Magic's Own Little World

Last outing of 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:19:00 +0000

And I can't believe its a fortnight since I last blogged! Eeek.

Well we've had a quiet time, visiting families and going to weddings does rather impinge on any riding.

Si and I rode Max and Magic last Sunday though, and Max was an absolute darling! Seems to like nannying people :-)

So both of them were entered for stressage today, but I went nappy this morning at the sight of TWO dripping wet muddy creatures grinning at me from out of the darkness..... so I chose to take Magic as he can do both tests, and Max can't!

It was, ahem.... flippin freezing!

He warmed up amazingly. I tried Mum's suede seat saver, which really helped my trot and sling shot.

I was just ABLE to hold the trot from my core, and so he stretched out into the rein really really well.

I wasn't looking forward to the prelim, as prelim=boooooooorrrrrrrrrrrriiiiinng to a Magic..... which therefore = lets take the peeeeeeee.

So we went in, and immediately had eyes on stalks, at the jump wings, the boards, the people watching, and most of all the FILLERS. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

Honestly, if someone who didn't know what he did for a "living" they'd truly believe that he would never get near a jump... heart rate banging, leaping away from each, just awful. I left him to it, but we got thoroughly stuck with a choice of "near white board" "near wall filler" or "near sunlight on arena surface". Sigh. We were there for a few mins whilst he shuffled his feet and tried to decide which one DIDN'T have a lion hiding behind it. We finally, embarrassingly, scampered past it.

Thank goodness, the bell went and off we set. And the least said, the better. There were lovely moments when he was listening to me, I had his ears, and he was really through..... and then there was the rest of the test (60% or so???) when he was launching sideways, spooking, teleporting and incapable of using the longsides of the C end of the arena.

In his defence, I was VERY proud that each time we had a "moment", he came straight back to me and went like a dream for 10 strides or so.... but that doesn't detract from the fact that he is TEN and he's been there every fortnight for the last few months.... and he was WORSE than ever in terms of spooks. Better than ever when not focusing on the lions.... but still.

I did have to smile, because he made sure he kept me happy enough by giving me REALLY good stuff between the eejit moments.

And, I felt that although I DID have to hold him when he was launching/teleporting/refusing to go in correct direction... I could release immediately and he'd go well again.... So it wasn't all bad.

The best bit was that he didn't frustrate me, or make me cross. He simply made me glad that we'd got two tests!!

Put him away, and went to look at the damage..... 56%..... pahahaahaha. Now I did actually think it was funny, except that I swear he did it deliberately cos it was Max's name on the sheet - and Max would never do a 56% even though he's no dressage horse, cos he's just soooo obedient!!

Second test, only did tiny warm up, and then in. Novice, so much happier. He walked in on his loose rein (he's better to see the dragons "free" than with me holding him). And the first one he glared at VERY hard, but went past fairly calmly.... and then the ones on the other side, he was actually gravitating towards - always a good sign as it means he's actually ready to DEAL with the situation, rather than run like wildfire from it.

We went in, and it was fantastic! I still forgot to breathe (oh, honestly - I mean properly - obviously I was breathing!) but I had glimpses of remembering to get to the top of the rise, which brought him up short to me each time.... so my attempt to focus on half halts worked....

He was very obedient and really quite relaxed, certainly more so than the last 2 times he's been in there.

Came out really happy and gave him lots of fuss. A HUGE improvement and it actually went slowly and gave me thinking time!

Got 60% from a very harsh judge, but don't care. I know how big an improvement it was. I actually HAD him!!!

So, reminders.....

Seat saver!
Breathing properly
upper body correct for circles/turns = no need to pull inside rein to turn

That was all? Yep, I think that was all!

So that's it. A whole year over. A lot acheived, but still a long way to go!

Merry Christmas and all that Jazz, next blog will probably be about Max's merry Christmas escorting Si around the countryside :-)

And off we go again!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Stressage this time, just me, Echo and both my boys. :-)

When we got there they were digging up the outdoor school and felling trees next to the warm up. Nice! Max came off the box in full dragon mode. Joy. Numpty to tack up, but despite my misgivings was an angel once I was on and stomped past the diggers, dead trees and mountains of soil without a second glance.

I forgot my back support AGAIN. Honestly, brain like a sieve.

He warmed up ok, quite gobby and a bit behind the leg. Then I remembered to sling shot properly and wrap my top of calf, knee and thigh against him, and bingo, he came soft and light and up in his neck with no gobbyness. Amazing.

Canter was not as good. I don't quite know what goes on with canter being so changeable.... but I'm guessing its partly to do with him needing to be stronger, and partly due to him galloping down the hill in the bog EVERY morning, sigh.

Went in to do test and he's just a joy. Nothing fazes him. I did well with my sling shot etc in trot but think I did my "zoning out" thing in canter. It was very downhill and rather rubbish, so I probably resorted to firefighting, rather than fixing ME to fix the canter.

The good points were the trot was fab, long floaty and soft. And the steering was 100% better than last test. Either I rode better or he was listening better but the steering just happened - just like on Magic, in fact, probably BETTER than on Magic at times, because on Magic I do the left hand naughtiness thing.

On the downside, I got the free walk wrong AGAIN. Honestly, brain and dangerous!

