Trail Ride

WELL! It was a very productive day - WE all got to go on a trail ride. Started out like hell though - just getting the kids off the trailer and tacked up was a nightmare! Horses jumping around, rearing and bucking, acting out.... ooooo what fun. I love how they are perfect at home and act like morons when out. I got a good cow kick from Charles. Mindy got a rope burn from Misty of all horses, and Haley forgot the girth to the saddle. We were batting 1000 at 10:30 this a.m.... and all we wanted to do was ride! Well, we finally did after I got Charlie worked out in the round pen, then we all went down to the arena and worked some more before finally getting to head for the trail which by the way the trails head was a beautiful brook running briskly from the weekend rain. How nice! Oh... we have to cross it? UUUUUUUUUUGH... poor Haley, poor Mindy... first real trail ride together as mother and daughter and lets start off on the right foot! Well to say the least it was informative but not uneventful... as if you couldnt tell from the start - you know what kind of ride you are going to have when it begins as it did. Six people, 3 green horses, 3 green riders.... & not in that order....OMG!

The trails were nice, the weather was mild, the horses were behaved 3/4 of the ride... and what more could one ask for? NOTHING! A learning experience that each of us need. Certainly the greenbees :)

So with that said, not bad, just not a stellar ride... but at least we GOT OUT THERE... and stuck to our guns and made due with what we had... RIGHT HALEY! We even trotted a little... and got to use our one rein stops frequently - NO accidents, no falls. A hind quarter kick, a little jigging and a lot of jockeying for positions. Thank you again mike for putting on those tall boots and leading some of us across the brook.... twice! We couldnt have done it without you.

Riding In The Rain

As I promised .... some pictures on Babys injury ... how amazing that its almost all healed. I am not quiet sure if she is "off" as I am always looking for it - making sure not to push her too much. Today she was doing impressions of Lipizzaners Airs Above The Ground - I have video to prove it, which in turn makes it a hard to give her sympathy!

Keeping in mind that this is what it looked like within moments of stitches.....
Riding in the rain ... actually it was drizzle. Last night I got a ride in on Baby just before dark, in the drizzle and then today, I rode Baby, Charlie and Angel. Yes... in the drizzle. Heavy overcast, almost looked like dusk all day. Weird day ... 61 degrees, but wet out, not damp to make you chilled to the core, just wet. So we rode, we all rode & they all got ridden. That is a good thing.

Charlie gave a little hassle being green in the bridle... but a few one rein stops and some bending and I was trotting around. Baby was being a little childish while Haley lounged her so I had to finish the prep before she rode. Angel actually wasnt quite warmed up before I asked to canter him and he let me know it! He gave a huge buck - and then he had a little one reining session. So he got to work on bending too :)

A great exercise that I have incorporated into my warm up is circling my haunches around my forehand while keeping my forehand stationary. Slightly in front of verticle keeping my weight on the forehand, and leg pressure behind the girth. When asking the haunches to circle around my forehand, I make sure I am slight behind the verticle so that my weight is on the hind to free up the forehand to float through the open door I have provided. Its a great opportunity to stretch and bend and get those shoulders and hips working for you!

Sunday we are supposed to head to Mikes for more safe work with Charlie in the round pen and arena and maybe have Baby ridden by Haley and Misty ridden by Mindy and all go for a trail ride up there.... as it is SUNDAY - and the only day to go trail riding as its HUNTING SEASON!

Routine At The Indoor

Trucking to Scarborough to ride - not so bad. This time loaded him up, and trucked him alone. He was fine. He is JUST FINE! Gosh... where is that quirk lurking? A needle in a hay stack it is it is!

Jaime got right on and rode him.... she stressed again to really work on stretching his neck down and then that will extend his gait and stretch his back. After he is warmed up with doing that at the walk and trot he comes right into it. Getting better at the leads and didnt argue aproaching jumps. He is a good boy! I enjoy watching him go - it relaxes my mind, as I see the improvements in his way of going as the ride progresses. I know that he is a fair minded horse, and if you treat him fairly he will do anything for you. He is what I was looking for - Sorry Charlie, Sorry Baby. You kids are not ready yet to go where I need to venture first. Angel and I will iron out all the details to make a clear path for us at a later date. This boy is ready to rock and roll. Sorry the video is dark... it was very bright in there - but the settings where not right in the video.

