It's raining today and it was raining yesterday. I used to ride in the rain - actually, I used to ride in all weathers, but I'm afraid to say that I'm more of a fair weather rider these days!
On thursday I trimmed Bonbon and Remys feet and they're looking good. Bonbon has chipped a chunk out of her hoof but that's growing out really well and her frogs are starting to look very healthy. Remy's getting real concavity and his feet are looking really strong.
Yesterday I did Corkys feet and they're looking the best I've seen them. It's taken a while, she's been without shoes now for well over a year and I think it's the best thing we could have done for her. Of course the youngsters have never had shoes and hopefully they never will!
After finishing her feet, I brought Remy into the barn and introduced him to the clippers. For the amount of work he's doing he doesn't really need clipping, but he does get a bit sweaty around the girth area and between his front legs so I thought I'd just try to take that off. I expected him to be his usual accepting self, and he was. My sweet boy did what he always does, and as I held them towards him, he hesitantly touched the handle of the clippers with his nose to check them out, first switched off, and then on. I then touched him on his shoulder and finally under his belly before clipping the small area around the girth. He wasn't sure about it at all, but he stood quietly and trusting.
Not wanting her to miss out, I brought Bonbon into the barn to introduce her to the clippers too. She doesn't need clipping ( just like her mum, doesn't really grow a thick winter coat), but I thought it would be a learning experience for her. As expected it took longer to convince her that it was all ok, but she stayed calm and after a few minutes, she let me touch her along her body with the clippers switched on.
I've done nothing today, the weather is awful, the ground is wet and soggy and the horses, having come in for their breakfast, don't want to go back out! The only thing I've done is played sticks in the rain with Obi dobe and Elfin and now I'm sitting in the warm surrounded by cats. It's New Years Eve, I'd actually forgotten and only remembered when the newsreader on the telly reminded me. It's going to be a quiet one, and I'm thinking that there's nothing wrong with that!
My Life, My Horses and My Attempts to Train the Classical Way
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Back onboard
Back onboard today after a week off and it felt good. It seems the break has done us both good and we had a good session.
Trying to keep relaxation and a soft contact at walk, with circles, s/i, counter s/i, and lots of changes of bend and direction. The trot transitions felt improved and the trot's starting to feel much more manageable. The right rein is coming better, he's starting to keep the inside shoulder up, and the resulting trot is now more correct than the left rein. Although very much underpowered, it's starting to have a nice rhythmic feel to it.
Trying to keep relaxation and a soft contact at walk, with circles, s/i, counter s/i, and lots of changes of bend and direction. The trot transitions felt improved and the trot's starting to feel much more manageable. The right rein is coming better, he's starting to keep the inside shoulder up, and the resulting trot is now more correct than the left rein. Although very much underpowered, it's starting to have a nice rhythmic feel to it.
Just come across these vids for a warm up routine. I don't know the rider, but she seems to make a lot of sense.
HERE
HERE
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Di and Sue, Remy and Corky too
Nothing to blog about from the last few days as both Jim and I have been ill, so Christmas has been very quiet. Here's a vid from a few weeks ago when Susan and I hacked out and it was Remys first hack with another horse.
Remy was pretty chilled as you can see from the pic where he's falling asleep :-)
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Gently playing with the bit
I started with Bonbon in the school today. She's not been up there for a while as we've been working in a small area at the bottom of the garden.
We did some groundwork at walk and she worked well although not entirely settled. There were a few things going on around us and she was a bit distracted. I delayed asking for the trot and concentrated on getting her relaxed on the circle, walking out nicely with good, even bend, also working on moving quarters and shoulders, lots of halt/walk transitions and some reinback. I don't know if I'm transmitting some weirdy 'were going to trot now' vibes, but I swear I saw a little glint in her eye as I was thinking about the trot transition and she started squealing and first trotting and then cantering, all entirely without any form or balance! I stood quietly in the centre of the circle until she halted and stood to face me and then continued with the walk work to try to restore some calm and relaxation. I changed the rein and waited until she was relaxed and then asked again, same thing although not quite as explosive as the first time and she did settle a little. We finished on a good note with a good forward walk, with stretch and relaxation through the body.