Really really pleased though, but thought given the canter that I'd be pleased with 60%.... we got 59.4 so not far off! The marking ranged from 49 to 70.... so slap bang in the middle!

Put him away, where he did his angel thing of standing eating haylage oblivious to Magic leaving him, gotta love him!

Magic. Another novice (but without 4 circuits of canter this time). He warmed up well but I wasn't "feeling" it as well as the last couple of times. I found it very hard to push into my back (had remembered support though this time!) and felt he was slightly running. To combat that I just rode the bigger trot and practiced rising all the way and it WORKED! Just need to be able to do it more than 1 stride in 10!

Canter was lovely though, and I had his ears from the word go.

And then, 10mins before I was due to go in, someone flicked the switch. He just went totally doodlally. Bronking, plunging, snorting, swinging his head wildly, bogging off with me. Absolutely crazy. Like Magic wasn't even THERE any more. I can only assume something about the diggers set him off but it was impossible to ride him and having bolted up the arena once and nearly wiping out another competitor, I decided to just stand him in the door way to the arena with the people, and feed him carrot and hope he'd calm down.

He hasn't scared me that much for a LONG time. I honestly don't know what happened.

But, you can imagine, I was a tad concerned about going in to do my test! Our time came and I nudged him in. He walked in ok, eyes on stalks but no loonyness. Very spooky about the fillers etc, but I ignored it.

Went in and my goodness, the boy tried sooooo hard. He was mega tense, but I had his ears! I rode him forwards, and after the first medium trot thought I'd never get him back. Was overjoyed when canter came around (what a change from last time!) for a rest.

It felt awful. Like firefighting. But I know he was trying his hardest and for that I love him even more! Given the crazy behaviour of 5 minutes before, he was totally controllable (between paces if not IN paces!) and did exactly what I told him to, when.

Went to look at scores thinking "how funny, again I'd be grateful if we got 60!"

We got 64% and the horse after us was a very posh mega bucks sorta warmblood and that only got 65.

If he can score like that when going like a drain then there's hope for us yet!

Plus, despite the whole thing being a bit of a blur, I had enough brainspace in canter to remember kneel and light left foot (the one I weight too much).... amazing really! I didn't manage so well in trot but tried to stay back and sit and rise. I didn't remember to rise to the top (lordy, give me a chance, that requires 100% brainspace still!) or, and I think this would have REALLY helped and would have been possible.... to BREATH properly. As I drove home I was musing what I could have done better, and it came to me, bear down yes, and BREATH! Oh, and scrunch down would have worked too, because I bet as I breathed UP I came UP as well.....

Hey ho, very good learning and am soooo proud of him that despite his HUGE issue warming up, he tried sooooo hard to give me his ears and work with me.

I love that pone soooo much. Well, lets face it, I love them both so much! :-)))

Videos Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:37:00 +0000

Dressage

Jumpies... long way away, but look, its nearly a rhythm!!

Hairy videos

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:49:00 +0000

Dressage

Jumpies

Combined training

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Today, Magic and Dan were supposed to go to do combined training. Dan had a TB-self-harm moment last week and somehow managed to cut the inside of his cheek badly, so it swelled up, got nasty, stopped him eating :rollseyes: and needed a visit from the dentist to check it wasn't abscess etc and a course of bute and antibiotics. He's absolutely fine in himself, but is off games due to not being able to have bit in his mouth.

That gave us a quandry, either P could risk taking Hairy for his first competitive outing in over 5 years.... or I could take Max and try to find time to do Max and Magic.

Fortunately, after riding him yesterday P decided to go for it and take "second string Hairy" as he shall hence forth always be known!

Off we go, get there in plenty of time and he was just a superstar. Warmed up nicely and calmly, went in and did a lovely test, gave P a nice ride and was generally his usual mannered self. Then jumpies.... I suggested P jump the practice fence and then decide. They jumped the practice fence a few times (rather enthusiastically!) with one attempt very nearly clearing the wings, but still looking perfectly rideable! P decided to go for it :-)

Bless him, he came round to the first in the actual course and his eyes came out on stalks.... and continued that way! He was a bit backward to the first few, then got into his stride and went round the rest really nicely. I think he enjoyed himself!

Then, tired and probably mentally exhausted, we put him on the lorry and got Magic ready. I expected proper stress bandit abandonment trauma, a-la Dan.... but no. He stood and ate hay!!! Bovvered??

Then it was our turn. Magic warmed up in the spooky arena the best he's ever gone. I was able to really think push the front end away and down. I had a grin from ear to ear.

Went in to do test and again he tried really hard, is getting more and more rhythmical and looks soo much more relaxed. Trot felt bigger. All round really really pleased. I managed to think "push away" but knew I was crouching forward a bit... but I managed to hold him in rhythm without my hands, so hey, no worries, I can fix that bit at a later date!

Then on the second canter, I made what I thought was a very clean aid for canter.... and we got squeal "look at those jumps in the next arena" and head tossing like a loon. Still, at least he was enjoying himself and felt able to express himself :rollseyes: P said it looked like he just couldn't hold all that "being good" together any longer and just had to let it out!

It was like sitting on a balloon that you've let the end go on!

Still, he came back to me really nicely and finished off as he'd begun. Result!

