Harley amused me Monday evening. I grabbed him quick after work, saddled, and all the extras, and prepared for whatever I'd get. Daylight shortened now, I was a little concerned. Just how much could we accomplish before dusk, deer, dogs, and cows ruined our time...
He lunged out really quiet, and I considered adding the elbow pull and lunging more. I even considered just lunging, and not riding. Oh well, I won't know how he can handle this unless I try. I stuffed my head into the helmet, put his bit on, prayed just a bit, and hopped on.
Awesome. He immediately broke to walk, just as my right foot settled into the stirrup. No time standing around today! Fabulous! I praised and patted, and heard a heavy sigh. Maybe he wasn't supposed to walk on after standing still a while before, but I'm not a big fan of "waiting". His feets are already stickie, no reason to encourage more standing.
I asked for a trot, and only directed his feet, and let him keep whatever tempo he wanted. It easily steadied into a nice posting trot, something I could work with my seat. Feeling a little brave, I asked him to turn on neck rein a while - it's improving. Finally, maybe more stupid than brave, I asked for turns on leg only. Even better! Serpentines, circles, and weavy little figure 8s, and the praise continued. Consistently improving with every cue, and I'm happy for it.
Back down to the walk, and knowing Harley's not a fan yet of bit contact, the weavy little snakey movements, I asked for a straight line. Not on the rail, but by focusing off at an object outside the arena, far off. A significant improvement! Much better and much straighter than we've ever had. Again, much licking, chewing, patting and praise.
Finally, as a last test of "new things", I decided to introduce a little collection, bending at the poll. I brought him to halt, and very lightly picked up both reins, wiggling what in my mind was "inside rein". When he gave at the poll, and collected up, I dropped both reins. This only took two tries before every "inside wiggle" got a bend, and even held it for a few seconds. I squeezed him up to a walk, and tried it some more. This was a little more difficult, but after about four tries, he realized that giving meant I'd let go of the inside rein, and he tried to hold it. Lacking still the muscles to hold it, we'd get about two steps collected before I'd lose it. Still, while they were collected, they felt slow, and stickie. Darn it.. Must find a way to collect and still be forward... I'm not asking for high-collection, just long&low. Not real sure how to accomplish this yet...
My patient student and I headed back to the barn, where I undressed him. I glanced at his mouth, and found the neatest thing. Spit Marks! All around the top of his lips, where the bit was resting. Happy Spit! This is a HUGE FIRST for Harley, as he's always had a dry mouth after work. YahOO! I praised and cheered, cookies abounded, satisfied we'd accomplished something amazing.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
11-14-10 Ransom
Ransom and I enjoyed about another 45 minutes of bliss Sunday. The weather was nice, and he decided this was a good day to again behave. We actually got a LOT accomplished.
I got some work in on the "one loop" in Training 4. I also pushed him into some stretch-down trot, which was nice. He obliged my poor balance, as I for some reason couldn't hold onto my stirrups evenly.
So back to the walk, and I concentrated. Right stirrup, longer than left stirrup. How, it happened, who knows. So I raised the right up a hole. Success! That was the last lost iron, and a much happier horse & rider pair.
His canter up and downs were a little stickie to start, but improved incrementally over the ride.
We're both enjoying the smooth arena, free of holes, and freshly rained on / watered. It is making for a nice ride, where I can focus and he can concentrate, all without having to worry about stumbling. Peaceful!
I got some work in on the "one loop" in Training 4. I also pushed him into some stretch-down trot, which was nice. He obliged my poor balance, as I for some reason couldn't hold onto my stirrups evenly.
So back to the walk, and I concentrated. Right stirrup, longer than left stirrup. How, it happened, who knows. So I raised the right up a hole. Success! That was the last lost iron, and a much happier horse & rider pair.
His canter up and downs were a little stickie to start, but improved incrementally over the ride.
We're both enjoying the smooth arena, free of holes, and freshly rained on / watered. It is making for a nice ride, where I can focus and he can concentrate, all without having to worry about stumbling. Peaceful!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Search Update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3edi1TwEzVg
Fast forward to about 7 minutes to get beyond the walking and trotting.
Rode him once, and he was a saint. This visit was in the evening, deer were on the far side of the arena, and apparently he's not a big fan of them.
It might've been the deer
It might've been the weather
It might've been the lack of a lungeline warmup
No matter, I'm not a big fan now.
Yikes ...
Fast forward to about 7 minutes to get beyond the walking and trotting.
Rode him once, and he was a saint. This visit was in the evening, deer were on the far side of the arena, and apparently he's not a big fan of them.
It might've been the deer
It might've been the weather
It might've been the lack of a lungeline warmup
No matter, I'm not a big fan now.
