A session each in the school with Remy and Bonbon this morning. That's twice this week I've managed to ride them both, and today was extra nice because the sun was so very warm and relaxing.
Bonbon was a little tense and distracted, but once she started to relax we got some good work. She's started to really soften in my hand, giving her mouth and relaxing through the neck. When we get it right, she's like flowing water, moving with ease and a quiet power which is lovely to feel. When we don't get it right, she's a little bit like an oil tanker trying to turn in a small space, heavy against my inside leg, wanting to look outside, and falling on the inside shoulder.
It's becoming less like this though, it's very early days in her riding career and I have high hopes that we'll make a good partnership.
Remy softened immediately when we started, he stretched down and flexed easily on both reins. We did a small amount of work at walk to get him nice and relaxed and bending easily, concentrating on keeping it slow and accurate, allowing him to raise his shoulders. The reinback was fluid and the shoulder- in was good with correct bend and even steps.
I moved on to walk/ canter transitions, and was really pleased when he immediately raised his energy without pushing against the hand. I wanted to start to address the rushing in the canter, as, after a good transition, we get a few well balanced strides and then he loses his balance and starts to rush.
A well timed visit to the 'Horse Listening' blog reminded me of the use of transitions as a balancing tool, and something I need to be doing.
Well, today, I asked for the transition, let him canter a few strides (aiming for three, but not always accurate) and then asked for a transition to trot. After a few attempts, he started to rebalance himself into the transition, and gave me an active, well balanced trot. Because he started to listen and anticipate the transition, his canter remained well balanced. A timely reminder, as, although I know that this works, I'd sort of forgotten, gettin lost in my attempts to ride and rebalance the canter.
All in all, a great morning, made all the better by the weather.
My Life, My Horses and My Attempts to Train the Classical Way
Showing posts with label Remy in the school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Remy in the school. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Spicy Fruit Loaf
I started with Bonbon in the school today. We continued where we left
off yesterday. Starting with a short lunge session, she was much
improved, calmer, no squealing and more focussed. We then did a little
in-hand, halt/walk transitions and then reinback to walk transitions. I
then got on and did a few circles on each rein with a few halt
transitions, and then asked for the halt/reinback/walk whilst ridden.
Good girl.
I then took Remy up to the school and worked at walk, concentrating on getting the release and relaxation. He was great today, it feels like it's all falling into place. He was responsive, balanced and soft in the hand. We worked a little on travers on the long side, both reins. Shoulder-in to counter shoulder-in on the circle both reins and his reinbacks were fluid and straight.
We then tried some trot transitions, some from the walk and some from the reinback. He's starting to put more effort into the transition, but he can't handle it and tenses and then starts to run. It's something for us to work on, he's really starting to relax into the walk work now and I think it's only a matter of time before he relaxes into the trot work.
We make our own bread, well we have a breadmaker that makes our bread, and after putting up with a rather unreliable one for 12 months we've bitten the bullet and bought a super-duper new panasonic one. I don't usually advertise products, but this really is a good machine. It makes brilliant bread and today I made a spicy fruit loaf which tastes delicious. I know we didn't make it by hand, but I'm still rather proud of it! We were sad enough to take a pic!
I then took Remy up to the school and worked at walk, concentrating on getting the release and relaxation. He was great today, it feels like it's all falling into place. He was responsive, balanced and soft in the hand. We worked a little on travers on the long side, both reins. Shoulder-in to counter shoulder-in on the circle both reins and his reinbacks were fluid and straight.
We then tried some trot transitions, some from the walk and some from the reinback. He's starting to put more effort into the transition, but he can't handle it and tenses and then starts to run. It's something for us to work on, he's really starting to relax into the walk work now and I think it's only a matter of time before he relaxes into the trot work.
We make our own bread, well we have a breadmaker that makes our bread, and after putting up with a rather unreliable one for 12 months we've bitten the bullet and bought a super-duper new panasonic one. I don't usually advertise products, but this really is a good machine. It makes brilliant bread and today I made a spicy fruit loaf which tastes delicious. I know we didn't make it by hand, but I'm still rather proud of it! We were sad enough to take a pic!
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Cold!!
Cold today, a shock to the system! It's too soon for cold weather, bring back the sunshine please.
