A Lesson on the Lunge Line Hunt Seat...
My take home thought? I need to shorten my stirrups on that saddle, one hole, and leave it there. No matter what. I need to find my new point of balance with stirrups a hole up, and leave them.
I rode off the line a while, alternating between posting, sitting, and two point at the trot. I even goofed off and kicked my feet out of the stirrups to show off my new trot and canter out of the stirrups. Jen picked up the line, and attached it to Ransom. I also had her tie up the reins in the bridle, so I could concentrate completely on my balance, not worrying about his direction. That later proved to not be the best choice.
Heading right, I discovered that my back arches up in two point. It's going to take some brand new concentration, alternating between a arched back, and the correct feeling, stretching out my chest. We worked on this a while, and even moved around at canter, hands stretched out, and resting on my thighs. :)
Switched direction... Apparently my legs and mind were tired, because it felt like Ransom hit his "go at trot" button.... fast, short strides. That's not how Jen described it, but was sure how it felt. I tried posting, tried sitting, tried two point, and ended up with a death grip on the reins, even though my mind knew that wasn't going to help, at all.
After quite a while, I started to relax, and Ransom started to relax. But by then, my legs and back had other plans - to quit! :) I got a few circles of decent canter in (but not terrific), and some good two-point.
Lesson lasted about an hour. No jumping as planned... but plenty accomplished on the lunge line , which was work that needed doing eventually.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
11/27/09 Vacation Day 3 - The Disasters
*Laugh* Such an ominous title, isn't it?! I will calm those readers that are panicing - no I didn't get a flying lesson, no unintentional dismounts, no horse sickness, no dog or cat sickness. Not even me sickness. But still a pretty crummy day.
I grabbed Ransom in the morning, and relaxed into my dressage saddle. Whew! Long legs, deep stirrups, and a soft squishy saddle seat, we headed to the arena. The entire distance around was quite dry, and soft, so I avoided circles as much as possible on the low end. I rode far end circles, middle circles, and all the way 'round on the rail. All three gaits, collected as well as long & low. Even kicked my feets out of the stirrups a while towards the end, noticing the different leg muscles required to balance in the different saddle. Pretty neat stuff! Ransom seemed rather happy with himself, moving forward at the slightest cue.
Our really only "work to fix" was from trot to walk, trying to get it in a few strides without tugging tugging on his face. It improved as I went along.
In the afternoon, R and I made a very hearty attempt to stick ceiling tiles on my living room ceiling. See, I'd been offered a bunch of tiles for free, and it sounded like such a great idea - Get the leaking roof fixed (done months ago), and cover the entire living room with these tiles - covers the leak repair, and makes the ceiling look like new.
After nearly six hours
Three different kinds of glue
(Two of those on the carpet, from tiles falling glue-down on the floor)
And plenty of frustrated exclamations
We gave up
The tiles would NOT stick to the ceiling. There was no easy way to nail or staple them up without leaving ugly marks. One kind of glue appeared to be working, but then three tiles fell to the floor before we could catch 'em, and of course they fall glue down, leaving blue glue on my almost new carpeting. Bah Humbug!
Both of us frustrated, and about a dozen little tiles on the ceiling, we stopped to make a decision on what to try next. Off the ladders, from the floor, the tiles didn't really look good stuck up there. They were uneven, probably because the glue amounts weren't exact from one tile to the next.
I said I quit... and the tiles were removed. I've still got some glue patches on that part of the ceiling, to be all covered probably early into next year once the holiday spending frenzy has passed. I'm still entirely frustrated about it, wishing the tiles had worked, because it would've been quite nice. But oh well... We sure did try, and try hard.
I grabbed Ransom in the morning, and relaxed into my dressage saddle. Whew! Long legs, deep stirrups, and a soft squishy saddle seat, we headed to the arena. The entire distance around was quite dry, and soft, so I avoided circles as much as possible on the low end. I rode far end circles, middle circles, and all the way 'round on the rail. All three gaits, collected as well as long & low. Even kicked my feets out of the stirrups a while towards the end, noticing the different leg muscles required to balance in the different saddle. Pretty neat stuff! Ransom seemed rather happy with himself, moving forward at the slightest cue.
