This week definitely has been more conducive to riding - therefore it's been a productive week by my terms. I got three rides in (plus I'll have one today).
Tuesday was a not all to effective ride. It started off with him freaking out at everything while I was tacking up. Which led to him spazzing out constantly during the ride. We never even went above a walk for crying out lout. So in the grand scheme of things Tuesday = fail. But I wasn't too bummed about it. It had been 16 days since our last "working" ride. (We did however have several hacks in between this time.)
Wednesday the ring was still mega mucky from all the rain we've been having so we stuck to w/t work. We managed to get in some nice pole work. He was quite forward and responsive for most of the ride. I also worked on my two-point work. 3 minutes straight - not too bad for neglecting it for a few weeks. So Wednesday = success.
Thursday I was in a bit of a race against daylight. We only worked for 15 minutes. But in that time we got some work done. We did a little more pole work - including working on two poles in a circle along with our regular work. We did some quick canters to let him blow off some steam. His left lead was fantastic. His right was stiff and not straight. There was even one spot in the ring where he would not bend for anything and we had to break to the trot. I am not all too surprised since that's his bad lead and he looses his suppleness when he doesn't consistently canter that way. So in a few rides we should be back to normal. If not we'll explore other options. Then we had a nice cool out walk in which he thought the mounting block might eat him, so funny. So Thurday = PRODUCTIVE!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The week that could have been.
Even though I had plans for a wonderful ride in the big gelding field, that never happened. Heck I hadn't even been to the barn since Monday. Thank goodness I made it out today since tomorrow it's supposed to be nasty weather and I have no idea what Monday has in store for me. There was a bit of damper when we arrived at the barn. It turns out the barn manager left their blankets on all week - it was 60 degrees a couple of days. Needless to say we were beyond mad. Luckily the horses seem no worse for the wear. Poncho was slightly sweaty in his chest area but that was it.
On to the riding front. There were several people out in the ring so we headed to the pond field for a nice hack. Since it had been over a week since Poncho had a serious undersaddle work out today was an "easy" day. We did little trot sets weaving in and out of trees. Up and down small, small slopes. And just walked around on a loose rein ambling around the whole field. The uneven footing took some getting used to on his part - it's been far too long since we were out there. Can't let that happen again. We cantered once, I didn't want to push it today, he l-o-v-e-d that. We were on the verge of galloping by the time I pulled him up. Silly pony. The mom, Midnite, Poncho, and I headed to the trails. Only on the front part - it was far too muddy for the hills. Poncho was super duper alert. It's been a couple months since the stars have aligned for us to get back there. Midnite was a bit more looky she even spooked once heading back. Once we were back in the pond field Poncho's ego got the best of him. He was marching around all proud for facing some monsters on the trail (lots of trash left on the side) it was beyond cute.
After riding we did some clipping on the pony faces. Poncho gets his beard off but I leave his whiskers. Midnite gets beard and whiskers off. I also got some ear fuzz (it was sticking wayyy out of Poncho's ears) out of Ponch's ears. He did not like that one bit. He got a little jerkish with me. But let me do it.
We turned them out for a bit sans blankets - but put them back on before we left since the impending snow storm will come before we could get back out to blanket. We're just going to have to be super on top of the blanketing situation from now on - had no idea she would ever do that.
On to the riding front. There were several people out in the ring so we headed to the pond field for a nice hack. Since it had been over a week since Poncho had a serious undersaddle work out today was an "easy" day. We did little trot sets weaving in and out of trees. Up and down small, small slopes. And just walked around on a loose rein ambling around the whole field. The uneven footing took some getting used to on his part - it's been far too long since we were out there. Can't let that happen again. We cantered once, I didn't want to push it today, he l-o-v-e-d that. We were on the verge of galloping by the time I pulled him up. Silly pony. The mom, Midnite, Poncho, and I headed to the trails. Only on the front part - it was far too muddy for the hills. Poncho was super duper alert. It's been a couple months since the stars have aligned for us to get back there. Midnite was a bit more looky she even spooked once heading back. Once we were back in the pond field Poncho's ego got the best of him. He was marching around all proud for facing some monsters on the trail (lots of trash left on the side) it was beyond cute.
After riding we did some clipping on the pony faces. Poncho gets his beard off but I leave his whiskers. Midnite gets beard and whiskers off. I also got some ear fuzz (it was sticking wayyy out of Poncho's ears) out of Ponch's ears. He did not like that one bit. He got a little jerkish with me. But let me do it.
