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Best Days with Sky! : Rediscovering Sky

82K views 1K replies 58 participants last post by  egrogan 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
January 7th, 2012 was a phenomenal day! !!

I grabbed him from his pasture and he was reluctant to come with so I decided to use more pressure by clucking and then tapping him with the end of the rope and he seemed to respond better. His ears perked forward because he realized that I was in charge, and that for the longest time I forgot I was in charge.. but today I was in charge.

We walked up to the barn and I knew I only had a few hours before I would be picked up by my barn friend. So instead of spending an hour cleaning him, I spent around 15 minutes, making sure his feet were picked and his girth and back were clean.

I noticed his whole demeanor was different. Sky wasn't the happy relaxed horse that I had become to used to seeing.. who you had to convince to do anything instead of cuing and getting a response. His face read different and I asked him why he wasn't happy. His ears were set back as though he was thinking about something with utmost concentration. It was then I decided that we needed to have a ground work day. We hadn't done any groundwork in so long, other than lunging, and there was no one else around so we had the entire barn to ourselves.

So I set upon gathering all of the most wacky and trivial things to desensitize him to. Clippers, blanket, towels, my jacket, whips, rope (oh I should put him in his rope halter today!) So I changed his halter from leather flat to his green rope one. He seemed keen on what I was doing. His ears started to creep forward a little but when I noticed they would fall back again. They weren't pinned.. he was watching me closely.

I piled all of my objects and tools together under one arm and grabbed my saddle and bridle in the other. I only had his lead rope draped across my shoulder, and he followed without being told. He didn't try snatching for grass and he didn't try running away. I threw everything into the arena floor and he didn't move a muscle. It was unlike him.. it was like some tired lazy dead soul settled into my usually lively and loveable horse.

I grabbed his lead rope and lead him around. He was following with very little effort. I stopped and he did the same, paying attention to my body.

I positioned myself next to his barrel, and put a little pressure to ask him to move over. He stood still. I did it again and clucked.. he stood still. I stomped my foot on the ground and he SPRANG to life. His eyes wide and his feet splayed and his tail up. I calmed my body down and asked again. He moved forward. No... wrong answer.. I kept pressure on and clucked again, following him. He was so lost, so confused.. and then.. he took a step over and I released pressure. He took a big sigh and I said "good" and asked again. He moved forward.. wrong answer.. I kept the pressure even and asked again.. he took a step sideways and I said good. I eased up on the pressure but kept it there, and he kept going sideways. I told him good and eased up some more. He braced against my pressure and I clucked and he moved into me. He was testing me. I clucked, keeping the pressure and adding a little more before whacking my leg with the leadrope. He FLEW away in one huge step, my pressure still on his side, and he begun to step sideways. Good! And again... good boy. And again, and again and again. I took all the pressure away and he stopped. Woohoo! I stroked his face. A simple but effective reward for his hard work.

I asked him to walk on, standing by my side. I slowed my paced and asked for a ho.. he kept walking. He wouldn't stop walking.. and then he finally stopped a good meter in front of me. I went back to his shoulder and asked him to back up with steady pressure back on the halter. If horses could roll their eyes... he took a very reluctant step.. a very slow uneven step backwards. It wasn't even a full step.. it was like he picked up his foot and put it down again. I realized my horse had absolutely no respect for pressure, he had gotten so much release.

I filled my body with energy and begun to spin the rope infront of his face. Nothing. I spun it harder and faster and the end bumped his nose. Nothing. I smacked him on the chest and he ran INTO the pressure. NO wrong answer! I turned and faced him, spinning the rope and he marched backwards in very large motivated steps. I made him ho. And he stopped on a dime. I asked him to back again and he marched back without hesitation. Good boy.

I took the rope off, and begun to sack him out with it, letting him sniff it, before rubbing it on his face, neck, barrel, hind. Around his legs, through his legs, on his belly, on his tail, around his ears. Everywhere. He seemed happy with the rope. I folded the rope in half and looped it around his front foot, I added pressure.. he did nothing. I gently leaned on his shoulder and added pressure and he lifted his foot up, happy to oblige. I took the pressure away and he set it back down. I did this on all of his legs and he was a perfect gentleman. Then I took that rope and I spanked the ground with it, facing away from him. He was alarmed, and spooked in place but didn't bolt. I stopped and rubbed on him. I threw my rope in a pile on the ground.. he breathed softly, knowing it wasn't going to hurt him. I patted his neck, his ears pricked forward, one focused on me.

I picked up the rope and he stood still. I then "sent" him away down the rail, he was happy to do it. He had his attention on me as he took very nice big ol steps forward. I moved to the middle of the arena and let him walk freely. I then asked him for a nice trot and he picked it up no problem. He did it.. but he acted as though it was a chore. "Oh look, mom is lunging me again.. woo... trotting... fun... yawn." He stopped in the corner nearest the pasture. No, wrong choice. I spun the leadrope and he did nothing. I clucked and he ignored me. Silly mom.. she can't do a darn thing! Oh yes she can.

