For those of you who are in a warmer climate - I'm jealous. I've been back home since the end of January, and have been averaging about 2 rides per week ever since. Between the road conditions, the weather, the cold, and the snow crashing off the arena roof - it's been uninspiring.
This past week though, our barn owner had a track plowed in one of the spare paddocks, which has been a nice change. The track was supposed to be an oval, but the person driving the plow managed to make it tear-drop shaped, which makes for interestingly placed transitions and bending questions - but all in all not so bad. The footing is great with about 2" of loose snow over god knows how much packed snow/ice layers.
So, being outside and letting Felix just go on a generally loose rein in case he does loose his footing has been nice, and given me a chance to play with things a little bit, mostly focusing on me - but we also did out first walk-canter transitions this week which were, I have to say pretty brilliant on his part - as well as canter transitions on straight lines and such.
Hopefully I'll have some more pictures at some point soon - I've been spending most of my barn time alone lately unfortunately.
Monday, 25 February 2013
Monday, 17 December 2012
Merry (horseless) Christmas
Hi everyone!
It's been a while since I've posted - lots of personal life stress, and trying to get established with a new job haven't left much space for blogging, and I've been off riding since the 2nd week in December, since I'm spending the month in FL working to try to keep board and car insurance paid for another few months till the new job stars paying off in the new year.
Up in Canada, the yucky season has started, and Felix's energy level has skyrocketed again. Keeping him just a little over blanketed to keep his back warm helps a good deal - but it's an attest to my comfort with him. This is the 2nd winter we've been through together, so I know what to expect more now. As per usual, longing is a dismal failure, so it's pretty well just get on and roll with whatever he wants to throw at the rider.
He's also a little more spooky in the winter, between the arena noises (thank you snow crashing off the roof at the exact wrong time!), and the imaginary boogeymen in the corners.
Before I left, we were doing more jumping inside - and surprise surprise, he's been pretty much 100% fine again. We're still doing small stuff, and he's still a little iffy with the scary stuff like planks, but it's getting better and my confidence is returning.
He's with Sandy now for the month, and I'm hoping she'll do some jumping with him while I'm away. She's only riding 2x a week, and being as she's a fair bit taller then I am she'd have trouble jumping anything too big with him, but little scary things and grids should be A-OK.
Anyhow, I'll be back in January, hopefully with a little less stress on my plate and back to posrting more interesting things! Till then, have a great holiday no matter what you celebrate, and give your ponies a holiday treat for me!
It's been a while since I've posted - lots of personal life stress, and trying to get established with a new job haven't left much space for blogging, and I've been off riding since the 2nd week in December, since I'm spending the month in FL working to try to keep board and car insurance paid for another few months till the new job stars paying off in the new year.
Up in Canada, the yucky season has started, and Felix's energy level has skyrocketed again. Keeping him just a little over blanketed to keep his back warm helps a good deal - but it's an attest to my comfort with him. This is the 2nd winter we've been through together, so I know what to expect more now. As per usual, longing is a dismal failure, so it's pretty well just get on and roll with whatever he wants to throw at the rider.
He's also a little more spooky in the winter, between the arena noises (thank you snow crashing off the roof at the exact wrong time!), and the imaginary boogeymen in the corners.
Before I left, we were doing more jumping inside - and surprise surprise, he's been pretty much 100% fine again. We're still doing small stuff, and he's still a little iffy with the scary stuff like planks, but it's getting better and my confidence is returning.
He's with Sandy now for the month, and I'm hoping she'll do some jumping with him while I'm away. She's only riding 2x a week, and being as she's a fair bit taller then I am she'd have trouble jumping anything too big with him, but little scary things and grids should be A-OK.
Anyhow, I'll be back in January, hopefully with a little less stress on my plate and back to posrting more interesting things! Till then, have a great holiday no matter what you celebrate, and give your ponies a holiday treat for me!
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Demoted...
Felix and I had a lesson last friday. In a lot of ways it was great, and in others heartbreaking for me.
His dressage couldn't be better. So long as I get my inside leg on enough, everything else just arrives. It's perfect. Also, we seem to be over the spooking nearly 100% now, which is good.
As for jumping - that's another story. I know it's me - because he's capable. I just am too nervous and choke up on the reins, which creates the overjumping problem I'm trying to avoid at best - but more often just causes him to slam on the brakes. So, we've been demoted to poles and 6" high crossrails untill I'm comfortable with that and then we'll move on. At some point I'm going to have to have a jumping lesson on one of the more trained jumpers in the barn, but for now it's endless small stuff - of every type. I'm going to make up some 6" high "flower boxes" and stuff over the winter - and we'll see how that goes. I have to admit I'm a bit frustrated and upset with myself for backsliding so much - but all I can do right now is carry on and fix it.
His dressage couldn't be better. So long as I get my inside leg on enough, everything else just arrives. It's perfect. Also, we seem to be over the spooking nearly 100% now, which is good.
As for jumping - that's another story. I know it's me - because he's capable. I just am too nervous and choke up on the reins, which creates the overjumping problem I'm trying to avoid at best - but more often just causes him to slam on the brakes. So, we've been demoted to poles and 6" high crossrails untill I'm comfortable with that and then we'll move on. At some point I'm going to have to have a jumping lesson on one of the more trained jumpers in the barn, but for now it's endless small stuff - of every type. I'm going to make up some 6" high "flower boxes" and stuff over the winter - and we'll see how that goes. I have to admit I'm a bit frustrated and upset with myself for backsliding so much - but all I can do right now is carry on and fix it.
