We may have a hacking issue at the moment, but her schooling is really coming on. A couple of liveries commented on how much she has improved :)
Shall blog update properly tomorrow, but for tonight, videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLjzC6FOkK0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nmy-3dYZu4&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojY0Jg6HmNs&feature=channel
Clever pony :wub:
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
More rearing
Hacked tonight, in company, with Lorna. Flow started trying to go up before we go out of the gates. Stayed calm and just sat and clicked and kept turning her back the way she had spun and we managed to stand, do the key combination and get out of the gates.
She was ok, but got angry every time I asked her to stand. We both got more and more stressed and she started rearing again - she would shuffle sideways to a verge or back up to a verge. I lost my temper. I didn't DO anything, just felt really disappointed in her. It is complete tantrum and she is clever and measured in what she does.
:hail: to Lorna and SuperHarv who were fab companions. Just disappointed in how I rode and that I didn't manage to stay calm and don't know how to effectively move forwards, it was exhausting. I bought a horse that didn't rear, and now it does. It hacked perfectly when I got it. Sigh. Fran, fancy a hacking lesson?! In good news, schooling is definitely coming on.
She was ok, but got angry every time I asked her to stand. We both got more and more stressed and she started rearing again - she would shuffle sideways to a verge or back up to a verge. I lost my temper. I didn't DO anything, just felt really disappointed in her. It is complete tantrum and she is clever and measured in what she does.
:hail: to Lorna and SuperHarv who were fab companions. Just disappointed in how I rode and that I didn't manage to stay calm and don't know how to effectively move forwards, it was exhausting. I bought a horse that didn't rear, and now it does. It hacked perfectly when I got it. Sigh. Fran, fancy a hacking lesson?! In good news, schooling is definitely coming on.
Monday, 27 July 2009
And up again!
Wow. What a ride tonight. Horses certainly are up and down!
Decided on a course of action - consistent quiet firmness and detatching emotion. In everything we do. So for example, grooming and tacking up. She will pull vile faces. I need to ignore it. She doesn't hate me, it's just how she is. If she goes to bite, deflect with elbow if possible or if she gets me growl/smack and then move swiftly on. For now with leading backwards is important, and sideways. I then have control of her feet at all times. We did LOTS of halting tonight, and by the time I turned her out, she stopped when I did :clap:
Got on, warmed up in walk, figures of eight, leg yielding, lots of changing rein, thinking of that long and low and the right heaviness in my hand. Up into trot and aiming for the same, had to correct her rhythm at first but was absolutely over the moon by the end, had what we had in our Fran lesson but very slightly quicker/swingier - more energy. It felt FANTASTIC! So, thinks I. She did her worst on Saturday, and we didn't die. Let's canter. So we did, on both reins, without Fran there to make me :lol: and did several transitions. I was grinning from ear to ear. There is a hell of a lot to work on in the canter, but practicing will help and just doing it is a big achievement as it has been a big mental block for me and her.
Told her how clever she was :wub:
Decided on a course of action - consistent quiet firmness and detatching emotion. In everything we do. So for example, grooming and tacking up. She will pull vile faces. I need to ignore it. She doesn't hate me, it's just how she is. If she goes to bite, deflect with elbow if possible or if she gets me growl/smack and then move swiftly on. For now with leading backwards is important, and sideways. I then have control of her feet at all times. We did LOTS of halting tonight, and by the time I turned her out, she stopped when I did :clap:
Got on, warmed up in walk, figures of eight, leg yielding, lots of changing rein, thinking of that long and low and the right heaviness in my hand. Up into trot and aiming for the same, had to correct her rhythm at first but was absolutely over the moon by the end, had what we had in our Fran lesson but very slightly quicker/swingier - more energy. It felt FANTASTIC! So, thinks I. She did her worst on Saturday, and we didn't die. Let's canter. So we did, on both reins, without Fran there to make me :lol: and did several transitions. I was grinning from ear to ear. There is a hell of a lot to work on in the canter, but practicing will help and just doing it is a big achievement as it has been a big mental block for me and her.
