Jen arrived bright and early. We wanted to get the lesson over & done before it got hot out. Yep, you Northern folks can just Hush yourselves. It’s already hot & humid here, with horses in full sweat by noon, standing & grazing. Nasty!
The lesson was hunter saddle, but didn’t remain hunters for long. Well, it sort of did. This is the first time Jen’s seen him go since his injections. She said he looks much better, still a little stiff on the left rear. Not too surprising, it looked worse before the shots. Either way, he does move nicer, and seems much happier to go.
I rode only at one end of the arena, all three gaits, tossed in a little two point. We’re planning to go together to BRM on Saturday for a lesson with Barb, so we started talking about what I was going to do at the lesson. Primarily, which saddle am I pulling out. Am I going to get a dressage lesson? Or a hunter lesson?
I hadn’t tried two point with Ransom’s new legs, and I hadn’t tried any kind of “Airplane arms” either. I did a little of both, but more two point than airplanes. I found his trot to be much more left-right in two point than I remembered. The canter feels almost downhill – I can definitely feel more push from behind up in two point.
And we talked. And talked, and talked. There’s lots to be gained when two horse-minded girls get together & begin game planning and goal setting. And so here’s the plan – we’re going to take Ransom with his dressage tack to BRM Saturday. I’ve got a goal and a plan already in hunters – two point airplane arms with good balance. What I don’t have, is a plan-forward in dressage. I’ve been riding Training #1 and #2 for about a year now, and I’m finding dressage fun, but repetitive. I don’t quite know where to go from here. So we’re going to go see Barb Saturday, ride dressage, and find out “what’s next”.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
5/30/10 Ransom Again
I've got a lesson in the morning with Jen. I suspect it'll be hunt seat, some on the lunge line for "Airplane arms" refresher course with his new legs.
R was available to, um, monitor? Okay, let me be honest.. I wanted to show off! I've been doing so much good, forward trot, and sweet canter bareback, and goshdagit I wanted somebody to see!
It took us a total of 5 minutes to get him "dressed", me helmet wearing, and in the arena. I hopped on, and he quickly warmed into a nice walk. A comforting walk. One that said, "Mom, thanks for waiting a little while later in the day for the workout."
I rode him up at a walk, and trot, but feeling his trot a little stickie, I pushed early in the warmup for a canter. This may be wrong, but, in my mind, when horses "go" in the wild, it seems more canter than trot. So, given his age, I was hoping canter would warm up those muscles a little easier. Not sure. But it worked.
His trot picked up nice & forward then, "going somewhere." R watched intently, and described his back legs as "more up & forward, and less stiff, less dragging his hooves." Sweet! I pushed for lots of good sitting trot work (because posting trot, in the puffy bareback pad, with no stirrups, and worse, nothing for my seat to "grab to" just didn't seem real bright), and a good load of canter work again.
That canter, bareback, is to DIE for. I love it. He barely moves his back, so my seat is almost stationary. I can focus on my heels, my lower legs, and my shoulders. It's really nice. I caught myself lifting my inside leg at the trot-to-canter-left transition, and have been working on it. Explains why my left stirrup keeps popping loose in the dressage seat. oops!
I stink at keeping up with this lately, I know. Working on doing better at it. But, let's just say, LIFE has gotten in the way of the dear blog. I'm not stopping, I'm not quitting, just easing up some. Maybe I'll get better here real soon. And just 'cause I ain't commenting, don't mean I don't love ya'll any less. :)
R was available to, um, monitor? Okay, let me be honest.. I wanted to show off! I've been doing so much good, forward trot, and sweet canter bareback, and goshdagit I wanted somebody to see!
It took us a total of 5 minutes to get him "dressed", me helmet wearing, and in the arena. I hopped on, and he quickly warmed into a nice walk. A comforting walk. One that said, "Mom, thanks for waiting a little while later in the day for the workout."
I rode him up at a walk, and trot, but feeling his trot a little stickie, I pushed early in the warmup for a canter. This may be wrong, but, in my mind, when horses "go" in the wild, it seems more canter than trot. So, given his age, I was hoping canter would warm up those muscles a little easier. Not sure. But it worked.
His trot picked up nice & forward then, "going somewhere." R watched intently, and described his back legs as "more up & forward, and less stiff, less dragging his hooves." Sweet! I pushed for lots of good sitting trot work (because posting trot, in the puffy bareback pad, with no stirrups, and worse, nothing for my seat to "grab to" just didn't seem real bright), and a good load of canter work again.
That canter, bareback, is to DIE for. I love it. He barely moves his back, so my seat is almost stationary. I can focus on my heels, my lower legs, and my shoulders. It's really nice. I caught myself lifting my inside leg at the trot-to-canter-left transition, and have been working on it. Explains why my left stirrup keeps popping loose in the dressage seat. oops!
I stink at keeping up with this lately, I know. Working on doing better at it. But, let's just say, LIFE has gotten in the way of the dear blog. I'm not stopping, I'm not quitting, just easing up some. Maybe I'll get better here real soon. And just 'cause I ain't commenting, don't mean I don't love ya'll any less. :)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The long holiday weekend
I sat at my desk Thursday afternoon, and said right out loud, "If I had to work Friday, I'd call in dead." I can't even type about what happened, but it happened Tuesday late morning, and it was pretty crummy. At some point, it'd be a neat learning experience for the "closet chemists" among us, but not worth repeating just yet.
So, riding, back to riding. Things in life always seem better from the back of a horse, don't they? Thursday, let me think...
Thursday, I think I rode. Yeah, Ransom. Dressage again, thinking he would need a few steady days back to work post-mosquitoes before any airplane arm silliness. He's awesome, he needs very little warmup, and after about fifteen minutes of all gaits light contact, he stretches down into collection, and, well, it's heavenly.
