Well, its turned out nice again, thank goodness as the hay was cut yesterday :wibble:
I spent the morning rolling the new boys paddock as they have turned it into the equine equivalent of the Somme. Managed not to get the tractor stuck today, but the gateway is still boot deep so that's still as is!
Finally clambered aboard about 11. Used new 'advanced' fly repellent that smells ok as you spray it but smells mank once it hits the horse.... then read the ingredients and worked out why - its got benzyl benzoate in it.... yep, smells mank alright! However, it appears to WORK! Mum went out with Ben earlier and said the horse flies were just waking up but we had none, hurrah!
Went down to inspect the airstrip as we haven't been that way in a month or so due to the wet... got nearly there having had a nice few canters, when we happened upon some irrigation pipes across our path - they'd obviously been dragged there by the flow of the floods.... and there were about 5 strips across, and its that stuff that goes flat when empty, so I knew if we caught it with our foot it would come with us.... eeek.
Found the narrowest bit to step over, but it was lifted off the ground by the long grass - but hey, my pony lifts his feet REEEAAAALLLYY high over poles, so surely he'll do the same over this? It was the most snake like thing you could expect to see!
So over we step.... only to find I haven't accounted for the fact that there is a LOOP of the stuff.... Magic catches the ONE bit of pipe that is looped so then we are airbourne within a pipe circle.... aaarrrrghgghh!
Fortunately, he leapt in the air once as it moved, then stood and waited for me to decide what to do.... toyed with getting off and leading him but decided he'd be fine.... so out we stepped from the hole we'd got ourselves into and off we pootled without a care in the world!!!
Talk about expanding your comfort zones - Magic's are WELL bigger than mine now, brave pony, I need to catch up!!! It was the way he stopped and said, 'come on then, you got us into this, you can get us out' !!
So he had another big pat, and then we squidged our way down the airstrip which was still too wet to canter, and then galloped up the big hill on the right of it.... 2/3rds of the way up he started losing enthusiasm, so I practiced 'click to accelerate' yep, that still works, and even better 'brrrr' works as QUICK ACCELERATE still too!
So we were merrily blatting up the hill, my reins bridged on his neck, thinking about nothing much, and the swine dives for the gap in the hedge which is one way home!! Fortunately I got in there quick with a yell and a kick and he carried on the way he should be going..... but I got an up close and personal view of the hedgerow of thistles I would have ended up in if he'd got away with it and made the 90 degree corner at a gallop.... ickle sod.
Honestly, you have one fantastic moment where you trust him with your life and then he tries to take a short cut without realising it would leave me in a thistle patch!!
Gotta love him!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
"I'm mortally wounded and you expect me to do SCHOOLING??"
In actual fact, I don't think he was THAT bothered. He seemed quite up for it, but was horrendously obedient!
Trot was a bit short to start, but soon opened up and we got the biggest medium trot yet! Its not pretty and its still a bit fly-by-seat-of-pants but we are both getting what each of us has to do to acheive it!
For me its all about strength through legs and wrapping them around him, but actually asking for medium through my core muscles. My hands don't change, in fact if they ever do then we lose it anyway, so its good training for me. Its like a lift from the middle and a push down and in with the lower leg.... I really need to build up those muscles as I'm pretty sure they'll be the crunch with sitting trot too.
Then we played with the trotting poles that were out.... obviously they were Magic eating snakes, but when we got up to them, snorting and prancing, he then realised that ACTUALLY they were a row of tiny jumps, and promptly cantered over each individual pole - no mean feat given they were a max of 3ft apart!! It felt most odd but Bill would be so proud - that really IS us shortening into the fence! So we did it again, and managed to trot the first, but then canter the other three perfectly without touching them.... finally on third go he did brilliant elevated trot - M said his fetlocks were in his tummy!! Then did the other rein and again had to canter them perfectly at trot speed and with a bounce between each pole, and then half and half, and THEN trotted beautifully again. Sigh, glad he's still not like this with jumpies, I'd have lost my will to jump by now if he was!!!
Then it was back to work. Canter was lovely both ways, counter canter not quite as fluid and a bit pre-emptive and if I'm not careful I get 10m circle and half pass to the track instead of straight to E/B and then counter canter.... I practiced a lot of simple changes, and they are soooo much more relaxed and settled. Like he really understands what I'm asking and that its not stressful so no need to pre-empt any more!
Back to trot and its getting bigger and bigger, yippee! Did big trot/half pass/big trot, and he'll keep it in half pass AND he's manouverable, so if he gives me too much shoulder or quarter I can correct him. I even managed some of my bete noir and did shoulder in.... only rising and in big trot....
But the sideways soooo helps the mediums, they were getting huge!!
Then I decided I needed to do something sideways in canter, so popped into left canter and asked for travers down the long side (remembering that left canter was the one he couldn't travers at ALL in if he didn't want to) and he offered me it until I asked him to straighten and turn!! Of course we then had to do it the other way too and bingo, of COURSE I'll do travers mum, you only had to ask!!
:-)))
Cleverclogs will get too big for his boots one day soon! He's still giving me the vibes that he knows I think he's even more special than usual at the moment, so he tries to push me into letting him do what he likes... cheeky so and so!
We finished with big stretching trot, then went back to the trailer, which was parked right next to the skip.... but Magic hadn't seen the skip until I brought him round the back to load - where he promptly did ENORMOUS spook and tried to sit down he was so back on his hocks.... he just stood there, crouched for flight, snorting at it, whilst I put ramp down etc...
He was soooo good, he totally proved Ben Harts theory of pushing the comfort zone without pushing the horse... I just kept telling him how good he was and after a few minutes he just HAD to nibble that bit of grass at the base of the skip!!! And I wasn't trying to get him close to it at all, I was just letting him work it out for himself. It just goes to show that his curiosity will ALWAYS overcome his fears, if only I can ensure we don't get into battle situation and I always have the time to wait.
Lesson on Friday, hopefully learning changes.....
Trot was a bit short to start, but soon opened up and we got the biggest medium trot yet! Its not pretty and its still a bit fly-by-seat-of-pants but we are both getting what each of us has to do to acheive it!
