Getting back to it

Buddy and I have our first lesson over fences in months on Thursday!  We jumped a little on Sunday, and Buddy was great.  I can tell he's missed jumping; he was in front of my leg from the moment I got on. 

After my ride, Bud had a few hours off then Nik rode.  He was better for her than he's ever been.  She was able to get him to trot by herself for the first time.  Since she was doing better, I put her on the lunge line and let her do a little canter.  She's cantered another horse once and was bucked off, and then a different horse took off with her and she fell.  She's understandably nervous about cantering.  Bud was a little pissy at first; he shook his head and Nik got unseated, but stayed on.  When we tried again, he picked it right up and was perfect for her.  She loved it!

Bud had Monday off, then today we did a flat hack.  We had some really nice extension in our trot work.  While he's getting better at extending then coming back, I would still like him to be a little more balanced.  I'm trying to stay tall with my body, and not let him drag me down. Bud had a little meltdown over counter canter.  He wouldn't pick it up, then got cranky when I got after him with my crop.  When he gets mad, he flips his head and tries to pull the reins away.  I'm trying to make a big effort to keep my hands low and still during his tantrum. It seems to be working.  After his tantrum our counter canter was ok, but not great.  We'll keep working on it.

Going in Circles

After lunging three horses today I felt a little dizzy.  Unfortunately, I've fallen a little behind this week.  I got the stomach flu on Tuesday, and didn't do anything for a couple days.  I did manage to get out to the barn Thursday and did quick little ride with Buddy.  We just trotted around the outdoor for 15 mins, but at least I got him out. Yesterday I attempted to ride Blue, but after he reared up and spun with me I decided to lunge him instead.

Today I wanted to lunge Blue again, this time in side reins.  He wasn't as hot today, but had a tantrum when I put the side reins on.  At the end of the session, he was relaxing into them and moving really well for him. Since I had them out, I put the side reins on Buddy next. He always acts like he can't go forward with the side reins on, but I go him to move out pretty well.

After those two I took out Pippin, a slightly spastic Arab/QH whose owner is away for a year long internship.  My barn owner has been working with him, but while she's out of town I said I would do some ground work with him.  Pip tends to be scared of his own shadow and needs a calm, but forceful handler.  We lunged for a few minutes until someone else needed the indoor.  I decided to take him for a walk outside to get him out and despook him.  I snapped the picture and sent it to his mommy.

Hit the ground running

I got back from San Diego yesterday, and after a full day of work today I had barn chores tonight.  My barn owners are on vacation, so a few of us boarders are splitting chores.  I rode Buddy first, then did the evening feed.  Buddy was very lazy, I think he enjoyed his week off!  We didn't do too much, just a little walk-trot-canter.

The rest of my week is jammed packed as well.  I have stalls to clean tomorrow and Thursday as well as feeding again tomorrow.  I'm hoping to make time on Thursday to ride Blue.  He's a 11ish OTTB that my barn's owner owns.  I was riding him a few days a week over the summer to exercise him for her.  He's being part leased now, but the girl leasing him doesn't work him hard and he's very high energy.  He's still greenish, but tries very hard.  This summer we worked on going forward quietly, softening to my aids, and keeping him calm.  He tends to get nervous, and needs a quiet confident rider.  I'll hopefully be riding him 2-3 times a week for a while.

Blue last summer

Western weekend

I was feeling lazy yesterday and decided to ride Bud western. For some reason riding western seems easier than English to me. I guess it's because we just go along and I usually don't have big goals when we go western.

I borrowed Connie's saddle and a bit. I have a head stall and reins, but never got around to getting a western bit. The one I use on him is a plain snaffle mouth piece with shanks. No big port for Buddy!!

We just jogged along, not working on much. Mostly I try to relax and work on riding one handed. It's hard to let go and not have contact with their mouth.

I'm going out of town next week to help take care of my dad who had surgery. Bud will have the week off, and Nik might ride.

Jump for Joy

I set up a few small fences today; a couple cross-rails and the cavalettis.  After a light warm up where we worked on transitions and getting Buddy to really move off my leg, we started trotting the fences.  Since we haven't been jumping regularly, Buddy was pretty forward (for him) at first.  He likes to drag me down to the fence when he's excited, so I tried to stay still and tall with  my body and keep a steady rhythm.  After about 4 or 5 trot fences, he got tired and was quieter and not rushing to the fence.

We started cantering single fences, working on having a nice forward rhythm, bending in the corners, and having nice lines to the jump.  I tend to get nervous when I can't "see" a distance, and will lock my elbows and take my leg off my horse.  Buddy is good at ignoring me and finding his own way to the fence.  Today, I tried to stay relaxed and let the jump come to me. 

On the landing side of the jumps, we worked on staying straight and using our space in the corners.  Buddy likes to dive on his front end and fall into the turn.  He was good today, and we were able to work on our lead changes.  We would put a few fences together, then I'd give him a walk break.  Since he's out of shape jumping wise, I didn't do too much.  For not jumping consistently since September, I was happy at how good he was today and that we haven't lost much of what we had been working on.

Massage and Lesson

No, not a lesson for me.  My trainer's 8yr old daughter Nik is just starting to ride, and she's using Buddy.  He's a good for kids because he's bombproof, has a smooth trot, and can put up with kids kicking and pulling on his mouth.  He does take advantage of beginners because he's lazy and can have questionable steering.  Nik has to really work to keep him on the rail without him trying to stop or come into the middle.  She got him to trot tonight, with only a minimum amount of help from Jen and I.  Since he's so lazy we've been trotting along side to keep him going, but tonight Nik got him to go with Jen just waving a dressage whip at him.

She's riding in a western saddle for now, but soon she'll switch to an English.  For now, she feels more comfortable in the western. 

Rachael was able to make it out today to work on Bud.  She said he was sore in his hind end, but not too bad.  He also has a rib out but she was able to get it back in. She worked on him for about 45 minutes, and he seemed a lot more relaxed after.

Dressage Pony

One of the nice things of buying a horse from a friend, is that they have tack that fits the horse that I don't!  I borrowed Connie's dressage saddle today for Bud.  He's hard to fit; he's pretty wide and has a callous on his left shoulder from years of people getting on from the ground.  It's only noticeable when you stand behind him, but it plays havoc with saddle fitting. 

He was a little slow to warm up, but was pretty good.  We had some decent leg yields and shoulder in.  Our canter was ok.  It's hard for me to keep my seat in the saddle when cantering, especially in the dressage saddle.  I have a bad habit of perching in the cater, and need to remember to sit down and bring my shoulders back.  The dressage saddle is great at reminding me of this; you get seriously out of balance if you try to perch in it.  We did some trot-canter-trot transitions, working on keeping him in front of my leg in the downward transitions, but not going into a running trot.

My friend texted me today and we have an appointment for Tuesday for Buddy to get his massage.  He needs it; he's been a little grumpy when I've tacked up the past few days.