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Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Leg yeilding with Boo
Well on Monday I rode Boo. I love riding her! I rode Joey last week. I forgot to publish that one. Joey is good, we worked on corners and turning and such. I know it sounds boring but it was a really good lesson. Joey really will take you through the corners to where she thinks you should go, so it was quite a bit of work to get her to listen on my cue to turn. We made progress at the end of the lesson though. We did some canter work too, and it felt a lot better. I felt more together with her, it was great. Its great to be feeling progress.
Well when I rode Boo we worked on her listening to my leg aids better instead of just going faster when she feels my leg. Thats the problem with her, you ask her to move over and she goes faster. Its sorta annoying, but she is doing good. So we did some leg yeilds down the wall so that she had to listen to my leg. It was great. I was really getting it at the end. Before when I was doing leg yeilding work I didn't really understand exactly what you were supposed to be doing with your body and legs. I think I am really starting to get it. We also worked on bending and counter bending circles and lines to get her more flexible as well as more willing to listen to the aids. It was a great lesson. I will ride her again next week. Even though she is a novice horse, I feel as though I am learning SOOOO much on her! I'll post some pictures. I gotta go for now
kim~
Well when I rode Boo we worked on her listening to my leg aids better instead of just going faster when she feels my leg. Thats the problem with her, you ask her to move over and she goes faster. Its sorta annoying, but she is doing good. So we did some leg yeilds down the wall so that she had to listen to my leg. It was great. I was really getting it at the end. Before when I was doing leg yeilding work I didn't really understand exactly what you were supposed to be doing with your body and legs. I think I am really starting to get it. We also worked on bending and counter bending circles and lines to get her more flexible as well as more willing to listen to the aids. It was a great lesson. I will ride her again next week. Even though she is a novice horse, I feel as though I am learning SOOOO much on her! I'll post some pictures. I gotta go for now
kim~
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Flying Lead Changes
Well I had my weekly dressage lesson with Robyn yesterday. It went really well. Not nearly as humid and hot and yucky as it was last week. Overall though, I haven't had to work this hard in my lessons for awhile now. They really are challenging, and I feel as though I am learning again, which is wonderful.
I rode Joey, and older mare. Thoroughbred maybe? i dunno. For the most part we did a lot of serpentine work. Bending and such at the trot, a few leg yeilds to the wall, which felt horribly crappy. But I did em so it worked out ok. She's been having me do leg yeilds to the wall at the trot and then once we get to the corner pick up a canter. So we did that too. We also just worked on cantering circles 20m versus 15 m, so as to not rely on the wall. I keep turning my head too far so it messes my cantering up. Its from my jumping background. At the farm that I started on, I didn't have a lot of instruction I just sorta rode whoever I could, and we would race around and jump things and just have a good time. I did some eventing, and so those few jumping lesson I did have caused the head problem.
Joey knows a lot of tricks, and is rather well at doing flying lead changes, so Robyn said I could give it a try. Its a very "big" movement if that makes sense? it really threw me up. I didn't know exactly what to expect the other few times I "tried" to do them it was very messy and complicated, and I never actually felt the flying change. But Joey knew the second i swapped bends what i wanted her to do and she just did it. It was a great feeling, I hope that somewhere in the near future I can be so good as to be able to easily do all that stuff :).
So that was my lesson, Glo was nice enough to take a bunch of pictures so i'll post em :). I did want to mention the other excercise that i learned a couple lessons ago that I really enjoyed (wasnt online so couldnt post it)
Anyways I was riding Boo, and she has wishy washy steering from having so many little kids pulling on her to go this way and that instead of using the reins correctly. Anyways, so we were tracking to the left and she kept falling in, so we started working on riding squares, and when we got to the corners we would do a turn on the haunches, well not completely, because we didn't stop and turn, but it essence that was the movement. We did it to engage her hind end and so she would listen to my inside legs better and such. Anyways when we started to go to the right, she was falling out. Which is really odd after her falling in, the other direction. So when we did squares to correct this in this direction we did turns on the forehand. Okallies well that is about it for now. pictures to come
kim~
I rode Joey, and older mare. Thoroughbred maybe? i dunno. For the most part we did a lot of serpentine work. Bending and such at the trot, a few leg yeilds to the wall, which felt horribly crappy. But I did em so it worked out ok. She's been having me do leg yeilds to the wall at the trot and then once we get to the corner pick up a canter. So we did that too. We also just worked on cantering circles 20m versus 15 m, so as to not rely on the wall. I keep turning my head too far so it messes my cantering up. Its from my jumping background. At the farm that I started on, I didn't have a lot of instruction I just sorta rode whoever I could, and we would race around and jump things and just have a good time. I did some eventing, and so those few jumping lesson I did have caused the head problem.
Joey knows a lot of tricks, and is rather well at doing flying lead changes, so Robyn said I could give it a try. Its a very "big" movement if that makes sense? it really threw me up. I didn't know exactly what to expect the other few times I "tried" to do them it was very messy and complicated, and I never actually felt the flying change. But Joey knew the second i swapped bends what i wanted her to do and she just did it. It was a great feeling, I hope that somewhere in the near future I can be so good as to be able to easily do all that stuff :).
So that was my lesson, Glo was nice enough to take a bunch of pictures so i'll post em :). I did want to mention the other excercise that i learned a couple lessons ago that I really enjoyed (wasnt online so couldnt post it)
Anyways I was riding Boo, and she has wishy washy steering from having so many little kids pulling on her to go this way and that instead of using the reins correctly. Anyways, so we were tracking to the left and she kept falling in, so we started working on riding squares, and when we got to the corners we would do a turn on the haunches, well not completely, because we didn't stop and turn, but it essence that was the movement. We did it to engage her hind end and so she would listen to my inside legs better and such. Anyways when we started to go to the right, she was falling out. Which is really odd after her falling in, the other direction. So when we did squares to correct this in this direction we did turns on the forehand. Okallies well that is about it for now. pictures to come
kim~
Thursday, June 09, 2005
PHEW!!!
Its been awhile.....anyways now that I am back up and running.....I've been taking lessons with Robyn these last couple of weeks. Its great to have a new perspective for my riding. She is a very good instructor. There is so much I still don't know. She is really helping me understand why you do specific movements, and what they accomplish, not just, do it. I'll update again soon. Hopefully I can get some pictures with my new digital :) I LOVE my new camera, for now its late, and I have to work early.
kim~
kim~
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Legacy aka: Legs my favorite STDbred from puckerbrush. She used to be a University mare. Not that great of a jumper but oh well ;)
Posted by Hello
Friday, April 29, 2005
Well I'm a little bummed....
Well we were supposed to have a jumping lesson today but sandy was sick :(. So me and amy were going to just do a practice jumping thing....but when we got there, there were 6 people in the indoor...including Elvis..and his rider its like 4 people combined! she takes up the WHOLE ring, and he actus up and its just not pleasant to ride around them. SO me and amy went on trail rags LOVED it! and was splashing in a puddle as we crossed it. SO amy let him play for a few seconds and he went down on his front knees he was going to ROLL in it ha! we both sorta let out excited screams and he jumped up and took off and bucked. Just playfully though and not uncontrollably. He kept getting all antsy and bucky when we'd go past a jump. I really think that he LOVES it! ha! Anyways OH i was riding Legs btw (the standardbred mare that i really like, but doesnt canter at all :(...its the most horrible canter i have ever ridden! and thats saying something) BUT she LOVES to jump.
When we got back to the farm only about 20 minutes later it had cleared out in the indoor except for laura and kelly's lesson. But we didn't feel like dragging the jumps out for such a short amount of time, and there were still 4 others in the indoor other than us. So me and legs just worked on trotting, serpentines, her relaxing. We work really well together, she wasn't all speed racer ish, or choppy. She was nice and fluid (until the lady on the thoroughbred kept getting to close, legs will kick horses if they get too clost to her hind end..so i had to warn the lady who obviously wasn't paying attention. I dunno about others, but when i'm in a ring with horses i don't know i watch for body langauge of the other horses i am passing!) anyways i think we work well together I really like that mare.
