Had a pretty good day with the horses. There was a little excitement but that goes with the territory. First up was DarkStar. I got him saddled and checked out to see about his attitude. All was ok. We got out to the arena, I backed him from the barn to the arena. Then I lunged him some, going over the log and barrels and then tarped him out. All was going good so I rigged him for driving and we did good at that getting walk, trot canter in both directions with relative softness. He is getting better at that. Then I drove him around the rail in both directions and then started serpentining around the arena. I had about 20 minutes left and all was going so good I decided to ride him. This would be his fourth or fifth ride so I didn't expect any trouble except that we were in the outdoor arena. I put the reins on him and flexed him and then started getting YH and YF just in a circle. He got scared and off we went across the arena, I couldn't tell if he was bucking or not I had his head bent to the side and we almost ran into the nice white pvc fence but he came up short and I finally got him stopped. I was thankful I was holding on the nightlatch and had a good hold on the rein so he couldn't go flat out straight. Then I just kept him going to the left for a good while til he calmed down some. Then I started flexing to the right and had him YH YF to the right and he again got scared and off we went this time again I thought we were going to take down the fence. He lost his balance but again regained it and we went spookety spook down the rail. The nightlatch and a good hold on the rein kept me on and safe. He stopped and then shut down inside, just waiting to blow up. So I had to get the feet moving again and we YH and YF again and I let him start to straighten out and kept it up until he was a might calmer. I then flexed him side to side again. Then got off. Let him relax a bit and then got back on and flexed again side to side. Then got off. Whew! I wished I would have taped it.
Debrief- In hindsight I assumed he was ok with me on his back because I had rode him 3-4 times before in the barn and he didn't do that . So I didn't really give him time to process things. I should have got on and off several times then flexed and got off. And just repeated that several times. With him I just went to fast.
Robbie didn't fare much better. I got him in the arena, backed him from barn to arena. Then I put the saddle on him no problem. But when I asked him to move off he bucked so I shut him down. I tightened the cinch and asked him to move off and again he bucked. I then really got after him and had him jumping the barrels, changing directions and for the next 20 minutes he was all out, doing the c-pattern down the arena and back and the back again. I had him lunging and then back to the barrels. I got the tarp out and had that on him making him move. I was trying to dare him to buck again and it was only after he had settled down that I let him get some air. Then I put the bridle on him. He didn't want any part of that either so we worked on that til he was calm with it and willing to open his mouth. Then I put the rein on and we drove around with one rein. He was real soft even offering vertical softness and I got a walk trot canter out of him. We did this both directions 3 times and then we quit.
Tomorrow should be interesting.
Then I came home and decided to spend some time reminding myself what it was like to ride a good horse so I saddled my horses and rode both of them. That was refreshing. I am tired though.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
d15-17/r2
Ok, I have been real busy and forgot to post on Tuesday and Wednesday. So here goes.
I started driving Robbie with one rein. I have learned that he is real soft with the bit. I have worked with him on holding the bit and accepting it in his mouth. At first he was lifting his head high and clenching his teeth to get away from it, but now he is keeping his head much lower and accepting it better. He has been jumping the barrels with a tarp draped around him and flapping in the wind too. Today I drove him and worked on getting a walk, trot canter with softness. He is doing well responding to my cues to back off the canter to trot and to walk and stop. The next thing for him will be driving with two reins and when he is real soft with that then I will be riding him. I also have been getting on him and flexing him and then when I get off I get on my knees in the saddle and then jump down.
Darkstar is doing well too. I have him jumping the barrels with the tarp. Today I didn't get the tarp out because I wanted to drive both horses more. After feeling just how soft Robbie is and how hard Star is I decided to one rein drive him first to get him back to softness again. So we did that W,t, c and then I put the other rein on him and worked on the same thing. He got lots softer. I would like to see him carrying his head lower and see about getting the lateral flexion better so as to get vertical flexion, but that will come. I finished by driving him around the arena along the fence with shape to the outside then turned and went the other direction. Then I got on him and flexed him and got on my knees in the saddle with him too. He didn't stand good like Robbie did, but we accomplished it and finished off.
Next week ought to be exciting in terms of really making some progress. I hope to be riding both of them by the end of the week.
I started driving Robbie with one rein. I have learned that he is real soft with the bit. I have worked with him on holding the bit and accepting it in his mouth. At first he was lifting his head high and clenching his teeth to get away from it, but now he is keeping his head much lower and accepting it better. He has been jumping the barrels with a tarp draped around him and flapping in the wind too. Today I drove him and worked on getting a walk, trot canter with softness. He is doing well responding to my cues to back off the canter to trot and to walk and stop. The next thing for him will be driving with two reins and when he is real soft with that then I will be riding him. I also have been getting on him and flexing him and then when I get off I get on my knees in the saddle and then jump down.