I was invited to attend the Cutter Farm Thanksgiving Schooling Jumper Show
Saturday November 29th with Candace. She wasnt sure where I was at with Angel but thought an "outing" would be good for him. My first thought was YES! Then I think ... well what if this and what if that and I dont want to be an inconvenience for anyone else. I could take my own truck but MASS is a distance for my lovely 96 1/2 ton with 240k on her hauling a 3 horse goose is it not? Well she has treated me wonderfully but I dont want to wear out my welcome and end up stranded somewhere with a horse in the back. NOTICE how that thought didnt cross my mind running down to Suffolk Downs for my darling Angel? Where was my head? No matter - we made it... but its not a matter of "IF" it will happen, its "WHEN". For example - Babys injury - I cannot feel enough guilt regarding that - and am blessed it was only what it was. You can never be careful enough when it comes to your precious equine stock. I dont care if I got them all for free - they are still precious and why would you take the chance to allow something like that to happen? You can only claim ignorance once - ugh... anyway.

So drizzle today - but hey ... mild still and I dont believe I will melt - if you know what I am saying. Had to have that Austrailian oil skin 3/4 legnth riding jacket and matching hat hugh.... I dont believe I have an excuse even if I would melt. DARN! So to RIDE or not to RIDE is NOT a question.

See you on the dry side!... OH crap... is that sleet I hear pinging at my window?

Another Beautiful Day....to ride so get out there!

So blessed with another beautiful day to ride and enjoy the weather. I cant wait for the horses to get done with breakfast so I can go out and finish what I started yesterday. Charlie got worked and ridden and even trotted around the perimeter of the arena. He didnt give me too much trouble so that was good. Angel is going smoother over jumps.... and its now time I feel to make those custom cavalettis I have been dreaming of - a trip to home depot and 2 hrs of my time should bring those beneficial tools into fruition. Misty got worked yesterday - that canter needs about a dozen more rides on it to make it consistently smooth, willing and collected.

So Baby got left by the wayside - today she is first and I will take a picture of the healed hole. It looks great! Back to the drawing board with her, transitions transitions transitions and extension of gait.

I do have the farrier coming today for all of them if they need it. Angel of course needs to be kept short - but to shoe or not to shoe is the question. I have clinics and winter jumper shows that I would like to go to - and chipped hooves are always an embarrasment, even though its for the better sometimes.

So out the door I go... unfortunately having promised my husband that I would stack that last truck load of wood we didnt get to on Sunday :(

My Sweet Angel

I know exactly what to expect when I get on him. That alone is comforting... I know that I will have a little conflict in getting the left lead and sometimes when cantering around he drops that inside shoulder but besides that he is very consistent. We schooled over a 2' spread today between barrels and then on the other side of the arena we we jumped over a set of barrels. He flies over them ... I would love to be able to see us as a team. Where is my leg positioning? Are his ears forward? Do I look like I am too forward? Are his front legs tucked? It feels ok for being green in jumping. My saddle fits us both well, me moreso' as I feel safe, balanced and confident in it.... I didnt even have to pay extra for that!

So tomorrow ... more of today but with more schooling in the half seat. I have got to build my stamina up! I am out of breath after several times around. I feel strong in my half seat when I am jumping - most likely due to adreneline - but then once I stop I realize I am exhausted and breathing hard.... thank GOD I am not a smoker! Maybe tomorrow I will take Baby for a brisk walk or jog up the road. Luckily our road turns to dirt and is quiet. Why take the dogs when the horses like to get out too! I am sure they will like it even more knowing that they wont have to haul me around! Let's not even repeat what we think they could be saying ok?

Tomorrow up in the 60's! Wooooohoooo! It wont be long before we say .... up in the 40's! Wooooohooooo! I know... crazy hugh?

Well until then I am sucking up the grace that mother nature is bestowing upon me this week. I have lots to work on as you know. Misty - my dear Misty needs a slow collected canter so she will not discourage her riders. Charlie - leg yielding & one rein stops. Baby - walk trot transitions and halting in collection. Angel - well he is just perfect and I have to work on how long I can stay in my 1/2 seat .... which reminds me.... its going to have to be at least 12 minutes because that is how long the ROLEX cross country course is FOLKS! 14 miles ....so I may have to do Turbo Jam again.... oh and jog the horses up the road! UGH!

