Really, GO Megan.
Somehow we lost our forward button last night. Anbody seen it laying around? Megan was back in an agreeable mindset last night so after a few low key twirls on the lunge line, up I went.
We were back to the curling of the neck and putting her chin in chest. I just kept nudging and tapping her forward. She really doesn't seem to like her new bridle set up with the flash. I may need to look into another type of cavesson, but I really think she's just bothered by the flash and needs to get used to it. The flash attachment buckles around her muzzle under the bit and is to keep her from opening her mouth and evading the bit and possibly getting her tongue over the bit. She's very busy in her mouth, so of course she doesn't particularly like the flash. It also itches like crazy as she sweats under it. That's my princess and the pea girl for you.
Anyway when she wasn't fretting about the flash and an imaginary fly, she was actually really good. She walked and trotted quietly and was cooperative on riding some figures to get her bending and turning. Sometimes the turning was more wishful thinking than not, but mostly it was good.
The only unique development of the evening were halts that she decided were a permanent condition. You want me to halt? Okay. Well let's stand here for awhile, or perhaps forever. I really had to give her an aggressive whomp to the ribs a couple of times to get her moving again. I also used the dressage whip pretty sharply to reinforce a lighter leg aid. She was unfazed by all of the above. This is a problem I can deal with and it certainly isn't a scary problem so no worries; it's all good. We're nectar!
Friday, June 30, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Shoulda Stayed in Las Vegas
Six days off did nothing for the littly missy's attitude! I came back prepared with stories of woe about the poor mules that haul tourists to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back in temps over a 100. (My equine equivalent of walking to school barefoot, uphill in the snow as a child.) Megan was less than impressed. Clearly she knows a.) I'm not going to ship her off to Arizona; b.) she'd never get a spot in the mule line up as they would throw up their hands in disgust at her prima donna ways. I never believed that my mother was going to sell me to the Indians either.
The pampered princess acted like she'd never learned to lunge much less be ridden. Rather than try to correct her on the lunge, I just kept her going forward and stayed quiet, but insistent that she would keep going until I asked her to stop. She looked like a TB motorcycling around the circle. Unlike a TB she rather quickly wore herself out and started to look pitiful. By the time she recovered her demeanor and brain she was so sweaty and blowing that I didn't add riding to the mix. Yes, I'm a sucker.
The new shoes look nice, but no determination on the ankle wound yet. It was all scabbed over but not in a way I liked. It had a kind of weird tough callous that felt squishy underneath. It didn't feel healed just grown over. I'm from the old school of wound treatment, that you make it bleed until the new flesh comes in healthy and pink. So out came the iodine scrub to get rid of the proud flesh looking granules. (Hope no one is eating and reading.) It's kind of a funny process. Since the wound is on the inside of the left hind ankle, I stand beside the right hind leg and reach across. Megan hasn't offered to kick since she was a wee thing, but no taking chances. She doesn't really know how to react to the fact that I'm causing discomfort on one leg but standing by the other, so she does nothing but snort. It looked healthier when I was done, but open again. Sure wish this would go away...
I'm disappointed that I'm not able to be more consistent with her and frankly the month of July will be almost a total loss, but unless I win the lottery such is life and I'll have to find a way to deal with it.
The pampered princess acted like she'd never learned to lunge much less be ridden. Rather than try to correct her on the lunge, I just kept her going forward and stayed quiet, but insistent that she would keep going until I asked her to stop. She looked like a TB motorcycling around the circle. Unlike a TB she rather quickly wore herself out and started to look pitiful. By the time she recovered her demeanor and brain she was so sweaty and blowing that I didn't add riding to the mix. Yes, I'm a sucker.
The new shoes look nice, but no determination on the ankle wound yet. It was all scabbed over but not in a way I liked. It had a kind of weird tough callous that felt squishy underneath. It didn't feel healed just grown over. I'm from the old school of wound treatment, that you make it bleed until the new flesh comes in healthy and pink. So out came the iodine scrub to get rid of the proud flesh looking granules. (Hope no one is eating and reading.) It's kind of a funny process. Since the wound is on the inside of the left hind ankle, I stand beside the right hind leg and reach across. Megan hasn't offered to kick since she was a wee thing, but no taking chances. She doesn't really know how to react to the fact that I'm causing discomfort on one leg but standing by the other, so she does nothing but snort. It looked healthier when I was done, but open again. Sure wish this would go away...
I'm disappointed that I'm not able to be more consistent with her and frankly the month of July will be almost a total loss, but unless I win the lottery such is life and I'll have to find a way to deal with it.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Megan had Monday off while I took my weekly all-about-me lesson. The lesson went well. I think I may eventually remember how to ride. Energized with some ideas on riding a plan out to the barn I went.
I didn't bother with side reins and just let her trot and canter around in each direction on the lunge. She was mellow as could be. Just as I was getting on, Cindy and Pele were finishing up their ride. Pele is Megan's neighbor in the barn and her current love interest. Like a teenaged girl, she has to preen a little when her crush walks by. Preening and working are somewhat mutually exclusive. This conflict of purpose became our lesson plan for the evening.
Circle to the left? I can't Pele is to the right. Oh, oh, oh here he comes!! I'm gonna fall out of the ring and bump into him so he'll see me. C'mon Mom here we go. No we don't baby girl. Oh, oh he disappeared into the barn, I should stop and wait for him to come out. No, walk on. That final conflict elicited a little temper tantrum. She blew through all my aids and bulled off at the trot with her head in my nose. Whatever. Compose yourself. And she did.
