Good horses!

I rode the big horse first today, stopping for a bit to talk to J while she picked poo. He was totally trying to cuddle up to me the whole time. Thinking maybe my silent treatment worked. I got him dressed and away we went. He lunged perfectly, and started to give to the Chambon at the walk. Then I got on and he was a super star. He was looking for the contact, and moving off my leg, concentrating on me and paying attention to his trot poles. I was very impressed. He got lots of loving and licorice and stuff. It's funny how sometimes that little bit of "I don't love you anymore" sometimes is the best for learning a lesson.

I rode Miss Fruity next. She was a good girl but she was a little bit off so we cut our lesson short and made sure all of her "melting" was covered in M-T-G.

I rode the grey horse next. We skipped the lunge line and warmed up quickly. The three trot poles became a tiny crossrail, and he managed not to totally fall on his head. Then we added another tiny crossrail a stride away. When they were nudging 18" he finally started to jump the second one, and at one point totally bailed about two strides after. I was laughing so hard I almost fell off (he was fine by the way). We worked up to a tiny verticle, and he did the grid properly once and we called it a day. My handsomest grey horse had his first jumping lesson and I lived to tell the tale.

Next came the fat mare, and since lately she has been more than taking me to the fences, we put her through the grid as well. For her I set a bounce in front of the one stride. The first couple of times through she barrelled over everything and met with Mr. Fence instead of careening around the corner. After she started to think about how fast we were going we put up the second and then the third fences. We ended up having to make it crossrail, 2' verticle, to 2'6/9" verticle to get her to back off. But in the end she jumped great and didn't need to meet Mr. Fence anymore.

Then I hopped on my monkey and trotted her around for a bit. We worked on not being so quick at the trot. I'm amazed at how well she retained her training. Even though she's been ridden a bit over the last couple of years, the last time she was sound enough to really work was like, 4 years ago. She wants to maintain a frame for me, and she remembers very well how to move off my leg (I barely have to touch her). As long as she stays sound I will definately be taking her to the schooling show for the Green (walk/trot only) flat classes.

Damn Geldings ... (from Friday)

The grey horse was a total douche to come in, so I started with him today. He worked well on the lunge line, and actually gave to the chambon a couple of times. I got on and worked him under saddle for a bit. He's still convinced that wet hogfuel hurts like hot coals, but he's starting to get over it. He's also starting to not go around like a giraffe. He really can't hold any sort of frame at the moment, because he doesn't have any muscle, but he's starting to try. Really that's all I can ask for at this point. And I can be happy that he's not having as many Off Target days, and seems to be happy and willing to work.

I rode the big horse next, and he was a total ass. Apparently it is that hard to move when there's a small hammerhead spur jammed into your ribs repeatedly. He would flinch and grunt but he wouldn't move (away from the pressure or otherwise). I was very frustrated with him by the end, although we did manage to get through the trot poles a couple of times, without going around the corner like a total 2x4.
This is the main reason I like mares better, I've never had one just flat refuse to listen like that. They're way to sensitive to just tune you out and ignore you. But hey, I'm stuck with them now. I gave him the total silent treatment after, undressed him and threw him in the paddock with Zhar. No love, no licorice, nothing. See if his attitude improves tomorrow.

Then I went next door and rode Miss Belle. She was having a bit of a CTBM day, so I put her to work. She tried to spook once, and got laughed at and a little spur in the ribs. Then settled down and we did some simple changes and transitions. Then I hopped her over the little crossrail again, and had C put it up to a little verticle. She jumped like a champion.
I'm so impressed with her progress it's not even funny. And again I have to give props to C for keeping up with her handling and stretches. We looked at her back again and there's only two little spots where she sort of flinches, as opposed to almost dropping her whole back when we first looked at her. We'll be doing the 2'6" and 2'9" Hunters and some flat classes at the end of November.

Tuesday's Post.

So yeah, because my blog was flagged as a potential "spam blog" I couldn't update like I wanted, so this is supposed to be Tuesday. I had worked in the morning, and I was feeling kind of lazy, so I brought in Zhar and Joey.


I rode Zhar first, because I was mad at how much I'd had to beat him to get him through the mud. He doesn't like mud apparently, because he goes through squishy hogfuel like it's hot coals. Moron.

