Yesterday was a lot nicer than it is today. I can believe the down pour we had. Good thing there is a nice, big indoor where I board Addie or we would have been outta luck.
Addie was very much a mare while I groomed and tacked her up, even more so when I went to put on my Collegiate aka my Craptastic Saddle. I know it doesn't fit, so I had stopped by Crazy Horse (the "tack" store) to see if they had a wide gullet in. To my despise they didn't. If I could have I would have had them order me one, but because they are a consignment tack store I couldn't :(. So I rode in the same arrangement that I used yesterday, and boy is that fun to get all on straight so she wont have anything else to get upset about.
First we lunged. This is because The Mare thinks she is so aaaaaaalooooonnneee when we are in the indoor, and likes to scream and be stupid. Surprisingly she was pretty good on the lung, and just because I had her side reins already hooked up, I decided she could work for a while in them. It always seems to help set the mood for her, and then she doesn't pull on her when I ask her to take up the contact when I get on.
Wow, my mom just came in the door and gave me some Almond Joys! Yummy!
Okay, back on track. Addie is really loving the french link instead of the Stubben KK. Go figure. I spend $75 on the Stubben, and just $20 on the french link that I bought for Dover last summer. Oh well, good thing I still had it.
Her right lead is still kinda crappy, we need to really work on it, because it is her off side. Otherwise we had some awesome trot work, mostly on the bit and round, and she was very much in tune to me. So all in all we had a pretty darn good ride :)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
My 4th Of July Ride
Today has been an unusual Independence Day. It has been uncharacteristically dark, gloomy, and muggy while years past have always been sunny and hot. This year I had the chance to escape away to the barn and see my "pony". I was just planning on lunging her with side reins, and give her a good grooming because I hadn't ridden in two days, and the last time I rode her she was a compete a**. Throwing her head up, down, side to side and any other way possible. Hollowing her back, not listening to half halts, or my other aids. Figured that it was just because there were other horses in the arena cruising around and jumping, and she was going to jump as well. I didnt think much of it because I had been thinking about getting her a different bit for jumping, or maybe just a running martingale. Then my saddle started to sit on her withers. I already knew that my Craptastic Saddle (that I bought in 2008 brand new and it was the only one that would "fit" the horse I had at the time and my long legs) it is a bit wide for her, but I had been using my quilted Mattes Correction Pad which had been working out great. Now it is sooo wide I need to get the next smaller gullet. Arrgg.
We no longer have an "real" english tack store in the area, the closest is almost 4 hrs away. I might be able to pick one up at the Consignment Tack Shop, because they got a bunch from our local tack store when they went out of business. So today I used one of my Navajo saddle blankets to take up some space inconjunction with my regular saddle pad and mattes, and boy that helped! It didnt solve anything, the saddle still was sitting on her withers a bit, and left dry spots on either side of her withers, but she was much happier. I also switched her to Dover's old bit, a loose ring french link snaffle. I lunged her for about 10mins before I got on, because she hadnt been ridden and to give her a chance to check out the "new" bit. She has been in Stubben's version on a KK Ultra loose ring snaffle, ridden with and without a flash. Addie loves the french link! I tried it without the flash to see how she really liked it, and guess what?! She did wonderfully in it, and doesnt need the flash.
I w/t/c her at large, and on 20 meter circles, both on and off the bit. She was very responsive, but the left was better then the right, but thats how it has always been , so no change there.
Since she was so good, I decided that we would pop over these itty bitty jumps that had been set up (18"), and my gpa put the novice height fences down a few holes for us as well. There were some logs used as fillers that we hopped over, one vertical, a gate, a small square oxer, and a small corner with a "liver pool" set up underneath it. The only one she kinda hesitated at was the corner, but it was more because I didnt have enough impulsion in her trot. She contiued to pop over everything at a nice relaxed steady eddy trot (a little to relaxed really, but hey I cant complain), and then I precieded to take her over them all after twice around at a nice balanced canter.
Addie has always liked to speed up at the approach to a jump, especially at a canter, so much so she becomes unbalanced and she takes a bad spot (despite my half halts) and ends up hitting it and/or knocking a rail down. Not today though! The only time she almost got a rail was when I was trotting her up to the jumps on the approach, so she was just being lazing and not really jumping. So today she really proved that she is ready to move up in height (has been consitantly jumping up to 2'6", but mostly 2'3"), now she is ready to be consistantly be doing BN height. Yay!
We no longer have an "real" english tack store in the area, the closest is almost 4 hrs away. I might be able to pick one up at the Consignment Tack Shop, because they got a bunch from our local tack store when they went out of business. So today I used one of my Navajo saddle blankets to take up some space inconjunction with my regular saddle pad and mattes, and boy that helped! It didnt solve anything, the saddle still was sitting on her withers a bit, and left dry spots on either side of her withers, but she was much happier. I also switched her to Dover's old bit, a loose ring french link snaffle. I lunged her for about 10mins before I got on, because she hadnt been ridden and to give her a chance to check out the "new" bit. She has been in Stubben's version on a KK Ultra loose ring snaffle, ridden with and without a flash. Addie loves the french link! I tried it without the flash to see how she really liked it, and guess what?! She did wonderfully in it, and doesnt need the flash.
