I just wanted a nice fun ride today so after we warmed up I decided to jump over a cross rail. I think it was only about 18 inches high but I had Deuce canter over it for the first time. We did it in both directions and practiced getting the correct lead off the jump. It was a lot of fun!
It makes me want to do some hunter jumper stuff so I may take a few lessons with the hunter jumper trainer at my barn. I think Deuce likes to jump and it would be a shame not to do some fun jump courses with him!
He'll get Monday and probably Tuesday off and then we will work on collecting his canter and really pushing him into a soft, round frame. I will also try shoulder in again to see how he does. Should be fun! :)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
The shoe fits...
Deuce got a new shoe today. I kept looking all week for his thrown shoe but could not find it. My farrier came and made a new shoe and nailed in on for free though! The funny thing was that as soon as my farrier left, the barn manager came to my stall and gave me a shoe they found in the arena. Of course it was his....haha.
Anyway, after he had his shoe back, we went for a ride and he was really good! He was very responsive to my leg and light in my hands. I made sure in my warm up that I did a lot of serpentines, leg yields, circles and lengthenings. Very few straight lines. I did walk trot canter both directions then I worked on counter canter in both directions. Deuce picked up counter canter pretty easily - I just had to encourage him to keep the correct bend.
After he did counter canter we practiced some shoulder-in for the first time. I have trouble feeling if the shoulder-in is at the right angle and bend but I think he was doing some good shoulder-in steps. I just did it playfully and wasn't trying to force him because he had already done counter canter so nicely.
Tommorow I'm going to maybe do some cavaletti and jump over some stuff. Maybe I'll do the two circles and flying changes like J had me do last weekend. Should be fun. :) One thing I should be mindful of is that he was still sucking back a little before the canter depart. L told me this is just him saying no to my leg so I need to get after him for that. He's strong enough to do nice canter transition but I think he is just reluctant to do them.
Anyway, after he had his shoe back, we went for a ride and he was really good! He was very responsive to my leg and light in my hands. I made sure in my warm up that I did a lot of serpentines, leg yields, circles and lengthenings. Very few straight lines. I did walk trot canter both directions then I worked on counter canter in both directions. Deuce picked up counter canter pretty easily - I just had to encourage him to keep the correct bend.
After he did counter canter we practiced some shoulder-in for the first time. I have trouble feeling if the shoulder-in is at the right angle and bend but I think he was doing some good shoulder-in steps. I just did it playfully and wasn't trying to force him because he had already done counter canter so nicely.
Tommorow I'm going to maybe do some cavaletti and jump over some stuff. Maybe I'll do the two circles and flying changes like J had me do last weekend. Should be fun. :) One thing I should be mindful of is that he was still sucking back a little before the canter depart. L told me this is just him saying no to my leg so I need to get after him for that. He's strong enough to do nice canter transition but I think he is just reluctant to do them.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Work hard Play hard
I let Deuce out in the arena on Monday. He was feeling good and playing alot and he threw a shoe! Have to wait until Friday for the farrier to put it back on. Just hopped on him bareback today and did some leg yield and circles at the walk.
I'm waiting for my shipment of Platinum Performance. I'm going to start giving it to Deuce as a supplement everyday. I'm anxious to see if it helps him gain some muscle and bulk up a bit. He still looks kind of like a baby and I want him to look like a real horse. :)
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm waiting for my shipment of Platinum Performance. I'm going to start giving it to Deuce as a supplement everyday. I'm anxious to see if it helps him gain some muscle and bulk up a bit. He still looks kind of like a baby and I want him to look like a real horse. :)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The show part 2
I showed Deuce First Level Test 1 and First Level Test 2 this afternoon. I was warming up and he started sucking back and evading my aids once i wanted to canter. L was helping me and told me to just push him forward almost to a gallop -- she said he is worried about my leg instead of being worried about going forward forward forward. I didn't realize until now that the sucking back was from him saying no to me, I thought he was just unsure of what to do due to him being young.
The first test went really well....we got a 67%! To be honest, i think the judge was very generous. :)
The second test was kind of a flop. I went off course, and Deuce was also kind of t'ed off....he was tired after the long weekend. We still got a 62.5, but again i think the judge was generous. I was so tired by the time my second test came around and having mental focus is really difficult for me when I'm exhausted. I was trying, but my aids were a little sluggish and sloppy.
In sum, here's what i was reminded of this weekend:
more forward will solve lots of problems
make him say yes to my leg
it's okay to let him be playful (ie. when doing changes he started cross cantering and J said I should just make him buck so he would change to a true canter.)
I need to definately practice the full test before I do it at the show
I need to remember to push Deuce to learn new things - challenge him
Stay soft, even when I'm pushing him to do something difficult
These are things I already knew, obviously, but it's easy to forget to apply them when everyone at the barn always says how wonderful he looks! I am going to give Deuce Monday off...and maybe Teusday. Next time I ride I will work on getting him forward and in front of my leg at all times. Sucking back will not be tolerated. Once I have him forward, I'll try counter canter in both directions. Looking forward to the fun!