Onto the jumping and really pleased the warm up was in the main arena, as he was soooo stressed last time we went there, napping to gate etc. Gave me a chance to ride him and let him know I was STILL riding properly. Granted there were dead dressage boards in the corner so couldn't go near there, but otherwise loads better.

Off we went, still pretty relaxed (blimey!) and no sillyness over number 1. As we went round, I not only managed to get control really easily round every turn.... I actually asked him to come back BETWEEN FENCES in related distances, and HE DID!!! Soooo chuffed. OK, the fences still weren't massive, but I barely have brainspace for everything as it is, if the fences got too big it would all go out the window. My mantra today was "scrunch down" it really worked (today! Tomorrow I'll probably need a different one!)

So, Hairy got 63% and a clear to come 2nd in their class. Clever clever people, even if one of them very rusty! It was nice for P to ride a more straightforward and giving horse than Dan, for her to realise how well she's done with him. I think she really enjoyed it, certainly a relaxed (ish) chilled horse was much more of a pleasure to take!

Magic and I got 65% and clear (very very happy about our rhythm in both stressage and jumpies) and won our class!

A very good day. Videos will follow. I have to put Hairy's up because I'm just so proud of him!

Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0000

It was supposed to be Magic and Aero... but there was a nasty man chainsawing in the wood behind the yard, set them all off like eejits and Aero just couldn't settle. Sigh.

Fortunately, I wanted her to have a look at Max, so we swapped and gave Max a treatment instead.

Considering how scary life was, Magic was zonked totally out by his treatment. She said he wasn't sore anywhere so he could only be like that from the toxins from the flu jab. Humph.

I was slightly paranoid, as last treatment (after 4 days being ridden by lots of people!) he had been very sore lumbar and very sore behind shoulders. Thank goodness she reported he is absolutely fine in both areas, so phew, I don't make him sore!!

She watched him move (very tense, trotting on drive with chainsawing behind wood!!) and when stood up, his right shoulder is in much better alignment now, not forward of left one, but his whole shoulder area is a bit tilted. So she worked on that and his his TMJ as she felt that might contribute to the wonky shoulders. She was very pleased with the rest of him but he still needs another treatment for his quarters as we haven't got there yet!!

Max - I told her how well he's been going and how sound he is. I don't think she really believed me til we trotted him up the drive and she said "oh WOW" !!

Apparently he is much better :-) which we knew, but still! She can't believe the difference and I just shrugged and said I'd thought for some time that I'd got the feet right "enough" for him to move better, but his body was obviously blocking the movement from holding himself off his feet for however long before I got him.

He was tight in front of his shoulders, pecs down to where join in chest, and just above hip whorls below lumbar area. But even these areas are much improved and he is not tight through back any more and much much easier through his shoulders. Whoohooo. Tight in TMJ but she hasn't treated that before.

So, Magic and Aero need another one, but ok to leave til January time. Max, I said should he keep having them and she said no, see how he is for a few months, he just needs now to get stronger and more used to working on surfaces etc. He has popped a windgall up on his right hind but she thinks this is probably because he is now working on surfaces and is also now finally using himself. She couldn't believe the difference and kept saying so :-)))

I'm soooo soooo pleased that what I've been feeling with both of them has been what has been right.

Magic is to have 4 days off because he was very dozy, even with the tension of the chainsawing man (good job, give my knee a chance to heal.) Max only needs a couple of days off, but as she rightly said, I need to do a bit with him, then let him have a quiet few days, then do a bit more and build him up. That means no having to ride a 7am this week, hurrah!

Magic will probably work Fri/Sat then go to do combined training on Sun. Max can potter Thurs onwards but have a quiet week or so til they have their next double outing to stressage on 3rd Dec. He kind of doesn't have anything to prove to me now, he's such a star. Magic needs to keep going out until I can generally keep him settled.

Just remind me who is 5 and who is 10???!

Me

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:55:00 +0000

Accident prone? Pah. Fell down spiral stairs. Bashed left knee very firmly into twisty decorative bannister post. Got big bruise on thigh too. Nice.

Chose Max to ride.... hurts. Boo. If it hurts on Mr Smoooooooooooth, there ain't much chance on the bouncemeister.

So SJ tomorrow is off :-(

On the plus side, I went for a treatment (after falling down stairs) and have another one booked for the 4th. I will get straightened up along side my ponies, I WILL!

Interesting. Pecs very tight. Due to asthma, bad breathing. Discussed breathing through nose, hahah. Shall practice. Have tight left quad = why right seat bone slides off, wooo. Left shoulder, well lets not go there! Am much shorter and tighter in right side of neck than left. When lying on front on treatment table, I can lie with my head to left but it won't lie down to right.... because the right side of my neck is so tight and short it doesn't stretch that far. Interesting.

So homework :rollseyes: pecs - stretch - arm up at 90 on wall, step same side leg forward past it... feeeeeeeel the stretch, oh yes.

Quads - lie with bum to wall and legs straight up against wall. Bend one leg and put foot over other knee, then slide other foot down wall, stretching quads. Also, oh yes.

So, homework shall commence.....

And this weekend will be boring. Magic and Aero getting their 3rd treatments tomorrow. And no parties for us til I've got a functioning knee. Groan. Happy hacking for Maxwell though, cos the bonus is I can't weight it when riding, it hurts, so good practice!!

