Sunday he got turned out for a bit- nothing much.
Monday was his trainer ride- which will be moving back to Wednesdays next week cause that is a hard day for me to get out to the barn and definitely a day that I can't ride. I was told he was good and even jumped well. One of these days I'll be able to go watch again on my lunch. I like seeing him being ridden :)
Tuesday I rode in the ladies night lesson :) There were a bunch of polls on the ground so I was instructed to go over them all and get him working. At the first one we trotted he slammed the brakes on and I got after him and he went over it. After a few more times he stopped "jumping" them haha. I also worked on keeping him straight down the long side as he is more then happy to wander around the arena without a purpose. We are also making progress with his frame- WOO HOO. Irene said I am almost there! Last but not least the challenge of my mind over matter of the night was cantering the polls. I did it and it went well :)
Might be able to ride on my lunch today... tomorrow I am taking Rachel to the airport so I won't be riding after work and hopefully I can ride Friday as Sean works Saturday so no weekend lesson for me.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Getting my groove back
I feel like I am getting my mojo back a little. Haha.
I set my alarm with time to get up and make it to the barn early BUT I was so tired and snoozed a few to many times soooo I was in a rush to get ready. We ended up riding in our arena (which is up the hill cause we are in the lower barn for the winter) so my waiting for the round pen to lunge was pointless - luckily I figures it out quickly and headed up there to lunge. He wasn't very wild so it was a "quick" (for me) lunge. I had tacked up with one of the other trial saddles and after like 2 times around the arena realized I DIDN'T like it at all and ask my hubby to go get the one that I rode in Thursday so that I could show it to my trainer. Kept hacking till he came back with it and then traded.
Much better and back to work :) I also put my stirrups on it which didn't rub me. I wanted to make sure I was in a good saddle so that I could make the most of the time I had with my trainer.
We did the norm- wtc - my trainer reiterated that my posture needs work. I need to start wearing my shoulders back every ride I have decided. She did give me a compliment tho that from my hips down I look good. I appreciated that but need to get my shoulders in check and fix this issue.
Anywho worked on holding him together in the canter and also closing my leg and making him go in his frame at the trot. Then everyone else jumped and after they were done I worked on the trot polls with cantering after and lead changes. I am getting more and more confident with each ride. Lots to work on and keep striving to do better.
My trainer wants me to jump some of the other horses who are more schooled to keep me going and let Henry get some more trainer rides under his belt before I jump him again. Even though I want to jump him again I trust her and know that shes got our best interest in mind :) And I am SO thankful for that!
After our lesson we all took a walk (semi trail ride) around the property and Henry was really good!
He also got a bath and tail wash after our ride- then hand walking and eating grass till he was almost dry.
Oh and best of all- hubby pulled all the stall mats out of Henry's stall, cleaned everything out from under them flattening the dirt and then put the mats back in- making Henry's stall so beautiful and clean! I am SO thankful for him helping me with things like that. I know the guys are really overworked at the barn and feel bad asking them to do that stuff- so having Sean's help and willingness to make Henry's stall as nice as we can living in the ghetto ;) I really am thankful for!
I was on blanket duty tonight (since I am the blanket crazy mother and Henry has a blanket- or maybe 2 haha- for each different type of weather that is possible here in CA) since it's supposed to be cold. Made sure all the ponies were warm and tucked in for the night.
I am having saddle decision making issues. The one I rode in Thursday and changed to today I like, my trainer says it fits me and Henry well but it isn't as high end and I would like to have. I have to decided if I want to get it or wait 3-4 more months till I have enough to get a higher end saddle- used - ugh decisions! Anyone have advice? Please!
I set my alarm with time to get up and make it to the barn early BUT I was so tired and snoozed a few to many times soooo I was in a rush to get ready. We ended up riding in our arena (which is up the hill cause we are in the lower barn for the winter) so my waiting for the round pen to lunge was pointless - luckily I figures it out quickly and headed up there to lunge. He wasn't very wild so it was a "quick" (for me) lunge. I had tacked up with one of the other trial saddles and after like 2 times around the arena realized I DIDN'T like it at all and ask my hubby to go get the one that I rode in Thursday so that I could show it to my trainer. Kept hacking till he came back with it and then traded.
Much better and back to work :) I also put my stirrups on it which didn't rub me. I wanted to make sure I was in a good saddle so that I could make the most of the time I had with my trainer.
