I'm priviledged to ride Monkee while C is away, and since he is trained to PSG in dressage, he is a real treat to ride. We headed out to the field this morning since the ring was a bit crunchy from the temps last night, and I warmed up with a nice big walk on a loose rein. So far, so good.
But wait, a truck hath passed and made a terrible noise. He starts jigging. I reach forward to gather the reins and the jigging worsens. Hey dumb lady, put your leg on. Oh, okay. Problem solved. Now to try trotting. Soften that jaw, Monkee...maybe you'll soften if we do some circles. Hmm...not bending through ribcage. Duh. Your hands are all wiggly and your leg is just sitting there. Crap, you're right. Ok, put leg on, move you over into my outside hand...why aren't you moving over? Because you have no outside rein, moron. Oh, maybe this dressage whip will help! *kick buck kick* MONKEE! *desperately tries to recover reins and said whip* *kick buck kick* Okay, fine, you don't like the whip. I don't like the whip when you use it for no reason and have nothing to back it up with. Let's just try to get a rhythm in this trot and then we'll work on softening. Well if you would post with some rhythm.... Ok, this is better. Good boy! Back to the circle...I know you know how to bend, Monkee... You're right, I do. But I'm not going to do it until you ask properly. I don't speak moron language. Hmm, ok, deep breath, little leg yield right, soften hands and leg on. YES! SOFT LEFT JAW!!! Ho hum, I like trotting this way...
Canter time! Best canter I have ever ridden...quite easy to get lost in it and forget that I'm riding. Here we go...*buck* Crap..oh, my flopping hands have activated the whip which has hit Monkee for no reason. Hands be still! Now sit up...relax...hey, this is pretty fabulous!! Counter-canter...the only reason I'm even staying in the canter right now is because I feel sorry for you, and I like cantering...but next time, you're going to get me breaking to a rushy trot because you forgot to RIDE the counter-canter.
Basically, he humbles the crap out of me, but man...after we walked home and my thighs were crying, all I could think of was how much I love this horse and how much I love riding. :)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Why yes, we do still exist!
So basically, blogging is one of those things I'm not too dedicated to...plus I only have one reader, Kateoh, and I can tell her things without having to blog. Nevertheless, she blogged for me, so I must blog for her...plus I had such a blessed day that I feel the need to write it out :)
This winter has been a rough one (albeit not as rough as last winter in Louisville, but then again, we don't have indoor arenas here). Aidyn's work schedule has consisted mostly of as much turnout time as the weather will allow, and as much work in the Pessoa rig as the ring will allow. The before and after in the rig is amazing. He started out tripping and stepping on himself and falling all over the place and now he not only SWINGS behind but he steps confidently into the contact and really lets go in his back. Surprise surprise, this carries over to our undersaddle work as well! I've only ridden him a handful of times this month but each time has been a "wow!" moment...for the first time, I don't have to hold him up...I don't have to gallump his sides with spurs and whip at the same time...I don't have the constant fear of bolting because my dog was in the bushes...it's like he finally grew up and realized where all four of his legs are at the same time. He's so much softer and more forward, although I still have to work on him, especially when he's tired. We have been trying to establish the forward in all three gaits but especially the walk, he's not allowed to stop marching even during breaks. He's just such a laid back guy and would rather chill out then be in a rush...a quality that I have come to appreciate after riding racehorses for so long! And his feet...oh goodness, what a long road that has been, but we are REALLY getting somewhere!! My farrier is a godsend and works his butt off to make sure Aidyn's feet are in tiptop shape...and Aidynlou has really adjusted to his bar shoes with the funky wire pads and Equithane. At first he looked like his feet were attached to blocks of concrete, but slowly he's realized they're not that bad after all. We also have had him on a great supplement for two months (Steadfast, by Arenus) and it has allowed me to take him off all his other supplements...we were worried for a while about hocks, but they seem to be fine now. I have no idea if that bad puncture from last spring did internal damage but he hasn't had problems since we put him on this supplement, so fingers crossed!