Videos, Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:35:00 +0000

Magic, not-soooo-stressage

Magic jumpies, no laughing at the height of the jumps or our amazing "miss" at number 4! I guess its to be expected now I am trying not to mess with him in front of fences. The good thing is, the miss came at the only fence that he was running out from under me... all the others he waited beautifully for. Still not the calmness I wanted, but even when tense, I got the control and he was waiting without me oiking him around the whole time.

Videos, Max

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Max, dressage, bless him :-)

Max, Jumpies, still bless him :-))

Magic will follow, it takes forever for them to upload.

Combined training

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Max and Magic again! They are settling well to being one in-one out of the lorry. They are both very good as well at being loaded, unloaded, loaded again, all without doing anything.

The star of the show is most definately Maxwell. I can't believe the change in that horse. He is quite simply a superstar. I might end up having to sell him because he is just toooo good!

We got ready, got on and went to warm up. No dinosaur. All very lovely. I forgot my back brace so sent marvellous groom/video-er back for it. Having only really walked thus far, he stood and let me fiddle it on. He wouldn't have managed that last outing!

Warmed up very well. Cocked his head to the other horses but was ignoring them much better. Into the scary indoor.... "is it?" says Max... "why?".

Bell goes, and we saunter round our test with me thinking push out into my back. It went well! He was a bit tired from all the transitions in the warm up and probably from Tues night (and then a mad gallop round the field yest). So by the time we got to canters I was onto pony club kicks. He lost a leg on the left canter, and then decided he needed to poo mid right-canter, which meant trot and cue lots more pony club kicks from me. Stylish!

But, he's just so darn easy! Got the sheet back and we got 61.4% !! Go Max! We got an 8 for our entry, and a few 7s and then a 4 for our pooing-not-cantering. Really nice comment "Lots to like, forwards and obedient but needs to be more between leg and hand". Absolutely spot on and fair enough. And watching the video back, he is already not looking so much like an extra long blunderbus! Civilisation here we come! Made worse when I realised he should have had more marks - I'd free walked at the wrong place - sorry Max!

Took him back for a breather before the jumpies. Bearing in mind we have not left the floor since the last CT here, which was.... May I think! He was a star! Just picked up canter and lobbed his way round over them. Some had really tight turns which I thought he'd struggle to make, but he was fine. Numpty mother however made his life difficult by forgetting where number 6 was and having to turn on a sixpence, sorry Max!

He went back to the lorry and was happily on board munching away.

Magic's turn. Warmed up amazingly. Really the best ever. More through, actually me riding from leg to hand... not running from me. Me actually RIDING the beast. Best ever canters, just lovely.

Then I stopped and chatted for a bit, then cos it had been so nice, asked for video of next bit. Oh, quelle surprise, I rode like a plank. Actually, if I rode like a plank literally, I'd probably be better off than the wobbly bobbly person I am when on Magic. Sigh.

Decided I needed to just imagine I was riding Max, who has a lovely long stride and a gorgeous rhythm.... and that improved things a lot.... but still felt like I'd blown it....

Went in to ride round waiting for bell, and riding as if he's Max gets harder when Magic is glaring at the wings at the side and leaping sideways in an indian rubber ball stylee. If only Magic had Max's brain, wow, what a horse! He makes me feel like a lump of jelly. And not particularly talented jelly at that!

Also, glaring means I don't have a chance of getting his ears, or control of the speed of his legs. Was not at this point expecting much TBH!

Bell goes, in we go. Trot work was MUCH improved on last tests and the 2nd warm up. Canter felt fab but madam here forgot the test.... you have to canter around for about 2 laps.... as well as doing loops etc. Poor both of us! Canter change of leg through trot was nice, given we haven't practiced any of the novice movements for years! Sorry Magic (notice a theme developing here?!)

So, actually really pleased. He was much calmer and more rideable than the last test we did here and the vid looks good in places (no sarky comments about, yes like when we are asking the judge where to go, whoops!) We got 63%. Very pleased, especially with yet another error of course from rider.... :whistlesinnocently:

Back to lorry for quick change of stirrups and breastplate on. Out to the outdoor in the howling gale, where they have been tearing down the trees alongside. Of course, did Max care about any of this? Nope. Did Magic? Ohhhhh, yessss.

I walked him round calmly for a bit, and then trotted, but I was never going to improve the spook factor of the far side. I got reminded to ride him as if he's Max.... which does really help...but I think I was drowning a bit.

Canter, zoom off, so circled a couple of times until civilised (ish). Jumped practice fence. Ballooned once, dropped to trot 2nd time, managed to do it nicely 3rd time. Then course. Felt absolutely awful. Thank god for my video-er, because watched it back and apart from the number of "misses" due to my attempt at hands down and don't fiddle, the control is still there. And he was about as tense as its possible for him to be. So I should be pleased.

Jumps were far too small, but to do 3" you had to do an elemental test, and after the amount of canter in that Novice, no way am I trying a Elem for a bit!

But sometimes I could just cry, I try so hard, he makes me sweat buckets, and I still feel like a lump of jelly. Hey ho. On the plus side, he tried his hardest to stay calm in the stressage, and he stayed under control when very very tense jumping.

