I got to Stoneybrook at 7:00 am on saturday. I came in to find Robert preparing feed but I also found that the cart was not finished! It didn't have wheels, or a singletree, or a seat cushion. So I fed while Robert worked on the cart. Then I got back and I held the cart up while Robert tightened the wheels. Chuck came with materials for the seat and Robert build the seat while Chuck put the singletree on. So we got everything slapped together and ready to go.
The trip there was amazingly painful for me. I sat in the back so that it wouldn't be so obvious that I didn't feel like talking. Chuck offered to sit in back in my stead, which was nice. I realized to my dismay that I was going to be sitting in an enclosed space with a smoker. It wound up coming in waves, first the smell, then the next few breaths I got used to it and then it snapped back into my consciousness again. Eventually the periods of being used to it got long enough not to be too bad.
I enjoy a good argument, and I enjoy even more a good discussion, but an argument will do. Chuck has a reputation for being argumentative, and I'll grant you he is contrary but thats not the same. Anyway, over the course of the trip we talked about some things, I enjoyed watching Robert come in and defend my position, often drawing directly from his own experiences making an argument unassailable by those without his same level of background. Robert can be very articulate at times, its nice. I was a little annoyed to watch Chuck then repeat his exact same point, and having proved himself right Robert left it at that.
Once we got on the highway I tried to sieze an opportunity to play one of my favorite games. It goes basically like this:
Take a fairly simple idea and express it with as much precision as possible. You can play it with a more complex idea, but it takes longer and you usually dont finish, which is fine too.
I like this game because in the process of honing in on exactly exactly what you mean you learn a lot by what you have to exclude and how. Its good practice communicating, defining your terms, thinking about the abstract concepts behind ordinary things.
I knew this game would be harder with someone who wasn't used to speaking in this way. It would be harder for me and harder for him but I picked something so simple I thought it wouldn't be a problem. I was wrong. I wont go into the gruesome details but in the end Chuck was shouting at me that what I was talking about was totall bull shit (a quote, by the way) and I was just doing it to be argumentative, that I understood exactly what he meant, agreed with him, etc. He said this several times, got a little louder each time.
I was depressed (and irate). This all seemed to demonstrate that I was only very rarely ever going to be able to play this game again. I've graduated and I wont be around reedies without making a special effort. They'll all be in class and wont have as much time. Later Robert told me that it wasnt worth arguing with Chuck because if you didn't say precisely what you meant he would pick it apart. He's very logical... I dont remember the rest of what he said because my brain started bleeding. Thats what it felt like anyway. As the imaginary blood started diffusing through my cerebral spinal fluid I think I said something to the effect of thats not true, or something, but the aneurysm wiped most of it from my memory. Robert decided I was beyond his ability to help, which was true, and left it at that.
We got Luca into his stall and then discovered that our first class was coming up a lot quicker than we expected. So we got the sawdust out of Luca's mane and brushed him, harnessed him, and they were off. I had to change right away. I was given the impression that I was in much more of a hurry than I actually was. As I was changing and fixing my hair in the bathroom I discovered that there was a dressing room upstairs. Too late! Or so I thought.
I went over and discovered that there was a lot more time and I went back and found the dressing room and fixed myself up some more. I had on very dramatically red (thats how I'm putting it anyway) lipstick and a black strapless gown. Everywhere I went I heard people say to each other "is there a costume contest." One girl in the dressing room asked me if I was going for a title. It took me a second to figure out what that meant but I answered no anyway. She said that she had been her counties princess and that it sucked. She showed me the rest of the dressing room facilities and wished me luck.
The dress was long enough that it trailed a little past my feet. Higher heels would have prevented this but I wore my more comfortable work shoes, black but basically no heel on them. I've walked through mud in high heels, it goes poorly even with my giant feet. What that meant was that everywhere I went I needed to be holding my dress up, so I held my dress in one hand, my duffel bag in the other and my helmet under the arm that was holding my dress. I passed the duffel back off to Chuck. I still didnt have the use of my hands but now my arm wasn't at an awkward angle. It was too hot to don the black velvet helmet and I sat around for a while. Except I didn't sit, what with the dress you know.
There was a bit of excitement for us because with this new harness we had forgotten a noseband. Apparently that is required. Coleen saved the day by finding a childs belt, and we flipped it over to the black side. Cut it off at the right spot and poked a hole in it. It didn't look as bad as you might think. By the end of the day I had forgotten it was there.
Eventually it was my turn in the cart. We had a lot of time to practice driving around. Everyone was very nice to me, told me how nice I looked, etc. It was very soothing since I had been pretty wound up before.
I had watched luca in two of the classes before and was relieved to find that he was behaving allright for me. In the previous classes he had been calling and wiggling and generally making a fool of himself. Robert said that usually at a show he has lots of halter classes first which helps tire and focus him. Anyway, he was being pretty good except that he kept calling to all the belgian drafts in the arena. He and Robert have a lot in common I guess, they both have a thing for the redheads. He was also spooking at the machinery in one end of the arena but mostly he shied away and it wasn't too bad.
Then came the minis. They kept coming and coming and soon the arena was filled with minis. Some were plodding around at speeds only a mini can plod at. Some were zooming around, fast enough to make it hard to keep track of them but not so fast that luca didn't easily outpace them. To my knowledge I didn't squish any, but there were some close calls. One time I was going to turn into the center and started to cut off one of the minis that had been coming up behind us. That was greeted with curses from the driver, who was the same one I nearly ran over a little while before. I smiled and apologized and made a mental note to check behind me, and low to the ground behind me, before making any more turns. One of the things about minis is that they are harder to hear I think. Plus you cant see them in the periphery of your vision like you can a larger horse. I never came even close to running into the belgians, for example.
As it got close to time to go in we started circling near to the gate. It was a lot like a sailboat race, everyone needs to keep moving but everyone wants to be first in the gate. Well, maybe not everyone but we had a special need to get in first. I didnt want to have to pass anyone and Luca was going to go way faster than any of them. Finally we did what you cant do with a sailboat and we stopped as close to the gate as we could without getting in anyones way more than we were willing to. I was chomping at the bit to go in already, so was Luca. Finally the steward waved us in and we were off!
Luca was doing a nice working trot with a minimal reining in. We were circling constantly to keep a good distance between us and the minis. About one small circle for every lap around the arena.
I had been given only two instructions before going in: do what they tell you and have fun. I've heard time and time again Robert stressing to his clients the importance of smiling at the shows. I plastered a big grin on my face and set out to make it as obvious as possible that I was having fun damnit! Its well known that you cant pretend to have copious amounts of fun without actually having fun. I'm no exception. In addition to the grinning I was looking at all the people, nodding at all the ones that made eye contact with me, looking at the lights, looking at the float in the middle, just generally being a tourist. I accidentally dropped the grin a few times at first when Luca had an unexpected surge of speed, or when I realized the reins had been slipping through my fingers. Mostly though, I kept it up. Robert thinks that lip syncing to the music while rocking my head slightly to the beat was going too far. ("...where have all the cowboys gooone?")
Luca threw one buck during our extended trot. The judge didn't see it. They asked us all to line up and I picked a spot on the end of the line like Robert had told me before. Luca stood beautifully after a couple of initial reminders. Although my face was getting tired I kept grinning. Robert told me it was fine, encouraged actually, to talk to the judge. I told her it was my first horse show and that I was pretty excited. I bounced a little in my seat. I was laying it on thick and without shame.
She asked us to back up and I picked up my reins and asked. I didn't ask as loudly as I should have, but normally Luca throws it into reverse with little bidding. This time he didn't, he had been told to stand and stand he was going to do. I kept smiling and brushed him with the whip. Nothing. Kept smiling and tapped him with the whip. Nothing. "Oh, I'm so awkward with this whip sometimes" I said in what I hoped was a bashful voice. Tap Tap Tap until he backed up. Pause then we stepped forward and back into line, I kept smiling.
The judge asked us why our reins were on the furthest hole down on the bit. Fortunately Robert answered before I did because his answer was better than mine. The one on the tip of my tongue was that he hadn't been out for a while. Robert said this is a stallion, and although we use a very light rein on this setting we like to know its there in case there is trouble. She said agreed that we were using a light rein (really?) and she appreciated our concern for everyone's safety. She pointed out though that he is sometimes behind the bit and it gives the impression that the bit is excessively severe. We nodded and she went back to the float. Luca stood with minimal wiggling.
The announcer called out "Ceader Hill Nimrod Luca!" and when I saw the steward standing there with the first place ribbon it occurred to me that was my horsies name and we had won the class! Fortunately for the standing around part I had relaxed into just a pleased smile so I was able to break out a big grin as we walked over to claim our ribbon and little clock and exit the arena. I was still processing what had happened and why as we walked back to the warm up arena. We walked around for a while longer. Took lots of pictures. Apparently I beat Jerry in that class. I'm still not totally sure what that means but I think it was the woman in the antique cart with the sweet, section D, welsh cob. I dont know if luca was better behaved than the others, if we were turned out better or if I just seemed to be getting the most pleasure out of driving in the pleasure driving class.
I changed back into civilian clothes but I had no makeup remover so the long lasting lipstick stayed. Its actually really great stuff, if you keep gloss on it then it doesnt dry out your lips, it didn't come off on the dinner we ate later, didn't smear when hair got stuck to it and then was brushed away from it many many times. The interesting thing about it though was that then I was really really recognisable. When I say this stuff is dramatically red, I'm not kidding, it startles people who know me as a normally-pigmented person.
I was in one more class, I didn't drive but it was the picnic class with one other woman. This woman looked like the most adorable grandmother there ever was. Her cart was antique, her little mini was slightly plump and totally adorable. She even had a shawl that she probably crocheted herself. She had grey hair and the very traditional grandma up-do. I listened to the contents of her picnic basket being read aloud. It was all great grandmother-type stuff. Roberts little wine basket is very nice, no question. The cheese still in the plastic wrapper with the pricetag still on it, thrown in the wine basket seemingly as an afterthought was not stellar. The carrots for the horse idea was cute, the safeway assortment of fruit, still in its plastic container that I held on my lap, apparently didn't measure up. Robert told the judge that I was there because a picnic was no fun without a girl. She said she liked his style and then inspected our picnic basket.
We took second in the class of two. Which was fine, now we had a second place ribbon to complete our collection of the top three ribbon colors. (we also had a 5th place form before we got the "noseband" but no 4th). Luca got just enough point to get his honors in driving. He needed 30, he got thirty. If we make sure to get Alyssa and myself registered as members of the OHA. Robert, bless his heart, thought that the judge just didn't like Luca. Later he found out that the judge thought our cart was supposed to be painted and thus wasn't finished. She wasn't wrong when she said it wasn't finished. Also, not all the floorboards were flush with each other, and a couple of other things that would be nice to fix up.
Pictures will be posted as soon as I get them.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The fair, saturday before
Sometimes when I use the word "soon" I mean in a geological time frame. Didn't I mention that?
Friday: Alyssa helped me set up the cones for a 20 m circle. She also held the tape while I walked around on the circle, trying to get a feel of it. I ran around in the circle, flew like an airplane in the circle and just generally communed with the 20 m circle. I wanted to practice it under saddle with some other horse before trying to make star do it so I got papillon out. I just put a saddle pad on her and got on.
