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 trail ride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trail ride. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Crazy Busy!
Wow, I haven't updated lately, really. I've been so busy, I don't even know where to start! From last Saturday (the 16th) to this past Saturday, I took care of the barn so Mandi could go away. I knew it would be hard work, but I had no idea how much, I guess. I cleaned over 100 stalls last week, crazy! So, by the time I got done with everything, I didn't usually have much motivation to ride. I did ride a few times though.
Molly and I took a trail ride on Monday, and had a really nice time. Found a couple little logs to jump in the woods and had a nice gallop in a field...just what I needed. Luke was a good boy too.
On Thursday, Molly and I set up some jumps. As we were getting ready to tack up, some people drama happened, and I wasn't feeling much like riding. Molly convinced me too, and I ended up having a great ride. Luke jumped everything I pointed him at! We had one run out, cantering a 2'3" vertical...I think he does best if we trot towards it, and I sit and wait, letting him decide if he should canter. He picked up a canter 2 or 3 strides out, and jumped it beautifully...it was the best feeling in the world! Aside from that, we cantered little cross rails, jumped a couple of 2' verticals, and ended with a 2' oxer...it was crazy fun!
All in all, Luke has been a really good boy! I can't wait to get my new saddle at the end of the month, I hope we both like it! We are headed to South Farm on June 7th, hopefully with new saddle in tow, and Luke behaving like a good boy! I think we're just going to do the crossrails in schooling jumpers, and not do a dressage test. He gets so uptight, that we don't usually have good tests. We'll see how it goes...I might be able to sign up there for one. If not, there's always next time. I think this summer will be full of fun stuff!
Molly and I took a trail ride on Monday, and had a really nice time. Found a couple little logs to jump in the woods and had a nice gallop in a field...just what I needed. Luke was a good boy too.
On Thursday, Molly and I set up some jumps. As we were getting ready to tack up, some people drama happened, and I wasn't feeling much like riding. Molly convinced me too, and I ended up having a great ride. Luke jumped everything I pointed him at! We had one run out, cantering a 2'3" vertical...I think he does best if we trot towards it, and I sit and wait, letting him decide if he should canter. He picked up a canter 2 or 3 strides out, and jumped it beautifully...it was the best feeling in the world! Aside from that, we cantered little cross rails, jumped a couple of 2' verticals, and ended with a 2' oxer...it was crazy fun!
All in all, Luke has been a really good boy! I can't wait to get my new saddle at the end of the month, I hope we both like it! We are headed to South Farm on June 7th, hopefully with new saddle in tow, and Luke behaving like a good boy! I think we're just going to do the crossrails in schooling jumpers, and not do a dressage test. He gets so uptight, that we don't usually have good tests. We'll see how it goes...I might be able to sign up there for one. If not, there's always next time. I think this summer will be full of fun stuff!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Updates!
Oh man...I have so much stuff, I don't even know where to start. So it'll probably be a long, boring entry!
Let's see...last Sunday we went on a trail ride, which is becoming a weekly Sunday occurence. I was supposed to be the responsible adult and say that we should stay inside because it was gonna rain on and off all day, but when Molly said "Look Kim! No clouds!", I couldn't resist...so across the street we went. We meandered over to the trails, and about twenty minutes in, the skies opened up. Sprinkles at first, but it didn't take long before it was flat out pouring. So off we went back home at a good clip. Both the boys were excited to get back to the barn, and were looking at us like "My human is an idiot". So we threw coolers on them, put them in their stalls, ran to Speedway for hot chocolate, and then turned the heat in the lounge way up until we were [mostly] dry. Man it was fun doing chores in wet jeans...not!
Then Monday, he got his teeth done. I feel awful. I knew that they needed done, but they were reallly bad...he actually had cuts on both sides of his mouth. :( Poor baby! So he got a couple days off, and then back to work we went, with much improvement. I had a lesson this past week, and he was wonderful. Lots of trotting and cantering on the bit, and he gave me correct leads, and *sort of* had collected transitions. Progress takes time, I keep telling myself. I should probably not let him gallop around so much on trails...he tends to forget what a slow canter is, and gets heavy on the forehand.