How long til can get calmness for jumpies? Well, we can only watch and wait!!

RC lesson

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:03:00 +0000

Today I braved taking Magic for a short trundle to see how he is. He was very spooky and struggled to concentrate on anything for longer than a nanosecond. So I'd say he's feeling better then!

This evening, Max and Dan went to the riding club lesson.

Dan looks like a totally different horse and is now doing fabby work in canter as well as trot.

Max was an absolute star. He can suddenly REALLY canter. In balance and everything. We had to do loops in off the track.... erm hello, he can't even canter a circle yet!! So we tried, and amazingly, he did a really good job of it. I need to think lean back into my back in the canter, or he pulls me over his withers. Once I was back enough and kneeling enough, then it felt fabby!

Trot was good too. A little bit drift in on the right rein, but I suspect a portion of it is my ineptitude with shearing the boards that way.

I wore the back brace and it really helped me to focus on my core strength. I need to do more narrow in pelvis and thighs on Max.... for some reason its harder on him because he is narrower, you'd think it would be easier!

I need to sling shot massively on him, and keep my bear down and my core really engaged for the rise/sit and also to GET to the top of the rise (boring, yes, still the same things!).

Then we did direct transitions and he was fabby at these two! Really switched on and in front of my leg. Never felt him like it.

Am very excited about him now, he felt, dare I say it, athletic, tonight!!

Combined training on Thurs, Max at 11.34 stres and Magic at 2.13... yawn. Well, I did want enough time between!!!

Improvements....

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:27:00 +0000

In Magic, the weather and in Max and Dan's ability to cope with a storm! Granted, we had it least bad of the whole country, but hey. It was still wet, windy and wild!!

Magic first. Temp at 2pm was 37.6. Temp at 6pm was 38.1 (eeek, rising).... Temp at 8am this morning (38.1). So maybe stable then!

Meanwhile, Max and I and P and Dan rode out in the storm.... they were very good! Quarter sheets where threatening to blow over our heads, but I was very proud of them both. (Safety in numbers, I wouldn't have liked either of our chances out on our own!)

And then, the weather changed and its now beautiful... so Max and I are off out again. Then they can have the rest of the day on the top field :yummygrassalert:

Blinking flip

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0000

What an interesting 24hrs.

Rode Max yesterday morning, before the storm got going, and then went to get on Magic. It had already started raining so decided to just take him up for a mooch round our fields.

Got on and started walking up hill and something not right. He was puffing far too much. He stopped for a wee (very normal!) and then when he went on it was like he'd run the grand national. I hopped off and he was literally panting and breaking out into sweat. We'd gone about 100yds.

Get him back down to yard and have major panic, thinking its got to be reaction to dope or vacc. Ring vet who jabbed yesterday who said didn't think it could be a reaction, but take his temp.

I did. It was at the top of the scale at 40 degrees. Vet on way, says keep him in.

Different vet arrives (male), cue Magic feeling much better and a 5 minute dance round his stable to catch him. Then continued dancing once vet comes into stable. So he's not THAT bad.

Panic re colic etc etc. Guts sound normal, lungs sound normal, no sign of respiratory problems. Phew. But high temp. He gave him anti-inflams and antibiotics IV. Said keep him in as wet out.

Vet leaves, so I promptly bundle him into rug from ears to tail and stick him and Aero on front grass for an hour. TBs get kicked out into field. If they've got to stay in then I'm not having them with no grass for 48hrs.

Get him back in 6ish, having made beautiful bed up. towel head and ears dry. Leave him stabled and Aero in top end of yard with choice of 2 stables. Give him supper with aloe and manuka honey.... Aero spends most the night with his head over Magic's door. Bless. TBs have choice but come back in as field obviously no place for them in a storm (or without a Magic!) Check his temp and its lower, but not normal.

Get back at 11.30pm, check temp and its 37.8 hurrah. Leave him with fresh haylage but he's not impressed. Aero has eaten a stack of his and the TBs are still in....

6am, temp 37.3. Whoohoo. Can't tell if he's feeling well/ill as my only sign before was that he couldn't breathe when walking him up a hill! Stick him and Aero back out on front grass for an hour whilst I muck out (whassat?). Then in for breakfast, more aloe and honey.

Left them the run, thinking they'd go back out as had been in all night, but all still loitering in yard.

9am speak to vet who says great temp is down, but monitor 2x a day as may spike again. Turn out as much as poss as long as weather ok. Have him in when weather nasty. Drugs will wear off 24hrs after administered, so need to check him this evening again to see if he's "over" it or if the drugs just did their thing for a bit. Fingers crossed he's over it.

But you learn something new, I thought you only got a localised reaction to vaccs, didn't realise you could get a systemic reaction.

Vets have informed drug company, so fingers crossed they'll stump up some cash for treatment.

Went down and turned them out. Gave them a strip of the top field. Magic up for playing, but not as full as joie de vie as usual.

Dentistry and Vitnery...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

So today was the day. I hate dentist days! I rode Magic at 7am but probably didn't need to as when I arrived he was encouraging them all into laps-of-field-with-tails-over-backs-snorting-like-dragons. Sigh. My field is now a quagmire.... didn't take them long, the swines.