For me its all about strength through legs and wrapping them around him, but actually asking for medium through my core muscles. My hands don't change, in fact if they ever do then we lose it anyway, so its good training for me. Its like a lift from the middle and a push down and in with the lower leg.... I really need to build up those muscles as I'm pretty sure they'll be the crunch with sitting trot too.
Then we played with the trotting poles that were out.... obviously they were Magic eating snakes, but when we got up to them, snorting and prancing, he then realised that ACTUALLY they were a row of tiny jumps, and promptly cantered over each individual pole - no mean feat given they were a max of 3ft apart!! It felt most odd but Bill would be so proud - that really IS us shortening into the fence! So we did it again, and managed to trot the first, but then canter the other three perfectly without touching them.... finally on third go he did brilliant elevated trot - M said his fetlocks were in his tummy!! Then did the other rein and again had to canter them perfectly at trot speed and with a bounce between each pole, and then half and half, and THEN trotted beautifully again. Sigh, glad he's still not like this with jumpies, I'd have lost my will to jump by now if he was!!!
Then it was back to work. Canter was lovely both ways, counter canter not quite as fluid and a bit pre-emptive and if I'm not careful I get 10m circle and half pass to the track instead of straight to E/B and then counter canter.... I practiced a lot of simple changes, and they are soooo much more relaxed and settled. Like he really understands what I'm asking and that its not stressful so no need to pre-empt any more!
Back to trot and its getting bigger and bigger, yippee! Did big trot/half pass/big trot, and he'll keep it in half pass AND he's manouverable, so if he gives me too much shoulder or quarter I can correct him. I even managed some of my bete noir and did shoulder in.... only rising and in big trot....
But the sideways soooo helps the mediums, they were getting huge!!
Then I decided I needed to do something sideways in canter, so popped into left canter and asked for travers down the long side (remembering that left canter was the one he couldn't travers at ALL in if he didn't want to) and he offered me it until I asked him to straighten and turn!! Of course we then had to do it the other way too and bingo, of COURSE I'll do travers mum, you only had to ask!!
:-)))
Cleverclogs will get too big for his boots one day soon! He's still giving me the vibes that he knows I think he's even more special than usual at the moment, so he tries to push me into letting him do what he likes... cheeky so and so!
We finished with big stretching trot, then went back to the trailer, which was parked right next to the skip.... but Magic hadn't seen the skip until I brought him round the back to load - where he promptly did ENORMOUS spook and tried to sit down he was so back on his hocks.... he just stood there, crouched for flight, snorting at it, whilst I put ramp down etc...
He was soooo good, he totally proved Ben Harts theory of pushing the comfort zone without pushing the horse... I just kept telling him how good he was and after a few minutes he just HAD to nibble that bit of grass at the base of the skip!!! And I wasn't trying to get him close to it at all, I was just letting him work it out for himself. It just goes to show that his curiosity will ALWAYS overcome his fears, if only I can ensure we don't get into battle situation and I always have the time to wait.
Lesson on Friday, hopefully learning changes.....
Sunday, July 29, 2007
PHEW! Crisis over!
Thank goodness.
Someone ate his breakfast at usual speed of sound rate.... so can only assume his mouth is better.... even happier that he wasn't trying to show me his tonsils like he was doing last night (do horses even have tonsils?).
When I went down to check him last thing he was standing forlornly in the middle of the yard with his mouth wide open and a bit frothy/dribbly. His tongue had swollen up a bit and was obviously making it uncomfortable to close his mouth, so he made sure and showed me all about it.
Talk about trying to worry me. I ended up putting him on the front grass (which is really long) for half an hour at dusk... and oh, quelle suprise, he managed to eat then alright! But in fairness he was obviously not a happy bunny. :-(
But this morning, mouth and nose seemed fine - he was still touchy about me touching or looking at his nose or mouth, but didn't seem swollen and tongue was more normal size.
He did have a big burning hot swelling on his shoulder where the very close together stings were, so I risked arnica and witch hazel as he isn't USUALLY allergic to it, and they were quieter and cooler by this evening.
The sting spots on his sides have just got bigger and bigger throughout the day, but the ones on his skin areas (as opposed to hair) have hardly swollen at all.
We went for a little trundle to see how he felt, and he was great in terms of nose and mouth and felt fine, although we only walked....
BUT - would you believe the little beggar started snacking the MOMENT we left the yard - I couldn't believe my eyes! I did take a bit of a hold the first time in case he did it then panicked. He either didn't associate the snacking with the stings (DUR) OR he was doing his best 'but am I bovvered? Bees? Bovver me?? I is bigger and better than dem bees - look at me eating my hedges- they won't keep a Magic off his picnic' !!!!
Honestly, he was like a thing possessed! He even dragged me across the road at one point (which I am less than impressed with) and he scared our hacking partner by biting off a huge branch then walking along munching and trailing it on the floor so it made a scary noise. I'm sure I could hear him humming to himself... ickle sod! :-))
Hmmmm. You can't keep a good horse down for long, can you!!!!!
:-))))
So, schooling tomorrow!!!
Someone ate his breakfast at usual speed of sound rate.... so can only assume his mouth is better.... even happier that he wasn't trying to show me his tonsils like he was doing last night (do horses even have tonsils?).
When I went down to check him last thing he was standing forlornly in the middle of the yard with his mouth wide open and a bit frothy/dribbly. His tongue had swollen up a bit and was obviously making it uncomfortable to close his mouth, so he made sure and showed me all about it.
Talk about trying to worry me. I ended up putting him on the front grass (which is really long) for half an hour at dusk... and oh, quelle suprise, he managed to eat then alright! But in fairness he was obviously not a happy bunny. :-(
But this morning, mouth and nose seemed fine - he was still touchy about me touching or looking at his nose or mouth, but didn't seem swollen and tongue was more normal size.
He did have a big burning hot swelling on his shoulder where the very close together stings were, so I risked arnica and witch hazel as he isn't USUALLY allergic to it, and they were quieter and cooler by this evening.