Our really only "work to fix" was from trot to walk, trying to get it in a few strides without tugging tugging on his face. It improved as I went along.
In the afternoon, R and I made a very hearty attempt to stick ceiling tiles on my living room ceiling. See, I'd been offered a bunch of tiles for free, and it sounded like such a great idea - Get the leaking roof fixed (done months ago), and cover the entire living room with these tiles - covers the leak repair, and makes the ceiling look like new.
After nearly six hours
Three different kinds of glue
(Two of those on the carpet, from tiles falling glue-down on the floor)
And plenty of frustrated exclamations
We gave up
The tiles would NOT stick to the ceiling. There was no easy way to nail or staple them up without leaving ugly marks. One kind of glue appeared to be working, but then three tiles fell to the floor before we could catch 'em, and of course they fall glue down, leaving blue glue on my almost new carpeting. Bah Humbug!
Both of us frustrated, and about a dozen little tiles on the ceiling, we stopped to make a decision on what to try next. Off the ladders, from the floor, the tiles didn't really look good stuck up there. They were uneven, probably because the glue amounts weren't exact from one tile to the next.
I said I quit... and the tiles were removed. I've still got some glue patches on that part of the ceiling, to be all covered probably early into next year once the holiday spending frenzy has passed. I'm still entirely frustrated about it, wishing the tiles had worked, because it would've been quite nice. But oh well... We sure did try, and try hard.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
11/25/09 Vacation Day 2 - Thankful For
Burning legs... *laugh* Let me explain...
I got up & moving early enough in the morning to get Ransom ridden around mid-day. The weather was absolutely fantastic, moderate temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and I could hear the weed eater whipping in the distance... Wait, that's not distance. That's the rest of my fence line getting chewed to the dirt. Thanks R! You got my normal two days of weeding down to three hours, and the entire fenceline is clear, including those obnoxious tree limbs on the wooded side. Thank you thank you!
Ransom and I rode hunter. I had plans for a hunt lesson on Saturday, and wanted to remind my body how to ride in shorter stirrups, heels way down, balanced gently on my heels rather than seat. The start of our ride was incredible. Just fun! Rode all three gaits, no issues, no problems. In fact, I was able to transition in and out of trot sitting, from walk and from canter. Pretty neat.
I tossed each stirrup over the front of the saddle, and got right down to business. Every book I've read, every internet article I've studied, every blog I've reviewed, all say ... Got to be able to manage walk, trot, canter without stirrups before considering a safe jump. So, I got going into a trot, quickly realizing that a sitting trot was easier than a posting trot. Owwwie on the thighs.... :)
Knowing the trot was a lot of work, well, at least for me, I sat deep, and squeezed up into a canter. I found it quite easy to stick outside leg back without the stirrups interfering. NeatO! Bumbled up into a nice forward canter, legs stuck to his sides. I was giggling flat out loud, and even whoooping a "yeeha" a few times. Ransom stayed light on the bit, and steady in the circle I asked for, and I actually had to add some inside leg to keep him on the canter.
Fantastic fun! Both directions, all three gaits, stirrup-less. When I retrieved them for his cool down, my legs felt like they'd been stretched, because those stirrups felt much shorter... *giggle*
After the ride, a shower, and a little relaxing, R and I headed to Jen's house for a Thanksgiving feast! Thank you again, Ma'am, for fantastic cookings! Whoo Whee! Good Good foods! She fixed up a ham with my allergies in mind, much appreciated. Some other friends of hers came to visit as well, so the house was plenty full. A really nice time. Sure beats sitting at home alone like I've done in years' past.
Sore and tired, my legs singing their own tune of owwies, I settled in early to bed.
I got up & moving early enough in the morning to get Ransom ridden around mid-day. The weather was absolutely fantastic, moderate temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and I could hear the weed eater whipping in the distance... Wait, that's not distance. That's the rest of my fence line getting chewed to the dirt. Thanks R! You got my normal two days of weeding down to three hours, and the entire fenceline is clear, including those obnoxious tree limbs on the wooded side. Thank you thank you!
