Gathered up Ransom after work, and decided a solid side-rein lunge was in order. Surcingle, side reins, french link bit, polo wraps up front, and here we go!
Free lunged both ways on the line for about 5, then set up bridle & side reins. He leaned with his head out & up quite a bit all three gaits, which I sort of expected - he hasn't had to "use himself hard" for about a month. I expected a bit of fuss & fight.
After about 25 minutes, I took the side reins back off again, and let him stretch out at walk & trot each direction.
Getting back in shape... Plenty to think about & start planning as the February HorseMaster taping is approaching. I know they say "Don't work on the problems", and that'll be easy. The hard part? Getting him clean, my tack clean, my clothes organized, boots polished, and all my mental "ducks in a row", so I'm not a nervous-nelly for the event.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
1/4/2010 Romeo
After a plan to lunge Ransom, I changed my mind - I needed some saddle to hiney time, and I didn't really want to work him that hard.
So I grabbed Romeo, fitted him up Western & french link bit, and offs we go to the arena. He warmed up real good free lunge, with a little goofing off. I figured "if he's still got that kind of energy getting back to work, let's put it to use."
We rode a solid 35 minutes, with a few after that in a cool down walk. I rode walk, trot, canter, only requiring him to accept light bit contact at first. Just before the cool down, I forced some collected walk & trot. Oh! Little Man not so happy with that decision! He fussed & farted, tossed his head, and chewed on the bit like it was a peppermint candy.
On the upside, there was no spooking, no panicked fit, no taking off with me at the canter. He is back to riding faster canter right and real slow canter left. This will improve with more muscle development. Silly one-sided monster.
So I grabbed Romeo, fitted him up Western & french link bit, and offs we go to the arena. He warmed up real good free lunge, with a little goofing off. I figured "if he's still got that kind of energy getting back to work, let's put it to use."
We rode a solid 35 minutes, with a few after that in a cool down walk. I rode walk, trot, canter, only requiring him to accept light bit contact at first. Just before the cool down, I forced some collected walk & trot. Oh! Little Man not so happy with that decision! He fussed & farted, tossed his head, and chewed on the bit like it was a peppermint candy.
On the upside, there was no spooking, no panicked fit, no taking off with me at the canter. He is back to riding faster canter right and real slow canter left. This will improve with more muscle development. Silly one-sided monster.
In My Inbox Today
It's almost surreal. See, I applied to be on the show, and I figured, "Our issues are tiny. He doesn't buck me off, he doesn't run away with me, I won't make the cut. We're not big TV material. We're just amateurs aiming to get better."
In my inbox, I got the following note today.
Congratulations! We’d like you to be a cast member on Horse Master, shooting at the Banshee Ranch near Houston, TX February 1-4, 2010. Thank you all for your patience so far in the application process. We’re on board and rolling now! You’ll find that I send as much information as possible to help you prepare. Please feel free to ask questions or call! We want you to feel as comfortable as possible with the process!
It's almost surreal I tell ya. Honestly amazing. My monster Ransom and I...
In my inbox, I got the following note today.
Congratulations! We’d like you to be a cast member on Horse Master, shooting at the Banshee Ranch near Houston, TX February 1-4, 2010. Thank you all for your patience so far in the application process. We’re on board and rolling now! You’ll find that I send as much information as possible to help you prepare. Please feel free to ask questions or call! We want you to feel as comfortable as possible with the process!
It's almost surreal I tell ya. Honestly amazing. My monster Ransom and I...
The 2010 Goals
There they are. Middle of the right side column.
Give me hoorays for having courage to set some.
Or give me boo's for not making them challenging enough.
But I set some. :) Which is HUGE progress over year's past.
Give me hoorays for having courage to set some.
Or give me boo's for not making them challenging enough.
But I set some. :) Which is HUGE progress over year's past.
Monday, January 4, 2010
1/3/2010 Doing What I Do
Enjoyed a nice early church service duet with R. Special thanks go out to our sound fellow N for showing up on the board at the last minute to help us out!! YahOoo!! It sounded great. We did our best, and got some raving reviews afterwards. I got a good chuckle when our pastor told us we sounded great and complimentary to each other in the warmup. yack!!!
I gathered up Ransom in the late morning hours, and, given the puddles, the muddles, and the fact I didn't want to go yumping alone, we worked on our dressage movements. Wanting him to not be bored, I trotted through the poles a few times, worked on leg yields at walk & trot, and varied up the collection back to light contact back to collection. Tried to work on transitions up to canter without him popping his noggin up. Had some successes, but with all our weather breaks and holiday vacation, we've got lots of muscles to build back up - Both of us!