I charged at him, spinning the rope and as soon as he moved away from the corner, I changed my energy level to a 1 and let him move out. He kept trotting, confused as to why I did that.. his tail was in the air and his nose pointing to the Sky. His back hollow and his nostrils flaring. I asked him to walk... and he did it without fighting. But he didn't look at me, he was focused on what everyone else was doing, now that they started to pile into the parking lot. No... wrong answer Sky. I clucked and spun the rope and he kept on trotting, he looked at me with interest. I asked him to move into a canter and he picked up the right lead. Good boy! I let him canter freely, he wasn't hollow and he felt good. He stopped at that corner.. and I gave him a few more chances before I charged at him again. Off he took in a dead gallop, huffing and puffing. I moved to the center of the arena, and kept sending him around and rail. I cut infront of him and softly directed him to change reins. He did it perfectly. Good job Sky!

I let him trot, he was so beautiful and he had all eyes and ears on me. He was begging for me to let him walk. Sure.. let's walk. He came walking toward me, so happy that we were done. As if! He stopped short a couple of feet.. and I motioned for him to come closer. He took 3 huge steps before he was respectfully near. I stroked his face and rubbed his ears and under his halter. He was just beginning to sweat. I walked with him (without the rope) to the pile. "Nope.. I'm not going there!" Sky planted his feet. Wrong answer. I sent him off to work at the trot and he stayed on the rail, without cutting corners. After a lap I told him to walk and he came over to me, huffing and regretful.. he knew that was a bad choice. We tried again, but now a boarder was in the indoor and was whipping the ground and making a mess of things. I didn't care.. he worked with whips before. Off I sent him again, and again he came to me begging for the work to end. He followed me up to that scary pile, without any problems. "Oh it's just all of my tack!" he thought and he sniffed it and stood patiently. I sacked him out with my coat, the towel, the crop whip, and he stood happily and securely still, a new found respect for these objects.

I put the rope back on and tied it to make reins. He stood still as I tacked him up with a dressage pad, saddle, and then his bridle. I put the bridle ontop of the halter... let's try something new today!

I got on him, he wouldn't stop walking like a grandpa so I tapped him on. He did nothing, even with loose reins. I kicked him and he jumped forward. Good. I used a softer leg aid and he walked on well for awhile. He slowed down again.. no! I put my leg on, he didn't listen. I tapped him.. nope. I kicked him, OH! OKAY! I'LL WALK ON! as he stretched and drove himself forward into a nice walk. We picked up a trot, my hands holding both pairs of 'reins'. I first rode with the bridle reins, asking for contact and half halts. He was great, except he kept trying to auto-pilot. No! I used more leg and he ignored me. No! I kicked him over and he snapped his focus. OH! Okay I'll get over. I used a softer leg aid and he moved over. Good boy! I rubbed his neck with my inside hand. We did circles and serpentines and figure eights. He was wonderful! I decided to try the other set of reins, and tucked the leather ones under the pad. As soon as I did, and put my leg on.. he was round, he was forward and he was listening. We trotted around the arena in the most amazing sitting trot I've ever done. I remembered to roll my shoulders back, tuck my bum, and not pinch.. "dead weight" I thought and boy did it work. We did leg yields on and off and track. We did circles and figure eights and rode between barrels without spooking or hesitating. He was so happy... so forward, and I felt like a new person.

I stopped him and hopped off... I took off his bridle and saddle.. putting it on the fence. I got back on bareback to cool him off in just a halter. He was hot and sweaty so I spent time cooling him off, but with that forwardness and impulsion. He was so happy, so round.. he wasn't chomping on the bit or pulling back. His nose was down and he stopped on a dime!

I even stopped him in the middle of the arena, straight.. and we stayed standing still for over 10 minutes (after he wasn't breathing hard and cool of course.)

Sky got some hay in his stall before dinner.. he was so happy and he was different.. in a good way.

I feel different too.. I've awakened. I'm a new woman! With a new horse :)

And I can't wait to ride him and canter him tomorrow! My friend is going to lunge us! :)

Happy riding days, everyone! Hope you've all had wonderful days!
 
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#3 ·
Haha I'll be sure to write them down here when I have time! Mom doesn't come with on weekends, my friend picks me up to go ride. But I will get get my cantering filmed on Monday!

Oh yeah he was so responsive.. I think he's just been so mis-ridden (not really mistreated) with a bit that he doesn't understand he needs to give and whatnot. He's coming though.. he was amazing today in his bridle just.. so wonderful in the halter!

Thanks for reading that very long passage!
 
#5 ·
Good point! It seriously felt like I was riding a different horse and I was a completely different person. I think I'm going to keep the halter underneath when I school during the week and only take it off during lessons.. he doesn't even need the training fork anymore but my trainer likes me to use it during lessons.

People still are shocked that I ride without half chaps and spurs and whips. I just can't use them properly.. the half chaps make me unable to feel my legs and what they're doing.. the whip I always end up whacking myself with it or it is really complicated to hold.. and spurs.. well you've seen my feet.. I'd be spurring him constantly without meaning to.

Gotta make do with what I can! But yes, I'm definitely happy with him today.. and myself! More so than the other day! Weeee :lol:
 
#7 ·
Oh that's why you couldn't get her above a walk... my friend's horse (the one I rode today) was trained western pleasure.. but way way way way slower. Like, he would barely walk.. worse than my horse's 'grandpa' walk. I got him to walk really well, which was surprising because my legs were thought to be weak.