Papillon was not amused with my efforts to actually get the pad underneath me where it belonged. Once she deemed it good enough it was too much trouble trying to make her stop anymore. I guess I dont blame her, I was wiggling and shuffling around on her back a lot to try to shift everything into position.
When she saw the circle she was amenable to it at first. Dressage is one of those things you have to do before you go out and jump jump jump. When she began to realize that what I wanted was mostly to circle at a walk, she was pisssed. Oh sure, I mixed it up, we went around the arena, we changed directions, we didn't spend all our time in the circle; but we didn't jump any 3' fences either, which is what she thought we should be doing. It wound up being pretty tough to get her to bend around the circle.
She wanted to trot so I asked her for a nice collected trot (the kind she does when she's trotting but shouldnt be.) She gave me my collected trot, but she also let me know that I was riding on her last nerve. She tossed her head, she called all the time, but she always put her feet where they belonged. I guess thats mostly what I ask from her in this kind of exercise. (Later Alyssa and I both independently discovered that she's in heat, so that might explain some of this)
After that it was time to drive Luca. We went around the field as usual, one walk and one trot, but then we went into the arena. I havent driven a cart in the arena in a long long time. It was with Reno and I just about had a complete mental breakdown. There were ponies everywhere, I couldn't get Reno far enough off the rail to be safe, my hands hurt from trying to keep him from prancing or running off. So, I turned Luca towards the arena with some trepidation. Once again I was steering too close to the arena wall so I asked Luca to move off. At first, nothing, tension spread from my mind into my shoulders and hands and back, then, he moved. He moved way to far because I had kept asking waiting for him to do it. So I moved him back a little, at first, nothing, now the irritation and vague sense of panic was re-surfacing, then he moved in way to much. Robert was interjecting occasionally "you're way too close to the arena wall, thats very dangerous."
Finally though, I realized the pattern (the painfully simple pattern really) there was a little delay on the steering. I didn't need to ask for more turn, I just needed to plan ahead. The delay I cant really explain. Maybe he likes to collect himself a little before the turn, maybe it takes him a minute to actually pay attention and do what he's told, I dont know. I do know that his response time got a little faster, I got used to planning for this delay, and, very important, I discovered that it was fine to be a little too far off the rail. The horse and turn on a dime. Actually, Robert seemed pretty pleased when we made turns that were sharp enough to make the wheels groan as they dug into the arena dirt. We kept running over my cones. If they had been set wider I would have done the circle but they werent so I didn't.
Trying to figure out what was expected at the fair was tough. Robert wasn't paying a lot of attention to what he was saying and I couldn't visualize it at all, but we worked that out eventually. Then, as we were cooling down, costume planning.
Robert: "So, what are you wearing to the fair?"
Me: "I was going to ask you the same question, what am I wearing to the fair?"
Robert: "Well, what have you got" (I didn't make that up, I really didnt, thats exactly what he said)
Me: "Can you be a little more specific that that?"
Robert: "Maybe, you tell me what you have and I'll tell you which of it would work" (that I might have made up, I just remember that he wouldnt give me any more information)
Me: (in exasperation) "I've got shorts and a t-shirt and I have a velvet dress"
Robert: (without any hesitation) "Oh the velvet dress thats perfect"
Me: "Seriously?"
Robert: "Yes, dress up really fancy" (Would that have been hard to say in response to the question "what am I supposed to wear?" Anyway...)
No time to ride star, it was time to feed, and then go home.
Friday: Alyssa helped me set up the cones for a 20 m circle. She also held the tape while I walked around on the circle, trying to get a feel of it. I ran around in the circle, flew like an airplane in the circle and just generally communed with the 20 m circle. I wanted to practice it under saddle with some other horse before trying to make star do it so I got papillon out. I just put a saddle pad on her and got on.
Papillon was not amused with my efforts to actually get the pad underneath me where it belonged. Once she deemed it good enough it was too much trouble trying to make her stop anymore. I guess I dont blame her, I was wiggling and shuffling around on her back a lot to try to shift everything into position.
When she saw the circle she was amenable to it at first. Dressage is one of those things you have to do before you go out and jump jump jump. When she began to realize that what I wanted was mostly to circle at a walk, she was pisssed. Oh sure, I mixed it up, we went around the arena, we changed directions, we didn't spend all our time in the circle; but we didn't jump any 3' fences either, which is what she thought we should be doing. It wound up being pretty tough to get her to bend around the circle.
She wanted to trot so I asked her for a nice collected trot (the kind she does when she's trotting but shouldnt be.) She gave me my collected trot, but she also let me know that I was riding on her last nerve. She tossed her head, she called all the time, but she always put her feet where they belonged. I guess thats mostly what I ask from her in this kind of exercise. (Later Alyssa and I both independently discovered that she's in heat, so that might explain some of this)
After that it was time to drive Luca. We went around the field as usual, one walk and one trot, but then we went into the arena. I havent driven a cart in the arena in a long long time. It was with Reno and I just about had a complete mental breakdown. There were ponies everywhere, I couldn't get Reno far enough off the rail to be safe, my hands hurt from trying to keep him from prancing or running off. So, I turned Luca towards the arena with some trepidation. Once again I was steering too close to the arena wall so I asked Luca to move off. At first, nothing, tension spread from my mind into my shoulders and hands and back, then, he moved. He moved way to far because I had kept asking waiting for him to do it. So I moved him back a little, at first, nothing, now the irritation and vague sense of panic was re-surfacing, then he moved in way to much. Robert was interjecting occasionally "you're way too close to the arena wall, thats very dangerous."
Finally though, I realized the pattern (the painfully simple pattern really) there was a little delay on the steering. I didn't need to ask for more turn, I just needed to plan ahead. The delay I cant really explain. Maybe he likes to collect himself a little before the turn, maybe it takes him a minute to actually pay attention and do what he's told, I dont know. I do know that his response time got a little faster, I got used to planning for this delay, and, very important, I discovered that it was fine to be a little too far off the rail. The horse and turn on a dime. Actually, Robert seemed pretty pleased when we made turns that were sharp enough to make the wheels groan as they dug into the arena dirt. We kept running over my cones. If they had been set wider I would have done the circle but they werent so I didn't.
Trying to figure out what was expected at the fair was tough. Robert wasn't paying a lot of attention to what he was saying and I couldn't visualize it at all, but we worked that out eventually. Then, as we were cooling down, costume planning.
Robert: "So, what are you wearing to the fair?"
Me: "I was going to ask you the same question, what am I wearing to the fair?"
Robert: "Well, what have you got" (I didn't make that up, I really didnt, thats exactly what he said)
Me: "Can you be a little more specific that that?"
Robert: "Maybe, you tell me what you have and I'll tell you which of it would work" (that I might have made up, I just remember that he wouldnt give me any more information)
Me: (in exasperation) "I've got shorts and a t-shirt and I have a velvet dress"
Robert: (without any hesitation) "Oh the velvet dress thats perfect"
Me: "Seriously?"
Robert: "Yes, dress up really fancy" (Would that have been hard to say in response to the question "what am I supposed to wear?" Anyway...)
No time to ride star, it was time to feed, and then go home.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday Luca, Robert, and Gillian went to the fair. I got there at 8 again, helped fit harness to Luca, and bathed him. They left.
I saddled up Keno and rode around on him. I set up a couple tiny tiny crossrails. He was good over them, some head shaking afterwards but nothing bad, until Xsarena went over. Then I made a dumb decision. I figured we'd been doing well and we were done with that, but Cari wanted me to do it again and see if he was better after Xsarena had been nice and calm and steady over them. Instead of saying thanks, we're finished, I went over and did it again, Keno was not pleased. He started crowhopping after the jumps and getting tense. The mares left, so we did some quiet flat work and ended up with a nice trot over a jump, then called it quits. We went outside to the mini-arena and then the jump arena. Keno knows he's supposed to walk. I think he is really close to learning how to gait because hey, it's still four beats! It counts as a walk! It is pretty amazing how fast he can walk when we're going back to the barn. He also remembered pretty fast that if he drops his shoulder, he gets lots of inside leg and asked for a bigger bend and tighter circle. That solved that.
I took Reno out after that to drive around. Cari and a student were there finishing up their horses and talking, so I asked if either of them wanted a ride. Lisbeth, the student, went with me. It was fun, she asked a lot of smart questions and Reno was absolutely perfect. I let her drive a little on the way back and she was very excited. I think Reno enjoyed it too. He was really light in the bridle and just a good horse all around. Bathed him, rinsed his harness off, and somehow it was feed time?
Fed, then took Dylan out. He really needs to get out of his stall and into a run. He was very, very good for me. He didn't move until I asked him, and then he walked. But he was trying so hard to be good I just let him run on the lunge line until he decided he could work quietly, which didn't take too long. He's really got the "whoa" down perfectly now, without any contact with his head. I approve. Then, because I think all horses should be riding horses, I did some more leaning over and petting on him, putting some weight on his back. He was fine with it all, though I'm not sure how much attention he was actually paying to me. That's as far as I'd take him without someone else to be there. He's a nice guy, though. He's a good characterization of the compliant horse that Robert talks about. He'll do what you ask, but he won't think about it. You have to ask pretty hard because he doesn't understand, for example, that pulling on the right rein means turn right. He'll give to it eventually because it's annoying and puts pressure on his mouth. Then, one day, it just clicks. Oh! That's what you mean! And he's textbook perfect from there on out. He's not a dumb horse, he just doesn't think.
More boredom- went and picked a bucket of blackberries, it was dark, I went back to the barn and got a call from Gillian saying they'd be back around 9:30. The original plan was that Robert would drive us back each day, but I figured it made more sense to only drive us back once, so sleepover at the barn. It was good, Gillian had a sleeping bag and we found a cot. There were horse blankets, the tack room was warm, we had cheap sugary snacks. Whee.
The next day Gillian went to work around 6. I fed in the morning with Vic and cleaned Reno where he had rolled, and helped load the trailer. Chuck came by around 8:30 and we left shortly after that. Robert had a meeting somewhere? so Chuck, Lil, and I went with Reno. We unloaded uneventfully and went around the fair. Lots of gorgeous draft horses, and we spent a long time with the sheep. The Gypsy Vanners were the next aisle over, so I looked at those guys briefly. At 1 we reconvened to get Reno ready and fit the cart to him. Robert even showed up! Classes started nominally at 2 or so. But it was a large event, so things were delayed dramatically, and I don't think we started until almost 4. At least Reno got enough warm up.
We didn't really stand much of a chance in our classes. There was a couple with two Arabians, incredible harness and beautiful polished carts (they were using the Fair as a practice for Regional Championships in Idaho). I wasn't really a fan of them-- they were almost always behind the vertical and the drivers had enough contact on their mouths the corners looked stretched back about two inches. But they were very very flashy and well-trained. It was pretty cute, at the end we were walking around the warm up and the bay was standing quietly, but whenever we went by he'd nicker very softly at Reno. There was also a draft mule there who was the quietest, slowest thing. But she won almost everything! Very quiet, but very obedient and very steady. She won Gambler's Choice because she did everything right. Not fast at all, but didn't make a single mistake. Reno cantered, which we thought was allowed but actually wasn't. The Arabian that entered didn't start the back up right- they got it without touching the outside rails, but wasted a long time repositioning themselves.
