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.

Day off with treats and massage...

.... for the horses, not me, unfortunately.
We've been busy today spraying ferns and bracken, so the horses had a day off from working. Instead, they had their usual exercise and relaxation routine whilst grooming, plus a massage. Of course, they love their carrot stretches, but they had a hay net too whilst I gave them their massage.

Here's a vid of Remy from last week, continuing to work on the trot.




The last few days I've started to ask for the canter transition, something that we've done very little of, and which highlights the fact that Remy certainly needs to be more active behind.  The transitions are hit and miss - some ok, some very lacklustre, but we've had a few very well balanced ones too, so I know he can do it if we get everything right.  The good thing is that it's helping to improve the trot.

Back to riding

The last time I posted about the horses, Remy had just had his osteo treatment. He had a tweak in his back which was affecting the way he used his pelvis, and also a tweak into the shoulder.
I have a little stretching routine that I give him during our grooming time and also been walking him up and down our hilly fields to exercise the stifle and psoas muscles.
I didn't ride him for weeks as I'd lost my mojo, but now that's returning and we've started again, hacking out and going in the school.
I've got a trainer now who's going to come over every couple of weeks or so, and that's going to give us some confidence and direction. She's very experienced and trained with Nuno Oliveira, so I have high hopes that it's going to make all the difference to us.

Today a friend came over, and we had our first hack out ever with a strange horse. Remy was brilliant, although he couldn't stop sniffing and nibbling at her (the horse, not my friend), but I'm sure he'll get over that soon enough as we're going to make it a regular event.
He's had some problems with his teeth - wolf teeth and a tush coming through on one side. It was certainly affecting him, and we were on the verge of taking out his wolf teeth, but I think it was soreness in the gum on the tush and since it's come through he's been much better. I'm trying him in a lozenge happy mouth and he seems ok, so we'll see how he goes.
This is a little vid that Jim did when we started back in the school. Just a few minutes of trot work to loosen and relax him. He did give me a canter transition that, I think, was as much a surprise to him as it was to me!



We've been working Bonbon on the lunge and walking her out a little on the tracks. She's slowly relaxing to it, with less and less squeally (not sure that's a word) behaviour, and we're getting nice transitions now with walk trot and canter - although we sometimes get a little eruption in the canter transition. I'm hoping to start riding her soon.

It's been a while...

......but I had to have a record of my beatiful wildflower garden. Is it 'wildflower' or 'wild flower'? Don't know.
It has all the colours of the rainbow, and just when I thought it was going to be a boring old bed of weeds, there it was!
 I'm pretty rubbish at taking pics, and mine, unfortunately, don't do it justice.  I admire greatly those that can duplicate with the camera, what we actually see.
There have been things going on here - some good, some not so good, I could pour it all out, but would probably regret it at a later stage when in a not so reflective mood.

rain = yoga, massage and baking

Well, despite a rosier forecast, the rain has returned, so they all had yoga exercises this morning.
Remy's improving, Bonbon is pretty good to start with, and Corky's a stiff old bird!
I gave  Remy a massage to finish and he was lovely and relaxed.
I took to baking - a good sign that I've nothing better to do - and made some mince tarts and an egg custard.
I threw some potatoes in once the others were cooked, so it's baked spuds for tea.

road trips, yoga and bitless options

My mum and dad are on a road trip through France. They arrived here 9 days ago and it's been great to see them. They went on their way this morning and, as usual, I feel sad and a little bit lost. They have another week and will be slowly making their way home. I hope the weather picks up a little for them. The forecast is good.
After they left, I gave Remy his exercises before a short lungeing session on our set aside area at the bottom of the garden.
I was really pleased with him, and he felt light and forward on the line. The trot looked and felt (on the line) easier, and there was a definite spring in his step. He really wanted to get to the grass, so was stretching down very well (sometimes a little bit too much), but managing to keep his shoulders up.
I'm investigating bitless options for the moment. I've ridden him on the training cavesson, but I think I'll just attach the reins to his noseband, it's well padded so shouldn't be a problem.I've also been offered the loan of a Dr Cooks , so will give that a try, although I'm not sure how we will get on with the head-hug effect.

Remy continues his yoga sessions

I had a good session with Bonbon today. I took her for a walk up the lane into the school for her lungeing session. She was really good, striding out well, and I lunged her at walk and trot around the school before getting on.
I haven't ridden her for a month or more, and it felt strange, she's big, quite wide and, after Remy, I felt perched a little on her back. It took a few minutes before she started to focus, and I walked her around the school on a long rein as she checked out the various corners, jump wings, poles etc.
As she started to pay more attention, I worked on walk/halt transitions and changes of rein on circles.
I decided to ride her back down the lane home, which I've never done before. Jim walked with us and she was great.
It felt good to be back riding her.
Remy had his yoga session before a short in-hand session on the yard. It seems to be helping him. He's relaxing into the leg lifts, and we're definitely seeing some progress with the pelvic tucks and belly lifts.

We planted 3 new trees this afternoon - a laburnum, a silver birch and a sycamore. I love trees, and I'm happy to say that our eucalyptus that we thought had died of the cold seems to have survived after all.

The clouds roll away

It's been a week since I rode Remy. He's been having a rest after his osteo treatment, and I've been massaging him and doing these daily exercises which I think are really going to help him.