We turned them out for a bit sans blankets - but put them back on before we left since the impending snow storm will come before we could get back out to blanket. We're just going to have to be super on top of the blanketing situation from now on - had no idea she would ever do that.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A Valentines Day with no Pony?
Yep, unfortunately no Poncho today. I could have gone. But I probably would have regretted it come tomorrow when I couldn't function properly. Such is my life right now. Luckily I will get to see my little bundle of joy tomorrow! (hopefully - I am attempting to will it so) My plan is to ride in the big gelding field (14 acres) because by the time I get there everyone should be up or in the process of being put up. So the field will be mine, all mine.
In other words it turns out Poncho and I are even more compatible than I previously thought. We've got the Chinese Zodiac on our side. On horsenation.com today I happened across this...
Year of the Rooster (1921, 1933, 1945, 1956, 1968, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Rooster-Horses are deep thinkers who are honest, bright, ambitious and capable. They are loners who also have a quick mind and an even quicker temper. They enjoy having a job and like to stay neat and tidy. Their weaknesses include having difficulty getting along well with other horses, and they think that they are always right. Rooster-Horses tend to be overly emotional at times as well.
Lucky colours: gold, brown and yellow. Avoid: white and green
We are both Roosters! haha. I think it's a fairly accurate description too. Here's a chart listing who is compatible with who.
In other words it turns out Poncho and I are even more compatible than I previously thought. We've got the Chinese Zodiac on our side. On horsenation.com today I happened across this...
Year of the Rooster (1921, 1933, 1945, 1956, 1968, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Rooster-Horses are deep thinkers who are honest, bright, ambitious and capable. They are loners who also have a quick mind and an even quicker temper. They enjoy having a job and like to stay neat and tidy. Their weaknesses include having difficulty getting along well with other horses, and they think that they are always right. Rooster-Horses tend to be overly emotional at times as well.
Lucky colours: gold, brown and yellow. Avoid: white and green
We are both Roosters! haha. I think it's a fairly accurate description too. Here's a chart listing who is compatible with who.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Snow induced panic.
There's no real need to get into what our ride was like on Tuesday because it was essentially the same as Monday. Mr. Superstar yet again - except he was a little tired and our canter lacked the same umpfh. But it was only a slight difference. I was still over the moon with him.
Then work picked up massively or it was yucky and dreary so I didn't get back out until Friday night. Unfortunately on Friday there was only enough daylight left for me to make a mad dash out in the fields to blanket.
Which leaves us with yesterday. Oh what an interesting day it was. It was pretty darn cold considering the winter we've been having - so low 40's with windchills in the low 30's was pretty bitter. I decided to work Poncho in the indoor because we both hate it so much. But need to get used to it for nasty days. I rode for about 10 minutes w/t before deciding for his benefit to untack and let him loose in there to get his "sillies" out. He definitely didn't put up much of a show. Figures but it was actually good he kept his composure. That is until it started to snow - in which Mom panicked trying to get everything in and then got super excited because it was SNOWING. Apparently Poncho massively fed off her energy and started freaking out. So to prevent things from escalating to far I had to blanket him and take him back to the field. Easier said then done. Poncho is a big bully by nature. I've managed to curb those natural tendencies 90% of the time, except for when he's in panic mode. So he's trying to run me over while I hold him for Mom (she refuses to hold him when he's in this state). I took several well placed elbows to the shoulder to get him to settle and then he was golden until we went outside. By now the snow was coming down so hard that you could barely see. Poncho kept trying to run infront of me but he was manageable. After what seemed like forever we got the field. By the time I got the halter off he just calmly walked off. Go figure.
Then I promptly grabbed my camera and some treats for Poncho for putting up with the craziness that was the indoor attempt.
Then work picked up massively or it was yucky and dreary so I didn't get back out until Friday night. Unfortunately on Friday there was only enough daylight left for me to make a mad dash out in the fields to blanket.
