You wouldn't believe how much longer he was in the neck warming up, sob!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Video
Edited to show just the bits "this" end as nothing to see the other end and takes for hours to load as it is!
You wouldn't believe how much longer he was in the neck warming up, sob!
You wouldn't believe how much longer he was in the neck warming up, sob!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Stressage
Oh yes. The ears? Had them for most of the warm up, but not much of the test :-)
He warmed up well, concentrating on me and generally trying very hard. Left canter is a complete mare at the mo.... am trying to analyse why but am not really succeeding..... something to do with sliding off the right side of my horse though perhaps?
We warmed up (mainly in walk) for nearly an hour. So I'd cooked myself by the time it was our go. Although thighs are fine today, so obviously wasn't as cooked as I thought!
We went in and he was madly spooking at the wings along the sides of the arena. TBH I let him as I tried once to get the ears but he took it as a reason to be even more spooked. So I let him walk round like a tapir til the bell went.
Then we picked up trot, spooked wildly at A and entered.... He was very tense in the test but I think we both tried our level best. I gave it everything but came out very despondant that my best is sooooo far from being able to successfully match his forces.
He was very spooky, ce la vie.... not helped by them collecting sheets from the judges box AS I WAS TURNING AT C. Now, that peed me off a bit. Since when do they collect sheets in the middle of someone's test? I wouldn't have minded if I'd been the other end, but it gave Magic all he needed to spook at C everytime. So I did my test in a 35 by 18 arena to avoid levitating. Sigh.
Course, he'd have thought I was cross with him, which I wasn't!
Having said that, he was not too bad with the white boards. And we had moments where I could just soften and let him go and he didn't run off (we were going far too slow anyway cos I was soooo not in control of the speed of his legs!).
I'm so glad I got it videod, even though its a bit far away. I came out thinking I'd ridden in my old hunched over, lean right forward way, so it was nice to play it back and see that although he looked tense and like I needed to ride forwards, I was pretty upright and he looks pretty polite.
I even got to the point in right canter where I started half halting, setting him up and then letting him go. I think he will have appreciated that.... I didn't just hang on for grim death as usual.
His canter was pretty sideways and I can see how not straight we are in canter... lots more to work on with withers in and head/neck out to straighten us up, but the left canter looks better than expected (!) so just goes to show I'm feeling much smaller stuff now than I used to.
We got 60%. Given the tension I guess we didn't deserve more but I can see potential there now that I didn't think I'd ever be able to tap... maybe a few more stressage outings and he'll learn to relax at that too.
Then we went jumpies. The jumps were tiny but I was able to focus on hands down and control and keep the canter rhythm, which he seems to be fooling around with just now... he's doing the "I need to drop back to trot to have a good peer at it" routine... but for now I'm letting him as long as he still flows and jumps... its not my fault his peering trot is the most square wheeled in the world, I just have to try to ride it properly! He went clear and is getting more relaxed jumpies.
Dan on the other hand, warmed up beautifully for stressage, even if silly at times to get to Magic, then refused to go into the main arena. at.all. Lots of showing everyone his tummy. Not even going to take a lead from a handy person. Magic and I had to lead him in, but then of course I worried he'd show the judge his belly and leave the arena in his test. But he didn't, phew. Test was tense but everything in the right place. His paces have changed so much and I think he really needs to just chill out a bit... but its mostly Magic so the sooner he's partying with Max the better! He then jumped round clear in his dressage kit, to prove that the jumpies bit is fun and easy!
Dan and Magic jumping on Sun, then flat lesson for Max and Dan on Tues, and a hackety on Bredon for Max on Fri, before Magic and Max's first dual outing on Sun for stressage (P is away).
Busy busy!
He warmed up well, concentrating on me and generally trying very hard. Left canter is a complete mare at the mo.... am trying to analyse why but am not really succeeding..... something to do with sliding off the right side of my horse though perhaps?
We warmed up (mainly in walk) for nearly an hour. So I'd cooked myself by the time it was our go. Although thighs are fine today, so obviously wasn't as cooked as I thought!
We went in and he was madly spooking at the wings along the sides of the arena. TBH I let him as I tried once to get the ears but he took it as a reason to be even more spooked. So I let him walk round like a tapir til the bell went.
Then we picked up trot, spooked wildly at A and entered.... He was very tense in the test but I think we both tried our level best. I gave it everything but came out very despondant that my best is sooooo far from being able to successfully match his forces.
He was very spooky, ce la vie.... not helped by them collecting sheets from the judges box AS I WAS TURNING AT C. Now, that peed me off a bit. Since when do they collect sheets in the middle of someone's test? I wouldn't have minded if I'd been the other end, but it gave Magic all he needed to spook at C everytime. So I did my test in a 35 by 18 arena to avoid levitating. Sigh.
Course, he'd have thought I was cross with him, which I wasn't!
Having said that, he was not too bad with the white boards. And we had moments where I could just soften and let him go and he didn't run off (we were going far too slow anyway cos I was soooo not in control of the speed of his legs!).
I'm so glad I got it videod, even though its a bit far away. I came out thinking I'd ridden in my old hunched over, lean right forward way, so it was nice to play it back and see that although he looked tense and like I needed to ride forwards, I was pretty upright and he looks pretty polite.
I even got to the point in right canter where I started half halting, setting him up and then letting him go. I think he will have appreciated that.... I didn't just hang on for grim death as usual.
His canter was pretty sideways and I can see how not straight we are in canter... lots more to work on with withers in and head/neck out to straighten us up, but the left canter looks better than expected (!) so just goes to show I'm feeling much smaller stuff now than I used to.
We got 60%. Given the tension I guess we didn't deserve more but I can see potential there now that I didn't think I'd ever be able to tap... maybe a few more stressage outings and he'll learn to relax at that too.
Then we went jumpies. The jumps were tiny but I was able to focus on hands down and control and keep the canter rhythm, which he seems to be fooling around with just now... he's doing the "I need to drop back to trot to have a good peer at it" routine... but for now I'm letting him as long as he still flows and jumps... its not my fault his peering trot is the most square wheeled in the world, I just have to try to ride it properly! He went clear and is getting more relaxed jumpies.
Dan on the other hand, warmed up beautifully for stressage, even if silly at times to get to Magic, then refused to go into the main arena. at.all. Lots of showing everyone his tummy. Not even going to take a lead from a handy person. Magic and I had to lead him in, but then of course I worried he'd show the judge his belly and leave the arena in his test. But he didn't, phew. Test was tense but everything in the right place. His paces have changed so much and I think he really needs to just chill out a bit... but its mostly Magic so the sooner he's partying with Max the better! He then jumped round clear in his dressage kit, to prove that the jumpies bit is fun and easy!
Dan and Magic jumping on Sun, then flat lesson for Max and Dan on Tues, and a hackety on Bredon for Max on Fri, before Magic and Max's first dual outing on Sun for stressage (P is away).
Busy busy!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dem ears...
So, getting a Magic's ears is a big thing... possibly the biggest thing.
And by getting his ears I mean, sideways listening ears, not pricked ears looking for lions! Because he is sooo spooky, and so ready for the lions, schooling in a field on top of a hill has been interesting over the last few years. So interesting I've rarely done it!
So this week, the clocks changed and I decided that I needed to work in the field whilst I still could. Mon they both got schooled, one night and one morning.... Tues, Magic and I had a schooling session in the dark, and then today Magic and I went out in the half light this morning, and Max and I actually managed to sneak out for a very flourescent hack in the dusk.
I needed to decide who I was taking on Thurs... and at the last count, it was Magic. I schooled Max in a normal (dressage legal) bit and after being so nice last time, he was horrid and mouthy and fighting it. He did improve, but not enough for me to feel that schooling is the right thing to do until I have his mouth quiet again. When we hacked tonight, we went in dressage legal bit and actually by the time we were coming home, he was frothing well and totally relaxed in his jaw, despite having had a busy hack. So I think I shall continue to lay off him and take him for flat lesson next tues as a first port of call.
Magic and I have schooled 3 days running then. And don't I know it. Goodness me I have to use sosoooo many muscles to keep him. To keep his ears I need to sling shot, narrow, buffer, bulldog clip, push out into my wall. And to keep the trot how I want it without resorting to reins, I need to feel like I lift my knees up, keep foot light, and repeat everything else.
I've been also doing board work when driving, as can do on Max (much narrower and smoother) but struggle on Magic. That has got better. And now it seems that I can trot both reins (in fact today, left rein trot was better than right, whooohooo). And canter right is fab, but canter left not so good....
