Temporary loss of enthusiasm

I awoke to a bright day, but it was Cold, very, very cold and the ground was rock solid. I'm now getting to that stage where if spring doesn't come soon I'm really going to get grumpy!!
I could have done something with the horses, but I'm ashamed to say that my enthusiasm was sadly lacking.
We did have a constructive day though, we played with the pups, took them for a long walk down the field and through the wood. They have so much energy! Then I played my sax for a couple of hourse, absolute bliss, lost in the music.
We've been missing the taste of home recently, so this afternoon, I made some crumpets. I made my first batch a week or so ago, and they were ok - they're not as easy as you might think - but this batch look very tasty indeed.

More pics of the girls...

Its been a strange week or so.
We've been teased by the weather, a few lovely days, sunny and warm which really made me believe that we were there - spring had come at last. But no, we've now had some very cold weather and more snow. The cold weather really came as a shock, an icy wind straight from Siberia, I think.
Anyway I got a couple of lovely rides in with Bonbon, going nicely out on a hack with company, and a good session in the school with Remy.
More pics here of the girls, Izzy and Scarlett, it's been just over a week since we got them and they're really settling in. It took Elfin a few days to accept them, but now she's treating them like her own, it's lovely to see.

                                                    
                                                                   Scarlett

 

Izzy

                                                              Playing ball with Elfin                                            

                                                            Izzy and Scarlett

                                             Uh oh...... Frankie getting a little too much attention.        

Better news, and even better news.

The better news it that we now have two little rescue pups to keep Elfin company. Our Jypp went to live with my parents about a month ago (he's having a wonderful time) and with losing Obi, she was left on her own. She's a very maternal dog, so we thought that she'd be great with a puppy.
I contacted several animal refuge centres as to the availability of a puppy, and within about 30 minutes received an email from one of them saying that they had two puppies that had been found dumped on the road the week before. They were about 9 weeks old and as luck would have it, they were in a foster home only 25 mins up the road.
We had to go and look at them, and as Jim said, we can't take just the one......so we have them both!
They're called Scarlett and Izzy, the vet thinks that they're probably beauceron x lab and they're absolutely gorgeous.
This is the pic they sent me, how could we resist!

Once we'd got them home,they started to settle in immediately.

The even better news is that today I rode out on Bonbon with my friend on her horse, and Bonbon was brilliant. I'm hoping for many more rides like today and if she carries on she'll really start to get fit and we can go farther afield! :-)

Obi

We lost Obi yesterday.  It was all over very quickly, he didn't suffer, and three days before he started getting ill, he was playing with me and Elfin in the field, a very happy boy.  The vet diagnosed leukemia. He was nearly 10.
We're devastated, and I can't say how much I'm going to miss him. I love my boy so much.

Snow, snow , snow

Well, you guessed it, we've had snow, quite a lot of it, and really miserable weather, so the last few days have been useless for riding.  It's starting to clear now though, due to the huge amount of rain we've had over the last dayt. I managed to ride Bonbon in the school this morning before it started raining again, and she was a very good girl.
She is naturally more well balanced than Remy and it's nice to be able to trot in reasonable balance, although she is falling in on her inside shoulder. It's something that we'll be working on quite a bit, I think.
Obi and Elf are feeling the cold, so have been wearing their coats the past few day, but Obi managed to rip his. We found a temporary solution, although I'm not sure he's not too happy with it.......

Poor boy

Elfin thought it was very strange too..

It's done a good job of keeping him warm though.

A couple of days to remember

I'm posting as I want to remember the last couple of days.
I've ridden Bonbon a few times in the school. We can walk, trot and canter - in no great style, but it's a good start.
I've taken her up the track, only about 15 minutes, but yesterday we went for our first real hack. Jim came with us on foot, which was great as it gave both of us confidence. He stayed back and only a couple of times went ahead if we reached a scary spot. We were out for an hour or so and Bonbon was brilliant. She was looking at things, but was really willing and forward. Coming home, as is the norm, she was much more forward, but I sat quietly and she remained nicely balanced and soft in the hand with a good forward stride. I was pretty chuffed.

