Thursday, December 13, 2012

12-9-12 AHHf Pictures



All photos courtesy of Sherry Bowman, All Heart Horse Farm

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

12-9-12 AhhF Training 1

12-9-12 All Heart Horse Farm
Diane Rochau, Judge
Score 61.250%

1 A Enter working trot
X Halt, Salute Proceed working trot
6.5 awkward halt.  Unbalanced but very immobile

2 C Track left
E Circle left 20m
6.5 needs better bend and suppleness.  Stiff in shoulders, neck and poll, circle good shape

3 A Circle left 20m, developing left lead canter second half of circle
AFB Working canter
5.0 running through bridle. Reluctant to canter. Came late

4 B-E Half circle left 20m
6.0 lays on left side, needs bend and suppleness
5 Between E & K Working trot
6.0 cruised through transition but maintained steady rhythm

6 A Circle left 20m rising trot, allowing the horse to stretch forward and downward
Before A, shorten the reins
A Working trot
6.0 inconsistent but occasionally head lowers but needs to go much lower than withers.  Good last few steps

7 Between A & F Medium walk
6.0 needs activity

8 FXH Free walk
H-C Medium walk
6.5 could cover more ground, good top line stretch, quietly back to medium

9 C Working trot
6.5 lacks bend and suppleness throughout. Very steady in trot

10 B Circle right 20m
6.5 1st half a little large but some nice moments through back in 2nd half

11 A Circle right 20m, developing right lead canter second half of circle
AKE Working canter
6.5 awkward transition. Needs to be more supple and through more. Better canter this way.

12 E-B Half circle right 20m
6.5 lacks bend and suppleness
13 Between B & F Working trot
6.0 chooked in transition and on rail, especially after F

Chooked?  HUH?

14 A Down centerline
X Halt, Salute
5.5 fairly straight centerline, but rider drifting left, especially in halt. Horse losing balance but was still

COLLECTIVE MARKS:
GAITS (freedom and regularity)
6.0
IMPULSION (desire to move forward, elasticity of the steps, suppleness of the back, engagement of the hindquarters)
6.0
SUBMISSION (attention and confidence, lightness and ease of movements, acceptance of the bridle, lightness of the forehand)
6.0
RIDER'S position and seat
6.0
RIDER'S correct and effective use of the aids
6.0
HARMONY between rider and horse
6.0

Very attractive horse.  Good rapport with him.  Really nice when he settled into his job and relaxed.  Good luck.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Fall Mo Update

Two months of stall rest.
Two and a half months total injury time.
He's back! :)

Last Thursday, Mo and I went to see Dr. Sam.  We got the ultrasound going, on Mo's newly clipped leg.  (At home, minus the downer drugs.. YAY!)  All clear.  I need to get comparison pictures.  A little of the skin infection remains and is healing up nicely.  Otherwise, there's no swelling visible, and the lesion wasn't detectable on the ultrasound.  Dr. Sam compared old to new images, and cleared him to restart activity.

Mo and Harley switched side in the stalls, giving Harley Mo's grassy pasture, and Mo has H's paddock as his new, larger "home".  Since Dr. Sam cleared Mo for light hand walking "15-30 minutes a day, for at least a week before progressing to riding the walk", I got creative.

Day 1, Friday,  I saddled Harley up endurance, polo wrapped Mo and Harley's front legs, gave them both a stern talking to.  Headed to the arena.

I ponied Mo from Harley.  I was scared, I won't lie.  Amazing Harley didn't jump out from under me, my legs were both shaking like mad those first few minutes.  Harley isn't 100% confident all on his own, and knowing Mo could very well be fresh from his long vacation, when I got on Harley, I was terrified.  Mo walked up behind Harley, and must've touched him on the behind.  Harley spun around, faced Mo, pinning his ears.  I forced Harley to move Mo's feet around a while, and then the two settled.

Twenty minutes, wandering around the arena.  Direction changes, circles, lots of lines, all avoiding tight places and ground poles.  I was delighted.  Harley has NOT been a pony-horse before, and he's no perfect neck reining critter, either.  Yet, once he understood his new job as "leader", he took it on proudly. 
Both horses were rewarded with good pats, and lots of treats at the end of our walk.  I plan on doing this more in the coming weeks, probably once a week until Mo is cleared to ride the walk again.