Monthly Archives for April 2012

Horse Free Day

Whether I like it or not, some days are horse free – no riding, no grooming, no trailer practice, no nickers, no barn smell. The residual horsey odor in the laundry basket and car upholstery really don’t count. Work, commuting, family time, laundry, more laundry, dogs, exercise, eating, time with the husband, yardwork all have to fit around barn time.  I guess I should not forget sleeping in that list.  The life of the average, adult amateur rider is a juggling act with too many balls to count.  Throw in my lack of grace and it can be balls flying everywhere – the only one who appreciates that is my puppy.

I did receive my USDF Connection magazine (http://www.usdf.org) as well as The Virginia Horse Journal (http://www.virginiahorse.com/) in the mail today.  In the USDF publication, there is a wonderful article with Christoph Hess about The Pursuit of Happiness.  He believes that through correct and hard work by the rider, you become a better partner with your horse and thus a happier pair.  Applying this to Ike, we need a lot of time at the bottom of the training scale working on rhythm and relaxation.  Hard to have rhythm when we have body parts moving in three directions.  Ike definitely gets tense when he does not understand what is being asked of him, then the strides get short and choppy.  NOT a pretty picture of relaxation.  So we stop for a moment to regroup.  He almost always is good on the restart, and I make sure that I’m clearer with my aids.

We ride again tomorrow.  Another day closer to the 29th.

 

 

Action Shots!

Long over due, but here is an updated “posed photo” as well as Ike under saddle.  He was a bit strong in the hand today.  Half halt?  What is that?  I don’t know what that means.  Perhaps a photo session right before dinner was not the best idea. We are a work in progress and I must remember my mantra – patience, patience, patience.  I can already see my sister-in-law grinning as she reads this.

We took this shot to use for comparison to a similar one that was taken last year when I rode him in Florida.

And now trotting…

If only my upper body was more relaxed the above would be a better photo.  I think Ike looks handsome, but don’t all horse moms think that of their four legged children?

And another trot photo

I have a renewed appreciation for photographers who take action shots of horses.  We took 40 today, but many were just not at the right point of the stride for photo purposes.  My hats off to them.  And I’ve got to relax those arms and shoulders!

And a left lead canter…

Sit back Alison, sit back!

Time is ticking away.  T-minus 26 days.  Ugh.

Sanctuary

Ike is well on his way to being the biggest horse at the farm. A few more groceries as my farrier would say, and he will be the undisputed title holder. So I ask you: why is it that the biggest horse wants to occupy one of the smallest spaces? He has a lovely paddock that is green with spring grass.  His best friend Lady is in the paddock next to his and he is tall enough to reach OVER the hot wire to visit with her.

On any given day, he will pace and pace until he is back in his 12×12 stall.  He used to crash into his gate or rear and take it off the hinges before we ran hotwire over the new one.   Here is the old one as it held on for dear life.

It is now in a mangled heap headed for the landfill.  There is no rhyme or reason as to why we cannot stay outside on a clear, sunny day.  Some days there is wind, some days none.  Some days there are hawks, and on others only blue birds flitting past.  There are very few bugs compared to summer.

The best guess is that his stall is a sanctuary for him – kind of like a dog that has been properly crate trained.  He has alfalfa pellets in his feed bucket, hay to munch, an Uncle Jimmy Lickit toy, and one of my husband’s old work boots to nose around.  He has only the radio to keep him company, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

I just smile to myself when I walk in and realize that he is patiently waiting for me to arrive.  Life is good.

Trailer Work, Part 2, 3, 4…

No riding today, just more trailer work and we definitely need it.  Perhaps I was lulled into a false sense of optimism.

This past Friday, Ike was a star at trailer loading.  Ike is now very proficient at backing off the trailer, so it was time to introduce the side ramp. The beauty of the side ramp is that the horse unloads head first so they can see where they are going.  He walked right up the rear ramp on Friday and even used the side ramp a couple of times without any hijinks.

Today, well, let’s just say that he had an “Ike tantrum.”  Nothing like other horses’ tantrums, who I shall not name to protect their identities, his tantrum tends to be more of the growing roots variety.  There is a definite “NO” in his demeanor.  Recalling my new mantra of, patience, patience, patience, I plopped myself down in the trailer with the pink bucket of oats and waited.  My trainer’s husband also got in the trailer and waited.  Ike pawed the ramp, put two feet on the ramp, backed up, turned sideways, try to graze, and pawed the ramp again.  “Mom, will you just give me the bucket.”  He then walked on and quickly backed off without any oats.  The stood and looked at me.  Too bad I can’t give him the camera to take a photo from his vantage point.  I can only imagine what I must look like sitting in the trailer while shaking the pink bucket.

Fortunately, this session ended after only 30 minutes.  The desire for oats was too great and he finally conceded.  With no further drama, he walked up the ramp, calmly ate his oats, and walked right down the side ramp.  Daily trailer practice will recommence tomorrow.

Eeek, it is April 1st, 28 days until the show…