Today I rode Remy in the school and ( i know I've said this before, but this time it's really happening and is much more consistent ) we had good walk work with nice shoulder-in and some well balanced trot, with some nice transitions from reinback. To finish we practiced some walk to canter transitions and he gave me the most balanced and responsive transition we've had.  I've said this before too, but I really feel like it's all starting to come together.
So, a really positive couple of days with the horses.

On another note, after getting my first tenor sax  (I've got alto and tenor now) at christmas, I'm really enjoying it and looking forward to playing some duets with Ricky......I've got some nice old jazz standards lined up - can't wait!

As we prepare for the new year..

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness..

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

A little Update

It's been a month or so since I posted, so a little update.
I've done very little with the horses, due to horrible weather the last few weeks, and also I've been to the UK for 10 days to see family before christmas.
It was my nephew Thomas's 18th birthday, so we all went out for a meal to celebrate.
It was great to see everyone and catch up, and although I'm always ready to come home, I wasn't quite ready to leave, if that makes sense. I enjoyed spending time with my Mum and Dad, and it was difficult to say goodbye.
Because of the weather and the fact that I was going to be away, we sent Bonbon to the centre equestre near to Ross. She teaches there and we decided it would be good if she could go and get some experience and some confidence riding out. It was hard to see her go, and it goes against all my instincts, but in the long run, she needed someone who could take her out, get her used to everything and give her the confidence. Unfortunately, I'd already decided that it wasn't going to be me, as she's been quite challenging at times! :-(
On friday I went over and rode her out with the yard owner and she was fine. He really likes her and all the staff kept telling me that she was 'une tres, tres gentille jument'  ( a very, very nice mare) with no hint of malice at all. Well I knew that, but sometimes it needs someone else to spell it out to you.

Anyway, we went to collect her yesterday and she loaded fine and not a murmur all the way home. It was also my first time towing with a horse onboard ( I have practiced, obviously, without a horse!) so I was very relieved when we got back home.

Corky and Remy were really subdued for a few days when she went, and were glad to see her back, although she was on edge and alert, squealing and kicking out at Remy, as she re-established her place in our little herd.
After a night in the field she seems much calmer, and she settled down for a snooze in the stable this morning.

I know it must have been quite a trauma for her, and I feel bad, but I think it has done her good. I rode her up the lane and into the school this morning and although she was looking at things, she was forward and willing. We had a walk and trot on both reins in the school, and then came back home. She was fine.
She's lost quite a bit of weight too and looks very fit now - where did my cuddly little girlie go?

I also rode Remy in the school - it's been three weeks or so since I've ridden him, but he was a good boy and we had a walk trot and canter on both reins. The sun was out and it was nice to feel the sun on our backs.  He's a very hairy boy though, he looks like a chubby little teddy bear!

Yes, it's a sadness

It's been an emotional week for several reasons.  We're getting through it and things are ok, but when emotions are heightened it's easy to overreact and think too deeply about things. I do that anyway, so this week has been tough.
I like to think that I'm a good friend to my friends. I try to be as supportive as I can, and try to understand where they're at and how they're doing, but sometimes you try to be the best friend you can be and you suddenly realise that it's more than likely been for nothing, as your 'friend' doesn't really care about how you're doing, where you're at or how you're feeling. For some reason it doesn't seem to matter, and your 'friend' has moved on and left you wondering where you went wrong. It's a sadness.

Inca

My little darling girl died last night. It was quick and peaceful. She was on her bed and suddenly let out a moaning sound. I went in and she was laying on her side, breathing in gasps. I talked to her and stroked her gently.  It took only a few seconds.
She was an old lady of 21 years, she'd been with me all her life and nearly half of mine. She was a lovely little character and I loved her so much.

little kitten Inca

Well then.........

 

My girl.

 

I don't know what you mean mum....

................yes you do, just think about it.