I'm glad you are working it through with her! You'll only get better with her! She'll soon realize you aren't going to give in to her antics, and then she'll just become the best horse ever! (Even more so than now :)) No worries, she'll be back to trotting and cantering on your leg alone!

Yes I'm happy I've found a way to get through to him. Definitely agree on the different things with different horses. It's nice to be dialed into him. I just hope that he starts working even better in the bridle than he has been. I just noticed though I didn't have him in his flash noseband (my trainer calls it a drop noseband) and that made a difference. I think I want to keep riding without. It's not necessary for him since he has an eggbutt snaffle anyway.
 
#8 ·
January 8th, 2012 was a very eye-opening day.

I walked up to the pasture and Sky saw me coming. He gave me one eye but then went right back to eating. Oh boy.. I walked up to him with energy, the other horses peeled away from the hay trough and gave me my deserved space. Mine kept munching, turning his rear away from me. I gathered the halter in my left hand and threw the leadrope at him with my right. The end of the leadrope has a strip of leather, and it lightly poked him on his flank. Sky zoomed off, startled as he turned his head and saw me standing there, inviting him him. He sighed and walked over to me, putting his head down so I could halter him. I stroked his head before, and he relaxed his jaw and chewed.

When I was currying him, he was quiet, deep in his own head. I moved to his face and up to his ears. His ears pinned back and he rubbed hard into the curry. Dust came flying off. He was enjoying scrubbing himself against the curry. How itchy he must have been! I got a few treats and did a few carrot stretches with him.. his neck popped twice! And he sprung to life.. his eyes became alive and his ears perked forward. He definitely felt better. I tried to do a belly lift but he was dull to my touch, so I finished brushing him and got him all tacked up.

I took Sky to the outdoor. I attached his side reins and rechecked his girth. I sent him off to be lunged and he did so well! His canter was a dream boat both ways, and his trot was motivated and very energized. He didn't have an active walk, so I had to encourage him with the whip. He was so confused.. he wasn't sure if I was I wanted him to trot or what. Eventually he understood what I wanted and was happy to oblige. I asked for a ho and he stopped without turning in or hesitating. Yay good boy! I approached him and stroked and rubbed his face. He wasn't the least bit sweaty. Progress.

I got on him and he immediately stretched down. His neck may have been sore from the day before and he was happy to have me on his back. I asked for a nice active walk and he was happy to do so, I remembered to sit on my seatbones and keep my toes in.. my elbows bent and my shoulders back. Oh and I was looking up and enjoying the scenery! I loved every minute of it! I did a half halt and took him into a trot.. he didn't respond right away so I brought him back down and asked again.. hmm.. he still wasn't doing it right away.. but I continued on anyway.

I tapped with my leg and he did nothing.. he was just gently jogging along. I clucked and tapped... woah! The energy from behind, I was actually thrown back a little.. He was on his hind but I messed it up by throwing away the contact and losing my seat. I tried again and half halted, but he ignored me. I tried again, harder.. and he listened but it wasn't the same surge as before. I was happy that he listened though so we kept the working trot into some circles and serpentines and figure eights.

The time has come... I grabbed my friend and we put Sky on the lunge. Canter time!!

I had trouble keeping him from the middle of the circle.. so my friend gave me a little bit of instruction and he happily moved to the end of the line, bent, actively and awaiting instruction. We picked up a very fast trot, like we had been practicing. I pet Sky on his neck, and then half halted to bring him to a slow soft trot. I didn't want him rushing into the canter!

I began sitting the trot and it was very very very bouncy. Immediately Sky fell apart and my confidence was dwindling. My friend noticed how I was bouncing, and she said "hey.. relax those knees.. push them down.. stretch them out!" as soon as I did, my seat came alive and I stopped bouncing. Aha! It was like nothing I felt before! I was so happy.. I felt the weight down my legs and Sky came back into his motivated supple frame. I had no idea I was pinching with my knees.. what a difference!
I slid my outside leg back and kept my inside leg on his girth. Can-ter. He picked it up but then he fell, reaaally badly and landed on his nose. I kept my seat. my eyes open wide. Oh sh-- I forgot to half halt. Sky sprung to his feet and my friend and I were worried he had hurt himself. Nope! He shook himself off and we picked up a trot again. With my new-found stretched knees, I found myself securely moseying along with his active big working trot. I put my legs in position, he picked up speed. No! Wait for my cue! I half halted and brought him back balanced. "Hey remember to keep your weight more to the outside!" my friend told me as I was about to ask again. I shifted my weight and brought his shoulders over. Ahhh much better! I waited a few strides then half halted and put my legs in position. He didn't change.. good! Can-ter! He picked it up in the correct lead and I kept all my weight down into my stirrups. I drove with my seat and kept my eyes up, my shoulders back, and smiled. I breathed deeply and in rhythm with Sky's strides. When I was ready to trot, I half halted and brought him back down to a trot. We took a quick walking break before picking it back up to a trot, then canter again. The second time was even better!