Afterwards the dressage club all got together and went out to eat. I wasn't happy with my food, i ordered my favorite...ribs....BUT they were really tough and WOULDnt come apart, they were solid fat for the most part. I didn't want to eat there anyways (the 99) but oh well, they had a "new" menu. I won't go back again thats for sure! but it was nice to see everyone for the last time before the summer.
kim~
When we got back to the farm only about 20 minutes later it had cleared out in the indoor except for laura and kelly's lesson. But we didn't feel like dragging the jumps out for such a short amount of time, and there were still 4 others in the indoor other than us. So me and legs just worked on trotting, serpentines, her relaxing. We work really well together, she wasn't all speed racer ish, or choppy. She was nice and fluid (until the lady on the thoroughbred kept getting to close, legs will kick horses if they get too clost to her hind end..so i had to warn the lady who obviously wasn't paying attention. I dunno about others, but when i'm in a ring with horses i don't know i watch for body langauge of the other horses i am passing!) anyways i think we work well together I really like that mare.
Afterwards the dressage club all got together and went out to eat. I wasn't happy with my food, i ordered my favorite...ribs....BUT they were really tough and WOULDnt come apart, they were solid fat for the most part. I didn't want to eat there anyways (the 99) but oh well, they had a "new" menu. I won't go back again thats for sure! but it was nice to see everyone for the last time before the summer.
kim~
Thursday, April 28, 2005
THE SHOW!
OH I completely forgot! our FUNSHOW! it went really well, Cory made it up! we were really worried at first, she was our judge (i used to ride with her during the summer) and she was really sick! but she made it, and the show went on without much of a hitch, we finished @ 4pm had 22 classes, and started at 9:30! which isnt too bad considering we wanted to start at 9. It was great, we made some money for next show season. Unfortunately its not enough to pay for all of our showing costs for next semester, but good enough. A girl did break her nose (ouch!) because her horse threw his head up and popped it, and then another girl realized that YES she had indeed broke her tailbone the daybefore...doing gawd knows what! So that was the drama that accompanies any organized event, but for the most part no one was seriously hurt YEAH! Can't wait for next year. We learned a lot, and will make some more changes for next year. YEAH! :)
later~
later~
hmmmm catch up!
Well for some reason ove r the last week, whenever I tried to get on and POST something some stupid error would pop up. So of course i'm like WTF! anyways....lets see jumping lesson on Fritz last Saturday! I fell off AGAIN! this time it was because we were coming up to a fence and I was a little too far forward, he decided not to do it, and I couldn't correct myself. So in VERY slow motion off I went. I find it really hard to jump babies. I obviously am doing what I am supposed to be doing...Otherwise they wouldn't keep putting me on them. BUT GAWD! it really is shattering what confidence in my riding ability that I have! I've always been not as confident as I should be, but whatever, it strives me to be better and thats all that I want.
Anyways I don't remember much of the lesson other than the fact I was basically working on Fritz to engage his hind end over the fences and increase impulsion, so I guess for the most part thats what i achieved. I rode Ty last thursday for my dressage lesson. We have been riding him in a german martingale for the last couple of months because he keeps spooking and dumping riders...but its weird, its as if he is doing it on purpose. Like he is trying to get the rider off. He spooks at nothing and continues to spook (especially if the rider can't put the foot down so to speak) until they are off. So far i'm the only one he hasnt dumped *knock on wood* Its not like he didn't start it with me though. The second he starts i just sit as heavily as i can, and try to rein him in as tight as possible, and occasionally i'll smack him with the whip if i feel him getting towards that state to bring his attention back to me.
Amy keeps harrassing me about that part....but oh well its all in good fun right? anyways today I rode Rags. This horse amy is IN LOVE with. He's a wicked cutie, it was an interesting lesson. He doesn't like contact, its such a weird concept, you ask him to put his head down, completely give him the rein and he's happy as a clam. Cantering is so just weird on him. He tends to canter with a huge haunches in, its almost like your riding two seperate horses! Bryn had me work on straightening him out, boy did THAT make my thighs tired! Then she let me go over a couple of fences with him. Laura was on Chip (meg had to cancel today) and she even went over a couple. I think she liked it, he is such a good little jumper! Her two jumping lessons with us, she was on Ty, and hes a HORRIBLE jumper, i feel bad that they put her on him to jump! It will be nice next semester when we are all back, because she will be able to jump Chip then :). He hasn't been jumped in awhile because of an abcess and had pads on his feet. And since we all go home next week :) SO very exciting.
Anyways I didn't feel like i gained anything from this last lesson, nor really any of the lessons i've had over the last couple of weeks. No offense to bryn and sandy, I just wish I would ride a really NICE horse :) you know 4th level school master, that can REALLY teach me stuff. Oh well. Tomorrow is my last jumping lesson (well lesson total) for the semester! I can't wait, sandy said i could ride Wish :) She is a cute little morgan mare, that i LOVE. and she LOVES to jump, and she isnt a baby! and I CANT WAIT, we are going to work on big fences. It's been so long! I hate little fences they bore me, ESPECIALLY when i'm on a baby that is so wishywashy I feel useless! So i'm very excited for tomorrow. AND she shouldn't CRAZY because she was ridden today AND yesterday :)! OH so exciting :) Till then~
Anyways I don't remember much of the lesson other than the fact I was basically working on Fritz to engage his hind end over the fences and increase impulsion, so I guess for the most part thats what i achieved. I rode Ty last thursday for my dressage lesson. We have been riding him in a german martingale for the last couple of months because he keeps spooking and dumping riders...but its weird, its as if he is doing it on purpose. Like he is trying to get the rider off. He spooks at nothing and continues to spook (especially if the rider can't put the foot down so to speak) until they are off. So far i'm the only one he hasnt dumped *knock on wood* Its not like he didn't start it with me though. The second he starts i just sit as heavily as i can, and try to rein him in as tight as possible, and occasionally i'll smack him with the whip if i feel him getting towards that state to bring his attention back to me.
Amy keeps harrassing me about that part....but oh well its all in good fun right? anyways today I rode Rags. This horse amy is IN LOVE with. He's a wicked cutie, it was an interesting lesson. He doesn't like contact, its such a weird concept, you ask him to put his head down, completely give him the rein and he's happy as a clam. Cantering is so just weird on him. He tends to canter with a huge haunches in, its almost like your riding two seperate horses! Bryn had me work on straightening him out, boy did THAT make my thighs tired! Then she let me go over a couple of fences with him. Laura was on Chip (meg had to cancel today) and she even went over a couple. I think she liked it, he is such a good little jumper! Her two jumping lessons with us, she was on Ty, and hes a HORRIBLE jumper, i feel bad that they put her on him to jump! It will be nice next semester when we are all back, because she will be able to jump Chip then :). He hasn't been jumped in awhile because of an abcess and had pads on his feet. And since we all go home next week :) SO very exciting.
Anyways I didn't feel like i gained anything from this last lesson, nor really any of the lessons i've had over the last couple of weeks. No offense to bryn and sandy, I just wish I would ride a really NICE horse :) you know 4th level school master, that can REALLY teach me stuff. Oh well. Tomorrow is my last jumping lesson (well lesson total) for the semester! I can't wait, sandy said i could ride Wish :) She is a cute little morgan mare, that i LOVE. and she LOVES to jump, and she isnt a baby! and I CANT WAIT, we are going to work on big fences. It's been so long! I hate little fences they bore me, ESPECIALLY when i'm on a baby that is so wishywashy I feel useless! So i'm very excited for tomorrow. AND she shouldn't CRAZY because she was ridden today AND yesterday :)! OH so exciting :) Till then~
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Fritz with his much deserved apple. He shreads his apples with his teeth, IT TOOK FOREVER for him to eat it! Such a cutie. He has such an old man's look to his face!
Posted by Hello
The week of babies
Well on thursday I rode Titan. He is a 3 year old thoroughbred gelding. It was the first time he was used in a "lesson" All we did was just walked and trotted around, at a very long rein. He was a sweety. I did ask him to canter in both directions and that went well too. He was so good. At the trot he collected himself really nicely without any real contact. He is very calm for a baby, so much so that we introduced the whip because he started to ignore nudges with my leg...heel...AND some really hard kicks...to the later he grunted a little, but didn't respond. He was a little scared with the whip "following" him, but by the end of the lesson he was fine with the whip and responded with a gentle tap. :) good training session for him.
