And we had a much better time this time. My older friend and I had a lesson and her horse is a super quiet and steady horse and we used him as a guide horse for Lucy. He went first around everything that was 'new' and we followed about 2 horse lengths behind him. So we got going on one end of the arena closest to the barn, then slowly working our way around the trail obstacles set up in the middle of the ring (bridge, 360 ring, gate, sets of trot poles, back though L and cones) and finally to the far end of the ring where we maneuvered around the 3 big blue barrels that were the rest of the trail course. Slowly we worked around until we could finally work around the entire ring on the rail!
We didn't work on too much else other than just getting around the ring! We finaly got to take a break and worked on some trail stuff, we did the bridge, trot poles, back though the L and the cones. I took Lucy to the gate to try it but she was a little twitchy, so we just stood quietly beside it on both sides. It took me and D a minute but then we finally clued into the fact that she hasn't done a rope gait since she got tangled in the electric fence 2 years ago. So once I got off her back I spent several minutes with her on the ground opening and closing the gate, walking her though it, and rubbing the rope all over her. She jumped the first couple of times it touched her but by the end I could unhook it and rub it all over her face without her flinching.
All and all it was a good day. I will hopefully ride again tomorrow am then off to the beach for fathers day!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Breakthrough!
We had a moment tonight! We warmed up pushing her hips around then moving into doing the same at a jog. We then thew in some jog squares pushing her front end around (almost a turn on a haunch at each corner) also mixed in some two tracking (I was going to do side passing as well but was so happy with her lope I got off before I remembered to do them!).
Her lope was great tonight, slow, easy, light and loose though her entire body but rocked back on her haunches enough to keep a good stride. She's really getting it! I could even pick her up and rock her back without her getting upset or breaking, she just sat back and slowed down. Such a smart little mare! I yelled at D to come watch from the other end of the barn I was so happy with her. I hope to ride tomorrow night then I've got my IV on Thursday. Hopefully the rain will be up by then as we really need some accumulation time in the outdoor before the show next month, And then back to a lesson on Saturday.
Her lope was great tonight, slow, easy, light and loose though her entire body but rocked back on her haunches enough to keep a good stride. She's really getting it! I could even pick her up and rock her back without her getting upset or breaking, she just sat back and slowed down. Such a smart little mare! I yelled at D to come watch from the other end of the barn I was so happy with her. I hope to ride tomorrow night then I've got my IV on Thursday. Hopefully the rain will be up by then as we really need some accumulation time in the outdoor before the show next month, And then back to a lesson on Saturday.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Crazy week.
So after getting the car unloaded on Monday and going back to work to find 20 emails that HAD to be answered (I was only gone for two days but I think the world ended while I was gone). After getting caught up at work on Tuesday and Wednesday, I picked up my Aunt on Wednesday after work who flew in from Alberta. I then got the 24 hour flu on Thursday (I seriously haven't been that sick in years, I hate throwing up!).
I spent some quiet quality time at the barn on Friday and lunged Lucy in the outdoor pen, and she was much better this time. I hope to be riding up there by next week so that she can get used to riding outside before the show at the farm on July 6th.
Saturday I helped with chores at the barn while Lucy had a lesson with an 8yo rider who is getting used to "bigger" horses (she had been riding a small hunter pony) while her parents shop for a new pony/horse. Lucy went awesome for the kid, D did most of the lesson the in center of the ring letting Lucy think she was on the lunge line. But she walked/jogged and loped for the kid (which was great considering the kids legs didn't go past the saddle blanket). I got on at the end and we jogged around for a bit and attempted some trotting poles.
Today (Sunday) I helped with chores and then had a privet lesson with D where we worked on getting Lucy more responsive to my spurs, without her just thinking they mean full foreword or full stop. We spent a lot of time moving her hips around, at the walk and jog then moving to working on a spur stop, and roll backs to get her lighter in her front end. We moved into loping and were able to finally get a hold of her mouth while loping and I was able to slow her down. She doesn't like contact and had been fighting it at the lope but today we were able to get contact, and the correct response to the contact! We got some great slow lope both collected and she even held it when we went back to a loose rein. We couldn't hold it long, but atleast we weren't fighting each other anymore. A lot of our problems are not helped by the fact that she's built downhill and has to fight nature to be light on the front end, and lope slowly. But that will bother her less and less as she gets fitter behind.