I decided to ride him up the lane today, I didn't put the bridle on, just rode him on the cavesson, and while it felt a bit strange in the hand, he was fairly receptive, especially halts and reinback which I used on the way back to keep him focussed.  I wanted to test the waters as to how much control I had, so was pretty pleased, although I don't know how we'll go if I ask him to canter.

Bonbon always holds her weight, and she's come through the winter very well. With the flush of spring grass, she's holding quite a bit of weight, so now the weather's a bit better I've started lungeing her. I took her for a walk up the lane today before going into the school for her session, and she was really good.

"The biggest problem is that riders think they are supposed to NOT have problems with their horses ;). But remember, it's not happening TO you, but FOR you. You can't always get what you want, you get what you need... You better love problems with your horses ;) See them as gifts, as a challenge, as an opportunity to learn and grow. The goal is not being without problems, but getting 'better quality' problems so you can learn more ;)"

I like this, I just have to learn to embrace it! ;-)

Remy's osteo check up

The equine osteo came to see Remy today and found a sore spot around the lumbar vertebrae just in-front of the sacrum. It's a muscular problem, nothing out of the ordinary, a little niggle not helped by the fact that he doesn't use his left hind as well as his right.
I  can tell this from riding him, but now we must pay more attention to it and concentrate on encouraging him to offer more engagement on that side.
He also had a sore spot on his chest, into the shoulder, involving the pectoral and brachiocephalic muscles, a tweak that could have been caused by a slip in the field.
I described the odd lifting of the head and the osteo said that it would tie in, Remy wanting to stretch the brachiocephalic muscle, which runs up the underside of the neck, as his head came into that position.
I'm hoping that's the reason for it and it will clear up as he becomes more comfortable.
I can start riding him in 3 days.

I'm still going to liaise with the vet and dentist though, as I really need to sort out the problem with the wolf teeth.

bitless flexions

Had a good look in Remys mouth today and found that the blind wolf tooth looked much bigger than I remember, and he wasn't really happy in me touching it, so I'm going to have to speak to the dentist and vet with a view to getting it removed.
It was raining heavily ( I really wish it would stop now!!!!) so I gave him a good grooming, some leg circles, tail circles and a face massage.
He was very relaxed by the time I'd finished, so I tried some flexions in the cavesson. I've never really practiced flexions without a bit, but was reassured by how well he did, relaxing his jaw when I asked. I'm looking forward to trying it out under saddle.

Wolf tooth?

We lunged Remy this morning, fully tacked up with cavesson, bridle and saddle.
I walked him around for a few minutes on each rein to warm him up and then tried the trot on each rein, both around the school and on the circle.
There was no sign of any nodding and both Jim and I thought he looked completely sound.
I then mounted and we did the same with me onboard. The first time with no contact, the reins resting on his neck. He was fine and no sign of nodding after the transition to walk.
The second time, I took the reins and had a light contact and we noticed a slight raising of his head after the transition to walk. I was careful to give the rein immediately after the transition and although it was only slight, it was still there for a couple of strides.
So, we think (hope) that it may be discomfort in his mouth, perhaps with the unerupted wolf tooth, or even expecting pain. He's very soft and responsive in his mouth, but also, he's always been very sensitive and aware of the bit, so perhaps he's not really too comfortable with it.
I'm going to continue to ride him, with the bit in his mouth, but the reins attached to the cavesson to see how he goes, and perhaps look to changing to a light rubber/plastic bit, although I have very little knowledge of this type of bit.
I need to speak to peter, our equine dentist as it may be best to remove both the erupted and the blind wolf tooth.
We'll see!
On reflection, the thing that really surprised me yesterday, was how well he went when I rode him off the cavesson. The feel was different in my hand, but his response was the same. We did some trot and a shoulder-in on each rein and he coped fine.
I have no knowledge of riding bitless either, so this will be interesting.

Hmmmmm

We've had a few days off due to the weather. We're having typical april weather with some very heavy showers and trying to avoid them is quite difficult.
Managed to ride Remy today, but it was a bit of a strange session.
We started off in the field warming up in walk and then went into the school for a little trot work and hopefully a few walk to canter transitions.
The trot is becoming looser and better balanced, but I noticed after trotting on the left rein, that he started to nod (upwards) for a few strides on returning to walk. I don't mean throwing his head during the transitions, it was after the transition as we started to walk on, and it stopped if I straightened him or put him on the right rein.. He doesn't do it coming back to walk on the right rein.
I've noticed a reluctance to give me correct bend on the left rein, the last few sessions, preferring to keep slight outside bend, and put it down to a phase - natural stiffness/crookedness. We've had periods where he's been better on the left rein, the right rein being the more difficult.
When he lifts his head, it's like he's trying to take the rein away, and if I let him stretch right down he stops lifting his head, although we still have this slight reluctance to bend left.
It may be bit/teeth related - he does have a blind wolf tooth, which I didn't think was causing him a problem - or maybe he has tweaked a muscle and is reluctant to stretch the outside, or he has pain on the inside foreleg - he seems to lift his head up when the inside foreleg touches the ground?
Is it something I'm doing - with my hands - or perhaps just my extra weight in the saddle?
I didn't have a lunge line in the school, so couldn't actually try him on the lunge, but I did attach the reins to the noseband to take the bit out of the equation, and tried riding him that way. The nodding was still there when we returned to walk, but much less, and obviously the bit was still in his mouth, so it could still be having an effect on the left rein.

