Shes only ever been ridden in a shank once before, and at first I wasn't sure how well it was going to go over. She was really fussy at first when we tried to bend her with the new bit. After a few minutes of trying to figure her out, we moved onto jogging and she finally started giving her head and neck when we went back to doing the 'normal' warm up.
We had some real breakthrough moments at the lope this ride, and she's really light and soft at the walk and trot now. I'm finally starting to feel like I know how to ride again, and that I can effectively fix any issue that comes up rather than just being a passenger on the horses back crossing my fingers that things go well.
Lucy also got a bath today for the first time all winter, she was so nice and clean afterwords. However she also came back into heat today so she's back to 'getting lucky' this week, hopefully she'll catch this time.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Best ride ever!
So I had my make up lesson from last weekend on Thursday. I had Friday off (more on that later) so I told D I was ready for anything he wanted to throw at me. So after we discussed our goals for the show in one month (!) and that I would have to ride one handed for my riding classes, he sent me to the rail to ride for the lesson one handed.
And we loped, and loped and loped some more. Then we took a break for the other horse in our lesson to lope then we went back to the rail and loped some more. It was hard work, I haven't ridden much one handed, let alone loped much but it was a sink or swim situation. By the end of it we were having some really good loping both direction as well as some good stops.
I go back tomorrow am for another beating but I'm looking foreword to it. I'm having so much fun riding Lucy.
So on Friday me and my best friend took off to the big city to go see Great Big Sea in concert. I had originally bought the tickets for my parents to go, but they had something else going on so we went instead. It was their 20th anniversary tour, and they played for 2 and a half hours. Below is one of my favorite songs, video quality is bad but all you need to do is listen to them.
And we loped, and loped and loped some more. Then we took a break for the other horse in our lesson to lope then we went back to the rail and loped some more. It was hard work, I haven't ridden much one handed, let alone loped much but it was a sink or swim situation. By the end of it we were having some really good loping both direction as well as some good stops.
I go back tomorrow am for another beating but I'm looking foreword to it. I'm having so much fun riding Lucy.
So on Friday me and my best friend took off to the big city to go see Great Big Sea in concert. I had originally bought the tickets for my parents to go, but they had something else going on so we went instead. It was their 20th anniversary tour, and they played for 2 and a half hours. Below is one of my favorite songs, video quality is bad but all you need to do is listen to them.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Showmanship
So here is my apparently much expected showmanship post! Hopefully I answer everyone questions in this but if you have one after the post, comment and I'll come back and answer them over the next week or so.
Originally showmanship was more of a prep class for the halter, but much as the horsemanship and western pleasure have separated and become two very separate classes the same thing has happened with showmanship and halter. If anything it is more similar to the other pattern classes, equation and horsemanship, rather than halter.
The class is judged as a pattern class, for the most part execution of the pattern and how correct it is done is the main determining factor in how the class is placed. However much like equation, a sloppy pretension even with a great pattern will sometimes get you knocked down below someone who looks the part, but has a minor mistake.
So for the basics, your horse needs to be able to do the parts of the pattern. Most patterns will call for:
1) A pivot of some kind (the horse should pivot on the inside hoof, so when going to the right, the right hind leg stays still). It is important that you keep your horses body as straight as possible, which will help the horse remain on the correct pivot foot.
2) Trot/jog sometimes even an extended trot/jog. It is important that you move at the speed that the horse looks best at. For Lucas a 16.3hh hunter I had a fairly good jog going on, for Lucy I barely move into the jog as she is slow, and I am tall.
3) A walk. Again at a pace that makes your horse look good. For both the walk and the trot you want to be at the horses jaw, right where the neck meets the head with your hands relaxed but out in front of you as if you were carrying a platter of cookies.
4) A set up. Your horse needs to have all 4 feet set up squarely (much like a table you want all 4 legs firmly in support of his body) Again, it is important that the set up benefits how your horse looks and its conformation.
5) A back up, you need to turn and face the rear of the horse, but do not stand in front of the horse, this is just a reversal of the walk/trot position.