Told her how clever she was :wub:
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Solo hacking
Decided to go for a nice easy hack yesterday as Flow had physio on Thursday, seemed very sore Friday so thought a wander down the road would be nice. Oh, how wrong was I?!
It was my fault. Haven't hacked for about a month, haven't hacked solo for even longer. But assumed she would be fine. We got out of the gates and straight away she went up, span and tried to piss off back to the yard. I was extremely shocked as this behaviour is not usual, at all. Saw that she was spooking at a dog that had run out, but it was just there, not barking or anything. She napped for about 5 minutes, wouldn't go forwards, only up and spinning. Sat it out, tried smacking her with reins and booting her. Arguing made the rearing higher. We got forwards eventually. Got past the barky dog at the end of the lane fine. Had a little trot, spooking at the sheep as we went past. 3 cyclists were coming past from behind and she lost the plot and started spinning and rearing again. One of them mentioned the glue factory. Not a bad idea, I was thinking at this point!
A car went past, nice and slowly, and madam kicked out at it. Luckily didn't make contact, but I was mortified. Got her to stop the rearing and got forwards all the way to the end of the lane but in retrospect should have stopped there rather than stuck to my plan of going all the way round the village and back down the main road. I was really angry with her by this point and was riding in that frame of mind rather than being calm and reassuring.
Got all the way up the hill with no major incidents. A bus came past so we went into someone's driveway and she was ok. Got more and more uptight towards the main road and when two motorbikes went past she went up, high, and pissed off with me the other way, and wouldn't stop. When I got her to stop and turned her round, she pissed off TOWARDS the main road. I hauled her up and jumped off, thinking this was all too dangerous, and she went up again so I pulled her down, hard, by the bit ring. Tried to lead her but she was threatening to just go so we stood and I called Becky. Her and other Becky came and other Becky got on and rode madam home, I was just too exhausted by this point to continue fighting with her. She went home the way we'd come rather than risking the main road. She reared with Becky, too, and Becky agrees with me that it is temper at being asked to stop and wait rather than insecurity or fear.
I was ok yesterday, got on and rode round the yard but am feeling less positive today. Not about riding her, she didn't frighten me apart from the running towards the main road, but I just don't know how to effectively deal with the rearing, on the ground or ridden. I don't think getting angry helps, I don't think telling her off helps but is ignoring it going to help? We already practice halting, in hand and ridden, so we will be doing even more of that. She has learnt that it works, it was quite a problem at the show and yesterday, and it really needs to be dealt with before it gets more severe. Aaaargh!
Didn't ride today, wrong frame of mind. Will school tomorrow.
It was my fault. Haven't hacked for about a month, haven't hacked solo for even longer. But assumed she would be fine. We got out of the gates and straight away she went up, span and tried to piss off back to the yard. I was extremely shocked as this behaviour is not usual, at all. Saw that she was spooking at a dog that had run out, but it was just there, not barking or anything. She napped for about 5 minutes, wouldn't go forwards, only up and spinning. Sat it out, tried smacking her with reins and booting her. Arguing made the rearing higher. We got forwards eventually. Got past the barky dog at the end of the lane fine. Had a little trot, spooking at the sheep as we went past. 3 cyclists were coming past from behind and she lost the plot and started spinning and rearing again. One of them mentioned the glue factory. Not a bad idea, I was thinking at this point!
A car went past, nice and slowly, and madam kicked out at it. Luckily didn't make contact, but I was mortified. Got her to stop the rearing and got forwards all the way to the end of the lane but in retrospect should have stopped there rather than stuck to my plan of going all the way round the village and back down the main road. I was really angry with her by this point and was riding in that frame of mind rather than being calm and reassuring.