He's just had his teeth checked, so I've contacted the osteo to come give him the once over. Also, I'm going to lunge him tomorrow to see how he goes, firstly fully tacked up, and then without the saddle and then the bridle. I always lunge him off the training cavesson, but I will completely remove the bit to see if he's any better.
I'll see how he goes on the lunge, if he looks fully sound. He doesn't feel lame, but to me, head nodding, however slight or occasional, signals that he has an issue or pain somewhere.

Horse racing - a despicable sport

There's a lot of stuff out there at the moment about horse racing. I've seen posts on facebook, twitter, forums etc. Horses dying left, right and centre, with pics galore. I certainly don't go looking for it, it's just there and I can't avoid it.
I hate it!!!
There's nothing I can do about the plight of race horses, so I feel totally wretched. I'm sick of seeing the pics and I'm sick of reading all the gory details of how many horses died today!
Another two horses die in the Grand National.
About 40 horses died already in the UK this year, and god knows how many others have been pts due to injury, or shipped abroad for meat because they've not lived up to expectations or they've broken down. These poor horses discarded like yesterdays news!
In the racing industry, the horse is just a commodity, to be used and abused. It's all about the kudos, and it's all about the money.
It saddens me greatly.

Fly fringes

.....where do they go?
I know what happens to them - Remy pulls them off, but where they go is a complete mystery!
Corky usually manages to keep hers - she won't allow him to mess with it, but Bonbon loses hers frequently. I've seen him swinging them around in his mouth, so I think he chucks them over the fence or into the hedge just for fun!
Anyway, Bonbons brand new one disappeared after about 3 hours and I still haven't found it!

I had a great session with Remy today. I spent a good while getting him ready with a thorough grooming and some leg and tail circles, took him up to the school, and after a warm up in walk and a little trot, started on the walk/canter transitions.
There was a marked improvement from our first session, with 2 or 3 very clean transitions on each rein, with no trot steps. I finished straight away on a good note and I'm really looking forward to our next session.

Happy Birthday.........

....to me.

I didn't ride the horses yesterday, but had a lovely grooming/massage session with Remy. I think he enjoyed it, hard to tell as he was eating his hay throughout. ;-)
I gave him a face massage and he loved the mouth work, really seemed to like having his gums rubbed.
When I put them out, he was enjoying himself so much, playing around, and looked like he felt good in his body.
We spent the afternoon chopping up and loading a fallen tree in the top field. Unforutnately dead from the horses stripping the bark - they can be so destructive.
It's raining today, so no riding, we're off into town for lunch.

Starting walk to canter transitions

Yesterday, I continued the lateral work in walk and the trot transitions, concentrating on keeping him active behind. We got some nice shoulder-in on the long side, and the feeling of him really starting to open his shoulders. His reinback has become much more fluid and I really do think that we've got a handle on the trot, and a solid base to work from.
Today, I wanted to start walk to canter transitions. I know that if we can get him cantering, it will really improve the trot.
I started with some lateral work at walk - s/i, travers and counter s/i on each rein, then asking for the canter transition from a small loop in counter s'i back to the track. This has the effect of weighting the outside shoulder, freeing up the inside for the transition. It worked quite well, and he worked out fairly quickly what I wanted. A good start, I think.

I had a session with Bonbon and she was quite tense - unusual for her. Nevertheless, she lunged quite calmly. She was distracted in the ridden work, but settled a little and gave me some lovely walk/halt transitions.

A 'great' good friday

Bonbon's in season and the last couple of times i've worked her, she's been somewhat distracted! Not the slightest bit naughty, just had her mind elsewhere. Today was no different, but we had a good ridden session and once I'd got her attention, she was really focussed.
Her walk/halt transitions were quick and clean, we got some nice steps of reinback and, best of all, while staying soft in my hand, yielded to my inside leg and gave me good, even bend on the circle.
I've only been riding her a short time, but at one point, she felt so alive and receptive that I found myself wanting to ask for a trot transition. A little voice stopped, me, not wanting to lose the feeling, and thinking it was too soon. Not sure, but, I think it will be the right moment soon enough.

I had a short session with Remy on the yard, starting in-hand and then ridden.
I've realised two things this last few months (it's very slowly filtered through and not before time, too!!!) , firstly, when I think I've given him enough rein, he needs a little more, and, secondly, when I think I've got his back end, I really haven't!
Today, was a session that I'll remember for two reasons. Firstly, because he was soft, round and happy in my hand, and secondly, he really was using his back-end!
We were working on a small circle with shoulder-in and travers ,then just asking him to walk the circle, keeping light and engaged, and he offered me a lovely, soft but energetic trot transition as if it was the easiest thing in the world. Didn't feel like a fluke, it felt like it finally all clicked into place.
I've got to wait until tomorrow to see.