Once you have all of the 'parts' its now the point to bring it together to put it in a pattern. This is the spot where Lucy is now. Her set up is good but slightly slow, her pivots are good but I'm still occasional helping her by using my hand on her shoulder to keep her straight though the turn. Now its putting the pieces together in a pattern.
Each movement must be separate, but all of it must flow together to present a good picture. For example if you have a trot out of a pivot, you need to complete the entire pivot before trotting off, if you rush into the trot, you may not complete your pivot and will get marked down for it. Here is my video of me and Lucas a couple of years ago, I don't really complete my pivot into the walk here:
At this point you most likely will be getting ready for a show, and its at here that you need to think about your and your horses turnout. Your horse should be in good condition, with a great coat, a trimmed mane that will be banded for the show. Your horse should be clipped, bathed, and apply some shine to the horses face. For the most part fake tails are now expected unless your horse has a great tail to begin with.
You will need a well fitted halter (leather) that complements your horse, and a leather lead with or without a chain. Your chain needs to go though the side ring of the halter closest to you, under the chin, then though the other side ring, and up the cheek. If you choose not to use a chain you should still have your lead attached to the side ring in the halter.
Your own turnout needs to be neat and presentable. If showing in English attire it should be clean and well fitting, with your hair up, boots clean, and spurs off! If showing western, clean long enough pants that complement your top, hair up, either dark or colored boots that match your outfit, and a well fitting, SHAPED hat.
Here is a video of a nicely turned out pair that have a very nice pattern.
Ok guys now its up to you ask your questions, and I'll try to answer them the best I can over the internet. If you want get someone to video you and I'll see if I can help you out from what I can see.
Originally showmanship was more of a prep class for the halter, but much as the horsemanship and western pleasure have separated and become two very separate classes the same thing has happened with showmanship and halter. If anything it is more similar to the other pattern classes, equation and horsemanship, rather than halter.
The class is judged as a pattern class, for the most part execution of the pattern and how correct it is done is the main determining factor in how the class is placed. However much like equation, a sloppy pretension even with a great pattern will sometimes get you knocked down below someone who looks the part, but has a minor mistake.
So for the basics, your horse needs to be able to do the parts of the pattern. Most patterns will call for:
1) A pivot of some kind (the horse should pivot on the inside hoof, so when going to the right, the right hind leg stays still). It is important that you keep your horses body as straight as possible, which will help the horse remain on the correct pivot foot.
2) Trot/jog sometimes even an extended trot/jog. It is important that you move at the speed that the horse looks best at. For Lucas a 16.3hh hunter I had a fairly good jog going on, for Lucy I barely move into the jog as she is slow, and I am tall.
3) A walk. Again at a pace that makes your horse look good. For both the walk and the trot you want to be at the horses jaw, right where the neck meets the head with your hands relaxed but out in front of you as if you were carrying a platter of cookies.
4) A set up. Your horse needs to have all 4 feet set up squarely (much like a table you want all 4 legs firmly in support of his body) Again, it is important that the set up benefits how your horse looks and its conformation.
5) A back up, you need to turn and face the rear of the horse, but do not stand in front of the horse, this is just a reversal of the walk/trot position.
Once you have all of the 'parts' its now the point to bring it together to put it in a pattern. This is the spot where Lucy is now. Her set up is good but slightly slow, her pivots are good but I'm still occasional helping her by using my hand on her shoulder to keep her straight though the turn. Now its putting the pieces together in a pattern.
Each movement must be separate, but all of it must flow together to present a good picture. For example if you have a trot out of a pivot, you need to complete the entire pivot before trotting off, if you rush into the trot, you may not complete your pivot and will get marked down for it. Here is my video of me and Lucas a couple of years ago, I don't really complete my pivot into the walk here:
At this point you most likely will be getting ready for a show, and its at here that you need to think about your and your horses turnout. Your horse should be in good condition, with a great coat, a trimmed mane that will be banded for the show. Your horse should be clipped, bathed, and apply some shine to the horses face. For the most part fake tails are now expected unless your horse has a great tail to begin with.