Got all the way up the hill with no major incidents. A bus came past so we went into someone's driveway and she was ok. Got more and more uptight towards the main road and when two motorbikes went past she went up, high, and pissed off with me the other way, and wouldn't stop. When I got her to stop and turned her round, she pissed off TOWARDS the main road. I hauled her up and jumped off, thinking this was all too dangerous, and she went up again so I pulled her down, hard, by the bit ring. Tried to lead her but she was threatening to just go so we stood and I called Becky. Her and other Becky came and other Becky got on and rode madam home, I was just too exhausted by this point to continue fighting with her. She went home the way we'd come rather than risking the main road. She reared with Becky, too, and Becky agrees with me that it is temper at being asked to stop and wait rather than insecurity or fear.
I was ok yesterday, got on and rode round the yard but am feeling less positive today. Not about riding her, she didn't frighten me apart from the running towards the main road, but I just don't know how to effectively deal with the rearing, on the ground or ridden. I don't think getting angry helps, I don't think telling her off helps but is ignoring it going to help? We already practice halting, in hand and ridden, so we will be doing even more of that. She has learnt that it works, it was quite a problem at the show and yesterday, and it really needs to be dealt with before it gets more severe. Aaaargh!
Didn't ride today, wrong frame of mind. Will school tomorrow.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Our first stessage
Went to do the walk and trot (intro B at Swallowfield today. I've never done a dressage test, and madam has never competed (I've had her 3 months now) so wasn't sure how it would be. But thought only one way to find out!We were slighly hindered as I've had the dreaded swine so she has had a couple of days off but I felt much better today and was adamant we would go!Bathed her, cleaned tack etc and Suzy arrived to plait her mane for me. Madam self loaded and off we toodled.
Life was rather exciting AT swallowfield and she would not stop rearing. Full on black beauty style rearing. I fear I may have sworn rather a lot. It was a serious mission to get her tack on her. Luckily I just know she won't hurt me when on board so clambered on amid rears - as soon as I was on she settled. Always worrying though when a fellow competitor says well done for getting on!
Warmed up beautifully. Couldn't have been more pleased. What a clever girl. The test itself was very tense, first time in an indoor and it was all a bit exciting, but we did everything where we should and when she relaxed I could feel how it will be when it all comes together. Judge's comments were "very tense today but some lovely steps and a lovely little horse".
And we came 4th! Massive :hail: to Suzy who came all the way over to my yard and was generally a total legend, and to Lorna and Kat who dodged flying hooves and were fabby cheerleaders, and of course to my fabby instructor Fran - followed your warm up instructions and they stood us in good stead. Want to do it all again now!
Monday, 20 July 2009
Swine flu
Balls. This would explain the extreme grumpiness, random crying, awful headache, ten million hours sleep etc yesterday, and the dripping with sweat (fit) and exhaustion in interview this morning. Got sent home from work, and phoned doctor who said it sounds like the swine. Bugger, bugger, bugger. He did say I can go back to work when temperature is normal though. I NEED to be better for Wednesday, tis our stressage debut. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Fran lesson 19/07/09
Started off with madam refusing to comply with either long and low or being round, but eventually got both :banana: through pretending to be Carl Hester, har. Encourage her long and low with wide and low hands - reins must not be loopy, must be able to feel her head at the end and still control. For the test, make a differentiation between FWOALR and Medium Walk - for FWOALR squeeze right then left leg to encourage more forwards.
For half circles, they must BE circles, not sort of circle and a vague wandering to change the rein. Think of leg yielding around the circle. This then shows a clear difference to changing rein across the short side, which needs to be straight.
Worked on the dreaded canter at the end, I must ASK (when will I learn?!) with outside leg so it is very clear what I want. On left rein think of pirouetting round with outside hand and rein, on right rein get her to bend. We had an ohmygodwhatthehellisthat moment at the wall filler which was there the whole time, she had a bit of a spas attack, silly girl. Keep asking on both reins, for the umpteenth time I need to realise she doesn't DO anything, she headtosses and makes a dramatic noise but no actually attempted murder takes place.
On the whole, delighted with her. Am going for a pootle down the lane tomorrow and will school on Tuesday ready for Wednesday. Eeek. Oh! Almost forget. Ali jumped her for me yesterday and she was a little star, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. No dramatics, nice and calm, walk into fence then pop into trot, pop it and stop. Clever pony.