I think I "may" loose outside seatbone out.... and I "may" push weight down into left foot.... but I think I'm zoning out so much in left canter that I haven't yet discovered if I am!
Today's canter work was the best of the three.... he was more relaxed in left canter, so although we did only a short bit, by the end I was starting to feel right seatbone had fallen off, but didn't manage to retrieve it in time.... patience, it will come!
He's still pre-emptive, but the nice thing is that even though he anticipates canter trans after we've cantered, now when I say no he relaxes straight back into the trot, plus, because I can now sit in the trot, I am consciously ALWAYS sitting before I canter, so he can't assume canter if I am ever rising.... watch this space!
So dem ears is the key to a Magic, and hacking Max tonight who was in "lala" land, I suspect they will be a big piece of the jigsaw with him too!
And by getting his ears I mean, sideways listening ears, not pricked ears looking for lions! Because he is sooo spooky, and so ready for the lions, schooling in a field on top of a hill has been interesting over the last few years. So interesting I've rarely done it!
So this week, the clocks changed and I decided that I needed to work in the field whilst I still could. Mon they both got schooled, one night and one morning.... Tues, Magic and I had a schooling session in the dark, and then today Magic and I went out in the half light this morning, and Max and I actually managed to sneak out for a very flourescent hack in the dusk.
I needed to decide who I was taking on Thurs... and at the last count, it was Magic. I schooled Max in a normal (dressage legal) bit and after being so nice last time, he was horrid and mouthy and fighting it. He did improve, but not enough for me to feel that schooling is the right thing to do until I have his mouth quiet again. When we hacked tonight, we went in dressage legal bit and actually by the time we were coming home, he was frothing well and totally relaxed in his jaw, despite having had a busy hack. So I think I shall continue to lay off him and take him for flat lesson next tues as a first port of call.
Magic and I have schooled 3 days running then. And don't I know it. Goodness me I have to use sosoooo many muscles to keep him. To keep his ears I need to sling shot, narrow, buffer, bulldog clip, push out into my wall. And to keep the trot how I want it without resorting to reins, I need to feel like I lift my knees up, keep foot light, and repeat everything else.
I've been also doing board work when driving, as can do on Max (much narrower and smoother) but struggle on Magic. That has got better. And now it seems that I can trot both reins (in fact today, left rein trot was better than right, whooohooo). And canter right is fab, but canter left not so good....
I think I "may" loose outside seatbone out.... and I "may" push weight down into left foot.... but I think I'm zoning out so much in left canter that I haven't yet discovered if I am!
Today's canter work was the best of the three.... he was more relaxed in left canter, so although we did only a short bit, by the end I was starting to feel right seatbone had fallen off, but didn't manage to retrieve it in time.... patience, it will come!
He's still pre-emptive, but the nice thing is that even though he anticipates canter trans after we've cantered, now when I say no he relaxes straight back into the trot, plus, because I can now sit in the trot, I am consciously ALWAYS sitting before I canter, so he can't assume canter if I am ever rising.... watch this space!
So dem ears is the key to a Magic, and hacking Max tonight who was in "lala" land, I suspect they will be a big piece of the jigsaw with him too!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Jumpies!
We went to Allens Hill yesterday. A traffic jam on route meant we only just arrived in time for the "Derby" class at 85cm.
As Dan and P have only jumped twice in last 3 months I'd hoped to get them there for an earlier SJ class. The Derby was very similar to arena eventing, but just without a corner. Lots of water trays, spooky flowers etc. We walked the course, and then had a quandry.
P decided that she felt more confident doing the 85 derby than the 95 pure SJ class next. I decided that as I'm trying to work on Magic calming down and relaxing when SJing, that arena eventing and lots to spook at was not on the cards today.... so we entered the 95.
Got Dan off and ready, then wandered around getting me and a very muddy Magic ready.
Couldn't go and work in or anything as knew it would set Dan off and P didn't need that.
I was terrified. Loads of people were having issues at stuff. Then they came in, Dan looking like a totally different horse since his treatments, he has a neck, a bum, a back and can reeeeaaaallly jump!
They jumped a smashing round, with just a green stop at a viaduct filler at 4. He looked like he was going to get eliminated as he ran backwards from it.... but then, as usual, once presented again, he did stop look go into it every stride, and then just popped it.
From there on in, he cleared everything. Got a bit onward and a bit flat, but P did a fantastic job of trying to keep him calm/relaxed and jumping properly. Apparently brakes were an optional extra, but from watching he looked really keen to jump and didn't look at any of the other spooky things.
The rhythm was really good too, ok a bit fast, but he wasn't getting tooo fast. Just a smidge more relaxed and it would have been perfect.
So a huge sigh of relief and off we go to warm up. Magic was very good in spooky back school with all the diggers beside. He did some lovely trot work, (and I had his ears!) and then did the most gorgeous canter work, both ways, totally soft and relaxed. Even when I started jumping the practice fence he stayed soft and jumped amazingly, spot on every time. He did try the bronks on landing a few times and seemed very pleased with himself.
Then in we go.... we got through the shoot ok, but once in the arena he napped and tried to leave. He was very very stressed. Fortunately they were having to put a fence back up, so I had time to walk him round and chill out for a circle. Then off we went. Had an appalling approach to number one, as fillers on the fenceline were going to bite him... but I stayed narrow and once he locked onto it we were flying.
1-5, I could feel I did my horrid "hocking back" hands on the last 2 strides, but I was busy trying to be soft and keep the canter from my body that I did "zoning out" on approach as well as landing, sigh. After 5, I remembered what Marie said about hands down, and so from there on it was much better. Tried to keep him relaxed, and for some reason (well we know the reason really!) steering is sooooo much easier, he just flowed round corners, and was never doing the silly stressed lock-on to wrong fence (easier in a huge arena, I grant you!). He did seem to relax through the round. The jump off fences were 1m, so I'm back to jumping the right sort of height after 2 outings in new saddle and snaffle.
He just pinged everything, it felt so effortless, and even when he jumped me out, I could stay in balance. The big things are - iron bar thighs, push toes/shins into resistance... and as I remembered half way through - hands DOWN. And then coming home I realised I need to concentrate more on pushing my core too.... that definately went out of the window, along with "land".
So I probably did zone out a lot, but it was a fab double clear and he did get progressively more relaxed and trusting. I need to keep getting him out jumping courses, no matter how big/small until I "have" what I need to do as well as I've got it on the flat.
Came home on the back of that as didn't want to then stress him out doing the next derby class.
Hopefully we are well on the way to relaxing a Magic. Funny how this time last year we were in pelham, spurs and stick and now we in snaffle, no leg (!) and no stick. All because of changing how I'm sitting. Fanbloomintastic. :-)
Stressage on Thurs, but there's clear round there too so will probably pop round that as well, then jumpies again on Sunday.
Might have changed my mind again and decided to take Magic on thurs.... but not for definate!
As Dan and P have only jumped twice in last 3 months I'd hoped to get them there for an earlier SJ class. The Derby was very similar to arena eventing, but just without a corner. Lots of water trays, spooky flowers etc. We walked the course, and then had a quandry.
P decided that she felt more confident doing the 85 derby than the 95 pure SJ class next. I decided that as I'm trying to work on Magic calming down and relaxing when SJing, that arena eventing and lots to spook at was not on the cards today.... so we entered the 95.
Got Dan off and ready, then wandered around getting me and a very muddy Magic ready.
Couldn't go and work in or anything as knew it would set Dan off and P didn't need that.
I was terrified. Loads of people were having issues at stuff. Then they came in, Dan looking like a totally different horse since his treatments, he has a neck, a bum, a back and can reeeeaaaallly jump!
They jumped a smashing round, with just a green stop at a viaduct filler at 4. He looked like he was going to get eliminated as he ran backwards from it.... but then, as usual, once presented again, he did stop look go into it every stride, and then just popped it.
From there on in, he cleared everything. Got a bit onward and a bit flat, but P did a fantastic job of trying to keep him calm/relaxed and jumping properly. Apparently brakes were an optional extra, but from watching he looked really keen to jump and didn't look at any of the other spooky things.
The rhythm was really good too, ok a bit fast, but he wasn't getting tooo fast. Just a smidge more relaxed and it would have been perfect.
So a huge sigh of relief and off we go to warm up. Magic was very good in spooky back school with all the diggers beside. He did some lovely trot work, (and I had his ears!) and then did the most gorgeous canter work, both ways, totally soft and relaxed. Even when I started jumping the practice fence he stayed soft and jumped amazingly, spot on every time. He did try the bronks on landing a few times and seemed very pleased with himself.