I'm not sure why she's doing it and I'm not sure how we're going to handle it, but I'll continue doing what I'm doing now and see if she settles. She's a funny girl sometimes, but I think we can come to some agreement one way or another.
It's been a good day with Remy today. I walked him to the school and started with a little groundwork, asking for even, relaxed bend on the circle, giravolta on both reins and a short trot on each rein. He was relaxed and soft and he kept this in the trot work, moreso than I've seen from him before.
I started the ridden work on a long rein, moving him around the school, letting him stretch out to the hand. He felt loose and active, overtracking really well. Then I took up the reins and started to work on small circles, keeping inside flexion, stretching the outside and trying to keep even bend round my inside leg. We worked on shoulder-in to counter in on the circle and then moved to shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in on the long side. Also some reinback and travers. When we started the trot work, I asked for the transition from shoulder fore on the circle, this seems to work well and he keeps the softness in the hand and relaxation through the neck. The trot lacks any power, but it's becoming more rhythmical and balanced, he's managing to keep his inside shoulder up and keep the inside bend. Of course it's still very basic and not so good on the left rein as the right, but it's improving. What gave me the biggest thrill was the last five minutes of walk work before we finished which felt so well balanced and light. We were changing the bend and direction with ease and he was gently playing with the bit with a lovely lipstick of white foam. I just wanted to keep riding him and never get off!
We did some groundwork at walk and she worked well although not entirely settled. There were a few things going on around us and she was a bit distracted. I delayed asking for the trot and concentrated on getting her relaxed on the circle, walking out nicely with good, even bend, also working on moving quarters and shoulders, lots of halt/walk transitions and some reinback. I don't know if I'm transmitting some weirdy 'were going to trot now' vibes, but I swear I saw a little glint in her eye as I was thinking about the trot transition and she started squealing and first trotting and then cantering, all entirely without any form or balance! I stood quietly in the centre of the circle until she halted and stood to face me and then continued with the walk work to try to restore some calm and relaxation. I changed the rein and waited until she was relaxed and then asked again, same thing although not quite as explosive as the first time and she did settle a little. We finished on a good note with a good forward walk, with stretch and relaxation through the body.
I'm not sure why she's doing it and I'm not sure how we're going to handle it, but I'll continue doing what I'm doing now and see if she settles. She's a funny girl sometimes, but I think we can come to some agreement one way or another.
It's been a good day with Remy today. I walked him to the school and started with a little groundwork, asking for even, relaxed bend on the circle, giravolta on both reins and a short trot on each rein. He was relaxed and soft and he kept this in the trot work, moreso than I've seen from him before.
I started the ridden work on a long rein, moving him around the school, letting him stretch out to the hand. He felt loose and active, overtracking really well. Then I took up the reins and started to work on small circles, keeping inside flexion, stretching the outside and trying to keep even bend round my inside leg. We worked on shoulder-in to counter in on the circle and then moved to shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in on the long side. Also some reinback and travers. When we started the trot work, I asked for the transition from shoulder fore on the circle, this seems to work well and he keeps the softness in the hand and relaxation through the neck. The trot lacks any power, but it's becoming more rhythmical and balanced, he's managing to keep his inside shoulder up and keep the inside bend. Of course it's still very basic and not so good on the left rein as the right, but it's improving. What gave me the biggest thrill was the last five minutes of walk work before we finished which felt so well balanced and light. We were changing the bend and direction with ease and he was gently playing with the bit with a lovely lipstick of white foam. I just wanted to keep riding him and never get off!
Monday, 19 December 2011
My mum and dad went home yesterday after spending the week with us. I always miss them and the place seems empty without them.
It was a bit drizzly today, but no wind, and quite warm after a couple of frosty mornings.
