A couple of vids from yesterdays session.
My Life, My Horses and My Attempts to Train the Classical Way
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
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.
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.
Friday, 23 March 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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!!
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!!
Monday, 19 March 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
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!
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!
Saturday, 3 March 2012
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!
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!
Thursday, 1 March 2012
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.
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.
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