It Gets Discouraging Going It Alone

Especially when you have a trying 2 yr old that creates interest if your not interesting enough. Charlie is going to be that amazing horse .... someday. But most days he has been a real pain in my ass. Rearing, striking and nipping or turning to kick and take off is what I have been looking forward to when mustering up the energy to deal with him. So I just havent. Knowing full well that the longer I avoid him the worse he will be. I know its easy to say he just needs more work, but when you actually have to be thinking what he will do or do to you next... its really exhausting. So instead I have been putting my efforts into Baby (up until her injury) and Angel with great pleasure and feeling of acomplishment. My mother told me it was my frame of mind entering the arena with dread in tow. So I tried to smile and laugh the whole time I worked with him.... to no avail. I wanted to be interesting to him like the old days.... (all of nine months ago) when he was wanting to please me in everything we did. My students of 9 and 11 could work with him... now I cannot trust anyone to lead him in the barn! How humbling as an owner to have to say... "& its all my fault"... I dont want to take responsibility for his digressing.... but I have to. Now we are finally beyond all that.... and a big THANK YOU goes out to Mike. He suggested I bring him up to his place and we work him in the round pen. GEEZ - thinking to myself ... been there done that... ground worked him to where he could do a showmanship patterns halterless. Saddled him, bridled him and rode him.... why would we need to go back to the round pen? Well.... maybe it wasnt for Charlie... maybe it was for me to establish trust in HIM again. Did I miss something the first time around? I couldnt have... I worked it to death. He was a star....

Well I did load him up and take him to Mike today and I am sure glad I did! I was able to accomplish more today than I have with him in the last 6 months! We cantered carefree and did some patterns.... I was able to fill my bag of tricks and it was a treat. It wasnt Charlie all these months - it was me! I mean ... it must have been all in my head, he beat me down and made me eat humble pie - that bastard. Well, I am over it now. This week with the warmer weather temporarily moving in, it will give us a leg up to moving in the right direction together. So from 4 horses and not one for me to ride .............to..............I am supposed to be riding all of them every day all week. ... now... about that TurboJam! Do I really need that? :)

The pics of Mike working with him show just how happy he is to be out and about and doing SOMETHING! Although he did arrive in a trailer alone and shaking like a leaf.... the SALLY!

Busy Week Already!

Saturday Mindy & I went to NH for the Eastern Mountain Ranch Horse show. We contemplated taking her horse Misty. Foundation bred to do just about anything - & I so badly wanted to get on and get out there! What fun it is to be just you and your horse out there enjoying the momentin your chosen sport. I believe EMRH is the direction they will go, and I know they will enjoy this new endeavor this winter. Sunday we had hoped we would be able to try Misty out on cows - as the last time I had her on cows was about 2 yrs ago. She is fun to ride & she is naturally cowy. Monday we went to the Hollis Equestrian Park with Angel and Misty. First time Angel has been off the farm for 2 months. We had a time getting him on & exposing him to tying to the trailer at the park. Misty of course very well natured and the ol' standby -

Tuesday we took Misty to the indoor with Baby - first time baby was rode since her accident and as you have already read in previous post I was very relieved to have her back.

Wednesday night I had an appointment to have Angel ridden by Jaimie at an indoor in Scarborough. I took Misty to keep Angel calm. Glad I did as he was wound. I doubt he has ever been worked in an indoor. The sound refraction is probably wierd to him. Jaimie lounged him and he was so nervous he was shaking. I brought misty in after I tacked her up and he calmed right down. He was high headed and wanting to keep an eye on where Misty was the whole time. Bucked a few times, but not trying to get his rider off, just slightly defiant. I tried to capture it with my Cybershot but the low light and distance was not working no matter what setting! The video is all I have that showed up clear.

She confirmed all I have been saying about him in the last few weeks. WOW - I cant believe he is right off the track! He is soft in the bridle, he moves off your leg, he stops when you plant your seat, he doesnt try to run away with you, he gives to you without much pressure. WOW - I cant believe he is right off the track! She had the same problem with his left lead that I had. She gave me things to work on and when it warms up enough outside I will work him later today and any other day its not raining.

I also worked on Misty's canter. Trying to slow her down, requesting self carriage and cadence. Its hard to sit there and wait for her to come back to you, I put her nose to the ground when she is cantering, making it hard for her to run and then I gradually take up her head set and work her up into the bridle. She needs a couple weeks of that and she will get it, then Mindy can finish her. Speed is usually an intimidating factor when you dont feel you have a good seat. Going for the face is not an option after all the time I have put into this mare to work off seat and leg. The canter is the last piece of the puzzle and then they will have the whole picture -they have worked hard for it this year. Keeping in mind that it has ONLY been a year... They have come a long way and I am proud of them! I have a long way to go myself, but we just need to keep the dream in our sights, ride every day and it will be here before you know it!

