I did go and have my lesson tonight. On D's suggestion we swapped out her western bit. The ported barrel was working but when I was one handed it didn't give me much adjust ability. It does work great with 2 hands and so that mouth piece will be making the transition to our english bridle.
I ended up riding her in a medium ported bit that was hinged at both sides of the port. It has VERY swept back shanks. I actually should have made the switch a while ago. Within 30 minutes I was riding her one handed with WAY more control, but Lucy was still her happy go lucky 'nose out' self. I think I was settling for 'good' and not looking for the best.
That said our lesson was good we worked on speed and body control and more work on our loping transitions. Poor Lucy is starting to get noticeably in foal. Shes not large by any means but its getting harder for her to carry herself as well as she did a month ago. I can't get mad or upset about it, we knew it would happen we just have to work with it.
Showing posts with label bits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bits. Show all posts
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
English night
And we're still working on finding a bit that Lucy likes.I've tried a couple of different plain snaffles, and one twisted (I thought that it might be the thickness of the bit, and this one was thinner) but she doesn't like any of them. Its not really that surprising, she didn't like any of the snaffles a whole bunch this spring either. I have been riding her in this bit western which she likes, and I do have the English version, but I want to keep this mouth piece 'western' to keep things separate.
So anyone have any ideas? My next plan is to put a french link in her mouth to see if she likes a 3 piece bit, or a Mullen mouth...
So anyone have any ideas? My next plan is to put a french link in her mouth to see if she likes a 3 piece bit, or a Mullen mouth...
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Bits part 1 (kinda sort of)
So I rode Lucas in the new bit tonight and he really seemed to like it (he may have also liked the fact that I wasn't picking on him!) he was frothing at a mouth just a bit (the dressage queen in me was happy with that) and it surprised me that he really seemed to like the rollers, they kept his mind busy and kept him from imagining scary things in the corners of the arena. He really likes the bits that are broken like this, however doesnt like a french link, or even a one joint snaffle (well I dont like riding him in a snaffle, hes too much horse for me if my hands are bad, I need a back up if we get into trouble)... He seems to really want a port for the space it gives his tounge.
He was really accepting of it and it was really easy for me to work him one handed in this. We did a lot of one handed steering and horsemanship maneuvers. I know that it was a bit of me working on D's tips from our lesson last week, but it was much easier to lift his front end with this bit with only a touch of contact and leg rather than me having to really pull on him to get him to listen. Its given me a lot to think about, maybe working in some rollers might be a good idea in our English bit too......
So we did a short ride tonight with one of the kids and her mare (who Lucas was really good with and didn't pin his ears once!). And I did some streaching, drank a ton of juice and water, took a pain pill, and now have a heat pad on my back hoping to keep the pain down tomorrow. Hopefully it works!
The interactive collage http://www.showusyourhands.org/ went over 1000 pictures a couple of days ago. Our deadline for our book submissions was last week, and the editor I've been working with has been awesome. She rode when she was young but after the onset of her arthritis she had to give it up. Some days I don't realize how lucky I am to be able to still be active.
He was really accepting of it and it was really easy for me to work him one handed in this. We did a lot of one handed steering and horsemanship maneuvers. I know that it was a bit of me working on D's tips from our lesson last week, but it was much easier to lift his front end with this bit with only a touch of contact and leg rather than me having to really pull on him to get him to listen. Its given me a lot to think about, maybe working in some rollers might be a good idea in our English bit too......
So we did a short ride tonight with one of the kids and her mare (who Lucas was really good with and didn't pin his ears once!). And I did some streaching, drank a ton of juice and water, took a pain pill, and now have a heat pad on my back hoping to keep the pain down tomorrow. Hopefully it works!The interactive collage http://www.showusyourhands.org/ went over 1000 pictures a couple of days ago. Our deadline for our book submissions was last week, and the editor I've been working with has been awesome. She rode when she was young but after the onset of her arthritis she had to give it up. Some days I don't realize how lucky I am to be able to still be active.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Got to ride again finaly!
Well both Lucas and I were sound, and good to go today so we managed to squeeze in a bit of a ride. Now that the 'season' has started (training horses start arriving next week) its going to be harder and harder to get privet time in the arena on the weekends. Today we rode with one of the kids and her gelding, Lucas made faces at him once but nothing too bad. Having him being out with the other horse's is good and bad, good because he doesn't get so concerned if they bump into them but he does try to intimidate them with his ears/face if he meets them head on.
We rode in our new correction bit and had a decent ride. We split the arena in two which meant I only had about a 20 meter circle to work in (and in the 'scary' end of the arena). We did have a good work out, and worked on some accuracy with transitions and turns on the forehand/haunches and kept to a walk/trot. He was a little 'up' with the snow sliding off the roof but nothing excessive.
The cattle penning saddle seem to be doing the trick for us right now. Its got such a deep seat in it, I feel like I'm riding in a dressage saddle. But it sits off of his withers and has clearance for both of his shoulders so we're going to keep riding in it for now.
We rode in our new correction bit and had a decent ride. We split the arena in two which meant I only had about a 20 meter circle to work in (and in the 'scary' end of the arena). We did have a good work out, and worked on some accuracy with transitions and turns on the forehand/haunches and kept to a walk/trot. He was a little 'up' with the snow sliding off the roof but nothing excessive.
