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!
Showing posts with label the clip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the clip. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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 :) :) :)
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 :) :) :)
Monday, October 19, 2009
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!
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!
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