We did the norm- wtc - my trainer reiterated that my posture needs work. I need to start wearing my shoulders back every ride I have decided. She did give me a compliment tho that from my hips down I look good. I appreciated that but need to get my shoulders in check and fix this issue.
Anywho worked on holding him together in the canter and also closing my leg and making him go in his frame at the trot. Then everyone else jumped and after they were done I worked on the trot polls with cantering after and lead changes. I am getting more and more confident with each ride. Lots to work on and keep striving to do better.
My trainer wants me to jump some of the other horses who are more schooled to keep me going and let Henry get some more trainer rides under his belt before I jump him again. Even though I want to jump him again I trust her and know that shes got our best interest in mind :) And I am SO thankful for that!
After our lesson we all took a walk (semi trail ride) around the property and Henry was really good!
He also got a bath and tail wash after our ride- then hand walking and eating grass till he was almost dry.
Oh and best of all- hubby pulled all the stall mats out of Henry's stall, cleaned everything out from under them flattening the dirt and then put the mats back in- making Henry's stall so beautiful and clean! I am SO thankful for him helping me with things like that. I know the guys are really overworked at the barn and feel bad asking them to do that stuff- so having Sean's help and willingness to make Henry's stall as nice as we can living in the ghetto ;) I really am thankful for!
I was on blanket duty tonight (since I am the blanket crazy mother and Henry has a blanket- or maybe 2 haha- for each different type of weather that is possible here in CA) since it's supposed to be cold. Made sure all the ponies were warm and tucked in for the night.
I am having saddle decision making issues. The one I rode in Thursday and changed to today I like, my trainer says it fits me and Henry well but it isn't as high end and I would like to have. I have to decided if I want to get it or wait 3-4 more months till I have enough to get a higher end saddle- used - ugh decisions! Anyone have advice? Please!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Saddles Saddles and more Saddles
I tried another saddle tonight (Thursday). I rode with long stirrups cause the leathers were bunched by where the bars are and they were rubbing me like crazy (i have bruises to show). I liked the saddle, felt like a deeper seat. I am not sure it fit me right but that is what my trainer is for- Ill ride for her in it Saturday and see what she thinks. There is another one that I will be trying too- flatter larger seat then the one last night.
There were 3 other people riding so it was a nice amount of room for us all to get our own space :)
Anywho Henry was good. He felt sluggish in the canter (aka lazy and didn't want to keep cantering) so it took some work to keep him going and hold him together. I worked on moving his hip over at the walk and he was good once he realized that I wasn't asking him to trot (or canter). Also after we cantered I stayed in a trot. At times he thinks that after cantering it's quitting time. He even went around nicely on a long rein and was really laid back by the end of our ride.
I will be riding tomorrow morning. I am tempted to sleep in as Sean isn't working and he offered to let me sleep in BUT getting miles on Henry (and a workout for me) is necessary.
Maybe Sean will take some pictures tomorrow :)
There were 3 other people riding so it was a nice amount of room for us all to get our own space :)
Anywho Henry was good. He felt sluggish in the canter (aka lazy and didn't want to keep cantering) so it took some work to keep him going and hold him together. I worked on moving his hip over at the walk and he was good once he realized that I wasn't asking him to trot (or canter). Also after we cantered I stayed in a trot. At times he thinks that after cantering it's quitting time. He even went around nicely on a long rein and was really laid back by the end of our ride.
I will be riding tomorrow morning. I am tempted to sleep in as Sean isn't working and he offered to let me sleep in BUT getting miles on Henry (and a workout for me) is necessary.
Maybe Sean will take some pictures tomorrow :)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Hello 2012- I am not sure sure I like you
Tuesday lesson was a bit more eventful then I intended it to me. Henry was a bit high as I lunged him and I didn't get to lunge him as long as I would have liked because my trainer said "get on" haha. So I did... Getting right to work so that he didn't have any time to think about ALL THE NOISE that was going on around. Seriously it was like grand central station! Anywho we got to work- worked more on bending and being soft in the corners. Cantering and trying to slow him down and hold him together and not letting him be so strung out and just going around how he wants. He got his canter both ways and was responsive. I was feeling good ..