A new experience for Remy out hacking

A hack out today for me and Remy. A little bit hesitant on the way out, but willing to go and felt active and together, and good in the hand. We stopped for him to have a little munch of grass half way round and, as usual, he was more active on our return journey.
I very rarely see anyone else riding, but we spotted a horse and rider on the way back.
Remy's never seen another horse under saddle while we've been out, and he was a little bit excited. He grew about 3 hands and started calling out. I muttered a quick uh oh, and tried to sit as calmly and quietly as possible ;-o
They were on a track about 100 yds away, heading away from us, and Remy really wanted to get over to them. I asked him to halt, which he did, and then just stayed still until they'd moved further away.
When I asked him to walk on in the opposite direction, he was on his toes, but fine, although he could hear some noise round the next bend, and we tiptoed past some workmen unloading a van.
He continued to call out, and was a little bit restless on the way home, but was listening, and he walked out well and stayed soft in the hand.
I'm really pleased with the way he handled it!

Same old.......

We've been continuing along the same lines the last few days. ~Remy's been down the tracks and also in the school. We've even taken to doing a little schooling in our top field - it's good for canter. He offers me the transition, so, of course, I take it. We get an unruly canter, but it feels ok as long as we go in a straight line ;-o
I've had a couple of nice sessions with Bonbon, in the school and a short session in-hand on the yard.
A few pics of me and Remy in our top field.

A couple of vids from yesterdays session.

Back to lungeing...

I've been working in the school for the last few days.
With Remy, I've been concentrating on trot transitions, making sure that there's enough energy to get a soft transition, but not too much that he hollows or rushes off. We seem to be getting there with the transitions, which give a balanced start to the trot, but he's not able to keep that balance for too long  before he tightens through the front end, and/or starts to rush. I'm finding it hard to determine his natural trot rhythm, so the last few days we've been having a short lunge session before riding.
It's been a revelation. Remy was always quite tense on the lunge, but having returned to it, it's great to see how much better balanced he is. He can maintain a nice, regular trot now, and it's been really useful to see him settle into his natural rhythm, which is quite slow, but once relaxed, becomes nicely energetic.
It's helping with the ridden work, and today, in one or two of the transitions,  I felt a real oomph from behind, while keeping the softness in front.

After a few days off, we had another session with Bonbon in the school. Starting with a lunge session - she's actually offering the trot now, and is much calmer. We now have to try and get some softness and relaxation in the trot. We followed that with a ridden session of the usual walk/halt transitions, with small circles and changes of rein. She's settling to it all so well.
I love getting on her, she's so biddable, a real little sweetie. I think she enjoys it.

A busy few days

We've had a busy few days.
The horse dentist came on wednesday for their 6 monthly check-up. All's well and not a lot of treatment necessary.
I had a lovely afternoon yesterday over at Trudi's, a good lunch and a good natter!
This morning I had two lovely sessions. First with Remy, who was as receptive and focussed as I've ever known him to be. He gave me some lovely steps of shoulder-in, both on the circle and on the straight line, plus the best trot transitions we've ever had. Just the transitions, basically one or two steps before I clicked him good boy. We did half a dozen transitions like this on each rein and he gave me a soft, round transition every time.
I then took Bonbon up to the school, and following a short lunge session, we continued the basics in ridden work of walk/halt transitions and lots of small circles and changes of rein. She was a little distracted, but after a few minutes she settled and started to listen.
Andrea came over this afternoon and we had a good chat while going over some admin for the group.

It's been a lovely sunny day and I've enjoyed it very much.

An eventful hack

A sunny day today and I took Remy out for a hack.
It was quite eventful.
First, our neighbours were blocking the track with the tractor and log splitter. It was quite noisy, and they were hiding behind the tractor and suddenly popped their heads out.to say hello.  Remy handled it brilliantly and we managed to squeeze past without a problem. Then, we went through our little shortcut to find that the field on the other side had been ploughed and while we could get round the edge, it was still quite deep and soft. He handled that too, making his way carefully to the track.
After that, we settled onto the nice quiet grassy track, and he started to walk out nicely. We took a new (to him) track, and he was happy to go. There's no way home from this track, so we had to turn around at some point, and when we did, he was calm and wasn't wanting to rush home.
Heading home, I gave him a long rein and he stretched out into a lovely ground covering walk. We were 20 minutes from home, just reaching the top of an uphill, bendy track, and just approaching the last bend, when Remy spied a parked car, partially hidden. In a split second, he had stopped dead, tried to turn, lost his footing, and before I knew it, we were both on the ground. I'd come straight off the back, complete with stirrups. I grabbed hold of the reins as he got up, and stood quietly while he huffed and snorted at my side. I had to wait quietly for a minute or two before he was calm enough to lead round the bend towards the car, and even then he was still jumpy, but after a few moments I led him forward to sniff and touch the car with his nose, after which he was much calmer.
Another minute or two and he was calm enough for me to stand him next to a nearby log. I got back on and we continued on home. He was on his toes, but calm enough, and we had a lovely long uphill trot. I gave him the rein and let him really stretch and use himself. He felt fine, and seemed not to have hurt himself.
It's disconcerting how quickly things can happen, and he'd given us both a shock, but the upside of it was that he'd stood with me, and listened to me as I tried to calm him,even though he was really scared, and best of all was how calm he was once we'd continued on our way home.
Hopefully no harm done.
I hope it doesn't happen again!!