The next 10 minutes were her loveliest work to date. She trotted round, relaxed and soft into the contact. I concentrated on keeping my hands low and following and moving her shoulders around the circles. Occasionally she'd begin to fall in and I focused on "brushing" her over and into the outside rein with my inside leg. Darned if it didn't work.
We also worked on some of those awesome halts and I worked on really staying soft in my seat and asking her quietly. They were consistently very nice. She stays soft on the contact and doesn't move a hair. No flinging of her hindquarters to the inside or outside like I'm so used to from my former mounts. She's just there. The next thing to work on is the downward transition from trot to walk. She interprets my aids as halt and the transition doesn't move smoothly to a marching walk. Gotta stop playing with that cool whoa button so much.
She'll have the next 6 days off and I wonder how she'll be when we pick back up again.
She keeps knocking her left hind fetlock and I can't get the sore healed up. I wonder if she's wearing her hind feet funky and getting off balance. Tomorrow she sees the farrier and it will be interesting to see if it starts to heal after the trim.
I didn't bother with side reins and just let her trot and canter around in each direction on the lunge. She was mellow as could be. Just as I was getting on, Cindy and Pele were finishing up their ride. Pele is Megan's neighbor in the barn and her current love interest. Like a teenaged girl, she has to preen a little when her crush walks by. Preening and working are somewhat mutually exclusive. This conflict of purpose became our lesson plan for the evening.
Circle to the left? I can't Pele is to the right. Oh, oh, oh here he comes!! I'm gonna fall out of the ring and bump into him so he'll see me. C'mon Mom here we go. No we don't baby girl. Oh, oh he disappeared into the barn, I should stop and wait for him to come out. No, walk on. That final conflict elicited a little temper tantrum. She blew through all my aids and bulled off at the trot with her head in my nose. Whatever. Compose yourself. And she did.
The next 10 minutes were her loveliest work to date. She trotted round, relaxed and soft into the contact. I concentrated on keeping my hands low and following and moving her shoulders around the circles. Occasionally she'd begin to fall in and I focused on "brushing" her over and into the outside rein with my inside leg. Darned if it didn't work.
We also worked on some of those awesome halts and I worked on really staying soft in my seat and asking her quietly. They were consistently very nice. She stays soft on the contact and doesn't move a hair. No flinging of her hindquarters to the inside or outside like I'm so used to from my former mounts. She's just there. The next thing to work on is the downward transition from trot to walk. She interprets my aids as halt and the transition doesn't move smoothly to a marching walk. Gotta stop playing with that cool whoa button so much.
She'll have the next 6 days off and I wonder how she'll be when we pick back up again.
She keeps knocking her left hind fetlock and I can't get the sore healed up. I wonder if she's wearing her hind feet funky and getting off balance. Tomorrow she sees the farrier and it will be interesting to see if it starts to heal after the trim.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
As the Hay Bale Turns
Finally back in the saddle. After a week off with this and that and some seriously wigged out ground work, Megan was back in fine form. Today I could hardly get her to trot on the lunge she was so laid back, so up I went for the first time in a week. I was a woman with a plan. A simple plan, but a plan nonetheless. (My goal is to get as many sentence fragments as possible in a single post, let's all count along: 2 -- Somewhere a former journalism professor is spinning wildly in his grave. lol)
I just bought a wonderful book called 101 jumping exercises. No, the plan wasn't to jump, but it did include some ground poles. The book starts with the most basic of exercises using ground poles and advances. We need not worry with advancing for quite awhile but some of the ground pole exercises will definitely keep us busy. Today's was put two poles 10 feet apart parrallel (if you can spell it) to one another at X on the centerline in other words the poles create a chute of sorts at x facing B & E. (In the center of the rectangle, parrellel to the short ends if you don't know your dressage letters.) You are then to walk and trot 30 meter circles passing between the poles with a change of direction each time. Simple enough. (3) This proved to be just challenging enough to baby horse. The poles gave me somewhere to steer towards to keep us honest on our turns and also perceptibly straightened Megan's body as she moved between them. Miss Wiggly Worm would become straight for 2, 3, 4 strides before she started falling about again.
It was neat to feel her develop both bend and straightness using the exercise. We also worked on halting between the poles. Girlfriend has a whoa that won't quit. Actually it does quit, immediately, from behind and almost always square. Way cool. (4) If I stop my hips and pull my shoulder blades together - bam, she's still and under herself. We've got a 10 halt and not much else, but we are celebrating that halt.
Today's other positive development was spooks that did not result in bolts and bucks. Twice she spooked at activity outside the arena and both times it was a perfectly acceptable reaction not her normal over reaction. This I like very much. Maturity, could that be you?
Since we were on a roll, off we went on a trail "walk." I set off on foot to take her down the trail that leaves out of our barn and through the backside of the subdivision. There is constrution on two homes sort of flanking the entrance to the trail. Megan finds this very scary. She is sure that the USDA has missed the boat by not declaring Tyvek a horse eating substance. She's also sure that porta potties are the gateway to Hell. (She gets that from my side of the family.)
I wasn't sure I was going to get her past house #1. In true draft horse fashion, she planted her feet and stared... and stared... and stared some more. I finally tapped her hip with the whip and asked her to consider moving. Apparently her long look convinced her that although still dangerous, the Tyvek was sleeping and we could sneak past it. Next scary test was the dogs whose fence abuts the trail. This was cause for some whirling and snorting, but decorum was restored after another long look. Next a doll house and swimming pool to look at hard. (5, at least)
All in all she was actually very brave and on representation to all the scary things she could have cared less. What a good girl! (6) (I'm sure I can do better - another goal to shoot for.)