Ransom and I rode hunter. I had plans for a hunt lesson on Saturday, and wanted to remind my body how to ride in shorter stirrups, heels way down, balanced gently on my heels rather than seat. The start of our ride was incredible. Just fun! Rode all three gaits, no issues, no problems. In fact, I was able to transition in and out of trot sitting, from walk and from canter. Pretty neat.
I tossed each stirrup over the front of the saddle, and got right down to business. Every book I've read, every internet article I've studied, every blog I've reviewed, all say ... Got to be able to manage walk, trot, canter without stirrups before considering a safe jump. So, I got going into a trot, quickly realizing that a sitting trot was easier than a posting trot. Owwwie on the thighs.... :)
Knowing the trot was a lot of work, well, at least for me, I sat deep, and squeezed up into a canter. I found it quite easy to stick outside leg back without the stirrups interfering. NeatO! Bumbled up into a nice forward canter, legs stuck to his sides. I was giggling flat out loud, and even whoooping a "yeeha" a few times. Ransom stayed light on the bit, and steady in the circle I asked for, and I actually had to add some inside leg to keep him on the canter.
Fantastic fun! Both directions, all three gaits, stirrup-less. When I retrieved them for his cool down, my legs felt like they'd been stretched, because those stirrups felt much shorter... *giggle*
After the ride, a shower, and a little relaxing, R and I headed to Jen's house for a Thanksgiving feast! Thank you again, Ma'am, for fantastic cookings! Whoo Whee! Good Good foods! She fixed up a ham with my allergies in mind, much appreciated. Some other friends of hers came to visit as well, so the house was plenty full. A really nice time. Sure beats sitting at home alone like I've done in years' past.
Sore and tired, my legs singing their own tune of owwies, I settled in early to bed.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
11/25/09 Vacation Day 1 - Ransom
Later in the afternoon, I grabbed Ransom for a workout as well. I grabbed my dressage saddle, and put the monster to work. Brief lunge on side reins for a warm up, and we were at it.
I rode in the front two thirds at the canter, but used the entire arena for walk & trot. Back third was still a little too wet for my confidence at the canter. I didn't concentrate on test pieces, but in all of the walk, I'd allow him to stretch down, get five or so strides of it looking good, and then quickly take the reins back to a working collected walk again. In and out of trot until the transitions looked good, same for canter.
He was very good for the ride, so I finished off with some walk to canter. :) Absolutely so stinking fun! He takes about three steps at the walk, maybe one of trot, and right into canter. His head flies up, and they are by no means pretty transitions, but it's happening. That's the first step.
Rode for about 45 minutes. Lost track of time in the fun. R was over, chewing the weeds along the electric fenceline. My poor push mower again has given up the ghost of usefulness. He put a new blade on it, mowed a few sections of fence, and suddenly, it started spewing black smoke & died, again. Second time this year that poor critter mower isn't functioning. R worked ambitiously until dark, and put about 2.5 hours in weed eating fence line. Got nearly all of it done, which I found frustrating. Weed eating the fence myself last summer took nearly two days.... boys... grrrrr...
I rode in the front two thirds at the canter, but used the entire arena for walk & trot. Back third was still a little too wet for my confidence at the canter. I didn't concentrate on test pieces, but in all of the walk, I'd allow him to stretch down, get five or so strides of it looking good, and then quickly take the reins back to a working collected walk again. In and out of trot until the transitions looked good, same for canter.
He was very good for the ride, so I finished off with some walk to canter. :) Absolutely so stinking fun! He takes about three steps at the walk, maybe one of trot, and right into canter. His head flies up, and they are by no means pretty transitions, but it's happening. That's the first step.
Rode for about 45 minutes. Lost track of time in the fun. R was over, chewing the weeds along the electric fenceline. My poor push mower again has given up the ghost of usefulness. He put a new blade on it, mowed a few sections of fence, and suddenly, it started spewing black smoke & died, again. Second time this year that poor critter mower isn't functioning. R worked ambitiously until dark, and put about 2.5 hours in weed eating fence line. Got nearly all of it done, which I found frustrating. Weed eating the fence myself last summer took nearly two days.... boys... grrrrr...