I took Remy to the school, warmed him up in walk on a long rein, lots of changes of bend. Then onto small circles, asking for softness through the neck into my hand, letting him extend and relax, some shoulder-in and turn around the quarters trying to keep the softness. Lots of rest breaks then into some rein-back, which was very good today with a real feeling of coming together, the walk forward being full of energy but staying soft. Onto some trot work, transitions from shoulder-in and reinback. Lots of energy, more than I could handle at times, need to have manageable energy without losing control and balance. A mixed bag today, some really nice stuff, but the trot work was a bit all over the place. Nevertheless, I got the urge to canter, so before we finished I asked for a canter transition and although he gave me a few trot strides first, we cantered - our first canter ever. I was pretty chuffed, but have the feeling it was too soon, don't know if it was, but just feel that way. Am I jumping the gun, should we be working on the canter when the trot's so far off being balanced? LOL - out of my comfort zone again!
I took Remy to the school, warmed him up in walk on a long rein, lots of changes of bend. Then onto small circles, asking for softness through the neck into my hand, letting him extend and relax, some shoulder-in and turn around the quarters trying to keep the softness. Lots of rest breaks then into some rein-back, which was very good today with a real feeling of coming together, the walk forward being full of energy but staying soft. Onto some trot work, transitions from shoulder-in and reinback. Lots of energy, more than I could handle at times, need to have manageable energy without losing control and balance. A mixed bag today, some really nice stuff, but the trot work was a bit all over the place. Nevertheless, I got the urge to canter, so before we finished I asked for a canter transition and although he gave me a few trot strides first, we cantered - our first canter ever. I was pretty chuffed, but have the feeling it was too soon, don't know if it was, but just feel that way. Am I jumping the gun, should we be working on the canter when the trot's so far off being balanced? LOL - out of my comfort zone again!
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Fantastic attitude
Gareth came yesterday to trim the horses so didn't get to do anything with them.
Their feet are doing fine and Remy's showing no discomfort when I'm riding him on the tracks so I'm hoping that will continue, although there's always the option of getting some boots for him in the future. Bonbon's had a problem in one of her frogs, a deep central sulcus which I've been trying to keep clean. It's improving now and her frogs are looking much stronger. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it that way going into winter.
It was hot this morning with lots of flies, but I had a cracking session in the school with Remy. Mainly walk, one or two trot transitions, but mainly focussing on lateral work in walk. Shoulder-in on the circle, both reins, bearing in mind what Trudi said about having too much bend and losing the outside shoulder on the left rein. Aware of not taking too much bend and controlling the shoulder with my knee and thigh, the shoulder-in felt more secure and stable. On the right rein, comfirming her other observation that it doesn't feel as easy, but as he's starting to lift the inside shoulder, it's developing into a more correct movement, with the outside shoulder being more stable on this rein. She's a clever clogs - thanks Trudi!!
Turn around the quarters on both reins, much more fluid on the right rein today, I think he's realised that he can do it.
I want to start quarters in, and today I tried keeping the quarters through the corner onto the long side with varying results - one or two strides before he started to question it and tense up a little. I'm happy with that though, I'll take one or two strides until he realises that he can do it and stays relaxed. I'll try it on the circle next session.
My boy has such a fantastic attitude and I love him for it, I can only hope that I'm not letting him down and that I'm taking him down the correct road with his training.
Their feet are doing fine and Remy's showing no discomfort when I'm riding him on the tracks so I'm hoping that will continue, although there's always the option of getting some boots for him in the future. Bonbon's had a problem in one of her frogs, a deep central sulcus which I've been trying to keep clean. It's improving now and her frogs are looking much stronger. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it that way going into winter.
It was hot this morning with lots of flies, but I had a cracking session in the school with Remy. Mainly walk, one or two trot transitions, but mainly focussing on lateral work in walk. Shoulder-in on the circle, both reins, bearing in mind what Trudi said about having too much bend and losing the outside shoulder on the left rein. Aware of not taking too much bend and controlling the shoulder with my knee and thigh, the shoulder-in felt more secure and stable. On the right rein, comfirming her other observation that it doesn't feel as easy, but as he's starting to lift the inside shoulder, it's developing into a more correct movement, with the outside shoulder being more stable on this rein. She's a clever clogs - thanks Trudi!!
Turn around the quarters on both reins, much more fluid on the right rein today, I think he's realised that he can do it.
I want to start quarters in, and today I tried keeping the quarters through the corner onto the long side with varying results - one or two strides before he started to question it and tense up a little. I'm happy with that though, I'll take one or two strides until he realises that he can do it and stays relaxed. I'll try it on the circle next session.
My boy has such a fantastic attitude and I love him for it, I can only hope that I'm not letting him down and that I'm taking him down the correct road with his training.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Up the track....
.... this morning with Remy. It was a little breezy, but bright and sunny and I felt in the mood to do it! We stopped at the neighbours house so that he could investigate the back box off a tractor and an enormous vat being readied for the wine crop. He was a little jumpy, but didn't give me any cause for concern He walked calmly past the electric fence ( phew!) and checked the cows out all without any problem, went through the little wood and halted and waited patiently just before the road. The farmers were busy getting the maize crop in and were going up and down the road, but he was fine with it. He came home on a mission, but stayed calm and we got a nice, relaxed, but forward walk.