Today with our jumping lesson I rode Fritz. I've ridden him before in a dressag lesson. He is almost 4, and has had a lot more training than Titan has. He ended up spooking and side stepping. I dunno if it was just me zoning out/not paying attention because of being tired? or what but I fell off. The sad part is that I've sat worse spooks than THAT. Oh well it didn't hurt..and I got "chocolate" out before the others (the first person to yell chocolate when someone falls gets a candy bar ha!)...anyways so the jumping was a little rocky at first, but once I calmed down and stopped riding "aggressive" we worked really well together. :). Amy rode Jack in this lesson and Laura rode Ty....she fell off TWICE! I felt really sorry that she fell off. I find it amusing when I fall off, but I don't like it when others do. She still holds Ty as her favorite horse at puckerbrush! ha! I have some fun blurry pictures from jumping that I'll post. More later
kim~
Today with our jumping lesson I rode Fritz. I've ridden him before in a dressag lesson. He is almost 4, and has had a lot more training than Titan has. He ended up spooking and side stepping. I dunno if it was just me zoning out/not paying attention because of being tired? or what but I fell off. The sad part is that I've sat worse spooks than THAT. Oh well it didn't hurt..and I got "chocolate" out before the others (the first person to yell chocolate when someone falls gets a candy bar ha!)...anyways so the jumping was a little rocky at first, but once I calmed down and stopped riding "aggressive" we worked really well together. :). Amy rode Jack in this lesson and Laura rode Ty....she fell off TWICE! I felt really sorry that she fell off. I find it amusing when I fall off, but I don't like it when others do. She still holds Ty as her favorite horse at puckerbrush! ha! I have some fun blurry pictures from jumping that I'll post. More later
kim~
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Jumping get together
Tonight the team got together for a fun little jumping session. We went over the jump courses for the show :) I rode Wish, a little morgan mare, that was CRAZY....She is the type of horse that needs to be ridden EVERY day....and since her new owner bought her she has only been ridden a couple times a week tops. So now when someone gets on her, she immediately starts prancing around. If I touched her at all, seat, leg, ANYTHING she would get faster and faster, half halts were just impossible. I finally got her to settle down (well as far as she was going to....once she found out we were jumping!) If I asked her to down transition she would canter in place until she finally broke into a trot. I was told she looked scary. But it was all pretty fun, she was just so excited! She would fly over the fences like a bat outa hell! And definately didn't want to stop. GO GO GO was her only mode! So it was fun :) and I hope we do it again.... (oh and btw HI marie ;) i know your snooping ha!)
kim~
kim~
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Show #2 Rhode Island
Well the show went well this weekend. Everyone placed last except for brandi, she place 10th. I think it was good overall considering the fact that almost EVERY rider from the other schools were in levels that they shouldn't be competeing in. There were WAY to many first level riders riding Intro....It was like that for all the different classes. So with that AND the fact that this was our first time showing I think we did rather well. I ended up being the only person from our two teams to place. I'm glad that at least one of us placed. :)
It was held out side, so I am very burnt! but all in all, very good ;)
kim~
It was held out side, so I am very burnt! but all in all, very good ;)
kim~
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Ty and draw reins...
Well today when I went out to Puckerbrush Sandy told me that I did really great on Rocci on monday! She said that bryn told her, she hadn't seen anyone collect him that well (unless it was sandy) in over a year. So that was a nice complement. I like getting those ;). Anyways I rode Ty today with Draw Reins. He actually went so well I wasnt even using the draw reins! Half way through we ended up taking the draw reins off because he was going so well. We did some trotting and canter work. He didn't spook once, and he was moving nicely. Bryn took some pictures of me riding him, because they are going to sell him. He is too unpredictable. He is a one person type of horse. I usually have nice rides on him though, so I dunno if maybe I am one of the ones he likes? He likes Laura too, she never has a problem with him either. His spooking seems so deliberate with everyone. Amy (the previous owner) said that she never got along with him, and that he only liked specific people. I was the first person to ride him, once he came to Puckerbrush, so I am thinking that may be why I have good rides with him. I told bryn and sandy that I would be willing to ride him in the next few lessons so that he has a consistant rider, so that they could take more pictures, and make it easier to get rid of him. So we shall see
kim~
kim~
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Dressage lesson with Rocci
Well my monday dressage lesson was on Rocci. I'm not super fond of him. I find him obnoxious to ride. But our lesson went well. He has the most horrendous sitting trot. My stomach was so sore afterwards. We did some leg yeilding. It wasnt too good, and I felt sloppy. Then we worked on the Canter. That went well. Bryn said that I did a really good job collecting him and moving him forward. He didn't like it, and he kept swishing his tail, and every so often he would kick out with his front and hind legs. Bryn said that he hadn't really had anyone ride him in a while that collected him, and make him move forward. So overall it was a good lesson. Amy ended up getting off after the first 15 minutes, so in a sense I had a private lesson for a half hour. She was just showing her nerves for the upcoming show in Rhode Island.
kim~
kim~
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
SHOWS!!!!!
WELL! it was a LONG weekend! We left at 1pm from the motor pool to drive to U-mass. We were supposed to leave at 12:30 but Dan was late...what a surprise. We got to our hotel at about 7:30, and went out to Applebees for dinner. They took FOREVER to feed us, and then Bryn's dish was REALLY dirty. The manager tried to tell her it was "stained" because of the new colored dishes going through the dishwasher with the white ones. Yet she had food stuck to it....there's a BIG difference. And dishes aren't like clothes...they dont "bleed" in the wash. Whatever. So that didn't go as well as it could have. We got up at 6:30 To drive to the Hadley farm (thats the university of mass's farm) it was only a 5minute drive from the hotel, but we wanted to leave by 7:30 to get there before registration started @ 8am, and we didn't really know how to get there. We had directions but that doesn't mean we wouldn't go the wrong way on accident. Dan was late AGAIN. *grr* I was soooo pissy.
Anyways so we got a good group of horses, ended up getting group one, and draw one, meaning we were the first to ride in each of our classes. What fun ;). Everyone laughed when Sandy pulled the numbers. We made a good presentation of ourselves. I placed Fifth in Training 4. There were 9 schools, and 12 teams, with a total of 48 riders. I was the only one in our team to place. But I am so proud of everyone! The horses were spooking all day long. I think it was just the weather because on Sunday all the horses at the puckerbrush show were spooking like crazy too!
Because of the rain the show ended up going over by 2 hours. We didn't leave the farm till 6pm, and didnt get packed up, food, gas, and on the highway till 7pm. We got back to the Motor pool at 1:30am!!! and of course the clocks were supposed to "spring ahead"! *grr*
I got in bed @ 2:30...couldnt fall asleep.....go figure! So barely 4 hours later I was up again. 6:30am I got out of bed, and got ready for the Puckerbrush show. It went well, I got 2nd in my Training 2 test, and 3rd in my Training 4 test. Jack was really off the whole day. He was super spooky, I don't really know why he doesn't normally act that way. I couldn't get him to calm down, and I couldn't get him to focus. It was so confusing. There were so many rude people there too. This one lady kept pinning me and jack against the wall in the warm up. She was this fat nasty lady on this big percheron type horse. She had her test READ to her! I don't think that should be allowed. If you can't take the time to learn the test...you shouldn't be showing. IMO!
I started crying after I left the ring from the training 2 test. It was so bad. Just before I went in, Sandy said I'm tired! And I said yeah I am too...and felt tears just as she said, I feel so tired I could cry. I agreed and went into the ring. When I came out Sandy said Good job! and I burst out into tears. She asked me why I was crying, and all I could say was I'm SOOO tired! ah so emotional ;).
Anyways, I felt as though my second test went a lot better than the first. I scored lower, but I felt like it went better than the first one. He was together with me more. I gave up messing with his face, because when I did, he would react. He did the same thing with amy! Sandy and Bryn are gonna have the dentist out to check his teeth. He is "all of a sudden" very sensitive with his mouth. So we shall see what happens with that.
