's so different than the horse I brought home three years ago...I love him. We trotted and cantered a lot, and for the first time in three years, my little racehorse ran out of gas! I've never seen him so tired...I thought I killed him! He was having a blast though, and still wanted to canter even when he was tired. I didn't get cold until the last part, when we were walking to cool them out. Man it got cold! We tossed some sheets on the boys, and loaded them up to go home. Stopped at Wendy's on the way home with the truck and trailer...I don't think a cheeseburger has ever tasted so good! I'm sore too...I didn't think I would be, but it was kind of extreme trail riding, and I haven't ridden as much lately. Then I ran (or shuffled) two miles today. I have GOT to get back in shape!

It was so nice to take them out last weekend though...might be the last time for the year, so I'm glad it was a good experience for everyone!

2'6!

I'm just full of updates lately. Ha.

I took advantage of the nice weather today, and went out to the barn to ride Luke. Jen came with me, yay! :) Tacking him up, he was the quietest he's been since I moved 3 months ago. I love those clips, they gave me back my horse. OR it's all psychological, and is having a placebo effect on me. Entirely possible, but either way, I'll take it. I can now turn my back without having to worry about my horse breaking something, or himself.

I had planned on doing lots of flatwork, but I also wanted to jump. We finally have both leads installed for the most part...yay! Although, irony which is not lost on me: it's taken 3 years to get to a pretty consistent right lead, and today, I had no left lead...it just wasn't. there. Eek! Once we started jumping, he found it though.

I think his canter actually improved after we did some fences, and Jen agreed with me. I think my problem is that I get really tense and then stiffen up, which speeds up his canter, and it's an ugly cycle. However...give me a big long flat stretch, and I'll canter or hand gallop up in 2 point all day...so it's not a fear issue, it's just some other weird issue. But when you throw some jumps in there, I think it gives me something to focus on, and I can actually RIDE. Or maybe Luke just likes jumping and was rewarding me with a cute canter.

We started with a 21" vertical, which was the biggest thing we've jumped since the barrels last month. He popped over that like it was no biggie, so I had her raise it to 2'. We cantered over that without rushing, but he kept ticking it with a back hoof. I had her raise it to 2'3" and same thing...ticking with a back hoof, but no rushing. If it was wood poles, they wouldn't even fall, but it was just enough to knock the pvc down. So I started thinking "maybe this horse doesn't have the potential I thought he did, maybe he won't be anything more than a 2' horse!" which would have been totally fine, but a huge let down.

So I asked her to raise it to 2'6", and said if he was good, we'd call it a day after that. It was amazing. That's the highest I've ever jumped him, and he felt WONDERFUL. 5 months ago, we were terrified of 2' stuff. He wasn't rushy to the jump at all, and the best part? I could feel it....I was actually counting strides in my head, and I was right. Yay! He was actually completely straight to it too...with the little stuff he wiggles quite a bit, which is frustrating. But today? He was point and shoot from the minute I started jumping. And the 2'6" one is the only one he didn't hit. He actually put in some effort and cleared it with plenty of room to spare! Jen said he had a good 6" of clearance, but it didn't FEEL like he was jumping 3'...but what do I know??

We did it twice, and then Jen hopped on and trotted him a little. She said he felt better than ever, but he's a HARD horse to ride. Which made me feel good kind of...I just thought I sucked at riding him! She loved riding him though, and I do too. He makes me WORK for everything, but I appreciate it that much more. Then we cooled him off. I was so proud! He has really grown up under saddle in the past 3 months. I can't wait to see what he's like next year! I'm hoping to put him in training in the spring...we'd be unstoppable! After today, I definitely think we'll be able to do baby beginner novice next summer :) :) :)

Pictures!

I rode Luke last night, and he was a good boy. The clips are definitely helping. He stood nicely in the cross ties even with chickens flying around. I was tenser than him probably, I hate things that fly. I even felt comfortable enough to leave him alone in the ties while I went to the other side of the barn to get my tack. We just walked and trotted mostly, but cantered once each direction, and popped a little cross rail twice. I need to ride him more...it's just so hard to get motivated in the cold! But we're supposed to have nice weather this week, so I'm going to take advantage of it.

It's been way too long since I posted pics...I don't know if anyone even reads this, but if anyone does, posts are boring without pictures sometimes! So I thought I'd post pictures from last month's mini trial, the week at Gwen's, some Jodi lovin', and then some pictures my parents took on Sunday.

Congress & Luke update

I went to QH Congress on Wednesday and then back on Saturday. Fun fun! I spent way too much money, but really, I didn't get anything fun...new sheets for the boys (okay, they're pink plaid, so kind of fun!), dewormer, vetrolin shine, 2 clips (www.theclip.info), lead ropes to go in them, and a couple things for my mom and dad to give me for Christmas. My feet are tired from walking and my arms are sore from carrying bags!