That was me with Remy today. I've only managed to ride 3 times in the last week because of the weather, but it was lovely and sunny today with very little wind. I don't like riding in the wind - I do ride as long as the wind's not too bad, but I find it's very distracting for both me and therefore the horse.
Anyway, we had another session in the school, continuing lateral work at walk, a little trot and then onto our walk/canter transitions.
We're getting good results on the right rein now, I'm able to ask him in different places in the school and get  a pretty quick response, but, as I mentioned in a previous post, he's tending to run on a little. I don't mind a little anticipation as long as he listens and waits, but it's more difficult to deal with the rushing.
I've found that if we get a really good transition, I can allow a few strides and then get a fairly responsive transition to trot, but if we get a slightly impatient strike off and/or I allow him to get away from me, then he continues in quite a fast, not really listening to me canter.
Giving him the rein and allowing him space,and expecting him to slow to a trot isn't really working, as once he falls onto his shoulders, he runs through my hand, and then, I can't ride the canter properly anyway.
I'm not getting into that scenario with him, so  I've been keeping (trying to keep) my position in the saddle and if he doesn't respond to my request to trot, resisting with the hand until he gives me the trot, at which point I immediately relax and give with the reins. I'm not sure this is the best way, but raising the inside rein isn't working at the moment, so we'll see how it goes.

On the left rein walk/canter transitions we were getting, the 'I don't know what you mean' today, and to be fair, he seemed to be trying so hard that he was getting himself into a bit of a tizz. I let him relax on a long rein for a couple of minutes before trying again.  Then I just asked for a small circle, feeling him coming under with the inside hind and a correct inside flexion. A slight leg yield out on the circle until he felt very much underneath me and into the outside aids before asking for the transition.
I got one very nice transition, two or three strides at canter, staying on the circle, before asking for trot, which he gave me straight away. I'm not sure he was going to maintain the canter anyway, perhaps he was already thinking of trotting, but it doesn't matter, I think he understood exactly what I wanted.
I got off at that point, a happy bunny.

I then took Bonbon for a walk up to the top field, and she was fine until she saw our neighbours jacket thrown over the fence at the far side.  I'd seen him earlier, heading towards the wood with his cepes basket, so presume he'd gotten too warm and thrown his jacket over the fence to collect on his return.
Bonbon saw it before I did, from the middle of the field, and immediately started snorting and dancing from side to side.  I tried to keep the line pretty loose and just let her move around until she calmed a little. She pulled back a little, but not enough for me to think she was going to leg it!
When she'd calmed, I started walking towards it, letting her move freely, and she did jump from side to side a little, but kept coming forward until we were standing in front of it. She kept pushing her nose into my arm, and I touched it gently, letting her stand close until she came forward and touched it.
When she was dancing around, it was different from the last time with the cows - for one, we had the space to allow her the space to move, and two, I felt that we were on the same side/page, put it how you will, it just felt that we were in it together, and she was looking to me for guidance rather than tuning me out.
When she was dancing around it didn't worry me, I just felt that it was ok, she had to work it out for herself and she would, and when she came with me and touched the jacket, I felt proud of her, and felt like a little barrier had fallen.
We'll see.

Despooking Remy and Bonbon

The weather's been lovely the last couple of days, the horrid cold wind has gone and the sun has returned!
I've worked both days with the horses.
I've taken Remy, first in the top field before going in the school and then worked mainly in lateral work at walk and walk/canter transitions. No spooking in the field, thankfully.
The transitions are becoming more fluid on the right rein and are becoming very sharp and clean, but now that we've got the go, we have to make sure we keep the stop. I must try to stay light on his back without letting him pull me forward, because after the first few strides, he starts to fall onto his shoulders and rush. I'm sure as we progress, we'll find a better balance.
His walk work is really improving and today he gave me some lovely shoulder-in, travers and renvers.
I've taken Bonbon for a walk round the top field the last two days as she'd gotten pretty spooky in there after seeing our neighbour coming across his field, stick in one hand and a large basket of cepes in the other. For some reason, his lurching and waving them at us freaked her out a bit.
Yesterday we got to the same bit of field and suddenly she lost it and started squealing and cantering around me. I managed to calm her without too much problem and then walked her around the field with lots of changes of direction, halt/back/walk on transitions until she was calm and relaxed.
Today, she was brilliant, focussed on me, halting as I halted, following my movements on a loose rein without any hint of spookyness.

