so unmotivated

Played with kittens early in morning (they wake me up with mewing), then went to barn. Put bags of bedding in ALL the stalls in the big barn, which killed some time. Sam helped which was awesome. Um, I rode BJ (breeding stock paint gelding, Sam's pony) who was pissed that I was riding him and required hella leg. I may start a quest to convince Sam that he's an English not a Western pony. He's got a fast bouncy trot and a faster canter, no jog or lope.
Then I rode Reno, who was pretty okay. He was definitely relaxing into the trot, and I really like his trot. We played the "CRUSH YOUR SPINE" game where he learned that if he was slow, I was light on his back, and if he was fast I dug my seatbones into the saddle. We put him into a leverage bit, low long port and curved shanks. He barely paid attention, so we're gonna slap a curb chain on it.
Robert took Sam on a drive with Luca, and I rode around on Keno bareback. I was going to ride Luca, but Seabreeze and Pam showed up. Seabreeze was in heat and winking at Keno, so I decided that riding Luca with her there was a bad idea. Last week we got in there and he reared as soon as he saw her, and I didn't feel like redoing that.
Took Dylan the pinto Morgan out to see what he knew. He was completely befuddled over what lunging meant, and we're going to work on leading for a while. He is a pain to lead outside because he jumps into you whenever there's mud or a puddle in front of him. He didn't want to get haltered, and when I tried to put him back in his stall he freaked out because his ears touched the top of the doorway and he thought I was trying to kill him.
Fed a little early so I could go to work. Did Lady and Papillon hooves.

Kittens!

Top to bottom: 2, 1, 4. To the left is 3.
At least 2 and 3 are eating, everyone is drinking and making a complete mess of their carrier. They're not thrilled about being handled, but will walk up to me once I get them out of their cage. An attempt to let them hang out on my bed failed dramatically. 4 tried to go to my bedside table, but instead fell down to the ground (a fall of at least 4 feet), and was displeased when I removed him from his hiding spot. They all found the spot behind the headboard, which was fine, except 2 and 4 managed to squeeze down between the back of the headboard backing and the wall. Again, displeased yowly kittens. I put 1 and 3, the behaving kittens, back. 2 and 4 had at this point found my desk. Ian's big metal organizing thing was there. They had a ball squeezing their grotesquely giant heads and tiny bodies through there for a while, until I had 1 and 3 safely away. Then they got put back, too. All four spent a while mewing at me after that. I mewed back, so they climbed the wire door and looked at me pitifully.

I have high hopes they will be rehomed easily. If I didn't know I couldn't keep one, I'd be very tempted to keep 3. I have three numbers from the bus ride home of interested parties, though I'd love it if they went to people I knew.

I wonder what their dad thinks about this. He's a tame outdoors cat and loves people. I found him sitting on the pallet where we caught them and started meowing at me-- did he know they were there or did he just find a cat scent and was curious? We brought the kittens out, and they spilled to the front of the cage, mewing frantically and trying to touch him. He was very interested ("What are those things?") but quickly grew more interested in the horizontal position of my legs.

We'll have to livetrap the mother to spay her, and get Gabriel snipped as soon as possible. I'm pretty irritated that Robert's been planning to do this since October, and still hasn't gotten around to it. Livetrapping will probably ruin any chance we have of making her friendly, but at least she won't be making more feral cats.

I didn't really do much yesterday other than kittens. I helped get Reno ready to ride and walked him around for a minute before letting Gillian take over. I watched Lady be lame. I took Nicky for a walk with Gillian and Star. The interesting thing about Nicky seems to be her intense respect for someone attached to her halter. Her owner said she was a wild weanling and it took 3 hours to wrestle a halter onto her, but she's always respected it since. This goes to an impressive level. Yesterday she was acting up a little, but I asked her to trot. She freaked out, went to rear and bolt. I'd basically committed myself to having to let go of the lead rope, but a second after she put pressure on it, she stopped by throwing herself to the ground. Then she got up and stood very calmly. This is the second time she's done this sort of thing, but the first I thought she'd just lost her balance. It genuinely seems to go deep that she must not put pressure on her halter, and it's self-reinforcing when she does this. It's nice when horses teach themselves things so you don't have to. She also was totally fine with everything she hadn't seen for months-- the bridge and the round bales.