Anyways, since he had yesterday off, I just did the Pessoa today and had him trot over a ground pole to remind him to pick up his feet. I will (God willing) ride him tomorrow and practice our homework while C is away :)
I cherish this time when I get to ride all the horses while C is in FL...each of these guys is so, so special and they are such joys to ride. We did trot sets today and each of them was just so quiet and relaxed. They're all special in their own ways...D is so lazy and ho-hum until he spooks, and then I have the best energy underneath me and he really has all the buttons. Then there's A who is still young and sometimes unfocused but everything is so darn easy for him that even when he's not perfect, he still FEELS that way ;) and then my sweet Monkee, my little hack winner who literally gives 110% in everything he does...he is probably my favorite boy in the whole barn and every second on his back is a true priviledge. then finally Guppy who is a close second in the favorites category, I feel like we have finally figured him out and he's just such a blast once you unlock all his gears...and such a handsome boy, too :)
Ok, kateoh, I hope that was satisfactory! I think I'm going to go take the hottest shower I can stand...I'm so unfit and my back is reminding me of that at this moment! <3
This winter has been a rough one (albeit not as rough as last winter in Louisville, but then again, we don't have indoor arenas here). Aidyn's work schedule has consisted mostly of as much turnout time as the weather will allow, and as much work in the Pessoa rig as the ring will allow. The before and after in the rig is amazing. He started out tripping and stepping on himself and falling all over the place and now he not only SWINGS behind but he steps confidently into the contact and really lets go in his back. Surprise surprise, this carries over to our undersaddle work as well! I've only ridden him a handful of times this month but each time has been a "wow!" moment...for the first time, I don't have to hold him up...I don't have to gallump his sides with spurs and whip at the same time...I don't have the constant fear of bolting because my dog was in the bushes...it's like he finally grew up and realized where all four of his legs are at the same time. He's so much softer and more forward, although I still have to work on him, especially when he's tired. We have been trying to establish the forward in all three gaits but especially the walk, he's not allowed to stop marching even during breaks. He's just such a laid back guy and would rather chill out then be in a rush...a quality that I have come to appreciate after riding racehorses for so long! And his feet...oh goodness, what a long road that has been, but we are REALLY getting somewhere!! My farrier is a godsend and works his butt off to make sure Aidyn's feet are in tiptop shape...and Aidynlou has really adjusted to his bar shoes with the funky wire pads and Equithane. At first he looked like his feet were attached to blocks of concrete, but slowly he's realized they're not that bad after all. We also have had him on a great supplement for two months (Steadfast, by Arenus) and it has allowed me to take him off all his other supplements...we were worried for a while about hocks, but they seem to be fine now. I have no idea if that bad puncture from last spring did internal damage but he hasn't had problems since we put him on this supplement, so fingers crossed!
Anyways, since he had yesterday off, I just did the Pessoa today and had him trot over a ground pole to remind him to pick up his feet. I will (God willing) ride him tomorrow and practice our homework while C is away :)
I cherish this time when I get to ride all the horses while C is in FL...each of these guys is so, so special and they are such joys to ride. We did trot sets today and each of them was just so quiet and relaxed. They're all special in their own ways...D is so lazy and ho-hum until he spooks, and then I have the best energy underneath me and he really has all the buttons. Then there's A who is still young and sometimes unfocused but everything is so darn easy for him that even when he's not perfect, he still FEELS that way ;) and then my sweet Monkee, my little hack winner who literally gives 110% in everything he does...he is probably my favorite boy in the whole barn and every second on his back is a true priviledge. then finally Guppy who is a close second in the favorites category, I feel like we have finally figured him out and he's just such a blast once you unlock all his gears...and such a handsome boy, too :)
Ok, kateoh, I hope that was satisfactory! I think I'm going to go take the hottest shower I can stand...I'm so unfit and my back is reminding me of that at this moment! <3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