Brrrrrr

Well, we've had a few days off.  The weather has turned really cold and my poor old body is having a tough time adjusting to it. :-)
I've gone out with every intention of doing something with the horses, but have been lured back by the attraction of a lovely warm fire and a hot cup of tea!
I feel a bit guilty, but the horses are out pretty much 24/7 and as soon as I get my end of summer/starting to cope with winter head on, I'll get back to it - maybe tomorrow, it's supposed to be warming up a little.
My mum and Thomas went home on Friday and, as usual, when family leave, I'm missing them something rotten. :-(

Spook and run.....

Remy was  looking and listening to everything today ( apart from me, apparently).
I was doing a little work in our top field, lateral work at walk as preparation for our walk/canter transitions.
It was a bit windy and there were a few sawing noises coming from the little wood at the bottom of the field which distracted him a little, but  we got some nice shoulder-in and travers down the long side.   I worked on keeping his attention with lots of changes of rein and bend.
He seemed to be settling ( oh yeah?) when he suddenly took off at high speed down the field.  I was surprised at how quick he was going (in other words, it was bloody fast!), but managed to stop him fairly quickly, decided to walk the rest of the way up the field, and discretion being the better part of valour, finish our session in the school.
He was on his toes now, and as we neared the school, he spun round, and (again) legged it off down the school throwing in a few bucks as he went. This time, it felt like he really meant it, and it took a few circles before I could stop him. This is new territory for me with Remy, because even though he tends to look at things, he doesn't really spook and run.
Anyway, he stood looking and snorting, so I got off and walked him to the school, then walked him around the perimeter of the school until he calmed down.
Once he'd calmed I got back on, and we got some lovely walk work, and (rather relieved sigh here) some lovely walk/canter transitions.
The right rein is really coming on and I asked for a couple of transitions on the circle, just asking for a couple of steps of leg yield out on the circle before asking for the transition.
The left rein is coming too, and apart from one attempt where he went into trot instead of canter, they were reasonable transitions.

 So, on the one hand, heart in mouth legging it down the field (twice)  and on the other, some really nice work in the school.

Getting the hang of walk to canter transitions....

It's been wet and miserable for a few days, so I've not ridden the horses.
It's brightened up a bit today and I took Remy in the school. I walked him around our top field first, to warm him up and then went in the school to do some lateral work at walk, before asking for my walk to canter transitions. The first one on the right rein, he rushed, starting to jog out of of the shoulder-in into canter on the wrong lead. The second time, I asked for the shoulder-in on the long side, keeping him in balance, I could feel his energy building, and when I asked with a slight touch of my inside leg in the corner, he popped into a lovely balanced canter. 
I changed the rein and asked for shoulder-in, into the corner, but he started to trot. I brought him back to walk onto a small circle back to the long side, and asked for shoulder-in once more. This time it was in much better balance, and on reaching the corner, the transition came quite easily. In fact, better than we've had before on the left rein. I dismounted and finished tour short, but very productive session.
My mum and nephew Thomas arrived yesterday, they're staying for a week and it's really lovely to see them. I haven't seen Thomas for a couple of years and he's grown so tall. He's 18 this year, I can't believe it!

