JG posted a Facebook link to her audio lessons with a discount. I was thinking about ordering, so I did. Here’s a capture & review of CD #2’s riding lesson. I rode it first, because while the downloads worked to my MP3 player, it didn’t recognize the IDs stuck on CD#1. Well enough.. Let’s get on with it.
It starts out with about five minutes of safety reminders & disclaimers. Probably the most entertaining remark involved “having the ability to ride your horse.” Okay, if you bought a riding audio lesson, and you’re lunging? Anyways..
The audio moves along to the actual lesson. Good, solid, warm up with a long time at the walk. The walk works through circles and straights, even down the diagonal once. Julie always reminds “Ear, shoulder, hip & heel”. Here, I made one neat discovery – I can feel Ransom’s inside back muscles lift in the walk. That was cool!
Progress to the rising trot. Julie wastes no time with circles and direction changes. There’s about three to four circles each way. But don’t get comfortable at the rising trot, because after nearly one trip around my arena, the audio calls for a sitting trot. Here is where I will get my “workout” in the lesson. I was listening to the audio for direction changes and body position reminders, but I also was pushing for a nice forward sitting trot in the background.
She then allows the horse to take a walk break. Here, I got a little disappointed. She introduces that “the canter is coming” in almost a dreadful voice, like it’s the “Big bad monster Canter! Oh No!” Goodness! For the disclaimers at the beginning “You must be able to ride at the walk, trot, and canter to continue in this audio lesson”, why make the canter sound so daunting? She even consoles riders afraid to canter that “you can continue this part of the lesson at the trot if you don’t want to canter.” Um, duh.
The canter part of the audio? Short! I got about a dozen strides of canter out of Ransom, followed by one canter circle, then back to trot. A few transitions in and out of canter from trot, but those come with about 6 strides. Change direction, repeat.
And the lesson ends about there. Bring the horse back to a walk, pat him, pat yourself, good ride!
It’s short… And I expected short, but I expected more intensity than I’ve been riding. I usually spend more time at canter, and less at trot. If the trot carries well, I push to canter. Shoot, if the trot feels lethargic, I push to canter, which usually picks the trot up nicely. I hoped for a more intense ride.
On the upside, this will serve as a great “refresher” ride, and will give Ransom and me a focused ride of low impact.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
5/18/10 Polar Opposites OR What You Can Do in the Puddles
I’m torn between the two titles for the entry from last night. I got home after work, changed shoes only, to some nice rubber boots, and sploshed through the puddles back to Ransom.
He’s terrific. Never before has a horse walked up to me from across the pasture and dropped his head into a halter as often as he does. With the days he’s had off due to puddly stormy weather, he walked with great eagerness to me, and dropped his head straightaway into his halter. Love that!
I saddled him up western, in his twisted wire bit. Snapped on my helmet, tightened the girth, and got to walking. Since my side yard is nearly underwater all over, I walked him through it, testing a few things. What kind of mood was he in, and, if faced with a puddle across the road, would he go through it. Well, his belly got splashed with water he was so eager through the puddles.
Down the road we went. I walked away from the mailboxes first, eager to see just how far my courage would take us. He almost broke to trot, but was settled with a few half halts. I love that about him – he never tried to turn back to home, never weaved around the road, but settled in just on the edge of the gravel, and tromped happily. We didn’t see any deer, but encountered a few bunny rabbits and a few territorial dogs. One would yap her little head off when his toes hit her grass, but if he got his toes back on the gravel road, she’d hush. Funny! We walked five driveways down, which I believe left only one more at the dead end. We made it all the way to the last pond on the right, halted, and turned back to home.
Ransom slowed to a crawl. He poked tail the whole way back to the house. I realized it hadn’t been but a 15minute ride at this point, and it didn’t seem fair to quit just yet. Back up the road, towards the mailboxes. And again, how far would my courage take us? Would I see the neighbor’s goats splashing in his hideous pasture, and chicken out for home? Or would the incoming traffic send us trotting back to the trailer?
We made it! All the way to the road’s end, made a 180 turn, and headed for home. No goats to fear, just one silly car-chasing terrier cross that thought she could conquer Ransom, until he started walking towards her. Ransom pinned his ears at her, dropped his head, and I *swear* he was trying to cut her like a cow! It was hysterical. That dog was running from him, barking all the while, and Ransom stayed right along with her. So funny!
As we completed our journey, Ransom carried me safely straight back to the trailer, as if he knew he’d gone as far as he was going to, the adventure had come to a close. He let out a huge heavy sigh on the way back as we crossed into my property, as if satisfied with himself. My horse isn’t eager to get back to the barn, he’s eager to get going away from home. The polar opposite of a “barn sour” horse. How fabulous!