Friday Friday Friday.. What the hoo did I do on Friday?! The boys got new feet, which is awesome. Mr D saves the day with nice short feets and happy shoes. Love it! He's great, keeps track of the schedule, calls me a week ahead of time, and tends to my boys without demanding my presence. Love that! I also did laundry, housework, ran errands, decided my rump needed more horse time. But what to do? Oh yes ... Bareback, about 35 minutes before the mosquitoes from hell arrived in the arena. Walk, trot, canter. Yeah, that trot, with his new legs, wow! A little hard to sit bareback without serious collection. Now, his canter? Honey, all day long! No problem. Gosh it's smooth.
Saturday. Romeo Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo, with your newly trimmed toes, and your happy little self? Ransom? Yeah, you're covered in sweat from the heat, don't think I'm riding you today.
So Romeo, let's go play bareback in a halter, hmm? We're just gonna walk, nah, let's trot a little too. Oh yeah, sassy pants? You think you're gonna be silly at the trot, tossin' that happy little noggin? Oh yeah?! AH! Well, that's why God put mane on a horse. Wadda mane, cluck, kiss kiss, squeeze. WHEE! Oh yeah! That's smooth, toO! Now, it ain't Ransom smooth, but sweetie, it'll do me just great! Love that bareback Mo canter, too!
My boys spoil me. No long warmup lunges, no silly side reins in circles, and no "bracing for terror" gallop in the warmup. Love them for that! Especially when it's so frigging hot out, so early in the year, that we're all dying after the ride ends.
So, riding, back to riding. Things in life always seem better from the back of a horse, don't they? Thursday, let me think...
Thursday, I think I rode. Yeah, Ransom. Dressage again, thinking he would need a few steady days back to work post-mosquitoes before any airplane arm silliness. He's awesome, he needs very little warmup, and after about fifteen minutes of all gaits light contact, he stretches down into collection, and, well, it's heavenly.
Friday Friday Friday.. What the hoo did I do on Friday?! The boys got new feet, which is awesome. Mr D saves the day with nice short feets and happy shoes. Love it! He's great, keeps track of the schedule, calls me a week ahead of time, and tends to my boys without demanding my presence. Love that! I also did laundry, housework, ran errands, decided my rump needed more horse time. But what to do? Oh yes ... Bareback, about 35 minutes before the mosquitoes from hell arrived in the arena. Walk, trot, canter. Yeah, that trot, with his new legs, wow! A little hard to sit bareback without serious collection. Now, his canter? Honey, all day long! No problem. Gosh it's smooth.
Saturday. Romeo Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo, with your newly trimmed toes, and your happy little self? Ransom? Yeah, you're covered in sweat from the heat, don't think I'm riding you today.
So Romeo, let's go play bareback in a halter, hmm? We're just gonna walk, nah, let's trot a little too. Oh yeah, sassy pants? You think you're gonna be silly at the trot, tossin' that happy little noggin? Oh yeah?! AH! Well, that's why God put mane on a horse. Wadda mane, cluck, kiss kiss, squeeze. WHEE! Oh yeah! That's smooth, toO! Now, it ain't Ransom smooth, but sweetie, it'll do me just great! Love that bareback Mo canter, too!
My boys spoil me. No long warmup lunges, no silly side reins in circles, and no "bracing for terror" gallop in the warmup. Love them for that! Especially when it's so frigging hot out, so early in the year, that we're all dying after the ride ends.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Rides Since Then
I have had one moderately decent dressage ride on Ransom since 5-20. And the rest? It absolutely, completely, no doubt about it, poured rain with heavy storms on 5-21 and 5-22. I estimate about 10”of rain or more at my house between Friday & Saturday.
As a result, there was a puddly, muddy arena. Then, there were and still are, mosquitoes. Some things are bigger in Texas, and these blood sucking bugs are no exception.
I’ve been confined to trail rides down the road mostly. Those started out as a good idea, but then I realized I treated more of my property with bug killers than my neighbors did.
The one dressage ride was good, but short. I got about 20 minutes of decent ride in, taking advantage of Ransom’s new hocks with a really nice set at sitting trot. I felt my butt tuck underneath me, and I was able to push him forward without holding on with my legs. Really nice. I thought I’d reward the good brief work with a walk down the road. We both ended up coated in mosquitoes & frustrated.
The walks out the road have been mostly uneventful. Ransom spooked at a flatbed trailer/truck combo. Romeo jumped sideways at some barking dogs. Both have been quiet around traffic, other quieter dogs, which has been nice.
I’m eager for the bugs to ease up, to get back in the tack, and get back settled in my hunt saddle on Ransom. I miss my stirrup-free airplane arms.
As a result, there was a puddly, muddy arena. Then, there were and still are, mosquitoes. Some things are bigger in Texas, and these blood sucking bugs are no exception.
I’ve been confined to trail rides down the road mostly. Those started out as a good idea, but then I realized I treated more of my property with bug killers than my neighbors did.
The one dressage ride was good, but short. I got about 20 minutes of decent ride in, taking advantage of Ransom’s new hocks with a really nice set at sitting trot. I felt my butt tuck underneath me, and I was able to push him forward without holding on with my legs. Really nice. I thought I’d reward the good brief work with a walk down the road. We both ended up coated in mosquitoes & frustrated.
The walks out the road have been mostly uneventful. Ransom spooked at a flatbed trailer/truck combo. Romeo jumped sideways at some barking dogs. Both have been quiet around traffic, other quieter dogs, which has been nice.
I’m eager for the bugs to ease up, to get back in the tack, and get back settled in my hunt saddle on Ransom. I miss my stirrup-free airplane arms.
Friday, May 21, 2010
5/20/10 Julie Goodnight Lesson #2
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.
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.
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.
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