Canter transitions

I'm posting today because I didn't want to forget our first real, balanced walk to canter transitions. I really felt that Remy was completely underneath me, light in the hand and well balanced in the work beforehand. I asked for shoulder-in down the long side at walk, and I could feel the energy there ready to be used. The canter transition in the corner was just there when I asked for it, not a fluke either, he gave me a nice, balanced transition 3 times :-)    This was on the right rein, it's not so easy on the left rein, but this little (huge for me) step has given me the confidence that it's gonna come!
His trot is becoming better balanced and I think he's ready to canter. Also, the canter will improve the trot even more.
We like to canter out on a hack on a straight line but it's a very forward going canter, and it's not balanced enough for a small school. I get up off his back, and quite often I find myself wishing there was a little log or something we could jump. Silly really - it's a very long time since I've done any jumping!
 The resulting canter from those lovely transitions today, was together, not as forward going, but it felt balanced, that's all I can say really, the transition was good, the canter felt good.  On the left rein, he's not as together going into it, he's not as straight and relaxed in the shoulder-in, but he is getting there. The canter transition wasn't as fluid, so the canter was flatter and rushed.

Anyhow, it was a good session and I spent this afternoon playing music with Ricky, so a good day all round!

Les 4 écoles d'Art Equestre 2012

I had a busy day yesterday, went off to Paris to see the four equestrian schools at Bercy.
I had a great time, it was tiring (Paris there and back in a day!), but well worth it.
The four schools are;

 

l’Ecole Espagnole d’Equitation de Vienne,
le Cadre Noir de Saumur,
l’Ecole Royale Andalouse d’Art Equestre ,
et
l’Ecole Portugaise d’Art Equestre

See here for their website
http://www.bercy.fr/programme/spectacle/1302/Les_4_%C3%A9coles_d'Art_Equestre

Lots of excellent stuff, but, surprisingly (or not) some things that I didn't like.

Despite rumours that the Spanish riding school have lowered their standards, they showed some excellent work, although, I thought the side reins were a little too tights on a couple of the horses working in-hand (just my opinion, and, after all, what do I know!).
The Portugese where excellent too, and the Cadre Noir held their own, but I was very disappointed with the Andalouse (spanish school, not to be confused with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna), who didn't seem to have the finesse of the other schools. Some of their horses looked quite tense and uncomfortable and were requently showing incorrect work. One of their riders, who was showing in a pas de deux, was so unbalanced and uncoordinated that it was embarassing, and I can't understand why on earth they put him in there in the first place!
The horses were beautiful though, and they were the stars. The riders (on the whole) were faultless, and, to be honest,when they're so good, you don't see them, just the horse, which is how it should be in my opinion.
I have some pics, but not sure how they'll turn with my little dinky camera and questionable photography skills. I haven't looked at them yet as I'm knackered today, but will get to it.
Here are some vids from the performance yesterday. Not mine as I forgot my video camera :-(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSq8smmNr9k&feature=share&list=ULQSq8smmNr9k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeuZdZDYfWU&feature=share&list=ULTeuZdZDYfWU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMR-z6QfD7k&feature=share&list=ULMMR-z6QfD7k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7HX58Um2FI&feature=share&list=ULc7HX58Um2FI

If you want to see more, I'm sure there will be a few on youtube.

Aren't horses wonderful creatures!!

Hi

Well, it's been a couple of months since my last post. Not been able to get my head around blogging, but I may be back, we'll see.
I just found this and it brought a real smile to my face so had to share.

I've been busy over the last week or so.
I've had a lesson on the lunge, which really made me think about what my body was doing, and hopefully I'll be going back for more.
I've been working Remy on the lunge before riding, and he feels much looser when I get on. His lateral work at walk is improving and we're now getting decent walk/trot/walk transitions with more impulsion and softness. Today he offered me a lovely canter transition from trot, when I asked in the corner, and we did our first travers in-hand.
Bonbon is doing good things on the lunge. She still has her silly moments, but they're getting less and less. Her balance is improving all the time and she's really started to focus on me, and I feel like we're starting to get a good connection between us.

Canter transitions

A really hot day today, so a short session in the school with Remy working on canter transitions.
I found the best way was to ask from walk - start shoulder in 2/3rds of the way down the long side and then ask for the transition going into the corner. We had some nice clean transitions, and some where we didn't get canter at all, but, on these, we got a lovely active trot transition, with good energy.

I lunged Bonbon and, despite the heat and flies, she was really well behaved and focussed.