... THE ROLEX that is ;)

Just Pick Up Where We Left Off.....

September 24th was a hard day for me. Just the day before I had gotten layed off and then the next day I was faced with a $500 vet bill to sew my darling Baby back together. I have been very fortunate to not have experienced emergency calls - so my reaction to finding her in the pasture with a 6" hole in her shoulder was quite trying to say the least. She wouldnt walk or move and the other horses were milling around her for protection. It wasnt as bad as I had thought - but looks worse when blood contrasts a white patterned coat! It left me wondering about the "what if's" - How will it heal? Will hair cover over? Will it get infected? How long before she is back to riding? Will she still have that amazing extension?

Well now that it is about the size of a quarter and healing nicely except for one muscular bump on the shoulder point - I can say I am quite pleased that she is the same old Baby again! With that month off she is actually better - which is interesting! I fought with myself this morning whether to ride her and I am thankful for the kick in the ass Mindy! I needed it! We rode at the indoor today as it is another dreary rainy raw fall day.... and I think Baby was thankful to get out and do something. She got out the kinks and then rode nicely with perfect headset and good forward motion from behind. We cantered just a little - and I now am relieved to have ridden her. Luckily she is an Eventer and not one of those fluffy Halter Horses (although she does have 4 national points in halter :) but she has been there done that and moved on!

Below are two videos of her before the incident being ridden by the lovely Jaime Benard - I have done well to start Baby - but with Jaime's direction I will be able to bring her amazing abilities into fruition. I cannot wait to compare videos of her in the coming weeks. I know I get motivated when watching from whence we came! I will share then when I get to them.

Fall is pretty but its also cold and dreary....

... and today is one of those days... Cold, windy and dreary. Taking down the last few leaves of the season so that we no longer will be protected from the cold north winds as they shear through the trees and chill us and our steeds to the bone! UGH... makes me really want to pull on my riding breaches and go out there to be consistant with my riding routine!

Yesterday I got a ride in before the sky turned dark letting on to what was coming up the coast. It actually was warm out with cloud cover and I was able to get some canter work in with Angel. Right lead good.... left lead nope, left lead nope, left lead Angel... nope. UGH... exhausting... but finally .... left lead...... errrrrr but not behind.... well... that will have to do for today. Refined the cues for side passing and his head set is looking great! Accepting the bit, just need to be consistent and get it at the trot when asked ... every time. I actually had to bring a crop out with me as his trot is so slow and peters out when I am trying to get collection. See I dont want to dull his sides so I had to incorporate the crop. :( Poor Angel. BUT.... NO COMPLAINTS HERE! He is really coming along.... every day... EVERY DAY riding does make a huge difference folks! I never had the luxury before now and my eyes are opened!

For all of you who need a little awwwwwwwwww..... on such a dreary day, check out what my camera phone captured while going out to ride Angel in the ring...

Up To Pasture....

The freedom of fall and enjoying a perfect sunny day frolicking.

Yet another perfect day for riding....

Well with the weather change - from chilly to cold we now cannot ignore mother natures demands. BRRRRRRR. I had left the stall windows open all summer and cracked both front and rear sliders for evening air.... but no more. Two nights in a row there is banging in the barn - I know who - Charles - awakened by evening chilled air making sure misery enjoys his company. Last night more of the same at 1 a.m. except his pal Baby was more than willing to chime in with her grain bucket banging choir. Such darlings - I may never EVER get to hear the child cry for momma at wee hours of the morning - but is this not close enough? Well tonight I made sure they got thier fill of hay, put extra bedding down and closed the barn up tight - hopefully that will lull them thru the morning hours. Although the barn is at least 250 feet away - on a crisp cold night its like they are in the next room! Nobody was shivering this morning but they feel anxious - hence the frisky activities while trying to lounge Angel this evening. I dont make much of it, just try to keep him on task with consistency in asking and body language. I was able to work more at 1/2 seat and the burning thighs returned. I know its a good thing, but I have been cracking the whip on myself daily and I feel like I have been run over by a bus. Some day though ....it will pay off!

Today we introduced the 1/2 pass at the trot. Not as good as he is at the walk but it will come easily for him. Charles made sure to create chaos in the arena from the adjacent paddock. It was a good test for Angel to see if he can keep his mind on what we are working on. Charles, such a little helper :)

The sun barely warmed you while the slight cool breeze took it away, but at least the bugs have gone. Angel definately cannot concentrate if the bugs are attacking, so we will now make great strides this fall, and I look forward to yet another perfect day for riding!