Then we were tasked with walking over the polls... I approached with confidence and Henry acted like he had never seen them before and they were going to eat him- large leap over the polls. Trotting them- he jumped them again. Then one side of the X was put him and he SLAMMED on the brakes at the last minute, smacked me in the left side of my chin and jaw- I felt shooting pain in my face and almost like I was going to pass out and fell off. I sat there a minute because the pain was so bad in my face, everyone was asking if I was ok which I was but it hurt, really bad, so I didn't want to get up to fast and pass out- so I sat. Eventually I got back on and did it again- eventually it was raised to and X and we did it a few time both ways and were done. It felt like he was jumping a good 2 feet over the little jump that was set up but hey better then running through it and not jumping it right? Everyone said he looked really cute when he actually jumped it ... so that was nice to hear.
Tomorrow is a new day so hopefully our ride goes better. I am sore, very sore but that comes with a fall off a 16.2 hand horse I guess ha! Oh and my fall for 2012 is out of the way :)
Then we were tasked with walking over the polls... I approached with confidence and Henry acted like he had never seen them before and they were going to eat him- large leap over the polls. Trotting them- he jumped them again. Then one side of the X was put him and he SLAMMED on the brakes at the last minute, smacked me in the left side of my chin and jaw- I felt shooting pain in my face and almost like I was going to pass out and fell off. I sat there a minute because the pain was so bad in my face, everyone was asking if I was ok which I was but it hurt, really bad, so I didn't want to get up to fast and pass out- so I sat. Eventually I got back on and did it again- eventually it was raised to and X and we did it a few time both ways and were done. It felt like he was jumping a good 2 feet over the little jump that was set up but hey better then running through it and not jumping it right? Everyone said he looked really cute when he actually jumped it ... so that was nice to hear.
Tomorrow is a new day so hopefully our ride goes better. I am sore, very sore but that comes with a fall off a 16.2 hand horse I guess ha! Oh and my fall for 2012 is out of the way :)
Monday, January 9, 2012
Are you SURE it's Jan?
60 Degree weather and no rain- I am NOT complaining but we do need rain.
Saturday was supposed to be the vet clinic but the vacs didn't come in so our vet pushed it out to Wednesday- I added Henry's boy parts cleaning to the list. If possible I am going to go up on my lunch and watch so that I can do it next time. I have cleaned them before but not on Henry so I want to make sure he is going to be a good boy before I try :) Also someone was supposed to bring me some saddled to try but she didn't soooooo Bayley and I spent a good 4 hours at the barn for nothing- haha well not nothing because I love hanging out with everyone and loving on my horse!
Sunday we had a MILLION things to do with little time so I went up to Henry early afternoon- lunged and groomed him. Nothing exciting but he did get worked and to stretch his legs, then beautified- his favorite! Actually I think he likes being pampered and getting to watch all the action that goes on in the barn. He's getting really good at standing in the cross ties and being a-ok with all the "stuff" going on around him, maybe it's from his race days. Stuff that I am like "oh I hope that doesn't bother him"- I will look his way and he isn't even the slight bit worried about it, I love that! He is such a good boy and I am so thankful for him!
Monday is the trainer ride this week as Wednesday will be vacs and cleaning. I am not able to make it up and watch today so hopefully I will get a good report that things went well :)
Lesson tomorrow :)
Saturday was supposed to be the vet clinic but the vacs didn't come in so our vet pushed it out to Wednesday- I added Henry's boy parts cleaning to the list. If possible I am going to go up on my lunch and watch so that I can do it next time. I have cleaned them before but not on Henry so I want to make sure he is going to be a good boy before I try :) Also someone was supposed to bring me some saddled to try but she didn't soooooo Bayley and I spent a good 4 hours at the barn for nothing- haha well not nothing because I love hanging out with everyone and loving on my horse!
Sunday we had a MILLION things to do with little time so I went up to Henry early afternoon- lunged and groomed him. Nothing exciting but he did get worked and to stretch his legs, then beautified- his favorite! Actually I think he likes being pampered and getting to watch all the action that goes on in the barn. He's getting really good at standing in the cross ties and being a-ok with all the "stuff" going on around him, maybe it's from his race days. Stuff that I am like "oh I hope that doesn't bother him"- I will look his way and he isn't even the slight bit worried about it, I love that! He is such a good boy and I am so thankful for him!
Monday is the trainer ride this week as Wednesday will be vacs and cleaning. I am not able to make it up and watch today so hopefully I will get a good report that things went well :)
Lesson tomorrow :)
Friday, January 6, 2012
Spa ish Day
Henry got spoiled today....
