John, I worked on her bit issue - she knows the head down cue, so I started with that. I always have to get rough with her - put the training halter on and back her up severely several steps, to get her to stop tossing her head. Usually twice is enough.
So we did that the other morning. She was taking just the bit very nicely, not even moving her head, when I quit. I still had to put my finger into her mouth to get her to open it, but she wasn't moving. her head at all. I put the headstall only on her head, and clipped the right side onto the bit, and then just had her take it that way, then clipped the left side. That seems to be working well.
Monday and Tuesday I put a little molasses on the bit just to reward her. I don't know if she tastes it or not!!
We are working on cantering around 3 times (which she is doing very well) and Tuesday we started yielding the hindquarters at the fence. She was starting to catch on, and we'll work on this again a few more lessons' worth.
Monday we went beside the cotton field and then down the road towards my house. She still was all scared of the bridge, and I had to walk her over, both ways. I don't know what's up with that. She was scared in the cotton field, and grabbing at grass along the corn field, but not scared. She was peanut roller relaxed down the county road past the cows.
She had her best Justin Morgan Statue look on over the bridge when I got off her!! HAHA!
I bought a round bale last night for her to eat so I don't burn through my square bales. I can't afford to stock up - 20 squares would have been $120, and this round bale was $65. Bridget said it was equivalent to 20 squares. Albert said if it would just rain, we would have plenty of grass. He planted and fertilized in October!! So I'm hoping it will take her the rest of summer and then some to eat all that hay (I know it's not ideal for horses, but it was just cut on Saturday, and hopefully it will retain most of it's nutrition), and I will have the 40 bales I have left for winter. Bridget is baling again July 31, so if I have any money I will buy some more squares.
Now I have to watch her so she doesn't get fat...
I love this grouchy picture of her. She is really filling out.
- Mood:
blah
Then I saw another break in the corn, with a road to a camper/trailer. No ditch, so I walked her into that. She eyeballed the corn waving in the wind, but she didn't act up. I rested her for a few mins, then walked out and back to the road. We made it home no problems.
Tonite we went down the dead end dirt road. ALL THE WAY down! I had no idea it was so long - I'll bet almost a mile! We trotted several places, and as we got closer to the end, she had an awesome road trot going - I'll bet she looked beautiful! I didn't fuss about her speed, she kept it constant, and she wasn't running off with me, so I just let her go.
At the end of the road, was a gorgeous QH stallion! He whinnied and she just stopped dead in her tracks! LOL! She must be in heat... she gave me a little resistance when I turned her to leave, but she wasn't disobedient. She stopped a few times, but then she gave in and we got on down the road. We trotted some more, and she had her nice slow trot on again. We stopped to listen to the cows, heard a quail, saw a bunny, and just feel the breeze.
I really think she had a good time!
She wasn't too sweaty, so I didn't hose her off. She was pretty hungry for her dinner, though.
Oh, she's backing up and fighting me again with putting in the bit... once it's in, she drops her head, but... argh.
I'm going to have to do the concentrated training in the AM - it's been over 105 the past few days. It just takes your energy away, even though it's "cooling down" to 92 by 7 PM. JEESH.
I'm planning on working some more on the cantering, and sticking to the fence, and then we'll move on to the next lesson.
I think she thinks she's always to walk next to a fence - she gravitates towards the pasture fences along the road!! That's fine with me, as long as there is no trash or holes...
- Mood:
cheerful
- Mood:
accomplished
I had planned to practice picking up the canter quickly, and then going around a few times without breaking. We got the jogging down - - she does a nice slow trot that is easy to sit, and it seems to be a natural speed for her, so I'm happy with that. She could go all day on that. We made several rounds and she didn't break. She was even getting the concept of sticking to the fence.
Cantering was another story. She wasn't taking off in a burst of speed, but she was running into it. I kept stopping her and trying to start again. Towards the end she was much better, but she didn't want to go around more than once, or one and a half times. She kept stopping where she wanted to. And it was those "on a dime" stops... she even stopped in the corner I rested her in at the jog, and turned her head into the corner, and was ready to camp out! That was kinda funny, but, no.