We did some trot work, and he got upset that I had spurs on (he's had them before, lots, at the track. He's just a whiner) and decided he was going to be a giraffe. Being a giraffe however, becomes really uncomfortable when I raise my hands to the level of his head. I didn't pull on his face or anything, I just raised my hands so that the contact pressure was on the sides of his mouth instead of the bars where he could just fight it. He figured it out a bit and dropped his head, to much giving of rein and praise. He learns, just slowly. He'll have to learn to get over the mud thing though, he does live in the Lower Mainland.

I have decided that he is going to this show at the end of November as well. He will be doing the "Green" Division flat classes, and possibly a crossrail Hunter.

Then I rode Joey. One of the young girls at the barn was just finishing her lesson, and I demonstrated a posting trot without stirrups. She didn't realize quite how strong one's leg has to be to ride properly. When I work without stirrups my leg does not change. The only difference is my toe is not in the stirrup.

She was being a bit crabby about having to work, so I let her go right into a canter. We ended up just doing canter work, as she's kind of overweight. But we got some good solid work in, head at her knees working in a frame with almost no effort from my hands. It was great.

She'll probably go to the schooling show too, just for fun. If she's fit enough by then, pork chop. I like to do the jumpers with her, and she likes them too so why not?

Introduction to Belle

On Monday it was kind of rainy, so instead of slogging out to the back 40, dragging in some horses, and riding in the rain, I called C to ride her horse. Now, a little background on Belle: as far as I know C found her in a field in Chilliwack wasting away about 500lbs underweight. C bought her, fixed her up, got her fat. Belle had been in Southlands, and out in Mastqui as a lesson horse, then dumped in field. Problem is at some point Mare (who previously had manners) learned that it's fun to walk on people, and C well, had a tendancy to be a doormat. So I offered my services, as naughty Chestnut TB Mares are somewhat of a specialty for me. First day involved Belle throwing a CTBM hissy fit, screaming her head off and throwing her hiney around. However she quickly learned that that sort of behaviour does not fly with me, and stood still to be tacked up. Berrated C and explained to her about being "Boss Mare", etc.

So I hop on, walk around and let Belle loosen up a bit. Pick up a trot and Holy Shit this mare is SO lame comes to mind. But she's not really lame, just feels totally different on all 4 legs. Keep trotting and she seems to work out of it a bit. Totally different but just as messed up feeling on the opposite rein. I think, well, we'll try a canter and if she falls down she's really lame (I really didn't want to have to tell C her horse was screwed ...). Canter is lovely. Belle even tries to drop her head and frame up for me at the canter. Ok maybe mare's not totally screwed up. Final test, a crossrail. Now, those of you who know CTBMs know that if she was really in pain she'd tell me to go fuck myself when I asked her to jump. The first time she ran out to the right. I halted her immediately, backed up, parked her in front of the jump. I turned her left, and came at it again, and she went. Jumped lovely, and felt fine after the jump. So I was happy, mare's not totally screwed. Called it a day and walked her out. We had a look at her back afterwards, and decided she really needs to see a chiropractor or have a massage, but other than that she's fine.

Since then I have had another pep talk with C, and we've started stretching her. I do leg stretches before I ride, and neck stretches after, and C does the neck stretches whenever she can. Belle is now starting to be able to hold a frame at the trot, and can hold her frame way better at the canter. She still feels a little uneven behind at the trot, but she hasn't seen a chiro yet and I'm pretty sure she's out up high in her SI joint. On Monday when I rode I hopped her over a little crossrail again, the first time she sort of did a wiggle 3 strides out but she went. I turned around and went right back to it, and she took me there. I was SO thrilled. I'm amazed with her progress and very happy that C has stepped up to do the stretching work with her, and to stop being a doormat. I talked to her about maybe showing Belle, and we're aiming for a schooling show at the end of November. Wish us luck!

Ok I know I said I wasn't going to update much but ...

I RODE MY MONKEY TODAY AND SHE WAS SOUND *SQUEEEEEE*

/excited 5 year old.

For some reason I always start off with the big horse. Richie was super today, did his lunge line work like a pro even though there was harrowing and hogfuel spreading going on. He was having a frisky day, which means he threw in one little *toss head and throw forefeet*. He didn't get quite as much trot on the lunge line, but did throw in a few steps of suprisingly balanced looking canter. Then we moved on to the undersaddle work, which involved one more trot pole than usual. It only took him 4 tries to get through the 4 of them without falling on his head. And the last time through I think he had a lightbulb moment. He trotted through them and did not touch a rail. It felt fabulous and he was allowed to be done after that. He's funny, he seems to think that as soon as I say "good boy" he's done and can stop. Which means that currently I cannot walk him out and give him big pats at the same time. Hopefully I will be able to break him of this, because I really like to walk my horses out, instead of letting them stand. Not that he gets worked overly hard or anything ...

