I'm a little late updating from it, but I had a great trail ride with Molly on Sunday.
She was on Brandy, and I was on Luke. We decided to check out the trails across the street. I was nervous to cross the street and walk through the allotment, but Luke is totally traffic safe, and only got a little tense when he heard dogs barking behind a wood fence and couldn't SEE them.
We crossed another street, and turned onto the dirt path, and off we went. We had a nice canter through a field to start off with, and then went up a hill into the woods. It was gorgeous back there. I am so excited...the trails are AMAZING, and are there any time I want to go! Much better than just riding around the farm, which is fun too. There are some steep hills, but it will be great to do trot sets and get Luke in shape. We cantered up hillls and then walked back down them, looped around, galloped along the edge of a cornfield, walked around some more hoping we weren't lost, and then wound our way out of the woods, going back the way we came. I was glad for my helmet, cuz I got whacked on a few branches, but no biggie.
We walked around in the outdoor for a bit, and then decided to hit the back pasture to go canter in since it was empty for the afternoon. Luke couldn't figure out how to go down hills faster than a walk, and basically slid down a couple before figuring it out. We cantered laps up in two point, and then I let him gallop a bit. It was an awesome feeling, and he was totally manageable. The only thing that threw me was that I forgot that they're trained to gallop by balancing on their riders. So I was up in two point, and he stretched down and started pulling. I almost slid down his neck! But I got my balance back, and we had a blast. It was a wonderful horsey day!
I am getting so so excited for summer! We're building more jumps, and putting cross country jumps up, and now that I know about the trails...this place just keeps getting better and better! I am so in love with it there...and the boys seem thrilled too! I need to take some new pictures...oops :)
Tomorrow is the tack swap, which I'm going to head to for an hour or so before I go babysit for Caroline. Then I'm gonna hang with her until it's time to go feed horses, then I'll go back over and Mandi and I are going to finish making stall signs. yay! :)
Jodi got a nosebleed the other night, poor guy. He seems fine now though, so I dont know what's up. I guess he's just trying to take years off my life. First his eye, then this...I can't take much more!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
We have Flying Changes!
So I got spoiled this week, and had 2 lessons - One on Tuesday and then one on Wednesday.
Tuesday's lesson was...interesting. We started on the lunge without reins, and maybe I got too relaxed because I just couldn't get it together after that. I can't support him at all at the posting trot - I lock my hands by the pommel, and I can't keep my leg under me very well.
So my trainer ended up riding him for a while, and he looked so pretty! He's growing up!
Wednesday we tried a different saddle, and I think I kept my leg under myself a bit better. We worked on a couple of jumps on the diagonal. Started with little crossrails that he could trot over, and then moved up to bigger crossrails that he still trotted over, and then made a 12" vertical. By the end, we were able to canter to the jump and way from it, doing figure 8's across the two jumps. We managed a few circuits before I got dizzy and almost passed out..oops. I n eed to learn to not hold my breath, but I don't really think that was totally it. I thought the passing out thing was better but maybe not.
But when Luke didn't land on the right lead, he would do a flying change and fix it himself. Mandi told me that if we were brave, we could just do jumpers, but I don't think I'm quite that brave. I'll stick to mini trials, and HOPEFULLY be able to move up to Baby Beginner Novice by the end of summer.
Now...he just needs to learn to canter better, so he can learn to counter canter, so we can put a cue on that flying change. *sigh*... One step at a time!
In other news, I rode in the outdoor yesterday and he was pretty good. We got some nice canter work in both directions, which was nice, and it was beautiful out!
Tuesday's lesson was...interesting. We started on the lunge without reins, and maybe I got too relaxed because I just couldn't get it together after that. I can't support him at all at the posting trot - I lock my hands by the pommel, and I can't keep my leg under me very well.
So my trainer ended up riding him for a while, and he looked so pretty! He's growing up!