I just bought a wonderful book called 101 jumping exercises. No, the plan wasn't to jump, but it did include some ground poles. The book starts with the most basic of exercises using ground poles and advances. We need not worry with advancing for quite awhile but some of the ground pole exercises will definitely keep us busy. Today's was put two poles 10 feet apart parrallel (if you can spell it) to one another at X on the centerline in other words the poles create a chute of sorts at x facing B & E. (In the center of the rectangle, parrellel to the short ends if you don't know your dressage letters.) You are then to walk and trot 30 meter circles passing between the poles with a change of direction each time. Simple enough. (3) This proved to be just challenging enough to baby horse. The poles gave me somewhere to steer towards to keep us honest on our turns and also perceptibly straightened Megan's body as she moved between them. Miss Wiggly Worm would become straight for 2, 3, 4 strides before she started falling about again.
It was neat to feel her develop both bend and straightness using the exercise. We also worked on halting between the poles. Girlfriend has a whoa that won't quit. Actually it does quit, immediately, from behind and almost always square. Way cool. (4) If I stop my hips and pull my shoulder blades together - bam, she's still and under herself. We've got a 10 halt and not much else, but we are celebrating that halt.
Today's other positive development was spooks that did not result in bolts and bucks. Twice she spooked at activity outside the arena and both times it was a perfectly acceptable reaction not her normal over reaction. This I like very much. Maturity, could that be you?
Since we were on a roll, off we went on a trail "walk." I set off on foot to take her down the trail that leaves out of our barn and through the backside of the subdivision. There is constrution on two homes sort of flanking the entrance to the trail. Megan finds this very scary. She is sure that the USDA has missed the boat by not declaring Tyvek a horse eating substance. She's also sure that porta potties are the gateway to Hell. (She gets that from my side of the family.)
I wasn't sure I was going to get her past house #1. In true draft horse fashion, she planted her feet and stared... and stared... and stared some more. I finally tapped her hip with the whip and asked her to consider moving. Apparently her long look convinced her that although still dangerous, the Tyvek was sleeping and we could sneak past it. Next scary test was the dogs whose fence abuts the trail. This was cause for some whirling and snorting, but decorum was restored after another long look. Next a doll house and swimming pool to look at hard. (5, at least)
All in all she was actually very brave and on representation to all the scary things she could have cared less. What a good girl! (6) (I'm sure I can do better - another goal to shoot for.)
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Two-Steppin'
One step forward; two steps back or two steps forward; one step back? Hell I don’t know, we just backed up. I forgot my boots last night so couldn’t have ridden her if I’d wanted to, but seeing her demeanor, I didn’t want to. We were back to wild eyed and reactive.
I’m a little frustrated both with her and with not being able to work her consistently, for a myriad of very good reasons, but nonetheless we’re not consistent. To be fair, I did add a couple of new elements last night. First, I changed her noseband and added a flash on the advice of both instructors. She tends to suck the bit and then spit it out and she needs to learn to carry it consistently and NOT learn to get her tongue over it. I put the flash (a piece of leather that encircles her muzzle below the bit to keep her mouth closed) on fairly loosely but she was definitely testing it and reacting to it. My old mare, Lucy, reared up the first time she felt the flash, so by comparison Megan’s reaction was tame; she was just fussier than normal. Second, I tried out a new pair of sliding side reins. The reins attach to the girth between her front legs, go thru the rings of the bit and back to the girth on the side. They are supposed to encourage her to work more over her back and through.
Hated the new side reins. I did anyway; I’m not sure she was impressed either. I took them off halfway through the lunge session and tightened the flash up a bit more to stop her from cranking her jaws open to test the limits.
All and all the word for the evening was: FUSSY. She careened around on the lunge line and over-reacted to every attempt to correct her and get a more deliberate pace. I finally found a good note to stop on and she was blowing and huffing like she’d done a marathon. That makes me wonder if she’s still overall a little body sore and that’s the root cause of her fussiness. I decided to cancel our Saturday adventure and go on a shorter road trip with no riding and just see if we can re-engage her softness.
We’ll see what we have tonight…
I’m a little frustrated both with her and with not being able to work her consistently, for a myriad of very good reasons, but nonetheless we’re not consistent. To be fair, I did add a couple of new elements last night. First, I changed her noseband and added a flash on the advice of both instructors. She tends to suck the bit and then spit it out and she needs to learn to carry it consistently and NOT learn to get her tongue over it. I put the flash (a piece of leather that encircles her muzzle below the bit to keep her mouth closed) on fairly loosely but she was definitely testing it and reacting to it. My old mare, Lucy, reared up the first time she felt the flash, so by comparison Megan’s reaction was tame; she was just fussier than normal. Second, I tried out a new pair of sliding side reins. The reins attach to the girth between her front legs, go thru the rings of the bit and back to the girth on the side. They are supposed to encourage her to work more over her back and through.
Hated the new side reins. I did anyway; I’m not sure she was impressed either. I took them off halfway through the lunge session and tightened the flash up a bit more to stop her from cranking her jaws open to test the limits.
All and all the word for the evening was: FUSSY. She careened around on the lunge line and over-reacted to every attempt to correct her and get a more deliberate pace. I finally found a good note to stop on and she was blowing and huffing like she’d done a marathon. That makes me wonder if she’s still overall a little body sore and that’s the root cause of her fussiness. I decided to cancel our Saturday adventure and go on a shorter road trip with no riding and just see if we can re-engage her softness.