Then in we go.... we got through the shoot ok, but once in the arena he napped and tried to leave. He was very very stressed. Fortunately they were having to put a fence back up, so I had time to walk him round and chill out for a circle. Then off we went. Had an appalling approach to number one, as fillers on the fenceline were going to bite him... but I stayed narrow and once he locked onto it we were flying.
1-5, I could feel I did my horrid "hocking back" hands on the last 2 strides, but I was busy trying to be soft and keep the canter from my body that I did "zoning out" on approach as well as landing, sigh. After 5, I remembered what Marie said about hands down, and so from there on it was much better. Tried to keep him relaxed, and for some reason (well we know the reason really!) steering is sooooo much easier, he just flowed round corners, and was never doing the silly stressed lock-on to wrong fence (easier in a huge arena, I grant you!). He did seem to relax through the round. The jump off fences were 1m, so I'm back to jumping the right sort of height after 2 outings in new saddle and snaffle.
He just pinged everything, it felt so effortless, and even when he jumped me out, I could stay in balance. The big things are - iron bar thighs, push toes/shins into resistance... and as I remembered half way through - hands DOWN. And then coming home I realised I need to concentrate more on pushing my core too.... that definately went out of the window, along with "land".
So I probably did zone out a lot, but it was a fab double clear and he did get progressively more relaxed and trusting. I need to keep getting him out jumping courses, no matter how big/small until I "have" what I need to do as well as I've got it on the flat.
Came home on the back of that as didn't want to then stress him out doing the next derby class.
Hopefully we are well on the way to relaxing a Magic. Funny how this time last year we were in pelham, spurs and stick and now we in snaffle, no leg (!) and no stick. All because of changing how I'm sitting. Fanbloomintastic. :-)
Stressage on Thurs, but there's clear round there too so will probably pop round that as well, then jumpies again on Sunday.
Might have changed my mind again and decided to take Magic on thurs.... but not for definate!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Where is the time going at the mo?
I'm either driving, working, on the phone, shovelling poo or attempting to find 5 mins to ride. Tis depressing. I'd like it to be Dec 21st tomorrow so it can start getting lighter. I don't think I've felt this way before the clocks change ever before! Ho hum. One day we'll be back to crawl out of bed to do ponies.....
Everyone's had a haircut. Magic and Dan have chasers for now, and Aero and Max have half chasers (from girth forward). I think Max might need more, and possibly Dan, but don't want them to have too little hair once it gets colder.
So, Tues we had riding club lesson. New instructor. I now know am officially old as she looked about 12. It was a good session, but when we are all going round together I really really still struggle with not resorting to holding Magic with my hands... he just gets ahead of me, locks onto the bum in front and goes fingers-in-ears-lala-not-listening. Now I know I need to be able to do this, but I don't feel trotting round for an hour with me getting progressively fatigued and him getting progressively more stressed is actually the way to go.
So after serious consideration, and having schooled both the Ms in the last 3 days, I have decided that Magic can go to Marie's for jumpies sessions, which basically amount to flatwork for jumpies. I get plenty out of them, he gets education and she gets me to focus on what I need to focus on. Plus plenty of halts whilst others jump means I don't lose the battle with my muscles.
P still wants to take Dan to flat sessions as, like me, she feels she is better with a person on the ground. So I shall take a Maxwell. We can trot round for hours, and use the baby horse card if he gets exhausted. Plus I can motivate my poor aching body to stay powered up when only riding a smooth TB.... a Magic is another thing altogether.
Funnily though Max and I schooled again Wednes eve, and we can both keep it up for at least half an hour. Lots of trot and canter. He was much much better than last week and we picked up where we left off, AND he didn't try to run me over walking back down the field, yippee, he is losing his goldfish brain!
Then I hacked him with P and Dan this morning, and we trotted half the airstrip, then cantered the rest. He told me that as I've been working on him streeetttching down in canter, he's more than willing to go the whole hog and stick his nose on the floor when following Dan up the air strip.... I know he's better balanced and not so down hill any more, but I still don't recommend it, boy did I feel insecure... if he'd have bucked it would have been byebye Jane!
On the plus side, nose on floor cantering did NOT feel like he was so unbalanced he was going to fall over, so that's good!
But he was knackered, and very sweaty afterwards. From 5 mins cantering. Yet in the field we can school for 30mins or so. Go figure.
Then the gorgeous black boy. He had Wednes off after lesson, and we hacked yesterday and had a naughty one where we cantered across the biiggg grass field, and then went round the gallops.... I made him walk then trot up them, but he was definately in go mode, so I buffered them there thighs and sat tight and off we went!
His brakes are soooo much better. Unbelievable in my hand really. All because I don't use em any more. Brilliant! He did make me laugh, a huuuge spook and teleport off track and onto stubble whilst going warp speed - I'd have been a gonna if my thighs hadn't been real iron bars. Just shows that I'm learning to stay on him better and not be disorganised by him, so maybe one day he'll actually let me organise him,woohoo.
Then today we schooled. We got up there, thoroughly relaxed, and then he and Echo spotted something in neighbouring field. Echo barking, Magic ears up my nostrils and on red alert. I had a few moments of *sob* thinking I'd lost him, no way would I be able to get his focus on me now....
And then I did! We walked for 10 mins or so. Small circles to get him focused back inside whenever he tried the giraffe look.... and he soon came back to me.
Trotted and it just gets better. But I'm really struggling with my shearing the boards on him... can do it on Max easy, and it really helps on Max... but.... Came back to walk to try and improve it and to try to "get" his right side. Got better....
Trotted again and better but now feel I'm trying too hard on the boards and maybe need to be back to just bulldog clip, core pushing neck away and narrow thighs. Decided hacking the other day that right thigh narrow actually doing same job (but better) as narrow right seat bone. So will stick to that. The fact that my johdpurs are now all too big and encourage me to slide round saddle not helping much!
Had a canter each way, and it was fab. Not as good down hill, understandably, but relaxed, long necked and really 3 time 3/4 of way round... so why when we get in arena do we go 4 time? Tension I guess?
Then more trot, with him trying to wind me up and tensing up for canter each trans. Did get calm ones and then they were fab. But then he twice managed almighty sideways teleports at something (nothing) in hedge. The first one I was sooo absorbed in t.r.o.t.t.i.n.g. that he caught me totally unawares.... and as he took off and I caught him up he leapt in air, landed and did almighty buck. Ickle sod! Can't remember last time I had to sit a leap/buck combo like that! Oddly, he immediately calmed and trotted on perfectly, long necked like nothing had happened. So really REALLY pleased with that. Circled round past spot again and usually would have got another, smaller reaction.... but nothing went past sweet as anything :-))
So we are getting there. It feels like a huge mountain to climb, but actually when I look back, I've already conquered all the things I felt were missing when I started this bit of my journey. So that's fab!
Plus whilst having big decisions about what to do this winter, I decided that I put both him and me under too much pressure to do any dressage. I will practice having 100% of his attention in field/out hacking/when jumpies lessons/when jumpies, but will not go and do dressage test til I feel I can do this the rest of the time. I've never really expected to have his attention the rest of the time before, ONLY in competition, so its not surprising that I haven't had it then either! So dressage a back seat (phew says Magic!) and Max can go out and get some experience at Prelims with Dan.
And then, we find that the venue never received our entries for stressage on Sat, so the boys get a repreive anyway and Magic and Dan are off jumpies instead!
Then stressage on Thurs, for Dan and Max.
Everyone's had a haircut. Magic and Dan have chasers for now, and Aero and Max have half chasers (from girth forward). I think Max might need more, and possibly Dan, but don't want them to have too little hair once it gets colder.
So, Tues we had riding club lesson. New instructor. I now know am officially old as she looked about 12. It was a good session, but when we are all going round together I really really still struggle with not resorting to holding Magic with my hands... he just gets ahead of me, locks onto the bum in front and goes fingers-in-ears-lala-not-listening. Now I know I need to be able to do this, but I don't feel trotting round for an hour with me getting progressively fatigued and him getting progressively more stressed is actually the way to go.
So after serious consideration, and having schooled both the Ms in the last 3 days, I have decided that Magic can go to Marie's for jumpies sessions, which basically amount to flatwork for jumpies. I get plenty out of them, he gets education and she gets me to focus on what I need to focus on. Plus plenty of halts whilst others jump means I don't lose the battle with my muscles.