He’s terrific. Never before has a horse walked up to me from across the pasture and dropped his head into a halter as often as he does. With the days he’s had off due to puddly stormy weather, he walked with great eagerness to me, and dropped his head straightaway into his halter. Love that!
I saddled him up western, in his twisted wire bit. Snapped on my helmet, tightened the girth, and got to walking. Since my side yard is nearly underwater all over, I walked him through it, testing a few things. What kind of mood was he in, and, if faced with a puddle across the road, would he go through it. Well, his belly got splashed with water he was so eager through the puddles.
Down the road we went. I walked away from the mailboxes first, eager to see just how far my courage would take us. He almost broke to trot, but was settled with a few half halts. I love that about him – he never tried to turn back to home, never weaved around the road, but settled in just on the edge of the gravel, and tromped happily. We didn’t see any deer, but encountered a few bunny rabbits and a few territorial dogs. One would yap her little head off when his toes hit her grass, but if he got his toes back on the gravel road, she’d hush. Funny! We walked five driveways down, which I believe left only one more at the dead end. We made it all the way to the last pond on the right, halted, and turned back to home.
Ransom slowed to a crawl. He poked tail the whole way back to the house. I realized it hadn’t been but a 15minute ride at this point, and it didn’t seem fair to quit just yet. Back up the road, towards the mailboxes. And again, how far would my courage take us? Would I see the neighbor’s goats splashing in his hideous pasture, and chicken out for home? Or would the incoming traffic send us trotting back to the trailer?
We made it! All the way to the road’s end, made a 180 turn, and headed for home. No goats to fear, just one silly car-chasing terrier cross that thought she could conquer Ransom, until he started walking towards her. Ransom pinned his ears at her, dropped his head, and I *swear* he was trying to cut her like a cow! It was hysterical. That dog was running from him, barking all the while, and Ransom stayed right along with her. So funny!
As we completed our journey, Ransom carried me safely straight back to the trailer, as if he knew he’d gone as far as he was going to, the adventure had come to a close. He let out a huge heavy sigh on the way back as we crossed into my property, as if satisfied with himself. My horse isn’t eager to get back to the barn, he’s eager to get going away from home. The polar opposite of a “barn sour” horse. How fabulous!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
5/14/10 – 5/17/10 Weather Related Delays
Ransom’s all good to go back to full work.
Romeo’s wondering why he’s standing around with shoes on.
And I’m pouting.
Okay, not really, but I had to find other things to do sans ponies this weekend. It rained Friday afternoon pretty hard, Saturday morning it poured, and Sunday was too muddy & puddly for anything but feeding. Monday, I got home from work with high intentions on riding, and was rewarded with a storm just far enough away it wasn’t pouring at home, but just close enough I knew if I got out a horse or saddle it would rain.
Friday, R & I travelled to Houston for a “His & Her” shopping trip. We visited a few gun stores, guitar shop, and the saddle shop. We enjoyed lunch at our favorite stop, George’s on Dairy Ashford. Yum-O! Love the food there bunches! Hit the massive evening thunderstorm on the drive home – thank heavens for back roads outta Houston proper. Otherwise, I can’t imagine what that trip would’ve been like. Heavy rain, thunder, lightening, wind, and traffic? Nah, not so much.
Saturday brought more early morning rain, housework, laundry, errand running in town. We went to the gun range in the afternoon to blow off a little steam, and had a blast! Literally and figuratively. I’m getting better with each trip, my comfort level is up enough I don’t feel like I need watching with every trigger pull, so that’s good. My general position & accuracy are improving as well. One of these trips, I’m getting a target all my own, I’m going to blow a few dozen holes in it, and hang it on my office wall, I swear…
It was a muddy puddly mess at the house this morning, but determined to get a fix, I think I’ll hop on somebody bareback tonight and walk around the muddy puddly pasture a bit. It’s necessary to maintain my general sanity, at least keep it at its normal level.
Romeo’s wondering why he’s standing around with shoes on.
And I’m pouting.
Okay, not really, but I had to find other things to do sans ponies this weekend. It rained Friday afternoon pretty hard, Saturday morning it poured, and Sunday was too muddy & puddly for anything but feeding. Monday, I got home from work with high intentions on riding, and was rewarded with a storm just far enough away it wasn’t pouring at home, but just close enough I knew if I got out a horse or saddle it would rain.