The grey horse had an Off Target day, despite being a total a$$hole about coming in. Apparently it is that difficult to walk through a puddle that he has to literally be dragged through it. Or alternatively snubbed to the fencepost and beaten from behind (I'm seriously not kidding). One might think that maybe he doesn't want to come up to work, but coming up to work also means getting to fill your face with Alfalfa Grass hay while you wait, and a bit of grain when you're done (because it's a long walk to the back 40 where my horses live, I generally bring them up 2 or 3 at a time, ride, and take them back. Saves me a bunch of walking). That and he pulled the exact same stunt when I went to put him back in the 10 acres of ankle-deep grass.

Fortunately though, it did not affect his work ethic, and he lunged properly. He even started to figure out the Chambon and give to it near the end. I rode him a bit as well, and through the trot poles which involved an *ohmygodmommytheresthingsonthegroundandyouwantmetogooverthem?!?* moment, but he did them after a little encouragement. He also didn't have his neck as stiff and shortened as he usually does, which I like. Finally starting to drop some of the Pony Horse bad habits.

Then I went out and got the girls. I rode Miss Fruity first and she was good. She even did the trot poles a couple of times. Not bad for her second week under saddle. Got to love Standardbreds.

Her "melting" aka rain scald is finally healed up and growing hair back. Just in time for rainsheets! Like I said earlier, she didn't take to being thrown in a field like a horse after being a pampered racehorse for 5 years. Her coat burnt, she got covered in rainscald, and lost a bunch of weight and condition. I started playing with her just to get her looking less than totally depressed, but she seems to be enjoying it. I figure to just take it slow and make sure her foot doesn't cause her any discomfort and see where we end up. I'll definately be setting sights on the Standardbred Show 'n Shines next year if she continues to improve (Richie too, don't worry!).

I hacked the fat mare around a bit. She didn't seem too impressed at first, but I didn't make her work too hard. Just a little trotting around and stretching.

And then, just for shits and giggles (and she wanted to come too when I went to catch Fruity and Joey) I tacked up Sara and hacked her around. Now, she hasn't been ridden in oh, 3 years probably. She looked at me like I was off my rocker when I put the saddle on. Now when she was first diagnosed with navicular we shod her with bar shoes, and she grew a proper heel. Then she got turned out in a field notorious for pulling shoes, and the shoes kind of got forgotten. But we kept trimming her with the same angles, and making sure the heel continued to grow well. I've seen her several times fooling around in the pasture, and at the beginning of September jogged her out aiming for a Sport Horse show (and she was sound).

So anyway, I hop on and walk around. Pick up my reins, and a trot (her call). She was feeling very frisky, and I tried not to encourage her, but she felt so good. The horrible stabbing gait was gone, and she actually lengthened her stride a couple of times under my efforts to keep her from breaking into a canter. She remembered her frame and how to come off my leg and everything. I was so extatic after our ride I jumped off and gave her a huge hug and lots of kisses.

I think I'm going to talk to my vet about re-x-raying to see if her Navicular bone has deteriorated any further. And about Navicular Bursa injection, which is fairly new but seems to have good results so far. I'm not expecting big things mind you. It would just be nice (since she's so young) to be able to do more with her. I'm going to start off really slow, like once or twice a week. I know her though, and I may be tempted to go for more. She's a horse that has always preferred to work sore than not work at all.

Opening Day!

So after so much reading of other blogs, I have decided to sign up for one too. I was just going to start a new livejournal, but now you see, I can comment on Fugly Horse of the Day and such. Yay! So this will be all about how the training of my horses is coming along. Today will be introductions and quick updates. Don't bitch, but I'll probably only update once weekly because I'm busy ok?

Oh yeah, and there will be lots of pictures. Like lots. You've been warned, get over it.

This is Sara, aka Come and Play, or if you want to get formal her registered name is Joyce's Coin (but I hate it). She is now 9 years old, I've had her for 6 years now (seems like forever!). She's a Thoroughbred who I got from Hastings Park.
I was training her to be a Hunter, because she has nice form over fences.