And it's been entirely too long since I've ridden my pony. Since my lesson last Saturday to be exact. It's gotten to the point where he's been such a jerk on the ground, I haven't wanted to deal with tacking him up. And I know that he won't get better unless I work on it. But I'm scared to discipline him for fidgeting in the ties, because then he pulls back and breaks his halter. So I bought two clips and hooked them up last night. And decided that now that I have that taken care of, and he won't get hurt if he pulls back, we're going to work on respect.

My parents came out to take fall pictures, and Luke was fidgety brushing him off, fidgety tacking up, and tried to drag me outside. So I popped him with the crop, and after he got over the initial scare, he behaved himself. And we managed some very nice pictures.

I went back out last night after all my homework was done (yuck!) and played with them. Got Jodi out and detangled his tail...I have no idea where he finds the burr bushes, but his tail was one big mat. We were able to get it out, sacrificing only a few hairs in the process. Then I put him back and went to get Luke. I told him that he couldn't be pushy. Not like he heard me :) I put him in the ties with the clip, and just messed around with him. At one point, I went out to turn the arena light on because I was going to ride (I couldn't get it turned on..boo), and he must have pulled back while I was gone. The clips did their job, and I came back to one calm pony, still attached but with slightly longer ropes. So I tightened them back up, and made him stand some more. He stood while I organized my locker, mixed up new moisturizer, swept the aisle, checked his bucket, etc. He was standing pretty calmly by the end. When he started dancing, I got after him, and after trying to pull back a little, he realized he had nothing to pull against and gave up. Yay! I am FAR from trusting him, but this is a BIG step in the right direction...last night, I enjoyed my horse again. For the first time in a while.

I'm going out tonight, to hopefully ride while the weather is nice and it's light out!

Lesson!

After cancelling last night's lesson due to rain, I rescheduled for today at 12.

Luke let me catch him right away in the pasture, but was a pain to tack up. Seriously, I'm never motivated to ride him anymore and it's because I'm sick of dealing with his crap on the ground. I've tried everything. He pulled back and snapped a cross tie snap in half. In half. The metal literally snapped. I give up. Oy.

He was hyped up when I got on...it was all I could do to get him to stand while I got on, and then we had crazy hyper walk on speed. He settled though, eventually. And focused, sort of. The arena was kind of muddy, but oh well. I do miss having an indoor, but I'll live :) Luke was actually more focused than he's been sometimes. I was keeping my back really tense today...I don't know if that's a new thing, or if it explains my back pain.

We trotted, and worked on keeping him focused and off the forehand, and using his butt. It's hard too because he doesn't respond to my leg. I'm going to start carrying a crop and insist on crisper transitions...he needs to go when I say, not when he feels like it. Then we moved on to canter...I don't know what my deal is with cantering, but I feel so insecure anymore. Started on the left lead, and it was okay..he broke to a trot a couple times, but I think he just needs more strength. And to actually ride the canter and not just sit there. He got all his leads correct today, which makes me really happy. Yay! I think it was a me issue, not a him issue. Either way, I'm glad it seems to be fixed! I'm not sure how much I'll get to ride this winter, but I'll at least try to as much as I can. I want to keep him moving forward. Then in the spring, lesson/training package, and hopefully truck and trailer by February ish.

We jumped a little crossrail too, and Luke was fine. I love my new standards...way better than buckets, especially since the poles are pvc..they don't fall off of the standards quite as easily.

I'm glad I got a lesson in...maybe not as productive as if I'd been riding more frequently, but at least it pushed me in the right direction. If I get a truck and trailer, I'll try to find an indoor to go to once every week or something like that. I'm proud of Luke..I just wish I could ride him as well as he deserves. Maybe someday!

Eek, time for an update!

Wow, I can't believe I haven't updated in so long! Not too too much has happened though.

Luke stayed with Gwen the week after the mini trial. He was a good boy up there. I got to go up and ride on Tuesday night, where he did his first gymnastics. He wasn't a big fan, but I think they were a little big for him. We did a single cross rail and ended with that.

When I went up on Saturday, Luke was really good! We made the gymnastics smaller, and did a cross rail with five trotting poles before it. The first time through that one, Luke launched at the beginning of the trot poles and landed after the jump. Apparently he forgot how to trot jumps. Second time through, he did a good job though. Then we moved on to the gymnastics. The smaller ones were much easier.

I decided to try jumping him over some plastic barrels because he was being so good. I figured he'd rush it really badly, but he didn't at all! Trotted it really cute, and didn't even look at it! He seems to settle down more over larger jumps, which is weird.

I brought him back home on the 20th, and didn't do much with him for a week. He got new shoes on Thursday, and then he just didn't do much until this past week. On Thursday I went out and rode, and was really happy with him. I didn't think he would be very good since he'd been off for so long. He was great though. I just walked and trotted...I don't want to work on his canter until I'm in a lesson, because I'm not good at him. I rode again yesterday, and he was a little testy. I hung out with Molly today and got to ride Atticus, and then she came over and rode Luke. He proved that he could canter on both correct leads and jump all cute like. I hope she can come ride him more...and I just need to learn to ride better. Hopefully soon...I want to be better!