I thanked my friend, hopped off and un-tacked Sky. I put his bridle on and hopped on to cool him bareback. He was so happy and kept his frame. Once he was cooled down, I let him graze with my friend's horse while we both cleaned our saddles. It was the first time with my new saddle soap and conditioner.. boy was it dirty! But now it shined and was soft and smooth.

We then talked about my future and Sky.. my friend has even offered to take care of sky (groom, ride, exercise, even keep him in his training lessons!) while I'm gone for 2 years. I'll have to pay her of course, which I have no problem doing.. but my mom is completely against the idea. Maybe I can work something out with her.. it's a good if-all-else-fails option!

Anyway, I can't wait for my lesson tomorrow and more lunge line cantering throughout this week! Maybe I'll canter the other direction or maybe I'll even go off the lungeline!
 
#9 ·
January 9th.. well forget those ideas!

He was so wound up. So naughty.. he kept trying to leave the arena (I left the gate open for the other rider since it was coming down hard with snow. It was so cold.. but I was fine since I had 3 coats on! But he was so naughty..

I lunged him in his side reins and he was very responsive and scary focused. But he didn't want to canter without the whip so I had to growl at him. We ended lunging on a good note, and I made sure to give him lots of rubs.

Then I got on his back... oh my word. He was like a bottle rocket. He was SO responsive and had such power in the back. He was a different horse from yesterday. Must have been the snow. He stayed on the bit the entire lesson, he listened to my leg and took note of my half halts.. he relaxed his jaw and gently chewed on the bit. I gave him a little release and scratched his wither.

His trot... was so fast.
I felt like I was just.. zooming along at 60mph. My seat was having trouble staying in the saddle.. but my eyes stayed up. The lesson went really well, my 2-point improved at w/t and I did really great with the leg yields.

Then came the cantering-on-the-lunge

Oh boy... NOTHING like yesterday.

He was hot, hot and responsive and eager. Very eager. He just wanted to go go go and go some more. To make things a little more complicated, I wasn't ready for this bigger-than-ever surge from the hind when I asked for the canter and I got scared and turned him in. He threw his head up and from then on, he was a pain to keep on the outside of the circle. I had made a mistake.. a very costly one.

He tossed his head and bucked a little and pulled my instructor on the lunge. He was very naughty.. and no amount of seat would stop it. I had to kick him, and I did and he picked up a very slow trot. Okay... I half halted and asked for the canter. Better... I followed with my hips.. he moved to the outside of the circle and threw his head up. NO! I kicked him forward and made him trot again. I asked for the canter, he threw his head up, I pushed him forward with my hips and played with the bit. He softened and I released and kept him going. I did not look very graceful on him. Nothing like yesterday.

Maybe Thursday will turn out better...
 
#10 ·
January 12th... best canters ever!

I got to the barn early and found my horse was very very dirty so I took him into the barn. He started honking and puffing out really deeply.. obviously something was strange. That's when I heard a shuffle and the stall door rattled. I peeked over the door and there was the most ADORABLE Rottweiler puppy with her muzzled mommy. Sky was so scared, but I told him to get over it and it was a cute ol pup. He walked respectfully next to me, he had stopped honking. I cross tied him and he kept peering over his shoulder. Every time he looked, he got more wound up. Finally I got annoyed and started working on yielding his head. I would add even pressure to the side of his face and when he relaxed and gave to the pressure.. my touch would lighten. Until his face was straight ahead. It took a lot of repetition but he finally stopped looking behind his shoulder. At least for the moment.

Then came a group of people.. with a baby and lots of talking and that paired with the crazy puppy antics.. would him right back up. He craned his neck back and I snapped at him. "Sky!" His head zoomed back to the straight position and he puffed. "Oh sh-- I forgot!" was what his expression told me. Poor thing.. but I stroked his neck while they came closer and I let the people touch him. He felt safe knowing that he didn't have to always peek behind him and get worried.. he breathed a huge sigh as I slipped his halter on his neck so I could bridle him.

I got him tacked up, minus his boots because his legs were sooo muddy... I had to towel dry him but there wasn't any hope for getting it off while it was still wet.

I put his side reins on and clicked them on his D-rings. I tied up his reins in the throat-latch and snapped the lunge line on. I grabbed his training fork and my helmet and we went down to the indoor. He was such a goose.. he would not stand still. He just wanted to go go go without me being ready. He wouldn't stand.. he kept chomping and trying to walk away. :/ So I got grumpy and didn't do anything until he stood still.

(Does anyone have tips for this? He just wants to go go...)

We grabbed his whip and I sent him off to the right. The BO came to talk to me about the email I sent him. I felt intimidated but continued to lunge Sky, who did soooooooo well. He picked up the most amazingly soft but together canter on his stiffer side.. he didn't struggle at all. But he was very very forward to his better side and I almost ran into the BO while he talked to me a few times :P

Then the BO left and I gave Sky lots of pats and took off the mumbo jumbo off of him. I untied his stirrups and put on his training fork. I hopped on and he was a dreamboat. Soft but nice trot (not like the runawaytrain trot from Monday) and he was so responsive but he was having trouble keeping on the rail. After we warmed up, he did better.