Reno did very well in the arena with me. We didn't hit anything, and we didn't canter, so I was pleased. He did a very nice slow trot and had good transitions. We placed third (out of three), but we did well, so I didn't really care. Plus, I liked him better than the other two. The mule was cute and I liked her a lot, but the driver had to keep urging her on constantly, and the Arabians were held back. You tell Reno the gait and he knows he better keep doing it until either you say otherwise or he dies. I contend he would be way more fun to do a country drive with than the other three.
We finished around 9, and we were packed up and ready to go by 9:30. Lil drove Gillian and I from Stoneybrook to our houses, and I was home around 11:30. I collapsed in bed. It was good.
I saddled up Keno and rode around on him. I set up a couple tiny tiny crossrails. He was good over them, some head shaking afterwards but nothing bad, until Xsarena went over. Then I made a dumb decision. I figured we'd been doing well and we were done with that, but Cari wanted me to do it again and see if he was better after Xsarena had been nice and calm and steady over them. Instead of saying thanks, we're finished, I went over and did it again, Keno was not pleased. He started crowhopping after the jumps and getting tense. The mares left, so we did some quiet flat work and ended up with a nice trot over a jump, then called it quits. We went outside to the mini-arena and then the jump arena. Keno knows he's supposed to walk. I think he is really close to learning how to gait because hey, it's still four beats! It counts as a walk! It is pretty amazing how fast he can walk when we're going back to the barn. He also remembered pretty fast that if he drops his shoulder, he gets lots of inside leg and asked for a bigger bend and tighter circle. That solved that.
I took Reno out after that to drive around. Cari and a student were there finishing up their horses and talking, so I asked if either of them wanted a ride. Lisbeth, the student, went with me. It was fun, she asked a lot of smart questions and Reno was absolutely perfect. I let her drive a little on the way back and she was very excited. I think Reno enjoyed it too. He was really light in the bridle and just a good horse all around. Bathed him, rinsed his harness off, and somehow it was feed time?
Fed, then took Dylan out. He really needs to get out of his stall and into a run. He was very, very good for me. He didn't move until I asked him, and then he walked. But he was trying so hard to be good I just let him run on the lunge line until he decided he could work quietly, which didn't take too long. He's really got the "whoa" down perfectly now, without any contact with his head. I approve. Then, because I think all horses should be riding horses, I did some more leaning over and petting on him, putting some weight on his back. He was fine with it all, though I'm not sure how much attention he was actually paying to me. That's as far as I'd take him without someone else to be there. He's a nice guy, though. He's a good characterization of the compliant horse that Robert talks about. He'll do what you ask, but he won't think about it. You have to ask pretty hard because he doesn't understand, for example, that pulling on the right rein means turn right. He'll give to it eventually because it's annoying and puts pressure on his mouth. Then, one day, it just clicks. Oh! That's what you mean! And he's textbook perfect from there on out. He's not a dumb horse, he just doesn't think.
More boredom- went and picked a bucket of blackberries, it was dark, I went back to the barn and got a call from Gillian saying they'd be back around 9:30. The original plan was that Robert would drive us back each day, but I figured it made more sense to only drive us back once, so sleepover at the barn. It was good, Gillian had a sleeping bag and we found a cot. There were horse blankets, the tack room was warm, we had cheap sugary snacks. Whee.
The next day Gillian went to work around 6. I fed in the morning with Vic and cleaned Reno where he had rolled, and helped load the trailer. Chuck came by around 8:30 and we left shortly after that. Robert had a meeting somewhere? so Chuck, Lil, and I went with Reno. We unloaded uneventfully and went around the fair. Lots of gorgeous draft horses, and we spent a long time with the sheep. The Gypsy Vanners were the next aisle over, so I looked at those guys briefly. At 1 we reconvened to get Reno ready and fit the cart to him. Robert even showed up! Classes started nominally at 2 or so. But it was a large event, so things were delayed dramatically, and I don't think we started until almost 4. At least Reno got enough warm up.
We didn't really stand much of a chance in our classes. There was a couple with two Arabians, incredible harness and beautiful polished carts (they were using the Fair as a practice for Regional Championships in Idaho). I wasn't really a fan of them-- they were almost always behind the vertical and the drivers had enough contact on their mouths the corners looked stretched back about two inches. But they were very very flashy and well-trained. It was pretty cute, at the end we were walking around the warm up and the bay was standing quietly, but whenever we went by he'd nicker very softly at Reno. There was also a draft mule there who was the quietest, slowest thing. But she won almost everything! Very quiet, but very obedient and very steady. She won Gambler's Choice because she did everything right. Not fast at all, but didn't make a single mistake. Reno cantered, which we thought was allowed but actually wasn't. The Arabian that entered didn't start the back up right- they got it without touching the outside rails, but wasted a long time repositioning themselves.
Reno did very well in the arena with me. We didn't hit anything, and we didn't canter, so I was pleased. He did a very nice slow trot and had good transitions. We placed third (out of three), but we did well, so I didn't really care. Plus, I liked him better than the other two. The mule was cute and I liked her a lot, but the driver had to keep urging her on constantly, and the Arabians were held back. You tell Reno the gait and he knows he better keep doing it until either you say otherwise or he dies. I contend he would be way more fun to do a country drive with than the other three.
We finished around 9, and we were packed up and ready to go by 9:30. Lil drove Gillian and I from Stoneybrook to our houses, and I was home around 11:30. I collapsed in bed. It was good.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
USDF Introductory Test B
I was having fun with my vector drawing program and I built a map of the other dressage test. Intro Test B. This one is surprisingly complicated compared to the other one.
2003 USDF Introductory Test B
1. A - Enter working trot rising
X - Halt through the medium walk, salute, proceed working trot rising
2. C - Track left working trot rising.
3. E - Circle left 20 meters working trot rising, then straight ahead.
4. F-X-H - Change rein working trot rising
5. Between C and M - Medium Walk
6. M-X-F Free walk, F - Medium Walk
7. A - Working trot rising
8. E - Circle right 20 meters, then straight ahead
9. M-X-K - Change rein working trot rising
10. A - Down Centerline, X Halt through medium walk, salute.
I had a reasonably productive day yesterday which I will write about soon.
2003 USDF Introductory Test B
1. A - Enter working trot risingX - Halt through the medium walk, salute, proceed working trot rising
2. C - Track left working trot rising.
3. E - Circle left 20 meters working trot rising, then straight ahead.
4. F-X-H - Change rein working trot rising
5. Between C and M - Medium Walk
6. M-X-F Free walk, F - Medium Walk
7. A - Working trot rising
8. E - Circle right 20 meters, then straight ahead
9. M-X-K - Change rein working trot rising
10. A - Down Centerline, X Halt through medium walk, salute.
If anyone actually uses these and wants a more polished one (you know where the circles are the same size and the tracks are always the same distance from the edge of the arena and the curves actually flow into lines) I can do that. Since its vector drawing there are algorithms to do these things. I haven't really worked on figuring them all out but it would be good motivation for it.
I had a reasonably productive day yesterday which I will write about soon.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Arrived early (okay, around 8). It was rainy and foggy-- there was a car there, but no one in the main barn. Robert's truck was there but no one answered the door. 8 was when the Percherons were supposed to start their lesson, so I was baffled.
But no, one of their women was just trying to get the mud off of them. The other is fresh out of surgery and NOT supposed to be anywhere near horses, so I tacked up Duke for her and didn't mess up hugely. It probably helped that I asked her to make sure everything was right. We put them on the new, shiny red wagon that made lots of scary noises and went off.
The boys did very well with scary new things. After a few circuits I noticed it was 9:30 and the minis had arrived, so we went into the jump arena and I hopped down to get Lil and cameras and minis. Danny was pissed that he had to work twice in one week, and was prancing and rearing and bucking this session. It was entertaining. They're really damn cute.
The minis got outside. Look how adorable they are!
The drafts were asked to go deep into a corner, and the minis to cut far ahead so the drafts could see them. Duke had seen the minis once before, but Bob hadn't. Their eyes bugged out of their heads a little. The minis didn't care too much, but they didn't like the creaking and the harness jingling of the big guys.
At least they didn't have the "those are TINY demons on wheels" reaction that many horses do.
Boring, cart-centric day after that. I sanded down several pieces, um... put the dashboard together, I think? I have terrible spatial abilities, so where everything is going is still distinctly fuzzy. Started sealing the wood, and oh it's gonna look so pretty!
I grabbed Reno for a quick drive. He was very good, if a little strong, but I do hate when he canters. We did a little over 1 lap walking, little under 2 trotting, and he barely sweat at all (2.4 miles, I believe). I am finding that I really enjoy taking horses out for drives by myself; I like Robert, obviously, but it's like taking a horse out for a run but easier. I tell them what gait I want, and I leave them alone. We both like going fast and this way, I'm not interfering with their motion in a more than minimal way.
I need to do some productive riding. Keno, Papillon, and Star could all use rides. I haven't seen Sam around in a few weeks, and BJ always looks at me enticingly. I probably could use a slightly pissy pony for forty five minutes or something. I'm not really having any fun riding right now, but it'll come back. Soon, I hope. I really do need lessons. Maybe I'll ask Cari if I can be an irregular, once-a-month-ish student. Where I can just ride a nice, relaxed horse and have someone else tell me what to do.
But no, one of their women was just trying to get the mud off of them. The other is fresh out of surgery and NOT supposed to be anywhere near horses, so I tacked up Duke for her and didn't mess up hugely. It probably helped that I asked her to make sure everything was right. We put them on the new, shiny red wagon that made lots of scary noises and went off.
The boys did very well with scary new things. After a few circuits I noticed it was 9:30 and the minis had arrived, so we went into the jump arena and I hopped down to get Lil and cameras and minis. Danny was pissed that he had to work twice in one week, and was prancing and rearing and bucking this session. It was entertaining. They're really damn cute.
The minis got outside. Look how adorable they are!
The drafts were asked to go deep into a corner, and the minis to cut far ahead so the drafts could see them. Duke had seen the minis once before, but Bob hadn't. Their eyes bugged out of their heads a little. The minis didn't care too much, but they didn't like the creaking and the harness jingling of the big guys.
At least they didn't have the "those are TINY demons on wheels" reaction that many horses do.Boring, cart-centric day after that. I sanded down several pieces, um... put the dashboard together, I think? I have terrible spatial abilities, so where everything is going is still distinctly fuzzy. Started sealing the wood, and oh it's gonna look so pretty!
I grabbed Reno for a quick drive. He was very good, if a little strong, but I do hate when he canters. We did a little over 1 lap walking, little under 2 trotting, and he barely sweat at all (2.4 miles, I believe). I am finding that I really enjoy taking horses out for drives by myself; I like Robert, obviously, but it's like taking a horse out for a run but easier. I tell them what gait I want, and I leave them alone. We both like going fast and this way, I'm not interfering with their motion in a more than minimal way.