We’ll see what we have tonight…
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Beauty Parlor Day
Megan looked a bit muscle sore from her weekend adventures so we just had a beauty parlor day. A good grooming and some very minimal mane pulling to keep everyone happy and sweet. Miss Megan HATES to have her mane pulled and it is escalating instead of getting better. I usually try to pull a little bit every few days but she goes psycho girl at the hint of a back comb.
I usually just pull from the bottom and go up and down the mane with quick tugs. She stands for that pretty well. I got a tip on using latex gloves to save your fingers and a couple pair managed to find their way into my purse during a hospital visit this weekend. ;-) (Hey I'm sure the cost of the ankle wrap they sent home with us will be inflated enough that they won't miss a glove or two.) If it works, I'll spring for a box and go that route.
It occurred to me last night that even though I don't have human children, the "kids" that I do have are finding ways to make me pay for my youthful misbehaviors. I was a pretty good kid, but I typically got in trouble for one of two things: 1.) talking back (there's a surprise Honey) and 2.) wiggling when my hair was getting brushed. Satchmo, our Welsh Corgi, has the talking back covered and Megan has the wiggling (and thrashing and rearing and throwing herself into a tantrum) down over her hair care regime! Unfortunately she doesn't see the error of her ways just from smacking her fanny with a hair brush!
The first time we clipped her it took two people and a healthy dose of drugs. She still struggled like crazy and growled like a dog the whole time. That was over a year ago and she's much larger now. Fortunately she no longer objects to the clippers being within 5 feet of her person and will actually let me clip her muzzle and throat latch, but woe be unto you if you go for the ears. I'm not giving up and there's always chemistry to fall back on. Those ears are MINE.
I usually just pull from the bottom and go up and down the mane with quick tugs. She stands for that pretty well. I got a tip on using latex gloves to save your fingers and a couple pair managed to find their way into my purse during a hospital visit this weekend. ;-) (Hey I'm sure the cost of the ankle wrap they sent home with us will be inflated enough that they won't miss a glove or two.) If it works, I'll spring for a box and go that route.
It occurred to me last night that even though I don't have human children, the "kids" that I do have are finding ways to make me pay for my youthful misbehaviors. I was a pretty good kid, but I typically got in trouble for one of two things: 1.) talking back (there's a surprise Honey) and 2.) wiggling when my hair was getting brushed. Satchmo, our Welsh Corgi, has the talking back covered and Megan has the wiggling (and thrashing and rearing and throwing herself into a tantrum) down over her hair care regime! Unfortunately she doesn't see the error of her ways just from smacking her fanny with a hair brush!
The first time we clipped her it took two people and a healthy dose of drugs. She still struggled like crazy and growled like a dog the whole time. That was over a year ago and she's much larger now. Fortunately she no longer objects to the clippers being within 5 feet of her person and will actually let me clip her muzzle and throat latch, but woe be unto you if you go for the ears. I'm not giving up and there's always chemistry to fall back on. Those ears are MINE.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
It's All About Me
Megan is still having some much earned R&R from her Saturday adventures and gearing up for a repeat next Saturday. In the meantime, last night was my first lesson where it was all about me! I rode the instructor's schoolmaster, Liam, and worked on my position and being correct instead of worrying about wild girl antics breaking out.
This, as Martha would say, is a very good thing. It's also a lot of work for out of shape girl! I thought I'd be even more sore than I am this morning. Tons of fun and a weekly treat that I'll add into the mix as well as working with Megan. I'm looking forward to riding her tonight and starting to try and put it all together a little bit more.
This, as Martha would say, is a very good thing. It's also a lot of work for out of shape girl! I thought I'd be even more sore than I am this morning. Tons of fun and a weekly treat that I'll add into the mix as well as working with Megan. I'm looking forward to riding her tonight and starting to try and put it all together a little bit more.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Megan's Big Adventure
Whew, what a day. it started early at 5:40 a.m. as I crawled out of bed to get an early start on our trail ride day. It was forecast to be very hot so we wanted to be done by mid-morning which meant Megan and I needed to be on the road by 7:00. It seems funny now with all that's passed in the last 24 hours but I was a nervous wreck. Running to the bathroom, tense as heck as I worried about how my girl would take to the trail. The bathroom trips delayed our departure by 10 minutes, but not too bad!
Our ride was a friend's place about 1.5 hours away. She has a 400 acre farm with lots of trails and no mountain bikers! I have no problem with mountain bikers but it wasn't something I wanted in the mix for the first time out on my 3 year old. We arrived in good fashion with me in nearly full on panic attack. Seriously, you would have to question why you do this if you were this tense all the time. My friend Debbie was talking my nerves down. The funny thing is I was riding with an ER doctor, an ER nurse and a lawyer. All the bases were covered!
I had given Megan a does of Quietex before we loaded up and she came off the trailer lookie but not wild. Very reasonable in fact, so I'm very impressed with the product, it worked exactly as advertised. It's an all natural paste with a calming -- not sedative -- effect. I lunged Megan out in the pasture and she was up and interested but listening to me. Deep breath, time to get on. I won't go through every detail of the ride -- suffice to say SHE WAS GREAT. It was very hilly terrain and she struggled to balance going down hill and drug herself up the hills, but she wasn't bothered by dogs running in and out of the brush and right by her feet. She wasn't bothered by swinging branches or stepping over and around rocks and down trees.