The first test went really well....we got a 67%! To be honest, i think the judge was very generous. :)
The second test was kind of a flop. I went off course, and Deuce was also kind of t'ed off....he was tired after the long weekend. We still got a 62.5, but again i think the judge was generous. I was so tired by the time my second test came around and having mental focus is really difficult for me when I'm exhausted. I was trying, but my aids were a little sluggish and sloppy.
In sum, here's what i was reminded of this weekend:
more forward will solve lots of problems
make him say yes to my leg
it's okay to let him be playful (ie. when doing changes he started cross cantering and J said I should just make him buck so he would change to a true canter.)
I need to definately practice the full test before I do it at the show
I need to remember to push Deuce to learn new things - challenge him
Stay soft, even when I'm pushing him to do something difficult
These are things I already knew, obviously, but it's easy to forget to apply them when everyone at the barn always says how wonderful he looks! I am going to give Deuce Monday off...and maybe Teusday. Next time I ride I will work on getting him forward and in front of my leg at all times. Sucking back will not be tolerated. Once I have him forward, I'll try counter canter in both directions. Looking forward to the fun!
The Show Part 1
Had a really fun weekend at the show. I worked in the morning on Saturday and got a free lesson in the afternoon. The lesson was really good because it challenged us both. I think when I am riding at the barn it's easy just to be happy with what I have and not push Deuce to do more. When I first got on for my lesson, Deuce was super hyper because of another horse that was going nuts in the round pen. He started hopping up and down so I decided to get off and lunge him for a while. After he raced around the round pen kicking and bucking for a while, I got on and had my regular horse back. When things like that happen I always have to remind myself that he is only 4!
After I got on the second time I started the lesson. J said to do my normal warm up but after I was trotting around for a while she was like...what are you doing? I guess I need to make sure in his warm up that I do lots of bending, lateral work, and lengthening/shortening of his stride. Once I warmed up the trot, we did leg yield at the canter from the quarter line to the wall. This exercise helps give the canter an uphill balance and teaches Deuce to push from behind. After that, I rode first level test 1 for practice.
The last thing J had me do I was pretty intimidated by at first. She put a cavalletti along the centerline of the arena and told me to do two connecting 20 meter circles and jump over the cavalletti in the middle. I did it at the trot first which was totally fine, but then she told me to do it at the canter. I had never cantered Deuce over any fence and she still wanted me to do change his bend over the cavalletti. I realized halfway through that we were really teaching him to do flying changes -- she could have told me that before we started!
Deuce landed a few times on the wrong lead or cross cantering, but eventually he got a clean flying change over the fence in both directions. He's a good baby!
After I got on the second time I started the lesson. J said to do my normal warm up but after I was trotting around for a while she was like...what are you doing? I guess I need to make sure in his warm up that I do lots of bending, lateral work, and lengthening/shortening of his stride. Once I warmed up the trot, we did leg yield at the canter from the quarter line to the wall. This exercise helps give the canter an uphill balance and teaches Deuce to push from behind. After that, I rode first level test 1 for practice.
The last thing J had me do I was pretty intimidated by at first. She put a cavalletti along the centerline of the arena and told me to do two connecting 20 meter circles and jump over the cavalletti in the middle. I did it at the trot first which was totally fine, but then she told me to do it at the canter. I had never cantered Deuce over any fence and she still wanted me to do change his bend over the cavalletti. I realized halfway through that we were really teaching him to do flying changes -- she could have told me that before we started!
Deuce landed a few times on the wrong lead or cross cantering, but eventually he got a clean flying change over the fence in both directions. He's a good baby!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Out for the weekend
I took Deuce over to another barn tonight where the schooling show will be going on on Sunday. He was great in the trailer, just walked right in with no problems at all - even in the dark! I rode him before we went over there and he did pretty well. He seemed pretty tired so I will try to ride him pretty easy tommorow - I am going to work for the day to get a free lesson in the afternoon.
The past few days I've been working on test movements like leg yield into canter and 10 m trot circles. Deuce is doing very well...he just needs to build muscle and get more consistent. I will have to review my tests tomorrow so i don't embarrass myself on Sunday by going off course -- I actually think I will have a little cheering squad! Also hoping to get some good pictures or videos to put up here....we'll see. My goal is to have an nice relaxinng lesson tommorow to prepare for the show and just keep him relaxed during the tests. I'm not sure how my scores will turn out, but I'm hoping for the best.