You will need a well fitted halter (leather) that complements your horse, and a leather lead with or without a chain. Your chain needs to go though the side ring of the halter closest to you, under the chin, then though the other side ring, and up the cheek. If you choose not to use a chain you should still have your lead attached to the side ring in the halter.
Your own turnout needs to be neat and presentable. If showing in English attire it should be clean and well fitting, with your hair up, boots clean, and spurs off! If showing western, clean long enough pants that complement your top, hair up, either dark or colored boots that match your outfit, and a well fitting, SHAPED hat.
Here is a video of a nicely turned out pair that have a very nice pattern.
Ok guys now its up to you ask your questions, and I'll try to answer them the best I can over the internet. If you want get someone to video you and I'll see if I can help you out from what I can see.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Promises
I am working on a post on showmanship and I will add on one for Western pleasure movement... that might be opening a can of worms lol!
I had a great ride tonight on Lucy. We worked on moving away from my spurs in circles, then working on the spur stop at both the walk and the trot. We did some roll backs, using the spur stop, and worked on stopping from a trot, turning a 1/2 or full turn then trotting off.
Then we started loping, we had some miss steps, when I add my inside leg to keep her more upright and slow she was breaking down to a trot. That isn't a bad thing, she was doing what I asked, but just not exactly right. We got some really good steps in her bad direction, where she slowed down and kept her shoulders up when I added my inside leg, so I was really happy with that.
I had a great ride tonight on Lucy. We worked on moving away from my spurs in circles, then working on the spur stop at both the walk and the trot. We did some roll backs, using the spur stop, and worked on stopping from a trot, turning a 1/2 or full turn then trotting off.
Then we started loping, we had some miss steps, when I add my inside leg to keep her more upright and slow she was breaking down to a trot. That isn't a bad thing, she was doing what I asked, but just not exactly right. We got some really good steps in her bad direction, where she slowed down and kept her shoulders up when I added my inside leg, so I was really happy with that.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Clinic
I have a post on showmanship that I'm working on but it will have to wait another day or two.
Ty and Karen Hornick were up to do a clinic this weekend. I had originally wanted to ride in it but thought that it might be too much for me an whatever horse I could take. I regret not at least doing 1/2 of the rides (It was 2 rides per day 2 hours per rides).
Even auditing was really good, I really learned a lot (or at least found out ways to use old exercises in new ways). I forgot how much body control you need to lope that slow, and made me realize that even though Lucy and I need lope miles, I also need to get more control over her hips and shoulders.
Some of the stuff they did was very basic, lots of pushing the horses shoulders around in small circles, both at a walk and a trot, then doing the same thing while pushing the haunches around. This built into square corners at a walk and trot. Then moving into a lope all while doing the same exercises.
They also built on the spur stop, and how to use that along with the body control the other exercises developed to put more slow into the horses jog and lope.
Cant wait to go work on Lucy tomorrow!
I managed to get a ride in on Friday night and it was really good, we loped a bunch in our bad direction. We had some really good moments when we 'clicked' we just need to build on that as much as possible over the next couple of weeks (and months) to come.
Ty and Karen Hornick were up to do a clinic this weekend. I had originally wanted to ride in it but thought that it might be too much for me an whatever horse I could take. I regret not at least doing 1/2 of the rides (It was 2 rides per day 2 hours per rides).
Even auditing was really good, I really learned a lot (or at least found out ways to use old exercises in new ways). I forgot how much body control you need to lope that slow, and made me realize that even though Lucy and I need lope miles, I also need to get more control over her hips and shoulders.
Some of the stuff they did was very basic, lots of pushing the horses shoulders around in small circles, both at a walk and a trot, then doing the same thing while pushing the haunches around. This built into square corners at a walk and trot. Then moving into a lope all while doing the same exercises.
They also built on the spur stop, and how to use that along with the body control the other exercises developed to put more slow into the horses jog and lope.
Cant wait to go work on Lucy tomorrow!