The most exciting/gratifying part was crossing the creek. It's a fairly deep cut down to the water and then a wide creek with a rocky bottom. A lot of young horses (and older ones, too) object to just the approach, but after a momentary hesitation Megan walked right down and to the water and then into the water. Very cool and the absolute best scenario for a future eventer. She walked right in on the second time and really wanted to hang out and paw, but since I didn't trust her not to just lay down and roll I kept her moving. We ended up riding for about an hour and she was one tired pony by the end. She really struggled up the last hill and then was pleased to see the barn and trailer at the top. We walked back down the drive to let her see a large metal sculpture of a dog up on its hind legs. It probably stands about seven feet tall and is an unusual sight. She huffed and puffed a little bit and then decided that the grass at its feet was more interesting. What a good girl!!
About 20 minutes in to the ride I finally started to breathe and relax but I was still worn out from all the tension and little did I know that the excitement had just begun. We loaded up and headed home after a half hour of secondary roads we hopped on the interstate for home. Unfortunately we came to a dead stop in the first 1/2 mile. I called home to my husband, aka GPS Boy - Master of all things navigational -- the news was not good. The GA DOT website noted a serious accident that wouldn't be cleared for another 1.5 hours. Fortunately I was able to turn the trailer around in the median and head back to the exit where Steve plotted a new route home. Unfortunately the new route was long, winding and with lots of stops.
Poor Megan. That kind of travel is very tiring for the horse. It takes lots of balancing in the trailer with so many turns and stops. I think I ground all the enamel off my teeth with the frustration of what I was putting my already tired pony through. Each stop and turn and abrupt deccelaration when inconsiderate drivers rushed to get in front of the trailer made me feel horrible. After 3 long hours we were home. Megan was more than ready to get off that trailer. You could see a quiver in her muscles and she was tucked up from the effort, but happy to be home. A quick bath and out in a paddock for an hour to get her land legs back. Lots of cookies and pats and apologies from Mom.
The excitement wasn't over for me yet. Steve had met me at the barn to help unload and unhook. We decided to head to lunch -- me in the truck and he on his motorcycle. I passed an intersection with a car waiting and worried that he might not see the bike, but thought he did and continued on. The next time I checked my rearview -- about 20 seconds later -- no Steve. I thought he may have taken an alternative route and quickly dialed his cell phone. It was a horrible moment when a woman answered with "There's been an accident." I could hear him in the background saying he was all right, which was good. The woman said he was up and moving around which I'm glad I heard BEFORE seeing the accident scene. The car had pulled out in front of him and he t-boned it and flew over the hood and onto the pavement. The bike was destroyed -- pieces all over the road. Amazingly, Steve was up and walking with just some gashes on his ankles. And there I was with no Desitin. Off to the ER for a spinal check and xrays of a very painful ankle. Thankfully no broken bones and three stitches and a tetnus shot later he was sprung -- sore but extremely lucky and thankful.
Of all the things I was worried about in the morning, none of them came to pass and what did was totally from left field. Certainly puts things in perspective.
Our ride was a friend's place about 1.5 hours away. She has a 400 acre farm with lots of trails and no mountain bikers! I have no problem with mountain bikers but it wasn't something I wanted in the mix for the first time out on my 3 year old. We arrived in good fashion with me in nearly full on panic attack. Seriously, you would have to question why you do this if you were this tense all the time. My friend Debbie was talking my nerves down. The funny thing is I was riding with an ER doctor, an ER nurse and a lawyer. All the bases were covered!
I had given Megan a does of Quietex before we loaded up and she came off the trailer lookie but not wild. Very reasonable in fact, so I'm very impressed with the product, it worked exactly as advertised. It's an all natural paste with a calming -- not sedative -- effect. I lunged Megan out in the pasture and she was up and interested but listening to me. Deep breath, time to get on. I won't go through every detail of the ride -- suffice to say SHE WAS GREAT. It was very hilly terrain and she struggled to balance going down hill and drug herself up the hills, but she wasn't bothered by dogs running in and out of the brush and right by her feet. She wasn't bothered by swinging branches or stepping over and around rocks and down trees.
The most exciting/gratifying part was crossing the creek. It's a fairly deep cut down to the water and then a wide creek with a rocky bottom. A lot of young horses (and older ones, too) object to just the approach, but after a momentary hesitation Megan walked right down and to the water and then into the water. Very cool and the absolute best scenario for a future eventer. She walked right in on the second time and really wanted to hang out and paw, but since I didn't trust her not to just lay down and roll I kept her moving. We ended up riding for about an hour and she was one tired pony by the end. She really struggled up the last hill and then was pleased to see the barn and trailer at the top. We walked back down the drive to let her see a large metal sculpture of a dog up on its hind legs. It probably stands about seven feet tall and is an unusual sight. She huffed and puffed a little bit and then decided that the grass at its feet was more interesting. What a good girl!!
About 20 minutes in to the ride I finally started to breathe and relax but I was still worn out from all the tension and little did I know that the excitement had just begun. We loaded up and headed home after a half hour of secondary roads we hopped on the interstate for home. Unfortunately we came to a dead stop in the first 1/2 mile. I called home to my husband, aka GPS Boy - Master of all things navigational -- the news was not good. The GA DOT website noted a serious accident that wouldn't be cleared for another 1.5 hours. Fortunately I was able to turn the trailer around in the median and head back to the exit where Steve plotted a new route home. Unfortunately the new route was long, winding and with lots of stops.