Turned out in this amazing weather... then groomed, pampered and also clipped (birdle path, which I didn't do a very good job at BUT it's been a while since i did it so i'll get better- whiskers, leg hair and a little on his ears). He was such a good boy, I was SOOOO pleased!
Turned out in this amazing weather... then groomed, pampered and also clipped (birdle path, which I didn't do a very good job at BUT it's been a while since i did it so i'll get better- whiskers, leg hair and a little on his ears). He was such a good boy, I was SOOOO pleased!
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| Henry enjoying being turned out |
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| Helping me carry his grain bucket lol |
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| After rolling ... he kept some "souvenirs" from the pasture lol |
Thursday, January 5, 2012
67 Degrees, Sun and NO Wind
Today was the best weather anyone could ask for! It's January, really warm and I rode in a t-shirt! Henry was sweaty before I even got on cause it was so warm haha!
I did a quick lunge (this is his 4th day in a row being ridden) and got on. Juliana and I wanted to go ride down in the big arena but since I was riding on my "lunch" I didn't have time to spare so I rode inside. Juliana hacked Billy around and then headed out to jump and I stayed and continued my hacking. He was really good, relaxed and listening to me. After we warmed up I worked on moving his hind end left and right and he did well.
I worked him some more and then headed back. He has been getting into the habit that after cantering we are done so I have been making a point to trot around or canter more to make sure that he doesn't start to feel entitled or what not :)
Tonight I had to blanket him (and groom since he rolled after I rode and hosed him off) and grain him .. he was SO well behaved while I was trying to clean him up. I think 4 days in a row of riding is doing him well!
Hoping to ride tomorrow and maybe even take a private lesson if I am not too tired.
The vet comes out Saturday to do the vacs, teeth and worming. I think Henry's teeth are fine but he is going to check them and I worm him on my owns soooo no need for that either.
I did a quick lunge (this is his 4th day in a row being ridden) and got on. Juliana and I wanted to go ride down in the big arena but since I was riding on my "lunch" I didn't have time to spare so I rode inside. Juliana hacked Billy around and then headed out to jump and I stayed and continued my hacking. He was really good, relaxed and listening to me. After we warmed up I worked on moving his hind end left and right and he did well.
I worked him some more and then headed back. He has been getting into the habit that after cantering we are done so I have been making a point to trot around or canter more to make sure that he doesn't start to feel entitled or what not :)
Tonight I had to blanket him (and groom since he rolled after I rode and hosed him off) and grain him .. he was SO well behaved while I was trying to clean him up. I think 4 days in a row of riding is doing him well!
Hoping to ride tomorrow and maybe even take a private lesson if I am not too tired.
The vet comes out Saturday to do the vacs, teeth and worming. I think Henry's teeth are fine but he is going to check them and I worm him on my owns soooo no need for that either.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
January 3rd
We are temporarily moved into the other barn- really all that means for me is that I have my tack and grooming stuff down below and I don't have to lug it down anymore at night and back up after I am done riding haha!
We rode inside tonight and Henry was good.Just hacked around... nothing special. But it was a good ride and I feel stronger ever ride :)
I told Sean today that I am really enjoying riding Henry- it's been a while since I was felt inadequate which is really nice. I am not saying I am a bomb diggity rider I am just confident and willing to push and do whatever I am asked or need to do for Henry's training to kick into high gear.
Tomorrow is Henry's first "trainer" ride.. then Thursday I will hack again :)
We rode inside tonight and Henry was good.Just hacked around... nothing special. But it was a good ride and I feel stronger ever ride :)
I told Sean today that I am really enjoying riding Henry- it's been a while since I was felt inadequate which is really nice. I am not saying I am a bomb diggity rider I am just confident and willing to push and do whatever I am asked or need to do for Henry's training to kick into high gear.
Tomorrow is Henry's first "trainer" ride.. then Thursday I will hack again :)
I forgot ...
Henry will now be in 1/2 training ... one lesson a week with me (like we are currently doing) and one trainer ride (this will be new). My trainer says that he is a nice horse and will progress a lot faster if we can do this SOOOO no more Starbucks for me, 1/2 training is more important :)
Also a few show names I am mulling around...
Cooler Then Me
Raise the Roof
Oh and I got this for Christmas from my WONDERFUL husband :)
Also a few show names I am mulling around...