Am absolutely exhausted. Had a bit of an emo half an hour, not sure why, Flow was very helpful and licked my face. Got in from yard and fell asleep. Going to watch a film and chill now I think.
For half circles, they must BE circles, not sort of circle and a vague wandering to change the rein. Think of leg yielding around the circle. This then shows a clear difference to changing rein across the short side, which needs to be straight.
Worked on the dreaded canter at the end, I must ASK (when will I learn?!) with outside leg so it is very clear what I want. On left rein think of pirouetting round with outside hand and rein, on right rein get her to bend. We had an ohmygodwhatthehellisthat moment at the wall filler which was there the whole time, she had a bit of a spas attack, silly girl. Keep asking on both reins, for the umpteenth time I need to realise she doesn't DO anything, she headtosses and makes a dramatic noise but no actually attempted murder takes place.
On the whole, delighted with her. Am going for a pootle down the lane tomorrow and will school on Tuesday ready for Wednesday. Eeek. Oh! Almost forget. Ali jumped her for me yesterday and she was a little star, and thoroughly enjoyed herself. No dramatics, nice and calm, walk into fence then pop into trot, pop it and stop. Clever pony.
Am absolutely exhausted. Had a bit of an emo half an hour, not sure why, Flow was very helpful and licked my face. Got in from yard and fell asleep. Going to watch a film and chill now I think.
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Ken weekend
Have had 3 Ken lessons over the weekend - need to try and write as much down as possible in the hope I will remember it!
First lesson worked a lot in trot, worked on leg yields and squares, rounding off the corners to start to make them into a circle. We learned that I have a truly errant inside hand on the left rein, it is horrible! Pulls and twists and tries to sit in my lap, grrrrrrrr! However despite this Ken did say my riding had got better since he last saw us.
Second lesson lots of work in walk, did shoulder fore, then Ken got on for a while which was great. Madam Flow got very cross with him and he commented that she must have been sired by an eel. Got back on with instructions to correct every tiny error/evasion she does. I want to steal Ken - she felt fab when I got back on. She can stretch, but to my hand, and she is not allowed to pull. If she does, leg on.
Today was just wow. She came out having remembered yesterday and felt fab. We were doing serpentines and half circles to change the rein in a soft swingy steady trot. Clever Flow! Also practiced halts and half halts. I need to stop moving in my shoulders and seat, not brace but stop moving in order to get her to stop. Also need to change how I'm sitting so it stretches all down the front of my hips/quads and opens that angle more, boobs out and no slouching! Ken was also nearly very rude about my errant inside hand today and where it was going so I need to practice lots before he next comes back!
I have missed so much out but that's a snippet anyway! Didn't manage to get any photos, will have to bribe someone to take some photos of us at some point. Have had her 3 months today :)
First lesson worked a lot in trot, worked on leg yields and squares, rounding off the corners to start to make them into a circle. We learned that I have a truly errant inside hand on the left rein, it is horrible! Pulls and twists and tries to sit in my lap, grrrrrrrr! However despite this Ken did say my riding had got better since he last saw us.
Second lesson lots of work in walk, did shoulder fore, then Ken got on for a while which was great. Madam Flow got very cross with him and he commented that she must have been sired by an eel. Got back on with instructions to correct every tiny error/evasion she does. I want to steal Ken - she felt fab when I got back on. She can stretch, but to my hand, and she is not allowed to pull. If she does, leg on.
Today was just wow. She came out having remembered yesterday and felt fab. We were doing serpentines and half circles to change the rein in a soft swingy steady trot. Clever Flow! Also practiced halts and half halts. I need to stop moving in my shoulders and seat, not brace but stop moving in order to get her to stop. Also need to change how I'm sitting so it stretches all down the front of my hips/quads and opens that angle more, boobs out and no slouching! Ken was also nearly very rude about my errant inside hand today and where it was going so I need to practice lots before he next comes back!