The sting spots on his sides have just got bigger and bigger throughout the day, but the ones on his skin areas (as opposed to hair) have hardly swollen at all.
We went for a little trundle to see how he felt, and he was great in terms of nose and mouth and felt fine, although we only walked....
BUT - would you believe the little beggar started snacking the MOMENT we left the yard - I couldn't believe my eyes! I did take a bit of a hold the first time in case he did it then panicked. He either didn't associate the snacking with the stings (DUR) OR he was doing his best 'but am I bovvered? Bees? Bovver me?? I is bigger and better than dem bees - look at me eating my hedges- they won't keep a Magic off his picnic' !!!!
Honestly, he was like a thing possessed! He even dragged me across the road at one point (which I am less than impressed with) and he scared our hacking partner by biting off a huge branch then walking along munching and trailing it on the floor so it made a scary noise. I'm sure I could hear him humming to himself... ickle sod! :-))
Hmmmm. You can't keep a good horse down for long, can you!!!!!
:-))))
So, schooling tomorrow!!!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Ooooohhhh Heeeeeeellllllpppppp!
Went out for a lovely hack this evening, Magic chose to go left out of the drive (unheard of for him!) and we were having a nice gentle hack with some decent canters. Got to the field with a long straight gallop, and had warmed him up with a canter on the strip before that was a bit out of control, but thought he'd pull himself up at the end of the gallop...
Came round the corner, and Magic swung his head to grab a bit of tree on our way past.... yes, I'm very bad and let him browse - but I always look to see what he's choosing.... and today it looked like an oak tree, but it had a big wet looking brown blob in it - looked like a bunch of brown seeds all gummed together.....
Then at the instant he stuck his nose in it I realised what it was.......
A BEE'S NEST........ AAAARRRRGHGGGHHHHH!!
Well, I don't think either of us have experienced a swarm of bees before but they are FAST!! There was an immediate zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ing and then we are bolting up the field with him bronking and racing and trying to rub nose on the floor at flat out gallop as if his life depended on it......
I've never been so close to bailing out in all my life, everytime he tried to obey me and start to pull up, he felt the stings again and went bronking off.... at one point I had no stirrups and was only on by willpower....
Fortunately eventually my attempting-to-sound-relaxed 'whoooooaaaaaa's did the trick and he stopped long enough for me to get off.... and promptly stuck his nose into the mud on the floor and straight down for a roll.... of course I had to get him up cos he had his saddle on!
I was soooo worried about him being stung in his mouth and up his nose. I walked with him until he'd started to calm down, rang home, rang vets for advice and then as he'd calmed down sufficiently, got back on and walked home.
I've got stings all down my leg that side. But I've just pulled FIFTY bee stings out of him - his nose, his shoulder, his side, his belly, his SHEATH, his back legs, all up and down them.
He hasn't been able to eat his tea as his lips are obviously sore, but he can eat once the foods in his mouth.
Poor poor fellow, but for the amount of stings on him he could have been sooooo much worse. I'm very proud of him for stopping for me despite just about the best reason to keep galloping away!
As the vet said, at least he got us out of the swarms range pretty darn quick!!
So please send my poor silly boy good vibes for a quick reduction in swelling and soreness..... anyone know the homeopathic remedy for stings???
Will go and check on him again later, but when last seen he was getting very frustrated with not being able to pull his hay out of his haynet as fast as usual cos his lips are too sore to touch it....
Came round the corner, and Magic swung his head to grab a bit of tree on our way past.... yes, I'm very bad and let him browse - but I always look to see what he's choosing.... and today it looked like an oak tree, but it had a big wet looking brown blob in it - looked like a bunch of brown seeds all gummed together.....
Then at the instant he stuck his nose in it I realised what it was.......
A BEE'S NEST........ AAAARRRRGHGGGHHHHH!!
Well, I don't think either of us have experienced a swarm of bees before but they are FAST!! There was an immediate zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ing and then we are bolting up the field with him bronking and racing and trying to rub nose on the floor at flat out gallop as if his life depended on it......
I've never been so close to bailing out in all my life, everytime he tried to obey me and start to pull up, he felt the stings again and went bronking off.... at one point I had no stirrups and was only on by willpower....
Fortunately eventually my attempting-to-sound-relaxed 'whoooooaaaaaa's did the trick and he stopped long enough for me to get off.... and promptly stuck his nose into the mud on the floor and straight down for a roll.... of course I had to get him up cos he had his saddle on!
I was soooo worried about him being stung in his mouth and up his nose. I walked with him until he'd started to calm down, rang home, rang vets for advice and then as he'd calmed down sufficiently, got back on and walked home.
I've got stings all down my leg that side. But I've just pulled FIFTY bee stings out of him - his nose, his shoulder, his side, his belly, his SHEATH, his back legs, all up and down them.
He hasn't been able to eat his tea as his lips are obviously sore, but he can eat once the foods in his mouth.
Poor poor fellow, but for the amount of stings on him he could have been sooooo much worse. I'm very proud of him for stopping for me despite just about the best reason to keep galloping away!
As the vet said, at least he got us out of the swarms range pretty darn quick!!
So please send my poor silly boy good vibes for a quick reduction in swelling and soreness..... anyone know the homeopathic remedy for stings???
Will go and check on him again later, but when last seen he was getting very frustrated with not being able to pull his hay out of his haynet as fast as usual cos his lips are too sore to touch it....
Friday, July 27, 2007
Back to the punishing schooling schedule!
We went up today and he's had two days off....
He was rather 'jolly' to say the least.... not helped that M wanted to ride her 4yr old and wanted us behaving....
He was spooky and kept launching past a pile of poles as if snakes set on killing him. But in his defence he then continued to work nicely whilst skip was delivered... bless.
He was lovely in my hand from the word go, a bit reactive at times, and a bit over-sensitive/paranoid, but not really surprised given his fitness and two days off.