I spent some quiet quality time at the barn on Friday and lunged Lucy in the outdoor pen, and she was much better this time. I hope to be riding up there by next week so that she can get used to riding outside before the show at the farm on July 6th.
Saturday I helped with chores at the barn while Lucy had a lesson with an 8yo rider who is getting used to "bigger" horses (she had been riding a small hunter pony) while her parents shop for a new pony/horse. Lucy went awesome for the kid, D did most of the lesson the in center of the ring letting Lucy think she was on the lunge line. But she walked/jogged and loped for the kid (which was great considering the kids legs didn't go past the saddle blanket). I got on at the end and we jogged around for a bit and attempted some trotting poles.
Today (Sunday) I helped with chores and then had a privet lesson with D where we worked on getting Lucy more responsive to my spurs, without her just thinking they mean full foreword or full stop. We spent a lot of time moving her hips around, at the walk and jog then moving to working on a spur stop, and roll backs to get her lighter in her front end. We moved into loping and were able to finally get a hold of her mouth while loping and I was able to slow her down. She doesn't like contact and had been fighting it at the lope but today we were able to get contact, and the correct response to the contact! We got some great slow lope both collected and she even held it when we went back to a loose rein. We couldn't hold it long, but atleast we weren't fighting each other anymore. A lot of our problems are not helped by the fact that she's built downhill and has to fight nature to be light on the front end, and lope slowly. But that will bother her less and less as she gets fitter behind.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Before and after
Photos of Lucy. From the start in mid march to last weekend at the show. Will hopefully have more pictures by the weekend!
In march
At the show ( have ordered a copy of this for C and D for Christmas)
Bottom photo done by a friend
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
June show
So we went up to the show on Friday morning, and were able to get in and get the horses settled and the trailers set up by lunch time. Around 2 the arena opened up and we were able to have a ride. Lucy was amazing. She had a look around while I walked her around in hand, but was curious but not spooky.
Our ride on Friday night was great, and then I got her cleaned up and C's daughter banded her for me. Saturday was HOT (ended up being 34 Celsius, last weekend we were happy when it was 10 degrees!) Halter mares was first and the class ended up having 29 horses in it. We did not place, but Lucy set up quickly and stood quietly the entire class.
Showmanship was next and I was a little nervous about this class. It was both AQHA and an open class. We ended up going second, and Lucy did awesome! Her set up was good, her pivots were solid and her trot was good. Everything could have been a bit sharper, but I was so happy with her, considering that she hasn't ever done much showmanship. We ended up being 2nd and 3rd in AQHA and 4th in the open.
Lucy was born on a PMU ranch in Manitoba (Yes they do breed performance horses with pedigrees and movement) and as eligible for NAERIC funds for all of her placings. Hopefully the money she earned from this show will pay for her trailering!
We had a quiet ride that night, and it finally cooled down that night so that all of us were able to get a good nights rest.
The next day I went and rode in the morning, thinking back on it now I should have skipped the morning ride and rode her harder in the warm up right before the class (things you learn after the fact). By the time I had her somewhat warmed up for the pleasure class she was grumpy and hot. She still would have been hot either way but I think she didn't want to go to work the second time that day.
Our pleasure class was a mixed bag. Her walk and jog were good but she was way too quick at the lope. I knew the minute she loped off that we were going for a ride! I wasn't much help to her in this class either. I was trying not to pick on her and screw her up, but get her to slow down but also at the same time leaving her alone as she lopes better that way. I also didn't use the ring to my advantage and lost my spot on the rail a bunch of times, she rides better when we have a rail to follow. I also managed to have her break down to a trot for me for a stride because I tried to slow her down at one point. Dispite all that we managed to get a 7th.
Our horsemanship pattern was next and I was really worried about getting the wrong leads. My legs are not very strong (esp my right leg) and often Lucy picks up the cue to canter on the correct lead by what direction we are going. Its not always the best option but I have to work with what I have. The pattern called for a left lead lope in a straight line from A to B, halt at B 360 to the right lope right lead straight line to C, jog a circle to the right stop and back. Lucy got her leads but our lope ran out of gas before we got all the way to C. We also did rail work and her lope was much better at this point, so I think our warm up was not enough to get her ready for the pleasure class.