I w/t/c her at large, and on 20 meter circles, both on and off the bit. She was very responsive, but the left was better then the right, but thats how it has always been , so no change there.
Since she was so good, I decided that we would pop over these itty bitty jumps that had been set up (18"), and my gpa put the novice height fences down a few holes for us as well. There were some logs used as fillers that we hopped over, one vertical, a gate, a small square oxer, and a small corner with a "liver pool" set up underneath it. The only one she kinda hesitated at was the corner, but it was more because I didnt have enough impulsion in her trot. She contiued to pop over everything at a nice relaxed steady eddy trot (a little to relaxed really, but hey I cant complain), and then I precieded to take her over them all after twice around at a nice balanced canter.
Addie has always liked to speed up at the approach to a jump, especially at a canter, so much so she becomes unbalanced and she takes a bad spot (despite my half halts) and ends up hitting it and/or knocking a rail down. Not today though! The only time she almost got a rail was when I was trotting her up to the jumps on the approach, so she was just being lazing and not really jumping. So today she really proved that she is ready to move up in height (has been consitantly jumping up to 2'6", but mostly 2'3"), now she is ready to be consistantly be doing BN height. Yay!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
June 30 2010
Addie was definitely the Big Red Mare today. I didn't ride yesterday, but dang she acted like I hadnt ridden her in three! She was definitely in La La Land today. I had to do lots of counter bending at the trot to get her head screwed back on, to remind her she knows how to be round and not bend like a 2x4. Maresy was madly swishing her tail during warm up at the walk, and bouncing like bees were attacking her. She finally she agreed with me that there wasn't anything bothering her.
Today there were two other horses in the arena as well. That was very exciting for her, because she believed she had a reason to scream at them a few times while their riders looked at me like "cant you just shut her up?!". To say the least The Mare has a mind of her own and will scream until hell freezes over no matter how many times you "tell" her to shut up. Hopefully she wont ever do it in a dressage test.
On the up side her canter work was pretty good, and she had some nice walk to canter transitions as well. Her canter to trot down transitions were another story. You would have never guessed we had just spent a whole ride on them the day before last, which were very nice if I may say so. Oh well. We did some free walking to cool her down which was wonderful, we then ended it on some turns on the forehand (which she apparently forgot how to do, but finally remembered) that were pretty nice as well.
I thought I had figured out my saddle fitting issues, but they sprung up again today, so that didnt help my riding whatsoever. The pommel was really tipping forward. I switched from a SaddleRight pad I was borrowing from a friend to my Mattes Quilted Correction pad. That had helped for quite a while, but now I probably need to go a smaller gullet for my saddle (I have a crappy Collegiate Convertible Diploma I am trying to replace with a Stubben). Right now I have a X-Wide Gullet in it, so I'll have to get the next size down and see if that helps at all. When I go down to Meggan's on the 11th I am going to have her do a fitting to see what size she really is.
Today there were two other horses in the arena as well. That was very exciting for her, because she believed she had a reason to scream at them a few times while their riders looked at me like "cant you just shut her up?!". To say the least The Mare has a mind of her own and will scream until hell freezes over no matter how many times you "tell" her to shut up. Hopefully she wont ever do it in a dressage test.
On the up side her canter work was pretty good, and she had some nice walk to canter transitions as well. Her canter to trot down transitions were another story. You would have never guessed we had just spent a whole ride on them the day before last, which were very nice if I may say so. Oh well. We did some free walking to cool her down which was wonderful, we then ended it on some turns on the forehand (which she apparently forgot how to do, but finally remembered) that were pretty nice as well.
I thought I had figured out my saddle fitting issues, but they sprung up again today, so that didnt help my riding whatsoever. The pommel was really tipping forward. I switched from a SaddleRight pad I was borrowing from a friend to my Mattes Quilted Correction pad. That had helped for quite a while, but now I probably need to go a smaller gullet for my saddle (I have a crappy Collegiate Convertible Diploma I am trying to replace with a Stubben). Right now I have a X-Wide Gullet in it, so I'll have to get the next size down and see if that helps at all. When I go down to Meggan's on the 11th I am going to have her do a fitting to see what size she really is.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Long Time No Post
I am not being very good about keeping my blog up-to-date. So now I am going to promise to keep you all up to date.
Since my last post, Addie and I have finally begun to really click with each other. She has finally figured out that I am not just pretending to know what I am doing, to "okay you've got it boss" and tries her heart out. We still have our "red thoroughbred mare" moments, but who doesnt? There have more good days than bad, so I cant complain, but there has been reason to dub her "Mrs. Robinson". The show name "Sweet Adeline", is just that, too sweet for my fiery, big, red mare...So it just wont do. Now she is known as Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. Robinson she shall be.