Tried the running trot routine but was smartly told where to get off- you can tell when he's in tense cant/wont/shant work mode, cos if you ask for medium trot, you either get running trot or canter... neither of which is helpful. Spent 15 mins sorting the trot out and got some really good mediums.
Then onto canter, he's still above himself so cantered a good few times round the whole school on each rein. Then set about some work. Walk/canter/walk fabby, even simple changes not too pre-emptive. Good walks between especially if I focus on decent walk and trot if it isn't working.
Then counter canter, felt fine as just a 15m circle back to track and to end of long side, so I asked for full short side and he did it beautifully without any loss of rhythm or balance or roundness. So did the other way too (left lead) and that worked as well.... shocking.
Had a breather after many many walk/canter/walk trans, would never have been able to do that many before, he's soooo much more settled about them. But I need to make sure I ride canter forward even when collecting to walk... or it falls apart and we can't get clean downward trans. Funny I am now really getting the 'kick to collect' thing in trot - don't use any reins, just think collect and use legs.... but can I do it in canter?? And yet when I remember it improves the canter and the trans so much!
Then back to trot - got the usual, but I'm tired and have had a rest, surely not MORE. So back to medium trot/halt/trot/medium trot/collect/medium/halt etc etc. He gets the message really quick now so then I can focus on other stuff. Some mediums where just fantastic -almost slower rhythm than the working!
Then he started the losing straightness evasion as M came in, so I did loads of trans then got trot really good and did half pass each way, trying to keep the big trot....
M said it was really good half pass :-))
So ok, mediums aren't his thing cos for all our trying, and despite him being as off the forehand as is physically possible, judges will always want to say on forehand because its so much BIGGER, it draws your eye. But they won't be able to say much about our sideways stuff!!! It just gets better by the day. It was simply a case of sit in HP position, he positions shoulders and off we go! If only shoulder in was that simple.
Still, will have a lesson next week to work on our changes and have a bash at more sideways.
Was really pleased with him today, and despite being an eejit, he's soo much nicer to ride when he's up for it, it was nice that although he started so tense and wiggly today, he still did his best work ever so there is no excuse now!
He was rather 'jolly' to say the least.... not helped that M wanted to ride her 4yr old and wanted us behaving....
He was spooky and kept launching past a pile of poles as if snakes set on killing him. But in his defence he then continued to work nicely whilst skip was delivered... bless.
He was lovely in my hand from the word go, a bit reactive at times, and a bit over-sensitive/paranoid, but not really surprised given his fitness and two days off.
Tried the running trot routine but was smartly told where to get off- you can tell when he's in tense cant/wont/shant work mode, cos if you ask for medium trot, you either get running trot or canter... neither of which is helpful. Spent 15 mins sorting the trot out and got some really good mediums.
Then onto canter, he's still above himself so cantered a good few times round the whole school on each rein. Then set about some work. Walk/canter/walk fabby, even simple changes not too pre-emptive. Good walks between especially if I focus on decent walk and trot if it isn't working.
Then counter canter, felt fine as just a 15m circle back to track and to end of long side, so I asked for full short side and he did it beautifully without any loss of rhythm or balance or roundness. So did the other way too (left lead) and that worked as well.... shocking.
Had a breather after many many walk/canter/walk trans, would never have been able to do that many before, he's soooo much more settled about them. But I need to make sure I ride canter forward even when collecting to walk... or it falls apart and we can't get clean downward trans. Funny I am now really getting the 'kick to collect' thing in trot - don't use any reins, just think collect and use legs.... but can I do it in canter?? And yet when I remember it improves the canter and the trans so much!
Then back to trot - got the usual, but I'm tired and have had a rest, surely not MORE. So back to medium trot/halt/trot/medium trot/collect/medium/halt etc etc. He gets the message really quick now so then I can focus on other stuff. Some mediums where just fantastic -almost slower rhythm than the working!
Then he started the losing straightness evasion as M came in, so I did loads of trans then got trot really good and did half pass each way, trying to keep the big trot....
M said it was really good half pass :-))
So ok, mediums aren't his thing cos for all our trying, and despite him being as off the forehand as is physically possible, judges will always want to say on forehand because its so much BIGGER, it draws your eye. But they won't be able to say much about our sideways stuff!!! It just gets better by the day. It was simply a case of sit in HP position, he positions shoulders and off we go! If only shoulder in was that simple.
Still, will have a lesson next week to work on our changes and have a bash at more sideways.
Was really pleased with him today, and despite being an eejit, he's soo much nicer to ride when he's up for it, it was nice that although he started so tense and wiggly today, he still did his best work ever so there is no excuse now!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Motivation reclaimed - Finally!!
Well, I felt like death this morning, especially after wading round the paddocks in the rain poo-picking soggy poo! Lovely.
Had promised I'd go up and school, but if I hadn't had to deliver M some Magnesium I don't think I'd have gone....
We got there and it poured. So we chatted for a bit.... about how thoroughly de-motivating the weather is being. I'm soooo motivated to go jumping, but can hardly raise the enthusiasm to do anything in the rain, certainly not schooling.
Anyway, it stopped. Got tacked up quickly and got on. He did fabby medium walk straight away on a SHORT rein - unheard of!
Proceeded to go like a superstar who's actually been schooled in the not too distant past, not a pony who's mother has gone allergic to it!
Lovely trot - practiced shortening/big half halts straight away though, which helped. First few mediums were pants and running, but it just gave me something to ride back to collected with.... he soon got the idea - NO sewing machine trot and NO running allowed!
Canter was fabby. Walk/canters soft and round straight away, counter canter beautifully balanced. 10m circles great. He did start the blocking canter on spot routine but that just reminded me to go medium for a bit and keep the engine connected.
Trot better again after canters... then got a bit running as he decided he'd done enough, so we did halt/trot/halt and halt/medium trot/halt, and that soon got him back on his hocks again!
He was just lovely in my hand, so light but round and I hardly had to do a thing with the reins, literally all half halting from back and legs, whooohooo!
Right canter wasn't quite as good as left (the new black is white etc) as since he's had his hip tweaked he prefers the left lead. But it was good, just not quite as consistent in my hand, which is always a big clue.
