Life has been a 3-ring circus lately, but thankfully the tents are rolled up and gone and we're returning to normal. Megan's normal is much improved with the training rides she got in my absence. Last night she was very steady in the bridle and workmanlike. I was pleased and impressed.
We weren't quite speaking the same language. She heard go when I meant whoa and delivered whoa when I was asking for go! I'm sure we'll be back on the same page shortly. She is very responsive and forward when we're in sync. I love how "on the muscle" she is; it's very much like driving a sports car. I've never had a young horse that was quite this naturally advanced in carrying ability and strength. Very cool.
We'll be back at it tonight!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Gone Fishing
I managed a quick visit to see Megan Monday night and she looks great and seems happy. Margaret's notes from her rides while I've been gone are pretty funny. I particularly loved the illustrations of a hairy lungeing session. That's my girl!
After this week, life returns to normal and we'll get back to chronicling our progress more regularly. Got the word today on when the inspection tour for Irish Draughts will be in the southeast, so the new thing to fret about is how she'll do.
I think she's a lovely example of the breed, but I would since I own her. :-) No doubt I'll spend the next two months staring at her and worrying what the inspectors will think.
After this week, life returns to normal and we'll get back to chronicling our progress more regularly. Got the word today on when the inspection tour for Irish Draughts will be in the southeast, so the new thing to fret about is how she'll do.
I think she's a lovely example of the breed, but I would since I own her. :-) No doubt I'll spend the next two months staring at her and worrying what the inspectors will think.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Do What?
My friend Katherine has a new horse so I went with her tonight to see the new fellow and since I was hanging around she let me ride her other horse, Rocky. K and I have been riding buddies for years and usually trade out our horses on a regular basis just for fun. Lately though, we're at different barns and she hasn't ridden Megan yet and I had not been on her boy either.
Didn't know what I had been missing! Rocky is as comfortable as the day is long. His transitions to the canter are effortless and all of his gaits are just flat comfie. So I'm trotting and cantering him around and Ricky, K's trainer, asks me to try a lead change. Okey doke, don't know what I'm doing, but sure. Once we get them in each direction with no problem, Ricky says to bring him around to an X. That's where the "Do What?" comes in. I haven't jumped in at least 5 years.
Of course it's gotta be part of the plan if I want to event Megan. Two of the three phases of the competition are JUMPING after all. But it all seemed so far off in the future. Don't know what teleporter I thought I was going to find to make me comfortable over fences again when the time comes, but logic isn't always necessary in my world.
Anyway, I trot around to the X and over we go. We ended up doing it several times and progressed to cantering over it and getting the lead change after. It was actually great fun. What a difference to ride a quiet easy horse that doesn't rush to the fence or bolt afterward. I could really enjoy this I think! Ricky offered to set up a vertical and now I wish I had gone for it.
The take aways from today's ride? Getting Megan the right jump training from the start and keeping her confident, quiet and rythmic will help me transition back to jumping with confidence and how quickly can I invite myself back to ride a broke horse over fences. :-)
Didn't know what I had been missing! Rocky is as comfortable as the day is long. His transitions to the canter are effortless and all of his gaits are just flat comfie. So I'm trotting and cantering him around and Ricky, K's trainer, asks me to try a lead change. Okey doke, don't know what I'm doing, but sure. Once we get them in each direction with no problem, Ricky says to bring him around to an X. That's where the "Do What?" comes in. I haven't jumped in at least 5 years.
Of course it's gotta be part of the plan if I want to event Megan. Two of the three phases of the competition are JUMPING after all. But it all seemed so far off in the future. Don't know what teleporter I thought I was going to find to make me comfortable over fences again when the time comes, but logic isn't always necessary in my world.
Anyway, I trot around to the X and over we go. We ended up doing it several times and progressed to cantering over it and getting the lead change after. It was actually great fun. What a difference to ride a quiet easy horse that doesn't rush to the fence or bolt afterward. I could really enjoy this I think! Ricky offered to set up a vertical and now I wish I had gone for it.
The take aways from today's ride? Getting Megan the right jump training from the start and keeping her confident, quiet and rythmic will help me transition back to jumping with confidence and how quickly can I invite myself back to ride a broke horse over fences. :-)
Monday, July 10, 2006
Anyone seen my Manolos?
I knew that July was travel month so was thrilled to get Margaret lined up to ride Miss Megan while I was traveling about. Great plan and the first session was to be last Wednesday. I'm in the train at the airport when my cell phone goes off. Megan has pulled a shoe and is in raging heat to add insult to injury.