I need to do some productive riding. Keno, Papillon, and Star could all use rides. I haven't seen Sam around in a few weeks, and BJ always looks at me enticingly. I probably could use a slightly pissy pony for forty five minutes or something. I'm not really having any fun riding right now, but it'll come back. Soon, I hope. I really do need lessons. Maybe I'll ask Cari if I can be an irregular, once-a-month-ish student. Where I can just ride a nice, relaxed horse and have someone else tell me what to do.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Intro test a
Ok, I've posted this picture before but I wanted to re-post it because Star is doing a dressage test, God willing, on the 6th of September. Its a reasonably simple test to memorize. The letters are difficult to remember but I can see the diagram in my mind, and I think that will help a lot. I still think it would be nice to memorize the letters in case I get disoriented.
I havent done anything with Star because I've been sick but the next two weeks are looking pretty clear for me so we are doing lots and lots of circles. I'm going to set up two 20 m circles with cones that way I can mix things up a little bit so she doesn't get too terribly sick of circles. (She hates circles anyway but no reason to make things worse.)
Dark Blue=medium walk
Turquoise =free walk
Red= working trot
In non-test stuff but in preparation for the show itself there are some things that need doing.
I need to get Star used to the trailer divider closing her in.
We need to trailer her around the farm. We wont take her anywhere, just put her in, drive and then take her out. Maybe drive her to a turnout and then turn her out and then drive her back. Something small anyway.
We need to get her used to the idea that kicking other horses will NOT be tolerated. The plan there is to walk her alongside a slightly less volatile horse. When she does something stupid, we start cantering little circles. Then we go back to walking alongside the nice horsey. I think we can start with Keno and then try Papillon. I'd throw Lady into the mix but Lady tends to be aggressive herself. Not sure if thats a good plan.
It would be really nice if we could get Xserena or someone in the mix also. Alyssa could get BJ out. Star isn't above picking on the little guy, plus he's a pretty good trail horse so we can work both in and outside of the arena. Hmmm, maybe Spot, the little ranch trained Appy guy, I'll bet he is just dead broke and wont bat an eye when Star goes cantering off in a little circle.
I dont know what to do about the free walk. I think fatigue helps with that one a little but she's going to be so tense in that arena (I predict) that its just going to be a disaster. Oh well.
By request...
Got there, no one was around though I thought Jessi was supposed to have a lesson. Helped Robert with balancing the cart for a while. I finished cleaning Luca's harness (hooray!), which took a fair bit of time. Robert came in and said he had to go to town, but he'd be back by 1. I asked if we could take Luca out, since all Robert actually needs to do with Luca is get in the cart and get out again. He said yes. So I lunged Dylan first. Dylan was Highly Distracted by the Pretty Girl (aka, Xsarena). I don't think he'd ever been worked in an arena while a horse was going around the outside, and he took a while to settle down. Then he wanted to run like an idiot once she left, which was pretty much fine by me. He was much more willing to Ho on command after that.
Luca was good, lots of head shaking but really if that's all he's going to do, fine by me. He barely moved his feet for the fly spray, so it's not like he isn't improving where it matters. He spooked at the van, which was unfamiliar and parked only a hundred feet away from him, back at the big house with the barn and pool, and spooked at something or other but only went into a giant trot, which again, fine by me. He's also getting much better about being bathed. He's not thrilled, but one or two sidles to the side and he's done. I'm being lazy about tying him, which is a problem, but not as much as it would be normally. The door is closed and the only stall he can go into is his own. And I only drop the lead when I'm turning the water off or I'm asking him to move around, at which point he's very subdued and will often turn on the forehand to avoid pulling on the rope at ALL. I need to get better, but I can rationalize.
Minis were great. Robert wants to get a photoshoot of the minis and the drafts done on Thursday (I'll have to get there early). To get good pictures, we'd have to take them outside, so we took the minis outside! They (and Robert) had a blast. Pepper, who's really nervous, was a little on edge but also stretched out instead of moving his little hind legs as fast and short-strided as possible. Danny kept cantering around the turns, which was really cute. Robert couldn't stop laughing. Their owner drove them for a bit, and then offered me the reins. Cutest ponies ever. Robert was so thrilled with them that he let Danny rub on him all he wanted, and then hugged onto his head. That was also pretty cute.
Went out for a drive with Reno, he was expectedly strong but overall a well-behaved horse by well-behaved horse standards, not just Reno standards.
Dylan's owners came again today, while Robert was in the house. It's very awkward for me because I know Robert isn't a huge fan of us talking to the clients, so I have to think of general platitudes to tell them, or things that are a) good, and b) true, without telling them anything really big. It's true though that I love Dylan, he's doing very well, we're getting him to stand still, and I was amazed at how well he handles flyspray. Also that we're getting him to do transitions on voice command rather than bit, which is really nice for, well, everything.
Nicky had her third time on the cart on Monday. She wouldn't stop bucking (yes, we have a kicking strap on), so Robert took her into the back and cantered her for 35 minutes. She didn't give up for 30 minutes. He was pretty pleased that she dragged that heavy green cart for that long, and also that she'll do flying lead changes more-or-less on command. He wasn't so pleased that it took 35 minutes, or that he had to do it at all, but she's got a lot of angry. He said she was VERY affectionate with him when he was cleaning the stalls the next day.
Got there, no one was around though I thought Jessi was supposed to have a lesson. Helped Robert with balancing the cart for a while. I finished cleaning Luca's harness (hooray!), which took a fair bit of time. Robert came in and said he had to go to town, but he'd be back by 1. I asked if we could take Luca out, since all Robert actually needs to do with Luca is get in the cart and get out again. He said yes. So I lunged Dylan first. Dylan was Highly Distracted by the Pretty Girl (aka, Xsarena). I don't think he'd ever been worked in an arena while a horse was going around the outside, and he took a while to settle down. Then he wanted to run like an idiot once she left, which was pretty much fine by me. He was much more willing to Ho on command after that.
Luca was good, lots of head shaking but really if that's all he's going to do, fine by me. He barely moved his feet for the fly spray, so it's not like he isn't improving where it matters. He spooked at the van, which was unfamiliar and parked only a hundred feet away from him, back at the big house with the barn and pool, and spooked at something or other but only went into a giant trot, which again, fine by me. He's also getting much better about being bathed. He's not thrilled, but one or two sidles to the side and he's done. I'm being lazy about tying him, which is a problem, but not as much as it would be normally. The door is closed and the only stall he can go into is his own. And I only drop the lead when I'm turning the water off or I'm asking him to move around, at which point he's very subdued and will often turn on the forehand to avoid pulling on the rope at ALL. I need to get better, but I can rationalize.
Minis were great. Robert wants to get a photoshoot of the minis and the drafts done on Thursday (I'll have to get there early). To get good pictures, we'd have to take them outside, so we took the minis outside! They (and Robert) had a blast. Pepper, who's really nervous, was a little on edge but also stretched out instead of moving his little hind legs as fast and short-strided as possible. Danny kept cantering around the turns, which was really cute. Robert couldn't stop laughing. Their owner drove them for a bit, and then offered me the reins. Cutest ponies ever. Robert was so thrilled with them that he let Danny rub on him all he wanted, and then hugged onto his head. That was also pretty cute.
Went out for a drive with Reno, he was expectedly strong but overall a well-behaved horse by well-behaved horse standards, not just Reno standards.
Dylan's owners came again today, while Robert was in the house. It's very awkward for me because I know Robert isn't a huge fan of us talking to the clients, so I have to think of general platitudes to tell them, or things that are a) good, and b) true, without telling them anything really big. It's true though that I love Dylan, he's doing very well, we're getting him to stand still, and I was amazed at how well he handles flyspray. Also that we're getting him to do transitions on voice command rather than bit, which is really nice for, well, everything.
Nicky had her third time on the cart on Monday. She wouldn't stop bucking (yes, we have a kicking strap on), so Robert took her into the back and cantered her for 35 minutes. She didn't give up for 30 minutes. He was pretty pleased that she dragged that heavy green cart for that long, and also that she'll do flying lead changes more-or-less on command. He wasn't so pleased that it took 35 minutes, or that he had to do it at all, but she's got a lot of angry. He said she was VERY affectionate with him when he was cleaning the stalls the next day.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sooo HOT out
Yesterday was a good barn day. Sluggish because of the heat but we took good advantage of the sluggishness. My dad is in town and I took him out in a carriage ride. Reno was good and manageable. He didn't spook at any of the lawn equipment. He went basically where he was pointed. He barely jigged and only cantered a little bit in the expected places. My dad drove him for a little while and Reno didn't take massive advantage of the situation. Everyone enjoyed the ride out, especially my dad. It was pretty hot though and he had one more swim meet so we went in and ate the berries he brought out to the barn.
When he left, in an heroic act of discipline and heat resistance, I got star out. We've been working on cantering without pitching a fit, running away, or stopping dead and bucking. Today seemed like a good day to work on the running away part. She has basically stopped the whole 60-0 in 2 seconds thing. Today it was hot and we did circles. Well, circles in that we crossed the arena twice and we cut some of the corners. You couldn't really call them circles per se. Still, they slowed her down.
I did my level best to just focus on breathing and on sitting back. Getting too forward really irritates star. I expect her to deal with a certain amount of irritation, of course, but I'm trying to make this as un-irritating as possible for her while we work up to dealing with the more irritating stuff.
I usually wimp out of cantering in these sorts of situations. I do a circle or two and call it good and stop and pant. Today I circled and circled and circled. It was at least 60 seconds. Maybe more. I dont have a good sense of it. Star went at a perfectly reasonable speed, I would even say pretty balanced too. It wasn't really a very good circle, as I said before, but I was focused principally on breathing and sitting up. I was very minimally focused on steering. I was able to ignore speed control today because she wasnt racing around and she has pretty much given up stopping. At one point she broke down into a trot, I had my dressage whip, I cropped her, she bucked, and cropped her again and off we went. All this happened while Alyssa wasn't looking, giving us the appearance of an even better ride than we actually had!
We didn't get a chance to go the other direction, since we had to feed. So I want to work on going the other direction, her bad direction. I also want to work on this head tossing thing. She started tossing her head when we picked up the trot. Simmered down after a while and then when we picked up the canter lots of head tossing. With lots of head tossing interspersed throughout the ride. I'm worried something is hurting her. Alyssa said she didn't see anything, and thats saying something.
I think I'm going to do some canter work outside and see if she's still doing it. I think she likes being outside, she doesn't like closed in spaces. This makes me worry about whats going to happen when we go to foxfire farms (I almost called them firefox farms.) That arena is like a coffin with sand and a judge in it. It has one opening to the outside, through which all light comes in, and an opening into the stables, which are dark to supress grass growth on their dirt aisleways. No other windows at all. The corners of the arena are very dark. Its all very skeery. Oh well.
If she canters again on monday like she did yesterday I'm going to stop working on that so much and start focusing on the dressage test. I still want to do some canter work, of course. I want to do it outside though because in the arena, when we do a trot circle, I'd like her to keep it at a TROT god damn it.
Ok, time to do stuff.
When he left, in an heroic act of discipline and heat resistance, I got star out. We've been working on cantering without pitching a fit, running away, or stopping dead and bucking. Today seemed like a good day to work on the running away part. She has basically stopped the whole 60-0 in 2 seconds thing. Today it was hot and we did circles. Well, circles in that we crossed the arena twice and we cut some of the corners. You couldn't really call them circles per se. Still, they slowed her down.