Then we did big canter off back, to simple change, to big canter off back again.
He is still far fitter than I thought he was, I MUST get back to going up twice a week as it really is the best thing for his fitness, especially with limited galloping available due to floodage.
I say I need it to keep him fit, but I stopped to talk to M and he wasn't breathing at all and I was very red in the face, so it might be necessary for MY benefit!!
We finished with some sideways, he was obedient and straight, but M was watching and said he just loses his big trot - losing confidence? I said more likely me, I won't push him forward in case I lose straightness, esp in shoulder in....
Overall, well worth it... has got me back on track and is sooooo much more interesting than plodding up the road!!! Hooray!
Friday we are hopefully going to ride over Bredon again, if not I'll go schooling anyway. Then a quiet week or so looking for parties to go to!!
Had promised I'd go up and school, but if I hadn't had to deliver M some Magnesium I don't think I'd have gone....
We got there and it poured. So we chatted for a bit.... about how thoroughly de-motivating the weather is being. I'm soooo motivated to go jumping, but can hardly raise the enthusiasm to do anything in the rain, certainly not schooling.
Anyway, it stopped. Got tacked up quickly and got on. He did fabby medium walk straight away on a SHORT rein - unheard of!
Proceeded to go like a superstar who's actually been schooled in the not too distant past, not a pony who's mother has gone allergic to it!
Lovely trot - practiced shortening/big half halts straight away though, which helped. First few mediums were pants and running, but it just gave me something to ride back to collected with.... he soon got the idea - NO sewing machine trot and NO running allowed!
Canter was fabby. Walk/canters soft and round straight away, counter canter beautifully balanced. 10m circles great. He did start the blocking canter on spot routine but that just reminded me to go medium for a bit and keep the engine connected.
Trot better again after canters... then got a bit running as he decided he'd done enough, so we did halt/trot/halt and halt/medium trot/halt, and that soon got him back on his hocks again!
He was just lovely in my hand, so light but round and I hardly had to do a thing with the reins, literally all half halting from back and legs, whooohooo!
Right canter wasn't quite as good as left (the new black is white etc) as since he's had his hip tweaked he prefers the left lead. But it was good, just not quite as consistent in my hand, which is always a big clue.
Then we did big canter off back, to simple change, to big canter off back again.
He is still far fitter than I thought he was, I MUST get back to going up twice a week as it really is the best thing for his fitness, especially with limited galloping available due to floodage.
I say I need it to keep him fit, but I stopped to talk to M and he wasn't breathing at all and I was very red in the face, so it might be necessary for MY benefit!!
We finished with some sideways, he was obedient and straight, but M was watching and said he just loses his big trot - losing confidence? I said more likely me, I won't push him forward in case I lose straightness, esp in shoulder in....
Overall, well worth it... has got me back on track and is sooooo much more interesting than plodding up the road!!! Hooray!
Friday we are hopefully going to ride over Bredon again, if not I'll go schooling anyway. Then a quiet week or so looking for parties to go to!!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
And...
I've been looking forward to Sunday all week, madly hacking and cantering everywhere.... and then yesterday of course it was mega-rain/flooding etc etc, so my ODE has been cancelled AGAIN!
I suppose I should count myself lucky that I've only lost two events so far this year, the real tally if I hadn't had finals could have been much more.
So I trawled the internet for some SJ to go to tomorrow, but to no avail, so it looks like we are without a party of any description. On the plus side it will make me get off my a*se and take him schooling cos if I have to hack down the lane at a walk once more I think we'll BOTH go stir crazy.
Have put a late entry into the NEXT Aston, 6th Aug, so fingers crossed we can get in. And have entered Solihull the weekend after.... am just considering whether to do Milton Keynes the week after that as well, cos then there isn't any until end Sept due to the only one clashing with our hols.... oh decisions decisions, I'd do all three if the ground was ok, but don't want to do three running on hard ground or deep going..... If only I had a crystal ball, life would be so easy!!!
I suppose I should count myself lucky that I've only lost two events so far this year, the real tally if I hadn't had finals could have been much more.
So I trawled the internet for some SJ to go to tomorrow, but to no avail, so it looks like we are without a party of any description. On the plus side it will make me get off my a*se and take him schooling cos if I have to hack down the lane at a walk once more I think we'll BOTH go stir crazy.
Have put a late entry into the NEXT Aston, 6th Aug, so fingers crossed we can get in. And have entered Solihull the weekend after.... am just considering whether to do Milton Keynes the week after that as well, cos then there isn't any until end Sept due to the only one clashing with our hols.... oh decisions decisions, I'd do all three if the ground was ok, but don't want to do three running on hard ground or deep going..... If only I had a crystal ball, life would be so easy!!!
Totally irrelevent information.....
But I got my degree results through and I got a FIRST!!! Woohooooo!!
:-)))))))
:-)))))))
Sunday, July 15, 2007
A good day!
Well I had a surprise when I went to walk the course yesterday - the ground was clay and ROCK hard. And they had mown it to within an inch of its life, so no help there then.... and I was thinking they may cancel with the wet?? Haha.
But then it rained most of last night and all this morning..... hmmmm....
So we got there, he was batting about in the trailer when he realised he was at a P.R.O.P.E.R. party, not just that dressage rubbish! Got him out and ready and having seen his frame of mind I put my neck strap on!
Went to warm up for dressage, but first had to negotiate past the trade stands, rope fences with flapping plastic on, generators, tractors and portaloos. We stood on the brink for a while with me hoping someone else would walk past (as seeing horses in front of him wasn't even helping!) and then very slowly we inched our way past. I was proud of him cos he was so on his toes I thought we'd go at warp speed, but by letting him take his time (curtosy of the behaviour clinic last weekend!) we did it quietly. :-))
Warmed up nicely.... until the heavens opened, when he started the head waggling/leaping/plunging routine. Sigh.