P still wants to take Dan to flat sessions as, like me, she feels she is better with a person on the ground. So I shall take a Maxwell. We can trot round for hours, and use the baby horse card if he gets exhausted. Plus I can motivate my poor aching body to stay powered up when only riding a smooth TB.... a Magic is another thing altogether.
Funnily though Max and I schooled again Wednes eve, and we can both keep it up for at least half an hour. Lots of trot and canter. He was much much better than last week and we picked up where we left off, AND he didn't try to run me over walking back down the field, yippee, he is losing his goldfish brain!
Then I hacked him with P and Dan this morning, and we trotted half the airstrip, then cantered the rest. He told me that as I've been working on him streeetttching down in canter, he's more than willing to go the whole hog and stick his nose on the floor when following Dan up the air strip.... I know he's better balanced and not so down hill any more, but I still don't recommend it, boy did I feel insecure... if he'd have bucked it would have been byebye Jane!
On the plus side, nose on floor cantering did NOT feel like he was so unbalanced he was going to fall over, so that's good!
But he was knackered, and very sweaty afterwards. From 5 mins cantering. Yet in the field we can school for 30mins or so. Go figure.
Then the gorgeous black boy. He had Wednes off after lesson, and we hacked yesterday and had a naughty one where we cantered across the biiggg grass field, and then went round the gallops.... I made him walk then trot up them, but he was definately in go mode, so I buffered them there thighs and sat tight and off we went!
His brakes are soooo much better. Unbelievable in my hand really. All because I don't use em any more. Brilliant! He did make me laugh, a huuuge spook and teleport off track and onto stubble whilst going warp speed - I'd have been a gonna if my thighs hadn't been real iron bars. Just shows that I'm learning to stay on him better and not be disorganised by him, so maybe one day he'll actually let me organise him,woohoo.
Then today we schooled. We got up there, thoroughly relaxed, and then he and Echo spotted something in neighbouring field. Echo barking, Magic ears up my nostrils and on red alert. I had a few moments of *sob* thinking I'd lost him, no way would I be able to get his focus on me now....
And then I did! We walked for 10 mins or so. Small circles to get him focused back inside whenever he tried the giraffe look.... and he soon came back to me.
Trotted and it just gets better. But I'm really struggling with my shearing the boards on him... can do it on Max easy, and it really helps on Max... but.... Came back to walk to try and improve it and to try to "get" his right side. Got better....
Trotted again and better but now feel I'm trying too hard on the boards and maybe need to be back to just bulldog clip, core pushing neck away and narrow thighs. Decided hacking the other day that right thigh narrow actually doing same job (but better) as narrow right seat bone. So will stick to that. The fact that my johdpurs are now all too big and encourage me to slide round saddle not helping much!
Had a canter each way, and it was fab. Not as good down hill, understandably, but relaxed, long necked and really 3 time 3/4 of way round... so why when we get in arena do we go 4 time? Tension I guess?
Then more trot, with him trying to wind me up and tensing up for canter each trans. Did get calm ones and then they were fab. But then he twice managed almighty sideways teleports at something (nothing) in hedge. The first one I was sooo absorbed in t.r.o.t.t.i.n.g. that he caught me totally unawares.... and as he took off and I caught him up he leapt in air, landed and did almighty buck. Ickle sod! Can't remember last time I had to sit a leap/buck combo like that! Oddly, he immediately calmed and trotted on perfectly, long necked like nothing had happened. So really REALLY pleased with that. Circled round past spot again and usually would have got another, smaller reaction.... but nothing went past sweet as anything :-))
So we are getting there. It feels like a huge mountain to climb, but actually when I look back, I've already conquered all the things I felt were missing when I started this bit of my journey. So that's fab!
Plus whilst having big decisions about what to do this winter, I decided that I put both him and me under too much pressure to do any dressage. I will practice having 100% of his attention in field/out hacking/when jumpies lessons/when jumpies, but will not go and do dressage test til I feel I can do this the rest of the time. I've never really expected to have his attention the rest of the time before, ONLY in competition, so its not surprising that I haven't had it then either! So dressage a back seat (phew says Magic!) and Max can go out and get some experience at Prelims with Dan.
And then, we find that the venue never received our entries for stressage on Sat, so the boys get a repreive anyway and Magic and Dan are off jumpies instead!
Then stressage on Thurs, for Dan and Max.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Lots to report!
Tues 13th
1st Marie lesson of the winter. Magic in his snaffle, not jumped since July! Me in saddle not jumped in.... we had brakes! He didn't tow me in (although he towed me away a little bit and cut corners to avoid the "padded cell" walls. He stopped at the poles on the ground first time around :sigh: but I have accepted that is him, and if I punish him for being him then I just make him super tense.
My mission from now on is to have him CALM enough to want to jump things he's scared of, not more scared of me than them! Might be a challenge but we can all have goals :-)
He jumped really well and I felt loads more confident in my stronger position and in him not running out from under me. Think he was fairly calm. He certainly schmoozed his way straight back in with Marie, and spent the others turns standing resting his chin on her shoulder and whispering into her ear. She thinks he's a god. Who doesn't?
She actually thought I'd swapped him for another as he warmed up so well and calmly and politely. No yob to be seen. I did say that's all we've been working on for the last 3 months!
Dan came too, and something in the EMRT has released for sure, cos he now REALLY jumps!
P did a grand job, esp as she was having to come to the jumps from a little trot, then Dan was pinging some mighty using-his-back jumps! :-)
Very good session. Best learning was that I still zone out. Marie was trying to get me to have control from landing, so I started to say land when landing, which helped. Her best point was that he still lifts his head as we get away - but she twigged it was ME trying to stop him, so she said put hands in mane and block him to collect him, and it worked!!! Yippeee :-))
Friday 16th
Magic hacked a few days, Max hacked Thurs and then I schooled him Fri. We did at least half an hour, and put him in straight myler rather than his combo. He prefers being ridden off the nose than off the mouth... we had quite a lot of resistance to start, but then suddenly, from somewhere we got real softness and stretch and using back in trot AND canter. Never had the like in either, but never suspected we'd get it in canter. Very very pleased with him.
He felt like a real horse.... and a real horse that could do dressage too. I had to think shear boards to stop him falling in, and it worked, but its a damn sight harder in a field on the side of a hill!
Saturday 17th
Dan and Magic went jumpies :-)
I had snaffle and new-to-jumpies-saddle.... And we barely had time to canter round and jump warm up twice before we were in. Not the best, calming prep, but hey. Jumps were teeny.
We went in, he jumped one and two, then 3 was a squiffy blue plank with clouds. Aaarrggghh. Cue major Magic panic, stop dead, stare hard, then jump from stand still (thank goodness for teeny fences). I slid and slided around (new saddle not grippy like old one, boo). And nearl left through side door. Tres embarrassing! Had to turn circle cos if I'd have faced him at a jump I'd have fallen off as he took it on! Got organised, and jumped the rest nicely... not calmly, but CONTROLLED! And not panicked "where's the next".
Came out rueful. What didn't I do? I didn't push up to the plate. I have a paradox of sling back PLUS push up to the plate, and I DO need to do both when jumping. Plus I have to keep foot light but pushed into a resistance, so he doesn't "jump my legs" out the back door!
Wandered round whilst Dan had his go... clear first round and came 4th after jump off. I couldn't see as they were indoors, but P said he was very very tense, but was better for jump off.
He'd been acting the goat as had decided he was glued to Magic. Sigh. Still, a good result.
Next class, I have time to warm up and remember I didn't say "land" once in there! Tried to do it jumping practice fence and its seriously HARD. Managed it once. I put all my brain into take off, and then zone out, tres frustrating. So need to do as Auntie Marie said, and do small fences that I don't NEED to sort take off for until I can focus on landing. Very good advice, again!
In we go, he seemed a bit backwards going towards the indoor, but was fine once in, and jumped a lovely round, controlled, except ballooned number 3 ( - it bites you know!) and then I had to let him bowl on to 4. But then got him back beautifully on the corner.... almost like "oh you want me to go steady, why didn't you just say before?)... like now he "gets it" when I asked him to steady, whereas before my body was obviously still saying "go" whilst hands said "stop". Amazing difference in him.
Back in for jump off, didn't go fast, but let him bowl on when on good stride and tested brakes again round turns. Best round he's ever done in terms of us being together and understanding each other. I am sooo sooooo happy. I never expected this to help our jumpies.... but it soooo has. :-)))
Dan went in and was MORE tense, if that's possible, so knocked 2 out.
We have to just accept he hasn't had a party since July, and he was a bit Magic obsessed!
Flat RC lesson on Tues, then dressage on Sat, so hopefully Dan will have calmed by then. Think P might tear her hair out with "flick the switch" brained TBs otherwise!!