I'm happy we have Reno under saddle. I think I'll finally have a trail horse. I haven't been more than 100 feet past the culvert under saddle since the first day I got back on a horse in October. When Nicky gets going, I hope that that will work for trails too.

I don't know what to do with Luca. When he's good, he's absolutely fabulous. When he's bad... well, damn he's bad. I can stay on no problem, but I'd rather be moving forward with our training instead of focusing on why we shouldn't buck whenever we damn well feel like it. Maybe Gillian should get on and see if the same thing happens to her, or if it's a me issue. I'm sick of him trying to kill me, and I want something fun to do. I'd rather have higher aspirations for a show than hoping Luca doesn't hop the chain and kill the judge.

Super short goals update

I've got ten minutes but I wanted to organize my thoughts on the matter of our immediate goals:

Papillon: Ride and get ready for dressage test

Star: Long line her until she's better balanced

Colonel: Come to Jesus meeting still scheduled for sometime

Reno: Ride and get ready for western pleasure show

Keno: N/A (we need Robert to help with the driving stuff)

Luca: Ride and Drive and get ready for show

Lady: lunge, apply hoof dressing and ride when she's sound again

Path: preliminary cutting of a human trail, to be widened into a horse trail

Schooling Show etc.

So I woke up at 4:30 to get to the barn by 7. I'd considered bringing my show clothes the day before, but it was raining, so I set them on the hooks on my bed so I wouldn't forget. Of course, come yesterday at 5, I was frantically rummaging through my closet. After three or four times I remembered that I had put them on the hook, and it wasn't Ian's fault this time.

We get to the barn and Robert went off to get diesel and clean up. So Gillian spent a while fixing the snap on my helmet ("I was right! You DO have to emasculate it!!") and I spent the time being ridiculously nervous. The plan was to ride Luca for a solid hour, trailer him over half an hour before the class, warm up for ten or fifteen minutes, do the test, put him back in the trailer and wait for the scores. He loooooves being in the trailer, he'll actually pull you towards it if the door is open, so this isn't exactly punishment or cruelty. Probably because he was a stallion, we were first so there weren't nearly as many horses around as there would be later.

In actuality! I rode him for maybe five minutes at the barn, decided he was listening, went back and changed, vacuumed the horse, loaded everything, and went off. I went and checked in and got my number. I walked back to see Gillian and Robert trying to tack up Luca while he was being an absolute idiot. Got on, went in the ring to trot around, he took off bucking, no one was harmed and he stopped. I had to dismount to fix his saddle pad and to get my jacket, got back on, trotted again and did transitions, and it was time for our test. I had maybe two minutes to work on him.

I felt we did okay. Luca just wanted to go go go, and he made that clear. On the other hand, it was a show, so he made an effort to contain himself. As soon as we got out of the arena and asked him to stop, he got a little silly with sidestepping and whirling. He was untacked and put back in the trailer with some hay. Robert walked around like a gleeful little boy (which, admittedly, he does most of the time). We placed second in our division, tied for first with points (60.5%). In the comments, it included "horse will be great when he pays more attention."

Good things to come out of this show:
1) my first show in 7 years, first one I trailered too also
2) Robert has finally realized Luca needs major ground manner work
3) hopefully Luca will realize that we're doing this for shows, and his work ethic will improve

We got back after Robert treating us to breakfast, I changed back into my usual persona of barn rat. Robert's given Gillian his blessing to start working with Lady, and he wants to take either her or Papillon to the next dressage show for Gillian.

I rode Papillon, she was sound hooray! but pretty pushy and annoyed when I asked her to collect her walk. Every time we went near the door she started trotting, she was so excited to go outside.

We were talking to Robert, and I mentioned showing Keno, since he'd be fine and his owner would get a major kick out of it. This happened to trigger a thought in Robert's brain, and he said "no, you know who we should get riding? Reno." Reno's a palomino paint, Keno's full brother, and he's the other major driving horse. There's a benefit show coming up June 6th that Robert is taking Reno and Luca to. Luca is doing halter, riding, and driving, and Reno was just driving. BUT, now Robert wants him to do western pleasure. He's been ridden, but not extensively and not for several years. This, however, has given me the excuse I needed to buy cowboy boots, and Gillian found a marvelously tacky shirt to go along with them. I am pleased, I suspect Ian will be mildly outraged.

to introduce Ian- he is my boyfriend. He showed for several years on the A-circuit, hunter-jumpers, and is an excellent rider. He's also a tad snobby, a little opinionated, and basically thinks that anything we do to have fun with our horses means we aren't serious riders. He used to ride Lady, but seeing as he's come out a maximum of four times this last semester, he's forfeited his right to her. You'll probably be hearing more about him next month when he comes back to Oregon.