Poor Megan. That kind of travel is very tiring for the horse. It takes lots of balancing in the trailer with so many turns and stops. I think I ground all the enamel off my teeth with the frustration of what I was putting my already tired pony through. Each stop and turn and abrupt deccelaration when inconsiderate drivers rushed to get in front of the trailer made me feel horrible. After 3 long hours we were home. Megan was more than ready to get off that trailer. You could see a quiver in her muscles and she was tucked up from the effort, but happy to be home. A quick bath and out in a paddock for an hour to get her land legs back. Lots of cookies and pats and apologies from Mom.
The excitement wasn't over for me yet. Steve had met me at the barn to help unload and unhook. We decided to head to lunch -- me in the truck and he on his motorcycle. I passed an intersection with a car waiting and worried that he might not see the bike, but thought he did and continued on. The next time I checked my rearview -- about 20 seconds later -- no Steve. I thought he may have taken an alternative route and quickly dialed his cell phone. It was a horrible moment when a woman answered with "There's been an accident." I could hear him in the background saying he was all right, which was good. The woman said he was up and moving around which I'm glad I heard BEFORE seeing the accident scene. The car had pulled out in front of him and he t-boned it and flew over the hood and onto the pavement. The bike was destroyed -- pieces all over the road. Amazingly, Steve was up and walking with just some gashes on his ankles. And there I was with no Desitin. Off to the ER for a spinal check and xrays of a very painful ankle. Thankfully no broken bones and three stitches and a tetnus shot later he was sprung -- sore but extremely lucky and thankful.
Of all the things I was worried about in the morning, none of them came to pass and what did was totally from left field. Certainly puts things in perspective.
Friday, June 09, 2006
What a Difference a Day Makes
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, I LOVE my horse (again). I was on the right track yesterday, the problem is me, doh. Last night I head to the barn to audit some lessons, but due to poor communication on my part I realize WE'RE in the lesson line up. Cue the butterflies.
I had some reservations about taking a lesson with Megan at this point. She's not doing enough yet and doesn't have enough endurance/attention span to last for more than about 20 minutes under saddle. I don't mind paying for an hour and only using a 1/2 hour but I really don't want to push her at this point. Thankfully, this instructor got that. It was really good timing to get a program check and to fix the issue I was having with her head disappearing to her chest.
So we start off with lunging and I show our routine. Got a few suggestions for advancing the ground work and asking different things and a timely reminder to be consistent in the voice aids. Then I hopped on and we started at the walk with a cooperative pony. Into the trot where the key nugget was delivered and voila birds began to sing and music began to play and all was well with the world. The key nugget you ask? Fix me of course. I was being too giving with the reins and confusing her. Megan wants contact; she wants a place to go; she likes the side reins and I was riding her more loosey goosey. The minute I closed my hands around the reins and put my elbows by my side she softened into the contact and carried herself in a lovely, balanced way. Shit, I knew that. Why wasn't I doing it? Just cuz...
Riding correctly trains the horse. You don't train the horse to be ridden correctly. Rinse, repeat.
Our homework is to step it up a bit and ask for more. I think it will cure the misbehavior aspect since when I do ask her for more I have her attention and the world outside the arena fades away for both of us.
Tomorrow is our first trail ride. Woohooo, now that's what I live for. Get out of the arena, walk through the woods, cross a creek and just hang with my pony.
I had some reservations about taking a lesson with Megan at this point. She's not doing enough yet and doesn't have enough endurance/attention span to last for more than about 20 minutes under saddle. I don't mind paying for an hour and only using a 1/2 hour but I really don't want to push her at this point. Thankfully, this instructor got that. It was really good timing to get a program check and to fix the issue I was having with her head disappearing to her chest.
So we start off with lunging and I show our routine. Got a few suggestions for advancing the ground work and asking different things and a timely reminder to be consistent in the voice aids. Then I hopped on and we started at the walk with a cooperative pony. Into the trot where the key nugget was delivered and voila birds began to sing and music began to play and all was well with the world. The key nugget you ask? Fix me of course. I was being too giving with the reins and confusing her. Megan wants contact; she wants a place to go; she likes the side reins and I was riding her more loosey goosey. The minute I closed my hands around the reins and put my elbows by my side she softened into the contact and carried herself in a lovely, balanced way. Shit, I knew that. Why wasn't I doing it? Just cuz...
Riding correctly trains the horse. You don't train the horse to be ridden correctly. Rinse, repeat.
Our homework is to step it up a bit and ask for more. I think it will cure the misbehavior aspect since when I do ask her for more I have her attention and the world outside the arena fades away for both of us.
Tomorrow is our first trail ride. Woohooo, now that's what I live for. Get out of the arena, walk through the woods, cross a creek and just hang with my pony.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Mirror, Mirror...
...on the wall who is the crankiest of them all. I read somewhere last week that horses are like mirrors and they reflect back what you put into to them. Well if that's the case I was putting out lots of annoying and bitchy last night! It was one of those nights when your kid is determined to test your last nerve.
It started while we were tacking up. The ankle is back to normal proportions so back to business. Megan is schizo about having her ears touched. Some days it's okay, some days it's not. Last night it was not. There were also lovely cobwebs all over her ears that needed to come off. I have little patience with touch-me-not nights and things were off to a lovely start. Manners reminders were perhaps delivered with a less than loving tone.