Our turn to go... had been pleasantly surprised by the grip in the warm up (which was small) even though there was no grass cover and the clay had turned to a sliding rink. Then got in the arena to find it was very very slippy, not helped by the layer of wet mown grass on top. Oh, and it was on a downhill slope to the judge, great. He did some nice work, canters were lovely, trot reasonable, very good in places. No slips or skids, which was amazing given he was STILL trying to spook at the white boards. Then as we are on free walk leaving the arena, he does the BIGGEST spook, and fell over on his nose. If I hadn't been so cross with him for being an eejit it would have been really funny!
Got 41 penalties, but a 3 for one transition (well harsh!) and a 5 for my riding... think that's a world record in badness! I had to laugh! But we had quite a few 8s to make up for it, so c'est la vie.
Then had time to go and walk the showjumping and BOY were all the turns tight!! Eeek! Good practice for our new slow showjumping canter!!!
Went to warm up for SJ and its just a brown ice rink. The horses warming up with studs on are slipping and sliding and stopping into the practice fence. I cantered once each way, testing the grip, and as long as he stayed balanced it was fine. Then jumped the cross pole once then upright once. Waited for at least half an hour (yawn).
Went in, had wild spook at unused filler lying at side of arena. Then pinged round clear! 2-3 was really steep dog leg... he was locked on straight on after 2, so it was a last ditch effort to turn to 3 and he had to drop to trot before a 95cm spread in a slippy slidey bog (as everyone had stopped at it already). But i fairness, he put the effort in, I tried my best for getting deep, and when I forgot, he remembered. Had another momentary blip down triple bar to upright to style, but again, after a bit of a lock on issue, he sorted it beautifully. treble and double to wall he just flew!
Never for a moment felt like he was worried about the ground, and never slipped or went defensive, which was rare as all the others were sliding all over the place!!
Then XC.... jumped practice fence once (I'll soon be able to stop jumping them at all, hahaaha!!) then our go... 1st fence was tiny, so had obligatory backing off 'ooooh my god thats scawy' moment, then off we went. bounced up the step to roll top at three, then drop palisade at 4.... rather ruined by MEGA spook at another class's fence on landing... only just made the 90 degree turn to 5. Then up hill and over chair (passing horse going back other way.... nearly a nappy moment). Up big hill to 7, which I'd clocked as spooky - top of hill, into wood and a saw mill, with a saw on left, log on top of square.... I didn't get him back quite to our SJ canter, and could feel him back off, so started riding and growling, but TBH the canter wasn't there - he tried to run out, I got after him, so he crawled up to it and scrambled over (phew!). Taught him a lesson that running out isn't an option, but NEITHER is stopping then jumping. Round to picnic table, then house to drop into water.... he was FAB - flew through it, but wanted to stop in the water (bless!). Big step out, then round and down two HUGE steps at top of hill (cue lean back and reins on buckle = gallop down hill as fast as possible!) White palisade in wood, then 3 strides to big log at 90 degree angle, then 90 degree angle back to wood pile.... jeeepers!! He hadn't clocked log and we were heading for a tree but bless him he sorted it!!
Then down hill and round to ditch/skinny combo - pinged through! Round to trakhener, avoiding dumb pedestrians, then big hedge, to train (had a good look at this!) then flower bed to finish!
Clear and inside the time!! Woohooo!! the ground was horrendous - boggy clay and deep and slidey on the hills - but he did fantastically- never a moments doubt with the ground or his jumping, and people were coming back from the course saying 'watch out for number.... its really slidey!'
Chuffed to bits with him. He felt like a pro - ok, I still need to keep hands low ESPECIALLY when he locks against me, but otherwise it was foot perfect from both of us, yippee!!
Oh, and we came 5th!! :-))
Roll on Aston le Walls next weekend and pray for no more rain... although it isn't clay like that there, so won't be as bad anyway.... I hope!!
Edited to add - rubbish photos over very small trakhener here: http://www.actionshots.me.uk/gallery//displayimage.php?pos=-51508
and http://www.actionshots.me.uk/gallery//displayimage.php?pos=-51509
But then it rained most of last night and all this morning..... hmmmm....
So we got there, he was batting about in the trailer when he realised he was at a P.R.O.P.E.R. party, not just that dressage rubbish! Got him out and ready and having seen his frame of mind I put my neck strap on!
Went to warm up for dressage, but first had to negotiate past the trade stands, rope fences with flapping plastic on, generators, tractors and portaloos. We stood on the brink for a while with me hoping someone else would walk past (as seeing horses in front of him wasn't even helping!) and then very slowly we inched our way past. I was proud of him cos he was so on his toes I thought we'd go at warp speed, but by letting him take his time (curtosy of the behaviour clinic last weekend!) we did it quietly. :-))
Warmed up nicely.... until the heavens opened, when he started the head waggling/leaping/plunging routine. Sigh.
Our turn to go... had been pleasantly surprised by the grip in the warm up (which was small) even though there was no grass cover and the clay had turned to a sliding rink. Then got in the arena to find it was very very slippy, not helped by the layer of wet mown grass on top. Oh, and it was on a downhill slope to the judge, great. He did some nice work, canters were lovely, trot reasonable, very good in places. No slips or skids, which was amazing given he was STILL trying to spook at the white boards. Then as we are on free walk leaving the arena, he does the BIGGEST spook, and fell over on his nose. If I hadn't been so cross with him for being an eejit it would have been really funny!
Got 41 penalties, but a 3 for one transition (well harsh!) and a 5 for my riding... think that's a world record in badness! I had to laugh! But we had quite a few 8s to make up for it, so c'est la vie.
Then had time to go and walk the showjumping and BOY were all the turns tight!! Eeek! Good practice for our new slow showjumping canter!!!
Went to warm up for SJ and its just a brown ice rink. The horses warming up with studs on are slipping and sliding and stopping into the practice fence. I cantered once each way, testing the grip, and as long as he stayed balanced it was fine. Then jumped the cross pole once then upright once. Waited for at least half an hour (yawn).