I have missed so much out but that's a snippet anyway! Didn't manage to get any photos, will have to bribe someone to take some photos of us at some point. Have had her 3 months today :)
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Not taking it personally
Rode tonight after feeling very bleugh all day - think I'm going to have to give up the meat again :(
Got on and she was trying to bite me at the mounting block, then being very unhelpful about me getting on, then went into turbo walk and jogjogjog. Proud of myself though - just ignored her and carried on with our warm up routine and she settled after about 5 minutes as she realised I wasn't going to argue. Up into trot and we are really getting the rhythm now - to be honest it may be slightly too slow but what a difference from when we first started together! I need to remember to not take it personally though, it would have been easy tonight to ruin everything and I nearly got cross and started to ride her a bit "you will bloody do this" which is great for some ponies but Madam Flow takes offence, so it is better to try to just bypass the row and remember it isn't personal!
Right canter was ok, bit too collected but left canter was better, did a few transitions in the middle of the session and then back to trot work so hopefully she won't anticipate that I've got into the habit of doing canter at the end!
Was getting some fab trot work but she just wasn't quite straight either way so worked really hard on getting her straight, it looked ugly - head in air but I was so, SO chuffed because after shouting "THIS IS TOO HARD MUM!" at me, she started to try and we had a bit of much straighter work which is what we need to work on now - she can do the looking pretty bit, now we need to work on strengthening and getting it more correct.
Looking forwards to Ken at weekend :)
Got on and she was trying to bite me at the mounting block, then being very unhelpful about me getting on, then went into turbo walk and jogjogjog. Proud of myself though - just ignored her and carried on with our warm up routine and she settled after about 5 minutes as she realised I wasn't going to argue. Up into trot and we are really getting the rhythm now - to be honest it may be slightly too slow but what a difference from when we first started together! I need to remember to not take it personally though, it would have been easy tonight to ruin everything and I nearly got cross and started to ride her a bit "you will bloody do this" which is great for some ponies but Madam Flow takes offence, so it is better to try to just bypass the row and remember it isn't personal!
Right canter was ok, bit too collected but left canter was better, did a few transitions in the middle of the session and then back to trot work so hopefully she won't anticipate that I've got into the habit of doing canter at the end!
Was getting some fab trot work but she just wasn't quite straight either way so worked really hard on getting her straight, it looked ugly - head in air but I was so, SO chuffed because after shouting "THIS IS TOO HARD MUM!" at me, she started to try and we had a bit of much straighter work which is what we need to work on now - she can do the looking pretty bit, now we need to work on strengthening and getting it more correct.
Looking forwards to Ken at weekend :)
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Fran lesson 05/07/09
In our poiple matchy match today (which has dyed her slightly poiple, whoops...).
Warmed up in walk, figures of 8. Need to get her to be stretching over her back, think free walk on a long rein or be round and through, we were kind of mooching along not being either. Up into trot - on left rein need to keep her straight and not let her bulge out through right shoulder, keep outside rein and leg on. On right rein need to get her to bend as she tips onto her inside shoulder.
Was pleased with trot work, need to keep outside rein consistent and allow her to stretch/soften into inside. Also need to keep my rhythm. Did some walk leg yield - slight lightbulb moment - use fence to help leg yield, keep her ears in front of shoulders and shoulders in front of hips. Have a little check on outside rein whilst asking with inside leg. Did the same in trot and it was all a bit melodramatic to start with but we got there and it really helps the trot quality :)
Then up into canter, need to bend and ask and not sit and perch. On left rein need to offer inside hand down and ride that outside shoulder round, was also clapping her on the neck hard which relaxes her. We did the dreaded right canter :banana: I must remember that although she grunts and tosses her head, she won't kill me! Same with right canter as right trot - need to get her to bend and not fall in.
She was a very hot pony afterwards and Becky had a sit on her round the yard to cool her off. Good pony :D
Warmed up in walk, figures of 8. Need to get her to be stretching over her back, think free walk on a long rein or be round and through, we were kind of mooching along not being either. Up into trot - on left rein need to keep her straight and not let her bulge out through right shoulder, keep outside rein and leg on. On right rein need to get her to bend as she tips onto her inside shoulder.