Darkstar is doing well too. I have him jumping the barrels with the tarp. Today I didn't get the tarp out because I wanted to drive both horses more. After feeling just how soft Robbie is and how hard Star is I decided to one rein drive him first to get him back to softness again. So we did that W,t, c and then I put the other rein on him and worked on the same thing. He got lots softer. I would like to see him carrying his head lower and see about getting the lateral flexion better so as to get vertical flexion, but that will come. I finished by driving him around the arena along the fence with shape to the outside then turned and went the other direction. Then I got on him and flexed him and got on my knees in the saddle with him too. He didn't stand good like Robbie did, but we accomplished it and finished off.
Next week ought to be exciting in terms of really making some progress. I hope to be riding both of them by the end of the week.
Monday, July 23, 2012
d14/r2
Things are going pretty good with the horses. Robbie had a little hiccup after saddling this morning, a little buck, but I believe it wasn't so much the saddle as it was me poking him with the end of the whip in the shoulder in order to remind him to keep his shoulder up. It was really nothing though. He didn't offer to do it again. Then we played outside. Boy was it fun. I had him following the tarp draped across the lead and he lunged with it there. Then I had him jumping the barrels with it over the lead. Then I upped it even more by having it draped across his back while jumping the barrels. We worked on sidepassing down the rail too.
Darkstar did just as well. I saddled him and got him outside to work around the tarp, log and barrels. I have him starting to jump the barrels now too. Did the same with the tarp and he was handling it tolerably. He was kind of jumping out of his skin today, I think because of the wind. But he handled it all like a trooper. Then I put both driving reins on him and after flexing we took off, or I should say he did with the lines dragging behind him. I had let one get under his hind foot and tried to get if free but he just walked off to the corner and finally I was able to get him undone and we started again. This time it went real well. I am after getting him softened laterally to the inside and stopping with the outside rein. We switched sides with no problem and worked on that one til we got some consistent resemblance of softness. Then we just kinda zigzagged back to the corner and undid everything. Now here is the thing. He followed me all over the arena with the lead draped over saddle. He is getting so much better.
Darkstar did just as well. I saddled him and got him outside to work around the tarp, log and barrels. I have him starting to jump the barrels now too. Did the same with the tarp and he was handling it tolerably. He was kind of jumping out of his skin today, I think because of the wind. But he handled it all like a trooper. Then I put both driving reins on him and after flexing we took off, or I should say he did with the lines dragging behind him. I had let one get under his hind foot and tried to get if free but he just walked off to the corner and finally I was able to get him undone and we started again. This time it went real well. I am after getting him softened laterally to the inside and stopping with the outside rein. We switched sides with no problem and worked on that one til we got some consistent resemblance of softness. Then we just kinda zigzagged back to the corner and undid everything. Now here is the thing. He followed me all over the arena with the lead draped over saddle. He is getting so much better.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
d13/r2
I got Robbie out and worked a little bit then saddled him and took him outside. I had a little course set up that we worked on. But first, I laid the tarp on him and moved him around then had it on the lead rope while he lunged. Then I had him circling weaving in and out and over the tarp, log and barrels. I finally got him to jump the barrels. He is getting real relaxed. I was on him several times again today.
Then I had Darkstar saddled and working on flexion and coming to me. In the outdoor arena I had him wearing the tarp and carrying it on the lead rope as he lunged around me. I also had him going over the tarp log and barrels. Then I put the driving rein on him and flexed him and circling him for softness, walk, trot canter in both directions. He is getting better. By this time it was time to put him up.
Then I had Darkstar saddled and working on flexion and coming to me. In the outdoor arena I had him wearing the tarp and carrying it on the lead rope as he lunged around me. I also had him going over the tarp log and barrels. Then I put the driving rein on him and flexed him and circling him for softness, walk, trot canter in both directions. He is getting better. By this time it was time to put him up.
Friday, July 20, 2012
D12/r2
Had a good session with both horses today.
Robbie did well, standing for saddling. I did some flexing and YH YF with him and some circling attempting to get a good follow the nose rather than his shoulder dropping in. Then I took him to the outdoor arena and had him circling over the tarp (after sacking him out to it real good) and log. I also tried to get him over the barrels but only once did he do it. He was too scared of them I think so I just worked him around them. I also got on and off him several times and he was real relaxed.
Darkstar - I went through our routine of flexing and YH YF and following me. Then I saddled him and took him outdoors. We circled a bunch and had him going over the tarp and log. Then I put the bridle on him and one rein and drove him getting a walk trot canter in both directions. He is not the softest yet but he will get there. When he is soft on both sides then I will add the other rein and get back to where we were with driving. But after this clinic I really want to get him soft to the bit before riding him again. I think that will make riding all the more easier for us.
This was a real good lesson day for both of them.