So I had to go out and CATCH him! (Too dangerous to come in through gate as lion was obviously lying in wait behind it). Fortunately, the others could come in as soon as he did!

Nice ride in glorious sunshine! Bit different now, its lashing down.

Then gave him some sedalin in his breakfast, as last time he was in terrified mode before he'd even HAD his IV sedation.... And it really worked. Dentist arrived, I caught Magic and then vet arrived and doped him.... and then doped him again (sigh). Eventually, after enough to fell an elephant, he relented and let her do his teeth. And he was actually perfect, AND its the first time they've gone a year and they were still really good and she said he'd probably go 14months next time. I said no point as can have vet to jab and sedate at same time this way, but nice to know that his teeth are now officially perfect!

Everyone else had their flu and tets, which means Max is now in line with everyone else. Don't quite know how I managed it, but glad I took the chance last year that he WAS worth risking the vaccination money on, and stumped up for 3 lots!!

Aero had his teeth done and was better than last time, and his teeth lasted a year easily too. So That's cool. The TBs are 6 monthly, and the black boys are yearly. Jobs a good un!

And very nice to have a calm Magic. But boy he can fight the dope.... he was trying to eat within about 10mins of us finishing him, and it only took her half an hour at most!

I guess, as he always makes out, the only way he's survived so long is by being on red alert 24/7.

Max and I then went for a little hack, and got back just before it rained. He was very good, in the wind and everything.

I'll ride them both tomorrow, then they have the weekend off as we are away for the weekend. And then it'll be back to 7am rides on Monday!

Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:09:00 +0000

Technical issues meant we only have the second half of Max's test. Which means we get all the canter but not much trot! But look, he CAN canter!!

Riding wise, I didn't feel I rode him as well as I can.... I forgot boards. And sheering. Ho hum. But mainly I managed to get the feel of "lift" the back, not reel the head in. And I guess that is quite tricky in itself when you consider how long he is. But compared with our photos from the spring, I think he doesn't look nearly as long and gangly as he did!

And then Magic, being c.a.l.m! Not a single spook. Never thought I'd see the day. Especially on his first outing in there for ages!

Me, still not matching the forces or rising enough... Still a bit square wheeled, but better, much better and certainly some nearly round wheeled moments :-))

Stressage with M&M!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:11:00 +0000

What can I say? Apart from it being freezing and raining all morning, we've had a fab day!

Two very kind friends stepped in to nanny the pair of M's first joint outing - so thanks folks, much appreciated and good to have a gossip and catch up!

We got there, got them both off, and then stuck Magic back on. Expected a little bit of a fuss, but was totally prepared to ignore him as he is officially the "grown up" in this scenario!

Max and I went off to warm up. Cue firebreathing dinosaur again. Definitely should have called him T-Rex! We trotted round. A lot. And then some more. Then we risked canter. We couldn't stop. We didn't walk for at least 20mins. Then we seemed somewhat calmer.

We had no leap/buck combos, but plenty of T-Rex roars and "I'll stick my head in the clouds and my fingers in my ears and see how many poor unsuspecting members of the public I can plough through in my excitement". Sigh.

Bless him though he tires fast!! And he's so much easier to ride than Magic that trotting and cantering for half an hour was no problem. Unfortunately, an early competitor got shipped off by ambulance (never let anyone tell you stressage is a SAFE sport!) so everything was running 40mins late. Which worked well as was able to take him back to the lorry for a rest for a bit (where Magic kicked off again, despite having been perfect when no one around.... hmmm).

Got back on and did a bit more work, but he was truly sensible by now and I didn't want him tired (pony club kicks to get canter is not the done thing daaaarling!).

Went into the indoor school, away from all others, where he's never been before and bimbled round doing his test in a little world of his own. I love him so much! I can just imagine his internal dialogue, it'd go..... "hummm, mmmm,mmm," (sings to self) "wonder why she wants me to trot round here then" "hum hum mmm" "This is quite repetitive, still she must have her reasons." "oooh, she only wants me to CANTER as well, hooooow much like hard work?" "hmmm, mmmm" "Oh good, we've stopped." "Oh good, a carrot". "Odd mother!" :-)))

Gotta love a switched off baby ex-racer. I think they broke the mold!

So we saunter back, get Magic out and let them both have some haylage for a bit. Then I stick Max back in lorry thinking it'd all kick off..... and nothing. He stood and ate his haylage. Even when we left! I was sooo worried warming up Magic that I was quite relieved when I heard him bang a few times. I was beginning to think he'd strung himself up or something. So his halo is WELL adjusted today! Perfect pone.

Magic and I warmed up. I can't say he was quite as relaxed as last Sunday, but very good none the less. I could barely match his forces so did minimal warm up. Canter was lush though. Don't know where THAT'S come from but am very very pleased!!

In we went. Only thing I wanted was calm Magic. And I got it! And the ears! Granted, every 10 trot strides or so he felt the need to try to hollow, but each time I worked on what I needed to do, as WELL as maintaining some sort of outline, and he came back to me. He was very calm, no pre-empting and the canter was as good as outdoors. Even the trot work he was pushing the neck away from me at times. It felt gooood!