I kept it short because Sky got a new setting and position on his side reins. He moved from hole 1 at the top of the girth to hole 4 by his elbows. So he was going to be very tired by the time I got on him.

But then we got on the lunge.. my friend was so kind enough to lunge us at the canter. I picked up the sitting trot and it was so good! My seatbones weren't jumping off of the saddle my my bum wasn't all over the place. I put my weight to the outside and then picked up the canter. It was so perfect... he was happy, I wasn't pulling (I think the problem was I was unsure of what to do with my arms but today I kept them by my sides and they naturally moved with my hips...) but he was happy and I stayed with him the whole time.

That was to his left... he did so well (we did it twice for about 36 strides+) and then we did to the right for the FIRST time.. and he was amazing.

I'm not sure if I'm going tomorrow but I'll definitely go again Saturday. Hopefully I'll be lunged again :)

Honestly, I just think my horse prefers being lunged by my friend over my instructor... ;)
 
#11 · (Edited)
January 15th wasn't such a brilliant happy grinning day, but it was productive nonetheless.

I decided today that I wouldn't lunge him, I'd just get on and keep it light and work on some of that "no hands" riding. Well I ended up free lunging him because he wouldn't pay attention. He just walked away from me.. to go to the gate and peer outside. Oh I got very ticked off. Fine... then we're going to free lunge. I sent him off at a walk, then asked for a trot as soon as he was on the rail. Funny thing about Sky.. he sticks to the rail on the ground but not on his back. I made him change reins and pick up the canter. He got his leads right and he was listening really well. When I stopped asking and softened my body, he came in but stopped VERY far away. And after awhile he just walked off again. You little.... no! I sent him off again, slapping my thigh as he lazily walked the other direction. I clucked once and he picked up a trot. I kept him trotting and then asked for the canter. It was much more balanced than before and he wasn't motorcycling the corners. I let him come down to a trot and then asked for a walk. I stopped driving him forward and he came about 5 feet away. I reached out and rubbed his head. He seemed to like it.

Oh boy.

It was like day 1. He walked around steering himself. He completely ignored my leg.. it was terrible. But I kept on with it. We mostly stayed at a walk and I kept my leg pressure on and off until he payed attention and then I'd let him be. When he would get frustrated he would move into a very very very very discombobulated trot. I could feel he wasn't on his forehand but he wasn't put together.. he was just scurrying underneath himself with his head in the air and his eyes wide (I imagine.) Getting him to listen to my body was so hard.. and it's weird because I wasn't even using that much hand.

Well I found grace holding onto the pommel of the saddle during these scurvy times.. just trying to slow him down. He decided to be silly and spook at my coat.. the same one I've been wearing this entire month and the month before.. which made his trot even more bizarre. I started to chip away at myself.. what a terrible rider I was, what a silly horse I had. The lot of it. He just wouldn't listen.. his focus was outside of the arena and the more he ignored me, and more angry I got and the more tense I got. It was a bad combo. So I picked up my reins, halt halted with my body and the rein (he blew off my body half halts) and we went into a very nice but not forward trot. It was maddening.. it was like when I used my hands he decided to put himself together but with no impulsion. Without them.. TONS of impulsion but very much scattered.

Well after a few laps of trotting with the rein, I wound him back down to a walk. I slipped my feet out of the stirrups and set the reins down. I felt so scrunched up on my left side but my left leg was hanging more so than my right one. I felt so weird.. and I was frustrated. But I kept on riding and encouraging Sky's efforts.

He had his neck nice and relaxed, a very nice forward walk.. and by the end of the frustrating 35 minutes of no hand, we were doing circles (10m.. 20m was really hard..) and serpentines and keeping on the rail a lot better than we did at the beginning! And he was listening to very small leg aids but not to my seat so I think I'm doing the seat-weight aids wrong.

Either way I got off, untacked him, and then did a little bit of groundwork. Mainly working on turning on the forehand (he wouldn't turn on the haunches at all, anyone know how to teach that?) and I actually got him to sidepass a few times while facing the rail with a leg yield in the front and a halfpass in the back, haha (he thinks any pressure in his side means forward... :/) We ended on that good note and he got a nice tummy full of grass.

I wasn't smiling though.. I was so tired from riding with my body.. and not even good riding.. it was terrible. But he learned a few things and I did too.

Also I'm worried that my saddle no longer fits him.. :/
 
#12 ·
January 16th, the vet swung by!

It was a very short day. I got there and went to grab him and he decided to turn his butt to me and walk away. So I threw my halter at him, because it was too hard and slick of ground and chase after him. He was so shocked! He trotted away in a circle and stopped and faced me. I made sure his attention was on me. I was about to halter him when he put his head over mine and snatched some hay. I turned around and yanked on his blanket and backed him up.. I made sure the ground wasn't too bad. He backed without a halter on and then I let him stand still. He waited for me to put the halter on, without invading my space. Once I put it on I rubbed his head for a second and we trekked off towards the gait.

