Monday, January 12, 2015

Ride 97 - Finally got back on.

 Yay the weather finally straightened up enough to ride!  It's mud city, but that's okay.  Here are the ride stats.



I just rode around the yard.  He was a little frisky, but not out of line.  I've also learned one of the benefits of blanketing your horse!!!!!  He was clean!  Yay!  His head, ears, neck, mane and legs were coated in mud so I'm very happy he had his blanket on hehe.

 Itchy ears!  Notice the brushes on his back?  Hehe.

 Brushing the mud off of his ears lol.

 I'm on!  I have to admit my heart was racing as I went to mount up, but once I was on I was fine.

 I forgot to take the Christmas decorations off of my reins so it stayed on for the ride lol.

 Zeroing in on the straw...

 Checking out my straw bales that I use for target practice with my bow.

 So we set the bales up and I walked him over them.

We even jumped it!!

Ignore my horrible riding.  I was riding a bit defensively.  It was fun though!  The little dork only trotted over it after that.  He's already learned that the low stuff isn't worth the effort of jumping hehe.

We did some trotting.

 We even cantered.

His canter was still fresh (he leaped into the canter as soon as I asked instead of taking several strides before transitioning) and I got defensive and jerked his face off because it felt like he was about to explode and crow hop.  Hubby said he wasn't crowhopping, but it sure felt like he was about to explode into full on bronc mode.  I feel bad for correcting him, but he didn't want to stop either so he was ignoring me enough that it made me nervous.  So I only cantered him that one time because I didn't want to push our luck and his stifle gave out three times during the ride (at the walk and trot).  He definitely doesn't do well with time off.  I have to work those stifles consistently.

After that we just walked and trotted around some more and then I worked on asking him to move off of my leg.  I only did my right leg to start out with because he gets confused if I switch back and forth.  Once he does well with it I'll do the other side.  I was having to tilt his head to the right a bit, but he was doing well crossing his hind leg over as he yielded his haunches.  I don't think it will take long for him to figure it out, especially if I get the clicker back out.

So it was short and simple, but I wasn't afraid (except for the huge canter, but that was normal before the fall so no big deal, we will work through it).  I really don't feel like the fall has effected my confidence all that much.  The canter is iffy, but it always has been.  I am excited that we can continue our progress (weather depending)!  I still might do some of the longeing and long lining when the ground allows it.

There is one thing left to mention.  When I was untacking him I had him ground tied like I always do.  The little punk walked off.  I chased after him (he trotted away), grabbed the reins and spun him around..... which sent my saddle off into the mud because I had already undone the girth.  Grr!  I was pissed, but hubby reminded me not to act in anger.  I put up the saddle and switch to his halter, then led him back to the car.  I positioned him back how he was, held the very end of the rope and stood around the side of the car.  Within ten seconds he started to walk off again and I scolded him, spun him around and made him back up.  Then I put him back.  That time he did not budge an inch.  He looked up at the road, then looked over at the pasture, then sighed and dropped his head.  He's been so bad about walking off when ground tied or when I mount, so I have to stop letting him get away with it.  I'm proud of him that it only took one reminder for him.  This was all in the halter by the way, I wasn't jerking on the bit.  After that I put him in the pasture, removed his halter and spent time rubbing and scratching his ears and face so he knew we were still friends.  He stood at the gate watching me until I disappeared into the house so I don't think he's holding a grudge.  Thank goodness for hubby to remind me not to get angry, even though I was extremely upset about my saddle ending up in the mud.  So I'd call it a successful ride/training session.  Love my pony!

31 comments:

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    1. Also thank you for commenting! I apparently lost your blog when I switched readers. I'm adding you back to my list. :D

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    2. I cannot count the ones I deleted just know I have deleted many. With both of my blogs, one that I don't post on any more, I have 3591 posts.

      Have a blessed day.

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  2. Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm very happy it went so well. I'd be lying if I didn't for a second think how much it would suck to fall off again on my first ride back hehe. I'm glad my pessimistic attitude didn't make it happen.

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  3. He's so handsome! Maturing into quite the fine horse. :)

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  4. Lovely photos, looks like you guys had fun! What app do you use? Sorry if I've asked before and forgotten.

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  5. Yey you rode him again! And even jumped and cantered too! Love him up!
    Hoping this post will stick - I've commented, but since I'm apparently technically challenged and can't handle having any other identity outside WordPress, none of them stuck, go figure :0
    Have a great week!

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    1. Oh no! I'm sorry you're having trouble commenting. I have trouble with wordpress so I finally made an account so I could comment on wordpress blogs easier. I think I have my comments on here set up so you have to use an account because it helps prevent spammers. I'll check my settings. :) Thanks for commenting! I gave him lots of love and attention for being a good boy!

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  6. Hurray! I am so glad you got back on. And good job making him get with the program ground tying before turning him loose. Here is to many more good rides. Btw he's gotten so light this winter it is amazing.

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    1. Thank you! I'm pretty proud of myself for calming down and turning it into a training session instead of losing my cool. Yes he has gotten very light!! I'm amazed at how quickly he's fading now. I really hope he doesn't fade out so quickly that he misses the really dappled stage! *pout*

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  7. Glad you got to ride! I will get to ride sometime too, eventually haha

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    1. Thank you! I hope you get to ride soon. Winter is so annoying lol.

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  8. Awww good job riding again! Don't let yourself get too one-sided with moving off the leg, maybe alternate each ride? You've probably already figured out what's best for Chrome, but I'm so paranoid about not working things evenly!! Great job, again. :)

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  9. Thanks! Yeah I was thinking I would probably do the other side next ride. :) I tried it today, but it totally confused him!! I will definitely switch it up though so he doesn't get one sided.

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  10. yay!! so glad you got back on and had a good time!! gotta take advantage of whatever good weather comes our way :) (also - i'm glad i'm not the only one who leaves brushes on top of the horse lol)

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    1. LOL yeah I have always done that with the brushes. :D It's the most convenient spot to put them hehe. I'm trying to take advantage of the good weather when it comes. January and February are the worst in my area, but I'll try really hard. I really don't want to lose all of the progress we made on his stifles.

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  11. Cute jacket! I guess it's not tank top weather anymore? : )

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  12. I'm glad that you got back on. And good for you for reinforcing the ground tie. Don't forget to work on the standing still while mounting too. That's a critical piece.

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    1. Thank you. Yes we're working on that too for sure. I had hubby holding him for the ride yesterday because I was a little nervous but I will definitely work on it some more next time.

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  13. He is such a handsome guy! I'm glad that you were able to ride.

    I don't know if this will help and I'm certainly not trying to act like a trainer or anything, but I had the same problems when cantering Indy. I always felt like she was going to buck or take off or spook. What helped me the most was to sit back, close my leg, and ask for bigger steps in the hind end. It's hard to ask for more of a canter when you feel like you aren't completely in control, but through this I actually gained more control than I would have slowing her down with the reins. Keeping her in front of my leg made it harder for her to pull her shenanigans.

    Anyway, I hope that helps some. If it doesn't apply to Chrome, I certainly understand :)

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    1. It totally does apply to him! When I do that his canter is great. It's just so hard to do that. That's why I want to put the canter on the back burner and not work on it until we can haul out to an arena. Thank you for sharing what worked for you!!

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  14. Yay always good to get the first ride after a fall under the belt *thumbsup*

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    1. Yeah it is! The next ride was great so I don't think I'll have any lingering problems from the fall (other than not riding bareback and in a halter any time soon). :)

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