I took Remy up to the school, my main aim to keep him relaxed and soft in the hand. We started off on a long rein, allowing him to stretch out to the hand, keeping the mobility in his mouth, lots of transitions to halt/reinback-walk on. Then taking up the reins asking him for more bend with small circles, more activity with shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in and generally moving him around the school with lots of changes of bend and direction.
We practiced the trot too, obtaining a nice bend on the circle before asking for the transition, and then a couple of transitions from shoulder-in, keeping the shoulder-in for a few strides before taking him onto a circle. The trot's slowly becoming more balanced and he offered me canter a couple of times today. For the first time, I felt more able to guide him, keep him soft and balanced for longer.
As I noted in the last post, I'm concerned about him flapping his lips, and he did this again today. What's strange is that he's becoming so much more relaxed and maneuverable and he's giving me that lovely relaxed 'blowing through his nose' thing. He's still testing the contact also, and I give him the rein so that he can stretch and also lots of regular stretch breaks. He's a sensitive horse, and if this is a sign of worry, I hope I can reassure him and we can work through it.
I had a short lungeing session with Bonbon. It's been a few days since our last lungeing session and she was a little bit distracted. She contained herself until I asked her to trot and then started her antics, squealing and jumping about. She's not strong and doesn't pull me, so I stood quietly until she realised that I wasn't getting involved, joining in or chasing her. She halted and then we started again at walk until she relaxed before asking for another trot transition. She did it twice before settling and then she seemed to realise that there was nothing to be worried about. It's my fault really, I need to get her into the routine of regular work!
It was a bit drizzly today, but no wind, and quite warm after a couple of frosty mornings.
I took Remy up to the school, my main aim to keep him relaxed and soft in the hand. We started off on a long rein, allowing him to stretch out to the hand, keeping the mobility in his mouth, lots of transitions to halt/reinback-walk on. Then taking up the reins asking him for more bend with small circles, more activity with shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in and generally moving him around the school with lots of changes of bend and direction.
We practiced the trot too, obtaining a nice bend on the circle before asking for the transition, and then a couple of transitions from shoulder-in, keeping the shoulder-in for a few strides before taking him onto a circle. The trot's slowly becoming more balanced and he offered me canter a couple of times today. For the first time, I felt more able to guide him, keep him soft and balanced for longer.
As I noted in the last post, I'm concerned about him flapping his lips, and he did this again today. What's strange is that he's becoming so much more relaxed and maneuverable and he's giving me that lovely relaxed 'blowing through his nose' thing. He's still testing the contact also, and I give him the rein so that he can stretch and also lots of regular stretch breaks. He's a sensitive horse, and if this is a sign of worry, I hope I can reassure him and we can work through it.
I had a short lungeing session with Bonbon. It's been a few days since our last lungeing session and she was a little bit distracted. She contained herself until I asked her to trot and then started her antics, squealing and jumping about. She's not strong and doesn't pull me, so I stood quietly until she realised that I wasn't getting involved, joining in or chasing her. She halted and then we started again at walk until she relaxed before asking for another trot transition. She did it twice before settling and then she seemed to realise that there was nothing to be worried about. It's my fault really, I need to get her into the routine of regular work!
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Lips, lunch and video games..
A lull in the horrid weather this morning so I took Remy up to the school for a ridden session.
It was a bit of a strange session as he seemed perfectly fine, in fact he gave me some of the best shoulder-in at walk that I've ever had. He generally felt soft in the hand, relaxed through the neck and active behind, but, half way through the session he started flapping his lips. He does this if he's a little apprehensive about something, but he has done it before when he's really given his mouth and completely relaxed through his neck, so I don't know, but I'm hoping it's the latter as he was working so nicely. I'm careful to give him lots of stretch breaks and today was no exception, so I don't think I was asking too much of him. We carried on for a short time, including some trot work, which also felt ok and finished on a good note, moving him around with lots of changes of direction stretching to a fairly long rein.