I made him stand in his stall.. but he kept backing up. So I made him back up until his tail was against the stall wall. He licked and chewed and dropped his head. Then I moved him away from the wall and stroked his neck after I pulled the blanket off. Then he stood as I put the blanket on his rack and set him up in his aisle so he could get his sheath cleaned.

He got tranquilized and his nose slowly dropped to the floor.. he snapped his head back up when he heard the vet messing around with the hose behind him trying to get the water to warm up. "It's alright..." I stroked his forehead with my palm.. he nuzzled against my hand and his nose lowered again.

After he got cleaned, we talked about his weight and overall health and he got 5 thumbs up. Hooray!! After the effects of the sedation. wore off, he got his dinnertime grain and I put his sheet back on. It was coooold today... below 30 degrees. But paired with his wooly coat and his sheet, he was doing really great.

Tomorrow we have a lesson in the early morning! I'm hoping to warm him up for at least 30 minutes before we get started. I'm a little nervous because of our last riding experience.. but I'm excited to try my best and stick with it.

Only 5 weeks left..
 
#13 ·
January 17th... yahoo!!!!

WE WERE AMAZING! Completely amazing today... we did leg yields and circles and cantering and I got better with my sitting trot.. he kept round and was very supple. The no handed riding and the groundwork/corrections turned him around!

He turned and walked away from me when I went to get him. Instead of chasing him off, I only approached him when he turned his head and looked at me. Pretty soon he kept on looking and I approached him respectfully. He put his head down and I stroked him not saying a word. He took a step towards me but I asked him to move back and he did without hesitating or without worry. I put his halter on. He was very happy.

I decided that today I was going to exaggerate my body language so he could tell if I wanted him to come or to stay. To act or to halt. To move or to stand. And it worked! I puffed up really big and he started walking.. we made our way over to the gate and I grew smaller.. he slowed down then stopped. I opened the gate without a word and grew bigger.. he moved around and kept on moving in a circle around me until I grew smaller.. he stopped and stood quietly.. and square!

I grew taller and we walked into the barn. It was 50 degrees (yay!) but it had been raining so he was wet. I spritzed him with LaserSheen and started to brush his forlock, mane, and tail. He lowered his neck so I could reach without being on my tippy toes. By the time I was done, he was a little less muddy and wet so I began to curry him starting with his face. He seemed so peaceful and happy and ever so relaxed. I finished with his face and began currying his body, but the mud on his legs wouldn't come off as it was still wet. I tried a towel but it didn't seem to help.

After he was all cleaned up I tacked him up but checked the fit of his saddle... it was a little off. So I tried it with this halfpad I have.. and it helped SO much. I finished tacking him, putting on his bell-boots so he had some protection from those hinds, but this time I didn't put his bridle on. I slung it over my shoulder instead, along with the lungeline, and we walked down to the indoor.

No treats... no talking... but he was so keen on noticing my body language.

We got to the indoor and guess what.... he didn't move a muscle. He was happy and ground tied when I asked him to. I think the exaggerated body language helped him a lot as well as having his rope halter on instead of his bridle. I hooked the lungeline on.. he didn't even try to lunge himself.. he was standing still waiting on me. I adjusted the girth and even put his stirrups up and he stood relaxed.

I grew big and he moved off, I wanted to see how he moved with the halfpad on. It was perfect.. the saddle didn't slip or the pad didn't move.. it was all nice and solid. He trotted and even cantered with noting but my body language and some encouragement with a small crop I had. Rather than using a long lunging whip, I smacked the crop against my own leg if he wasn't paying attention and his focus returned to me. He didn't pull.. he didn't fight. He just went through the paces and did really well. We even changed rein without having to stop and re-position everything... and we did it fairly often. He was happy to do it.

We wounded it down to a stop.. when he tried to turn into me (BIG pet peeve of mine and HUGE habit of his..) all I did was point the crop at his nose and he moved away from it and stopped straight... YAY! I went up and gave him lots and lots of rubs on his head and neck. We went over to tack him up just when my instructor showed up. Whoops! We both finished tacking him up and we talked about how we did this past week and about the half pad. Then I went through the paces and he stayed on the rail without me constantly having to bug him with my inside leg... he picked up a trot without throwing his head up and taking 5 years to respond or straying off of the track.. we were doing so well! He was round and happy and responsive.

Then it came time to canter... I wasn't worried. I could even sit his huge ol' trot really well. I asked for a canter and he struck off perfectly... we cantered a long time to the left (his good side) without me pulling back, losing my seat, or him going hollow or being naughty. Then we did to the right (my good side lol) and he did SO well! I knew exactly how to keep him going and he felt so put together underneath me. We ended on a fabulous note and proceeded to cool him down while my friend started her lesson. He was perfect. I dropped my reins and we did some nice cooling out on the rail.. a couple of circles and then once he was cool and breathing softly again, I hopped off and went and put his halter on.

I couldn't have asked for a better ride.. and he was so sweet and respectful the entire time.

:) can't wait for Thursday.. my friend gets on him! She'll be taking care of him while I am gone.
 
#14 ·
So another lessee interest.. meeting them next Friday the 27th.. hopefully it sticks and I can have my friend watch/ride him the rest of the time.

Anyway January 19th.. oh boy!