Soft, round trot transitions

Another week's gone by and the weather has turned back to cold and wet. We need the rain, but that short glimpse of spring led us into a false sense of security.
I've had a couple of nice long hacks on Remy, exploring new tracks and some trotting on the uphill tracks. He's certainly getting the hang of it!
I've ridden Bonbon a couple of times in the school and todays session was really enjoyable.
A Short lunge session to start, and the trot is improving nicely. She's listening and relaxing more, and we're starting to get better bend.
She was a little distracted when I got on, but after a few minutes she started to listen and gave me nice flexion and softness in the the hand. We worked on walk/halt/walk transitions and small circles with lots of changes of rein.
I rode Remy in the school today and it was a really encouraging session. He was very relaxed, gave me some lovely shoulder-in, and some of the best trot transitions we've had. Lately, we've been struggling to get a round transition, but today he was more active behind, and his walk was much better balanced. I've not ridden for a few days and it was good to get back to it.

Warm spring sunshine

We've been continuing the same over the last few days.
I've ridden Bonbon a couple of times in the school and she's getting the hang of halt /walk transitions and turning. I've been lungeing her before riding and that's been improving, especially the trot which is becoming more relaxed.
I've had a couple of sessions in the school with Remy, working on relaxation and softness. The reinback is coming much softer and we've been doing halt/reinback/walk on transitions to lighten the forehand. I have a habit of giving too much outside rein, but I'm making a conscious effort to keep it, and keep the contact soft. We seem to be getting the hang of it and he's relaxing more into the shoulder-in.
I'm still unbalanced in the rising trot, definitely need to do more. I can remember when trotting came easy and I could trot indefinitely without blowing a gasket! I might try shortening my stirrups a little, don't know if it will help with the balance, but worth a try.
I've been hacking him out more and it's really making him use himself. It's brilliant to feel the energy, and today I trotted him up the hill, which helped with his balance, and it felt like we were floating.
He did one massive spook when a truck used its air brakes.The track was running parallel with the road and it was partially hidden through the trees and really startled him. What I love, is that he doesn't make a big deal of it, and calms really quickly.
A little note popped up on my pc calendar. 10th March - one year since Anky died. Time really does fly.

Spring is here. The daffs are coming, buds on the fruit trees, I mowed the lawn for the first time today and graded my arena. It's good to feel the sun again.

Out and about

Now that I've got Remy going out and about, I've decided to do much more hacking and less in the school. To be honest, I think he's a bit bored of it, and although I love going in the school, I think we'll learn as much, if not more by hacking out.
He makes more of an effort hacking out and he's certainly more active behind, so we'll still go in the school, but not as much as we have been.
We were out for just over an hour today. We used our shortcut to the lovely grassy track ride and, although he was looking at stuff and had a couple of big spooks at a big grey water trough, he coped really well.
Coming home he was very forward and at one point, went into a really powerful trot, which I'm going to have to learn to ride and regulate! The track goes up a nice long hill, so next time I'll ask him to trot up there and it'll give him time to come back to me and find his balance.
I wanted to do something with Bonbon this afternoon, but the wind got quite strong and blustery. Instead, I made a quiche and and egg custard - can you tell we have a surplus of eggs!

Calmness and feel

I didn't ride them yesterday as the vet came to give them their annual vaccinations, but I rode Remy this afternoon in the school.
I had such an amazing session that I had to write it up while I still had the thoughts in my head.
It sounds corny, but I felt a real inner calm today that I don't think I've ever felt before. There was so little thought and so much feel, and it was wonderful to see how 'with' him I could  be and also how I could influence him and still be 'with' him.
We moved around the school, with shoulder-in, a little travers and lots of halt/reinback/walk on transitions. We did shoulder-in on the circle, and for the first time a few balanced steps of travers on the circle. This tells me that we're getting there.  'There' is a way away, but we're on the way to it.
His trot transitions from reinback were more together, softer and lighter, and I began to feel that a canter transition would be possible from that lightness.
I'm a lucky girl, and I love that boy so much!

New hacking track

I went back with Remy today to check if the little gap in the hedge could be a shortcut through to the really nice grassy track ride. Jim came along with us and moved a few fallen branches, pulled back a few small holly branches and, hey presto, we were able to get through.
Remy was pretty chilled, so we continued along the track. We went on ahead, Jim following behind, and Remy was really forward and curious. He seemed to be enjoying it so we went for quite a way before deciding to turn for home. We need to do a lot more of this, it really gets him opening up and using himself. We had a couple of nice, balanced trots on the way home.
I didn't have time to do anything with Bonbon, as Gareth arrived to trim their feet.

Bonbon Walentine

Another beautiful day. The horses are moulting like crazy and Spring is definitely here!  (I'm probably going to regret saying that).
I took Remy up to the school, warmed him up in walk, first on a long rein letting him stretch and relax, and then on a shorter rein, lots of bend on small circles, stretching the outside of the body. I practiced shallow serpentines down the centre line, changing flexion, one rein to the other, and he's starting to change much more fluidly.
I worked more in trot today. Now he's starting to find a better balance, I can keep the trot for longer periods and we're starting to be able to rebalance within the pace when necessary. Towards the end of the session, it really felt like he was relaxing into it more, his transitions became softer, and we did a little sitting trot.
I had a little in-hand session with Bonbon, practicing flexions to each side at the halt, obtaining the release and letting her extend her neck, keeping the mobility of the jaw.
This is the vid from our ridden session yesterday. It was the first time in the school alone (Jim's been coming in with us) and I think she did really well.  My stirrups felt a little short, but I can't believe how horrid my leg position is!