We had a lovely lunch out with my mum and dad who are here for a week and spent the afternoon playing video games - oh how childish!! :-))
It was a bit of a strange session as he seemed perfectly fine, in fact he gave me some of the best shoulder-in at walk that I've ever had. He generally felt soft in the hand, relaxed through the neck and active behind, but, half way through the session he started flapping his lips. He does this if he's a little apprehensive about something, but he has done it before when he's really given his mouth and completely relaxed through his neck, so I don't know, but I'm hoping it's the latter as he was working so nicely. I'm careful to give him lots of stretch breaks and today was no exception, so I don't think I was asking too much of him. We carried on for a short time, including some trot work, which also felt ok and finished on a good note, moving him around with lots of changes of direction stretching to a fairly long rein.
We had a lovely lunch out with my mum and dad who are here for a week and spent the afternoon playing video games - oh how childish!! :-))
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Timber!!
It was such a horrid night, windy with heavy rain, and this morning it continued with heavy showers and a mean grey sky. I had no intention of doing anything with the horses in that. so had another jambette session with Rem, and a bridle session with Bonbon, all nice and cosy inside the barn.
Remy's understanding is improving and today we progressed to asking for the leg raise followed by a step forward. He offered me more lift today, not through anything I was doing,but perhaps because he's decided it's a good game. :-)
A couple of scrawny dead trees at the bottom of the chook run finally gave up the ghost in the night, so we spent the afternoon, between showers, trying to clear them away and mend the fence. Not very enjoyable, but at least we've got a few weeks worth of firewood to add to our store.
Remy's understanding is improving and today we progressed to asking for the leg raise followed by a step forward. He offered me more lift today, not through anything I was doing,but perhaps because he's decided it's a good game. :-)
A couple of scrawny dead trees at the bottom of the chook run finally gave up the ghost in the night, so we spent the afternoon, between showers, trying to clear them away and mend the fence. Not very enjoyable, but at least we've got a few weeks worth of firewood to add to our store.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Starting jambette
It's been horrible weather today, wet and windy so I had a short indoor session with Remy practicing our jambette.
Trudi's been doing some of this with her horses and she's given me some pointers so I thought I'd have a go at teaching Remy.
I ask by touching him high on the side of his foreleg, which seems to be the best place for him. It's noticeable that up to now, he gives me more on his left leg which ties in with the fact that he doesn't use his right shoulder as well as the left and tends to fall in on that side. He's getting it though and I'm sure it's going to help to loosen up those shoulders.
I had a short flexion session with Bonbon, first asking her to release her jaw and then flexion and neck extension either side.
Trudi's been doing some of this with her horses and she's given me some pointers so I thought I'd have a go at teaching Remy.
I ask by touching him high on the side of his foreleg, which seems to be the best place for him. It's noticeable that up to now, he gives me more on his left leg which ties in with the fact that he doesn't use his right shoulder as well as the left and tends to fall in on that side. He's getting it though and I'm sure it's going to help to loosen up those shoulders.
I had a short flexion session with Bonbon, first asking her to release her jaw and then flexion and neck extension either side.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Bonbon and Remy progress
It's been a busy weekend so not had chance to do much with the horses.
This morning the weather was lovely and ideal for a session in the school with Remy. He was very calm and responsive, he was staying soft and relaxed and gave me some really nice work. Shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in on both reins, some nice reinback and some of the nicest, balanced trot work to date. A long way to go, but definite improvement.
My last two sessions with Bonbon have been a bit wayward. Groundwork and close lunge work ok in walk and then squealing and overreacting when asked to trot.
Today, we continued with this and although reasonably calm in the walk work, we got the same reaction into the trot transition. Not as extreme, a bit of an explosion and a squeal, then stopping to face me.
It's definitely a worry thing, and in the walk work, I've always walked with her, staying reasonably close and she's pretty ok and relaxed with this. When I ask for the trot transition, I am, in effect sending her away from me and I think it's this that's confusing her, so I started to trot slowly at her side as I asked her to trot, and after a few seconds she started a hesitant little trot with me, and it seemed like you could see a little light bulb go on in her head. I asked once more and she gave me another little trot, so we happily left it there for the day. Hopefully it's a start and we'll progress from there in our next session.