Which leaves us with yesterday. Oh what an interesting day it was. It was pretty darn cold considering the winter we've been having - so low 40's with windchills in the low 30's was pretty bitter. I decided to work Poncho in the indoor because we both hate it so much. But need to get used to it for nasty days. I rode for about 10 minutes w/t before deciding for his benefit to untack and let him loose in there to get his "sillies" out. He definitely didn't put up much of a show. Figures but it was actually good he kept his composure. That is until it started to snow - in which Mom panicked trying to get everything in and then got super excited because it was SNOWING. Apparently Poncho massively fed off her energy and started freaking out. So to prevent things from escalating to far I had to blanket him and take him back to the field. Easier said then done. Poncho is a big bully by nature. I've managed to curb those natural tendencies 90% of the time, except for when he's in panic mode. So he's trying to run me over while I hold him for Mom (she refuses to hold him when he's in this state). I took several well placed elbows to the shoulder to get him to settle and then he was golden until we went outside. By now the snow was coming down so hard that you could barely see. Poncho kept trying to run infront of me but he was manageable. After what seemed like forever we got the field. By the time I got the halter off he just calmly walked off. Go figure.
Then I promptly grabbed my camera and some treats for Poncho for putting up with the craziness that was the indoor attempt.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Poncho, the superstar.
Yesterday I finished up at work early so I managed to squeeze out to the barn. I lucked out and ended up being the only one there! So I changed and went out to grab Ponch man. I decided on a whim to do a quick sheath cleaning before our ride. He can get kind of cranky if he's got a little (and I do mean little) bean up there. He did. I got it. He kicked out. He calmed down. He got treats. Simple time to move on. We tacked up and headed for the ring. I needed to move some poles out of the way so Poncho tagged along with me.
He was bit iffy at the mounting block. Not unusual these days. Don't know what's gotten into him. So we worked on that a little. We warmed up by just meandering around for a little getting him to listen to my leg for direction not leaning on the reins. (we were in the hackamore) Then we moved onto trotting where he promptly gave me his I can't and won't do this attitude. Where I promptly slid the reins through my fingers kicked and smacked him with the whip. He was not convinced immediately. It took a couple of times. But then he just surged forward and gave me some of the best trot work to date. We did some pole work that was already set up nothing fancy or difficult. After doing that a few times we cantered each direction. He was very forward in his canter it was very nice. His left lead is still far better than his right. He still gets sticky on his right in the "stop" corner. We worked on that too and came to a nice understanding and it only took one kick and one buck! Proud. Then we walked around for a few because at this point I was huffing and puffing. We picked up our trot work again and trotted a circle in each corner, both directions to get him supple. We did some leg yields at the trot - which I was super impressed with for our first time trying them. Did a little more pole work. Then I did a lap of two point in each direction, I wanted to start of slow with it and not kill myself. However come to find out i'm not even remotely sore today from it.
After we were done I needed my vest so to the car we went. Where Poncho found it fascinating that I could "disappear". Then I did lots more grooming on him. Love to pamper pony. He was bombarded with treats and attention out in the field too. I was just over the moon with how he went. I was even kind of bummed that there was no one around to see my super pony in action.!!!
He was bit iffy at the mounting block. Not unusual these days. Don't know what's gotten into him. So we worked on that a little. We warmed up by just meandering around for a little getting him to listen to my leg for direction not leaning on the reins. (we were in the hackamore) Then we moved onto trotting where he promptly gave me his I can't and won't do this attitude. Where I promptly slid the reins through my fingers kicked and smacked him with the whip. He was not convinced immediately. It took a couple of times. But then he just surged forward and gave me some of the best trot work to date. We did some pole work that was already set up nothing fancy or difficult. After doing that a few times we cantered each direction. He was very forward in his canter it was very nice. His left lead is still far better than his right. He still gets sticky on his right in the "stop" corner. We worked on that too and came to a nice understanding and it only took one kick and one buck! Proud. Then we walked around for a few because at this point I was huffing and puffing. We picked up our trot work again and trotted a circle in each corner, both directions to get him supple. We did some leg yields at the trot - which I was super impressed with for our first time trying them. Did a little more pole work. Then I did a lap of two point in each direction, I wanted to start of slow with it and not kill myself. However come to find out i'm not even remotely sore today from it.
After we were done I needed my vest so to the car we went. Where Poncho found it fascinating that I could "disappear". Then I did lots more grooming on him. Love to pamper pony. He was bombarded with treats and attention out in the field too. I was just over the moon with how he went. I was even kind of bummed that there was no one around to see my super pony in action.!!!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The spurs go on, the bit comes off, and we leave the ring.
Lots of things changed since our last ride on Tuesday. Friday I decided to put on my little spurs just to remind Poncho, hey mister my leg really is there. He got a little annoyed that he couldn't just ignore me. But listened well enough. Spurs aren't something I ride in all the time every once in a while just to remind him. We only walked and trotted mainly because he was just so resistant to the bit. We got some quality, quality trot work. However when he was not he was bracing and crossing his jaw. I felt so bad for him he was clearly unhappy with it. So to make it up to him we hacked back around the barn again. We even opened and closed the gate this time. I also promptly switched back to the hackamore once I put him back. We'll use that atleast until I can buy a nathe bit to try.