Was pleased with trot work, need to keep outside rein consistent and allow her to stretch/soften into inside. Also need to keep my rhythm. Did some walk leg yield - slight lightbulb moment - use fence to help leg yield, keep her ears in front of shoulders and shoulders in front of hips. Have a little check on outside rein whilst asking with inside leg. Did the same in trot and it was all a bit melodramatic to start with but we got there and it really helps the trot quality :)
Then up into canter, need to bend and ask and not sit and perch. On left rein need to offer inside hand down and ride that outside shoulder round, was also clapping her on the neck hard which relaxes her. We did the dreaded right canter :banana: I must remember that although she grunts and tosses her head, she won't kill me! Same with right canter as right trot - need to get her to bend and not fall in.
She was a very hot pony afterwards and Becky had a sit on her round the yard to cool her off. Good pony :D
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Schooling musings
Worked on continuing our work from Ken lesson tonight. Started out fabby - getting her stretching over back, keeping her straight, asking her to come deeper and then giving with the hand.
Also worked on leg yielding - she likes to lead with shoulders in some bizarre crab-like move so kept halting when she did that and looking behind me to make sure quarters were straight, we eventually started getting there so gave her lots of praise. Up into trot and she was fabby - I am trying to take my riding up a gear and think about riding every stride so I counted a rhythm in my head to rise and sit to and thought about keeping the outside rein and offering inside hand, not rising too high and half halting and then giving. All fab. Went into left canter which was good, broke but picked it up again. Then let her have a walk before the dreaded right canter attempt. This was where it started to go wrong. Not sure if I felt tense or if she was excited after having had a canter, but picked up walk on a shorter rein and then trot and she was horrible! Got that right rein feeling of unable to bend, like a plank of wood only less bendy! Tried to get her to relax and did my counting and rode the same as before but then got tanky tanky Flow and angry grunting and sucking behind the contact. Pulled her to a halt and then asked for trot again, half halting resulted in a random piaffe type movement with her going - you want slow, FINE, here's slow! In hindsight I need to not argue with her, we both take it personally and have an attack of the indignant Kevins. I need to just carry on and not react to her grunting or doing her melodramatic breathing (she winds herself up and you can hear her breathing go funny). Went back to walk and then up into trot but threw reins at her and half halted strongly when she rushed but then let her go again, this did the trick and we got some lovely calm trot. Didn't attempt right canter or even left canter again, noone was around and I am nervous of cantering still after the wildness it was before!
Lesson with Fran tomorrow :)
Also worked on leg yielding - she likes to lead with shoulders in some bizarre crab-like move so kept halting when she did that and looking behind me to make sure quarters were straight, we eventually started getting there so gave her lots of praise. Up into trot and she was fabby - I am trying to take my riding up a gear and think about riding every stride so I counted a rhythm in my head to rise and sit to and thought about keeping the outside rein and offering inside hand, not rising too high and half halting and then giving. All fab. Went into left canter which was good, broke but picked it up again. Then let her have a walk before the dreaded right canter attempt. This was where it started to go wrong. Not sure if I felt tense or if she was excited after having had a canter, but picked up walk on a shorter rein and then trot and she was horrible! Got that right rein feeling of unable to bend, like a plank of wood only less bendy! Tried to get her to relax and did my counting and rode the same as before but then got tanky tanky Flow and angry grunting and sucking behind the contact. Pulled her to a halt and then asked for trot again, half halting resulted in a random piaffe type movement with her going - you want slow, FINE, here's slow! In hindsight I need to not argue with her, we both take it personally and have an attack of the indignant Kevins. I need to just carry on and not react to her grunting or doing her melodramatic breathing (she winds herself up and you can hear her breathing go funny). Went back to walk and then up into trot but threw reins at her and half halted strongly when she rushed but then let her go again, this did the trick and we got some lovely calm trot. Didn't attempt right canter or even left canter again, noone was around and I am nervous of cantering still after the wildness it was before!
Lesson with Fran tomorrow :)
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