How I Spent my Summer Vacation - The Rest

I rode
and rode some more
Then I went to Dover in Dallas
Then it rained
and it rained some more

I made it nearly the whole way to the mailbox with Harley.  We met up with some neighbor's goofy game horses.  Yeah, they're gamey-alright.  Sigh  Makes the dressage ponies look so quiet ... Anyways, they ripped around their fenceline, head-tossing and goofin', to which Harley let out a huge heavy sigh.  Gawd you goofies.  Calm Down, Will Ya?! Haven't ya ever seen a purdy dressagie horse?  At least dat's what Momma calls me.  purdy.. blech!  Ima boy, n boyz ain't purdy!  I's hansome.. or somfin' like dat.

Then, we met the neighbor's cows.  And his bull.  And his donkeys.  Little bitty donkeys, too.  *giggle*  I hopped off and hand walked him closer to the mailboxes, then we turned around, and as soon as I was back at the walk towards home.

HEEEEEEEEhaaaaaaawww... eep eep eep HeeeeeHAWWWW..
Harley didn't even flick an ear.  I laughed SO HARD I had to concentrate on my balance. 

Mo did some walking around.  We made it a bit farther away from the mailboxes, this time both of us not so spooked by the abandoned house that used to be filled with a big familiy and yappy dogs.  When we approached and passed the electric driveway gate, he didn't balk so much.  We got passed the pond, then turned back for home.  Calm back to the house too... Well, right until the fawn in the brush decided to bootscoot it without first identifying herself.  baby deers baby deers  Mo spun away from it, but quickly relaxed without much effort on my part.  I was too busy hanging myself on for dear life.

Harley's Thursday morning, as you already know, was captured on camera with a few short video clips.  I'm still working on those.  I had R out to video/photograph/babysit/pick my broke butt up if I got dumped.  We warmed up quietly, trotted and cantered over the x-rail.  R called out, "Wow, babe.  Pretty awesome."  I had to psych myself up a bit for that vertical.  I didn't really know how it was going to work out. 

First up at trot heading right, he hesitated, I smooched to him, and whee!  Sailed right over it.  A few more at trot, then two at canter.  Fantastic!  :)  He tapped the rail a few times with back toes, but never once knocked it down, nor tried to refuse.  In fact, he got more energetic the more we jumped.  :)  His first two trot rights, he landed in the wrong lead.  In his final trot approach, he landed in the correct lead.  Canters?  I truly can't remember.  I think he landed in the lead he took off on, and since it was on the diagonal .. Well, yeah.  The diagonal across my arena gives us more room to work to the jump and away from it.  I realize there won't be any on-purpose changes over the fence any time soon.  As long as he focuses on me, I'll take whatever we get.  To get his mind back on attention to me, I worked a few simple lead changes.  When he blew the second one entirely (heading for the jump), I knew we needed to walk and trot on the flat a while... get baby's mind back on Momma.

Adusted the jump to head left.  His first attempt left is in that picture.  Hysterical, my dear readers... absolutely hysterical.  He hesitated, I squeezed with both legs, and that's what I got.  A HUGE overjump.  What y'all can't see, is the horrendous landing I had after.  We both have a LOT of learning to do.  Harley's "wheeeeyaaaaaa Momma les go les go les GO!"  kicked back in.  I settled for three trot-overs and left the canter-left out of it.  He was way too energetic, and I didn't feel like fighting him on every landing and canter-off from the jump. 

I finished up the ride that day absoutely giddy.   The pictures really capture all the fun we had, and I'm anxious to share them. 

Friday/Saturday, trip to Fort Worth.  Saturday morning, I went to the Dover Saddlery store in Dallas, and drooled on the merchandise.  Walked out with two new pads (Roma Ecole Wick Easy) & (Rider's International Waffle Flo AP), practice gloves (Ovation Splendex), and a noseflash (Tory Leather Co, hinged flash attachment).  :)  Good self control..