So after about 15 mins of starting and stopping and fussing, I thought we'd better do some jogging and then quit. That part was good, but when I wanted her to just WALK, she kept breaking into a trot. So after about 4 of these, I said "Ok, you want to trot... then let's trot" and I made her go around about 2 more times. THEN when I asked her to walk, she walked.
That added about 5 more mins to the workout, and she was sweaty. And icky. So I decided to hose her off. Heck, I even got wet and didn't care!! It was getting dark fast, seems like it's already almost sundown completely by 8:30 now, so I had to hurry. I finished her off with some absorbine on her leg and back and withers. She started dancing, so I knew it was "kicking in" and I let her off the lead.
She did some bucking bronco back rounded hops, and ran around, rubbed her butt on the shed, and then rolled. It was funny!
All my equipment was nasty, so I had to rinse it off.
All in all, even though she was not in the mood, I think it was a good lesson.
- Mood: cheerful
We got to the end of the dirt road and turned left onto the road, and went a few steps on the curve. She wanted to eat, that's where I grazed her all spring, so I turned her back and we went back to the driveway. She never increased her speed, never fought me, looked like she was really enjoying being out. I was SO proud of her. I was also having such a great time, I almost cried.
It feels so good to be back riding again... Thank you God for giving me my horse.
- Mood:
grateful
She did very well! She did try to cut over to the gate every time, but she never broke. We jogged too, but I didn't want to work her out.
She took the bit PERFECTLY. :)
I might later (depending on Dave) ride her down the road just a smidge. Not a workout, just saddle up, go down the road, turn around and go the other way, and turn around and come back.
Last night I rode her out in the BIG Pasture, and we chased the llamas since the cows were across the creek. ;) She did get a little nervous waay out in the far end, and when we turned to come back something startled her and she jumped. I grabbed one rein automatically (YAY) and she stopped immediately. I think she is coming along well.
I would say she is broke, but not trained.
- Mood: chipper
When Dave comes out I want him to take some pictures of her "herding" cows. :)
- Mood:
hot
So I'm looking through my training paperwork, reading again what each DVD covers. RWC I is pretty much the basics, and I think (but not sure) backing under saddle is on there. Good. :) RWC II and III are advanced techniques, such as cutting/reining moves, backing circles, and some other things I can't recall at this moment, but what would be beneficial to a show horse, performance or trail. Can't wait to get to those!
So I'm reading the paperwork on the "Go Bridleless" DVD, and it says "recommended that you complete GRCG I and RWC I before attempting this training." WHAT?!!! I wasn't planning on doing that until I finished EVERYTHING. !!! But what this just said to me was,
I CAN START HER TRAIL RIDING WHEN I FINISH RWC I. WITH CONFIDENCE,
NOT WORRYING THAT I'M RUSHING THINGS.
NOT WORRYING THAT I'M RUSHING THINGS.
Am I right?!! This makes me SO EXCITED!!! I can be trail riding by the end of July for sure!!!!!! If not sooner!! This also makes me happy that I can take her out in the world, and she won't get bored by endless arena schoolnig. YAY!!!!!!
OH MAN! ! I am excited! I am giving her the day off today, I think she needs mental days, and we did work hard last night (all that jogging). I will give her off again on Wednesday, and I think the weather is predicting thunderstorms for that day, too. I don't want to push her too hard, mentally that is, so I'll try to stick to this schedule.
I am about ready to start planning our first short ride!!! YEE HAW!!! haha!!
OH MAN! ! I am excited! I am giving her the day off today, I think she needs mental days, and we did work hard last night (all that jogging). I will give her off again on Wednesday, and I think the weather is predicting thunderstorms for that day, too. I don't want to push her too hard, mentally that is, so I'll try to stick to this schedule.
I am about ready to start planning our first short ride!!! YEE HAW!!! haha!!
- Mood:
excited
I'm going to do some passenger lessons now at the jog, probably the next two lessons. Then at the canter, maybe in her pasture since there is more room. I want to get her to stop with me digging in my seat. Then we will work on the sticking to the fence lesson.