11/25/09 Vacation Day 1 - Romeo
I got enough of a late start to the morning, that Romeo got picked first.
Rather than let him goof off on another walk to the mailbox, I saddled him up, and headed to the arena. Just as soon as I took the halter off, and checked the girth so the saddle wouldn't fall off, he became this morphed creature resembling a bucking bronc.
And he took off! Bucking, farting, twisting mid-air, rearing up, running around the arena like a toddler! Funniest thing! I asked him, "Romeo, you sure you're the same critter I rode bareback at a trot down to the mailbox on Monday?! Whatta nut!" He ran faster, and sillier. Complete goofball.
After about ten minutes of this nonsense, I told him, "Whoa", and he finally walked up to me. See, the first dozen of those "whoa" requests, he ran by me, still tossing his tantrum. I caught him, put his bit on, tightened the girth, and hopped on. Instantly, he went right back to his mild mannered self, licking & chewing, and settled into a relaxed walk around the arena.
Rode for about 30 minutes. A decent amount of trot & canter, with some side passing, leg yields at trot, turns on fore and rear, and a little backing up & pivoting. Went mostly well. I know he's entirely out of shape, so I didn't spend many calories making him collect up.
Gonna have to work out some sort of a lighted round pen exercise for my little roan pony. Despite barely feeding the stinker, Romeo's a bit, um, chubby. :)
Rather than let him goof off on another walk to the mailbox, I saddled him up, and headed to the arena. Just as soon as I took the halter off, and checked the girth so the saddle wouldn't fall off, he became this morphed creature resembling a bucking bronc.
And he took off! Bucking, farting, twisting mid-air, rearing up, running around the arena like a toddler! Funniest thing! I asked him, "Romeo, you sure you're the same critter I rode bareback at a trot down to the mailbox on Monday?! Whatta nut!" He ran faster, and sillier. Complete goofball.
After about ten minutes of this nonsense, I told him, "Whoa", and he finally walked up to me. See, the first dozen of those "whoa" requests, he ran by me, still tossing his tantrum. I caught him, put his bit on, tightened the girth, and hopped on. Instantly, he went right back to his mild mannered self, licking & chewing, and settled into a relaxed walk around the arena.
Rode for about 30 minutes. A decent amount of trot & canter, with some side passing, leg yields at trot, turns on fore and rear, and a little backing up & pivoting. Went mostly well. I know he's entirely out of shape, so I didn't spend many calories making him collect up.
Gonna have to work out some sort of a lighted round pen exercise for my little roan pony. Despite barely feeding the stinker, Romeo's a bit, um, chubby. :)
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
11/24/09 Ransom on the Line
His first day back on the job, Ransom enjoyed a solid lunging for about 40 minutes. Focused mostly on giving to the bit.
I upped the ante just a tad, and lunged off of my knotted rope halter. In his normal work on the bit & side reins, Ransom did rather well. In the cool-down, I took the side reins off, and worked only on down transitions.
He did NOT want to go from walk to halt without fuss. I said "whoa", stepped in front of his general motion, and then gave the knotted halter a huge TUG. A good dozen of those each way, and I finally got a halt with just "whoa".
Mission accomplished. And the beginning of a 5 Day Vacation!
I upped the ante just a tad, and lunged off of my knotted rope halter. In his normal work on the bit & side reins, Ransom did rather well. In the cool-down, I took the side reins off, and worked only on down transitions.
He did NOT want to go from walk to halt without fuss. I said "whoa", stepped in front of his general motion, and then gave the knotted halter a huge TUG. A good dozen of those each way, and I finally got a halt with just "whoa".
Mission accomplished. And the beginning of a 5 Day Vacation!
11/23/09 Mailbox
Okay, so I've been MIA for a while. First, I wanted to give Ransom a break. Then, I went to the concert. Then, it POURED rain at my house, puddling almost the entire property.
So, with things finally dried out enough to get to the trailer door, I grabbed a brush, and Romeo's link bit, and walked to the pasture.