Sunday, it rained rained.  Monday, more rain.  Yesterday, more rain.  Tomorrow, more rain predicted.  We need it, so it's a good thing.

How I Spent my Summer Vacation, Pt 1

Harley's first jumps over a vertical rail.  Yes I am in a dressage saddle.  Yes my equitation isn't perfect.  Yes he's learning.  If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.  I am only posting one shot today.  I will learn to water mark them before I submit anymore, so as to not find images and insults posted at various "rider attack blogs."

I'm on vacation.  All week.  Harley and I have near made the walk to the mailbox - a tiny bit short of the full trip - neighbors has cows and a grouchy bull.  Mo and I have done some walking and some arena work.


 So far, here's the highlight. :)  Enjoy!!

Whatta Birthday! Surprises!

Jen showed up at the house, and looked to be in a purdy big hurry-hurry to get going.  We had to get off to town... 11:00 for somethin'... Hmmm.. Something.. I wonder if I'll end up dancing on tables drunk or something youtube-worthy. 

We meandered through town, and then it appeared..
http://www.victoria.woodhousespas.com/
The spaaaaaaaaa...
I was surprised with an hour-long facial, complete with massage for neck, shoulders, arms, hands, calves, and feet.  oooh.. ahhhhh... I lost count of the different products applied to my face, and drifted off for a brief nap at least once. 
Completely refreshed, we loaded back up in the car, and headed off again...
http://www.olivegarden.com/
Lunch!  Chicken and noodles and salad.  Entirely relaxing, complete with a wonderful glass of the house rescato wine.  Oooh... nomnomnom..
I was handed a gift bag, opened it excitedly, to find ...

Ain't it pretty?!  Browband, for Harley's show dressage bridle.  All purple and green and sparkly! :)  Can't WAIT to put it on his show bridle, and try it on him..
Again, back to the car.  It's a horse thing ... TSC!  Picked up pony cookies, and a fly mask for Romeo.. 

Then off to see R.  I wonder what's left in this wild birthday of birthdays!

Whatta Birthday! Rides 1st (Romeo)

Mo had so many "light walking days", I decided it was high time he work!  I mean, work!work!  Trot AND Canter WORK.

So we did.  A nice 40 minutes all three gaits.  He had some serious GO in his giddy up.  It makes me giggle when he wants to run like that.  Makes me wish I had some long flat (safe) straightaways I could let him fly around.  He got a little lazy turning at the trot, so we did figure 8s and little circles until I was dizzy. 

At least the rain had quit.  It left a steamy arena in its place.  It was rather hot & muggy by the time we finished.  I hosed Mo down, then watched him roll in delight.  HAH Mom!  You can't keep me clean!  I'm the dirty pony, 'member?  Yes, Mo,,, I know ... *sigh*

Whatta Birthday! Rides 1st (Harley)

Up bright crack of dark early Saturday.  Happy Birthday to me!  All the little furry four leggeds were well behaved while I waited on the sun to rise.  Caught Harley, decked him up in his R.E.S. boots and saddle, and offs we went to the arena.  I was a little dismayed at all the "prep work" I needed to get done, and Harley was in one of his "how slow can I walk" moods.  I got all the ground poles set for trot, the crossrail put up in its place, and finally started longing him.  He must've felt the frustration, and longed out very quietly and polite.

I hopped aboard, and sent him out on light contact, serpentines and circles around the arena.  Pretty quickly the dark-ish clouds overhead opened up, and we had a solid steady rain falling.  Really?!  Rain?!  With his full attention pretty quickly, I aimed for the trot poles.  No problem! (still raining)  Swung wide after them, and lined up for the big "X".  I got light hesitation, and a bit of an over-jump.  Funny anyways, since I had lifted the sides up one hole on the jump standards.  One little bitty hole, and you woulda thought I sent him over a 3' oxer.  Oh Harley...  By the four hop over the "X", the lazies set in, and he knocked both poles clear down.  I dismounted to fix it, and decided to change direction. (it finally stopped raining) A little work to the right, and after one big over-jump, he settled in for the poles and the "X" four times each.  No problems.  In fact, it was a bit funny.  Most of the "X" jumps, he'd enter at trot, land in trot a few strides, then canter a couple, and ease back to trot.  Never once did he rush into it, or away from it.  It *feels* like he enjoys it, and I can't quite explain it fully.  Very interesting.  I'm jumpin' in the rain, just jumpin' in the rain! 