I managed to get a ride in on Friday night and it was really good, we loped a bunch in our bad direction. We had some really good moments when we 'clicked' we just need to build on that as much as possible over the next couple of weeks (and months) to come.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Short post but good update
I did manage to get a ride in on Lucy last night. We rode with a 4 year old that is just starting walk/trot (she was 16hh as a 2yo and has been given time to grow) and had some trotting and transitions while the young horse got used to passing and being passed. We're really getting each other now and she is so much fun to ride and figure out.
We did have some good loping finally! I really need to ride her off my body once shes made the transition into the lope (she still needs some support going into the transition). Once shes loping now I can lock my outside hip back and she lopes around easy as pie.
Its really like she needed C to remind her that she could go slow, and now that shes figured that out we are somoking. She's even slowed down on the lunge line.
We worked on showmanship today (I had my back adjusted today) and we had some really good stuff going on. We have the basics down its putting it together and adding show polish that is taking some time. (But that is to be expected).
We did have some good loping finally! I really need to ride her off my body once shes made the transition into the lope (she still needs some support going into the transition). Once shes loping now I can lock my outside hip back and she lopes around easy as pie.
Its really like she needed C to remind her that she could go slow, and now that shes figured that out we are somoking. She's even slowed down on the lunge line.
We worked on showmanship today (I had my back adjusted today) and we had some really good stuff going on. We have the basics down its putting it together and adding show polish that is taking some time. (But that is to be expected).
Monday, April 15, 2013
Yup still on the couch...
Really hoping that today will be the last day, but I had a little bit of a cough today so I thought that I better stay home, warm and dry and rest some more. I will regret not getting my IV way more than I'll regret not getting in a couple of rides this week. Ty and Karen Hornick are doing a clinic up here on the weekend and I need to be well enough to go to that!
So I found this quiz from A Good Horse, the link is to the test is here and Lucy is a Wall Flower. Totally fits her. She's very much a horse that wants to please, but after a point, if you keep pushing you get a road block. And Lucy is very happy being my walk/trot occasionally loping pony :)
And if you open the link it goes into more detail about the wall flowers, how they look to there riders/trainers for guidance and reassurance on scary issues and that is completely true of Lucy. If I get tense and worry about her spooking, and keep a tight hold on her she worries herself into a panic. If I am calm and in control with a light hand, she relaxes and enjoys herself more.
So I found this quiz from A Good Horse, the link is to the test is here and Lucy is a Wall Flower. Totally fits her. She's very much a horse that wants to please, but after a point, if you keep pushing you get a road block. And Lucy is very happy being my walk/trot occasionally loping pony :)
And if you open the link it goes into more detail about the wall flowers, how they look to there riders/trainers for guidance and reassurance on scary issues and that is completely true of Lucy. If I get tense and worry about her spooking, and keep a tight hold on her she worries herself into a panic. If I am calm and in control with a light hand, she relaxes and enjoys herself more.
Your horse is a ... SLAF - The Wall Flower
 | Wrap these sweet, kind, gentle horses up and keep them safe.
They are not very brave and tend to internalize their worries. They want to please and will try very hard for
you, but they can be pushed too fast very easily. They make few demands of you and are quite content to perform
the same tasks repeatedly as long as you are pleased with them and the jobs are not to strenuous. Quiet enough
for the beginner once they understand what is expected of them. Please Click HERE for a free copy of the full chapter on The Wall Flower |
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sick with a cold
Yup it finally got me, between everyone at work and everyone at the barn I knew it was coming for me one way or another. It started as a tickle in my nose on last Thursday night, and by Friday night I was SICK. I spent most of Saturday in bed, or on the couch other than a quick trip to the barn to pick up tack to clean.
I went out today for a couple of hours, got Lucy lunged and C jumped onto her for a bit to work on her loping. Then we did showmanship for a bit.
The cold seems to be working its way out of my system, thankfully the Tylenol kept me from developing a fever this time, and the nasal sprays and puffer went into full usage (I normally don't use them full strength for every day). So hopefully with some rest and fluids I'll still be ready for my IV on Thursday.