On Friday, I rode for a while before I did chores. Molly and I put up a little crossrail, which we flipped to a vertical later. Luke has figured out that the PVC poles don't really hurt, and that he doesn't have to put forth any effort on little fences. So he halfheartedly trotted/hopped over them, taking them down with us several times. Next time I'm breaking out the wood poles, and leaving his splint boots off, I think. He is actually a really cute jumper when we canter to the jumps, or when they are wood poles. Otherwise, he thinks it isn't worth his time. Molly and I traded and I got to ride Atticus for a little bit...I hope Luke grows up to be like him! He's so even and doesn't speed up like Luke does.
On Saturday, Jodi's old mom came out to visit. It was super fun for her to see him, and it made me feel really good that she kept saying how good he looked. We gave her son a pony ride, and then took a bunch of pictures. I had to do a double take when I logged onto facebook and saw Jodi as her profile picture. He's famous! :) He's such a good soul...even when he's a jerk about stuff. But he'll be 25 on the 30th, so basically, he gets to do whatever he wants :)
Yesterday, we rode in the outdoor, and had fun. Both of the boys were WOUND though...maybe it was the weather? They both pretended that they didn't know how to canter on the correct lead, and were both pulling so hard that it was next to impossible to sit down and canter. I finally gave up, gave him his head, and let him blow off some steam. Once we got that out of the way, it was a good time. I'm so glad I'm riding more, and seeing the boys more.
I was told last night that I need to get some new pictures of Luke, so I'll try to do that in the next week. I took a cute picture on my phone last night of Luke with his head over the stall door, standing by his new stall sign. I'll try to upload it.
Whew! That was loooong!
Let's see...last Sunday we went on a trail ride, which is becoming a weekly Sunday occurence. I was supposed to be the responsible adult and say that we should stay inside because it was gonna rain on and off all day, but when Molly said "Look Kim! No clouds!", I couldn't resist...so across the street we went. We meandered over to the trails, and about twenty minutes in, the skies opened up. Sprinkles at first, but it didn't take long before it was flat out pouring. So off we went back home at a good clip. Both the boys were excited to get back to the barn, and were looking at us like "My human is an idiot". So we threw coolers on them, put them in their stalls, ran to Speedway for hot chocolate, and then turned the heat in the lounge way up until we were [mostly] dry. Man it was fun doing chores in wet jeans...not!
Then Monday, he got his teeth done. I feel awful. I knew that they needed done, but they were reallly bad...he actually had cuts on both sides of his mouth. :( Poor baby! So he got a couple days off, and then back to work we went, with much improvement. I had a lesson this past week, and he was wonderful. Lots of trotting and cantering on the bit, and he gave me correct leads, and *sort of* had collected transitions. Progress takes time, I keep telling myself. I should probably not let him gallop around so much on trails...he tends to forget what a slow canter is, and gets heavy on the forehand.
On Friday, I rode for a while before I did chores. Molly and I put up a little crossrail, which we flipped to a vertical later. Luke has figured out that the PVC poles don't really hurt, and that he doesn't have to put forth any effort on little fences. So he halfheartedly trotted/hopped over them, taking them down with us several times. Next time I'm breaking out the wood poles, and leaving his splint boots off, I think. He is actually a really cute jumper when we canter to the jumps, or when they are wood poles. Otherwise, he thinks it isn't worth his time. Molly and I traded and I got to ride Atticus for a little bit...I hope Luke grows up to be like him! He's so even and doesn't speed up like Luke does.
On Saturday, Jodi's old mom came out to visit. It was super fun for her to see him, and it made me feel really good that she kept saying how good he looked. We gave her son a pony ride, and then took a bunch of pictures. I had to do a double take when I logged onto facebook and saw Jodi as her profile picture. He's famous! :) He's such a good soul...even when he's a jerk about stuff. But he'll be 25 on the 30th, so basically, he gets to do whatever he wants :)
Yesterday, we rode in the outdoor, and had fun. Both of the boys were WOUND though...maybe it was the weather? They both pretended that they didn't know how to canter on the correct lead, and were both pulling so hard that it was next to impossible to sit down and canter. I finally gave up, gave him his head, and let him blow off some steam. Once we got that out of the way, it was a good time. I'm so glad I'm riding more, and seeing the boys more.
I was told last night that I need to get some new pictures of Luke, so I'll try to do that in the next week. I took a cute picture on my phone last night of Luke with his head over the stall door, standing by his new stall sign. I'll try to upload it.
Whew! That was loooong!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Best Trail Ride!
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!
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!
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