The cattle penning saddle seem to be doing the trick for us right now. Its got such a deep seat in it, I feel like I'm riding in a dressage saddle. But it sits off of his withers and has clearance for both of his shoulders so we're going to keep riding in it for now.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Conversations with Lucas
Well me and my best friend went to a horse fair/expo today, the first one for the season. It was great to see old friends and see new products that the vendors brought. Lucas got a new training correction bit and a new rubber curry comb (hes starting to shed already!)
The horse communicator was there and we what I thought would be a conversation about trailering. I asked why he was kicking in the trailer, and got told that hes a bit claustrophobic (which we knew) but when hes on with other horses he complains until the other horses tell him to shut up, and then he starts kicking.
After she told me that she says "He wants to know if hes still for sale, or if you are going to put him down instead" out of the blue. Apparently he has been listening to us talk about the failed sale. I tried to reassure him that he wasn't for sale any more but he was worried because I had ridden a horse while he was gone that fit my body style more than him. (Lucy) He also knew about the failed offer, and though that he was going to be put down because it fell though. He was glad that I was going to keep him.
So the basis of my conversation was that Lucas loved me, but agreed that we didn't always see eye to eye. He told the communicator that I over think things, which causes him to over think things (she said that he internalizes a lot more than most horses, and is a real worrier) and sometimes he just doesn't know what to do anymore, so he rears to get my mind from going 100 miles an hour. She sad that I was a good rider for my size, but Lucas was a bit weak backed so I needed to work on my balance and coordination as well as him so that we can both be stronger.
He also said that my corrections were often to sharp for what has happened, and I'm not always consistent in my corrections which causes him to worry more. He thinks that I am maybe a too good of rider for him and maybe he needs a beginner rider.
She said she was a bit worried for the both of us, normally either the horse or the person will have a confidence issue, and the other can boost them up, but she thinks that both of us are having a self confidence issue and it might take a while for both of us to be good again.
Oh and I asked about Tanker (the horse in the video from the other day) and he said "I can't explain it, I just love her", and he thinks that its great that he gets to be outside with her every day and they can touch over the fence.
So I guess we have our work cut out for us, being happy, stretching and working together
The horse communicator was there and we what I thought would be a conversation about trailering. I asked why he was kicking in the trailer, and got told that hes a bit claustrophobic (which we knew) but when hes on with other horses he complains until the other horses tell him to shut up, and then he starts kicking.
After she told me that she says "He wants to know if hes still for sale, or if you are going to put him down instead" out of the blue. Apparently he has been listening to us talk about the failed sale. I tried to reassure him that he wasn't for sale any more but he was worried because I had ridden a horse while he was gone that fit my body style more than him. (Lucy) He also knew about the failed offer, and though that he was going to be put down because it fell though. He was glad that I was going to keep him.
So the basis of my conversation was that Lucas loved me, but agreed that we didn't always see eye to eye. He told the communicator that I over think things, which causes him to over think things (she said that he internalizes a lot more than most horses, and is a real worrier) and sometimes he just doesn't know what to do anymore, so he rears to get my mind from going 100 miles an hour. She sad that I was a good rider for my size, but Lucas was a bit weak backed so I needed to work on my balance and coordination as well as him so that we can both be stronger.
He also said that my corrections were often to sharp for what has happened, and I'm not always consistent in my corrections which causes him to worry more. He thinks that I am maybe a too good of rider for him and maybe he needs a beginner rider.
She said she was a bit worried for the both of us, normally either the horse or the person will have a confidence issue, and the other can boost them up, but she thinks that both of us are having a self confidence issue and it might take a while for both of us to be good again.
Oh and I asked about Tanker (the horse in the video from the other day) and he said "I can't explain it, I just love her", and he thinks that its great that he gets to be outside with her every day and they can touch over the fence.
So I guess we have our work cut out for us, being happy, stretching and working together
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The cattle penning saddle it is.
Well we had a ride in the Bighorn Cattle Penning saddle last night and had a good one! I need to figure out my seat in it (its a lot deeper than the pleasure saddles I'm used to) Lucas really liked it though!
Once we did some warm up walk and trot (with some 2 tracking and side passing tossed in to keep it int interesting) I got him to trot out and he went right into his 'happy trot'. His floaty, use his whole body but make it look effortless, trot.
It was easy.
Why did I fight with him so much last year?
I'm keeping the 'voice' in my head quiet and trying to trust in my ability and in Lucas. I'm still having my moments but were having more and more moments when we 'click'.
Were still working in the western version of his English show bit but were off to the trade show on the weekend to look for a horsemanship bit for next year. Hopefully were working on having him in a snaffle next week to take the contole that I now have over his hind end and start putting the package together and start suppling his body a bit more.
Once we did some warm up walk and trot (with some 2 tracking and side passing tossed in to keep it int interesting) I got him to trot out and he went right into his 'happy trot'. His floaty, use his whole body but make it look effortless, trot.
It was easy.
Why did I fight with him so much last year?
I'm keeping the 'voice' in my head quiet and trying to trust in my ability and in Lucas. I'm still having my moments but were having more and more moments when we 'click'.
Were still working in the western version of his English show bit but were off to the trade show on the weekend to look for a horsemanship bit for next year. Hopefully were working on having him in a snaffle next week to take the contole that I now have over his hind end and start putting the package together and start suppling his body a bit more.
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