Both of these tests were primarily 5's some 6's and some 4's....most due to the fact that I couldn't get him to relax and pay attention he kept spooking and bucking, and doing lead changes bah! BUT she gave me a 7 on both of my tests for Rider seat, position, and use of aids. So I was very satisfied.
Anyways so that was the weekend. I got home at ~ 4pm, talk to dew for awhile, got ready for bed, went to bed at 6:30, and didnt get up till 8:30 the next morning. I was still REALLY tired, but atleast I wasn't crying over everything! ha! I hate that. When i get tired first i start to be really giggly...then if i stay up too much later, i get really emotional over EVERYTHING. All in all it was a great weekend! I'll put some pictures up when I get them.
kim~
Anyways so we got a good group of horses, ended up getting group one, and draw one, meaning we were the first to ride in each of our classes. What fun ;). Everyone laughed when Sandy pulled the numbers. We made a good presentation of ourselves. I placed Fifth in Training 4. There were 9 schools, and 12 teams, with a total of 48 riders. I was the only one in our team to place. But I am so proud of everyone! The horses were spooking all day long. I think it was just the weather because on Sunday all the horses at the puckerbrush show were spooking like crazy too!
Because of the rain the show ended up going over by 2 hours. We didn't leave the farm till 6pm, and didnt get packed up, food, gas, and on the highway till 7pm. We got back to the Motor pool at 1:30am!!! and of course the clocks were supposed to "spring ahead"! *grr*
I got in bed @ 2:30...couldnt fall asleep.....go figure! So barely 4 hours later I was up again. 6:30am I got out of bed, and got ready for the Puckerbrush show. It went well, I got 2nd in my Training 2 test, and 3rd in my Training 4 test. Jack was really off the whole day. He was super spooky, I don't really know why he doesn't normally act that way. I couldn't get him to calm down, and I couldn't get him to focus. It was so confusing. There were so many rude people there too. This one lady kept pinning me and jack against the wall in the warm up. She was this fat nasty lady on this big percheron type horse. She had her test READ to her! I don't think that should be allowed. If you can't take the time to learn the test...you shouldn't be showing. IMO!
I started crying after I left the ring from the training 2 test. It was so bad. Just before I went in, Sandy said I'm tired! And I said yeah I am too...and felt tears just as she said, I feel so tired I could cry. I agreed and went into the ring. When I came out Sandy said Good job! and I burst out into tears. She asked me why I was crying, and all I could say was I'm SOOO tired! ah so emotional ;).
Anyways, I felt as though my second test went a lot better than the first. I scored lower, but I felt like it went better than the first one. He was together with me more. I gave up messing with his face, because when I did, he would react. He did the same thing with amy! Sandy and Bryn are gonna have the dentist out to check his teeth. He is "all of a sudden" very sensitive with his mouth. So we shall see what happens with that.
Both of these tests were primarily 5's some 6's and some 4's....most due to the fact that I couldn't get him to relax and pay attention he kept spooking and bucking, and doing lead changes bah! BUT she gave me a 7 on both of my tests for Rider seat, position, and use of aids. So I was very satisfied.
Anyways so that was the weekend. I got home at ~ 4pm, talk to dew for awhile, got ready for bed, went to bed at 6:30, and didnt get up till 8:30 the next morning. I was still REALLY tired, but atleast I wasn't crying over everything! ha! I hate that. When i get tired first i start to be really giggly...then if i stay up too much later, i get really emotional over EVERYTHING. All in all it was a great weekend! I'll put some pictures up when I get them.
kim~
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Jack jack jack attack
Well I rode Jack again in my lesson today. It went really well. I am really doing great keeping my hands at the proper level and using my elbows more. I go to the gym quite a bit, and when I am on the upright bikes I practice my horsey "position" and make sure my elbows are being flexible and such. Its obviously helped a lot. I've really been making a conscious effort! So I worked on walk-halt and walk-trot-halt transistions. Jack is very sensitive to your leg, so it's easy to weave around when trying to trot down the centerline. So thats what I worked on for the first 15 minutes of the lesson. I finally got the hang of it, and had some really nice halts. Then we worked on my Training 4 test. I went through it the first time and Sandy said it was good, but only if I really was at a training 4 level. She told me she wanted me to ride it as if I was doing a First Level test because I am capable of doing that. So I did, and it was a much nicer test, it felt more fluid to me as well!
She said that the last few times she's seen anyone ride Jack, hes been cantering with his hind end in a little bit. So we did a little canter work to see if I could get him to canter straight down the long side, and then canter in 20 meter circles while asking for a shoulders in to even him out. It worked! I find it difficult on some of the everyday lesson horses to get them to do some of the things they ask me to. But with him I positioned myself correctly to ask and he did it :). It was a great thing, AND I could feel it. Another thing I like to happen, when I ask, that I can actually feel the response. Anyways it was a wonderful feeling. Then after another break (we let the horses relax every time we do something that takes a lot of energy on the horse's behalf) we did my training 2 test. It felt great, i forgot to walk at A and walked at F instead, but other than that it was a wonderful test.
Sandy said I did a wonderful job, and it truely was ridden as if I was doing a first level test. So, I think that me and Jack are going to do well at the show next sunday! His owner will be coming out to watch me and him in the show! That will be a little nerve racking i think! He never really rides, and he is REALLY green, can walk and trot, doesnt know how to post really, does an okay sitting trot, and was working on his canter when he stopped taking lessons. So he has this great horse, really well trained, light in the mouth, never on the forehand, Appendix Quarterhorse (MUCH more thoroughbred than QH)! AND pays just over $500 a month just to have Jack be ridden by me and a couple others! ha! It will be nice to have him see what his horse can do though!
Well all in all I think we are ready for the show! I asked Bryn to ride him in our lesson on Monday, and then I will ride him again next Thursday. Oh I can't wait to show, it will be so fun! But no doubt a bit stressful. I am gonna bring joey's camera and get someone to take picture of me on him so I can post them :)
kim~
She said that the last few times she's seen anyone ride Jack, hes been cantering with his hind end in a little bit. So we did a little canter work to see if I could get him to canter straight down the long side, and then canter in 20 meter circles while asking for a shoulders in to even him out. It worked! I find it difficult on some of the everyday lesson horses to get them to do some of the things they ask me to. But with him I positioned myself correctly to ask and he did it :). It was a great thing, AND I could feel it. Another thing I like to happen, when I ask, that I can actually feel the response. Anyways it was a wonderful feeling. Then after another break (we let the horses relax every time we do something that takes a lot of energy on the horse's behalf) we did my training 2 test. It felt great, i forgot to walk at A and walked at F instead, but other than that it was a wonderful test.
Sandy said I did a wonderful job, and it truely was ridden as if I was doing a first level test. So, I think that me and Jack are going to do well at the show next sunday! His owner will be coming out to watch me and him in the show! That will be a little nerve racking i think! He never really rides, and he is REALLY green, can walk and trot, doesnt know how to post really, does an okay sitting trot, and was working on his canter when he stopped taking lessons. So he has this great horse, really well trained, light in the mouth, never on the forehand, Appendix Quarterhorse (MUCH more thoroughbred than QH)! AND pays just over $500 a month just to have Jack be ridden by me and a couple others! ha! It will be nice to have him see what his horse can do though!
Well all in all I think we are ready for the show! I asked Bryn to ride him in our lesson on Monday, and then I will ride him again next Thursday. Oh I can't wait to show, it will be so fun! But no doubt a bit stressful. I am gonna bring joey's camera and get someone to take picture of me on him so I can post them :)
kim~
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
last two lessons....
I've been a little slacking with posts due to being SUPER busy...but things will be calm for a couple days atleast! SO much will be going on next week. preparing for 2 shows, and 2 exams, AND travelling over 12 hours atleast roundtrip! *phew* I will be a very tired kim. Anyways last thursday's dressage lesson I had on Jack, and Meg was on Ty. She's been really nervous riding him since her fall last december. She hasnt really had many lessons (probably like 4) since then, because of cancellations for snow and cold and such, and then spring break. SO she hasnt been able to get over the feeling that she will fall when she gets on him. So we swapped horses. The first half of the lesson I was on Ty and she got on Jack. But I did finally get Jack back so we could work on my test with him :).