I was looking at Deuce today and noticed two things: I think i need to up his feed and he is definitely building some muscle in his haunches. It's slight but enough to tell. This is encouraging since it means I am riding him through his back. If we can keep improving, we'll be doing fun stuff in no time. Looking at the show calender for next year, I think we can easily qualify for regionals at first level pretty easily and maybe show some second level tests later in the year next year. :)
The past few days I've been working on test movements like leg yield into canter and 10 m trot circles. Deuce is doing very well...he just needs to build muscle and get more consistent. I will have to review my tests tomorrow so i don't embarrass myself on Sunday by going off course -- I actually think I will have a little cheering squad! Also hoping to get some good pictures or videos to put up here....we'll see. My goal is to have an nice relaxinng lesson tommorow to prepare for the show and just keep him relaxed during the tests. I'm not sure how my scores will turn out, but I'm hoping for the best.
I was looking at Deuce today and noticed two things: I think i need to up his feed and he is definitely building some muscle in his haunches. It's slight but enough to tell. This is encouraging since it means I am riding him through his back. If we can keep improving, we'll be doing fun stuff in no time. Looking at the show calender for next year, I think we can easily qualify for regionals at first level pretty easily and maybe show some second level tests later in the year next year. :)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Getting close!
Getting so excited for the show this weekend. Deuce has been going very well and it will be so fun to actually ride a test. I pretty much know first level test 1 but i'll have to study test 2 somemore. Today i just rode him forward on the bit doing walk trot and canter and did some leg yield and circles. Tomorrow i think i will ride some test movements and just make sure he is forward and through his back. Deuce is such a cutie! Can't wait until he builds up his muscles and is ready for the fun stuff - it'll be easy for him.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Lesson Learned
Today would have been great, but I think I screwed it up by riding Deuce for too long. He was very forward and connected after the warm up and was doing nice 10 meter circles. Then I cantered him and was very satisfied with the ride. I decided that he was pretty much done but that I would do leg yield at the walk while I cooled him out. This turned into a bit of a fight and then Deuce started baccking off the leg and not being forward and into the bridle. We somewhat recovered, but I feel badly that I didn't just stop the ride on a much better note. I guess I'll just do an easy, relaxed ride tommorow and won't ask much of him. I feel badly that the ride turned out this way. Can't wait for another ride tomorrow and am very thankful that Deuce is so forgiving. I have a great horse and I hope I never forget that.
Field Trip funding update
200 dollars donated - 400 more to go
Thank you to all donors...you inspire me!
Thank you to all donors...you inspire me!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Getting Ready
Had a pretty good ride today. My friend and I set up the dressage letters in the arena and I just rode a training level test to see how Deuce would do. My friend also wanted to see a test ridden so she could understand the patterns better. Deuce did very well, especially since he is not used to being ridden in precise figures. His canter transitions are getting much better - he did a million of them today.
Yesterday I did some jumping which he liked. I can always feel when he jumps well because he gets so free and relaxed after the fence.
I'm getting so excited for the show in 2 weeks. I decided to enter at First Level Test 1 and First Level Test 2. This is a little above what I think Deuce is ready for show-wise, but it's a schooling show so why not? I am going to work on preparing transitions and movements so that I can ride precise figures.
Yesterday I did some jumping which he liked. I can always feel when he jumps well because he gets so free and relaxed after the fence.
I'm getting so excited for the show in 2 weeks. I decided to enter at First Level Test 1 and First Level Test 2. This is a little above what I think Deuce is ready for show-wise, but it's a schooling show so why not? I am going to work on preparing transitions and movements so that I can ride precise figures.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Lots to do!
Had a great lesson today. Was our first lesson with s. and I really enjoyed it. We think alike when it comes to training, but she also gave me new ideas that I would not get on my own. She loves Deuce too, which is always a plus. :) Some things I need to work on...
Not being to loose with my abs, I follow his movement but I can't collapse my body
keeping my hands even with eachother
leg yielding and lateral movement in the correct position
letting Deuce have fun and always trying to vary his work to prevent boredom
What can I say...my pony is awesome and I love him.
Not being to loose with my abs, I follow his movement but I can't collapse my body
keeping my hands even with eachother
leg yielding and lateral movement in the correct position
letting Deuce have fun and always trying to vary his work to prevent boredom
What can I say...my pony is awesome and I love him.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Back to business
Deuce is almost over his antics. He has been backing off the bit and not responding to the leg, but today he started getting a lot better. We had a beautiful, uphill canter transition today, best one ever. :) i'm taking a lesson this thursday with s. I want to get some input on jumping exercises and just a different perspective on training. It will be good to because i think deuce is getting bored with plain arena work. He will hopefully get to go out today too...poor things been couped up for days aside from being ridden.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Beautiful day to ride bareback :)
Today i let deuce free in the arena and just walked/trotted bareback after that. Sunday isn't normally his day off, but he has been kind of sluggish to my leg and less willing lately so i thought a nice easy break would be good. When i rode him yesterday he tried to curl up behind the bit again instead of holding himself up. I kept pushing him forward but he still kept trying to hang on me. I think he may have started this since i've recently started working him more on the bit. Maybe i need to do shorter intervals of collection and then let him on a longer rein more often. We'll see how tomorrow goes - i'm hoping to get a ride in before class at 6:30.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