Friday, R & I travelled to Houston for a “His & Her” shopping trip. We visited a few gun stores, guitar shop, and the saddle shop. We enjoyed lunch at our favorite stop, George’s on Dairy Ashford. Yum-O! Love the food there bunches! Hit the massive evening thunderstorm on the drive home – thank heavens for back roads outta Houston proper. Otherwise, I can’t imagine what that trip would’ve been like. Heavy rain, thunder, lightening, wind, and traffic? Nah, not so much.
Saturday brought more early morning rain, housework, laundry, errand running in town. We went to the gun range in the afternoon to blow off a little steam, and had a blast! Literally and figuratively. I’m getting better with each trip, my comfort level is up enough I don’t feel like I need watching with every trigger pull, so that’s good. My general position & accuracy are improving as well. One of these trips, I’m getting a target all my own, I’m going to blow a few dozen holes in it, and hang it on my office wall, I swear…
It was a muddy puddly mess at the house this morning, but determined to get a fix, I think I’ll hop on somebody bareback tonight and walk around the muddy puddly pasture a bit. It’s necessary to maintain my general sanity, at least keep it at its normal level.
Friday, May 14, 2010
5/13/10
I finally found a way to make Ransom eat – stall lockup. For about three meals straight, I locked him up in his stall for a few hours, with water & grain. No hay, no attention. He got the hint – if he wants freedom, he’ll eat. J Works like a charm.
Thursday after work, the wind was howling my name. Howling “boo look at me.” I bucked up my courage, and got in the tack.
Ransom was delightful. We rode all three gaits, both directions, and even looked at the cows a few times. Yes, cows. They were grazing in the pasture next to us, and a few even laid down for a rest. Right where they usually are that spooks him. He didn’t flinch. That was absolutely delightful.
Knowing that dressage is getting boring & repetitive for both of us, I asked for some leg yields at walk. Sweet, and pretty. Stepping it up, I asked for leg yielding at trot. Heading to the right (left leg pressure), he was gawgeous! Heading left, a little stickie, but it got better the longer we did it.
I rode for about 40 minutes before admitting that weather had more wind and sprinkles than I had courage. We did have fun, though.
Thursday after work, the wind was howling my name. Howling “boo look at me.” I bucked up my courage, and got in the tack.
Ransom was delightful. We rode all three gaits, both directions, and even looked at the cows a few times. Yes, cows. They were grazing in the pasture next to us, and a few even laid down for a rest. Right where they usually are that spooks him. He didn’t flinch. That was absolutely delightful.
Knowing that dressage is getting boring & repetitive for both of us, I asked for some leg yields at walk. Sweet, and pretty. Stepping it up, I asked for leg yielding at trot. Heading to the right (left leg pressure), he was gawgeous! Heading left, a little stickie, but it got better the longer we did it.
I rode for about 40 minutes before admitting that weather had more wind and sprinkles than I had courage. We did have fun, though.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
5/11/10 Rider Error
I grabbed Ransom after work. We were going to play dressage. Focus on bending, forward, and straight lines off the rail. I always feel like my lines are wobbly, and learned from the last BRM lesson to look up & over, and don’t look anywhere else.
I had one hekuva time keeping my feet in the irons. I quickly did some dog&frog stretches, and discovered my upper legs were ridiculously stiff. With them stretched out, I was so hopeful I could ride better.
I was better without my stirrups than with them. I was mostly having trouble keeping them in the transitions. Frustrating for sure, to feel like I’ve made such great progress, and then have a stickie day that my stirrups keep jumping off my feet. Of course, I could cheat, buy those magnetic stirrups – then my legs and feets could look like poo and I’d never lose my irons. That’s cheating! *giggle*
Total ride, nearly 50 minutes. I was singing along with my MP3 player. I’ve also committed in my mind to snag longer rides, by focusing on music, riding with the songs, taking walk breaks through a music interlude, or through a chorus, transitioning in verses or choruses. I’m not so much riding with the music tempo as I am riding gaits through the pieces of the music. Makes it variable, and helps me concentrate on keeping the ride going. Getting in that habit of the “20 minute power ride” again.
Wednesday brought a break to both boys. Saturday’s trail ride is looking worse and worse, with horrid weather on the way. Tonight, Ransom is up. I will start out in the arena, concentrating on longer legs and steady heels. We’ll cool it down with a walk out the road. It’s horrendously windy today, so I expect him to be a little jumpy.