I went out today for a couple of hours, got Lucy lunged and C jumped onto her for a bit to work on her loping. Then we did showmanship for a bit.
The cold seems to be working its way out of my system, thankfully the Tylenol kept me from developing a fever this time, and the nasal sprays and puffer went into full usage (I normally don't use them full strength for every day). So hopefully with some rest and fluids I'll still be ready for my IV on Thursday.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
And we loped
Only about 10 circles in each direction, but hey that's better than Sunday. Lucy was so good tonight, nothing bothered us, I was able to let go of some of my fears and jog and even lope on a loose rein. I decided that I'm going to go to the show the first weekend in June. I'm only going to do showmanship, horsemanship, and western pleasure. Our goal will be good patterns, and for me to get though an entire class one handed for the first time in almost 10 years. It should be interesting!
Monday, April 8, 2013
But everyone else is doing it!
I think I over did it on the weekend..... scratch that.... I know I did. I came home Sunday afternoon and had a nap, and then still went to bed at my regular time and slept all night.
After my tough lesson on Saturday I didn't think I was too bad, but I didn't have much get up and go. I helped C with the chores, then we sat out in the sun for a bit and played with the cats. (I also managed to get a sunburn on my face, the only exposed skin on my body, thanks drugs!!) One of the kids showed up and she rode outside, while we watched. And then my friend that I rode with on Saturday showed up to ride even though she was sore, and C decided to ride, so I thought well if they are going to I should too.
And we had a good ride we mostly walked and jogged but used the entire ring (even the so called scarey corners weren't scarey) and we jogged around like we would if we were showing. C's appaloosa has some passing issues and I've never ridden Lucy with more than one horse before so it was a good thing to work on. I didn't lope, but I feel so much better about "us" after this weekend. We can work on lopping next week :) I only lunged Lucy about 5 minutes in total, and I took off my spurs, and both seemed to be good decisions.
However as we were getting off the horses and my friend started walking away, she was complaining about how much she hurt, and then turned to me and said "I don't know how you do this! Its hard enough on me and my joints are good." I went home beating myself up because I didn't lope, but maybe I should be happy that I survived a hard lesson and still got on the next day to have a good ride.
But some days I wish I could be like everyone else, to have a hard ride and still be able to function the next day without a nap. And even to sit outside on a nice day and not burn!
After my tough lesson on Saturday I didn't think I was too bad, but I didn't have much get up and go. I helped C with the chores, then we sat out in the sun for a bit and played with the cats. (I also managed to get a sunburn on my face, the only exposed skin on my body, thanks drugs!!) One of the kids showed up and she rode outside, while we watched. And then my friend that I rode with on Saturday showed up to ride even though she was sore, and C decided to ride, so I thought well if they are going to I should too.
And we had a good ride we mostly walked and jogged but used the entire ring (even the so called scarey corners weren't scarey) and we jogged around like we would if we were showing. C's appaloosa has some passing issues and I've never ridden Lucy with more than one horse before so it was a good thing to work on. I didn't lope, but I feel so much better about "us" after this weekend. We can work on lopping next week :) I only lunged Lucy about 5 minutes in total, and I took off my spurs, and both seemed to be good decisions.
However as we were getting off the horses and my friend started walking away, she was complaining about how much she hurt, and then turned to me and said "I don't know how you do this! Its hard enough on me and my joints are good." I went home beating myself up because I didn't lope, but maybe I should be happy that I survived a hard lesson and still got on the next day to have a good ride.
But some days I wish I could be like everyone else, to have a hard ride and still be able to function the next day without a nap. And even to sit outside on a nice day and not burn!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Lesson
So we had our second lesson today with D. We rode with my older friend who has her horse Cruse at the barn. It worked out really good, Cruse is only 5 but he's only returned to work last week, so him and Lucy are in the same boat.
We had a really good ride, we warmed up with some long trotting, then moved into some jogging small circles. I was allowed to collect her a little bit, and we think that she might need her teeth done as she's really fighting the bit going to the right.