Monday's dressage lesson with amy went...well interestingly. Ty spooked while she was on the upward post and when he spooks he doesnt stop for a good 2 minutes! if not longer....he is a real dumb-ass. Well she fell off, got her boot caught in the stirrup (she was wearing her winter mountain horse tall boots) and he dragged her spooking about halfway across the arena. It wasnt too bad, she got really shook up which is understandable. But she had his reins so she was sorta out of the "feet" area. There were 5 of us total on horses, but bryn was right there so she ran over (well walked over because ty was freaking out) and grabbed him just after amy's foot came unstuck. Definately not something I would want to have to go through! I was riding Chip BTW. hes a quarterhorse. He was dripping blood from way up inside his nose. It freaked me out, but Bryn said he always did it in the spring.....very odd!!!!....anyways. We did my Training 4 test it went really well, bryn said i did a very good job. But by the time we got to my Training 2 test (amy had done her first level test twice because she messed up) Chip was thinking he was done, and started acting up, and it ended up being HORRIBLE! so tomorrow i am doing my training 2 first no matter what! well more then!
kim~
Monday's dressage lesson with amy went...well interestingly. Ty spooked while she was on the upward post and when he spooks he doesnt stop for a good 2 minutes! if not longer....he is a real dumb-ass. Well she fell off, got her boot caught in the stirrup (she was wearing her winter mountain horse tall boots) and he dragged her spooking about halfway across the arena. It wasnt too bad, she got really shook up which is understandable. But she had his reins so she was sorta out of the "feet" area. There were 5 of us total on horses, but bryn was right there so she ran over (well walked over because ty was freaking out) and grabbed him just after amy's foot came unstuck. Definately not something I would want to have to go through! I was riding Chip BTW. hes a quarterhorse. He was dripping blood from way up inside his nose. It freaked me out, but Bryn said he always did it in the spring.....very odd!!!!....anyways. We did my Training 4 test it went really well, bryn said i did a very good job. But by the time we got to my Training 2 test (amy had done her first level test twice because she messed up) Chip was thinking he was done, and started acting up, and it ended up being HORRIBLE! so tomorrow i am doing my training 2 first no matter what! well more then!
kim~
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Show Practice II
Well this went well, I rode Gideon. I thought it was a better test than the last one...but I got the SAME exact score, a 61.92. Of course that is a good thing because atleast I know I am consistant. We were told today that U-Mass just has some morgans and quarter horses and such, and not "anything special." (no offense to anyone!!) So I think we have a really good chance of doing well. Collectively Team A (which is mine) and Team B both did very well with averages at about 60. I'm very excited, only 2 more weeks till the U-mass show on April 2nd, I am also going to be showing April 3rd @ puckerbrush. For this I am going to do Training tests 2 and 4. Oh so very exciting! :)
kim~
kim~
First time on Jack!
Jumping lessons have turned into Dressage lessons until after the upcoming IDA shows :). So last night we had a dressage lesson and it was on Jack. Jack is a thoroughbred...i think.... but that doesnt matter, he is my favorite horse at puckerbrush. I LOVE him. I dont really know why. There really isnt anything super special about him. He's nicely trained but not any super duper high level. The first time i saw him i really liked him. And after riding him last night i've decided that i LOVE him. I can't really explain why. We had an average lesson, nothing spectacular. Working on our Training 4 test, working on trotting. It was a nice lesson though, after not being on a horse in 2 weeks it was a great relief. Hopefully I will ride him again in the future. That would be nice.
kim~
kim~
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Show Practice I
Well I was assigned Rocci (Sandy's, our coach, gelding) I got a 61.92. Pretty much consistantly scored 6's and 7's not to bad for my first time on him. The WHOLE test consisted of me thinking I have to remember this test, and thinking it over and over in my head with....Corners corners corners just behind that. She said I kept good contact, but that I needed to bend and slow down, and well pretty much ride like I know how. Silly really, a FAKE show and I still got all flustered and nervous. :P oh well. So goes. I am just so happy I remembered, thats my biggest fear is to forget the test! So I beat our other Training 4 rider. He forgot his test, but he also has been showing a lot more than me. I havent shown in years so he is a little more prepared than I. Lets just hope he learns his test when we go to compete against the other schools!!!! Lesson on thursday, on a NEW horse woo Who!! more then.
I'm done.....
I have resigned from volunteering at the witter center. Other than the fact that I do chores 3 or 4 times a week and at most can only ride once or twice a week. And that amount is going to be cut back anyway since I have to work with Peaches the cow for my class. We have to train a cow, mine's never really been handled before. Anyways back to the point at hand why I left.....
1.) people are ALWAYS late to chores. I really think they just dont care because they dont have any commitments afterwards. When they are late to chores that usually makes ME late for class.... ex: yesterday I was on for 7am turnout. One of the girls (there are 3 people for this chore) didnt show up, so i called her after 25 minutes..no answer left a message then 10 minutes later she calls and says she will be on her way. Needless to say we didnt get done till 8:30 (normally get done quarter of 8 till about 8 depending on the day) I didnt get back to my room till quarter of 9...and I have class @ 9! *grrr* again not the only time this happens
2.)The hose burst AGAIN! they bought a new hose about a month ago. The last one kept breaking so badly we had to carry the individual water buckets for every horse. each horse has 2 buckets and we have 32 stalls if I remember correctly. So that is 64 buckets we need to carry to each horse...not to mention we have to give water to the sheep too. Last week I told them that the hose was buckling in like a hundred spots!!! Literally. the black underlining was showing through the green, and was slowly leaking. Well it finally burst in a couple places all over the cement. Which of course are large patches of sheer ice now.... not the most safe thing. Which is what they are supposedly wanting to avoid...yet we STILL dont have a new hose..
3.) I got a wonderful email from one of the co-barn managers saying that we didnt open the stall doors all the way and that 10 of them were not closed all the way by a couple of inches, and this was unsafe for the horses to exit the stalls. WTF an inch or two.... I don't see what the problem is? its not like we are leaving the door only half open and expecting the horses to walk through. AND THEN! she had the gall to say this......
**When you slide/push the door back, it should be lined up with the stall wall, (i.e. your hand should be able to be relatively flat against both the stall door and the wall to which the grain door is attached). If you would like a demonstration, feel free to ask Becky or myself. ***
A demonstration! to open a DOOR! WTF I've been working with horses for the last 9 YEARS!!! I dont need a demonstration on how to open a fucking DOOR! whatever though right? Leaving the door not open completely by an inch or two really puts a horse in danger....not the ice thats all over the floor, or the glare ice at the paddock gates, or the fact that people never spread hay out so the horses wont fight over it. Or the fact that they forget to water them frequently? OR the fact that they feed them incorrectly and have a 2 year old filly (that JUST turned 2 btw, the whole Jan. 1st increase the year thing) is on Prefromance..and has been since she was weaned!!!! And then they were wondering why she could be having hock problems....Or the mare that is currently pregnant that is on Preformance. WTF.
Anyways I am very shocked at how some of these things are run. I hate it, its inefficient, not the best for the animals, and some of those in charge (currently) seem to me, to have a power trip. Whatever.
The equine trainer asked us to stay, and was sorry to see us (meaning me and amy) go because we were the best ones they had, she didnt have to worry what we were doing with our assigned horses. Oh well. I dont know if i believe it or not.... I dont like her training methods either. she is teaching the horses to be down and round perfectly from the second you get on... I dont think that is right and it severly limits what they can be used for in the future. Beating them to keep their head perfect isnt doing anything good over all. Ok enough ranting now.