He was a gem grabbing him from pasture, cleaning him up, tacking him up even. He wasn't a jerk with his bridle (he usually shakes his head or tries getting out of reach) he opened his mouth and he had his head low for me.

I lunged him first.. but I've lost my lunging whip! At first I just used the end of the lungeline but he didn't take my threat to kick-his-hiney-if-he-didn't-listen to heart.. so I shortened the lungeline so he was closer to me and I whacked him on the hiney with the lungeline and then slowly fed him out. From then on, he focused on my cues and didn't give me any more trouble. Until... his new best buddy was being naughty undersaddle and then I asked for Sky to canter on the lunge and he went into a bolting bucking fit. He was just.. letting loose! I laughed but made him keep on cantering.. he's never done that before!

Then I went to put his lungeline down and to hop on. I get on, he stands and everything.. I put my feet in the stirrups, I start warming him up on the rail. My friend's horse is watching outside with a concerned expression, his ears perked up and eyes wide. I notice and then Sky's ears do the same so I speak up "Oh your horse is listening so hard... and look so is Sky" and she says "oh Sky's probably just copying {her horse} it could be an evasion. I slow Sky to a stop in the corner and turn to my friend "Oh... I'm not wearing a helmet...." I laughed, how could I be so silly. JUST then, Sky and her horse EXPLODE into a bolt and start crow hopping and bucking. What the heck~!!! I rode it out and made him stop. He looks to the outside and starts honking.. and when I move him towards it, he's fighting me. Dancing around. I look over there..... deer. Two deer. I start talking to the deer "Oh hello little deer friends! It's alright we're just riding! No need to get spooky on us! It's okay we are nice!" They just stare at me but it seems to have calmed my horse down and the deer slowly walk away. I then walk Sky around a few times before I got off and fetched my helmet.

I get it on and come back into the indoor (the outdoor was unfortunately drenched and soppy.) He was honking and all revved up. By then my friend has cooled down her horse and was out of the indoor. So I went and put the mounting block down, put my foot into the stirrup and he tries walking off! I gave a quick tug of the reins and he stopped. I finished mounting up and then stroked his neck and asked him to walk off.

It was going great.. until we got to that corner. He refused to go over there. Hmmm... how can I make him do it? So I began to walk towards it and circled him before he reacted.. and then eventually circled a bit closer... and then a bit closer, and closer. Until we got to the other side and then carried on straight down the rail. We did the same at a trot, both ways, until he forgot all about spooking at that corner. We continued to walk and trot in many different directions, sitting, posting, serpentines, figure eights, half circles. He was amazing..

So then my friend came back and she lunged me at the canter. I had to ask him way too hard to canter but when he did, I kept him going and found out that I have a better seat at the canter on his stiffer side (going to the right) haha.

Then my friend got on my horse, the one that's going to be taking care of him, and they did wonderfully. No cantering though, I think she was a little nervous about his stride. But she can't wait to work with him!

Hopefully this lease works out so I can get a little bit of help with payments till I get a new job.

Can't wait till this weekend!
 
#15 ·
January 21st, 2012..... WE DID IT!!!!!

It was a snowy quiet day, so the horses were inside and itching to go outside. I grabbed Sky from his stall, cleaned him up really well, and tacked him up. I was very focused and he was very relaxed.

I rode him through his paces. A very nice stretchy hind-driven walk and a very nice forward round trot. We did figures and changed between sitting and posting trot, we changed directions, we did no handed trotting (and rocked!) it was brilliant.

So then I decided, why not? So we picked up the most perfect canter and kept it for a good lap until I started to feel like I was getting unbalanced.. so we trotted, did a nice circle to change direction, and then we picked up the canter the other way. We was a little discombobulated (it was his stiffer way) but it's my great way so I used my hips to keep him going, and he stretched down and I felt him lift his back and reach underneath him. The sound of the canter was music to my ears, and I swear both of us were smiling.

I am one tired cookie!
 
#16 ·
Jan 22nd, we had a good ride but no canter :(

There were too many people, distractions, and mishaps that I didn't feel safe cantering him when we could run into a person or a dog or God knows what.

We had a nice hack though. We worked on relaxing.. which was very hard for him to do. But then once he got it, I encouraged him further by softening the bit whilst driving him forward. It took him so long to focus and warm up.. over 30 minutes. But once he did, his leg yields were amazing and I felt him using his back more. His trot was huge but reaching and I was able to actually sit most of it without bouncing. My posting trot is improving.. I was just really on edge today because I really wanted my horse to be able to relax and focus but we couldn't and he would have really liked to stretch out and canter.

Oh well, maybe Tuesday we'll have more luck. I had gotten spoiled of having the arena to myself these past weeks that having lots of riders there made it trickier.
 
#17 ·
January 24th, I am exhausted but a great day!

I was late to the barn.. oops! But I grabbed him and cleaned him up as quickly as I could. I was rushing but did a nice job.. Sky just stood there blinking at me. I tacked him up and we went to the indoor with my trainer. I went to grab the mounting block and my trainer was holding Sky. I then saw him running her over!!! RUDE! But she sorted him out and made him back up by pressing his jugular vein (she showed me how.) Sky wouldn't dare overstep me but I was appalled that he did that.