Wednesday we tried a different saddle, and I think I kept my leg under myself a bit better. We worked on a couple of jumps on the diagonal. Started with little crossrails that he could trot over, and then moved up to bigger crossrails that he still trotted over, and then made a 12" vertical. By the end, we were able to canter to the jump and way from it, doing figure 8's across the two jumps. We managed a few circuits before I got dizzy and almost passed out..oops. I n eed to learn to not hold my breath, but I don't really think that was totally it. I thought the passing out thing was better but maybe not.
But when Luke didn't land on the right lead, he would do a flying change and fix it himself. Mandi told me that if we were brave, we could just do jumpers, but I don't think I'm quite that brave. I'll stick to mini trials, and HOPEFULLY be able to move up to Baby Beginner Novice by the end of summer.
Now...he just needs to learn to canter better, so he can learn to counter canter, so we can put a cue on that flying change. *sigh*... One step at a time!
In other news, I rode in the outdoor yesterday and he was pretty good. We got some nice canter work in both directions, which was nice, and it was beautiful out!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Spring is in the air!
Yikes, I haven't updated in a while. I've been meaning to keep up with this better, but I forget about it sometimes.
Spring is coming, and it can't get here soon enough. The only thing I'm worried about is getting too hot while doing chores this summer and passing out, but I haven't passed out recently so I should be okay.
Jodi had a swollen shut eye on Thursday, and I was pretty worried. We put compresses on it through out the day, and some clear eyes in it when it opened up. We were planning on calling the vet Friday morning, but his eye was about 70% open in the morning, and by afternoon, it was at 95%. Maybe he just got some hay in it? He's fine now, which is a huge relief.
The vet came out yesterday to do spring shots. I'm doing my own this year, but I did have her pull a coggins on Luke. She checked both boys, and Jodi doesn't need his teeth done, but Luke does. So that will be next Monday. Maybe that's why he's getting so skinny. I hope so. He gets a bale of hay a day, and six pounds of grain, plus some grass outside. If he doesn't pick back up in the next month, I'm going to look into cool cals or something like that. I'm going to stop and get some corn oil tonight I think.
He's been going really really well though. He never spooks, which makes him so nice to ride because you don't have to worry. One of the younger girls at the barn has been riding him now and then for me, and she took him on two trail rides this week. She said that he was even good when he was cantering behind another horse, and he didn't try to speed up or catch up. I'm so proud of my boy. We have a lesson tonight, I can't wait!
I'm hoping to have a massage therapist or chiropractor out for him in the next couple months. He's sound, and doesn't seem sore, but I'm wondering if that would loosen him up. We're still having trouble with the right lead. More likely, I've just built up some mental block against it, because he's fine on the lunge line.
Anyway...that's what's new here!
Spring is coming, and it can't get here soon enough. The only thing I'm worried about is getting too hot while doing chores this summer and passing out, but I haven't passed out recently so I should be okay.
Jodi had a swollen shut eye on Thursday, and I was pretty worried. We put compresses on it through out the day, and some clear eyes in it when it opened up. We were planning on calling the vet Friday morning, but his eye was about 70% open in the morning, and by afternoon, it was at 95%. Maybe he just got some hay in it? He's fine now, which is a huge relief.
The vet came out yesterday to do spring shots. I'm doing my own this year, but I did have her pull a coggins on Luke. She checked both boys, and Jodi doesn't need his teeth done, but Luke does. So that will be next Monday. Maybe that's why he's getting so skinny. I hope so. He gets a bale of hay a day, and six pounds of grain, plus some grass outside. If he doesn't pick back up in the next month, I'm going to look into cool cals or something like that. I'm going to stop and get some corn oil tonight I think.
He's been going really really well though. He never spooks, which makes him so nice to ride because you don't have to worry. One of the younger girls at the barn has been riding him now and then for me, and she took him on two trail rides this week. She said that he was even good when he was cantering behind another horse, and he didn't try to speed up or catch up. I'm so proud of my boy. We have a lesson tonight, I can't wait!