I went in the school yesterday and although we were really bothered by flies he was a good boy and was pretty focussed.
I went in the school yesterday and although we were really bothered by flies he was a good boy and was pretty focussed.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
All good today
I was a little stiff this morning after hitting the deck yesterday, but not so bad that I couldn't ride. ;-), so I took Remy into the school. We started off with a short lungeing session and then I got on. It was a little windy, but he was pretty calm.
I had the neckstrap, so we started with walk halt transitions using the neckstrap and he got the hang of it very quickly. I then moved him around the school asking for lots of transitions,changes of direction and a couple of reinbacks. He can do reinback very well in-hand, but hasn't grasped the concept under saddle, unless, of course, he decides to do it of his own accord, but today we got some nice fluid, regular steps. He jumped forward once, but made nothing of it and halted when asked. We finished the session by riding him back home down the lane. Our collie dog Jypp decided he would greet us by suddenly appearing over the wall, which really did make him jump, but apart from a bit of snorting, that's all he did and I was really pleased with him.
I was just in the mood for a nice relaxing hack, so decided to take Anky out for a ride ( how's that for optimism). It's been many weeks since she's been out for a hack, but she went willingly enough, although with her usual caution. About half-way round she started to relax and we then got a bigger,more relaxed stride and she stretched down over her head and neck. We had a couple of trots coming home which felt much more regular and balanced than the last time we trotted on a hack, so all in all a successful ride.
I hope I'm less stiff tomorrow as I have a lunge lesson booked. Perhaps it'll help me loosen up (oooh, more optimism).
I had the neckstrap, so we started with walk halt transitions using the neckstrap and he got the hang of it very quickly. I then moved him around the school asking for lots of transitions,changes of direction and a couple of reinbacks. He can do reinback very well in-hand, but hasn't grasped the concept under saddle, unless, of course, he decides to do it of his own accord, but today we got some nice fluid, regular steps. He jumped forward once, but made nothing of it and halted when asked. We finished the session by riding him back home down the lane. Our collie dog Jypp decided he would greet us by suddenly appearing over the wall, which really did make him jump, but apart from a bit of snorting, that's all he did and I was really pleased with him.
I was just in the mood for a nice relaxing hack, so decided to take Anky out for a ride ( how's that for optimism). It's been many weeks since she's been out for a hack, but she went willingly enough, although with her usual caution. About half-way round she started to relax and we then got a bigger,more relaxed stride and she stretched down over her head and neck. We had a couple of trots coming home which felt much more regular and balanced than the last time we trotted on a hack, so all in all a successful ride.
I hope I'm less stiff tomorrow as I have a lunge lesson booked. Perhaps it'll help me loosen up (oooh, more optimism).
Monday, 21 June 2010
Proud
It was a beautiful morning, sunny but not too warm, hardly any wind, and the horses were perky in the stable instead of the sleepy heads we've had of late.
Instead of hacking out I took Anky into the school and from start to finish she was relaxed. We worked at walk, concentrating on changing the bend, keeping the neck relaxed, asking for a flexion and softness in the hand. She was pretty good on the right rein with a genuine bend, softness in the outside rein and good flexion to the inside. I have to be prepared for her falling out through her shoulder, but today she was fairly straight.
She's more resistant to the left and I have to concentrate on keeping her neck fairly straight, a little feel on the outside rein to soften and keep her nose from tipping to the inside and then ask for the flexion with the inside rein. She was getting it today and it felt good when it came.
I then took Remy into the school and had a lovely in-hand session. We had walk, trot and canter on the lunge, although the canter was in response to something he'd heard down the field, but he was a good boy and we continued with some lovely walk work, soft and stretching over his neck with a lovely, easy stride.
I couldn't leave Bonbon out so took her for a walk up the field. She was so good I took her across the track and into the school. There was a lot of heavy breathing and eyes on stalks as she investigated first the sand (which she's never seen before), then the poles and jump wings stacked in opposite corners of the school. She tentatively stretched her neck as far as she could to look at them before touching them and discovering they were perfectly safe. We investigated all of the school and she was brilliant. I couldn't be more proud. Jim says she's a bit spesh - and she is!!
Instead of hacking out I took Anky into the school and from start to finish she was relaxed. We worked at walk, concentrating on changing the bend, keeping the neck relaxed, asking for a flexion and softness in the hand. She was pretty good on the right rein with a genuine bend, softness in the outside rein and good flexion to the inside. I have to be prepared for her falling out through her shoulder, but today she was fairly straight.