Went in, had wild spook at unused filler lying at side of arena. Then pinged round clear! 2-3 was really steep dog leg... he was locked on straight on after 2, so it was a last ditch effort to turn to 3 and he had to drop to trot before a 95cm spread in a slippy slidey bog (as everyone had stopped at it already). But i fairness, he put the effort in, I tried my best for getting deep, and when I forgot, he remembered. Had another momentary blip down triple bar to upright to style, but again, after a bit of a lock on issue, he sorted it beautifully. treble and double to wall he just flew!
Never for a moment felt like he was worried about the ground, and never slipped or went defensive, which was rare as all the others were sliding all over the place!!
Then XC.... jumped practice fence once (I'll soon be able to stop jumping them at all, hahaaha!!) then our go... 1st fence was tiny, so had obligatory backing off 'ooooh my god thats scawy' moment, then off we went. bounced up the step to roll top at three, then drop palisade at 4.... rather ruined by MEGA spook at another class's fence on landing... only just made the 90 degree turn to 5. Then up hill and over chair (passing horse going back other way.... nearly a nappy moment). Up big hill to 7, which I'd clocked as spooky - top of hill, into wood and a saw mill, with a saw on left, log on top of square.... I didn't get him back quite to our SJ canter, and could feel him back off, so started riding and growling, but TBH the canter wasn't there - he tried to run out, I got after him, so he crawled up to it and scrambled over (phew!). Taught him a lesson that running out isn't an option, but NEITHER is stopping then jumping. Round to picnic table, then house to drop into water.... he was FAB - flew through it, but wanted to stop in the water (bless!). Big step out, then round and down two HUGE steps at top of hill (cue lean back and reins on buckle = gallop down hill as fast as possible!) White palisade in wood, then 3 strides to big log at 90 degree angle, then 90 degree angle back to wood pile.... jeeepers!! He hadn't clocked log and we were heading for a tree but bless him he sorted it!!
Then down hill and round to ditch/skinny combo - pinged through! Round to trakhener, avoiding dumb pedestrians, then big hedge, to train (had a good look at this!) then flower bed to finish!
Clear and inside the time!! Woohooo!! the ground was horrendous - boggy clay and deep and slidey on the hills - but he did fantastically- never a moments doubt with the ground or his jumping, and people were coming back from the course saying 'watch out for number.... its really slidey!'
Chuffed to bits with him. He felt like a pro - ok, I still need to keep hands low ESPECIALLY when he locks against me, but otherwise it was foot perfect from both of us, yippee!!
Oh, and we came 5th!! :-))
Roll on Aston le Walls next weekend and pray for no more rain... although it isn't clay like that there, so won't be as bad anyway.... I hope!!
Edited to add - rubbish photos over very small trakhener here: http://www.actionshots.me.uk/gallery//displayimage.php?pos=-51508
and http://www.actionshots.me.uk/gallery//displayimage.php?pos=-51509
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tentative Yippee!!!
Well, he had a treatment on Tuesday, which comprised of osteopathy on his left hip and then bowen. His neck was much better than first treatment (which I'd felt anyway), but his left hip/pelvis was much worse. Probably from skidding into fence at rate of knots attacking the new boy.
So he had yesterday off, and we've just been out for a hack this morning....
And he's FABBY! Was off at a march (apart from the now obligatory drag-me-onto-verge-for-both-poo-and-wee as soon as we set off!) and felt absolutely great. Really long striding and felt really connected.
I've decided its like when the brakes start getting worn on your car... you don't really notice as its such a gradual change for the worse, but when they are mended BOY do you feel the difference! Well Magic has been like that for the last month or so.
We were only out for a gentle hack, but we tried a trot and for the first time in a month I couldn't tell which diagonal I was on as they were identical (they usually are with him, but haven't been recently, off-fore/near-hind has definately been shorter and bouncier)
And he marched down all the hills and he didn't puff once all the way round.
So fingers firmly crossed that all remains well and we actually get to our party on Sunday, despite having to cancel todays jumpies outing :-(
So he had yesterday off, and we've just been out for a hack this morning....
And he's FABBY! Was off at a march (apart from the now obligatory drag-me-onto-verge-for-both-poo-and-wee as soon as we set off!) and felt absolutely great. Really long striding and felt really connected.
I've decided its like when the brakes start getting worn on your car... you don't really notice as its such a gradual change for the worse, but when they are mended BOY do you feel the difference! Well Magic has been like that for the last month or so.
We were only out for a gentle hack, but we tried a trot and for the first time in a month I couldn't tell which diagonal I was on as they were identical (they usually are with him, but haven't been recently, off-fore/near-hind has definately been shorter and bouncier)
And he marched down all the hills and he didn't puff once all the way round.
So fingers firmly crossed that all remains well and we actually get to our party on Sunday, despite having to cancel todays jumpies outing :-(
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
These things are sent to try us!
Yesterday I rode him for the first time since his Bowen. He was loooooaaaadss better. Like normal! Spooky, head up, forward going, long striding walk etc etc. Trot was fine. So phew, big sigh of relief.
Today we went schooling, he was very good, nice and light in hand and round, and accepting transitions within pace as well as between. But canter didn't seem quite as good.... We did about 40mins and the trot got better and better. The canter wasnt BAD, but not his usual self, and almost a bit behind leg.
Got M to come out and have a look (without telling her what's been going on!) and she said he's definately dropping his pelvis to the left. Sigh.
So now I have a quandry as jumping lesson thurs and then finally our first ODE on Sunday....
So have called bodyworker, cancelled lesson and am fingers crossed he'll be sorted for sunday.
He hasn't been himself since Norfolk and I'm getting a bit exasperated! The difficulty is, no one else (with the exception of M!!) would think there was anything amiss.... but I know!
So, now we see what is said as to whether Sunday is on or not... actually hoping it rains and gets cancelled now, but doubt that will work when I actually WANT it to! Plus A-le-W next week...
In fairness he is MUCH better since treatment on Thurs. And as new horse arrived yesterday and Magic spent most of the afternoon (whilst I was out) galloping down the field and skidding to a halt in front of the yard fence, I don't know why I'm surprised that he's not 100%.
Fitness wise though he seems a lot better, so think when we get body sorted we'll be OK. The additional huffing and puffing must have been related to his soreness.