I'm hoping to have a massage therapist or chiropractor out for him in the next couple months. He's sound, and doesn't seem sore, but I'm wondering if that would loosen him up. We're still having trouble with the right lead. More likely, I've just built up some mental block against it, because he's fine on the lunge line.
Anyway...that's what's new here!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Update Time!
Wow, it's been a little while since I've updated! It's just been cold and yucky and I haven't been too motivated to ride. I had a lesson last week, and then didn't ride at all after that, and then had another lesson on Tuesday.
Lesson #1 was not my best ride ever. I was stressed out and frustrated about other things and I think that tension was carrying over to Luke. Plus, I just couldn't get my position right. Poor Luke. He really was trying hard to please me and do what he thought I wanted him to. He's such a sweetheart. He's still a little head shy which makes me really sad...I want to know what they did to him to make him that way. He's improved SO much since coming to the new barn though.
On Thursday I hopped on Jodi bareback for a little bit. I love that old man, he's such a sweetheart. We mostly just walked with a little bit of trot. On Sunday when I was bringing horses in, he was going nuts out in the pasture. Full out galloping...I didn't know he could still move that fast. He stretched his neck out and got low to the ground and everything. Melissa got some great pictures that I'll try to get uploaded. He paid for it though, I think, cuz he was off last night. Not bad, just pretty stiff. So Melissa walked him around for a while when I was riding Luke.
Lesson #2(Last night) was 100% better than last week'sl. I had a better mindset going in, and I was really focused. I also rode him in his new bit, a KK ultra, and I think it's really going to work out well. We did some trotting, and he's really starting to accept contact nicely, it feels great. We also started a little bit of shoulder-out at the walk, and he's doing much better than I thought he would. It also really seemed to help him stretch out. I got some great canter work on his left lead, and his right lead is improving. He picks it up correctly every time on the lunge line, so I guess I'm just not asking right. We're getting better though.
I am so happy with the barn...everything is better than I thought it would be, everyone is super friendly, I'm so glad to be getting back into regular lessons, and it's awesome to see the horses more. I can't wait until nice weather where I can ride outside, go trail riding, and start to think about summer shows. It will be great!
Lesson #1 was not my best ride ever. I was stressed out and frustrated about other things and I think that tension was carrying over to Luke. Plus, I just couldn't get my position right. Poor Luke. He really was trying hard to please me and do what he thought I wanted him to. He's such a sweetheart. He's still a little head shy which makes me really sad...I want to know what they did to him to make him that way. He's improved SO much since coming to the new barn though.
On Thursday I hopped on Jodi bareback for a little bit. I love that old man, he's such a sweetheart. We mostly just walked with a little bit of trot. On Sunday when I was bringing horses in, he was going nuts out in the pasture. Full out galloping...I didn't know he could still move that fast. He stretched his neck out and got low to the ground and everything. Melissa got some great pictures that I'll try to get uploaded. He paid for it though, I think, cuz he was off last night. Not bad, just pretty stiff. So Melissa walked him around for a while when I was riding Luke.
Lesson #2(Last night) was 100% better than last week'sl. I had a better mindset going in, and I was really focused. I also rode him in his new bit, a KK ultra, and I think it's really going to work out well. We did some trotting, and he's really starting to accept contact nicely, it feels great. We also started a little bit of shoulder-out at the walk, and he's doing much better than I thought he would. It also really seemed to help him stretch out. I got some great canter work on his left lead, and his right lead is improving. He picks it up correctly every time on the lunge line, so I guess I'm just not asking right. We're getting better though.
I am so happy with the barn...everything is better than I thought it would be, everyone is super friendly, I'm so glad to be getting back into regular lessons, and it's awesome to see the horses more. I can't wait until nice weather where I can ride outside, go trail riding, and start to think about summer shows. It will be great!
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