This morning the weather was lovely and ideal for a session in the school with Remy. He was very calm and responsive, he was staying soft and relaxed and gave me some really nice work. Shoulder-in and counter shoulder-in on both reins, some nice reinback and some of the nicest, balanced trot work to date. A long way to go, but definite improvement.
My last two sessions with Bonbon have been a bit wayward. Groundwork and close lunge work ok in walk and then squealing and overreacting when asked to trot.
Today, we continued with this and although reasonably calm in the walk work, we got the same reaction into the trot transition. Not as extreme, a bit of an explosion and a squeal, then stopping to face me.
It's definitely a worry thing, and in the walk work, I've always walked with her, staying reasonably close and she's pretty ok and relaxed with this. When I ask for the trot transition, I am, in effect sending her away from me and I think it's this that's confusing her, so I started to trot slowly at her side as I asked her to trot, and after a few seconds she started a hesitant little trot with me, and it seemed like you could see a little light bulb go on in her head. I asked once more and she gave me another little trot, so we happily left it there for the day. Hopefully it's a start and we'll progress from there in our next session.
Remy and Corky hack out
Susan, Laura and Max came over on Friday and we went out for a short hack, me and Remy, and Susan riding Corky. Laura and Max came along as 'ground crew' which was great for taking pics ( to follow ) and extra support.
The weather had been pretty bad and I'd not had chance to ride Corky, so it was the first time ridden for quite a while. She was a very good girl, although once or twice decided that, perhaps she didn't really want to restart her ridden career! All in all they were both very good and Remy took it all in his stride. He's never ridden out with another horse before, but as it was Corky, he just settled down and accepted it readily. In fact, at times he was a little too switched off and went into 'follow' mode, cheekily trying to bite Corkys bum! On our return we headed off to the school and Laura had a sit- on Corky, and Susan gave her a little lesson. Both Laura and Corky seemed to enjoy it and I'm hoping Laura will come over on a more regular basis to help with and ride Corky. It was good for Remy to have another horse with him in the school as he's used to being in there on his own.
The weather had been pretty bad and I'd not had chance to ride Corky, so it was the first time ridden for quite a while. She was a very good girl, although once or twice decided that, perhaps she didn't really want to restart her ridden career! All in all they were both very good and Remy took it all in his stride. He's never ridden out with another horse before, but as it was Corky, he just settled down and accepted it readily. In fact, at times he was a little too switched off and went into 'follow' mode, cheekily trying to bite Corkys bum! On our return we headed off to the school and Laura had a sit- on Corky, and Susan gave her a little lesson. Both Laura and Corky seemed to enjoy it and I'm hoping Laura will come over on a more regular basis to help with and ride Corky. It was good for Remy to have another horse with him in the school as he's used to being in there on his own.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Excess Energy.
It's been a horrible few days, non stop rain, dreary and miserable. The horses have stayed in the stable the last couple of nights, they've been hanging around the gate mid afternoon looking fed-up, so came in for a feed and then just not wanted to go back out, can't blame them!!
This morning was quite bright and warm so I took Remy up to the school. He showed me some of the spirit I've been wanting to see, but not quite in the way I expected! As I was leading him up there he let off some of his excess energy by trying to spin round and rear. Not usual behaviour, but it just goes to show how much calmer they are when they're out 24/7. When we got up to the school, he bounced in and showed me just how he can move when he makes the effort. I lunged him at walk and trot until he relaxed and then I got on.
I've decided that we've got to start looking for more activity behind. I've not wanted to push him too much as it's just caused tension at the front. It's still a real balancing act, but he's more consistently soft in the hand now and I think he can deal with a little bit more from behind.