Today we went schooling, he was very good, nice and light in hand and round, and accepting transitions within pace as well as between. But canter didn't seem quite as good.... We did about 40mins and the trot got better and better. The canter wasnt BAD, but not his usual self, and almost a bit behind leg.
Got M to come out and have a look (without telling her what's been going on!) and she said he's definately dropping his pelvis to the left. Sigh.
So now I have a quandry as jumping lesson thurs and then finally our first ODE on Sunday....
So have called bodyworker, cancelled lesson and am fingers crossed he'll be sorted for sunday.
He hasn't been himself since Norfolk and I'm getting a bit exasperated! The difficulty is, no one else (with the exception of M!!) would think there was anything amiss.... but I know!
So, now we see what is said as to whether Sunday is on or not... actually hoping it rains and gets cancelled now, but doubt that will work when I actually WANT it to! Plus A-le-W next week...
In fairness he is MUCH better since treatment on Thurs. And as new horse arrived yesterday and Magic spent most of the afternoon (whilst I was out) galloping down the field and skidding to a halt in front of the yard fence, I don't know why I'm surprised that he's not 100%.
Fitness wise though he seems a lot better, so think when we get body sorted we'll be OK. The additional huffing and puffing must have been related to his soreness.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Hmmm... I was right....
Well he definately WAS off.... he is hacking with his head really low (unheard of!) and does sewing machine trot on the road, but seems fine once off the road.
Bowen today, apparently he had problems with is TMJ and down his neck, and couldn't flex left but could flex right. When I asked if it could cause him to do what he's been doing, the answer was yes, as the big muscle at base of neck attaches to TMJ and so head down and tight shoulders is to keep that muscle loose and therefore not put pressure on TMJ. Makes sense... Amazing what a boy can do to himself whilst throwing teddies from pram for having his teeth done.
He cheered up considerably during his treatment and was busy stomping round the yard this evening being bossy, so can only assume he's feeling better. She said he probably will be stiff for a day or too as his neck was quite locked. He's got Fri, Sat and Sun off anyway, so will take him for an easy hack on Monday and re-assess then. Hopefully he'll be all systems go and we'll still be on for plan A of schooling on Tues.
Am really glad I didn't take him schooling the day after teeth now - he wouldn't have told me on a surface, it was literally only on the hard road in trot that he was weird.
So, few days off whilst I'm away, happy hols ponypants!!
Bowen today, apparently he had problems with is TMJ and down his neck, and couldn't flex left but could flex right. When I asked if it could cause him to do what he's been doing, the answer was yes, as the big muscle at base of neck attaches to TMJ and so head down and tight shoulders is to keep that muscle loose and therefore not put pressure on TMJ. Makes sense... Amazing what a boy can do to himself whilst throwing teddies from pram for having his teeth done.
He cheered up considerably during his treatment and was busy stomping round the yard this evening being bossy, so can only assume he's feeling better. She said he probably will be stiff for a day or too as his neck was quite locked. He's got Fri, Sat and Sun off anyway, so will take him for an easy hack on Monday and re-assess then. Hopefully he'll be all systems go and we'll still be on for plan A of schooling on Tues.
Am really glad I didn't take him schooling the day after teeth now - he wouldn't have told me on a surface, it was literally only on the hard road in trot that he was weird.
So, few days off whilst I'm away, happy hols ponypants!!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Needless to say.....
It was cancelled, sob.
And we were soooo ready and up for it. Oh well, roll on the next one in ten days and SOMEONE TURN OFF THAT DARN TAP!!!!!
So we have been official happy hackers. On sunday we only took the dogs round the fields, which amounts to a grand total of half an hour in the saddle!
Monday we went galloping (in the few non-underwater fields that are left) as I wanted him quiet to have his teeth done that day..... it failed miserably as he was an opinionated cuss. So next time he's having the sedalin and he can LIKE it.
Today I'd planned to go schooling, but I felt having had his teeth done yesterday I'd let him off and we'd go hacking. So we went for a canter hack with Ben, with one canter and even a TROT on grass!!! Unheard of for Ben to do trotting and not cantering on grass, bless him.
First trot on the road Magic was not up for it at all, proper sewing machine trot... but by the time we got into the fields he could do fast canter ok... hmmmm.
I think he probably is a bit stiff as you should have seen where he was putting his head whilst having his teeth done - he spent half the time with it in the rafters, and the other half with his head turned 180 degrees and resting on his OWN ribcage.... looked very oww but he seemed happy like it.
Happy hacking again Wed and Thurs, then Bowen on thurs and the weekend off as I'm away training. Then back to the grindstone next week and praying for sun and wind to dry the ground for our next ODE next sunday.
Fingers firmly crossed!
And we were soooo ready and up for it. Oh well, roll on the next one in ten days and SOMEONE TURN OFF THAT DARN TAP!!!!!
So we have been official happy hackers. On sunday we only took the dogs round the fields, which amounts to a grand total of half an hour in the saddle!
Monday we went galloping (in the few non-underwater fields that are left) as I wanted him quiet to have his teeth done that day..... it failed miserably as he was an opinionated cuss. So next time he's having the sedalin and he can LIKE it.
Today I'd planned to go schooling, but I felt having had his teeth done yesterday I'd let him off and we'd go hacking. So we went for a canter hack with Ben, with one canter and even a TROT on grass!!! Unheard of for Ben to do trotting and not cantering on grass, bless him.
First trot on the road Magic was not up for it at all, proper sewing machine trot... but by the time we got into the fields he could do fast canter ok... hmmmm.
I think he probably is a bit stiff as you should have seen where he was putting his head whilst having his teeth done - he spent half the time with it in the rafters, and the other half with his head turned 180 degrees and resting on his OWN ribcage.... looked very oww but he seemed happy like it.
Happy hacking again Wed and Thurs, then Bowen on thurs and the weekend off as I'm away training. Then back to the grindstone next week and praying for sun and wind to dry the ground for our next ODE next sunday.
Fingers firmly crossed!
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