I haven't been updating, because I haven't really been riding much. I need to kick myself into gear though...I probably won't be competing Luke until September, but still.
I'm moving the boys next month...I'm really sad to leave where I'm at now...I love everyone there so much, and I'm going to miss a lot of things, but I found a place right by my house that's super cheap. I love feeding the horses, but with school starting soon, I won't be able to do it, and I can't afford to stay there without feeding. This new place is nothing spectacular, but they have nice pastures, nice stalls, a (small) outdoor, and I'm allowed to ride in the pastures. It's close enough to home that I can run out and do blanket changes and stuff, so that should work out.
Molly rode Luke on Saturday, and said that he got his leads right away. Maybe it's just me that can't get them. I need to work on them. He needs his feet done soon though. She said she jumped him, and he was okay going up to them, but he wanted to run away after them. So she worked on slowing him down, and it sounded like she was successful. I'm making my dad build me some standards so I can still jump at the new place. I need to get back into riding shape first though!
I might get to go to Bath Pony Club's mini trial on August 23rd...if not, South Farm on September 13th! :)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Updates!
Let's see...I got to ride both boys last night, which was awesome.
Jodi...Jodi, Jodi, Jodi :) Melissa and I had to go to the back pasture to get Jodi and Luke in, and being lazy, I thought it would be a good idea to hope on Jodi and let him carry me back to the barn. Probably wouldn't have been a bad idea if I'd bothered to tie the lead rope to the other side of his halter to make reins. He got confused when I asked him to turn, and somehow I slid off even though he wasn't really moving. Fall one. So I had Melissa boost me back up..but she was laughing, and somehow she threw me up even though Jodi was walking away. Fall two...I hit the ground in the same position, almost the same spot. Jodi just stood there. Third time was a charm though, and we safely made it back to the barn...it was a piece of cake once I had "reins". So I'm sore today even though I thought I wouldn't be.
I think his supplement is starting to work already. He was full of energy yesterday, and didn't seem nearly as stiff. I actually got to canter him undersaddle! It was the most cantering he's done in years, and it was all I could do to make him stop to cool out. He was charging around like a wild man.
Luke was pretty hyped up too. He wasn't bad, but he made it clear that he wanted to go. We did lots of walk and trot, and I could tell he was starting to anticipate the canter, so I made him do trot/walk transitions for a while. When I finally asked him to canter, I asked for the right lead, which he gave me, but he LAUNCHED into it. Once I got over the initial shock (and laughter), I let him hand gallop for a little bit and made him canter nicely. Second time, he picked up the wrong lead, but when I stopped and asked again, he got it right. Still wanted to go go go though. I switched to the left, and he gave me the wrong lead, did a flying change, and then did another change back onto the wrong lead. So I regrouped and asked again and he gave it to me. I think he's starting to get more balanced, because he's been better about leads lately. After I was done, Molly hopped on him and rode for a while. He definitely had lots of energy left. He was spooking at stupid stuff, but she just laughed about it. He got his leads for her, and she cantered him for a good long time.
It was so cool to see someone else ride him...he looked amazing. He's starting to accept contact more. Now instead of getting offended and tossing his head around, he'll settle down and reach into it. I don't think I need spurs anymore either. He was moving off of my leg pretty well yesterday. I think the grass and the alfalfa hay are giving him loads of energy. He's starting to pick weight up though, and he's looking nice. Except for the sun bleached look, but that's okay.
It was an awesome horsey day yesterday...so good to see Jodi acting young again!
Jodi...Jodi, Jodi, Jodi :) Melissa and I had to go to the back pasture to get Jodi and Luke in, and being lazy, I thought it would be a good idea to hope on Jodi and let him carry me back to the barn. Probably wouldn't have been a bad idea if I'd bothered to tie the lead rope to the other side of his halter to make reins. He got confused when I asked him to turn, and somehow I slid off even though he wasn't really moving. Fall one. So I had Melissa boost me back up..but she was laughing, and somehow she threw me up even though Jodi was walking away. Fall two...I hit the ground in the same position, almost the same spot. Jodi just stood there. Third time was a charm though, and we safely made it back to the barn...it was a piece of cake once I had "reins". So I'm sore today even though I thought I wouldn't be.
I think his supplement is starting to work already. He was full of energy yesterday, and didn't seem nearly as stiff. I actually got to canter him undersaddle! It was the most cantering he's done in years, and it was all I could do to make him stop to cool out. He was charging around like a wild man.