Today we ventured out to the pond field! Poncho was elated, of course. We just walked around to give him a mental break day. Although towards the end I did ask for a trot. I must say he does have a time limit. If he doesn't get put to work after a certain amount of time it just doesn't happen. Well that happened today. He was lazy x10 at the trot. He did it but put no effort into. Way to go. haha. Oh well he's aloud to have a lazy day every once in awhile.
In other news I got new tall boots today. Instead of getting new half chaps and paddock boots I found at my local tack store a pair of Ariat Volants $100 off the regular price - hard to pass up. So I had an impulse by. Also we got Midnite some new joint supplement. Hopefully in another week or two she'll feel better. Those mares are crazyy running around like lunatics at all times of the day.
Today we ventured out to the pond field! Poncho was elated, of course. We just walked around to give him a mental break day. Although towards the end I did ask for a trot. I must say he does have a time limit. If he doesn't get put to work after a certain amount of time it just doesn't happen. Well that happened today. He was lazy x10 at the trot. He did it but put no effort into. Way to go. haha. Oh well he's aloud to have a lazy day every once in awhile.
In other news I got new tall boots today. Instead of getting new half chaps and paddock boots I found at my local tack store a pair of Ariat Volants $100 off the regular price - hard to pass up. So I had an impulse by. Also we got Midnite some new joint supplement. Hopefully in another week or two she'll feel better. Those mares are crazyy running around like lunatics at all times of the day.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Some more rides and some dissapointment.
I've squeezed in three more rides since my last post. On Sunday Poncho was spectacularly forward compared to the previous. He still was a little hesitant about the bit. We got in some nice, nice work until a grey horse showed up. He was floaty over the poles. He was forward in the trot. He had a zooming canter. Now I found out over the summer than Poncho has an unhealthy obsession with greys. He is just head over heels for them. Example; we were cantering around at a good pace we go to pass said grey horse, Poncho starts really collecting his trot so he's almost hopping so as not to pass the horse. Then over the summer he would scream for them and try to grab the bit and run to them. Interesting I think. I don't know what it is about greys. But it sure is funny.
Monday It was just m. He was brilliant I can't believe there was no one there to see. His canter was pure perfection there's not much I can really say other than I was head over heels impressed with him. To give him a reward we hacked around outside of the barn a little. I had to open the gate from on his back, wow, was that comical. He figured out opening it but I couldn't get him to understand closing it. So that's for another day.
Tuesday was a bit of damper - not bad but in comparison not great. He is definitely bored in the ring, so am I but the stars haven't aligned to leave the ring lately. (but mark my words come Saturday we will be out of it) He was a lot less forward. He was kind of stumbly (he gets that way when he puts no effort into his work). So to liven him up I decided to jump. We got 5 refusals before I decided to just canter hard at the jump and he got the point then. Silly pony must have forgotten he can in fact trot jumps. We did also have some glimmers of him going on the bit. We also had some moments where he was bracing his jaw soo hard. It was a very back and forth kind of ride - but it came together in the end. Also when I got off I noticed my chaps popped a hole by the zipper - so sad. Hopefully I can replace them soon.
Monday It was just m. He was brilliant I can't believe there was no one there to see. His canter was pure perfection there's not much I can really say other than I was head over heels impressed with him. To give him a reward we hacked around outside of the barn a little. I had to open the gate from on his back, wow, was that comical. He figured out opening it but I couldn't get him to understand closing it. So that's for another day.
Tuesday was a bit of damper - not bad but in comparison not great. He is definitely bored in the ring, so am I but the stars haven't aligned to leave the ring lately. (but mark my words come Saturday we will be out of it) He was a lot less forward. He was kind of stumbly (he gets that way when he puts no effort into his work). So to liven him up I decided to jump. We got 5 refusals before I decided to just canter hard at the jump and he got the point then. Silly pony must have forgotten he can in fact trot jumps. We did also have some glimmers of him going on the bit. We also had some moments where he was bracing his jaw soo hard. It was a very back and forth kind of ride - but it came together in the end. Also when I got off I noticed my chaps popped a hole by the zipper - so sad. Hopefully I can replace them soon.
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