Star, plus the rest of the day

I rode Star after lunch. I'm glad I decided to put a saddle on her because she was not quite behaving herself the way she should. It really wasnt so bad though. I walked her around the arena a few times because there was that backhoe parked at the other end. She was displeased by this, also the barrels as always and Imp being out there pulling the cart was a touch offensive also. She stood for mounting pretty nicely but the started walking off before I managed to reach for my other stirrup. She did a little bit of head in the air pissed off sideways trot that she does sometimes. I stopped her and got my stirrup and off we went. I spent most of the time practicing some of the mental exercises from the centered riding book I just got. Staying aware of my peripherial vision (a.k.a. "soft eyes") and letting my attention continue moving over all the different things she talks about, relaxed hips, relaxed ankles, stretching up tall, breathing from the diaphram, etc. etc. That was helpful and star was mostly pretty good. When she did break into the pissy sideways head up trot or variations thereon, she came down pretty fast and I sat it pretty well. Her pissed off trot is very smooth. As is her calm trot. After walking around for a good long while doing some circles and serpentines we did a little trot.

The first trot transition I asked for was a mess, she stopped and reared up and cocked her head really far to the side. So I asked her to walk again and then I just focused on being super relaxed and stable and centered and just asked with my voice for the trot. Simmillar pissy reaction but then I squeezed with my legs a little and we were off. It was a bouncy, rushed trot that I stopped after like 15 strides to practice the transition a little bit more. Again, center, relax ask with the voice then the leg, it was a little better transition but still very fast. I think she's just not good at transitions and so when she does it on her own terms its when she happens to be ready for it but she doesn't know how to get herself ready to trot when I ask her to. Many lunge line transitions and long line transitions, plus some trot poles maybe? I'm not sure why I think trot poles will help, but I do. I need to teach her how to use that hind end of hers. I worked with her outside for a while trying to get her to walk around the outdoor arena. She balked and backed up so I wound up backing her all the way to the end of the arena and then walking around from there. After doing that two or three times she was willing to walk around it. I was going to do it the other direction but the girth I was using was comandeered.

Alyssa and Luca were nice to watch. Since Alyssa wanted some feedback and Robert didn't seem interested in critiquing I tried my hand at it. It was a strange process because most of the things I saw were subtle or only fairly small things but I said them anyway. It was kindof an experiment for me because I had some theories about what small things might be out of place, I wasnt sure but I went for it and then I tried to see if Luca behaved any better as a result. The only thing that I really clearly helped with was reminding Alyssa to sit back. Luca really can pull from what I could see and that pulled her forward, not much but enough. When you're a little bit forward then it encourages the horse to pull and its harder to resist the pull so a little bit of sitting up goes a long way. Everything else, stretching tall, relax this joint, relax that, stretch down, wrists firm, etc. at the very least I think served to improve focus a little bit even if the content of the comment itself wasnt actually of much use. I haven't tested this yet but I think it will be helpfull for my own riding to spend time looking at someone elses riding and being able to comment and see the resulting changes in horse and rider. One thing it's really impressed upon me is the importance of relaxation. And I've started to think about my own riding differently. I feel like I have an easier time seeing it in the third person and thinking about my position in a more formal way. Plus my sense of cause and effect, which can really take a beating riding green horses, has been strengthened. So its working out well for me anyway. ;)

In misc. news: Robert is looking for a bow saw for me but I have some pretty heavy duty clippers and the next time its convenient I'm going to go out and do some clipping! We have the green light to ride Lady. I think some lungeing first will be in order. Papillon was really annoying about standing still for having her hooves picked. I think I'll need to help with the feed and then after everyone is fed, tie her and pick her hooves. I found a big sharp rock in her shoe though so I at least feel like I did something helpful. Her right frog is re-growing nicely but her left one is still nearly non-existant. Show time is nearly upon us (Saturday) and its pretty exciting.