I did my level best to just focus on breathing and on sitting back. Getting too forward really irritates star. I expect her to deal with a certain amount of irritation, of course, but I'm trying to make this as un-irritating as possible for her while we work up to dealing with the more irritating stuff.
I usually wimp out of cantering in these sorts of situations. I do a circle or two and call it good and stop and pant. Today I circled and circled and circled. It was at least 60 seconds. Maybe more. I dont have a good sense of it. Star went at a perfectly reasonable speed, I would even say pretty balanced too. It wasn't really a very good circle, as I said before, but I was focused principally on breathing and sitting up. I was very minimally focused on steering. I was able to ignore speed control today because she wasnt racing around and she has pretty much given up stopping. At one point she broke down into a trot, I had my dressage whip, I cropped her, she bucked, and cropped her again and off we went. All this happened while Alyssa wasn't looking, giving us the appearance of an even better ride than we actually had!
We didn't get a chance to go the other direction, since we had to feed. So I want to work on going the other direction, her bad direction. I also want to work on this head tossing thing. She started tossing her head when we picked up the trot. Simmered down after a while and then when we picked up the canter lots of head tossing. With lots of head tossing interspersed throughout the ride. I'm worried something is hurting her. Alyssa said she didn't see anything, and thats saying something.
I think I'm going to do some canter work outside and see if she's still doing it. I think she likes being outside, she doesn't like closed in spaces. This makes me worry about whats going to happen when we go to foxfire farms (I almost called them firefox farms.) That arena is like a coffin with sand and a judge in it. It has one opening to the outside, through which all light comes in, and an opening into the stables, which are dark to supress grass growth on their dirt aisleways. No other windows at all. The corners of the arena are very dark. Its all very skeery. Oh well.
If she canters again on monday like she did yesterday I'm going to stop working on that so much and start focusing on the dressage test. I still want to do some canter work, of course. I want to do it outside though because in the arena, when we do a trot circle, I'd like her to keep it at a TROT god damn it.
Ok, time to do stuff.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Okay, so I had three goals today:
-Get Papillon out
-Get Star out
-Go riding outside the arena
Arrived at the barn (10am), waited for Robert to appear while I swept the aisle, he failed to do so. Papillon heard me in the aisle and walked briskly up to her grate, with her "You're a human who sometimes rides me, let's go!" ears. Went to their house instead and knocked (10:15am). Robert was getting ready to go to the bank and Lil was making bread. Which meant that after I finished talking to Robert, I talked to Lil. Both wonderful people, don't get me wrong, but I feel like I could have worked a horse. Meh.
I got Reno out by myself, which was a little exciting (11am). He was a little indignant about being asked to, you know, stand, while I went from his head to in the cart. He was pretty hot when we started trotting-- there was a LOT of trocantering and one major spook when a car went past him (Really? How long have you been driving at this barn, out in the field? Dork.), and didn't really calm down all the way. I think tomorrow, if I get him out, there will be a bunch of walk/trot transitions. My hands were pretty cramped at the end. Although, again, minimal prancing, there is still hope.
Robert came back just as we were pulling in and said he'd be out at 1 (12pm), at which point we'd work Luca-- there were lessons at 2 and 3. I hosed Reno off and put him back (12:15pm). Sat down and ate food. I had 45 minutes, theoretically. I could work a horse and not really get anything but energy out of them, or... I could sit, Robert could come out at 1, get Luca, and help me tack him up, or... I could tack Luca and have him ready by 1. This would be the best option, assuming he didn't try to kill me.
Got Luca, he was pretty docile (12:45pm). He was squirmy once and then pretty much settled down, when all I did was move him back into place and keep going. He pawed, which got his foot taken away briefly, and then he stopped. Harnessing was really a complete non-event. So we were done possibly earlier than 1, but I doubt it. I can time my harnessing pretty accurately, and by myself it takes 15-20 minutes. It would be perfect! But... Robert didn't appear for a while. So we hung out. He was verrrry good once he figured out he got wither scratches for standing still.
New theory- Luca is a dirty little show-off. Robert says he's really good when it's just him and Robert. He was really good with me when it was just me and him. I didn't smack him once. Disciplines included tugging lightly on his leadrope when he got ahead of me (couple times), throwing my hands in front of me when he tried that stupid "look I'm walking in front of you and in your space but it's only my neck bent around!" trick (twice), moving him back over when he tried to swing around in the crossties (once), and grabbing his hoof when he pawed (once). Then he said, okay, those are the rules for today, I got it, and quit trying. I guess the other thing is that he didn't get a rise out of me, so it stopped being fun, which is also a major consideration.
I passed on driving Luca. It was a good choice. Once we started trotting, he tried taking off a few times, kicked the cart once, and was incredibly heavy, because he was just waiting for something to give so he could take off again. So... we trotted around until he behaved himself, did a barrel-pattern (which was tons of fun but had I been driving, I would have killed us all), and took his sweaty self back to the barn, where I hosed him down (2pm). He wasn't thrilled about this. He was even less thrilled about a knuckle in his squishy flank when he tried to move over, and got the message fast, but man did I get dirty looks. At least the boy's not dumb. Robert laughed when he saw me spraying Luca's face, and Luca trying to drink the water from the air. His face was sweaty! ::grumble::
Mini-time! I was supposed to lunge/long-line Dylan during mini-time, but I figured (really there was forethought, it's not an Ian-I-figured) it would be useful for me to help tack up a horse, because while it seems to take two to three people to tack up the horse I'm not working on, one is more than sufficient. Mini-Owner: "Oh you've been so good with helping us, you should drive the minis today!" Which is weird. It's one thing if they're in for training, and that's part of the process. It's another thing entirely, in my mind, when they haul horses in for lessons-- lessons which are intended to be the owner working the horse under the trainer, or the trainer working the horse-- and then watch me work them instead of doing it themselves. I'd be more comfortable if that was one of those things they say but never actually intend to let me do, which is what I thought this was. But no, I drove Danny and Pepper. They are super-cute, take an enormous amount of space to turn comfortably, and are lazy little boys.
After the minis (3:15pm), Sherri never appeared, and Robert and I chatted for a while as I made up feed. He went inside to go do paperwork, and I still had to work Dylan (3:30pm).
Dylan was a mess. He came up to me happily. I was just going to lunge him, since we wouldn't really have enough time if I harnessed him up. BUT.... (dun dun dun).... I used a different lunge whip. One which was much longer, and had a longer fall. It made noise as it whispered through the dirt, and it was FAR too close to him for his personal comfort, which promoted very cute head carriage as well as some snorts and an inability to walk. I hate that. I like going up the gaits. First we stand. Then we walk, then trot, etc. I don't send a horse out right away to lunge, normally. We stand. There is an Order, and if they don't like it, that's a shame. He did walk after a bit, so I let him trot out for a while, but he didn't calm down and he didn't feel like listening. So we stopped, and watched the whip swish-swish-swish all around. Then we tried it again. He got it, sort of. After a while. It really wasn't that long, since it was a 20 minute lunge max, but there's only so many times I want to watch a horse go around in circles. I was in time to feed, though (4pm).
Also, at the end, I tossed the mounting block around him, stood by his shoulder, and climbed up and down on it with little to no response. We'd done this briefly on Thursday when he was very much done with doing things, and he was shocked at my growth spurts but not actually spooky. Aside from useful for backing horses, I like it because the horse learns that it's okay for me to stand at its shoulder. At this point in their training, the horse (especially Dylan) wants to be leading pretty and following you around, no matter what. When you're putting longlines on a horse, it increases the difficulty and the danger by having them try to spin around to face you. I tried this with Nicky before, because she also did not want to stand still for the long lines, and it helped immensely. I mean. It made me feel pretty silly, standing on a mounting block to run lines through a surcingle on a 13.2 pony, but it worked! At least Dylan's like... 15.1.
So, er... in other words? I fail miserably at achieving goals.
-Get Papillon out
-Get Star out
-Go riding outside the arena
Arrived at the barn (10am), waited for Robert to appear while I swept the aisle, he failed to do so. Papillon heard me in the aisle and walked briskly up to her grate, with her "You're a human who sometimes rides me, let's go!" ears. Went to their house instead and knocked (10:15am). Robert was getting ready to go to the bank and Lil was making bread. Which meant that after I finished talking to Robert, I talked to Lil. Both wonderful people, don't get me wrong, but I feel like I could have worked a horse. Meh.
I got Reno out by myself, which was a little exciting (11am). He was a little indignant about being asked to, you know, stand, while I went from his head to in the cart. He was pretty hot when we started trotting-- there was a LOT of trocantering and one major spook when a car went past him (Really? How long have you been driving at this barn, out in the field? Dork.), and didn't really calm down all the way. I think tomorrow, if I get him out, there will be a bunch of walk/trot transitions. My hands were pretty cramped at the end. Although, again, minimal prancing, there is still hope.
Robert came back just as we were pulling in and said he'd be out at 1 (12pm), at which point we'd work Luca-- there were lessons at 2 and 3. I hosed Reno off and put him back (12:15pm). Sat down and ate food. I had 45 minutes, theoretically. I could work a horse and not really get anything but energy out of them, or... I could sit, Robert could come out at 1, get Luca, and help me tack him up, or... I could tack Luca and have him ready by 1. This would be the best option, assuming he didn't try to kill me.
Got Luca, he was pretty docile (12:45pm). He was squirmy once and then pretty much settled down, when all I did was move him back into place and keep going. He pawed, which got his foot taken away briefly, and then he stopped. Harnessing was really a complete non-event. So we were done possibly earlier than 1, but I doubt it. I can time my harnessing pretty accurately, and by myself it takes 15-20 minutes. It would be perfect! But... Robert didn't appear for a while. So we hung out. He was verrrry good once he figured out he got wither scratches for standing still.
New theory- Luca is a dirty little show-off. Robert says he's really good when it's just him and Robert. He was really good with me when it was just me and him. I didn't smack him once. Disciplines included tugging lightly on his leadrope when he got ahead of me (couple times), throwing my hands in front of me when he tried that stupid "look I'm walking in front of you and in your space but it's only my neck bent around!" trick (twice), moving him back over when he tried to swing around in the crossties (once), and grabbing his hoof when he pawed (once). Then he said, okay, those are the rules for today, I got it, and quit trying. I guess the other thing is that he didn't get a rise out of me, so it stopped being fun, which is also a major consideration.