Came out and gave him loads of fuss. I think he likes the new me :-))) I certainly like the new Magic :-)))

Put him away (Max still being a star) and went to look at scores. Not bothered, but pleased to see that Max got 60%. Really really lovely comments about how he just gets too long and loses balance but generally good! No comment that read "get that cripple outa here"!!!

Magic got 63% which I'm happy about. Didn't wait for sheet but will get it posted on.

I have videos thanks to the aformentioned friends, so shall upload them when I have a mo.

But, and its a huge thing - my two Ms can go parties together and be sensible left in the lorry! AND Magic did a calm test, in the indoor where he ALWAYS had mega spooks.

Very tired happy bunny tonight!! :-))

OK, hands up, who stole my navicular cripple?

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:03:00 +0000

And swapped him for a fire-breathing dinosaur?

Hmm. Own up, tis not funny. I'd like a broken Maxwell back please.....

Pah. :-))

So tonight was RC lesson night. I stuck to my guns about not taking Magic and had decided I would take Max.... so yesterday Max and I were hacking out in the beautiful sunshine at 6.50am :-)

And then, this morning, it was Magic's turn.... and I must say if I can scrape myself out of bed, riding in the dawn is much more preferable than poo picking (which has slipped off the radar this week :whistlesinnocently:).

Then tonight, off we went to RC. Maxwell the perfect pony loaded straight onto the lorry in the dark as if he did it all the time (first time in the lorry at all!). He travelled fab and had loads more room than in trailer.

We got on and walked round early, and someone was very on his toes.... people walking alongside the arena, wind blowing, etc all caused the Maxwell equivalent of a squeal and pee-off (basically, a roar like the T-rex in Jurassic Park, and a few strides of TB "bounce").

Dan was rolling his eyes at him, honestly, I saw him!

Then other folks started to arrive and we had a few more interesting moments.

Max decided that each new horse into the arena had to be checked out and if female, letched over for the foreseeable future. He wasn't particularly impressed when I suggested that tonight wasn't about "picking up birds"!!!

Then, after explaining to instructor that he was baby, blah blah, broken/rehab, blah... not very fit... blah.... no schooling... blah... we set off to warm up, and got to the car park end of the arena and out of NOWHERE he did the leap/buck combo he does in the field. O.M.G. I nearly bit dirt! He didn't have the decency to roar first, oh no, he roared on landing as we legged it across the arena. :smallembarrassedcough:

Humph. Methinks I shall not feel too guilty about him having to work solidly for an hour!

I have a bad shoulder, and that made it worse. Honestly it was like being on one of those rollercoasters when they set off straight down and there's nout in front of you (or seemingly even beneath you!). Fortunately, he wasn't quick enough to twist as well (phew) and he's got such a long neck, that even the amount of force he put in, his neck still was there as we landed. Ickle sh*t.

So we were a bit careful for a few mins.... and then things started to settle down and he went like a dream.

I need to remember to sling shot right back in trot, and rise all the way, but goodness if Magic requires 100% effort 100% time to "get it", with Max I need probably 60%, 4o% of the time to have a good stab at it. So easy AS!!

Even canters he tried very hard, good trans and no ears up nostrils, in fact offering too much nosedive. But he feels like its canter now, allbeit not very balanced yet. Trot on the other hand is fantastic. Even on small circles.

So I guess, yes, someone has swapped my cripple for a new baby project.... cos he sure ain't a cripple any more!! Yippeee :-)))

He travelled home quietly as well, and loading is just a dream. Unloading was pretty cute as he did "flip flop feet" coming off ramp as it was quite steep and dark having come away from the light in the box so he felt his way down the ramp, bless him.

All in all an excellent evenings work.

He's not got a Bredon hack on Fri now, but we have still got stressage on Sun. Please god he doesn't hit the ejector button again when I am there alone with two horses :coldshudder:

:-))))

Foiled

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0000

We went jumpies this afternoon.... to find it had been cancelled because of the wind/rain.

Bum.

Fortunately, they let us hire the arena, so I had a happy 3/4 hr schooling Magic instead. I'm not sure P and Dan thought as much of the opportunity as me!

Magic was very spooky about the banners to start with, so we walked a 20m circle round on the right rein and past them over and over again with me getting his attentive (on me!) ears and pushing his neck away. Once I'd pretty much got them (barring incidents!) we changed rein and did left rein. No attempt at all on left rein in walk.

So back to right rein, and trot. Wow. By george I think we've got it! I had control of the speed of his legs, so I remembered more rise and I got big trot! Waiting for ME big trot more to the point. When I lost it I needed more bear down and to drag my feet BACK. Weird, but worked... I think he's sneaking me into a very subtle water ski without me noticing, and then off we went in the same old same old... drawing lower leg back got me out of it!

I really really need to keep getting to top of rise... but I struggle sooooo much when he's tense.... So my learning curve from stressage on Thurs, then today is that its ok to forget the rise as long as I have mega beardown, more than reins.... but rising better helps me GET control of the speed of the legs, so the longer I get defensive and ickle rise, the harder it'll be. But beardown first!

So hey ho, its back to the same old - kneel (enough), slingshot (enough), buffer (enough), beardown (enough), Bulldog clip (enough), rise (enough). Heeeeeeheee. Simples!