Addie has also been taken on her first xc school, and was great. She did everything asked of her, even though it was all new. I also took her to her first show, a H/J schooling show at the local equestrian park. Addie placed in three out of the five classes. We only did the 18" and 2' classes to keep things simple. She was also very hot, but "cooled down" after the first class.
I currently had to move Addie from the boarding facility to a new one, which I am very pleased with. It has a small scale xc course with a complete water complex, regulation sized outdoor dressage arena, and heated indoor- which will be great for cold Montana winters.
Since my last post, Addie and I have finally begun to really click with each other. She has finally figured out that I am not just pretending to know what I am doing, to "okay you've got it boss" and tries her heart out. We still have our "red thoroughbred mare" moments, but who doesnt? There have more good days than bad, so I cant complain, but there has been reason to dub her "Mrs. Robinson". The show name "Sweet Adeline", is just that, too sweet for my fiery, big, red mare...So it just wont do. Now she is known as Mrs. Robinson, and Mrs. Robinson she shall be.
Addie has also been taken on her first xc school, and was great. She did everything asked of her, even though it was all new. I also took her to her first show, a H/J schooling show at the local equestrian park. Addie placed in three out of the five classes. We only did the 18" and 2' classes to keep things simple. She was also very hot, but "cooled down" after the first class.
I currently had to move Addie from the boarding facility to a new one, which I am very pleased with. It has a small scale xc course with a complete water complex, regulation sized outdoor dressage arena, and heated indoor- which will be great for cold Montana winters.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Moving up
Addie is doing great. Last week I jumped her up to 2'6" for the first time, including strange things like barrels and "picket fences" in them. Didnt even hesitate. I am so proud of her! I will post some videos asap.
I also took her to her first show last weekend. We did the following classes: 1)18" hunter under saddle w/t, 2)18" hunter o/f, 3)18" hunter o/f,4) 2' hunter o/f, and 5) 2' hunter o/f. We placed in the 2nd, 4th and 5th classes! We were going to do jumpers, but there were not any offered under 2'6". She was great, but I am definitely going to try a different bit on her! I will post some pictures from the show as well.
Ciao
I also took her to her first show last weekend. We did the following classes: 1)18" hunter under saddle w/t, 2)18" hunter o/f, 3)18" hunter o/f,4) 2' hunter o/f, and 5) 2' hunter o/f. We placed in the 2nd, 4th and 5th classes! We were going to do jumpers, but there were not any offered under 2'6". She was great, but I am definitely going to try a different bit on her! I will post some pictures from the show as well.
Ciao
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Quick Update
The weather here in Montana has been crazy. Last night it was snowing and last week we had several hail storms. Not fun weather to ride or even be out in. I was unable to ride all weekend because this "cowboy" came a gave a clinic on natural horsemanship. He was teaching people how to get their horses to cross tester-totters and jump on and off a large tire wheel full of sand. Huh. So the poneh got the weekend off, and boy is she getting fat. I am probably going to move her into a dry lot so she doesn't have access to pasture and because no one will clean out the shelter out there or the old round bale mess. Argg. I would do it but I would have to use a tractor. Its not healthy for her to be living out there.
I also got my "new" '94 Logan Coach 2h, slant load on Sunday. There is a lot more that needs done to it that we first thought. Oh well. Hopefully we can make it safe for this weekend's h/j schooling show, and the Deep Creek Derby June 5th.
I also got my "new" '94 Logan Coach 2h, slant load on Sunday. There is a lot more that needs done to it that we first thought. Oh well. Hopefully we can make it safe for this weekend's h/j schooling show, and the Deep Creek Derby June 5th.
Monday, April 26, 2010
YAY!
So I have been trailer-less for almost a year now, and guess what! We found one! It is an older Logan Coach 2h slant load, that this cowboy had custom done for when he goes to rodeos. To say the least, it is awesome! It has a huge hay rack, permanent back tack with 3 saddle racks, lots of bridle hooks, blanket bars in the horse box (for when they aren't in there, a big front dressing room with a clothing bar, medicine chest style mirror, boot box, corner selves, and more! I am soooo excited! We went down to Ronan (where its located) a few weekends ago to take a look at it, and talked with the owner about making payments on it. Sure enough he let us put $1500 down on it, and hopefully we will be able to pay the rest of it and bring it home this weekend!
Since it is older, it doesn't have some cosmetic problems. There is a lot of surface rust that needs to be sanded off and primed over, as well as some nice sized holes that need cut out, sanded, primed, and welded. Otherwise it just got a new floor last year, has nice floor mats, and working drop down windows and vents. I will make sure to post pictures of it :).
Since it is older, it doesn't have some cosmetic problems. There is a lot of surface rust that needs to be sanded off and primed over, as well as some nice sized holes that need cut out, sanded, primed, and welded. Otherwise it just got a new floor last year, has nice floor mats, and working drop down windows and vents. I will make sure to post pictures of it :).
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