Robbie did well, standing for saddling. I did some flexing and YH YF with him and some circling attempting to get a good follow the nose rather than his shoulder dropping in. Then I took him to the outdoor arena and had him circling over the tarp (after sacking him out to it real good) and log. I also tried to get him over the barrels but only once did he do it. He was too scared of them I think so I just worked him around them. I also got on and off him several times and he was real relaxed.
Darkstar - I went through our routine of flexing and YH YF and following me. Then I saddled him and took him outdoors. We circled a bunch and had him going over the tarp and log. Then I put the bridle on him and one rein and drove him getting a walk trot canter in both directions. He is not the softest yet but he will get there. When he is soft on both sides then I will add the other rein and get back to where we were with driving. But after this clinic I really want to get him soft to the bit before riding him again. I think that will make riding all the more easier for us.
This was a real good lesson day for both of them.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
D11/R2
This day was a good training day for us.
Robbie was worked first. I started him with flexing. He is getting real soft. Then on to circling working on getting him to keep his shoulder up. Then I saddled him and worked on sending and c-pattern. We also went down the wall working on one of the new exercises to get him to come to me with the whip being up until he comes to my shoulder. Finally, we ended with more flexion and circling.
Darkstar started with flexion then saddling. Then we worked on coming to my shoulder on the wall. Then we went to circling. I put the bridle on him and one rein and drove him with one rein at a walk, trot and canter did that 3x on one side till he was staying in shape. Then switched sides and did the same thing. Then when I had him at liberty following me on the wall with his left side. He did pretty good, then went the other direction with me on his right side and that kind of fell apart so put the lead on him and worked on that. He is getting better about coming to me and following me. I also used the tarp and noise bag around him and he did pretty good today. Always making little improvements.
Robbie was worked first. I started him with flexing. He is getting real soft. Then on to circling working on getting him to keep his shoulder up. Then I saddled him and worked on sending and c-pattern. We also went down the wall working on one of the new exercises to get him to come to me with the whip being up until he comes to my shoulder. Finally, we ended with more flexion and circling.
Darkstar started with flexion then saddling. Then we worked on coming to my shoulder on the wall. Then we went to circling. I put the bridle on him and one rein and drove him with one rein at a walk, trot and canter did that 3x on one side till he was staying in shape. Then switched sides and did the same thing. Then when I had him at liberty following me on the wall with his left side. He did pretty good, then went the other direction with me on his right side and that kind of fell apart so put the lead on him and worked on that. He is getting better about coming to me and following me. I also used the tarp and noise bag around him and he did pretty good today. Always making little improvements.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
day 10/2nd round
Well after the clinic the last two days I was excited to use what I learned with these two guys.
Darkstar got the first start. I got him ready and worked on reviewing what he already knows. Then I started to circle him making sure his shoulder was not dropping in and then switched sides and did the same. I would circle him to the wall then ask him to come forward to my shoulder. Sort of like the yo yo game only using the whip and the wall to help with him coming forward. We did both sides and he started to come along nicely. I also did the yo yo with him a few times. Then I saddled him and started to work on driving him with one rein and the snaffle bit. I had him circling playing me as though lungeing. I was looking for softness. This was the first time he had a bit in his mouth so I wanted to be real soft with it. I had him going several times around then stopped and flexed him and switched sides and did the same thing. By the time I did all this my time was up. Where did the time go. I had so much to do and still didn't cover everything. I left the bit in his mouth while I worked with Robbie.
Robbie did nicely too. I wanted to work him on some of the exercises in review and then try some of these new ones. He did alright. Then I saddled him and circled him alot in both directions looking for softness and following his nose. Then I did some c pattern exercises and YH YF then took the saddle off and worked with him with circling on the wall and asking him to come to me with the whip. We worked both directions then quit.
Both had a good lesson today and show good progress in all that they are doing.
Darkstar got the first start. I got him ready and worked on reviewing what he already knows. Then I started to circle him making sure his shoulder was not dropping in and then switched sides and did the same. I would circle him to the wall then ask him to come forward to my shoulder. Sort of like the yo yo game only using the whip and the wall to help with him coming forward. We did both sides and he started to come along nicely. I also did the yo yo with him a few times. Then I saddled him and started to work on driving him with one rein and the snaffle bit. I had him circling playing me as though lungeing. I was looking for softness. This was the first time he had a bit in his mouth so I wanted to be real soft with it. I had him going several times around then stopped and flexed him and switched sides and did the same thing. By the time I did all this my time was up. Where did the time go. I had so much to do and still didn't cover everything. I left the bit in his mouth while I worked with Robbie.
Robbie did nicely too. I wanted to work him on some of the exercises in review and then try some of these new ones. He did alright. Then I saddled him and circled him alot in both directions looking for softness and following his nose. Then I did some c pattern exercises and YH YF then took the saddle off and worked with him with circling on the wall and asking him to come to me with the whip. We worked both directions then quit.
Both had a good lesson today and show good progress in all that they are doing.
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