She is such a great horse :)
here is my saddle:
- Mood: happy
Monday I had to ride her in her pasture, even though I didn't want to. She didn't want to pay attention. She was meandering around, even jogging, and when I asked her to canter, I was ready - - and she did it. She bucked/hopped a few steps. I was right there, one rein stopping her, and hanging on to the horn and even though I was thrown a little off balance and forward, I hung on and never fell off or lost my grip on the rein. It took a few circles for her to stop. Then I yielded her HQs several times in a row on both sides.
Then we jogged a little more, walked a little more, then as scared as I was, and as much as I had to push myself to do it, I asked her to canter again. This time, no bucks, we did about 5 strides, and she stopped right away. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I praised her lavishly!!! I let her rest. Then we walked some more, and I asked again. Perfect.
Of course, she's still running into it, she's not quite sure that I'm asking for a canter, but I'm not worried about that right now.
Tuesday I had a horrible day, Dave was miserable all day long and I was in no mood to be in charge with Cricket. So I gave her a day off. I know she processes on her off days, too, so I wasn't worried about it. I did groundwork.
Wednesday, back in the round pen pasture, I put up some twine and cones for barriers to help keep her from going up into the feed area. She knew they were there, but she also knew she could walk through them, so I had to keep her moving, but it helped. TREMENDOUSLY.
We jogged, we walked, we were doing good. The moment of truth again. I told her I was scared, I prayed to God to protect both of us, and I asked her to canter. WOW, she ran into it, but she did it!! Very nice!!! No bucks, 5 strides, one rein stop. WHEW!!!!! I thanked God, and praised her lavishly!! I let her rest a full minute! We did it again, and then one more time. By the third time, she visibly relaxed and slowed her speed - what a nice lope!!!!! She's starting to stop when I pick up the rein, and she flexes herself! haha!! GOOD!!!!!!!
THEN - - Jewel and Candie came in under the twine. (cows). Jewel was especially curious to see what Cricket was up to, and Cricket INSTANTLY went into cow horse mode!!!!!!! Her ears were as forward as they could get, and her eyes were fixed on that cow and never came off!! She started jogging towards her, so I had to pull her back to a walk because I didn't ask her to jog. She did that about 3 times. Then she was "herding" her!! I was laughing so hard!!! Cricket forgot all about the gate and trying to get out. Then Candie got her attention, and she jogged towards and herded her too!!! Then they both ran back out through the twine.
I think Cricket had a blast!!! I am so glad! Now I can ask if I can go work cows some day for something else to expose her to.
We loped/cantered one more time, jogged a little more, then I walked her to the middle of the "arena" and got off her there, and rubbed her for a long time.
I think she's accepted this "riding thing" and her mind is definitely much better now than in March. She doesn't mind when I saddle her up, she doesn't throw her head when I bridle her, and she's understanding that I get up on there and she's supposed to DO something.
I think we're coming along. I'm still scared sh**less to canter, but we're doing it. Maybe by Sunday we will be smooth enough to take some video?!! I should get a picture of her in my saddle, at least. haha.
- Mood: excited
Then I got on her in the pen, with the training halter on. She put her head up at first like she forgot that I could be up on her back, but I flexed her and she forgot all about possibly bucking me off. I settled in, and flexed her for about 5 mins or so. And moved her HQs off. She remembered everything, and was real good.
The seat fits me perfectly, too! AAAHHH!!! I have no idea if it's SUPER COMFY or not, it didn't seem out of the ordinary, but it didn't hurt. So I'm keeping it, we got it dirty, and I'm very happy with it.
When I took it off, the whole entire area was damp, so I know everything is fitting the way it's supposed to.
YAY!
- Mood: pleased
WELL. UPS visited me and brought my saddle TODAY!! WOO-HOO!! I measured the skirt, and it is PERFECT! 24 1/2" just like my show saddle. WHEW! I can't wait to try it on her tonite..............