We hadn't done much canter work, so after some solid walk break, I sent him out at canter.  One circle in the middle, followed by one lap around the arena, both directions.  Each canter brought the same result - he was reaching for the contact.  I don't mean lenghtening his neck & face just a little, I mean nearly falling on the ground looking for the contact.  He stumbled a couple times, which brought me to giggles.  Harley!  Pick your lazy self up!    I gave in both directions, and shortened my reins just a touch to let him find the bit easily.  When he reached the light contact, he backed off just a bit (enough to keep them loose), and kept on cantering.  Delightful! 

We finished up the ride with one more "X" left, since he toppled it his last left-attempt.  No problems.  I walked him out a good 5 minutes loose rein, and he was clearly pleased with himself.  Me?  I had a nice warm "hey, I did it" kind of feeling. 

6/15/12 AM

I was up at my regular time, 4:30am.  Don't laugh, I have to be at work at 6:30, and to make the 40minute commute, shower, make coffee, and feed this wild herd, it needs doing.  I fed the kids, even the horses a bit early.  I dressed to ride, drank my coffee.  Okay, I savored it.. I had time for that today.

At 6:15am, it was barely light enough to head outside.  I had to hunt for Harley, who saw me exit the house dressed.  Little bugger, I ate THREE spider webs this morning. I demonstrated some mad ninja skills on each one, too.  Least that's what it looked like, I'm sure.  Dressed him in all his garb, gave in to my hot little buggers half chaps, gloves, helmet, and headed out.

Warmed him up with the longe whip  and the side reins for a few minutes.  Again, after he realized I meant business whip PoP, he gave in and gave a beautiful tigger-springie looking trot.  It was cute.  I hopped aboard, and we got down to business. 

Another fantastic 30 minutes of solid, hard work.  His free walk was forward and stretched out, I got some nice relaxed canter work, and found the sitting trot more forward than posting trot.  anybody else have this happen, or is it me?  Bad posture?  Bad form from me posting making him get slow?  

I'm thinking now, he's ready for Intro C.  I don't think we have any opportunities to show it soon, but I'll start looking.  A bit more work to do yet on the stretchie trot circles before Training 1.  Anyways, we're sure getting there.

6/14/12

When I arrived home from work Thursday night, it was already cooler than it had been.  Heat Index around 99F.  Yes, hot.. HtH.. but !!!  By 6:20pm, it was almost nice.  Heat Index 95F.  I grabbed Harley, his dressage saddle, helmet, gloves, line, bridle..

Warmup was l-a-z-y.  No longe whip in the arena, left it at the barn.  Drat it.  After about 5 minutes, I gave up.  Hopped on.  You know, that "oh holy crap I hope I don't die for not warming the baby off of him hop on?  Yup... 

Harley was awesome.  A nice 30 minutes total.  The ride was relaxed.  I got some sweet trot to canter transitions, he stayed relaxed for them, and didn't need anymore than a lot of seat and a little leg. Most of the ride was on light contact, since there had been a 3 day break.  I asked for some collected walk, and he complied with a heavy sigh. 

I had more daylight remaining, and some burst of energy from somewhere.  I think I stole Harley's oomph all for my own.  I grabbed Romeo, tossed him in the bareback pad and bit and my helmet and headed to the arena.

He was awesome.  He was Mo.  Walk/Trot for 25 minutes.  He wanted to canter, my legs weren't in agreement.  what the heck was I thinking, second horse, no saddle. My elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, I swear. 

I got two great rides, all in a work evening.  How spectacular, plus the early Friday morning ride I had planned! :)