Farriers are the bane of my horse owning existence. The one who currently does Megan is terrific but he lives over an hour away and isn't available to replace lost shoes. This is the first time Megan's lost a shoe so it hasn't been an issue until now. The guy who lives locally is notoriously hard to schedule. He'll set a time and day and never show up. It drives me CRAZY, but I don't have any other choice, so I start the dance. Sure, I'll be there tomorrow... that was last Thursday, the shoe actually went on Monday morning. I'll spare you all the intervening dance steps. Suffice it to say that those steel shoes may not look like Manolos, but they are just as precious and I'd almost rather pay MB prices as go through the hassle and frustration of getting that darn thing nailed back on.
So we're back in business and Megan has recovered her long lost decorum that disappeared while her pal (obsession) Diva was in residence. The pterodactyl screams have subsided and the wild eye and flailing about are gone, too. Don't miss any of those.
My back decided to take a hike so rather than ride and work on my position, Margaret tried take 2 with Megan. It went really well. Megan was more forward and energetic. She was also a bit more fussy, but that's easier to deal with going forward. She really did some lovely work although watching I couldn't help but think that I'd give a lot (several pairs of Manolos worth at least) to fast forward 6 months and have her be more established. I really don't miss these baby horse moments and feel no pride of ownership in riding through them. I'd happily put her in full training tomorrow and take over the reins again myself in 6 months, but I really can't afford that option. My shoes are more DSW Wharehouse than designer, so I guess I'll muddle along as a do-it-yourselfer. Thank goodness I can get some help from Margaret and at least I have someone to commiserate with for the next few months.
This too shall pass. Let's just hope for no more lost shoes and a lot more consistency and we'll be through it before we know it.
Farriers are the bane of my horse owning existence. The one who currently does Megan is terrific but he lives over an hour away and isn't available to replace lost shoes. This is the first time Megan's lost a shoe so it hasn't been an issue until now. The guy who lives locally is notoriously hard to schedule. He'll set a time and day and never show up. It drives me CRAZY, but I don't have any other choice, so I start the dance. Sure, I'll be there tomorrow... that was last Thursday, the shoe actually went on Monday morning. I'll spare you all the intervening dance steps. Suffice it to say that those steel shoes may not look like Manolos, but they are just as precious and I'd almost rather pay MB prices as go through the hassle and frustration of getting that darn thing nailed back on.
So we're back in business and Megan has recovered her long lost decorum that disappeared while her pal (obsession) Diva was in residence. The pterodactyl screams have subsided and the wild eye and flailing about are gone, too. Don't miss any of those.
My back decided to take a hike so rather than ride and work on my position, Margaret tried take 2 with Megan. It went really well. Megan was more forward and energetic. She was also a bit more fussy, but that's easier to deal with going forward. She really did some lovely work although watching I couldn't help but think that I'd give a lot (several pairs of Manolos worth at least) to fast forward 6 months and have her be more established. I really don't miss these baby horse moments and feel no pride of ownership in riding through them. I'd happily put her in full training tomorrow and take over the reins again myself in 6 months, but I really can't afford that option. My shoes are more DSW Wharehouse than designer, so I guess I'll muddle along as a do-it-yourselfer. Thank goodness I can get some help from Margaret and at least I have someone to commiserate with for the next few months.
This too shall pass. Let's just hope for no more lost shoes and a lot more consistency and we'll be through it before we know it.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Perfection Would be so Boring
Margaret suggested putting a couple of lunge days into Megan's work week as an opportunity to get her really stepping under herself and forward without having to deal with a rider. Since it was hotter than Hades yesterday it seemed like a good day for only one of us to work.
Megan was already sweaty and cranky and it was only 10 a.m. She and Diva had worked themselves into a lather over a woman with an umbrella walking on the road by their paddock. Silly girls, that just means I'll put an umbrella desensitizing session on the agenda.
Off we went to lunge in the arena with two other horses being ridden. Megan was great. Worked super from behind, was forward and mostly stretching into the bit. She looked great. Change direction, work a little more and ask for a canter transition. All systems look great. Halfway around the canter circle, Vesuvius erupts, sunspots interfered with the transmission, it was time for Wapner, whatever it was it sent nicely cantering, soft and round Megan straight up into the air and flying backwards.
My sunglasses fly off my head and I'm skiing across the arena until I finally couldn't hold onto her and off she goes. Macho and Pele and their riders were terrific in the midst of this and all just stood quietly waiting for the melee to end. Megan charged up to a mirror and stood looking at herself until I retrieved her.
Back to work and no more problems. Lovely. What the heck?... It's been ages since she's used this trick. I don't think she found it particularly satisfying this time, but I certainly wasn't bored.
I'm off to DC for a couple of days, but Margaret is going to keep Megan on the straight and narrow. I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes!
Megan was already sweaty and cranky and it was only 10 a.m. She and Diva had worked themselves into a lather over a woman with an umbrella walking on the road by their paddock. Silly girls, that just means I'll put an umbrella desensitizing session on the agenda.