Luke was pretty hyped up too. He wasn't bad, but he made it clear that he wanted to go. We did lots of walk and trot, and I could tell he was starting to anticipate the canter, so I made him do trot/walk transitions for a while. When I finally asked him to canter, I asked for the right lead, which he gave me, but he LAUNCHED into it. Once I got over the initial shock (and laughter), I let him hand gallop for a little bit and made him canter nicely. Second time, he picked up the wrong lead, but when I stopped and asked again, he got it right. Still wanted to go go go though. I switched to the left, and he gave me the wrong lead, did a flying change, and then did another change back onto the wrong lead. So I regrouped and asked again and he gave it to me. I think he's starting to get more balanced, because he's been better about leads lately. After I was done, Molly hopped on him and rode for a while. He definitely had lots of energy left. He was spooking at stupid stuff, but she just laughed about it. He got his leads for her, and she cantered him for a good long time.
It was so cool to see someone else ride him...he looked amazing. He's starting to accept contact more. Now instead of getting offended and tossing his head around, he'll settle down and reach into it. I don't think I need spurs anymore either. He was moving off of my leg pretty well yesterday. I think the grass and the alfalfa hay are giving him loads of energy. He's starting to pick weight up though, and he's looking nice. Except for the sun bleached look, but that's okay.
It was an awesome horsey day yesterday...so good to see Jodi acting young again!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Nothing new here...
I haven't updated because nothing has been going on. I'm still crazy busy, and super stressed all the time, and feeling like a failure quite often. Let's see...I think Luke's been ridden twice in the last week.
Thursday I lunged him in side reins and then got on him. He was really really good, and picked up the right lead on his first try. Then threw a hissy fit and gave me crap about his left lead. Seriously? But we finally got it, and then Jen got on and rode him around a little.
Yesterday, Molly rode him. She said he was really good and picked up his leads, and then she took him on a trail ride. So I'm sure he had fun. He loves her, and she loves him, so it's perfect.
I have a lesson tonight, hopefully he'll be a good boy. I'm going to lunge him in side reins first...it gets him in the right mindset to work. I'll update after my lesson if there's anything worth reporting.
Thursday I lunged him in side reins and then got on him. He was really really good, and picked up the right lead on his first try. Then threw a hissy fit and gave me crap about his left lead. Seriously? But we finally got it, and then Jen got on and rode him around a little.
Yesterday, Molly rode him. She said he was really good and picked up his leads, and then she took him on a trail ride. So I'm sure he had fun. He loves her, and she loves him, so it's perfect.
I have a lesson tonight, hopefully he'll be a good boy. I'm going to lunge him in side reins first...it gets him in the right mindset to work. I'll update after my lesson if there's anything worth reporting.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Ay yi yi
Can there please be more hours in the day? I don't have time to do anything that I want to do. I feel like I'm slacking in all areas of my life - friends feel like I'm ditching them constantly, but it's not like I'm doing it to go ride, because ponees are feeling neglected too. Luke was a jerk on the ground last week, and he's always perfect.
Anyway, I'm not sure if anyone reads this even, but it's good for me to keep track of my progress. I have GOT to start riding him more. I do better during the school year when I don't have to work 40 hours a week.
Molly is gonna start riding him once a week for me, which is super exciting. So hopefully I'll be able to ride him at least three times a week and lunge him once. That would be 5 days. I gotta get moving though....Grand River is in less than a month. Yikes!
So my goal for schedules for next week will be:
Monday: Molly ride Luke.
Tuesday: My turn! Hopefully work on flatwork and a little bit of jumping if he's doing well.
Wednesday: Lunge in Side Reins
Thursday: Day off for Luke
Friday: Outside riding - flat work and jumping
Saturday: More dressage
Sunday: Day off
So hopefully we'll finally start getting somewhere. We're doing very green at Grand River. *sigh*...it would be Baby Beginner Novice if I could just get that right lead. Oh well...one step at a time!
Anyway, I'm not sure if anyone reads this even, but it's good for me to keep track of my progress. I have GOT to start riding him more. I do better during the school year when I don't have to work 40 hours a week.
Molly is gonna start riding him once a week for me, which is super exciting. So hopefully I'll be able to ride him at least three times a week and lunge him once. That would be 5 days. I gotta get moving though....Grand River is in less than a month. Yikes!
So my goal for schedules for next week will be:
Monday: Molly ride Luke.
Tuesday: My turn! Hopefully work on flatwork and a little bit of jumping if he's doing well.
Wednesday: Lunge in Side Reins
Thursday: Day off for Luke
Friday: Outside riding - flat work and jumping
Saturday: More dressage
Sunday: Day off
So hopefully we'll finally start getting somewhere. We're doing very green at Grand River. *sigh*...it would be Baby Beginner Novice if I could just get that right lead. Oh well...one step at a time!
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