Yikes ...
11-12-10 Harley
Since Harley appeared to be munching peacefully, I caught him with zero effort - he actually walked up to me! :) Sweet! Tacked him up western, took him to the arena.
Free lunged just a little while before adding the elbow pull, and lunging some more. He is starting to get the general idea of the elbow pull - relax your neck, bend at the poll just a little, and that tension on your mouth goes completely away. Good Boy!
I took all his extras off, and noticed he was standing very close to the mounting block. This has been a problem, because he's absolutely convinced the arena fence is hot tape. It's tape, but it's wrapped around each T-post - Not Hot! Today, though, he was right by the block. I very carefully moved his feet a little at a time, front, and back, closer to the mounting block. I could see scared in his eyes, but told him, "You'll see why this is better here just in a second. Be patient with me. I'm putting you here for a reason."
I stepped up on the block, and very gently put my leg over, and sat down. Harley walked off, licking and chewing, with a heavy sigh. I'm hoping that means he understands why I want him by the block, and that makes me getting on a lot easier on both of us.
We worked on walk, and trot. I found straight lines are just about impossible.. Might need to lay out some ground poles in a "tunnel" to improve this. Harley wiggled all over the arena. I rode circles, serpentines, and plenty of transitions.
Deciding he was done, he broke to walk, and started to tip toe back to the mounting block, I assume because he thought that'd be a break or an end. I wiggled my legs, kicked, smooched, clucked, did everything I could think of to get those feets a movin'. Finally, I reached back, and tapped him on the rump with my hand. Whoosh! Whee! He shot straight forward. I pushed him up at the trot just a little, before asking him to walk. I asked for a trot with a squeeze and cluck, and he trotted off. I asked for a walk, and got it with less tiptoe. Great! Maybe, again, he's learned it's easier to go than to be swatted for it.
Total work, about 40 minutes. Fun for sure!
Free lunged just a little while before adding the elbow pull, and lunging some more. He is starting to get the general idea of the elbow pull - relax your neck, bend at the poll just a little, and that tension on your mouth goes completely away. Good Boy!
I took all his extras off, and noticed he was standing very close to the mounting block. This has been a problem, because he's absolutely convinced the arena fence is hot tape. It's tape, but it's wrapped around each T-post - Not Hot! Today, though, he was right by the block. I very carefully moved his feet a little at a time, front, and back, closer to the mounting block. I could see scared in his eyes, but told him, "You'll see why this is better here just in a second. Be patient with me. I'm putting you here for a reason."
I stepped up on the block, and very gently put my leg over, and sat down. Harley walked off, licking and chewing, with a heavy sigh. I'm hoping that means he understands why I want him by the block, and that makes me getting on a lot easier on both of us.
We worked on walk, and trot. I found straight lines are just about impossible.. Might need to lay out some ground poles in a "tunnel" to improve this. Harley wiggled all over the arena. I rode circles, serpentines, and plenty of transitions.
Deciding he was done, he broke to walk, and started to tip toe back to the mounting block, I assume because he thought that'd be a break or an end. I wiggled my legs, kicked, smooched, clucked, did everything I could think of to get those feets a movin'. Finally, I reached back, and tapped him on the rump with my hand. Whoosh! Whee! He shot straight forward. I pushed him up at the trot just a little, before asking him to walk. I asked for a trot with a squeeze and cluck, and he trotted off. I asked for a walk, and got it with less tiptoe. Great! Maybe, again, he's learned it's easier to go than to be swatted for it.
Total work, about 40 minutes. Fun for sure!
11-11&12-10 Ransom
Gathered Ransom up in side reins on the 11th, and lunged him out nicely. He was a gentleman, obviously refocused back on work after his gallop day. Silly boy ...
He lunged for about 30 minutes, all gaits, lots of transitions.
The 12th I grabbed him again, in all his dressage glory, and asked him to work. For about 35 minutes, we rode all the gaits, all the transitions, and stayed on a nice circle. I did a few long free walks, transitioned up to working walk, then halt, rather than pick up trot. He flubbed the free walk to working walk at the last show, and I want to break that habit soon.
I heard Harley calling out for us from his pasture. When I glanced down there, Harley was laying down, after rolling totally over two or three times. As Harley was laying there he was stretching his neck out straight.
I scrambled to the pasture with Ransom, put him in his paddock, took the bit out, the saddle off, and apologized for the abrupt ending.
Walked up to Harley's pasture, kissed to him, and he hopped up. Harley shook all over, and walked away, grazing. I looked later as I was hosing Ransom off and putting his tack away, to find Harley in his pasture, grazing peacefully. Little snot was helping big brother get out of work. hmph. It's all an equine conspiracy. hmph. =)
He lunged for about 30 minutes, all gaits, lots of transitions.