Shorts and T-shirt

It's been so warm and sunny here today, definitely a shorts and t-shirt day.
I took Remy for a short hack and he stopped at the usual place near my neighbours garden. He's really got a thing about it so we halted and I waited until he was happy to go, and after that he was really forward and keen.
We went down the track to the lake and he was really striding out - it felt good.  We walked most of the way back up the track, with a short trot as we reached the top. Instead of heading back towards home, I decided to do a little exploring and headed further up the track towards the road. There's a field just before the road and it doestn't really have a path through, but I could see a gap in the hedge at the bottom of the field, so we went to have a look to see if we could get through.  This would be a great shortcut to a nice ride along a green track, and I wouldn't have to cross and then re-cross the road. When we got there, I could see that if I pulled back a few thin holly branches I would probably be able to get through, so I'm going to go back on foot to do just that, and we'll try getting through on my next hack.

I took Bonbon to the school again and although she was a little distracted, she was a good girl. We had a short lunge session and then I sat on. The same things as our last couple of sessions, walk/halt transitions and changes of direction.
We did a vid, but it won't upload for some reason, I'll try again tomorrow.

Not a chestnut amongst them.....

Two more schooling sessions today with Remy and Bonbon. Working more on the trot today with Rem and his balance is improving on the right rein. In fact, he was a little hesitant on the left rein and a little tight through his neck. He was ok when I worked him on a longer rein, in fact he felt lovely and soft, so we'll see how he is tomorrow.
Bonbon was a good girl again. The trotting on the lunge is really improving and she's starting to relax more into the trot.  I sat on again and we continued with the halt/walk transitions, turning left and right, a little reinback and circles.

I've just been checking their passports so that I can book their annual vaccination and was curious about Remys ancestors, searching the internet, I came across these vids of Remys great grandads.
Landgraf 1


 Cor de la Bryere


and Nimmerdor


Hehe, I wonder where the chestnut gene comes in!!

A sunny day and two brilliant schooling sessions

I rode my horses in the sunshine today, it was lovely. I'd definitely be fooled into thinking spring was on its way, and I seem to have been given a reprieve from the lurgy, so all good!

I think Remy is slowly becoming the horse that I dreamed he'd be when we started our training. We've reached a place where I can feel improvement day by day.
He's staying soft in the hand and through his neck, and if he tenses it just takes a lift of the rein to get a release and relaxation again. I can feel his carriage improving and everything else along with it.

He did so much good stuff today, I don't know where to start, but I worked him around the school as usual, moving shoulders and quarters, lots of transitions with halt/walk/reinback  and keeping him relaxed with good bend on small circles. His shoulder-in was well balanced, and he's responding much easier when I ask for the travers. His reinbacks were smooth and he stayed rounder and softer infront.
Best of all, he's showing better balance and rhythm in his trotwork, and today he gave me some lovely steps, stretching down and out, but maintaining a slow, balanced rhythm and keeping his shoulders up.
He was so relaxed that I tried one or two canter transitions at the end of the session.
I want to try and train the canter from walk, so my first attempt was by riding a small loop back to the track in counter shoulder-in, asking for the transition as I joined the long side. This didn't work at all - we have done it with some success once before, but I tried twice and it wasn't happening today, so I tried once from reinback and asked for the transition as he went forwards to walk ,and, what a star, he gave me the transition. Rough and ready, but with lots of energy so we have a place to start.

I then had a session with Bonbon in the school. With all the bad weather we've had, it's been a few weeks since I took her in the school, but she was a good girl on the lunge and we did some walk and trot work before I had a sit-on.
We worked on stop, go and turning, with lots of walk/halt transitions and circles on both reins. I asked for a couple of steps of reinback and she responded really well and stayed soft in my hand. Can't say how pleased I am with her.

I wore my Hit Air vest for the first time and I'm pleased with that too. It's very light and not in the least bit restrictive, in fact I forgot I was wearing it and had to be reminded to release myself from the saddle before I got off!!

A smile on my face

No riding today, the weather's dreary and I think I'm coming down with something.
Anyway I wandered down the field to open the far gate through to our bottom land, came back and put them out.
I expected they would rush down, but no, they stood looking at me like lost children. I would have left them to it, but I was happy to spend a little time with them.
I set off down and could sense Bonbon at my back, Remy and Corky a few yards behind. I halted and Bonbon halted too, her warm breath on my cheek as she looked over my shoulder. We stood and waited for Corky and Rem and continued on down together. As we approached the gate they all set off down the hill and started tucking in to the fresh green grass.
As I headed back, I could see Remy, who always manages to find the softest, muddiest, wettest spots, knee deep in the stream, reaching over for some succulent something or other. 
He jumped over onto the field at the other side, spinning and rearing in an attempt to get Bonbon to join him, which she did and they both started to dance and play before looking across at Corky still on the other side.
Corky doesn't 'do' wet and mushy, so wouldn't join them,  and instead, throwing her head back, she galloped ( well this is Corky, so perhaps a fast canter ;-)) back up the field to the gate and through into the next field. She is the boss, so both Remy and Bonbon charged after her, but Remy wouldn't be put off and then headed back down trying to entice her. Eventually she gave in and sensibly found a drier spot to cross where they all jumped back over, spinning and playing delightfully.
I love my guys, they're a perfect little group, and how could they not bring a smile to my face.