Also been fighting with him about grain. He’s been refusing 75% of his grain for about 4 meals’ worth now. I’ve given him two doses of ProBios hoping that will help. This morning, as I left for work, I opened a brand new feed sack just for him, thinking maybe it was just a bag he didn’t approve of. Hoping to see more gone tonight. He’s diving into grass, and tearing up every bit of hay I give him, so it’s a minor upset tummy, or general frustration about his irregular work schedule. Hold tight, buddy. This weather windy madness eases up a bit, we’re right back to solid work. I promise in a day or four, I’ll get those rail razors back out, and we’ll get back to Momma’s airplane arms in the saddle.. I promise
I had one hekuva time keeping my feet in the irons. I quickly did some dog&frog stretches, and discovered my upper legs were ridiculously stiff. With them stretched out, I was so hopeful I could ride better.
I was better without my stirrups than with them. I was mostly having trouble keeping them in the transitions. Frustrating for sure, to feel like I’ve made such great progress, and then have a stickie day that my stirrups keep jumping off my feet. Of course, I could cheat, buy those magnetic stirrups – then my legs and feets could look like poo and I’d never lose my irons. That’s cheating! *giggle*
Total ride, nearly 50 minutes. I was singing along with my MP3 player. I’ve also committed in my mind to snag longer rides, by focusing on music, riding with the songs, taking walk breaks through a music interlude, or through a chorus, transitioning in verses or choruses. I’m not so much riding with the music tempo as I am riding gaits through the pieces of the music. Makes it variable, and helps me concentrate on keeping the ride going. Getting in that habit of the “20 minute power ride” again.
Wednesday brought a break to both boys. Saturday’s trail ride is looking worse and worse, with horrid weather on the way. Tonight, Ransom is up. I will start out in the arena, concentrating on longer legs and steady heels. We’ll cool it down with a walk out the road. It’s horrendously windy today, so I expect him to be a little jumpy.
Also been fighting with him about grain. He’s been refusing 75% of his grain for about 4 meals’ worth now. I’ve given him two doses of ProBios hoping that will help. This morning, as I left for work, I opened a brand new feed sack just for him, thinking maybe it was just a bag he didn’t approve of. Hoping to see more gone tonight. He’s diving into grass, and tearing up every bit of hay I give him, so it’s a minor upset tummy, or general frustration about his irregular work schedule. Hold tight, buddy. This weather windy madness eases up a bit, we’re right back to solid work. I promise in a day or four, I’ll get those rail razors back out, and we’ll get back to Momma’s airplane arms in the saddle.. I promise
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
5/10/10 Romeo Exploring
With the trail ride coming this weekend, I had to start exploring away from home again. Ransom was none to happy with this decision, working himself up a sweat running fence line looking for us, but it needed doing.
Romeo and I went farther down the road away from home and found some cut down power line grass paths. I think they are power line clears, and doubling as little 4wheeler trails for some neighbor kids. I went a little ways off the road down the paths, then chickened out & turned back for home. Didn’t want the neighbors who own the property fussing and/or shooting at me, and sure didn’t want to match up with a 4wheeler & frighten Romeo. Maybe the next time those neighbors drive real slowly by my house snooping I’ll take advantage & ask permission to be out there.
We came back towards home, then went towards the mailboxes. I got distracted by a phone call and, knowing the last house by the boxes had their goats out, I was in no way going to tackle Romeo, goats, barking dogs, traffic, paved road, and my phone call all at once. I turned just before the goat pasture, and headed for home.
On the way back, a lady in a strange car slowed down as she approached me, so I turned towards her, and dropped the reins. Romeo took advantage and dropped his head to grab a bite of grass, and the reins flung forward. I managed to grab them right before they were over his ears. Giggling, I looked up, to see the UnID lady looking at me sadly, shaking her head “no no”, and drove on by.
Later, same UnID lady stops on the dirt road right in front of my house, then pulls up in front of the house, and proceeds to get out of her vehicle. I got a bit nervous, but knew I had Mo, and could easily hop on bareback & make it chase for her – house was locked, truck was locked, so not much to gain there.
UnID lady speaks – “Hi, I’m ___. I work with the Census Bureau, is this ###?”
“Ooops, nope. That’s WAY down the road, sorry. I filled all my paperwork out quite a while ago.” She then let me know “it was hard to know for sure, since I didn’t put #s on my house.” I ignored her remarks, and told her to have a nice day.
Total ride time, about 35 minutes. Too short, but light easy work. I expect tonight, I’ll turn the pressure up & work it good on Ransom. I owe him a light-day goofing off, but I also feel a bareback ride coming in the not too distant future. Mrs. Mom inspires me…
Romeo and I went farther down the road away from home and found some cut down power line grass paths. I think they are power line clears, and doubling as little 4wheeler trails for some neighbor kids. I went a little ways off the road down the paths, then chickened out & turned back for home. Didn’t want the neighbors who own the property fussing and/or shooting at me, and sure didn’t want to match up with a 4wheeler & frighten Romeo. Maybe the next time those neighbors drive real slowly by my house snooping I’ll take advantage & ask permission to be out there.