Brushed off the dirt, well, where my bottom would go. Took of his cribbing collar, put the bit on, and hopped on with great apologies. See, I'd had a stressful day at work, and I felt kinda bad even asking him to do anything. The day was bad enough that I worked late, got home about a half hour before dark began. That left no time for a saddle, and no time for a proper grooming. I just needed my hiney-time.
We walked around the house just a minute or three, to see what kind of goober mood he'd be in. Acting like he'd been doing this for years without a day off, Romeo rumbled straight down the road, head down, ears alert in every which direction. He went up the trail on the sharp corner of the road, the one where I always worry we'll run into a deer, dog, or 4-wheeler. When we got to the straightaway again, I leaned, squeezed, and prayed.
We trotted for a little bit, along the side of the road, until a neighbor's car approached. They slowed to a crawl, so I did them the courtesy of coming to walk. Walked past them, then quickly picked up trot again. When I ran out of "side of the road" to be on, and the gravelly dirt road was our only choice, we went back to walk as we approached the mailbox.
Suddenly, something got Romeo's attention. What's that! Oh My Goodness! It's a big purple & blue MONSTER! A horse-eating monster! No silly man! It's just the neighbor lady exercise walking down the road! She's headed this way, so you better get used to it.
I got us to the mailbox, and she passed us. She said to me, "Well, that sure looks like a fun relaxing way to go get the mail! You're getting fresh air, too! What a good idea!" And, it hit me...
I was on my horse
Bareback
In barely enough bit to stop him if I'd needed to
On the road
Away from home
Side passing to the mailbox to grab the mail & stuff it in my coat pocket
And I was enjoying myself
What a far cry from my previously terrified rides, where it was all I could do to walk in a western saddle with a death grip on the horn, praying nothing bad would happen & send my butt catapulting to the gravel road.
Romeo and I alternated walk & trot the whole way back home. He was relaxed, and I let him go all the way to the buckle, trotting along in the dusk. It was approaching dark(er) when we got home. And I didn't care. I've accomplished another goal - walk,trot,bareback,away from home. We're well on our way, now...
So, with things finally dried out enough to get to the trailer door, I grabbed a brush, and Romeo's link bit, and walked to the pasture.
Brushed off the dirt, well, where my bottom would go. Took of his cribbing collar, put the bit on, and hopped on with great apologies. See, I'd had a stressful day at work, and I felt kinda bad even asking him to do anything. The day was bad enough that I worked late, got home about a half hour before dark began. That left no time for a saddle, and no time for a proper grooming. I just needed my hiney-time.
We walked around the house just a minute or three, to see what kind of goober mood he'd be in. Acting like he'd been doing this for years without a day off, Romeo rumbled straight down the road, head down, ears alert in every which direction. He went up the trail on the sharp corner of the road, the one where I always worry we'll run into a deer, dog, or 4-wheeler. When we got to the straightaway again, I leaned, squeezed, and prayed.
We trotted for a little bit, along the side of the road, until a neighbor's car approached. They slowed to a crawl, so I did them the courtesy of coming to walk. Walked past them, then quickly picked up trot again. When I ran out of "side of the road" to be on, and the gravelly dirt road was our only choice, we went back to walk as we approached the mailbox.
Suddenly, something got Romeo's attention. What's that! Oh My Goodness! It's a big purple & blue MONSTER! A horse-eating monster! No silly man! It's just the neighbor lady exercise walking down the road! She's headed this way, so you better get used to it.
I got us to the mailbox, and she passed us. She said to me, "Well, that sure looks like a fun relaxing way to go get the mail! You're getting fresh air, too! What a good idea!" And, it hit me...
I was on my horse
Bareback
In barely enough bit to stop him if I'd needed to
On the road
Away from home
Side passing to the mailbox to grab the mail & stuff it in my coat pocket
And I was enjoying myself
What a far cry from my previously terrified rides, where it was all I could do to walk in a western saddle with a death grip on the horn, praying nothing bad would happen & send my butt catapulting to the gravel road.
Romeo and I alternated walk & trot the whole way back home. He was relaxed, and I let him go all the way to the buckle, trotting along in the dusk. It was approaching dark(er) when we got home. And I didn't care. I've accomplished another goal - walk,trot,bareback,away from home. We're well on our way, now...
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