So as of last night I have resigned. Now I can start talking about peaches...shes a heifer...but oh well.
kim~
1.) people are ALWAYS late to chores. I really think they just dont care because they dont have any commitments afterwards. When they are late to chores that usually makes ME late for class.... ex: yesterday I was on for 7am turnout. One of the girls (there are 3 people for this chore) didnt show up, so i called her after 25 minutes..no answer left a message then 10 minutes later she calls and says she will be on her way. Needless to say we didnt get done till 8:30 (normally get done quarter of 8 till about 8 depending on the day) I didnt get back to my room till quarter of 9...and I have class @ 9! *grrr* again not the only time this happens
2.)The hose burst AGAIN! they bought a new hose about a month ago. The last one kept breaking so badly we had to carry the individual water buckets for every horse. each horse has 2 buckets and we have 32 stalls if I remember correctly. So that is 64 buckets we need to carry to each horse...not to mention we have to give water to the sheep too. Last week I told them that the hose was buckling in like a hundred spots!!! Literally. the black underlining was showing through the green, and was slowly leaking. Well it finally burst in a couple places all over the cement. Which of course are large patches of sheer ice now.... not the most safe thing. Which is what they are supposedly wanting to avoid...yet we STILL dont have a new hose..
3.) I got a wonderful email from one of the co-barn managers saying that we didnt open the stall doors all the way and that 10 of them were not closed all the way by a couple of inches, and this was unsafe for the horses to exit the stalls. WTF an inch or two.... I don't see what the problem is? its not like we are leaving the door only half open and expecting the horses to walk through. AND THEN! she had the gall to say this......
**When you slide/push the door back, it should be lined up with the stall wall, (i.e. your hand should be able to be relatively flat against both the stall door and the wall to which the grain door is attached). If you would like a demonstration, feel free to ask Becky or myself. ***
A demonstration! to open a DOOR! WTF I've been working with horses for the last 9 YEARS!!! I dont need a demonstration on how to open a fucking DOOR! whatever though right? Leaving the door not open completely by an inch or two really puts a horse in danger....not the ice thats all over the floor, or the glare ice at the paddock gates, or the fact that people never spread hay out so the horses wont fight over it. Or the fact that they forget to water them frequently? OR the fact that they feed them incorrectly and have a 2 year old filly (that JUST turned 2 btw, the whole Jan. 1st increase the year thing) is on Prefromance..and has been since she was weaned!!!! And then they were wondering why she could be having hock problems....Or the mare that is currently pregnant that is on Preformance. WTF.
Anyways I am very shocked at how some of these things are run. I hate it, its inefficient, not the best for the animals, and some of those in charge (currently) seem to me, to have a power trip. Whatever.
The equine trainer asked us to stay, and was sorry to see us (meaning me and amy) go because we were the best ones they had, she didnt have to worry what we were doing with our assigned horses. Oh well. I dont know if i believe it or not.... I dont like her training methods either. she is teaching the horses to be down and round perfectly from the second you get on... I dont think that is right and it severly limits what they can be used for in the future. Beating them to keep their head perfect isnt doing anything good over all. Ok enough ranting now.
So as of last night I have resigned. Now I can start talking about peaches...shes a heifer...but oh well.
kim~
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Casting
Last night when me and amy went to the farm for night check @ 10pm we found that beau had casted herself. For those of you who do not know what casting is, it is when a horse rolls in their stall, but roles all the way over. So that they are right next to the wall with their legs tucked against their belly but they are laying on their side. The wall being so close makes it so they cant get up. VERY BAD for the horse!!!!! Poor thing, she was like that for up to 4 hours. Took two of us to drag her head away enough so that she could pivot and get up.
But she is up now, and doing much better. She went to the bathroom the second she was up. I didnt think she was gonna stop peeing at first ha! Thats it for horse news this weekend was WAY to busy to even contemplate going out to ride.
kim~
But she is up now, and doing much better. She went to the bathroom the second she was up. I didnt think she was gonna stop peeing at first ha! Thats it for horse news this weekend was WAY to busy to even contemplate going out to ride.
kim~
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Training 4 test
Today in my dressage lesson I rode Ty. He was good today, not fighting with him :). I like those days. We just worked on my test for the IDA show April 2nd. I am probably going to show @ the puckerbrush dressage shows April 3rd and May 1st as well. :)
Anyways, the practice test went well. I know it finally, and can remember it while doing it. Which is always a big step for me. Sandy said I did very well, and it felt like a good test so i was very satisfied. We just did walk, trot, and canter work. Nothing special mainly just making sure my hands and seat were correct, the stuff they would look for in the test. I tend to not use my seat bones completely when cantering so I've been working on really sitting deeply while cantering. We also worked on smooth transitions and such. Ty has a horrible sense of transitions.
No matter what you do when you ask to down transition from a trot to a walk he automatically stops and then walks forward. We've tried everything to get him NOT to do that. His Canter/trot transitions are really nice as long as you are the one asking for it. He does this thing were when you do a circle at E, and when you come back to E and start to go straight instead of do another circle he will just stop. Its very annoying. When they first got him at Puckerbrush he would just stop in the middle. He doesnt do that anymore, but still does it at other stages. So we have to make sure we snap him before he gets a chance to do it again. Very frustrating. But again it was a satisfying lesson. :)
Very very busy end of the week for me. More after my jumping lesson on monday.
kim~
Anyways, the practice test went well. I know it finally, and can remember it while doing it. Which is always a big step for me. Sandy said I did very well, and it felt like a good test so i was very satisfied. We just did walk, trot, and canter work. Nothing special mainly just making sure my hands and seat were correct, the stuff they would look for in the test. I tend to not use my seat bones completely when cantering so I've been working on really sitting deeply while cantering. We also worked on smooth transitions and such. Ty has a horrible sense of transitions.
No matter what you do when you ask to down transition from a trot to a walk he automatically stops and then walks forward. We've tried everything to get him NOT to do that. His Canter/trot transitions are really nice as long as you are the one asking for it. He does this thing were when you do a circle at E, and when you come back to E and start to go straight instead of do another circle he will just stop. Its very annoying. When they first got him at Puckerbrush he would just stop in the middle. He doesnt do that anymore, but still does it at other stages. So we have to make sure we snap him before he gets a chance to do it again. Very frustrating. But again it was a satisfying lesson. :)
Very very busy end of the week for me. More after my jumping lesson on monday.
kim~
Trail Ride
I am in high hopes that spring is on its way...but incase it gets cold again we decided to absorb as much of this nice weather as possible! So Me and Tory, and Amy and Dewey (dewey the horse, and shes another University owned Standardbred.), went out on a trail ride. We rode up the access road (connecting the farm to the campus), then walked down the edge of campus, through the Orchard Parking Lot, past the back side of a bunch of dorms, the two commons, and such, and went up the bike trail back to the farm. It took us about 45 minutes to an hour, and we walked the whole way. It was so nice. I think the girls were happy to get out.
A couple brightly clad joggers came up behind us and Tory didnt like it. She has issues with people, dogs, whatever running up at her from behind. These two guys were running at a decent pace and they were dressed in VERY bright colors, reds, yellows, etc. I dunno if it was the color or not, but before that a girl jogged past us and Tory was fine, and then after this brightly clad duo left us, a couple of our professors (oddly enough) jogged past and she was fine yet again. Anyways when these two came up behind us she started doing these little rears and quivering as if she wanted to bolt. I kept her in one spot though it was taking quite a bit. Finally they realized that she didnt like THEM, and they slowed to a walk, and asked If i would like them to walk by, and me thinking OF COURSE are you STUPID? But instead just said if you wouldn't mind. And so they went past at a walk, and one of them said your horse (Dewey) is foaming at the mouth. This of course made us laugh, we said its a good thing and they were on their way.
So that was the excitement of our ride. Got a lot of odd looks from people from campus who obviously had never seen any of us riding the edge of campus. All in all it was great.
We have day old lambs at the farm, they are so cute, all black with little dark blue blankets on them. Just so adorable. Its calving time too. So far we have had 3 male calves!!!! The fourth was born last night, but when we arrived for night check he had been crushed by his mom (she laid on him we determined). He was born between the last milking and nightcheck so we dont really know the exact time he was born, the poor thing. Rudy (the mom) was trying to get him to stand, she kept licking him. This whole working with cows thing is not really suiting me...but I have to do it. I was assigned a dairy heifer named Peaches to work with and train, to show in the Orono Royal the last sat of april. It shall be interesting. I hate how dirty cows are...so peaches will be the cleanest cow EVER! I just cant stand dirty cows, it makes them smell bad, and look disgusting. This one is just under a year old, and has never been worked with so this ought to be interesting. Done for now....Dressage lesson in the afternoon tomorrow.