Moving quarters and shoulders

It's been warmer today, overcast, but very mild compared with recent weather.
Remy was very relaxed and attentive and I continued trying to keep the relaxation and softness through his neck and into the hand.
I worked as usual, moving him around the school, changes of rein and direction. I practiced some halt transitions, trying to sharpen them up a little, and some reinback, which he's giving from a much lighter aid now with a more definite step backwards. I've been working also at halt, asking him to move his quarters, first to one side and then the other. Just one step to try and clarify the aid as he gets a little confused when I ask for travers ( I'm sure a faulty ask!).
So this is what I did today, moved shoulders and quarters. Going in quite good balance at walk, down the long side, I asked him to move his quarters inside, walk one or two steps, then asked him to move his quarters back. The same with the shoulders, move them inside and then move them back, and hey, we had travers and shoulder-in. Early stages, but calm and relaxed, and more a feeling of having the whole horse under me if that makes sense.
I tend to want to micro-manage and this can really interfere with the relaxation, but this way I'm just moving him around trying to strengthen and gymnasticise him and in that process we're getting the lateral movements I've been aiming for.
For me, it's a much more helpful way of processing things than, saying, right, we're going to work on this movement now, or we're going to practice this movement.  Don't know if it makes sense, but it's working for us.
The trot is improving too, he's gaining a much better balance. The transitions are still hit and miss, but becoming more hit than miss, and even though he has a tendency to want to drop the inside shoulder on the right rein, we're managing to rebalance through that more than not. If he continues to fall-in or starts to rush off, I bring him back to walk or halt and ask again.
I've not asked him to canter yet, but he offers it me sometimes from the trot. The last couple of times, it's been quite well balanced and I really would like to start training it, but would prefer to train it from the walk. Not sure that he's ready for that yet. We'll have to think on it.

Had a nice grooming session with Bonbon and trimmed her feet. She was a sweetie. We have some decent weather planned so can start taking her up to the school, I'm looking forward to riding her.

Spring's a comin.....

The cranes (fr. grue) flew over today, more than half a dozen arrowheads pointing north.
As I watched, the first lot stopped and hung around in a thermal, rising slowly, as if on an invisible spiral escalator. As they got higher and higher, the other groups joined in until there were hundreds of birds all circling above.
Eventually, having reached a good height, they left, one group at a time, heading off again on their journey north.
It was wonderful to see and a very good sign of Spring on its way.

Word verification

Like many bloggers, I really don't like the new word verification process, so I've got rid of it!
If you're on the new blogger interface there's no setting for word verification, so you need to go back, temporarily to the old one.

To go back to the old one, click on the gear symbol under your profile picture on your dashboard page and choose "old Blogger interface." Then go to "Settings" and click on the "Comments" link under the tabs. Scroll down and you will see the place to select "No" for Word Verification. Click the "Save Settings" button at the bottom of the page and it is done. To go back to the new Blogger interface, click the link in the upper right hand corner of your dashboard page.

If 'Old blogger interface' is not on your list of options You can get there by logging in to www.blogger.com/home instead of www.draft.blogger.com/home . If it won't open the old dashboard for you, then you may have to clear your cache.

Bits and pieces

A little update of the last few days.
Had a lovely afternoon at Trudi's on Sunday.  We had a good lunch and a good natter. It was good to see them all!

We went to look at a house that we may or may not buy - lots of pros, but also lots of cons.
Had a couple of nice sessions with Remy. I rode him bareback yesterday for the first time. It felt very strange, for me and for him, I think. He was a good boy though.
A good session in the school today (not bareback) which gave me real hope for the future. His trot is starting to come together now and I can see how nice it's going to be. He offered me canter from the trot and it was a nice transition into  a surprisingly balanced canter. We managed once around the school before he started to lose balance and I asked for a trot transition.

Don't speak, just listen

I've been doing a lot of thinking this past 2 weeks while we've been snowed in.
Mostly about my motivation, or lack of it on occasion.. I want to do the best I can for my horses, and I think they have a pretty good life, but my expectations are high and although I say/think, even, that the horse comes first, and I always try to be fair,  that's not always the case, as it is, in fact, about me.
 I 'want' to do this and I 'want' to do that, I feel pressure to progress and I think we are progressing, but it has become our main goal.
I feel the responsibility of educating two young horses ( and it is a big responsibility) and I'm trying too much to progress, not just letting it happen, and the 'trying' is putting its own limits on us.
In simple terms, it's the goal that's putting pressure on me. It should be that I want to be with the horse and the horse wants to be with me.  I should just be with my horses.
I'm not explaining it very well, but, things are starting to make sense to me.
I went into my session with Rem yesterday with this in mind. I started off by spending some time with him, grooming and scratching, just enjoying his company. I hadn't intended to ride, but it's been a while and  I really wanted to, so took him up to the school.
I felt a sense of joy at being back onboard as he moved off with his long, lopey stride. I started to move him around, letting him use himself, move himself, stretch and relax. He was tuned in to me and he reacted quickly and smoothly to my requests because he was so relaxed. I moved him one way and then the other, lots of changes of direction, with just a feel on the rein, and moved his quarters with a light touch and a thought.

I groomed them all today. I enjoyed spending the time with them. I think they enjoyed the grooming, and especially liked the ear scratching.