We came back towards home, then went towards the mailboxes. I got distracted by a phone call and, knowing the last house by the boxes had their goats out, I was in no way going to tackle Romeo, goats, barking dogs, traffic, paved road, and my phone call all at once. I turned just before the goat pasture, and headed for home.
On the way back, a lady in a strange car slowed down as she approached me, so I turned towards her, and dropped the reins. Romeo took advantage and dropped his head to grab a bite of grass, and the reins flung forward. I managed to grab them right before they were over his ears. Giggling, I looked up, to see the UnID lady looking at me sadly, shaking her head “no no”, and drove on by.
Later, same UnID lady stops on the dirt road right in front of my house, then pulls up in front of the house, and proceeds to get out of her vehicle. I got a bit nervous, but knew I had Mo, and could easily hop on bareback & make it chase for her – house was locked, truck was locked, so not much to gain there.
UnID lady speaks – “Hi, I’m ___. I work with the Census Bureau, is this ###?”
“Ooops, nope. That’s WAY down the road, sorry. I filled all my paperwork out quite a while ago.” She then let me know “it was hard to know for sure, since I didn’t put #s on my house.” I ignored her remarks, and told her to have a nice day.
Total ride time, about 35 minutes. Too short, but light easy work. I expect tonight, I’ll turn the pressure up & work it good on Ransom. I owe him a light-day goofing off, but I also feel a bareback ride coming in the not too distant future. Mrs. Mom inspires me…
Monday, May 10, 2010
5-9-10 Test Drive Ransom
Anticipation builds! I was so anxious to get back on my big SuperStar, see how he moved, see how he felt, and flat out just get back to bonding with Ransom!
I groomed, I wrapped legs, I felt hocks (cool and even), I cleaned feet (released a few small rocks, one from the middle of his frog, ouch!). I noticed during grooming, he was more willing to lift his back feet for cleaning. He didn’t lift them in protest with a fuss or swishing tail, he just lifted them agreeably. Nice improvement!
I lounged him, and I watched. He seemed pretty calm, relaxed, but moving somewhere. I won’t say forward & collected, but he wasn’t chasing running but certainly getting around the circle. His canters were really pretty, they looked very fluid.
After about 12 minutes, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get on & try. I started him right out at a walk, flexing his head & neck in from the rail, and out to the rail, both directions. I didn’t spend any time goofing off loose rein. He was very soft, and gave very little resistance to my requests.
The trot, was, well, felt spectacular. It felt, softer, easier to sit, and easier to post without EVER once having to add leg pressure. I got to use inside leg to bend him around me, but I never had to squeeze him up to keep him at trot. Not once.
Easy squeezes & a thought, and we were up in a gentle canter. This is probably the first ride *ever* on Ransom that I wasn’t out of the saddle, even once, at canter. Both directions, even when he lost collection and lost bend on the circle, I felt connected to my saddle.
I kept it around 45 minutes, not wanting to over-do his first work back on his new hocks. It did feel quite different, and I’m anxious to keep after it.
I groomed, I wrapped legs, I felt hocks (cool and even), I cleaned feet (released a few small rocks, one from the middle of his frog, ouch!). I noticed during grooming, he was more willing to lift his back feet for cleaning. He didn’t lift them in protest with a fuss or swishing tail, he just lifted them agreeably. Nice improvement!
I lounged him, and I watched. He seemed pretty calm, relaxed, but moving somewhere. I won’t say forward & collected, but he wasn’t chasing running but certainly getting around the circle. His canters were really pretty, they looked very fluid.
After about 12 minutes, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get on & try. I started him right out at a walk, flexing his head & neck in from the rail, and out to the rail, both directions. I didn’t spend any time goofing off loose rein. He was very soft, and gave very little resistance to my requests.
The trot, was, well, felt spectacular. It felt, softer, easier to sit, and easier to post without EVER once having to add leg pressure. I got to use inside leg to bend him around me, but I never had to squeeze him up to keep him at trot. Not once.
Easy squeezes & a thought, and we were up in a gentle canter. This is probably the first ride *ever* on Ransom that I wasn’t out of the saddle, even once, at canter. Both directions, even when he lost collection and lost bend on the circle, I felt connected to my saddle.
I kept it around 45 minutes, not wanting to over-do his first work back on his new hocks. It did feel quite different, and I’m anxious to keep after it.
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