A couple brightly clad joggers came up behind us and Tory didnt like it. She has issues with people, dogs, whatever running up at her from behind. These two guys were running at a decent pace and they were dressed in VERY bright colors, reds, yellows, etc. I dunno if it was the color or not, but before that a girl jogged past us and Tory was fine, and then after this brightly clad duo left us, a couple of our professors (oddly enough) jogged past and she was fine yet again. Anyways when these two came up behind us she started doing these little rears and quivering as if she wanted to bolt. I kept her in one spot though it was taking quite a bit. Finally they realized that she didnt like THEM, and they slowed to a walk, and asked If i would like them to walk by, and me thinking OF COURSE are you STUPID? But instead just said if you wouldn't mind. And so they went past at a walk, and one of them said your horse (Dewey) is foaming at the mouth. This of course made us laugh, we said its a good thing and they were on their way.
So that was the excitement of our ride. Got a lot of odd looks from people from campus who obviously had never seen any of us riding the edge of campus. All in all it was great.
We have day old lambs at the farm, they are so cute, all black with little dark blue blankets on them. Just so adorable. Its calving time too. So far we have had 3 male calves!!!! The fourth was born last night, but when we arrived for night check he had been crushed by his mom (she laid on him we determined). He was born between the last milking and nightcheck so we dont really know the exact time he was born, the poor thing. Rudy (the mom) was trying to get him to stand, she kept licking him. This whole working with cows thing is not really suiting me...but I have to do it. I was assigned a dairy heifer named Peaches to work with and train, to show in the Orono Royal the last sat of april. It shall be interesting. I hate how dirty cows are...so peaches will be the cleanest cow EVER! I just cant stand dirty cows, it makes them smell bad, and look disgusting. This one is just under a year old, and has never been worked with so this ought to be interesting. Done for now....Dressage lesson in the afternoon tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Jumping lesson :)
Well we had a jumping lesson today! YIPPEE! lets hope we wont have any more lessons cancelled. Spring is on the way!!! I rode Ty he is about 9 years old I believe, though not a hundred percent sure. Anyways he is a Hanovarian that was trained for Dressage, and was even used for the IDA shows. Jumping is suposedly not new to him....but that isnt really too believable. He is doing remarkably better than the last time I jumped him (it was about 3 months ago and one of his first times we had ever done so). Bryn said she had been riding him a bit lately and it shows.
He is actually jumping the jumps now (well most of them, he sorta throws himself through them, and doesnt really pick up his feet, but again he is doing better...hehehehe) Anyways well we went over a few jumps and he was shooting around like a rocket, pulling the reins from my hands and jutting to the right just after the jump. So we started to have him do a shoulder in, on the approach to the jumps, that helped quite a bit to keep him from bolting to the right. It was a constant battle of half halts and keeping his head up so he wouldnt pull the reins out of my hands. So we got some good lines in over a set of 3 oxers...but most ended up in him pulling my arms out of the sockets and jutting to the right. We did some "courses" to swap things up and that went pretty well. Except that if the fence was bigger than 2'6" he would crash through.
And then I almost fell off (and I am still surprised I stayed on!!) he crased through an oxer and tripped, and went down a little, and I lost my stirrups which caused him to spook to the right (they were clanking I think?) and then back to the left, were I accidentally snapped him with the whip and caused him to skid to the right again *sigh* anyways I was preparing to fall but then when he scooted back over I didnt because he was under me again. hehehe. So I regained my stirrups and went on to the next jump :). Other than that he did this weird half rear thing because I was sick of having him be all over the place and was really holding him where I wanted. So overall the jumping aspect was great. A good training experiance for both of us :).
About half way through we stopped jumping and did some dressage stuff for about 15 minutes to get his mind away from jumping for a bit. That was amazing. I havent had him move like that, and be that collected and supple since I've been riding him in lessons! He was listening to my legs and seat (stopped on a dime with my seat. normally he will take a few steps) We did some leg yeilds. Oh and we even did some flying lead changes while doing serpentines...this wasnt as nice because it was before we started jumping, but I bet they would have been beautiful if I was doing them after the jumping. Can't ask for TOO much though. Overall I am very satisfied with my lesson, and my own personaly preformance *grin*. Not nearly as dissapointed this time.
kim~
He is actually jumping the jumps now (well most of them, he sorta throws himself through them, and doesnt really pick up his feet, but again he is doing better...hehehehe) Anyways well we went over a few jumps and he was shooting around like a rocket, pulling the reins from my hands and jutting to the right just after the jump. So we started to have him do a shoulder in, on the approach to the jumps, that helped quite a bit to keep him from bolting to the right. It was a constant battle of half halts and keeping his head up so he wouldnt pull the reins out of my hands. So we got some good lines in over a set of 3 oxers...but most ended up in him pulling my arms out of the sockets and jutting to the right. We did some "courses" to swap things up and that went pretty well. Except that if the fence was bigger than 2'6" he would crash through.
And then I almost fell off (and I am still surprised I stayed on!!) he crased through an oxer and tripped, and went down a little, and I lost my stirrups which caused him to spook to the right (they were clanking I think?) and then back to the left, were I accidentally snapped him with the whip and caused him to skid to the right again *sigh* anyways I was preparing to fall but then when he scooted back over I didnt because he was under me again. hehehe. So I regained my stirrups and went on to the next jump :). Other than that he did this weird half rear thing because I was sick of having him be all over the place and was really holding him where I wanted. So overall the jumping aspect was great. A good training experiance for both of us :).
About half way through we stopped jumping and did some dressage stuff for about 15 minutes to get his mind away from jumping for a bit. That was amazing. I havent had him move like that, and be that collected and supple since I've been riding him in lessons! He was listening to my legs and seat (stopped on a dime with my seat. normally he will take a few steps) We did some leg yeilds. Oh and we even did some flying lead changes while doing serpentines...this wasnt as nice because it was before we started jumping, but I bet they would have been beautiful if I was doing them after the jumping. Can't ask for TOO much though. Overall I am very satisfied with my lesson, and my own personaly preformance *grin*. Not nearly as dissapointed this time.
kim~
Monday, February 14, 2005
this is just before he spooked over the doorway (someone was walking past) and was just after he spooked over the snow that was on the "inside" oh no! He thought it was going to eat him all up...hehehe
Posted by Hello
This was a very dark picture, so when I added light to it, it became pretty much black and white. Its a good picture of us though.
Posted by Hello
Friday, February 11, 2005
3rd Level School Master
Well me and dew braved the storm so I could get in a Dressage lesson on a 3rd level School master, named Ike, before he left for New Hampshire. He is classically trained, and its the first time I have ever ridden a horse like him. It was a great confidence booster from my last ride. Because he could do it, we worked on haunches in, shoulders in, and leg yeilding. Once I found all the right buttons we were working together wonderfully. It was great. Definately my most favorite lesson in awhile. I felt as if I was actually accomplishing something. After we were doing these movements quite fluidly we moved on to the canter.......This was interesting....and after about 15 minutes of laughter and lots of grunting we did it ha! I really dont know why their is such a difference between cantering a classically trained horse and a regular trained horse, but there is! I've never had such a problem with cantering!
Sandy (the dressage club's coach) and Bryn (the barn manager, and was watching with a little too much enthusiasm..ha!) were both trying to explain the difference to me, but kept insisting that basically I just needed to "find" it. That they themselves had the same problem. But when I finally did get it, it was super easy. I wish he could stay longer, because I know it would still take me a little bit to get it the next time. Lets just hope I dont get one of these classically trained horses assigned at the IDA show in April.....That could spell disaster.