Love love love my pony. Am so pleased I'm finally working out how to ride him, 5 years and counting, eh?! :-))
1st Marie lesson of the winter. Magic in his snaffle, not jumped since July! Me in saddle not jumped in.... we had brakes! He didn't tow me in (although he towed me away a little bit and cut corners to avoid the "padded cell" walls. He stopped at the poles on the ground first time around :sigh: but I have accepted that is him, and if I punish him for being him then I just make him super tense.
My mission from now on is to have him CALM enough to want to jump things he's scared of, not more scared of me than them! Might be a challenge but we can all have goals :-)
He jumped really well and I felt loads more confident in my stronger position and in him not running out from under me. Think he was fairly calm. He certainly schmoozed his way straight back in with Marie, and spent the others turns standing resting his chin on her shoulder and whispering into her ear. She thinks he's a god. Who doesn't?
She actually thought I'd swapped him for another as he warmed up so well and calmly and politely. No yob to be seen. I did say that's all we've been working on for the last 3 months!
Dan came too, and something in the EMRT has released for sure, cos he now REALLY jumps!
P did a grand job, esp as she was having to come to the jumps from a little trot, then Dan was pinging some mighty using-his-back jumps! :-)
Very good session. Best learning was that I still zone out. Marie was trying to get me to have control from landing, so I started to say land when landing, which helped. Her best point was that he still lifts his head as we get away - but she twigged it was ME trying to stop him, so she said put hands in mane and block him to collect him, and it worked!!! Yippeee :-))
Friday 16th
Magic hacked a few days, Max hacked Thurs and then I schooled him Fri. We did at least half an hour, and put him in straight myler rather than his combo. He prefers being ridden off the nose than off the mouth... we had quite a lot of resistance to start, but then suddenly, from somewhere we got real softness and stretch and using back in trot AND canter. Never had the like in either, but never suspected we'd get it in canter. Very very pleased with him.
He felt like a real horse.... and a real horse that could do dressage too. I had to think shear boards to stop him falling in, and it worked, but its a damn sight harder in a field on the side of a hill!
Saturday 17th
Dan and Magic went jumpies :-)
I had snaffle and new-to-jumpies-saddle.... And we barely had time to canter round and jump warm up twice before we were in. Not the best, calming prep, but hey. Jumps were teeny.
We went in, he jumped one and two, then 3 was a squiffy blue plank with clouds. Aaarrggghh. Cue major Magic panic, stop dead, stare hard, then jump from stand still (thank goodness for teeny fences). I slid and slided around (new saddle not grippy like old one, boo). And nearl left through side door. Tres embarrassing! Had to turn circle cos if I'd have faced him at a jump I'd have fallen off as he took it on! Got organised, and jumped the rest nicely... not calmly, but CONTROLLED! And not panicked "where's the next".
Came out rueful. What didn't I do? I didn't push up to the plate. I have a paradox of sling back PLUS push up to the plate, and I DO need to do both when jumping. Plus I have to keep foot light but pushed into a resistance, so he doesn't "jump my legs" out the back door!
Wandered round whilst Dan had his go... clear first round and came 4th after jump off. I couldn't see as they were indoors, but P said he was very very tense, but was better for jump off.
He'd been acting the goat as had decided he was glued to Magic. Sigh. Still, a good result.
Next class, I have time to warm up and remember I didn't say "land" once in there! Tried to do it jumping practice fence and its seriously HARD. Managed it once. I put all my brain into take off, and then zone out, tres frustrating. So need to do as Auntie Marie said, and do small fences that I don't NEED to sort take off for until I can focus on landing. Very good advice, again!
In we go, he seemed a bit backwards going towards the indoor, but was fine once in, and jumped a lovely round, controlled, except ballooned number 3 ( - it bites you know!) and then I had to let him bowl on to 4. But then got him back beautifully on the corner.... almost like "oh you want me to go steady, why didn't you just say before?)... like now he "gets it" when I asked him to steady, whereas before my body was obviously still saying "go" whilst hands said "stop". Amazing difference in him.
Back in for jump off, didn't go fast, but let him bowl on when on good stride and tested brakes again round turns. Best round he's ever done in terms of us being together and understanding each other. I am sooo sooooo happy. I never expected this to help our jumpies.... but it soooo has. :-)))
Dan went in and was MORE tense, if that's possible, so knocked 2 out.
We have to just accept he hasn't had a party since July, and he was a bit Magic obsessed!
Flat RC lesson on Tues, then dressage on Sat, so hopefully Dan will have calmed by then. Think P might tear her hair out with "flick the switch" brained TBs otherwise!!
Love love love my pony. Am so pleased I'm finally working out how to ride him, 5 years and counting, eh?! :-))
Thursday, October 08, 2009
EMRT
Magic (2nd treatment)
Very tight lumbar and very tight shoulders :-( I wonder why? Still, as I said to her, it was worth it, knowing he was getting a treatment pretty darn soon after having the world and his wife on him!
Funnily though, despite his shoulders being so tight, he hasn't lost his trot and in fact came home from course feeling better than ever, but maybe partly because he was sooo relieved to have me back! Yeah, its great being loved :-)
She worked on his thoracic sling and said it should all help to free up the shoulders. Commented on his lack of a back part of triceps - because he spends his whole time going "up" more than forwards, so doesn't need to draw shoulder back? Plus, as she said, if he only uses the top of his shoulders then he can't draw his whole shoulder back.
All very interesting. Plus, as she mentioned before, but I'd forgot... when you stand in front of him with him perfectly square, his right shoulder sort of bulges out over point of chest/shoulder. This ties in with this hoof having become more asymmetrical over the last year. She thinks its definately shoulder issue creating wonky foot to compensate rather than other way round, so fix the shoulder and we might get out perfect mustang foot back! Also this would add up with the "he has no right side" and my issue with him jack-knifing out of his right shoulder on left rein.
Proof that I really need to work on going everywhere like a bus (turning wither not shoulder) and keeping him pushed away in front of me. That should keep me focussed.
He's to have 4 days off as he's had a lot of work and because his shoulders were so tight.
Aero (2nd treatment)
She was really pleased with how much better he looks. We discussed that his pelvis looks like it "fits" the rest of him now and how much better he's moving.
He's still got a bit of the hock wobble, but now doesn't twist his feet and crunch his pelvis under him as he moves. She said that we might even fix the remainder of the hock wobble in the next treatment when she works on back end.
She worked on similar thing to Magic. And he took it really well and was totally zonked!
He's to have 4 days off.
Max (3rd treatment)
She was really really pleased with his front half, she said he's really moving well and free and not at all tight there now. Back half is another story, but I'm OK with that, as last time she was sure his front half would still be broke! I explained how free he feels to ride now, and how the back half is at least doing something, a bit more than just keeping up, (or even dragging along behind like it was initially!).
Only needs a couple of days off, so maybe he really is becoming a "normal" horse??!
Dan (3rd treatment)
Discussed how his neck is totally different shape. Muscles have "popped" out from all over the place. She explained that when they race, the fascias get really tight which pins the muscles in... so when you release them, there IS muscle under there so it kind of "fills in". Obviously she explained it better, but you get the gist.
Pleased with his front end, and how well the front is moving, but like Max now needs the back end to be freed up. I said he looks all wrong now his neck is pumped up, and she said they often do when you have fixed the front but the back end is still scrunched.
So she worked on his back and and esp his hamstrings as this is what causes his weird hill walk. She was pleased and said generally everything was still good, so he hasn't reverted despite working in the meantime.
He only needs 2 days off too.
Very tight lumbar and very tight shoulders :-( I wonder why? Still, as I said to her, it was worth it, knowing he was getting a treatment pretty darn soon after having the world and his wife on him!
Funnily though, despite his shoulders being so tight, he hasn't lost his trot and in fact came home from course feeling better than ever, but maybe partly because he was sooo relieved to have me back! Yeah, its great being loved :-)
She worked on his thoracic sling and said it should all help to free up the shoulders. Commented on his lack of a back part of triceps - because he spends his whole time going "up" more than forwards, so doesn't need to draw shoulder back? Plus, as she said, if he only uses the top of his shoulders then he can't draw his whole shoulder back.
All very interesting. Plus, as she mentioned before, but I'd forgot... when you stand in front of him with him perfectly square, his right shoulder sort of bulges out over point of chest/shoulder. This ties in with this hoof having become more asymmetrical over the last year. She thinks its definately shoulder issue creating wonky foot to compensate rather than other way round, so fix the shoulder and we might get out perfect mustang foot back! Also this would add up with the "he has no right side" and my issue with him jack-knifing out of his right shoulder on left rein.