Off we went to lunge in the arena with two other horses being ridden. Megan was great. Worked super from behind, was forward and mostly stretching into the bit. She looked great. Change direction, work a little more and ask for a canter transition. All systems look great. Halfway around the canter circle, Vesuvius erupts, sunspots interfered with the transmission, it was time for Wapner, whatever it was it sent nicely cantering, soft and round Megan straight up into the air and flying backwards.
My sunglasses fly off my head and I'm skiing across the arena until I finally couldn't hold onto her and off she goes. Macho and Pele and their riders were terrific in the midst of this and all just stood quietly waiting for the melee to end. Megan charged up to a mirror and stood looking at herself until I retrieved her.
Back to work and no more problems. Lovely. What the heck?... It's been ages since she's used this trick. I don't think she found it particularly satisfying this time, but I certainly wasn't bored.
I'm off to DC for a couple of days, but Margaret is going to keep Megan on the straight and narrow. I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Like Mother; Like Daughter
Okay, so I know we're not technically related, but it always makes me giggle to think that sometimes people forget that when it comes to their pets. I had a friend who had a dog that developed epilepsy and the vet explained that sometimes it can be a hereditary condition. The woman sincerely said but neither she nor her husband had epilepsy in their family histories. Credit to the vet who nicely explained that he was referring to the dog's birth parents!
Anyway, mine and Megan's common trait is a lack of fitness. Margaret, who I've been riding with for the last month, came out today and rode Megan in anticipation of keeping her in work while I travel most of this month. Megan was very good and very cooperative, but straightness and balance are clearly just hard and a lot of that has to do with her lack of fitness. She has big strong muscles but no endurance and she just wears out quickly.
This is a new pickle for me as I've always had Thoroughbreds who get fit if you just talk to them about it. Seriously, Lucy could go from hanging out in the pasture to competition fit in 2 or 3 weeks no problem. It's a combination of being bred for endurance and also getting a very early base of fitness in race training.
Miss Megan is just going to need more consistent work to get there. Between Margaret and me tag teaming her maybe we can get her fitter and more able to deliver what we're asking.
Megan is a happy girl. Her friend Diva is back from being bred. Unfortunately the reunion will be brief as she goes to a new home on maternity leave this weekend. But no need for the girls to know that as they are enjoying being reacquainted. This morning they had a mutual grooming session that made me wish I had thought to bring a camera out. When horses groom each other they stand facing opposite directions and gently run their teeth up the crest of the neck and along the spine of the other horse in a massaging way. Horses who are good pals and trust each other do this and I always find it rather charming to watch. Sweet girls.
Anyway, mine and Megan's common trait is a lack of fitness. Margaret, who I've been riding with for the last month, came out today and rode Megan in anticipation of keeping her in work while I travel most of this month. Megan was very good and very cooperative, but straightness and balance are clearly just hard and a lot of that has to do with her lack of fitness. She has big strong muscles but no endurance and she just wears out quickly.
This is a new pickle for me as I've always had Thoroughbreds who get fit if you just talk to them about it. Seriously, Lucy could go from hanging out in the pasture to competition fit in 2 or 3 weeks no problem. It's a combination of being bred for endurance and also getting a very early base of fitness in race training.
Miss Megan is just going to need more consistent work to get there. Between Margaret and me tag teaming her maybe we can get her fitter and more able to deliver what we're asking.
Megan is a happy girl. Her friend Diva is back from being bred. Unfortunately the reunion will be brief as she goes to a new home on maternity leave this weekend. But no need for the girls to know that as they are enjoying being reacquainted. This morning they had a mutual grooming session that made me wish I had thought to bring a camera out. When horses groom each other they stand facing opposite directions and gently run their teeth up the crest of the neck and along the spine of the other horse in a massaging way. Horses who are good pals and trust each other do this and I always find it rather charming to watch. Sweet girls.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Good Times; Good Times
Feeling a little nostalgic today as I think of how far Megan has come. I first saw her when she was even younger than the photo here. She was a wee fiesty thing with a big honkin' butt. Today, she's a big girl and that honkin' butt is even bigger.
Combined with our last ride we've now strung together two rather ho hum outings. Today I asked a little more in terms of length of time and correcting the wigglies. She was great. Very cooperative and attentive.
We came around the arena just as Jill was dumping a muck cart full of water (think big whoosh) and she didn't even acknowledge it. I think I jumped, but Megan soldiered on. Ditto a fat pigeon with faulty depth perception clanging onto the roof of the arena. No worries.
The only interesting challenge of the day was every time we came by E tracking right, she'd dive off the rail to the inside. WTF? Not once, almost every time until I got all Buffy on her a few times and she decided to forego that particular move. You know it's a good day when you start thinking about cantering. I haven't tackled that yet, but it's now on the list.
Stay tuned.
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