Then I went away to school, and later she was diagnosed with Navicular in one foot. The frustrating part is that I have linked it back to my first farrier who let her one foot go flat with no heel.

But anyways, she's now a pasture pet, happy as a clam and still my baby. I am in the market for a tall dark and handsome Thoroughbred stallion to meet with her in the spring. Any suggestions?

Next meet Joey. I found her in a field in Alberta in 2004. She's 16 now, and still as opinionated as ever. I don't ride her much these days, as I'm too busy with the boys and Belle. Not to mention the fact that she taught me how she wanted to be ridden, and can pack anyone around. I took her to a show a couple of years ago and did the 2'9" jumpers. It was fun.

She jumps so well sometimes it's scary. You may notice the somewhat shocked look on my face. I'm nearly punching myself in the chin.

This is Zhar, my 5 year old Thoroughbred gelding. He also goes by Shy Hello, which suits him until the On Target side comes out. He has what we call "On Target" days and "Off Target" days. "On Target" days usually involve a 15 minute beating in the roundpen, and "Off Target" days mean we can actually be lunged like a normal horse.

After his racing career was ended by an accident that caused 3 chips in his knee, he was given to a Pony Girl to become a Pony Horse. He was entirely too much horse for her, so he was on a steady diet of hay (raked up from under other haynets) and 8 pills of Ace tranquilizer a day. He had his head tied down below horizontal, and some big honking bit in his mouth. He also did 4 trips a day (so 8 rounds galloping). She hurt her back again and sold him to me.
When I got him he was understandably sour, and about 400lbs underweight. He would run off on me from the pain in his back, and cowkick when I brushed him. I got him mostly off the tranquilizer, I still needed some on racedays (up until this point he hadn't been used for races) and a little in the mornings to take the edge off. The problem came after I got him fed up a bit and his back adjusted. He was so fit after his previous work schedule but too sore and hungry to do anything. Then I got him feeling better and he sure did! However he did seem to know that I had saved his life, and put up with me most days.

Now after having the summer off due to me having a back injury, he is slowly being taught how to be a real horse. Right now we're doing between 5 and 10 minutes on the lunge line with a Chambon on, and about 15 minutes of walk trot work undersaddle. He quite enjoyed his summer off, and doesn't really see the need to go back to work, but he is much happier than he was at the racetrack. He actually enjoys being brushed now, and only makes grumpy faces sometimes.

If he'd put his thick head down he might look like he had some potential!

Next is my fabulous Standardbred gelding Richie, or Richs Pride. Around the barn we call him Sir Richard, due to his well, distinguished look? He was in training to be my second pony horse, until my back got hurt. He spent his summer being a total ladies man, and is still adored by all the mares.

He too is learning how to be a real horse, which would be easy except he prefers to pace. We are doing 5 to 10 minutes of work on the lunge line with the Chambon, and about 15 undersaddle. He's learning to do trot poles *clunk* but he switches back to a pace so easily I need someone on the ground to tell me when he's trotting. I've also started a rather unconventional method, which involves a boot and a bell boot on a front leg, and a boot and a bell boot on the diagonal back leg. Suprisingly is has shown the most improvement so far, and the bright blue bell boots help me and my spotters tell which legs are which.

I also ride him with a very loose draw rein. I'm usually not a huge user of equipment, especially with a horse that's learning, but he had so much equipment on at the track ... I've found that the higher he can get his head, the easier it is to pace, so I encourage him to keep it down with a draw rein that only makes contact with his mouth if his head gets too far above my hand.

Richie is 5 now, and still growing. He's likely going to end up over 17hh. Out here we have a fairly tight knit Standardbred community, and I have met the guy who owns Richie's older brother. At 7, Wheat is still growing!

He has such a nice walk ... now if only he could figure out a trot!

And last but not least, Fruity aka Fruited Plains. She is a 6 year old Standardbred mare, dumped on me by my ex boyfriend. She raced until April of this year, when the vets think she fractured her coffin bone. She was on stall rest until June, and then worked her way up to 24/7 turnout by the end of July. She is now sound, and I have started riding her as well. She didn't take to being thrown out in a field very well, so I started working with her mostly to cheer her up. She seems to enjoy our little 15 minutes of walk and trot though, so I guess we'll keep doing it.