I passed on driving Luca. It was a good choice. Once we started trotting, he tried taking off a few times, kicked the cart once, and was incredibly heavy, because he was just waiting for something to give so he could take off again. So... we trotted around until he behaved himself, did a barrel-pattern (which was tons of fun but had I been driving, I would have killed us all), and took his sweaty self back to the barn, where I hosed him down (2pm). He wasn't thrilled about this. He was even less thrilled about a knuckle in his squishy flank when he tried to move over, and got the message fast, but man did I get dirty looks. At least the boy's not dumb. Robert laughed when he saw me spraying Luca's face, and Luca trying to drink the water from the air. His face was sweaty! ::grumble::
Mini-time! I was supposed to lunge/long-line Dylan during mini-time, but I figured (really there was forethought, it's not an Ian-I-figured) it would be useful for me to help tack up a horse, because while it seems to take two to three people to tack up the horse I'm not working on, one is more than sufficient. Mini-Owner: "Oh you've been so good with helping us, you should drive the minis today!" Which is weird. It's one thing if they're in for training, and that's part of the process. It's another thing entirely, in my mind, when they haul horses in for lessons-- lessons which are intended to be the owner working the horse under the trainer, or the trainer working the horse-- and then watch me work them instead of doing it themselves. I'd be more comfortable if that was one of those things they say but never actually intend to let me do, which is what I thought this was. But no, I drove Danny and Pepper. They are super-cute, take an enormous amount of space to turn comfortably, and are lazy little boys.
After the minis (3:15pm), Sherri never appeared, and Robert and I chatted for a while as I made up feed. He went inside to go do paperwork, and I still had to work Dylan (3:30pm).
Dylan was a mess. He came up to me happily. I was just going to lunge him, since we wouldn't really have enough time if I harnessed him up. BUT.... (dun dun dun).... I used a different lunge whip. One which was much longer, and had a longer fall. It made noise as it whispered through the dirt, and it was FAR too close to him for his personal comfort, which promoted very cute head carriage as well as some snorts and an inability to walk. I hate that. I like going up the gaits. First we stand. Then we walk, then trot, etc. I don't send a horse out right away to lunge, normally. We stand. There is an Order, and if they don't like it, that's a shame. He did walk after a bit, so I let him trot out for a while, but he didn't calm down and he didn't feel like listening. So we stopped, and watched the whip swish-swish-swish all around. Then we tried it again. He got it, sort of. After a while. It really wasn't that long, since it was a 20 minute lunge max, but there's only so many times I want to watch a horse go around in circles. I was in time to feed, though (4pm).
Also, at the end, I tossed the mounting block around him, stood by his shoulder, and climbed up and down on it with little to no response. We'd done this briefly on Thursday when he was very much done with doing things, and he was shocked at my growth spurts but not actually spooky. Aside from useful for backing horses, I like it because the horse learns that it's okay for me to stand at its shoulder. At this point in their training, the horse (especially Dylan) wants to be leading pretty and following you around, no matter what. When you're putting longlines on a horse, it increases the difficulty and the danger by having them try to spin around to face you. I tried this with Nicky before, because she also did not want to stand still for the long lines, and it helped immensely. I mean. It made me feel pretty silly, standing on a mounting block to run lines through a surcingle on a 13.2 pony, but it worked! At least Dylan's like... 15.1.
So, er... in other words? I fail miserably at achieving goals.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Balance
I just dont know what to do with that mare. I was feeling pretty lousy on Saturday and Robert wasn't around so I got star out becuase she needs to be ridden as often as possible. I tried the standing martingale on her, it was too big. The breastplate was almost too small! A first in my experience rounding up tack for Star. She was feeling pretty spazzy.
I took her out and she was unhappy about this piece dangling off of the martingale. Everyone offered to fix it because it was clearly bothering her. I told them she could deal with it, and rode on. It started to bother me too, so as soon as she calmed down about it I got off and knotted the loose piece and then got back on.
She was really bad about the scary end of the arena today. She doesn't listen to my inside leg very well. Plus I cant get over my habit of using a lot of outside rein when she's spooking away from the barrels. She got cropped a lot on saturday for ignoring my inside leg. She was displeased. After a while she would listen to my inside leg but she would also start cantering through the turn after the scary side was behind us. At least she's got it into her head that its sortof OK to canter. Is that progress?
In the process of frequently asking her to come down to the trot I discovered that I can hold her together at a canter and she does a nice, balanced, collected canter. I absolutely refuse to spend my time and energy under saddle holding her over her own damn feet. On the other hand if she is allowed to go on a loose rein its a mess. A big part of her problem is that she is going too fast to stay balanced through the turns in the arena.
I'm starting to lean towards the idea of taking her outside and letting her go until she figures out that she is allowed to slow down. She has the same problem at the trot too. Maybe I'll start out woking on the trot and letting her learn that she can slow down at a trot. The problem is she will canter out there if she's allowed to trot long enough. I dont want to have to hold her to the correct gait all the time. Maybe I should lunge her first.
I dont like doing that because she gets herself all worked up, and she gets pissy when she gets tired. It seems worth a shot though. I really dont want her cantering through our trot circles in the dressage test. I think that would embarrass me.
I tried doing lots of walk trot transitions in the arena on saturday. I didn't really notice a huge difference. For some reason she really wants to sprint across the short side of the arena. I did lots of down transitions in the middle of the arena to try and combat that. I went back and forth between doing my transitions where I wanted them no matter what stupid stuff she was doing, and waiting instead for her to calm down and then doing the transition.
Maybe I should be doing trot poles under saddle? I really dont know. Anyway, I rode her for an hour and a half or so and then put her away.
I took out dylan and cross tied him while I ate my lunch. At first I had him in the short ties but the flies were getting to him. He didn't try to move while he was in the short ties, I guess it was pretty obvious that he was stuck. When I put him in longer ties though he tried to walk off. The way it works out though, I discovered, is that when he is standing where he is supposed to he can bite at the flies, when he is too far forward then he cant. I put some fly spray on him but that only helped a little. When I was done with my lunch I left him tied while I put 'leather new' on star's bridle.
When I was done with that I got out a curry comb and started currying dylan's back. People talk all the time about a horse coming through their back, or lifting their back. If you ever want to see this in action, I reccomend rubbing Dylan's back. I swear it came up two inches into my curry comb and he did the lip thing and I rubbed him until my arms were tired. He was disapointed when I stopped. He had this look on his face like he wanted to groom me back so that I would keep grooming him. He didn't try it though. I put him back and sat around for a while doing nothing.
I took star out again with some carrots to try to work on doing the cross rail. I put it way too high, apparently. She doesn't seem to get this whole thing about jumping in the middle where the jump is the lowest. Anyway we fought over that for a long time. I kept lowering it by dragging the standards further apart. I even set both poles back on the ground but she still fussed about it. (I had started with both poles on the ground side by side and she did that no problem.)
Anyway the moral of the story is twofold, 1) Need to start her out with an insanely low crossrail and 2) I'm an idiot for insisting on working on this project. I think I'm doing it because I think Gloria would like to hear about star jumping under saddle, I think that it would add to her value if she could do 18 inch cross rails, and it was really fun the one time we jumped the bank (at least going up was fun, going down slightly less so.) She actually, liked jumping the bank, I swear. So she'll learn to like doing the cross rails, or at least she'll think of them as an easy source of treats. its going to be painfull sending her over a two inch cross rail over and over and over again many many days in a row but I think I'm stubborn/stupid enough to keep at it.
I took her out and she was unhappy about this piece dangling off of the martingale. Everyone offered to fix it because it was clearly bothering her. I told them she could deal with it, and rode on. It started to bother me too, so as soon as she calmed down about it I got off and knotted the loose piece and then got back on.
She was really bad about the scary end of the arena today. She doesn't listen to my inside leg very well. Plus I cant get over my habit of using a lot of outside rein when she's spooking away from the barrels. She got cropped a lot on saturday for ignoring my inside leg. She was displeased. After a while she would listen to my inside leg but she would also start cantering through the turn after the scary side was behind us. At least she's got it into her head that its sortof OK to canter. Is that progress?
In the process of frequently asking her to come down to the trot I discovered that I can hold her together at a canter and she does a nice, balanced, collected canter. I absolutely refuse to spend my time and energy under saddle holding her over her own damn feet. On the other hand if she is allowed to go on a loose rein its a mess. A big part of her problem is that she is going too fast to stay balanced through the turns in the arena.
I'm starting to lean towards the idea of taking her outside and letting her go until she figures out that she is allowed to slow down. She has the same problem at the trot too. Maybe I'll start out woking on the trot and letting her learn that she can slow down at a trot. The problem is she will canter out there if she's allowed to trot long enough. I dont want to have to hold her to the correct gait all the time. Maybe I should lunge her first.
I dont like doing that because she gets herself all worked up, and she gets pissy when she gets tired. It seems worth a shot though. I really dont want her cantering through our trot circles in the dressage test. I think that would embarrass me.
I tried doing lots of walk trot transitions in the arena on saturday. I didn't really notice a huge difference. For some reason she really wants to sprint across the short side of the arena. I did lots of down transitions in the middle of the arena to try and combat that. I went back and forth between doing my transitions where I wanted them no matter what stupid stuff she was doing, and waiting instead for her to calm down and then doing the transition.
Maybe I should be doing trot poles under saddle? I really dont know. Anyway, I rode her for an hour and a half or so and then put her away.
I took out dylan and cross tied him while I ate my lunch. At first I had him in the short ties but the flies were getting to him. He didn't try to move while he was in the short ties, I guess it was pretty obvious that he was stuck. When I put him in longer ties though he tried to walk off. The way it works out though, I discovered, is that when he is standing where he is supposed to he can bite at the flies, when he is too far forward then he cant. I put some fly spray on him but that only helped a little. When I was done with my lunch I left him tied while I put 'leather new' on star's bridle.
When I was done with that I got out a curry comb and started currying dylan's back. People talk all the time about a horse coming through their back, or lifting their back. If you ever want to see this in action, I reccomend rubbing Dylan's back. I swear it came up two inches into my curry comb and he did the lip thing and I rubbed him until my arms were tired. He was disapointed when I stopped. He had this look on his face like he wanted to groom me back so that I would keep grooming him. He didn't try it though. I put him back and sat around for a while doing nothing.
I took star out again with some carrots to try to work on doing the cross rail. I put it way too high, apparently. She doesn't seem to get this whole thing about jumping in the middle where the jump is the lowest. Anyway we fought over that for a long time. I kept lowering it by dragging the standards further apart. I even set both poles back on the ground but she still fussed about it. (I had started with both poles on the ground side by side and she did that no problem.)
Anyway the moral of the story is twofold, 1) Need to start her out with an insanely low crossrail and 2) I'm an idiot for insisting on working on this project. I think I'm doing it because I think Gloria would like to hear about star jumping under saddle, I think that it would add to her value if she could do 18 inch cross rails, and it was really fun the one time we jumped the bank (at least going up was fun, going down slightly less so.) She actually, liked jumping the bank, I swear. So she'll learn to like doing the cross rails, or at least she'll think of them as an easy source of treats. its going to be painfull sending her over a two inch cross rail over and over and over again many many days in a row but I think I'm stubborn/stupid enough to keep at it.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I spent an hour or so sweeping the aisle and putting bedding in the stalls. Seriously, an hour? That's kind of ridiculous. I guess I also spent a while talking to Cari, but wow I didn't think about that.
I rode Keno and he was a little uppity but fine overall. He was getting pissy over my hands at the canter so I loosened up and he still made beautiful balanced circles without dropping his shoulder, and I didn't have to put my inside leg on him nearly so hard. I think maybe I should just spend some time running him so he can get some of his jerkitude out. We haven't been cantering that much lately, and when we have, it's been lots of circles.
