Mon 3rd May 2010
Rode in the evening, already 8pm when I got there and blooming freezing! Felt tempted not to do anything as I was so tired after a stressful weekend (thought I'd killed the dog!) but gave myself a talking to and committed to 10 minutes at least.
D was very whizzy in the field and tossed his head plunging it to the ground in a very LB manner. I took my long-neglected 22' line and was pleased that, although I held it too short, it did not feel the lead weight it always used to, even after a break. Had a carrier bag on my C/S so did some FG with that. Moved onto figure 8. What a difference...because D was whizzy, I didn't need to chase him with the stick. Because I didn't even lift my stick, he stayed a lot sweeter and went charging round the cones with some verbal encouragement from me! I felt like we were in the pony club dis-mounted games!
Did some circling afterwards. D cantered both ways but quickly fell back to trot each time. Got a nice change of rein and then time to get on. I must admit I had second thoughts as he was so forward but then I thought "If you're worried about getting on here, what chance will you have at Oldencraig?!" So, on I got and, I needn't have worried, because D didn't want to go anywhere at all!
So, what was all that about? Maybe feedback from the last ride down horse alley (likely). Maybe getting bored with the field stuff (don't think so). Maybe a bit unconfident due to the weather (possibly). Anyway, I didn't have a whip-whap which turned out to be a blessing a a soft touch seemed to be the way forward here. In fact, he was so like riding Ollie, it was weird. Exactly the same feeling of "I don't want to" but, once I got him unstuck, he was much happier. I did a pattern of disengaging the HQ, walkign to a cone, treat, rest, repeat.
OK, I admit to feeling like I was going back in time a bit having to repeat the treat at a cone exercise but I was pleased that I was able to respond to do what D needed even if it meant changing my plans (was hoping to trot in the field today). I also omitted the rein back of the last pattern as he was thinking too backwards already.
After a while, D became much less sticky and then I could feel he was unconfident rather than lazy. I then walked the circle pattern, round, and round and round. Duncan was so forward going and sweet. Wow, what a strange feeling! It really is like Duncan is going through the changes my Ollie went through in reverse. To explain briefly; Ollie was my sweet forward-going horse who became unrecognisable to me because he was ridden with too much leg and rein. He became downright stubborn and nappy. Duncan started out downright stubborn and nappy and is becoming sweeter and more forward-going all the time. Absolutely fascinating!
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Ride no 29 - Horse Alley. Not a pleasant ride!
Thurs 29th April 2010
An Oh Dear day....
Took D for a walk then came back and went down horse alley. After passing the last house before the horse fields, I got on. D very good as a horsebox was starting up in the drive next to us.
I had decided to ride D away from home down horse alley to push him out of his comfort zone a bit. My thinking was that this is the best way to test where we are with the relationship - i.e. how well he trusts me. Mmm. I know what the answer is.......Duncan couldn't wait to get home after this episode and even called out to M which is cast iron feedback that 1. he did not enjoy himself and 2. Did not feel safe with me. Bummer. This journey is a bit frustrating at times!!!
So, what we did. Progressed very slowly but D had such sticky feet that I had to keep disengaging his HQ to get him to walk forward - which he would then do very reluctantly. I would then let him eat before disengaging his HQ and repeating the whole thing. In this pattern, we spent at least half an hour and I thought he was simmering down when a woman with a dog came up from the scout camp and D went on high alert.
I really could have done with spending another hour there but Alas, due to a kitchen flood my time was short so after leaving on a not-too-bad note (or so I thought), we hurried home very quickly!
An Oh Dear day....
Took D for a walk then came back and went down horse alley. After passing the last house before the horse fields, I got on. D very good as a horsebox was starting up in the drive next to us.
I had decided to ride D away from home down horse alley to push him out of his comfort zone a bit. My thinking was that this is the best way to test where we are with the relationship - i.e. how well he trusts me. Mmm. I know what the answer is.......Duncan couldn't wait to get home after this episode and even called out to M which is cast iron feedback that 1. he did not enjoy himself and 2. Did not feel safe with me. Bummer. This journey is a bit frustrating at times!!!
So, what we did. Progressed very slowly but D had such sticky feet that I had to keep disengaging his HQ to get him to walk forward - which he would then do very reluctantly. I would then let him eat before disengaging his HQ and repeating the whole thing. In this pattern, we spent at least half an hour and I thought he was simmering down when a woman with a dog came up from the scout camp and D went on high alert.
I really could have done with spending another hour there but Alas, due to a kitchen flood my time was short so after leaving on a not-too-bad note (or so I thought), we hurried home very quickly!
Ride no 29 - quickie round the woods!
Tues 27th April 2010
Didn't have long as I got to the field at 10am and had to pick Ed up at 12pm. S and I whizzed out round the woods and had a really nice ride. Weather gorgeous, ground nice underfoot. Duncan is a totally different horse when he's with Moet, striding out, taking the lead. Even though the ride was short, the feeling of clocking up the mileage is great!