Proof that I really need to work on going everywhere like a bus (turning wither not shoulder) and keeping him pushed away in front of me. That should keep me focussed.
He's to have 4 days off as he's had a lot of work and because his shoulders were so tight.
Aero (2nd treatment)
She was really pleased with how much better he looks. We discussed that his pelvis looks like it "fits" the rest of him now and how much better he's moving.
He's still got a bit of the hock wobble, but now doesn't twist his feet and crunch his pelvis under him as he moves. She said that we might even fix the remainder of the hock wobble in the next treatment when she works on back end.
She worked on similar thing to Magic. And he took it really well and was totally zonked!
He's to have 4 days off.
Max (3rd treatment)
She was really really pleased with his front half, she said he's really moving well and free and not at all tight there now. Back half is another story, but I'm OK with that, as last time she was sure his front half would still be broke! I explained how free he feels to ride now, and how the back half is at least doing something, a bit more than just keeping up, (or even dragging along behind like it was initially!).
Only needs a couple of days off, so maybe he really is becoming a "normal" horse??!
Dan (3rd treatment)
Discussed how his neck is totally different shape. Muscles have "popped" out from all over the place. She explained that when they race, the fascias get really tight which pins the muscles in... so when you release them, there IS muscle under there so it kind of "fills in". Obviously she explained it better, but you get the gist.
Pleased with his front end, and how well the front is moving, but like Max now needs the back end to be freed up. I said he looks all wrong now his neck is pumped up, and she said they often do when you have fixed the front but the back end is still scrunched.
So she worked on his back and and esp his hamstrings as this is what causes his weird hill walk. She was pleased and said generally everything was still good, so he hasn't reverted despite working in the meantime.
He only needs 2 days off too.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Tired
Me, that is! I've ridden both everyday since Sunday (Magic had Sat off!). Max is great, really forward out hacking, no naps and very very comfy on his pins. Happy to lead/go behind/go alone. Nice pony that!
Magic has hacked and then yesterday we did schooling in the field. I definately have to think narrow right seat bone, then guess what? Saddle doesn't fall off his right side... it stays in the middle. Who'd have thought that lifetime's challenge would be so simple to fix?
My mantra was "bulldog clip, narrow right board, sling shot" and it worked. We did balance beam stuff first in walk and little trot. He got very stressy about it in trot but tried really hard. I could actually FEEL when I lost his right side and got it back. Amazing really. Then we had a walk round the whole field as a reward before doing some proper work. That's the good thing about being in a field, you can get the relaxed rest reward because then you are just hacking!
Back to trot and it felt fab, both reins! No shooting off left rein, and I tried v hard to keep right side narrow enough and it seemed to work. I find shearing the boards sooooo hard on him compared to anyone else though, bizarre, presume its the bounce. But I guess when I look back and think how I'd never even get the rising trot, and now its a given and I can even do a bit of sitting on his little trot.... we are coming a long way!
Canter, perfect! Was paranoid it would be 4 time, but he was fab, and we got push the neck away and steady canter straight away. It went a smidge 4 time on the worst down hill bit, but he didn't run, just kept the rhythm with no rein input from me. Fabulous.
I had wanted to do more trot, but 20mins or so was plenty for me and despite the hunt being here the day before, his focus and concentration was the best ever. So we left it after the canters.
Today we swapped and Magic went for a hack and Max went schooling in the field. Magic was very good, hasn't hacked that way for 3 weeks, and had eyes on stalks a bit at times, but I could get the push his neck away. My mantra then was "breathe his neck away, push out, sling shot, bulldog clip, narrow seat bones, long flat underneath." Sometimes I got it despite his best efforts and today was the first time that in walk I really FELT him give me his back, as in choose to lift his back to lower his neck, not lower his neck cos I asked but not lift his back. And more than once!!
So grinning like a cheshire cat we had a lovely ride, trots were just totally smooth and in my control from the rise, even when he spotted monsters in the hedge. 90% of the time he was pushing out into the rein. Love my pony!
Then Max and I tootled up to the field. He's usually a bit fresh up there when he hasn't been for ages, but he was perfect. Walk, trot and canter on each rein. Canter is soooo different since the treatments. Trot still got very unbalanced down hill or on camber, but nothing like as bad, and doesn't feel like he's doing that paradox of running yet trying to protect his feet thing. Now he just feels unbalanced. He's not even trying to get me to carry the front end.
Very pleased with both the boys today and have been merrily looking out parties to go to, so hopefully we'll be on the road soon!
:-))
Magic has hacked and then yesterday we did schooling in the field. I definately have to think narrow right seat bone, then guess what? Saddle doesn't fall off his right side... it stays in the middle. Who'd have thought that lifetime's challenge would be so simple to fix?
My mantra was "bulldog clip, narrow right board, sling shot" and it worked. We did balance beam stuff first in walk and little trot. He got very stressy about it in trot but tried really hard. I could actually FEEL when I lost his right side and got it back. Amazing really. Then we had a walk round the whole field as a reward before doing some proper work. That's the good thing about being in a field, you can get the relaxed rest reward because then you are just hacking!
Back to trot and it felt fab, both reins! No shooting off left rein, and I tried v hard to keep right side narrow enough and it seemed to work. I find shearing the boards sooooo hard on him compared to anyone else though, bizarre, presume its the bounce. But I guess when I look back and think how I'd never even get the rising trot, and now its a given and I can even do a bit of sitting on his little trot.... we are coming a long way!
Canter, perfect! Was paranoid it would be 4 time, but he was fab, and we got push the neck away and steady canter straight away. It went a smidge 4 time on the worst down hill bit, but he didn't run, just kept the rhythm with no rein input from me. Fabulous.
I had wanted to do more trot, but 20mins or so was plenty for me and despite the hunt being here the day before, his focus and concentration was the best ever. So we left it after the canters.
Today we swapped and Magic went for a hack and Max went schooling in the field. Magic was very good, hasn't hacked that way for 3 weeks, and had eyes on stalks a bit at times, but I could get the push his neck away. My mantra then was "breathe his neck away, push out, sling shot, bulldog clip, narrow seat bones, long flat underneath." Sometimes I got it despite his best efforts and today was the first time that in walk I really FELT him give me his back, as in choose to lift his back to lower his neck, not lower his neck cos I asked but not lift his back. And more than once!!
So grinning like a cheshire cat we had a lovely ride, trots were just totally smooth and in my control from the rise, even when he spotted monsters in the hedge. 90% of the time he was pushing out into the rein. Love my pony!
Then Max and I tootled up to the field. He's usually a bit fresh up there when he hasn't been for ages, but he was perfect. Walk, trot and canter on each rein. Canter is soooo different since the treatments. Trot still got very unbalanced down hill or on camber, but nothing like as bad, and doesn't feel like he's doing that paradox of running yet trying to protect his feet thing. Now he just feels unbalanced. He's not even trying to get me to carry the front end.
Very pleased with both the boys today and have been merrily looking out parties to go to, so hopefully we'll be on the road soon!
:-))
Max's feet....
Since 24/7/09 I have been experimenting with no trim.... as medial/lateral deviation seems to be serving a purpose.... ie when I put a roll on his outer wall he is less confident through turns, than when I leave it wonky.
I checked them before we went away, his roll at the toe was nearly grown out, and his quarters and heels were much longer than his sole. By about 1cm or so. He did a proper dirt plug that he kept in most of the time we were away (judging by how compacted it was and how hard it was to hoof pick out when we got back).
I checked them again today 7/10/09. Roll at toe still nearly grown out, but he is starting his own teeny roll at breakover.
The length of wall he had at the quarters has self trimmed out, leaving the quarters at sole level. His heels still have a very small weight bearing area but are presumably strong as are still much higher (1 cm?) than his sole at the heel, even without support from the quarters.
His frogs are very in ground contact though so I assume his heels will reduce in height when the back of foot can take even more ground contact. New hoof at coronet has got 1 inch or so of much much tighter growth and much shinier horn, so again the stuff at the ground looks very flared and brittle.
Its going to take a while until this guy grows his perfect foot! But despite no trim for 11 weeks, and counting, his feet don't look wildly different to post-trim. Medial/lateral balance LOOKS worse from front view, but is obviously how he needs it as he's levelled them out beautifully when viewed from underneath. And he's landing heel first and evenly medial/lateral.