We worked Dylan, he was full of energy so I just lunged him enough that he'd pay attention, and he pulled the tire. He did very well. We need to get him to stand still.
At this point, the people with the Percherons arrived. Robert's plan was to have them tack up in the hay barn, and have me harness up Reno in the main barn (Wisteria?), and when they went over to the wagon we'd sneak into the hay barn and hook the cart on, and I would drive away into the sunset. It actually worked pretty well, Reno and I moseyed around the field. Exciting bits included fan-turning by the water to avoid playing Chicken with the Percherons, spooking at the ground (dork), and trotting through the twisty bits. He also gave me the minimum amount of prance possible with Reno, so he was really on his best behavior. Except trying to either whomp me with his head or bite me. I wasn't a fan. Neither was he, afterwards.
At this point it was nearly three, and I thought perhaps Robert etc. would come back, and I could run and tack up Luca and Luca could actually get to go outside. So I made up feed and waited, and did not see them. At this point I saw Dylan and Spot grazing peacefully together. Dylan's doors were closed. He opened the one into his run by sheer force, which was impressive. He ran away as soon as I walked in Spot's stall, but cuddliness won out over wariness ("OMG she's scratching him I want scratches! .... damn!").
Where can I put him?
I checked the far barn. Nothing was really prepped for a horse, or at least nothing that included a turn out. The near barn wasn't either. Robert would figure this out.
Where was Robert?
Out with the Percherons.
Meh, I said. I don't feel like doing anything with you. But I need to drag you around with me. So hey, guess what? You're crosstied.
Twenty minutes later, there was finally a Robert and a very impatient, but quiet, Dylan. Also I got to read a significant portion of my book. Win-win.
I rode Keno and he was a little uppity but fine overall. He was getting pissy over my hands at the canter so I loosened up and he still made beautiful balanced circles without dropping his shoulder, and I didn't have to put my inside leg on him nearly so hard. I think maybe I should just spend some time running him so he can get some of his jerkitude out. We haven't been cantering that much lately, and when we have, it's been lots of circles.
We worked Dylan, he was full of energy so I just lunged him enough that he'd pay attention, and he pulled the tire. He did very well. We need to get him to stand still.
At this point, the people with the Percherons arrived. Robert's plan was to have them tack up in the hay barn, and have me harness up Reno in the main barn (Wisteria?), and when they went over to the wagon we'd sneak into the hay barn and hook the cart on, and I would drive away into the sunset. It actually worked pretty well, Reno and I moseyed around the field. Exciting bits included fan-turning by the water to avoid playing Chicken with the Percherons, spooking at the ground (dork), and trotting through the twisty bits. He also gave me the minimum amount of prance possible with Reno, so he was really on his best behavior. Except trying to either whomp me with his head or bite me. I wasn't a fan. Neither was he, afterwards.
At this point it was nearly three, and I thought perhaps Robert etc. would come back, and I could run and tack up Luca and Luca could actually get to go outside. So I made up feed and waited, and did not see them. At this point I saw Dylan and Spot grazing peacefully together. Dylan's doors were closed. He opened the one into his run by sheer force, which was impressive. He ran away as soon as I walked in Spot's stall, but cuddliness won out over wariness ("OMG she's scratching him I want scratches! .... damn!").
Where can I put him?
I checked the far barn. Nothing was really prepped for a horse, or at least nothing that included a turn out. The near barn wasn't either. Robert would figure this out.
Where was Robert?
Out with the Percherons.
Meh, I said. I don't feel like doing anything with you. But I need to drag you around with me. So hey, guess what? You're crosstied.
Twenty minutes later, there was finally a Robert and a very impatient, but quiet, Dylan. Also I got to read a significant portion of my book. Win-win.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Circle or Straight?
Today was kindof an unmotivated day for me. Still I managed to get the two things I really wanted to do done. It took me a while to work up the energy to do anything complicated, so I took Dylan out.
I was going to tie him in the crossties, but then I thought I should lunge him first so he can spend some energy. I already had him in hand by the time this thought occurred to me and there was a horse at the hay barn so I couldn't very easily walk over and get the line. So I thought I'd turn him out and let him run. He's not allowed out right now because he can crawl under the fence and get in with spot but he cant get out. (Its a theme this week actually.) He just grazed on the dying grass so I thought I'd take him and groom him in the crossties, and clean some tack while he stood there.
The little sucker ran from me. Alyssa sometimes free lunges him in his pen when he does that. So I started swinging the lead rope and he ran some. It took a little while but he eventually caught on to the fact that he's supposed to be working and he actually ran a nice circle around me. I could get him to transition to the walk but I couldn't keep him walking without him stopping to graze. I decided I'd declare that to be some kind of work on Dylan, at least he'd gotten out a little.
Now it was Star's turn. I told myself I was going to try to relax more this time. That didn't work out, but I did do an even better job of not using my reins to try to slow her down at the canter. I didn't lean as much which was good. She didn't buck as much, which was nice. So that all was good.
She seems to like walking around the arena. Her ears are perked forward a lot of the time, and today she didn't even shy at the scary end of the arena. At the trot she's less happy but still pretty relaxed. At the canter she's quite worked up still. I'm thinking part of it is she has spent the most time walking around the arena (many many hours) but she has done a lot of trotting around the arena. I was mostly doing walk trot with her last summer because I just wasnt able to handle the stopping and refusing to move thing that she was doing when I asked her to canter. So, previous to this, almost every time she's picked up the canter she's been strongly discouraged.
So, ok more time cantering. This brings me to what I've been thinking about, circles or go around the arena, or go outside. We did lots of circles today, and one serpentine. We did big circles and little circles. All quite crappy, roughly as crappy as star's attitude which I would describe as barely tolerant. One way to go would be to do lots and lots and lots of circles. I'm OK with that, a lot of dressage training seems to be built on this practice and sooner or later there will be a lot of circles for her, no question.
On the other hand I could try to canter her around the arena or around the fields outside. It might give her the chance to really run and discover that she is allowed to canter without a whole lot of outside half halts telling her to stop. She might decide that she really doesnt need to go at top speed all the time. She might decide to kill one or both of us.
I cant exactly rule that out with the circles either. She really doesn't like the circles. So I'm torn. Little girl Gillian really wants her to like what she's doing, and wants to try to find a way to help her enjoy the work, or find something she does like and do that. Pragmatic Gillian agrees with mugwump who points out that they can damn well work for a living, like it or not. Compromise Gillian worries that dressage judges will be unhappy with a horse thats constantly got "schoolie ears." You know the ones worn by horses with kids thumping on their back, whom they would cheerfully kill if it wouldn't get them in so much trouble.
Thats why its so tempting to experiment around and try to find something she seems to like. She has got to be able to canter nicely, thats not negotiable. Maybe when she gets more used to all this hard arena work she'll start to enjoy it? Wimpy Gillian wants to slap side reins on her so that she will BEND BEND BEND, or at least go straight. I'm resisting that temptation though because she needs to be ridden more at this point, no more fooling around on the ground.
Ultimately I suppose I need to figure out what entertains me the most and scares me the least and just do that whether she likes it or not. Her job is to entertain me a few hours a week when I'm there. Eating berries doesnt cut it (although I do find that entertaining, I must say.) I'm going to stop agonizing now.
I drove Luca around the field today. He was very wiggly and his attention wandered a lot. I had a hard time keeping him straight but Robert was pretty pleased with how I handled the spooks and going past the mares and whatnot. He wanted me to keep Luca pretty slow, I discovered that I have a hard time judging the speed a horse is going, relative to the desired speed. Anyway, I'd say it went fairly well and some more drives like that might get me "luca certified" (my words not Robert's. ) Luca came back pretty sweaty considering that we had trotted for less than two miles, but it was a hot day and Luca sweats a lot as a matter of course.
I fed horses and Coleen gave me a ride to milwakie transit center and I caught the 75 home. I think I disappointed a lot of people walking around with the little carrier I borrowed from Robert. Its just the right size to contain something really cute, but no, just dirt and a blanket.
I was going to tie him in the crossties, but then I thought I should lunge him first so he can spend some energy. I already had him in hand by the time this thought occurred to me and there was a horse at the hay barn so I couldn't very easily walk over and get the line. So I thought I'd turn him out and let him run. He's not allowed out right now because he can crawl under the fence and get in with spot but he cant get out. (Its a theme this week actually.) He just grazed on the dying grass so I thought I'd take him and groom him in the crossties, and clean some tack while he stood there.
The little sucker ran from me. Alyssa sometimes free lunges him in his pen when he does that. So I started swinging the lead rope and he ran some. It took a little while but he eventually caught on to the fact that he's supposed to be working and he actually ran a nice circle around me. I could get him to transition to the walk but I couldn't keep him walking without him stopping to graze. I decided I'd declare that to be some kind of work on Dylan, at least he'd gotten out a little.
Now it was Star's turn. I told myself I was going to try to relax more this time. That didn't work out, but I did do an even better job of not using my reins to try to slow her down at the canter. I didn't lean as much which was good. She didn't buck as much, which was nice. So that all was good.
She seems to like walking around the arena. Her ears are perked forward a lot of the time, and today she didn't even shy at the scary end of the arena. At the trot she's less happy but still pretty relaxed. At the canter she's quite worked up still. I'm thinking part of it is she has spent the most time walking around the arena (many many hours) but she has done a lot of trotting around the arena. I was mostly doing walk trot with her last summer because I just wasnt able to handle the stopping and refusing to move thing that she was doing when I asked her to canter. So, previous to this, almost every time she's picked up the canter she's been strongly discouraged.
So, ok more time cantering. This brings me to what I've been thinking about, circles or go around the arena, or go outside. We did lots of circles today, and one serpentine. We did big circles and little circles. All quite crappy, roughly as crappy as star's attitude which I would describe as barely tolerant. One way to go would be to do lots and lots and lots of circles. I'm OK with that, a lot of dressage training seems to be built on this practice and sooner or later there will be a lot of circles for her, no question.
On the other hand I could try to canter her around the arena or around the fields outside. It might give her the chance to really run and discover that she is allowed to canter without a whole lot of outside half halts telling her to stop. She might decide that she really doesnt need to go at top speed all the time. She might decide to kill one or both of us.
I cant exactly rule that out with the circles either. She really doesn't like the circles. So I'm torn. Little girl Gillian really wants her to like what she's doing, and wants to try to find a way to help her enjoy the work, or find something she does like and do that. Pragmatic Gillian agrees with mugwump who points out that they can damn well work for a living, like it or not. Compromise Gillian worries that dressage judges will be unhappy with a horse thats constantly got "schoolie ears." You know the ones worn by horses with kids thumping on their back, whom they would cheerfully kill if it wouldn't get them in so much trouble.
Thats why its so tempting to experiment around and try to find something she seems to like. She has got to be able to canter nicely, thats not negotiable. Maybe when she gets more used to all this hard arena work she'll start to enjoy it? Wimpy Gillian wants to slap side reins on her so that she will BEND BEND BEND, or at least go straight. I'm resisting that temptation though because she needs to be ridden more at this point, no more fooling around on the ground.