Horses just want us to listen to them. Mostly, we're too busy speaking to listen.

Activating the hind legs

We put the horses out this morning in the drizzle. Corky was back at the gate less than 2 hours later, so I brought them in for the afternoon.
Mid afternoon I went to the stables to spend a bit of time with Remy. Just intending to groom him, but the  drizzle had stopped and it was much brighter so I took him up to the school.
We started off with a short lunge session, walk and trot on each rein and then in-hand, sharpening up his hind legs. We get good movement, but in his own time, which is not quick enough.
After this, I got on and I gave him a long rein and let him stretch down and out. He felt soft and receptive and we did lots of changes of rein using small circles. I took the rein up a little and he remained soft and I concentrated on asking him to move his quarters while keeping the softness. It was good. I asked him to halt and then asked him to move his quarters first one way then the other, requiring a quick reaction.
I then moved him around the arena moving shoulders and quarters. He remained soft throughout this work, so I asked for a few trot transitions, again requiring a quick reaction. I'm in the habit of trying to trot for him, in my head at least, so today I took a step back mentally and let him make the effort. Some good, some not so good, but after a few attempts we were getting soft, quick transitions. I need to get a balance between too little and too much effort, but when it's right, we get a lovely rhythmic, balanced trot. Now we have more consistent softness in the mouth, it really is about activating those hind legs.
A pic of Rem in the snow, just because he's such a cutie!

Thawing.....

The weather's finally changed and the snow that's been around for 2 weeks has started to melt. I hope it melts quickly as we now have a very slippery 'mush' that's far more dangerous than the snow. It seems like I'm still moaning, but I'm not, I'm just impatient for it to be gone.
I've just watched the film 'Buck' by Buck Brannaman. I liked it. There were some things that I didn't 'get', but I liked him. It got me thinking, so that's always a good sign ;-)

I'm ready to get back to riding now. When the snow first arrived, it was a good thing - not that I like snow, just that I needed a break, and I can never allow myself one, feeling that I should be doing something with my horses. That's part of the problem, I shouldn't have to force myself, it should be fun and I should want to do it.
Anyway it's cleared my head. How long that will last I don't know, but I feel better about things.

My Hit Air vest has arrived, it looks good, will let you know what I think after I've ridden in it!

End of my tether

I've not had much to blog about recently as we've been immersed in sub-zero temperatures for more than a week. Not much to moan about if you're scandinavian, but if I'd wanted this kind of weather I'd have moved to sweden!
I finally reached the end of my tether this morning.
I don't know what the temperature is - the app on my laptop says minus 10 in Limoges, but it feels like the coldest day we've had. The horses are pretty fed up now, Remy is bored to tears and when he's bored he's a real nuisance - not to me, but Corky and Bonbon are getting the full force of it, pulling at rugs and headcollars, waving branches at them in a cack handed attempt at play. Of course, they don't have the same mentality and are not too keen on participating!
Everythings frozen of course and I fill buckets in the shower room - it's a complete pain in the arse, and this morning I soaked myself through after dropping the shower head. I couldn't pick it up quickly enough and it was spouting everywhere, so not only did I soak myself through, but everything else too. It was warm water, but I couldn't go out in the cold, my legs would turn to icicles, so I had to get changed.
After getting changed, I took the water out to the barn, slipped on the ice and soaked myself through once again.
Aaaaghhhh.
Second change of clothes, I'm mucking out and rationale starts to kick in.
Mucking out can be quite therapeutic.
Things aren't so bad, a thaw is predicted. I'm pretty healthy, my animals are healthy.
Drugs claimed another life today, a well known life, just one amongst the very many every year. I'm not addicted to anything (well, perhaps the internet ;-)  ) I've got everything I need, and I've got freedom of choice.
How ridiculous to get worked up over carting buckets.
I'm now off for my hot buttered toast and a nice cup of tea!

Hit-Air

Well, I've done it, I've ordered this;

from HERE
It's an air vest from Hit-Air, it's the cross country model (not that I'm going to be doing any jumping anytime soon!) and I bought it because it was recommended and it will be just like wearing an ordinary riding waistcoat.
It was very expensive, but I'm not getting any younger and no longer bounce if I hit the ground. With two youngsters to train it's been on my mind and the last thing I want is to be laid up with an injury.
It hasn't arrived yet so I'll update when it does!

Gill

This post is for my friend Gill who died yesterday.
She was a lovely person and I'll miss her. I'll miss her passion, generosity, her quick wit and her knowledge. I'll miss her straight talking and the fact that she always talked such good sense!

Here's to you Gill, wherever you are!

It's snowing.................

We were told yesterday that it was coming and it came!  We have lots of it. I'm not too keen on snow now, but there was still that little moment of excitement this morning when I wished we had a sledge!
The horses and dogs enjoyed it though.

Then and now

Everythings been sidelined the last few days because of the extremely cold weather. The school is rock hard and the wind is brutal. I've been organising my pics and vids onto an external hard drive and came across these. My babies then and now!

Bonbon 2 days old

 and 4yrs old

Remy as a foal with his mum Anky

and 5yrs old

And one of my beautiful Anky

It's a beautiful sunny day out there today, but it is sooooo cold. I can't bring myself to do anything with the horses. Hopefully it will thaw soon.