Diagram

Just call me the master of procrastination. In lieu of homework this morning, I have made this spiffy diagram of the dressage test. Next up, biochemistry, hooray! Note, there is a line missing because it had a spiffy color gradient signifying the transition from trot to walk. Sometimes strange things happen when I make these and then change formats. Other note: I dont claim this is exactly right, I just did my best. Final note: Red=working trot Dark blue: medium walk Light blue: free walk or whatever they call it

Dressage test!

So I have this test on the 24th. And I don't know it yet.
A: enter working trot rising.
X: halt through medium walk.
Salute - Proceed medium walk
C: track right medium walk.
M: working trot rising
B: circle right 20m, working trot rising.
straight ahead
Between B and F: medium walk
K-X-M: Free walk.
M: medium walk.
C: Working trot rising.
E: circle left 20m, WTR.
straight ahead
A: down centerline
X: halt through medium walk. Salute.
leave arena in free long rein walk, exit at A

Assuming we get our long walk down and better circles (which are my fault), and Luca doesn't decide to bowl over the judge when I ask for a trot at C, I think we'll be okay. I know the pattern, now I just need to remember the gaits. Poor Keno and Papillon will see a lot of Intro A tests in their near future.

Goals II

I dont feel like working right this moment so I'm also going to do a goals post.
I second everything said about luca, keno, and Papillon, but I'd like to expand on Colonel.

Colonel: Its hard to know exactly what needs to be done without figuring out where he is right now. At the end of the summer he was cantering in a balanced fashion, mostly, and we were starting him over small jumps. At the trot he was reasonably good about calmly taking the fences. At a canter he was convinced that he needed to go very fast in order to get over. Watching him jump on the lunge line at the canter makes me think this might actually be true. When he came up to it calmly and tried to jump the small rail, he knocked it over. When he sped up to get over it, he didnt have too much trouble. I agree that more practice would proabably help, but I think this is an issue that could better be solved with more flatwork. He needs to learn to actually collect himself at the canter. Without leaning on anyones hands, I might add. I suspect that a lot of his more mentally based issues would get better with consistent work. So in summation my goals for him are:

• diagnostics to see what we're dealing with
• calmer behavior in general and particularly outdoors
• a collected canter
• jumping at the trot in a calm fashion
• jumping at the canter both calmly and correctly (ie, clearing the jump)

Star,
I'm was pretty happy with her walk and trot and the end of the summer. She was yielding to leg pressure, stopping, and generally pretty calm. She did have/develop a fear of logs which definitely needs fixing. She picked up the canter only when she was well set up with the corrrect bend, usually from a circle was easyest. She needs more practice with her canter transitions so that she'll be more balanced for the transition. She needs to be more balanced at the canter in general so that she doesnt feel the need to stop and rear or balk so much. At least I think thats the problem. Her headset is aweful. Really just terrible. It doesnt help her balance any. Plus she'll never be able to jump anything well if she doesnt develop a topline and learn to collect herself. She doesnt exactly scream jumping prospect but if she could jump an 18" crosrail she would be much more valuable, which is important if she's sold someday. Along with headest goes collection. She needs it. Also I'd like her to stop shying from the barrels in the arena, thats annoying. In summation my goals for star are:
Bring her back to a more calm state of mind by getting her in work

• Get her in a little better shape since she's been off work so much
• Get her to set her head properly
• Get her collected at the w/t/c
• Get her balanced at the canter
• Get her to be more calm around logs
• Get her to accept things moving around by her feet
• Maybe start working her over jumps again if she can get the above stuff down
• Get her to stop attacking other horses
  
• Get her to stop shying at the barrels at the end of the arena
  

As a side note, I'd like to make sure lady is ridden consistently. She deserves that. And try to get her a little calmer just walking around.

Also, for the barn, I'd like to clear a path up that hill. It would be nice to have a sloping path to walk up. Either get Ian to do it or just go out there and do it myself (or with help?). I just dont want to kill anyone, or myself, with that machete but it might be the fastest way to go. We'll see.

Goals

Goals for ponies:
Keno needs to learn how to drive. We've pulled a tire with him, he was not thrilled at first but dealt with it. Also, I'd love it if he learned how to accept bit contact under saddle.[edit: and handgallop without bucking me off. Ow.]

Luca, just get him a little more finished under saddle. Walk and trot are solid, but he's either extremely unbalanced at the canter or just wants to be an idiot. Jumping would be lovely, too.

Colonel-- stop being crazy?

Papillon, be consistently sound and consistently worked!