Anyways I posted a few pictures that dew took of us :)
Sandy (the dressage club's coach) and Bryn (the barn manager, and was watching with a little too much enthusiasm..ha!) were both trying to explain the difference to me, but kept insisting that basically I just needed to "find" it. That they themselves had the same problem. But when I finally did get it, it was super easy. I wish he could stay longer, because I know it would still take me a little bit to get it the next time. Lets just hope I dont get one of these classically trained horses assigned at the IDA show in April.....That could spell disaster.
Anyways I posted a few pictures that dew took of us :)
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Vaccinations...not so fun...
Well today was quite eventful. I managed to vaccinate MYSELF with some cow vaccine against the "clostridium" virus. I dont know the correct spelling but thats how it sounds. One of my classes at school requires me to work with the cows at witter. We have beef and dairy cattle. Holsteins, black angus, and belties. We were vaccinating the pregnant cows so that when they start calving in a few weeks the babies will all be protected against the virus.
Yes I stabbed myself with a needled filled with the vaccine. I had put the cap on too tight so was pulling hard to get it off and well, you know what happens when you try to overcorrect yourself. It went all the way through my pointer finger on my left hand. It bled quite a bit, but its fine for the most part. It was sterile, hadnt been in any cows yet, or touched anything else except the bottle of the vaccine. Anyways so its realy sore and I cant bend it, but I can type with little pain??? very odd.
Anyways so I rode Tory bareback and we just lots and lots of circles walking, bending and all that jazz ;). That way there would be no cow kicking and any reason to hurt my finger more. It was so relaxing just to walk around it was great. I just sorta zoned out at the end and we just sorta walked and walked. I'm not sure how much she enjoyed it, but I really did. She listened well. I think that is mainly due to the fact that it was bareback. She was bending really nicely in comparison to how she normally is. Probably due to the fact that there wasnt a saddle in the way of her fat belly. I can't wait till all the snow is gone (I am just ignoring the fact that we are getting atleast a foot of snow in the next couple of days). When its gone I'm gonna do some groundpole work with her, so I can get that canter going :). More of that when the time comes.
My Dew is coming to see me tonight, because our anniversary is this sunday. 4 years! He's so great.
kim~
Yes I stabbed myself with a needled filled with the vaccine. I had put the cap on too tight so was pulling hard to get it off and well, you know what happens when you try to overcorrect yourself. It went all the way through my pointer finger on my left hand. It bled quite a bit, but its fine for the most part. It was sterile, hadnt been in any cows yet, or touched anything else except the bottle of the vaccine. Anyways so its realy sore and I cant bend it, but I can type with little pain??? very odd.
Anyways so I rode Tory bareback and we just lots and lots of circles walking, bending and all that jazz ;). That way there would be no cow kicking and any reason to hurt my finger more. It was so relaxing just to walk around it was great. I just sorta zoned out at the end and we just sorta walked and walked. I'm not sure how much she enjoyed it, but I really did. She listened well. I think that is mainly due to the fact that it was bareback. She was bending really nicely in comparison to how she normally is. Probably due to the fact that there wasnt a saddle in the way of her fat belly. I can't wait till all the snow is gone (I am just ignoring the fact that we are getting atleast a foot of snow in the next couple of days). When its gone I'm gonna do some groundpole work with her, so I can get that canter going :). More of that when the time comes.
My Dew is coming to see me tonight, because our anniversary is this sunday. 4 years! He's so great.
kim~
Friday, February 04, 2005
The fat little Tory pony
I posted a few pictures of Tory so those of you reading can have a visual of my fat little standardbred that I work with at the Witter Center here at school. She's a wicked cutie but can be such a brat!!
Also I was told I wasn't paying enough attention to my lovely fiance on my blog so I loves you my Dewhound. hehehehehe mushy mushy mushy
Also I was told I wasn't paying enough attention to my lovely fiance on my blog so I loves you my Dewhound. hehehehehe mushy mushy mushy
YEAH its warm
Well our last lesson was cancelled....Sandy (our dressage team coach) was sick.....but we went out for a practice ride this last tues. I rode Scarlett, a very cute 8 year old thoroughbred mare. She is Marie's mare. She is a dressage club member. Scarlett is up for sale because she wants a horse more suited for eventing, can't say that I blame her. When I asked her to canter she got 2 good bucks in, but a tap with the whip and she was done testing me. Towards the end of the hour she was going nicely.
What is it with me being attracted to horses that like to buck? I rode tory yesterday in the OUTDOOR whooooo WHO! it was so great. It was nice to get out and not be in the cramped and dusty excuse for an indoor. (Its basically a little longer than a 20 meter circle, and you can not fit more than one horse and rider in at once, and its surrounded by 5 foot walls) Anyways, Tory was being as stubborn as ever, she doesnt like to work I have decided. We did some trotting nothing major the snow was too deep to really work on anything, but of course I felt like asking for a canter, because we've been indoors for over a month! She hates to be asked to canter, and she got a few really good bucks in. I was surprised because normally shes just a cowkicking machine, but for some reason she was in the mood to really go all out. I did get her to canter down the long side and so I finished off with a good note trotted a little more at a more collected and sane speed.
Well today we finally got a Dressage lesson in. I rode Fritz. He is this cute little grey pony thats 4 years old. We practiced our Training Four test for the IDA show in april. I kept forgetting parts but he was fun to ride all the same. He was only a bad boy once. We were doing a canter circle at E to the right. He decided to go left just before we reached the opposite wall. Which of course threw us both off balance the little brat. I guess he started to do that with a couple of the little lesson girls. Poor things, something like that can really shatter a little girl's confidence. So we fixed the direction into going BACK the way we were supposed to be heading and tried again. The second I felt him start to lean to switch direction I gave him a good smack with the whip and he changed his mind real quick. And then he went back to being a good little pony.
Overall though I felt very sloppy and wrong. My back was sore from constantly trying to keep my position. I dont know if it was because of this little green pony? or because it has been so long since i've had to actually ride in a lesson. I havent had a lesson in over a month because of 3 weeks of cancellations due to cold and sickness, and 3 weeks off for winter break. Atleast that is what I am assuming. I dont have a clue, my back is still sore and I am very tired after a week of studing and exams (my last one is tomorrow morning). *phew* wish me luck, I hope next week's lesson is more fulfilling.
What is it with me being attracted to horses that like to buck? I rode tory yesterday in the OUTDOOR whooooo WHO! it was so great. It was nice to get out and not be in the cramped and dusty excuse for an indoor. (Its basically a little longer than a 20 meter circle, and you can not fit more than one horse and rider in at once, and its surrounded by 5 foot walls) Anyways, Tory was being as stubborn as ever, she doesnt like to work I have decided. We did some trotting nothing major the snow was too deep to really work on anything, but of course I felt like asking for a canter, because we've been indoors for over a month! She hates to be asked to canter, and she got a few really good bucks in. I was surprised because normally shes just a cowkicking machine, but for some reason she was in the mood to really go all out. I did get her to canter down the long side and so I finished off with a good note trotted a little more at a more collected and sane speed.
Well today we finally got a Dressage lesson in. I rode Fritz. He is this cute little grey pony thats 4 years old. We practiced our Training Four test for the IDA show in april. I kept forgetting parts but he was fun to ride all the same. He was only a bad boy once. We were doing a canter circle at E to the right. He decided to go left just before we reached the opposite wall. Which of course threw us both off balance the little brat. I guess he started to do that with a couple of the little lesson girls. Poor things, something like that can really shatter a little girl's confidence. So we fixed the direction into going BACK the way we were supposed to be heading and tried again. The second I felt him start to lean to switch direction I gave him a good smack with the whip and he changed his mind real quick. And then he went back to being a good little pony.
Overall though I felt very sloppy and wrong. My back was sore from constantly trying to keep my position. I dont know if it was because of this little green pony? or because it has been so long since i've had to actually ride in a lesson. I havent had a lesson in over a month because of 3 weeks of cancellations due to cold and sickness, and 3 weeks off for winter break. Atleast that is what I am assuming. I dont have a clue, my back is still sore and I am very tired after a week of studing and exams (my last one is tomorrow morning). *phew* wish me luck, I hope next week's lesson is more fulfilling.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
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