:shrugs: Aren't feet amazing things? A lesson in patience and the belief that if left to their own devices (but with the right diet and environment to stimulate correct growth and provide wear), horses will grow the hoof they need to support the limbs above. A shame really humans have to get in the way with their "we know better than the horse" style of trimming/shoeing.
And whilst I'm on the subject of feet - and "navicular" ones in particular - I need to link to The Rockley Farm blog for a good post on the subject! http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2009/10/navicular-horses.html
I checked them before we went away, his roll at the toe was nearly grown out, and his quarters and heels were much longer than his sole. By about 1cm or so. He did a proper dirt plug that he kept in most of the time we were away (judging by how compacted it was and how hard it was to hoof pick out when we got back).
I checked them again today 7/10/09. Roll at toe still nearly grown out, but he is starting his own teeny roll at breakover.
The length of wall he had at the quarters has self trimmed out, leaving the quarters at sole level. His heels still have a very small weight bearing area but are presumably strong as are still much higher (1 cm?) than his sole at the heel, even without support from the quarters.
His frogs are very in ground contact though so I assume his heels will reduce in height when the back of foot can take even more ground contact. New hoof at coronet has got 1 inch or so of much much tighter growth and much shinier horn, so again the stuff at the ground looks very flared and brittle.
Its going to take a while until this guy grows his perfect foot! But despite no trim for 11 weeks, and counting, his feet don't look wildly different to post-trim. Medial/lateral balance LOOKS worse from front view, but is obviously how he needs it as he's levelled them out beautifully when viewed from underneath. And he's landing heel first and evenly medial/lateral.
:shrugs: Aren't feet amazing things? A lesson in patience and the belief that if left to their own devices (but with the right diet and environment to stimulate correct growth and provide wear), horses will grow the hoof they need to support the limbs above. A shame really humans have to get in the way with their "we know better than the horse" style of trimming/shoeing.
And whilst I'm on the subject of feet - and "navicular" ones in particular - I need to link to The Rockley Farm blog for a good post on the subject! http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2009/10/navicular-horses.html
Monday, October 05, 2009
Photo shoot...
The hunt met in the village this morning... as I was supervising proceedings, it was a good photo shoot oportunity!
Guess who's more interested in the camera?
Poser
Three amigo bums
Dan finally gets in a picture!
My boys
They went that way...
On watch, North, South, East, West!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
I didn't think it was possible to learn so much...
In four days!
It made such a difference to have many eyes on me as a rider, and to have many opinions from riders of Magic as a horse.
It was very good to teach people who already have had a taste of it and understand the style of coaching. And very rewarding as coach and as rider.
So, my coaching notes are hand written, but the stuff I need for riding is, in a random form, as follows:
* Canter - imagine rolling the ball back to slow it. Suction the horse up on the "up" part of his stride.
* Seat bones - duck paddle - legs go back to push the duck forward - grinding seat bones forward will have reverse effect on horse.
* Lazy horses - sling shot and buffer like MAD, feel at back of saddle
* Wizzy horses - push up to plate but keep buffering thighs until can match forces, then need to stay back as well.
*Then to collect, need to be forward again!
* Paradox of up/down = plunger down, yet lightly sat, hung in harness. Imagine sink plunger sucking up without lifting.
* Thigh acting as level lifts back
* Internal forces (through isometric muscle use) need to match the forces the horse generates in order to ride effectively and influence horse successfully with out resorting to hands. Hence harder on Magic as harder to match his forces (they are biiiiig).
*Paradox of narrow/wide - narrow in, blob on and resist in to "catch" horse, then resist out so you can "pull" the back up with you. Both resistances at the same time.
*Moment limb foot leaves ground is last moment you can really influence it (try avoiding something you don't want to tread on at last minute - tricky). Once in flight, too late to change path.
* Magic has no stuffing in his right side, yet every other horse I've ridden falls out with me to the right! The Narrow/wide paradox!
My Lesson on Golly
* To get strength in core at top - bulldog clip just under bra level - I've got to push core to try to "ping" bulldog clip off, this stops my wiggle in middle.
* Knees must push against resistance.
*He stays light as long as I have both, if either collapse then he hangs his head on my hands
* MUST have boards to keep him straight (not falling out) and to steer like a bus
*MUST have outside seat bone back and in to ditto
My Lesson on Bella
* Continued practicing on my learnings from Golly. Boards does steering, and sling shot does engaging a backwards horse.
* Imagine rolling the ball to get the canter on round wheels
* Bulldog clip and boards x double effort for light transitions
* Really really felt the suckering up the back on her when I got it right.
My diagnostic session on Astro
* Get forward, then get turning like a bus to avoid his drift out to the right.
* Boards to stop his drift
* Sling shot to get him forward
* Still not quite right. Till I realise I am twisting my body to do boards and seat bones in.... and I need to SHEAR the boards.
* And then it all slotted together!
My Ride on Magic, post-Mary
* I need to keep his right side stuffed.
* So, the background is, bulldog clip, sling shot, buffers and boards.
* Then the foreground is boards (paradox again!)
- Stuff my right board
- Narrow right seat bone
- narrow board at diaphragm tendon, so amount of body on R of tendon is bigger
- Don't fall off right side, no matter how much he tries to slope me off
* Keep left board on, but focus on right board in chunks.
* Turn like a bus, keep right side - easier on right rein with R side as inside.
* KEEP HIS RIGHT SIDE STUFFED!!!
My Lesson on Whitaker
* Focused on boards. Got confused as all horses drift out to right with me (except M)....
* I need to "stuff" my left board on any that drift right, to keep their left side stuffed. (less important than shearing)
* I need to keep right board on to block right.
* I then need to SHEAR the BOARDS to turn like a bus/keep straight/avoid falling in/out.
* Shear needs to be shear, not twist from left shoulder!
* Narrow seat bones and wide seat (tochanters) with long flat underneath.
* Sling shot as lazy horse
* Then the lad went straight and forward and stretched, whooo hooo!
Phew, and that IS the very brief version, honest! Its blown my mind how easy this riding lark is on such a variety of horses when you line yourself up right. Madness! Why have I struggled for 30 years??!
It made such a difference to have many eyes on me as a rider, and to have many opinions from riders of Magic as a horse.
It was very good to teach people who already have had a taste of it and understand the style of coaching. And very rewarding as coach and as rider.
So, my coaching notes are hand written, but the stuff I need for riding is, in a random form, as follows:
* Canter - imagine rolling the ball back to slow it. Suction the horse up on the "up" part of his stride.
* Seat bones - duck paddle - legs go back to push the duck forward - grinding seat bones forward will have reverse effect on horse.
* Lazy horses - sling shot and buffer like MAD, feel at back of saddle
* Wizzy horses - push up to plate but keep buffering thighs until can match forces, then need to stay back as well.
*Then to collect, need to be forward again!
* Paradox of up/down = plunger down, yet lightly sat, hung in harness. Imagine sink plunger sucking up without lifting.
* Thigh acting as level lifts back
* Internal forces (through isometric muscle use) need to match the forces the horse generates in order to ride effectively and influence horse successfully with out resorting to hands. Hence harder on Magic as harder to match his forces (they are biiiiig).
*Paradox of narrow/wide - narrow in, blob on and resist in to "catch" horse, then resist out so you can "pull" the back up with you. Both resistances at the same time.
*Moment limb foot leaves ground is last moment you can really influence it (try avoiding something you don't want to tread on at last minute - tricky). Once in flight, too late to change path.
* Magic has no stuffing in his right side, yet every other horse I've ridden falls out with me to the right! The Narrow/wide paradox!
My Lesson on Golly
* To get strength in core at top - bulldog clip just under bra level - I've got to push core to try to "ping" bulldog clip off, this stops my wiggle in middle.
* Knees must push against resistance.
*He stays light as long as I have both, if either collapse then he hangs his head on my hands
* MUST have boards to keep him straight (not falling out) and to steer like a bus
*MUST have outside seat bone back and in to ditto
My Lesson on Bella
* Continued practicing on my learnings from Golly. Boards does steering, and sling shot does engaging a backwards horse.
* Imagine rolling the ball to get the canter on round wheels
* Bulldog clip and boards x double effort for light transitions
* Really really felt the suckering up the back on her when I got it right.
My diagnostic session on Astro
* Get forward, then get turning like a bus to avoid his drift out to the right.
* Boards to stop his drift
* Sling shot to get him forward
* Still not quite right. Till I realise I am twisting my body to do boards and seat bones in.... and I need to SHEAR the boards.
* And then it all slotted together!
My Ride on Magic, post-Mary
* I need to keep his right side stuffed.