Just before dark I grabbed Romeo, renewing my weight-loss commitments to him, and lunged him again. This time, I held the lunge whip and insisted on some work at canter. He did all his gaits, some with silly head tossin's, and even tucked his nose in the direction changes. Looks like a real cuttin horse when he does some of that.
Then I jumped on bareback to work on walk, trot, turns on fore & rear, backups, sidepassin, and even a little rollback. I was startled when he reminded me, "roll back means back up, turn in, and get outta there!" I giggled good when his first "get outta there" sprung into trot without a warning. =) He's back!!
I gathered up Ransom in the late morning hours, and, given the puddles, the muddles, and the fact I didn't want to go yumping alone, we worked on our dressage movements. Wanting him to not be bored, I trotted through the poles a few times, worked on leg yields at walk & trot, and varied up the collection back to light contact back to collection. Tried to work on transitions up to canter without him popping his noggin up. Had some successes, but with all our weather breaks and holiday vacation, we've got lots of muscles to build back up - Both of us!
Just before dark I grabbed Romeo, renewing my weight-loss commitments to him, and lunged him again. This time, I held the lunge whip and insisted on some work at canter. He did all his gaits, some with silly head tossin's, and even tucked his nose in the direction changes. Looks like a real cuttin horse when he does some of that.
Then I jumped on bareback to work on walk, trot, turns on fore & rear, backups, sidepassin, and even a little rollback. I was startled when he reminded me, "roll back means back up, turn in, and get outta there!" I giggled good when his first "get outta there" sprung into trot without a warning. =) He's back!!
1/2/2010 Trot Poles
R helped me set up a few poles. As it turns out, my standard ground supports are just about tall enough to make about 6" cavaletti supports. They're not super tall, or super stable, and it sure doesn't look fancy. But Ransom's had a bad habit of anticipating each standard to be a high vertical rail, and I needed him to pay attention.
I warmed Ransom up walk, trot, canter, and got to the poles. It took about six go's each direction before he was steady & even over them. I tried to start out in two point, but that kept encouraging a halfa-canter into the poles. I forced a posting trot over them a while, and he evened out. Finished up with a few clear go's at two point trot each direction.
To keep him from thinking, "Jump & done", I worked back on the flat again a while. A little canter, but mostly transitions in & out of trot and walk. Got his attention, got him calmed down & cooled out, and we called it finished.
A successful beginning to jumping. Can't wait until my Ground Pole Christmas book gets here so I can start varying the exercises.
I warmed Ransom up walk, trot, canter, and got to the poles. It took about six go's each direction before he was steady & even over them. I tried to start out in two point, but that kept encouraging a halfa-canter into the poles. I forced a posting trot over them a while, and he evened out. Finished up with a few clear go's at two point trot each direction.
To keep him from thinking, "Jump & done", I worked back on the flat again a while. A little canter, but mostly transitions in & out of trot and walk. Got his attention, got him calmed down & cooled out, and we called it finished.
A successful beginning to jumping. Can't wait until my Ground Pole Christmas book gets here so I can start varying the exercises.
1/1/2010 Bringing in the New Year
Gathered up Ransom, and we worked through our dressage paces. It was muddly, wet, and puddly in the pasture, making a slimy mess. He was cheerful enough to be working, though as we passed the crossrail a few times, he was less than pleased I left it off his plans. Between his warm up and our ride, time lasted about 35 minutes.
Then it was Romeo's turn. My little pony ain't so little - the grain & hay, and time off has left him, um, pudgy? Let's be honest... shhhh... he's fat! I stuck him at the end of the lunge line for a little while, about 25 minutes, walk & trot. It's funny to see his ripples wigglin' at the trot, but we'll get it off. I told him he's got two choices. 1) stop eating grain completely, or, 2) lose weight working.
So we're back on track, each horse doin' his thing. The weather isn't cooperating 100%, but as long as I don't get too frustrated, maybe it'll dry faster. :) Yeah, that's it!
Then it was Romeo's turn. My little pony ain't so little - the grain & hay, and time off has left him, um, pudgy? Let's be honest... shhhh... he's fat! I stuck him at the end of the lunge line for a little while, about 25 minutes, walk & trot. It's funny to see his ripples wigglin' at the trot, but we'll get it off. I told him he's got two choices. 1) stop eating grain completely, or, 2) lose weight working.
So we're back on track, each horse doin' his thing. The weather isn't cooperating 100%, but as long as I don't get too frustrated, maybe it'll dry faster. :) Yeah, that's it!
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