Cooler Then Me
Raise the Roof
Oh and I got this for Christmas from my WONDERFUL husband :)
Last day of vacation ... SAD!
Friday was a day of turn out and new shoes for Henry :)
Saturday was windy windy windy and after lunging up in the hurricane weather (less the rain) we all went down to ride inside which was MUCH appreciated. There were 6 of us plus 2 others riding inside which made for not much ring space but it's good practice for showing right? :) Anywho one of the other trainers was riding a clients horse and the horses was being crazy/spooky. Henry actually took it all in great stride which I was very proud of. He looked at the horse like "whats your problem" but continued to work well for me. We worked on shoulder in as well as haunches in, a forward working trot (which after the amount of lunging I did because he was so high was hard to get cause he was tired lol), cantering both ways and getting that left lead, keeping him cantering (its hard work to keep him going sometimes haha) and the normal other hacking stuff. It was a hard ride but good- I like getting off a bit sore ha!
Sunday was just some turn out in the crazy wind :)
Monday was the last day of my vacation- so sad! Bayleys daycare was open so after letting her sleep in (she had a rough nights sleep) I dressed her and dropped her off for a few hours. Off to the barn to ride and move stuff down to the lower barn where we will be residing for the winter. I got there, tacked up and headed to our arena to ride... There was a barn meeting going on while I lunged which I wasn't able to be apart of but I think I got the details I needed. Anywho got to work and man it was a good/hard ride. We even did some no stirrup work which just about killed me- I could only do two laps of the arena before I left like I was going to fall off and die HAHA. We got our left lead the first try but he was defiantly at the races. He wasn't being bad but at times I could tell he was hauling booty so we stopped and backup a few time and did some unexpected circles to make sure he was paying attention to me. After our ride a few of us took a walk around the property. I went for half of the walk but chickened out going all the way down- but he was really really good for it being his first time!
Anywho untacked, groomed and put on his cooler and took him back to his stall to dry while I moved stuff- long story short we didn't end up moving cause things weren't ready. In the meantime Henry rolled in his new shavings and got all dirty- good thing he isn't gray!
The move is supposed to happen today and I am supposed to ride tonight if Sean gets off work in time.
I am still trying out saddles and haven't found any I am in love with... hopefully soon :)
Saturday was windy windy windy and after lunging up in the hurricane weather (less the rain) we all went down to ride inside which was MUCH appreciated. There were 6 of us plus 2 others riding inside which made for not much ring space but it's good practice for showing right? :) Anywho one of the other trainers was riding a clients horse and the horses was being crazy/spooky. Henry actually took it all in great stride which I was very proud of. He looked at the horse like "whats your problem" but continued to work well for me. We worked on shoulder in as well as haunches in, a forward working trot (which after the amount of lunging I did because he was so high was hard to get cause he was tired lol), cantering both ways and getting that left lead, keeping him cantering (its hard work to keep him going sometimes haha) and the normal other hacking stuff. It was a hard ride but good- I like getting off a bit sore ha!
Sunday was just some turn out in the crazy wind :)
Monday was the last day of my vacation- so sad! Bayleys daycare was open so after letting her sleep in (she had a rough nights sleep) I dressed her and dropped her off for a few hours. Off to the barn to ride and move stuff down to the lower barn where we will be residing for the winter. I got there, tacked up and headed to our arena to ride... There was a barn meeting going on while I lunged which I wasn't able to be apart of but I think I got the details I needed. Anywho got to work and man it was a good/hard ride. We even did some no stirrup work which just about killed me- I could only do two laps of the arena before I left like I was going to fall off and die HAHA. We got our left lead the first try but he was defiantly at the races. He wasn't being bad but at times I could tell he was hauling booty so we stopped and backup a few time and did some unexpected circles to make sure he was paying attention to me. After our ride a few of us took a walk around the property. I went for half of the walk but chickened out going all the way down- but he was really really good for it being his first time!
Anywho untacked, groomed and put on his cooler and took him back to his stall to dry while I moved stuff- long story short we didn't end up moving cause things weren't ready. In the meantime Henry rolled in his new shavings and got all dirty- good thing he isn't gray!
The move is supposed to happen today and I am supposed to ride tonight if Sean gets off work in time.
I am still trying out saddles and haven't found any I am in love with... hopefully soon :)
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