Oh, gave her some sand clear today, she seemed a little eh last night. Only one day early, no biggie.
- Mood: excited
I also ordered my saddle today. I went with Chicks Discount Saddlery, and bought the Wintec "Cheyenne" - it's a synthetic saddle, made from "Equileather" so it looks like leather, and it claims its more durable than Cordura. It was $160 less than the Big Horn saddle I was considering in March. I also was able to get it in black, and I called to make sure the color was "nice." The picture shows it in brown, which is also very nice, but I wanted black.
I had to order a back girth set, no biggie, that was $40 and then $20 shipping. They gave me no shipping options, which was kinda poopy... but still my total bill was $345, still way less than $471 which the other saddle would have been. If I want saddle strings, I'll still have to buy them, but that's no biggie. If I order Sand Clear or something from horse.com, I'll just throw in the strings.
The only thing is the description didn't say how long the skirt is. I called, and the woman told me it was most likely "average" which is 24". I hope so... She didn't have that information either. If I want to return it, I have 30 days, but I'll have to pay shipping. I really don't know if 26" would be too long, hopefully not, but I would rather have the skirt be 24" or 25" at the most. Oh yeah, the saddle weighs 18 lbs - 3 lbs less than the other one, too. Whenever I get it (and it fits!) I'll start putting it on her for her lungeing groundwork. I still haven't quite decided the exact date I'm going to start riding her again. But I am getting itchy to do it!
Her foot is healing nicely. No swelling at all, no heat, she doesn't mind too much when I pick her foot up. She's moving normally, and the wounds look SO MUCH BETTER! Maybe I'll get a picture later. Most of that scabby crud has fallen off, and I can see the actual wound, and feel her actual skin. haha. She did seem like it was hurting her a little the other night when I worked her, maybe it was the splint boot. I don't know, but I sponged it off with some Absorbine.
And speaking of groundwork, we are doing the LFR III - this one is having her go around me without me moving. I stay still in the middle, and she goes all the way around without stopping or changing gaits. She's pretty much got it already, one side is better than the other, and when I can get 5 times around both ways at the jog, I'll try it at the canter. The other part of the lesson, well the next one "Outback Lesson" is having her back up in a straight line and then come forward to me in a straight line. She's REALLY good at that one! Clinton says by this stage of the game, her learning new things really shouldn't be a chore, and they aren't. We are communicating quite well!! I made sure when she comes to me I give her a full minute or more of "love", and she really responded to that! I love it!! Maybe I'll get the tri pod out... :)
Oh, she tasted one of the puppies last night! Poor puppy! He was yelping! She kept nipping on his little behind, on his back in front of his tail. I couldn't get to her fast enough before she got in about 3 - 4 nips. JEESH.
And yes, she still feels T A L L . :)
- Mood: happy
- Mood: chipper
She really is tired of me messing with her leg. It doesn't feel warm any more, although it still is a little puffy around the fetlock. The wound isn't open, so I"m not really sure what all this gunk is, even though its been there the whole time.
On a more pleasant note, I finished my "Cricket Model" today :
- Mood:
calm
Her smile:
So attractive, dontcha think??!!! xoxo- Mood: cheerful
I put Absorbine Vet Linamint on her Friday, and it seems to help. So today I gave her a rinse, with the recipe on the bottle. I think she was all tingly, and she didn't know what to do, because she was very antsy. I couldn't get her in the pasture fast enough! She was running, and bucking and rubbing her butt on the shed. Then she rolled. Twice. Then she trotted into the shed and back out again (she looked awful :( I could tell she was still in pain). Then she rolled again. JEESH.
I don't think I'll have to take her to the vet. I'm just wondering about the skin around the wound. I hope it goes back to normal...
- Mood: blah
Albert said Jack was chasing her, so he brought her over. She was dry, except for the headpiece of her halter, behind her ears, and the middle of her tail. So I curried and brushed the grime off her. Then on her left hind foot, I found the wound...