The 12th I grabbed him again, in all his dressage glory, and asked him to work. For about 35 minutes, we rode all the gaits, all the transitions, and stayed on a nice circle. I did a few long free walks, transitioned up to working walk, then halt, rather than pick up trot. He flubbed the free walk to working walk at the last show, and I want to break that habit soon.
I heard Harley calling out for us from his pasture. When I glanced down there, Harley was laying down, after rolling totally over two or three times. As Harley was laying there he was stretching his neck out straight.
I scrambled to the pasture with Ransom, put him in his paddock, took the bit out, the saddle off, and apologized for the abrupt ending.
Walked up to Harley's pasture, kissed to him, and he hopped up. Harley shook all over, and walked away, grazing. I looked later as I was hosing Ransom off and putting his tack away, to find Harley in his pasture, grazing peacefully. Little snot was helping big brother get out of work. hmph. It's all an equine conspiracy. hmph. =)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Romeo
Romeo, Romeo.. What to do with my boy named Romeo. Oh, I know.. We've done it with Ransom, let's see if you'll let me..
The tractor was running about in the arena. After napping on the mounting block in the sun, I decided it was time to enjoy the weather aboard the Little Guy. I grabbed Mo, and his western bit, and that was it. Straight to his pasture. We walked a good long while, then trotted circles, serpentines, and a bunch of figure 8s. A few trot to halts, and I got a brave idea.
It's Mo.. I mean, really. It's Just Mo. He ain't gonna do somethin' stupid, and R's over there if I wipe out... I grabbed a wad of mane, tucked my heels down, squeezed hard, kicked harder and smooched to him.
Loping along on my flat fat pony. Wow. Yeah, flat. Best I know how to describe it. Ransom's bareback canter, requires lots of hips... and lots of relaxed leg. Mo? Yeah, a teensie weensie bit of hip, but mostly, just sit up there & enjoy the ride.
A super fun 25 minutes goofing off, in the beautiful fall sunshine.
Ransom
Ransom had an entire week off after the show. I wasn't feeling 100%, and, since we've not a lot of things to accomplish for the final show, there's no reason to train "hard", but more maintain.
Saturday, 11-6, the arena got a discing munch up. It looks great! As a result, Ransom doesn't have any holes in the arena to work around, no lumpy bumpy spots, all even chunked up sandy dirt. It's awesome! He, however, thought it'd be a fun day to gallop around with the tractor. Fortunately, no injuries, but additionally, also no riding. I could see the stiff and sore in his eyes and legs as he came to the barn for supper.
Sunday 11-7, I grabbed Ransom, and my bareback pad. There's something about cool temperatures and great weather that encourages goofing off. And that's what we did. Lots of long and low walk, a little trot, and a bit of playful canter. Throughout the ride, I could feel his energy underneath me, like he'd explode at any moment.
And So Monday, 11-8, I entertained his wishes. I came home from work, scurried about with the pups, then OUT dressed to ride. Lunged Ransom left in side reins, switched to lunge him right, and the gallop started. I know he's been "asking me" for a gallop about the arena day for, um, two weeks now. The arena being freshly disced and soft, this is as good a time as any. I unlatched the side reins, lunge line, and picked up the lunge whip. I didn't even unwrap the string from it to start. I walked over to him, and tapped him ever so lightly on the rump with it.
GONE! Like a flash! Wheeeeeee.. ran the old man all around the arena, flying changes at X every time. He didn't have his tail up flashing, he was just AT IT. Ears pricked forward, running and running, and ten minutes later, he trots up to me and halts, heaving in his breath. I laughed at him the whole time. I never swung the whip string at him, I never had to push... I just stayed facing him, and pretty much tried to stay out of his way. He has those days, and despite his age, and "Unsoundness", I see those running galloping days, and I think, "Self, you've done good. The old guy still LOVES his life, and LOVES his job. Press on ahead."
We still had a patch of daylight, so I hopped on, and rode him anyways for about 20 minutes. No stretching down trot, but a few long free walks, LOTS of canter circles and bends... I enjoyd the disced dirt for trots down diagonal, no worries of tripping on a hole or a hard spot. Got a little canter work in, but I took note of the heavy breathing, and short daylight. Called it done a little early...
We still had a patch of daylight, so I hopped on, and rode him anyways for about 20 minutes. No stretching down trot, but a few long free walks, LOTS of canter circles and bends... I enjoyd the disced dirt for trots down diagonal, no worries of tripping on a hole or a hard spot. Got a little canter work in, but I took note of the heavy breathing, and short daylight. Called it done a little early...
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