* So, the background is, bulldog clip, sling shot, buffers and boards.
* Then the foreground is boards (paradox again!)
- Stuff my right board
- Narrow right seat bone
- narrow board at diaphragm tendon, so amount of body on R of tendon is bigger
- Don't fall off right side, no matter how much he tries to slope me off
* Keep left board on, but focus on right board in chunks.
* Turn like a bus, keep right side - easier on right rein with R side as inside.
* KEEP HIS RIGHT SIDE STUFFED!!!
My Lesson on Whitaker
* Focused on boards. Got confused as all horses drift out to right with me (except M)....
* I need to "stuff" my left board on any that drift right, to keep their left side stuffed. (less important than shearing)
* I need to keep right board on to block right.
* I then need to SHEAR the BOARDS to turn like a bus/keep straight/avoid falling in/out.
* Shear needs to be shear, not twist from left shoulder!
* Narrow seat bones and wide seat (tochanters) with long flat underneath.
* Sling shot as lazy horse
* Then the lad went straight and forward and stretched, whooo hooo!
___________________________________________
Phew, and that IS the very brief version, honest! Its blown my mind how easy this riding lark is on such a variety of horses when you line yourself up right. Madness! Why have I struggled for 30 years??!
The bottomless pit....
Magic that is. Four days away. Ridden by 2 people on day one, 3 on day two and day three, and FOUR on day four. In the arena for 2 hours each time. He looked momentarily tired after being ridden on day two, but I think it was more the stress of other people riding, he then regained his composure and by day three was threatening to dance on my head as I led him to the field. Sigh.
We got back and he spent last night AND this morning instigating the TB contingent to play like maniacs. So he's coped considerably better than me. I'm cream crackered.
Good to know that when I was told "you'll never bottom him out - he will always have some left" they were right! :-)
Someone said yesterday whilst watching him ping round, "are you sure he's not a thoroughbred?" and "where does he get his energy from?".
He's been called all sorts of stuff this week. "talented", "tricky", "bouncy", "wiggly". Yep, all present and correct.
First up was me on day one. We were in the diagnostics session, so they told me about my wiggle in the middle. I think by the time others had ridden him, they understood why!
Unfortunately, although next up did a good attempt in trot, they got swiftly ejected from canter.... ooops. At this point I was thinking, "shoulda brought Max!" In his defence, he did nothing wrong, but apparently trot is bouncy (dur) but so is canter, especially the power in the transition! He just did his usual canter trans, and bounced a bit and off she went. He was devastated to find a body in the arena in front of him, and very very scared! Bless him.
Everyone else was thinking, "don't wanna ride that one"!
Next day (day two), I rode him first and he seemed fine, although was a bit tense to handle on the floor. I was relieved as seriously didn't want anyone making him harder for me to ride!!
Then next rider is a coach who has been doing this for some time. She did a good job in trot, looking more organised than me, but again, he tried to leg it in canter. She held on well but it wasn't pretty. Magic didn't seem to understand why folks couldn't sit on his canter, and neither could I!
Next up, rider did a good job in trot but he exaserbated her weaknesses, so her rise was very jerky (seeing a theme developing?) then in canter, he just legged it. Properly. She had to pull up (after x circuits trying) and then wasn't allowed another go.
Day three, my usual coach rode him first, which was great. She did a good job, although it still didn't look easy (!) and got off saying "he's got no right side"..... Next up was a decent rider, who did another good job. Both struggled more with canter and looked like they could at least sort themselves in trot, if not sort him.
I rode him last, and he went really well, reaching into rein and relaxing as if saying "thank god its you!" Ha, that'll teach him to appreciate me!
Day four, the 3rd rider from day 2 rode again, she was managing better to organise herself on his trot, but wasn't effective on him, and didn't canter.
Another more experienced coach rode him next, and did the best job I'd seen so far. Looked organised, managed to do some organising of him but through her core not her hands, and generally made me smile. Magic looked happier too.
Then Mary rode him :-) She agreed that he has no right side, and needs to be "stuffed" more on the right. She said its easier to get stuffing to the right when its his inside, but harder when its his outside. She was sooo organised and only did walk and little trot, but was starting to get him to understand about moving along the balance beam. She said he has "fuzzy" sides, and so all his energy escapes out of everywhere, its not so much where there are leaks as where aren't there leaks?!
She said she expected him to be set in concrete and not easily fixable, but was pleased that he is very fixable and really wants to learn, but doesn't know how to do it. She said when I can organise myself on him and not allow him to disorganise me then I'll be able to work on it more. She said its going to be hard and I'm going to have my work cut out but that its really possible.
They all said how much potential he has, and everyone fell in love with his cheekiness (he never did stop greeting his audience each day and with each new rider!)
So, all in all, it did me so much good to see him ridden. It's validated that he is difficult, and that even more experienced folks struggled a LOT with him. Everyone got off pink! And even Mary had to concentrate 100% on maintaining herself and not letting him disorganise her, she said it was maxing out her brainspace!
I wouldn't necessarily choose to get others on him again (unless I knew they were more skilled than me), but it really really helped me as a one off.
We got back and he spent last night AND this morning instigating the TB contingent to play like maniacs. So he's coped considerably better than me. I'm cream crackered.
Good to know that when I was told "you'll never bottom him out - he will always have some left" they were right! :-)
Someone said yesterday whilst watching him ping round, "are you sure he's not a thoroughbred?" and "where does he get his energy from?".
He's been called all sorts of stuff this week. "talented", "tricky", "bouncy", "wiggly". Yep, all present and correct.
First up was me on day one. We were in the diagnostics session, so they told me about my wiggle in the middle. I think by the time others had ridden him, they understood why!
Unfortunately, although next up did a good attempt in trot, they got swiftly ejected from canter.... ooops. At this point I was thinking, "shoulda brought Max!" In his defence, he did nothing wrong, but apparently trot is bouncy (dur) but so is canter, especially the power in the transition! He just did his usual canter trans, and bounced a bit and off she went. He was devastated to find a body in the arena in front of him, and very very scared! Bless him.
Everyone else was thinking, "don't wanna ride that one"!
Next day (day two), I rode him first and he seemed fine, although was a bit tense to handle on the floor. I was relieved as seriously didn't want anyone making him harder for me to ride!!
Then next rider is a coach who has been doing this for some time. She did a good job in trot, looking more organised than me, but again, he tried to leg it in canter. She held on well but it wasn't pretty. Magic didn't seem to understand why folks couldn't sit on his canter, and neither could I!
Next up, rider did a good job in trot but he exaserbated her weaknesses, so her rise was very jerky (seeing a theme developing?) then in canter, he just legged it. Properly. She had to pull up (after x circuits trying) and then wasn't allowed another go.
Day three, my usual coach rode him first, which was great. She did a good job, although it still didn't look easy (!) and got off saying "he's got no right side"..... Next up was a decent rider, who did another good job. Both struggled more with canter and looked like they could at least sort themselves in trot, if not sort him.
I rode him last, and he went really well, reaching into rein and relaxing as if saying "thank god its you!" Ha, that'll teach him to appreciate me!
Day four, the 3rd rider from day 2 rode again, she was managing better to organise herself on his trot, but wasn't effective on him, and didn't canter.
Another more experienced coach rode him next, and did the best job I'd seen so far. Looked organised, managed to do some organising of him but through her core not her hands, and generally made me smile. Magic looked happier too.
Then Mary rode him :-) She agreed that he has no right side, and needs to be "stuffed" more on the right. She said its easier to get stuffing to the right when its his inside, but harder when its his outside. She was sooo organised and only did walk and little trot, but was starting to get him to understand about moving along the balance beam. She said he has "fuzzy" sides, and so all his energy escapes out of everywhere, its not so much where there are leaks as where aren't there leaks?!
She said she expected him to be set in concrete and not easily fixable, but was pleased that he is very fixable and really wants to learn, but doesn't know how to do it. She said when I can organise myself on him and not allow him to disorganise me then I'll be able to work on it more. She said its going to be hard and I'm going to have my work cut out but that its really possible.
They all said how much potential he has, and everyone fell in love with his cheekiness (he never did stop greeting his audience each day and with each new rider!)
So, all in all, it did me so much good to see him ridden. It's validated that he is difficult, and that even more experienced folks struggled a LOT with him. Everyone got off pink! And even Mary had to concentrate 100% on maintaining herself and not letting him disorganise her, she said it was maxing out her brainspace!
I wouldn't necessarily choose to get others on him again (unless I knew they were more skilled than me), but it really really helped me as a one off.
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