Didn't have long as I got to the field at 10am and had to pick Ed up at 12pm. S and I whizzed out round the woods and had a really nice ride. Weather gorgeous, ground nice underfoot. Duncan is a totally different horse when he's with Moet, striding out, taking the lead. Even though the ride was short, the feeling of clocking up the mileage is great!
Ride no 27 & 28 - twice in one day!! Down "horse alley" and ride no 4 in the field.
Mon 26th April 2010
I took D out in the morning down "horse alley". Actually, I went into the woods on the right first and rode away from home which was much more faltering than coming back. D kept his nose tipped to the right which he does when he's thinking about turning round!
I was fairly nonchalant and kept talking to him which he seemed to find reassuring. After a graze at the end, he walked back quickly but was listening and with no spooking.
I got off for the road (had Flick) and walked up and down HA. I adopted a much more upright and swaggering stance and D was great. No issues though, to be fair, it was a gorgeous day and the other horses were not interested in us. I got on D at the bottom and rode him back up which was nice.
Using stop and backup pattern a lot when riding as helps with thresholds and keeps D thinking.
In the eve, I went back up and rode in the field. I can't remember much about this now except that D was good! Still just in walk. Dis extreme FG with the ball, bouncing it on D's back. He got bored enough to graze so that was good!
I took D out in the morning down "horse alley". Actually, I went into the woods on the right first and rode away from home which was much more faltering than coming back. D kept his nose tipped to the right which he does when he's thinking about turning round!
I was fairly nonchalant and kept talking to him which he seemed to find reassuring. After a graze at the end, he walked back quickly but was listening and with no spooking.
I got off for the road (had Flick) and walked up and down HA. I adopted a much more upright and swaggering stance and D was great. No issues though, to be fair, it was a gorgeous day and the other horses were not interested in us. I got on D at the bottom and rode him back up which was nice.
Using stop and backup pattern a lot when riding as helps with thresholds and keeps D thinking.
In the eve, I went back up and rode in the field. I can't remember much about this now except that D was good! Still just in walk. Dis extreme FG with the ball, bouncing it on D's back. He got bored enough to graze so that was good!
Ride no 26. Back through little woods on my own
Thurs 22nd April 2010
I took D along the lane and into the woods on the right. He was very happy and had a graze at the bottom, watched a herd of deer with interest and then I got on by standing on a gate. D very good at standing still now - waiting for his treat!
As soon as I was on his back, D was much less sure of himself and wanted to get out of the woods fairly quickly. He was very good however and we kept stopping and flexing which I was pleased did not seem to heighten his anxiety. I had to get off once back at the road as I had Flick with me.
I took D along the lane and into the woods on the right. He was very happy and had a graze at the bottom, watched a herd of deer with interest and then I got on by standing on a gate. D very good at standing still now - waiting for his treat!
As soon as I was on his back, D was much less sure of himself and wanted to get out of the woods fairly quickly. He was very good however and we kept stopping and flexing which I was pleased did not seem to heighten his anxiety. I had to get off once back at the road as I had Flick with me.
Ride no 25 - Scarletts Lake. No boots
Weds 21st April 2010
Writing this much later so not sure if this was the right day but one day this week, S and I rode the Scarletts Lake ride. I'd found D better on his pins earlier in the week so we went out barefoot and he was fine. He was very forward going and crossed the bridge very boldly. Had a lovely ride.
D starting to get much more settled in his mouth and going into the bridle very nicely in walk. He has a horrible habit of pulling himself along in trot with his neck braced but that is going to take a while to correct and needs to start with consistency in walk then moving on to little trots with the correct carriage until he builds up strength in his HQs. At the time of writing (4th May) he is already starting to change shape - his neck is looking longer and he is now looking more like a mini horse than a pony. It helps that a lot of the winter fuzz has gone too!
Writing this much later so not sure if this was the right day but one day this week, S and I rode the Scarletts Lake ride. I'd found D better on his pins earlier in the week so we went out barefoot and he was fine. He was very forward going and crossed the bridge very boldly. Had a lovely ride.
D starting to get much more settled in his mouth and going into the bridle very nicely in walk. He has a horrible habit of pulling himself along in trot with his neck braced but that is going to take a while to correct and needs to start with consistency in walk then moving on to little trots with the correct carriage until he builds up strength in his HQs. At the time of writing (4th May) he is already starting to change shape - his neck is looking longer and he is now looking more like a mini horse than a pony. It helps that a lot of the winter fuzz has gone too!
Can't remember what I did!
Mon 19th April 2010
It's so long since I've written my blog (it's viewed as luxury, "me" time in my house!) that I've only a vague recollection of what I did this day. I didn't fall off anyway!
I think I took D for a walk in hand and did some extreme FG with a bag ending up grazing in Pinnegers paddock.
It's so long since I've written my blog (it's viewed as luxury, "me" time in my house!) that I've only a vague recollection of what I did this day. I didn't fall off anyway!
I think I took D for a walk in hand and did some extreme FG with a bag ending up grazing in Pinnegers paddock.
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