Ultimately I suppose I need to figure out what entertains me the most and scares me the least and just do that whether she likes it or not. Her job is to entertain me a few hours a week when I'm there. Eating berries doesnt cut it (although I do find that entertaining, I must say.) I'm going to stop agonizing now.
I drove Luca around the field today. He was very wiggly and his attention wandered a lot. I had a hard time keeping him straight but Robert was pretty pleased with how I handled the spooks and going past the mares and whatnot. He wanted me to keep Luca pretty slow, I discovered that I have a hard time judging the speed a horse is going, relative to the desired speed. Anyway, I'd say it went fairly well and some more drives like that might get me "luca certified" (my words not Robert's. ) Luca came back pretty sweaty considering that we had trotted for less than two miles, but it was a hot day and Luca sweats a lot as a matter of course.
I fed horses and Coleen gave me a ride to milwakie transit center and I caught the 75 home. I think I disappointed a lot of people walking around with the little carrier I borrowed from Robert. Its just the right size to contain something really cute, but no, just dirt and a blanket.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
She might be able to do a dressage test after all
I've been trying to see if I could get star ready for a show in september. My goal is to complete the test without dying of either embarrassment or horse related complications. Not killing anyone else would be good too. To do the show she needs to trailer and she needs to do the intro test maneuvers. She will walk into the trailer and stand there for a long time. I still havent tried to put the divider up against her. That should be fun!
Recently I'd been doing some ground work with her because she seemed so unbalanced. It turns out she's pretty handy with the ground poles and I decided last week that I was going to stop fooling around with any more ground work and get on her and ride. Well, ride I did, and it was pretty good. She did her traditional shying away from the scary end of the arena but she actually stopped doing that eventually. Even at a trot and canter. I wasn't going to canter her today but I have been psyching myself up all week to really ride hard and to crop her when she stops moving. I had been wimping out on both fronts. Today we trotted until she was pretty docile and we did lots of circles, some of which were solidly mediocre (thats good for us) if I do say so myself. Then I decided that as long as I was feeling so brave I might as well push my luck and canter. Star usually likes to do a few strides of canter and then stop dead, and sometimes rear a little. She'll do this at a trot too but the deceleration is worse at the canter.
Usually when we pick up the canter is a pretty choppy thing that metamorphoses into a very fast, pretty smooth, canter. I always choke up on the reins so she'll slow down. That pisses her off. Today I decided that I was going to do my best to steer and just let her do her thing. At the trot this had worked well and she had eventually settled down. At the canter this was very very scary, but I lived, and stayed on, and for a while she relaxed and did a nice canter. Then she stoped and bucked. I hit her. She reared. I hit her more. You get the picture. I was pretty proud of myself, I recovered my stirrup and we went straight back into the canter. We went halfway around the arena and then we stoped and panted. I might have been just a touch more out of breath than she was. ;) We went once around the arena the other direction, her bad direction, with minimal fuss and what I really hope is her maximum speed. The little horsey can move when she wants to!
She stayed pretty square on her feet though, despite my leaning dangerously into the center around some of the turns. I'm going out there on monday and we're going to do the same thing, but for longer. Canter circles should be interesting too. Maybe I'll wear my body armor in case I fall off. I still havent fallen in that stuff and I want to see if it helps me be less bruised.
There was a lot of fuss over the two percheron? geldings that were just purchased. These are the ones Alyssa found, or rather they come from the same people that Alyssa found. They are gorgeous specimens of geldinghood. They were the hitch horses in a log pulling team. Maybe that means something to someone but thats what they told me. They apparently dont crosstie all that well, we found out. So we did some leading and then they were going to tack them up one by one and hitch them to the wagon and drive them. I got bored and it was getting late in the afternoon so I decided I'd get papillon out. I couldn't bring her to the hay barn and I didn't want to lug the saddle out so I took Papillon around the field bareback.
She was pissed that I didn't appreciate what hot stuff she is. She is a performance horse, in her mind she races over log jumps and water hazards winning ribbons and praise. She is actually an old, arthritic ex-broodmare who did some eventing in her younger years. Papillon doesn't let go of things very easily. She still is absolutely fascinated by baby horses, and she still thinks we're going to go out and jump whatever we can find in the field. Instead, we walked. We walked twice around the field while I did my best to stay off her thoroughbred spine, which is now more prominent since we cut her grain and she's not so fat anymore. I should have grabbed a bareback pad, but it was good exercise for my already tired thigh muscles.
I put her back so I could go on a wagon ride. The pair, bob and duke? did very well. They nearly stalled out a few times but everything was very new to them so I think thats forgivable. I wanted to take Luca out for a drive but we didn't get the time. I want to get Robert to the point where he will let Alyssa and myself drive him on our own. If he's going to get worked under saddle he'll need to be worked under cart a lot more too, keep him feeling a little more subdued. If Alyssa and I can do it ourselves then Robert's busy, unpredictable schedule wont slow us down as much. I'll have to be at the top of my game on monday because I think it will take a few good drives to impress Robert, but the first one needs to be good. Luca will be "on the muscle" as Robert likes to say. Thats the condition I need to prove worthy of handling.
Wish me luck.
Recently I'd been doing some ground work with her because she seemed so unbalanced. It turns out she's pretty handy with the ground poles and I decided last week that I was going to stop fooling around with any more ground work and get on her and ride. Well, ride I did, and it was pretty good. She did her traditional shying away from the scary end of the arena but she actually stopped doing that eventually. Even at a trot and canter. I wasn't going to canter her today but I have been psyching myself up all week to really ride hard and to crop her when she stops moving. I had been wimping out on both fronts. Today we trotted until she was pretty docile and we did lots of circles, some of which were solidly mediocre (thats good for us) if I do say so myself. Then I decided that as long as I was feeling so brave I might as well push my luck and canter. Star usually likes to do a few strides of canter and then stop dead, and sometimes rear a little. She'll do this at a trot too but the deceleration is worse at the canter.
Usually when we pick up the canter is a pretty choppy thing that metamorphoses into a very fast, pretty smooth, canter. I always choke up on the reins so she'll slow down. That pisses her off. Today I decided that I was going to do my best to steer and just let her do her thing. At the trot this had worked well and she had eventually settled down. At the canter this was very very scary, but I lived, and stayed on, and for a while she relaxed and did a nice canter. Then she stoped and bucked. I hit her. She reared. I hit her more. You get the picture. I was pretty proud of myself, I recovered my stirrup and we went straight back into the canter. We went halfway around the arena and then we stoped and panted. I might have been just a touch more out of breath than she was. ;) We went once around the arena the other direction, her bad direction, with minimal fuss and what I really hope is her maximum speed. The little horsey can move when she wants to!
She stayed pretty square on her feet though, despite my leaning dangerously into the center around some of the turns. I'm going out there on monday and we're going to do the same thing, but for longer. Canter circles should be interesting too. Maybe I'll wear my body armor in case I fall off. I still havent fallen in that stuff and I want to see if it helps me be less bruised.
There was a lot of fuss over the two percheron? geldings that were just purchased. These are the ones Alyssa found, or rather they come from the same people that Alyssa found. They are gorgeous specimens of geldinghood. They were the hitch horses in a log pulling team. Maybe that means something to someone but thats what they told me. They apparently dont crosstie all that well, we found out. So we did some leading and then they were going to tack them up one by one and hitch them to the wagon and drive them. I got bored and it was getting late in the afternoon so I decided I'd get papillon out. I couldn't bring her to the hay barn and I didn't want to lug the saddle out so I took Papillon around the field bareback.
She was pissed that I didn't appreciate what hot stuff she is. She is a performance horse, in her mind she races over log jumps and water hazards winning ribbons and praise. She is actually an old, arthritic ex-broodmare who did some eventing in her younger years. Papillon doesn't let go of things very easily. She still is absolutely fascinated by baby horses, and she still thinks we're going to go out and jump whatever we can find in the field. Instead, we walked. We walked twice around the field while I did my best to stay off her thoroughbred spine, which is now more prominent since we cut her grain and she's not so fat anymore. I should have grabbed a bareback pad, but it was good exercise for my already tired thigh muscles.
I put her back so I could go on a wagon ride. The pair, bob and duke? did very well. They nearly stalled out a few times but everything was very new to them so I think thats forgivable. I wanted to take Luca out for a drive but we didn't get the time. I want to get Robert to the point where he will let Alyssa and myself drive him on our own. If he's going to get worked under saddle he'll need to be worked under cart a lot more too, keep him feeling a little more subdued. If Alyssa and I can do it ourselves then Robert's busy, unpredictable schedule wont slow us down as much. I'll have to be at the top of my game on monday because I think it will take a few good drives to impress Robert, but the first one needs to be good. Luca will be "on the muscle" as Robert likes to say. Thats the condition I need to prove worthy of handling.
Wish me luck.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Not much to say, again.
Mr. Keno was much better. I asked him to do trot poles but he was acting a bit ouchy in the near arena so we went out to the jump arena and he was fine there. We did lots of circles, at the trot and at the canter. He didn't want to pick up his left lead canter. When he did and I asked for a circle, he got pissed, dropped his shoulder, and started bucking. We stopped, reorganized ourselves, and cantered some more. Then he did beautifully cadenced, balanced circles, even pretty small ones. I think the problem is I don't push him out enough with my inside leg, because once I got insistent about inside leg and outside hand he was good. Which, yeah, is the foundation for dressage, but neither of us are at the level where we should be using primarily that. Oh well. It was a good ride nonetheless, and he's getting a lot better about being rinsed off afterwards. But oh man those canter circles were awesome.
Dylan was also excellent, he lunged very nicely, longlined quite well, and even pulled the tire! No real fuss; a little nervousness but that again manifested itself by a brisk walk. Now we need to stand. For a very long time.
Robert's lessons were focused on precision, so he did the driving thing where you have to put the wheel between two rails. I sat and watched one of the lessons. I think I could do it, but I'd have to drive more, and I'm sure it's much harder with a big horse.
I got pictures of the wedding from Jerry, so once the good ones are resized instead of obscenely large I'll post them on here.
Mr. Keno was much better. I asked him to do trot poles but he was acting a bit ouchy in the near arena so we went out to the jump arena and he was fine there. We did lots of circles, at the trot and at the canter. He didn't want to pick up his left lead canter. When he did and I asked for a circle, he got pissed, dropped his shoulder, and started bucking. We stopped, reorganized ourselves, and cantered some more. Then he did beautifully cadenced, balanced circles, even pretty small ones. I think the problem is I don't push him out enough with my inside leg, because once I got insistent about inside leg and outside hand he was good. Which, yeah, is the foundation for dressage, but neither of us are at the level where we should be using primarily that. Oh well. It was a good ride nonetheless, and he's getting a lot better about being rinsed off afterwards. But oh man those canter circles were awesome.
Dylan was also excellent, he lunged very nicely, longlined quite well, and even pulled the tire! No real fuss; a little nervousness but that again manifested itself by a brisk walk. Now we need to stand. For a very long time.
Robert's lessons were focused on precision, so he did the driving thing where you have to put the wheel between two rails. I sat and watched one of the lessons. I think I could do it, but I'd have to drive more, and I'm sure it's much harder with a big horse.
I got pictures of the wedding from Jerry, so once the good ones are resized instead of obscenely large I'll post them on here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