With this in mind, I expected quick reactions to the leg today and if I didn't get it I gave him a quick tap with the whip to remind him. He realised very quickly what was expected and we had a really good session. He was offering trot from a very light aid and then in the trot, offering canter. He's only ever offered canter once from the trot, and it was a run into the canter. Today he offered it 3 times from a fairly balanced trot, which, although I hadn't asked for it, I'm happy to accept, as I think he'll prefer to canter, it'll help his balance, and it can only improve the trot (which needs a lot of improvement).
I think I'm going to have to clip him. Not sure how that's going to go, he's never seen the clippers before. I'll just take his lower neck and belly, so unfortunately he'll be stripey - I hate stripey horses!
The last session with Bonbon was pretty heated, throwing herself around and squealing when I asked her to trot on the lunge. She's calm in walk when I'm working close to her and seems a little worried into the trot transition as I ask her to move out and away on the circle. I've tried to keep her relaxed and soft, with good bend before asking for a soft, calm transition into the trot, keeping a shorter line and going with her on the circle. This seems to help.
Today we had the same behaviour, but she was more determined ( more excess energy, I guess) and I'm not quite sure when the apprehension turned to defiance, but when she started to throw herself around squealing and then dragging her head down to eat grass, I had to be a lot firmer with her, a quick 'no' and a tug on the rope to lift her head, and then straight back to walk on the circle, waiting until she relaxed and then trying the transition again.
I don't mind her letting off steam on the lunge, but within the parameters that I set, and if she's behaving dangerously, twisting and trying to spin, throwing her back legs around (you get the picture) I can't have that. She gradually calmed and we finished on a good note, with a trot on each rein. I think next session will be better, she's quite opinionated, but she's not a bad horse and today she seemed to realise that trotting on the lunge wasn't too bad really. We'll see!
This morning was quite bright and warm so I took Remy up to the school. He showed me some of the spirit I've been wanting to see, but not quite in the way I expected! As I was leading him up there he let off some of his excess energy by trying to spin round and rear. Not usual behaviour, but it just goes to show how much calmer they are when they're out 24/7. When we got up to the school, he bounced in and showed me just how he can move when he makes the effort. I lunged him at walk and trot until he relaxed and then I got on.
I've decided that we've got to start looking for more activity behind. I've not wanted to push him too much as it's just caused tension at the front. It's still a real balancing act, but he's more consistently soft in the hand now and I think he can deal with a little bit more from behind.
With this in mind, I expected quick reactions to the leg today and if I didn't get it I gave him a quick tap with the whip to remind him. He realised very quickly what was expected and we had a really good session. He was offering trot from a very light aid and then in the trot, offering canter. He's only ever offered canter once from the trot, and it was a run into the canter. Today he offered it 3 times from a fairly balanced trot, which, although I hadn't asked for it, I'm happy to accept, as I think he'll prefer to canter, it'll help his balance, and it can only improve the trot (which needs a lot of improvement).
I think I'm going to have to clip him. Not sure how that's going to go, he's never seen the clippers before. I'll just take his lower neck and belly, so unfortunately he'll be stripey - I hate stripey horses!
The last session with Bonbon was pretty heated, throwing herself around and squealing when I asked her to trot on the lunge. She's calm in walk when I'm working close to her and seems a little worried into the trot transition as I ask her to move out and away on the circle. I've tried to keep her relaxed and soft, with good bend before asking for a soft, calm transition into the trot, keeping a shorter line and going with her on the circle. This seems to help.
Today we had the same behaviour, but she was more determined ( more excess energy, I guess) and I'm not quite sure when the apprehension turned to defiance, but when she started to throw herself around squealing and then dragging her head down to eat grass, I had to be a lot firmer with her, a quick 'no' and a tug on the rope to lift her head, and then straight back to walk on the circle, waiting until she relaxed and then trying the transition again.
I don't mind her letting off steam on the lunge, but within the parameters that I set, and if she's behaving dangerously, twisting and trying to spin, throwing her back legs around (you get the picture) I can't have that. She gradually calmed and we finished on a good note, with a trot on each rein. I think next session will be better, she's quite opinionated, but she's not a bad horse and today she seemed to realise that trotting on the lunge wasn't too bad really. We'll see!
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