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Maybe I have my good horse back?
I've been on and off traveling for work, so Felix has been in a holding pattern with 2 rides a week from my coach when I'm not around, and fairly light work when I am home. Showing is probably not in the cards for the rest of this year, though now that I have started off on a new career it should be on track for the 2013 season.
He's slowly getting over his spooking issues that started this spring. He still does a little bit in the indoor arena, mostly near the doors weather open or closed. It's just a step or two towards the center of the ring, and a little bit if disconnect with the rider. These "spooks" I have been just ignoring and pushing through, with focus on keeping him engaged the next time around. The bad ones are the occasional small rear and attempt to change direction - these ones earn a spanking, as even if he is honestly scared it's hardly an appropriate reaction.
He will be getting his teeth done in a few weeks - we had to swap him over to a boucher in the meantime, which has completely fixed the headflipping that pointed to the tooth issue in the first place.
We've not jumped anything bigger then a small X or logs on the ground since June, because my legs are like limp noodles.
He's slowly getting over his spooking issues that started this spring. He still does a little bit in the indoor arena, mostly near the doors weather open or closed. It's just a step or two towards the center of the ring, and a little bit if disconnect with the rider. These "spooks" I have been just ignoring and pushing through, with focus on keeping him engaged the next time around. The bad ones are the occasional small rear and attempt to change direction - these ones earn a spanking, as even if he is honestly scared it's hardly an appropriate reaction.
He will be getting his teeth done in a few weeks - we had to swap him over to a boucher in the meantime, which has completely fixed the headflipping that pointed to the tooth issue in the first place.
We've not jumped anything bigger then a small X or logs on the ground since June, because my legs are like limp noodles.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Felix VS the black tube
Came back from 2 months away working on Tuesday, and went out for a ride.
There were 2 TINY little jumps in the ring, so I figured "why not?". Unfortunately one of them had been set up specifically as a "scary jump" by my coach for another student. It was just a 12" high vertical with a piece of black corrugated pipe behind the ground line - but apparently this was SUPER scary. On top of that, I got ahead and didn't use enough leg. This resulted in me falling off at the foot of the jump, and Felix not wanting to go anywhere NEAR it. I was able to get him over a different jump a few times after the fall though.
I got back to the barn, told my coach I fell off, and she immediately knew why, and said "I was going to warn you, but didn't think you'd be stupid enough to try to jump on your first day home". Clearly she underestimated just how stupid I can be sometimes!
Today we had a lesson to fix it. First we set up a pole, and then a small jump in the same spot. Then we took down the jump and had him walk/trot over just the tube. This was exciting, as my coach had to lead him over the tube a couple of times. We left it off there though, as I was tired, and it was good progress.
It's hard when you know you have a keen little pony, it's tempting to just go have fun. I've even seen people do this before (a friend of mine did it with an XC ditch years ago). Yet, I didn't apparently LEARN from it!
There were 2 TINY little jumps in the ring, so I figured "why not?". Unfortunately one of them had been set up specifically as a "scary jump" by my coach for another student. It was just a 12" high vertical with a piece of black corrugated pipe behind the ground line - but apparently this was SUPER scary. On top of that, I got ahead and didn't use enough leg. This resulted in me falling off at the foot of the jump, and Felix not wanting to go anywhere NEAR it. I was able to get him over a different jump a few times after the fall though.
I got back to the barn, told my coach I fell off, and she immediately knew why, and said "I was going to warn you, but didn't think you'd be stupid enough to try to jump on your first day home". Clearly she underestimated just how stupid I can be sometimes!
Today we had a lesson to fix it. First we set up a pole, and then a small jump in the same spot. Then we took down the jump and had him walk/trot over just the tube. This was exciting, as my coach had to lead him over the tube a couple of times. We left it off there though, as I was tired, and it was good progress.
It's hard when you know you have a keen little pony, it's tempting to just go have fun. I've even seen people do this before (a friend of mine did it with an XC ditch years ago). Yet, I didn't apparently LEARN from it!
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
PSA - now in bumper sticker form!
Going into spring, there are often car/rider accidents. This year was a particularly bad one, ending in the death of both horse and rider in our area.
I know when I'm in traffic, I get bored - so I read people's bumper stickers. I now know my other motorists have an honour student, golden retrievers, and often their political leanings. So, time for all of the riders out there to get the word out - by putting one of these on their bumper!
As you can imagine, this is specifically for my area, however if this takes off I'd be willing to do graphics for other areas. Just got 100 printed, hope they get snapped up right away!
I know when I'm in traffic, I get bored - so I read people's bumper stickers. I now know my other motorists have an honour student, golden retrievers, and often their political leanings. So, time for all of the riders out there to get the word out - by putting one of these on their bumper!
As you can imagine, this is specifically for my area, however if this takes off I'd be willing to do graphics for other areas. Just got 100 printed, hope they get snapped up right away!
Saturday, 5 May 2012
It's been a while
Unfortunately not much to report. Felix is still at home with my coach, and doing VERY well. I got a week or so of riding in near the end of April before leaving for work, this time on a fairly grueling schedule away from home again. I'm lucky if I can even keep my excersise up while I'm away - nevermind ride this time!
I promise you all, I haven't forgotten you :)
I promise you all, I haven't forgotten you :)
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