So right trot was good, changed to left trot which has been better than right the last few times, and it still was! Excellent. I had leg to hand and throughness. My goodness, I felt like I could ride, and he felt like dressage coblet!

The other biiiig thing though, is his neck. As in, after watching vid and seeing how jacknifed he was, I was determined straight neck. Easy peasy on right rein as we both LIKE working into left hand. Very hard on left rein.... although doable as long as I turned like a bus....

Again, blow me down this stuff works and I can actually see us improving LOADS at the mo!

Then a breather as my thighs had given up ghost. Once thighs are gone, I can't be strong enough in beardown and back so I lose the trot.

Then onto canter. Right canter first. Lovely trans, my new regime of always sit trot so he knows is working. And he only tried to stretch right down! I nearly fell off. It was gorgeous!

Then left canter, did some trot first, but funnily he was loads more relaxed and less pre-emptive than he's been in the field. Got left canter and worked on turning like a bus and KEEPING right rein. It worked, we did feel a bit like turning on a kinda pirouette, but he relaxed and stretched down this way too. The ONLY time he tensed was when my left hand started trying to steer/flex.... then I had to remember my mandtra (see above!) and release the rein, whilst apologising for bad habits.

Transitions were mainly brilliant. He did one walk/trot where he hollowed. So I halted him with my core, and asked again and he stayed lovely and soft, so I'd suspect I'd "ridden" the trans rather than "working me" on the trans. He did one rubbish left trot/canter one, but otherwise they were fab.

And we have balanced canter/trot trans - soooo nice, he just comes through all balanced as long as (yes, you've guessed it) I keep my mantra running!

The tricky thing for me now is this neck straight on thing. But it soo helps him that I will crack it. I just have to remember that, on top of all else.

The best bit was how calm he was. Yes he spooked, yes we had a couple of whip round/piss off levitate manouvres, but he stopped and carried on without taking a breath/missing a stride.... so now he doesn't STAY panicked by stuff. And there was a horse looning around in field by school that he thoroughly managed to ignore. No mean feat!

We even did some medium trots, where I got to feel a real medium, and transition to working purely from rise/beardown etc. Really really exciting! Plus I can sit trot for at least 2 strides to get canter :-))

We had round wheels for sure today, and I'm now loads more confident that even though I'll probably have "lost" them next time I school I CAN get them back!!!

I'm so proud of him and I'm actually quite proud of me too! We can do this! :-)))

Trims, when and who

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:43:00 +0000

Aero -
7/12/08 (9.5 weeks)
12/2/09 (6.5 weeks)
30/3/09 (5.5 weeks, only a little rasp round the flare really)
7/5/09 (6 weeks)
18/6/09 (3.5 weeks! - desperate, think last of really bad flare)
12/7/09 (5 weeks)
14/8/09 (8 weeks)
7/10/09

Magic -
1/1/09 (7 weeks)
20/2/09 (7 weeks)
10/4/09 (5 weeks)
15/5/09 (8 weeks)
12/7/09 (5 weeks)
14/8/09 (5 weeks til Exmoor 20-27th Sept. Self trimmed nicely!)
25/10/09 (10 weeks total)

Dan -
17/12/08 (8 weeks)
12/2/09 (7 weeks)
3/4/09 (5 weeks) Was footy around this time so they came off the big fields!
7/5/09 (7 weeks) and boy were they ugly flared things!
24/6/09 (2 weeks and as I had the rasp out, I took the flare off again... can't believe how quick they are growing at mo.
12/7/09 (4 weeks) we have another ducks bill section of flare on the lower third... not long now!
14/8/09 (5 weeks)
19/9/09 (8 weeks)
13/11/09

Max -
17/12/08 (fronts - 5 weeks til...)
20/1/09 (all 4, then 5.5 til)
1/3/09 (fronts - then 5 til)
3/4/09 (all 4, then 5 weeks, (all 4) only a little rasp round the flare really)
7/5/09 (6 weeks) Proper trim at a proper time!
18/6/09 (5 weeks) last of major flare off, whoohoo.
24/7/09 Experimenting with no trim.... as medial/lateral deviation seems to be serving a purpose....
Checked 7/10/09. Roll at toe nearly grown out, great length at quarters has self trimmed out, leaving very self made quarter scoop. Heels still very weedy, but much higher (1 cm?) than sole at heel. Frogs very in ground contact though so assume heels will reduce in height when back of foot can take more ground contact. New hoof at coronet got 1 inch or so of much much tighter growth, so again the stuff at the ground looks very flared. Its going to take a while until this guy grows his perfect foot! (13 weeks!)
25/10/09 Gave in, flare off!

Tig -
1/1/09 (8 weeks)
1/3/09 (6 weeks)
10/4/09 (4 weeks) Mega trim needed - feet are growing!
7/5/09 (6 weeks) Ditto. Possible abscess 5/6 - lame 4 days, homeopathics. Must have reabsorbed.
18/6/09 (8 weeks) Moved to new yard on 30/7/09.
14/8/09 (9 weeks)
16/10/09

Video

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:24:00 +0000

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!

Stressage

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

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!

Dem ears...

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:19:00 +0000

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!

Jumpies!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:44:00 +0000

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!

Where is the time going at the mo?

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:22:00 +0000

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.

Lots to report!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:34:00 +0000

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?! :-))