We ended up placing 1st and 2nd in the AQHA portion and 5th over all.
I have more pictures coming but here a few to hold you over until everyone uploads them.
Our ride on Friday night was great, and then I got her cleaned up and C's daughter banded her for me. Saturday was HOT (ended up being 34 Celsius, last weekend we were happy when it was 10 degrees!) Halter mares was first and the class ended up having 29 horses in it. We did not place, but Lucy set up quickly and stood quietly the entire class.
Showmanship was next and I was a little nervous about this class. It was both AQHA and an open class. We ended up going second, and Lucy did awesome! Her set up was good, her pivots were solid and her trot was good. Everything could have been a bit sharper, but I was so happy with her, considering that she hasn't ever done much showmanship. We ended up being 2nd and 3rd in AQHA and 4th in the open.
Lucy was born on a PMU ranch in Manitoba (Yes they do breed performance horses with pedigrees and movement) and as eligible for NAERIC funds for all of her placings. Hopefully the money she earned from this show will pay for her trailering!
We had a quiet ride that night, and it finally cooled down that night so that all of us were able to get a good nights rest.
The next day I went and rode in the morning, thinking back on it now I should have skipped the morning ride and rode her harder in the warm up right before the class (things you learn after the fact). By the time I had her somewhat warmed up for the pleasure class she was grumpy and hot. She still would have been hot either way but I think she didn't want to go to work the second time that day.
Our pleasure class was a mixed bag. Her walk and jog were good but she was way too quick at the lope. I knew the minute she loped off that we were going for a ride! I wasn't much help to her in this class either. I was trying not to pick on her and screw her up, but get her to slow down but also at the same time leaving her alone as she lopes better that way. I also didn't use the ring to my advantage and lost my spot on the rail a bunch of times, she rides better when we have a rail to follow. I also managed to have her break down to a trot for me for a stride because I tried to slow her down at one point. Dispite all that we managed to get a 7th.
Our horsemanship pattern was next and I was really worried about getting the wrong leads. My legs are not very strong (esp my right leg) and often Lucy picks up the cue to canter on the correct lead by what direction we are going. Its not always the best option but I have to work with what I have. The pattern called for a left lead lope in a straight line from A to B, halt at B 360 to the right lope right lead straight line to C, jog a circle to the right stop and back. Lucy got her leads but our lope ran out of gas before we got all the way to C. We also did rail work and her lope was much better at this point, so I think our warm up was not enough to get her ready for the pleasure class.
We ended up placing 1st and 2nd in the AQHA portion and 5th over all.
I have more pictures coming but here a few to hold you over until everyone uploads them.
 |
| at the end of our western pleasure class |
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| Lucy chilling in her stall. |
Lucas update
So I saw Lucas at the show this weekend. He looked good, way fitter than when I had him (and he was in halter shape then). His girl is having occasional minor behavior issues but I helped with some minor adjustment in tack which she said helped. She did very well, placing in halter, showmanship and getting second in her hunter under saddle class. Today she posted the following picture. Stuff like this makes me feel good about my decision. Lucas is the horse in the middle.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Home from the show
Very very happy with how Lucy went this weekend. All my worries were for nothing, she was calm and easy to ride and very much like she is at home. I will have a full post later today with a breakdown of the entire weekend (I need to unpack my car first!) but here are our placings...Open is open to all breeds, AQHA was only Novice Amature
Open Halter Mares - nothing, but there were 29 mares in the class
Showmanship - AQHA NA - 2nd and 3rd, Open 4th. There were 19 in the open portion I'm not sure how many showed AQHA
Open over 19 western pleasure - 7th out of 10
Horsemanship - 1st and 2nd AQHA NA. 5th in Open there were 7th in the open.
Open Halter Mares - nothing, but there were 29 mares in the class
Showmanship - AQHA NA - 2nd and 3rd, Open 4th. There were 19 in the open portion I'm not sure how many showed AQHA
Open over 19 western pleasure - 7th out of 10
Horsemanship - 1st and 2nd AQHA NA. 5th in Open there were 7th in the open.
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