She's more resistant to the left and I have to concentrate on keeping her neck fairly straight, a little feel on the outside rein to soften and keep her nose from tipping to the inside and then ask for the flexion with the inside rein. She was getting it today and it felt good when it came.
I then took Remy into the school and had a lovely in-hand session. We had walk, trot and canter on the lunge, although the canter was in response to something he'd heard down the field, but he was a good boy and we continued with some lovely walk work, soft and stretching over his neck with a lovely, easy stride.
I couldn't leave Bonbon out so took her for a walk up the field. She was so good I took her across the track and into the school. There was a lot of heavy breathing and eyes on stalks as she investigated first the sand (which she's never seen before), then the poles and jump wings stacked in opposite corners of the school. She tentatively stretched her neck as far as she could to look at them before touching them and discovering they were perfectly safe. We investigated all of the school and she was brilliant. I couldn't be more proud. Jim says she's a bit spesh - and she is!!
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Looking Left and Right
I had another good morning with the horses. Firstly I took Anky out for another hack. Because she's quite a nervous horse, she has a tendency to want look around her when we're out on a hack, she'll look left for a few moments and then look right. As she looked to the left, I raised the left hand slightly to ask for a flexion and softening and then as she looked right, I raised the right hand. Sometimes she did soften, sometimes she didn't. As she started to relax we got more softening and a more genuine flexion and she started to straighten up and relax over her neck and was much softer overall in the hand. I then started to ask for a little flexion first one side, then the other and we had some really nice moments as she released and stretched even further out to the hand. It was a really enjoyable hack and I'd say, one of our successes. She was a little worried as usual, but she was willing.
I had a short in-hand session with Remy and he was attentive with some good walk/halt transitions and the beginnings of a nice giravolta.
Last, but certainly not least, another walk with Bonbon, this time up the field towards the school. She is a little star.
I had a short in-hand session with Remy and he was attentive with some good walk/halt transitions and the beginnings of a nice giravolta.
Last, but certainly not least, another walk with Bonbon, this time up the field towards the school. She is a little star.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Communication.......yes!!
It's been a lovely day. I took Remy up to the school and he was very relaxed and focussed. We lunged around the school, starting with walk and lots of walk halt transitions. The halt was very good today, he was especially tuned in to my movements. Once he was relaxed and walking out nicely, I asked for some trot transitions which are coming much easier now he's worked out what I'm asking for. I feel we really communicated today.
After my session with Remy I hacked Anky out with Jim and Corky. She walked out really nicely today and it was especially good because I rode her in my treeless saddle which allows you to feel more movement through the horse's back.
Both Jim and I had a spraying session in our hay field this afternoon. There's a thistly kind of plant growing and while it may be quite innocuous it leaves horrible woody stalks in the hay.
So, to finish a busy day I walked both Remy and Bonbon around the garden to eat some of the long grass
After my session with Remy I hacked Anky out with Jim and Corky. She walked out really nicely today and it was especially good because I rode her in my treeless saddle which allows you to feel more movement through the horse's back.
Both Jim and I had a spraying session in our hay field this afternoon. There's a thistly kind of plant growing and while it may be quite innocuous it leaves horrible woody stalks in the hay.
So, to finish a busy day I walked both Remy and Bonbon around the garden to eat some of the long grass
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Just like Spring
Well it's really thawing now and most of the snow has disappeared, but best of all the sun was bright and warm this morning.
I took Remy up to the school, he's not been up there in quite a while and he was such a good boy. I walked about 2 yards away, level with his shoulder. I moved him around the school,using the long side and circles and he was very responsive, moving off and halting on command. I asked for a couple turns around the forehand which were ok, he starts off quite well then tends to rush the last couple of steps, something to work on.
This afternoon I took Corky out for a hack, she had no motivation today and coughed 3 or 4 times. It's a dry hard cough that she sometimes gets from being in the stable over winter, so we've been out and got her some cough medicine and a homeopathic remedy ( hehe, I'll let you know how that goes Trudi ).
I took Remy up to the school, he's not been up there in quite a while and he was such a good boy. I walked about 2 yards away, level with his shoulder. I moved him around the school,using the long side and circles and he was very responsive, moving off and halting on command. I asked for a couple turns around the forehand which were ok, he starts off quite well then tends to rush the last couple of steps, something to work on.
This afternoon I took Corky out for a hack, she had no motivation today and coughed 3 or 4 times. It's a dry hard cough that she sometimes gets from being in the stable over winter, so we've been out and got her some cough medicine and a homeopathic remedy ( hehe, I'll let you know how that goes Trudi ).
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