Off to the ring, where Nazi Mommie insists that bratty baby girl pay attention ALL the time. This is a challenge for Hall Monitor filly who must inspect every car that goes by and the whereabouts of the flock of geese among other things. Lots of growling from me and mostly compliance from Megan. She has a big time tell when she is about to misbehave. Her tail lifts and the key is to re-establish attentiveness before it flags all the way up.
We had a few bolts and bucks on the lunge line that were completely uncalled for. Megan's turn out buddy Phinny is off for training and I think she's not getting enough social interaction and activity being turned out alone. She and Phinny are a perfect pair and really entertain one another. I can tell the difference in Megan since Phinny left last week and we'll just have to work through it until she comes back at the end of the month. Just because I know this doesn't mean I'm patient about it -- oops there goes that reflection thing again.
I really wasn't enthralled with the notion of climbing on bitchy filly but I badgered myself into it. Sure enough it was like sitting on a rock. Her back was tight as a trampoline -- mine probably was, too. She was curled up and primed for lift off -- all the fun I had expected. The good news was we worked through it, and while we weren't the most harmonious pair for the evening, relaxation was achieved. We just walked and did circles for about 5 minutes but enough to prove the point that bitchy don't pay! ;-)
Back in the barn for untacking and sponging off. Every time I walked into the tack room -- aka the cookie room -- Megan perked her ears and mimed the most loving, gentle, attentive and treat worthy filly on the planet. Really, she worked it harder than Zoolander; it was walk off worthy. Restored my good humor, but didn't get any cookies. Yeah, I was putting off some crabby...
It started while we were tacking up. The ankle is back to normal proportions so back to business. Megan is schizo about having her ears touched. Some days it's okay, some days it's not. Last night it was not. There were also lovely cobwebs all over her ears that needed to come off. I have little patience with touch-me-not nights and things were off to a lovely start. Manners reminders were perhaps delivered with a less than loving tone.
Off to the ring, where Nazi Mommie insists that bratty baby girl pay attention ALL the time. This is a challenge for Hall Monitor filly who must inspect every car that goes by and the whereabouts of the flock of geese among other things. Lots of growling from me and mostly compliance from Megan. She has a big time tell when she is about to misbehave. Her tail lifts and the key is to re-establish attentiveness before it flags all the way up.
We had a few bolts and bucks on the lunge line that were completely uncalled for. Megan's turn out buddy Phinny is off for training and I think she's not getting enough social interaction and activity being turned out alone. She and Phinny are a perfect pair and really entertain one another. I can tell the difference in Megan since Phinny left last week and we'll just have to work through it until she comes back at the end of the month. Just because I know this doesn't mean I'm patient about it -- oops there goes that reflection thing again.
I really wasn't enthralled with the notion of climbing on bitchy filly but I badgered myself into it. Sure enough it was like sitting on a rock. Her back was tight as a trampoline -- mine probably was, too. She was curled up and primed for lift off -- all the fun I had expected. The good news was we worked through it, and while we weren't the most harmonious pair for the evening, relaxation was achieved. We just walked and did circles for about 5 minutes but enough to prove the point that bitchy don't pay! ;-)
Back in the barn for untacking and sponging off. Every time I walked into the tack room -- aka the cookie room -- Megan perked her ears and mimed the most loving, gentle, attentive and treat worthy filly on the planet. Really, she worked it harder than Zoolander; it was walk off worthy. Restored my good humor, but didn't get any cookies. Yeah, I was putting off some crabby...
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Ankle on the Mend
Megan's ankle was nearly its normal size last night. A little more cold hosing, more Desitin and lots of cookies were the order of the day. She'll probably be ready to go this evening. I hope to get in our inaugural trail ride this weekend or next. I think her education will proceed in leaps and pounds (figurative not literal) if we can get out and work on going forward and straight.
I love finally being able to plan and plot her training and put it into action. Good thing the poor girl doesn't know what's in store! She still runs to the gate to see me and I wonder if that will continue as our interactions are more about work. I hope so and try to keep it fun for her -- and the cookies don't hurt. If all else fails, bribery is your friend. Probably good I don't have human children...
I love finally being able to plan and plot her training and put it into action. Good thing the poor girl doesn't know what's in store! She still runs to the gate to see me and I wonder if that will continue as our interactions are more about work. I hope so and try to keep it fun for her -- and the cookies don't hurt. If all else fails, bribery is your friend. Probably good I don't have human children...
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Curses, Foiled Again
After neglecting my horse all weekend I was ready to ride. I got to the barn quite late after going to see a friend of mine have a riding lesson. AK is 8 and a horsewoman in the making; it was really fun to see her post around on a big horse all happy and confident. I don't recall having lessons when I was little. The program was here is your horse, now ride it. I got run off with 3 times once on Christmas day on my Christmas present. Ran through the woods screaming my head off and then got back on and did it again. Doesn't say much for my IQ... but it all worked out eventually.
My husband and I drove down to where I grew up this weekend and I gave him a tour of places where we bought horses when I was little. I must have had nearly a dozen different ponies and horses growing up for which I am eternally grateful and richer in life (if poorer in the bank) for the experience. They ranged from Dusty the pony, who slid me off her neck countless times with the finesse only a shetland pony can have, to Spirit (who I named after an Eagles song -- how lame), who took care of me throughout my teenage years. Spirit was the best. I got him when I was 12 and he was 2 -- a horrible mix on paper but magical in real life. As I recall I just got him and started riding. No lessons, no trainer, no problems mostly. God takes care of fools and small children. We'd head out first thing in the morning and drag home at dusk. We raced Bobbie Jean and Domino down countless dirt roads and lazed in the pond on most summer afternoons. Best pal a kid could have had and catalyst for a lifetime of horses. Megan has big hooves to fill.