We did fair amount of loping to the left, and although our transitions suck we had some really good moments where we had a great stride, her head was down, and I was relaxed. We just need TIME. D thinks that he or C might ride Lucy this week to give her some more saddle time at the lope on a loose rein. But I still plan to go and ride some tomorrow.
Lucy is still dead in heat, I don't know how people deal with mares all the time. She pees everywhere! Not that it helps that the cross ties are near the studs stalls which makes tacking up and brushing a dance of trying to avoid the pee that comes flying out when you least expect it. Good news is that she should be coming out of heat soon and hopefully if Rusty did his thing, it wont happen again!
We had a really good ride, we warmed up with some long trotting, then moved into some jogging small circles. I was allowed to collect her a little bit, and we think that she might need her teeth done as she's really fighting the bit going to the right.
We did fair amount of loping to the left, and although our transitions suck we had some really good moments where we had a great stride, her head was down, and I was relaxed. We just need TIME. D thinks that he or C might ride Lucy this week to give her some more saddle time at the lope on a loose rein. But I still plan to go and ride some tomorrow.
Lucy is still dead in heat, I don't know how people deal with mares all the time. She pees everywhere! Not that it helps that the cross ties are near the studs stalls which makes tacking up and brushing a dance of trying to avoid the pee that comes flying out when you least expect it. Good news is that she should be coming out of heat soon and hopefully if Rusty did his thing, it wont happen again!
Friday, April 5, 2013
Little update
I didn't get to ride again this week, between work being crazy and Lucy being bred, the week just slipped away. I did to showmanship 2 nights this week, and the work is starting to pay off. Lucy will now set up about 75% of the time by only having to move 2 feet once or twice, and will now move each foot on command from the showmanship chain. We're still working on how FAR to move the foot, but at least its the foot I want moved that she is moving. We've also got a good start on her pivots, and really good walk/trot/halt transitions. The basics are now in place, it's just putting it all together, and adding some polish.
I'm really starting to like her and trust in her, and I think she's feeling the same way about me. I free lunged her tonight and then let her walk around thinking she would roll or look around, but she came over to where I was standing then followed me around while I cleaned up the arena and got the showmanship lead out.
It could be that she is still in heat (and still being bred!) but shes a really cuddly horse, I didn't realize how much I missed having that with Oscar. She's only started coming in this week (she's lived in a run-in all winter) and she's also really liking getting a little bit of grain each night.
I've got a lesson tomorrow morning with D, wish me luck I think this lesson is going to be a little harder than the one last week!
I'm really starting to like her and trust in her, and I think she's feeling the same way about me. I free lunged her tonight and then let her walk around thinking she would roll or look around, but she came over to where I was standing then followed me around while I cleaned up the arena and got the showmanship lead out.
It could be that she is still in heat (and still being bred!) but shes a really cuddly horse, I didn't realize how much I missed having that with Oscar. She's only started coming in this week (she's lived in a run-in all winter) and she's also really liking getting a little bit of grain each night.
I've got a lesson tomorrow morning with D, wish me luck I think this lesson is going to be a little harder than the one last week!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Lucy got Lucky
So everything went fine today, you would have thought that the stud was breeding his 100th mare and not his first. Lucy was excellent and didn't move an inch. Rusty did get one foot hung up on her back when he was jumping down, but both of them seemed fine in spite of that.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Another ride, and Lucy gets lucky
And it was a good one. We stayed foreword, on a loose rein and relaxed. We didn't use the entire ring, and we cut off the corner that is 'weird' in Lucy's opinion but the rest of the ride was great, we even loped a little. Plan is to do the same thing tomorrow night and Thursday and to give her Friday off before our lesson on Saturday.
In other news, Lucy is coming into heat and they will try breeding her tomorrow to the goodbar stud. Cross your fingers all goes well, Lucy will be the first mare that he's bred...
In other news, Lucy is coming into heat and they will try breeding her tomorrow to the goodbar stud. Cross your fingers all goes well, Lucy will be the first mare that he's bred...
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