She must have gotten tangled up in some wire or fence [gee, wonder how THAT happened... >: ( ] and yanked her leg to get free. Her foot between her coronary band and fetlock is hacked up, not bad enough for stitches, but ugly. Kind of reminded me of the front foot after the hurricane, where she probably stepped on a tin can...
Anyway, I couldn't get to the hose, and I had no water with me, so all I could do was spray the blue kote on it.
Monday when I went out to feed her, ACK!! Her foot was so swollen!!! From her hoof to halfway up her cannon bone :( It was all one big blob. I hosed it off for about 20 mins, dried it and put more blue kote on it. Tuesday it was still the same, and I did the same. Wednesday I went out in the morning and in the evening, and in the evening it looked a little better. Today, Thursday, AM it looked a little better.
I talked to Martha and she said she may have sprained her "ankle." If she's not better in a week I might take her to the vet. Albert must have felt a little guilty; he said he was going next week if I wanted to go.
Poor thing :( She's walking ok, but limping. It must really hurt. I figured she's gonna need at least a month off.
In the meantime, we've got the smiling thing down... haha.
- Mood:
frustrated
She's been smiling lately, so I decided to try and work it into a trick. I think she's almost got it... She doesn't smile as vigorously as Dixie, it's cuter. WHEW. LOL. I think the smiling thing started because of the show. Being around all those horses reminded her of where she came from, I think, and Dixie, and she just started doing it. Weird.
I put her in the BIG pasture so she could cross the creek and get to the good grass, but she was really scared and didn't cross the creek. Even with Honey going across - TWICE - and waiting for her, she was afraid. I don't blame her, it was kind of steep. But she did look at it, and think about it very hard. Then that stupid jack donkey came around and both her and Honey went back to the open field. Then the donkey chased her around! She got herself all lathered up, so I went in and rescued her. As soon as the donkey saw me and the stick, he took off. HAHA. I hosed her off she was so sweaty!!
Oh, when I first put her out in the pasture, she of course was excited and trotted around, floating and with her tail up. OMG, she is beautiful!!! Someone driving by even slowed down to watch her!!!
I got 50 bales of hay yesterday!! IT SMELLS SO GOOOOOD!!! AHHH! :) She likes it, too! I'm sure she's glad to be rid of that dry brown stuff. But I want to get her out into the grass pasture. I'm going to try again tomorrow.
She has bonded with Honey, I think. They spent the night together last night. And today I hosed her off again just for the heck of it, and she stood much better. Then somewhere during the afternoon she got her fly mask off... jeesh.
I tried the C-sending the other night on the bridge. She was fearful of the creek. ???? I have no idea why. The sending thing worked really well. Good to know.
I think she had a growth spurt. She seems so T A L L now!! I'm going to measure her again. But now I really feel better that I decided to wait to ride her.
I've asked Dave to take some pictures for me tomorrow......
- Mood: chipper
Thursday we reviewed some more, and Friday she kind of had it easy. It was supposed to rain Thursday thru Wednesday, but so far all we've had are a few showers here and there.
So Saturday I started Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground III: C-Pattern. It felt SO GOOD to go out there with a purpose again!!!
I knew she was getting bored reviewing, so even though she acted like she didn't want to learn anything new, I think she was glad to.
The C-Pattern is basically the sending exercise on the move. But it teaches more respect by having her gauge the hula-hoop space as we go. What pretty arcs she was making!!
Today, Sunday, I went out in the morning, and she still remembered everything from yesterday. She was MUCH smoother and nicer - SO much more respectful! It is a beautiful thing :) I took her out on the road, and down the dirt road with the pattern. The roads aren't exactly wide enough, but she was doing it. I took her back to the pasture and had her do it at the lope - beautiful!!!! She's getting the yielding HQs with a nod, now too.
We reviewed the yielding FQs and sending, and did some flexing, and I desensitized with the string before we quit.
When we walked back to the driveway from the dirt road, I was on her right side, and had SUCH a slack in the rope!!! NEVER have we had that much slack, and she didn't step on me or towards me once!!
I told Dave she still amazes me. She will probably amaze me til the day she dies. :)
- Mood: cheerful
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