So back to last night, Megan came out of her stall with a big old fat ankle. Her left hind was about twice its normal size with a scrape and some heat on the inside of her fetlock. I think she knocked herself with her other hind foot. So no riding, just cold hosing and a dollop of Desitin, my cure all for everything. That's life with horses. I wouldn't trade it...
My husband and I drove down to where I grew up this weekend and I gave him a tour of places where we bought horses when I was little. I must have had nearly a dozen different ponies and horses growing up for which I am eternally grateful and richer in life (if poorer in the bank) for the experience. They ranged from Dusty the pony, who slid me off her neck countless times with the finesse only a shetland pony can have, to Spirit (who I named after an Eagles song -- how lame), who took care of me throughout my teenage years. Spirit was the best. I got him when I was 12 and he was 2 -- a horrible mix on paper but magical in real life. As I recall I just got him and started riding. No lessons, no trainer, no problems mostly. God takes care of fools and small children. We'd head out first thing in the morning and drag home at dusk. We raced Bobbie Jean and Domino down countless dirt roads and lazed in the pond on most summer afternoons. Best pal a kid could have had and catalyst for a lifetime of horses. Megan has big hooves to fill.
So back to last night, Megan came out of her stall with a big old fat ankle. Her left hind was about twice its normal size with a scrape and some heat on the inside of her fetlock. I think she knocked herself with her other hind foot. So no riding, just cold hosing and a dollop of Desitin, my cure all for everything. That's life with horses. I wouldn't trade it...
Monday, June 05, 2006
Rodeo Girl
Yep, this space has been a little neglected, but then so has my horse. I've been home but for a bunch of different reasons, my days haven't included actually making it to the barn to ride. I did sneak out on Friday to get in a little ride. Snuck because I was home on sick with a migraine. It started to let go its hold on my poor head in the afternoon so out to the barn I went.
If you've never had a migraine, you're a truly lucky soul, and you probably don't know that the aftermath of a migraine shares some similarities with the aftermath of too much alcohol. Not the best state to try to ride in. I promised my husband not to ride if I felt too woozy, but darn it once you're tacked up you practically HAVE to ride. I actually did feel okay and Megan was very quiet on the lunge so up I went. The butterfly meter was zero, she's proven to be very cool with being hopped onto and stands quietly.
Into the arena we went and worked on turning at the walk. 10 meter circles and figures of eight at x (the center of the arena) while I chatted with one of the other boarders. Cindy was impressed with how well Megan was doing and we were talking about that -- tempting the fates we were. Two ENORMOUS houses are being built behind our barn and there's fairly regular construction traffic. Now that traffic goes right by Megan's paddock day in and day out so it's not like she isn't exposed to it.
Up drives a truck hauling a utility trailer with a pack of lumber on it and off goes Megan. I'm a little irritated by this, but she is consistently afraid of trucks pulling things. I think that's lame since she isn't afraid of the freakin' train that comes by hourly or the darn pidgeons making a racket on the top of the indoor roof. Heck, the pidgeons make me jump half the time. Anyway, it's her thing and up comes her head and off she bolts and then once again starts bucking. Argh. Her head goes between her knees and up comes her butt. I rode her out and fussed at her to stop it, but I'm really irritated that she throws the bucks in. That's more of a disobedience than a spook and I've got to work on a game plan to get this out of her bag of tricks. So far I've just been working on getting her stopped and then going back to work, but I do think she needs to go straight to work by getting her head up and booting her forward.
The weekend got away from me so I didn't get a crack at dealing with it in a more agressive fashion. Still have that to look forward to... sigh. Why did I want a baby horse? This to shall pass right?!?
If you've never had a migraine, you're a truly lucky soul, and you probably don't know that the aftermath of a migraine shares some similarities with the aftermath of too much alcohol. Not the best state to try to ride in. I promised my husband not to ride if I felt too woozy, but darn it once you're tacked up you practically HAVE to ride. I actually did feel okay and Megan was very quiet on the lunge so up I went. The butterfly meter was zero, she's proven to be very cool with being hopped onto and stands quietly.
Into the arena we went and worked on turning at the walk. 10 meter circles and figures of eight at x (the center of the arena) while I chatted with one of the other boarders. Cindy was impressed with how well Megan was doing and we were talking about that -- tempting the fates we were. Two ENORMOUS houses are being built behind our barn and there's fairly regular construction traffic. Now that traffic goes right by Megan's paddock day in and day out so it's not like she isn't exposed to it.
Up drives a truck hauling a utility trailer with a pack of lumber on it and off goes Megan. I'm a little irritated by this, but she is consistently afraid of trucks pulling things. I think that's lame since she isn't afraid of the freakin' train that comes by hourly or the darn pidgeons making a racket on the top of the indoor roof. Heck, the pidgeons make me jump half the time. Anyway, it's her thing and up comes her head and off she bolts and then once again starts bucking. Argh. Her head goes between her knees and up comes her butt. I rode her out and fussed at her to stop it, but I'm really irritated that she throws the bucks in. That's more of a disobedience than a spook and I've got to work on a game plan to get this out of her bag of tricks. So far I've just been working on getting her stopped and then going back to work, but I do think she needs to go straight to work by getting her head up and booting her forward.
The weekend got away from me so I didn't get a crack at dealing with it in a more agressive fashion. Still have that to look forward to... sigh. Why did I want a baby horse? This to shall pass right?!?
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