So I hopped on and he was a jiggly mess. He was a tick above trotting (which he did do) and he wouldn't listen to me which was frustrating. Well my trainer talked me through it and eventually he stopped. We worked on leg yields at the walk, which was really hard.

Eventually both my horse and I were fried from walking so my trainer let us trot. He was waiting for that cue so bad!! He picked it up and then he leg yielded himself off of the track (typical man, loves to take over) so I leg yielded him back. it was perfect! My trainer cheered! Wooo! It was great. We trotted circles and talked about serpentines (but now that I think about it... we didn't do any...)

Then we worked in 2-point and worked on the sitting trot. I was very noisy up top but I was feeling my seat bones a lot more. Then we picked up the canter to the right first (my best way) and he was great! Then we went to the right and I was all over the place, but we did great!

I'll be practicing on Friday and over this weekend.. hopefully!
 
#18 · (Edited)
Okay not going to lie, January 27th was the best day in my entire riding career.

Why?

Because I worked hard with Sky, got him stretching and round, started to feel my seat bones moving, kept my stirrups at my toe instead of them getting shoved back or coming out, and we cantered perfectly all on our own.

We had a lessee come out to see if she'd like to lease Sky. They did great, so she's going to talk it over with her folks (fingers crossed!) But then I hopped on and begun to work on getting him to pick those feet up, use his hind end, have impulsion, and stretch down into the bit.

I have to admit, I felt embarrassed at my skill level. I was surrounded by girls that had been riding for over 20 years, and here's me the advanced beginner. And Sky was taking advantage of my weak legs.. so I definitely got to the "demand" stage of ask, tell, demand. I was careful not to pull on his face when he surged forward. It wasn't perfect but he then started listening better.

He did as I asked and he did a wonderful job!

Well I am too lazy to retype it, so here is a blurb from another thread of mine about today:

Put the training fork away FOR GOOD!!! and was going to loosen my stirrups a hole. But when I went to loosen them, I noticed that the stirrup leathers aren't even at all... one was on hole 9, one on hole 7. So now they're both on 6, and even, and it felt so good.... soooo good guys!

That aside, my first investment is going to be new stirrup leathers.

I kept my stirrups at the posting trot, sitting trot (TONS better today!) and cantered with them long and he was an absolute saint.

For the sitting trot, I tipped my pelvis a little forwards and what do you know, I DO have seatbones under all that fluff :P And I felt them go back and fourth one then two. I kept my upper body quieter and my lower half was rocking and rolling. So much better. I hope to get some video of that!

All while round and stretching, though he was being a lazy bum so I did have to get to the ask tell demand stage a lot. But once he was nice and warmed up, we did leg yields. I made sure my seat bones were even weight and put my inside leg behind the girth, outside leg on the girth.. I looked to the direction I was going and softly (on a longer rein but still round) asked him to leg yield. At first he tried to move his shoulders. I corrected him and we went straight. Tried again.

Guess what?!

HE DID THREE PERFECT STEPS TO THE RAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wooo! So we picked up the trot as a nice break, I practiced stretching my legs down, without bracing on the stirrups.. it was awesome. I didn't lose my stirrups, they didn't shove back.

Today was hard, but perfect.

Going again tomorrow (my best friend is coming to visit!!! :), Sunday, and then lesson on Wednesday! :)

 
#19 ·
Jan 28 and Jan 29 my best friend came to visit!

Though Sky choose to be an absolute squirrel rocket and I was trying to keep up with him, he had new horses in his field, I had people in the arena, we had jumping stands up on the corners.

We tried walking... it went well. Except he kept tripping because no matter how much leg I used, he wasn't improving. So I had to kick him and then it wasn't even a very forward reaction. He was relaxed but he wasn't stretching or using his back.

So then I decided to get him trotting, and he did well but he wouldn't give. I had to half halt so hard to get a response. After awhile he began to respond to the more subtle cues and came around. We tried to canter, and we did okay but it was very all over the place, he picked up the wrong lead, but wasn't responding to my seat to get back to a trot.. and when he did he would hollow before I even had a chance to try and sit the transition.

It was a mess.. we ended on a good note though, and then I let my friend cool him off.

The next day went a little better. We got to the barn late, so we tag team cleaned Sky. He was filthy!! But we cleaned him up, and then I went about warming him up. I had the arena to myself and he was really wound up so I spent a good 35 minutes JUST warming him up at the w/t large and then did a few figures and went over a few ground poles. He finally was settling down, and I was sitting his trot really well. So I ask for the canter.... no response except he speeds up like NO other. So then I try to get him back to a slow trot. Nope, he decides to ignore my half halt and tries to canter.

NO.

I play with the rein and sink deep into the saddle resisting with my seat a little and being careful not to lean on the reins. I asked again once he was giving me a nice trot. ZOOOOOOOOOM, biggest canter transition EVER. I flew back but my hips stayed with him, it wasn't pretty at all. Just then, another horse comes into the arena. He tries going straight for them, I had to turn (at the canter) really sharp to prevent it and he was going so fast.

I felt like I was out of control, being taken advantage of for being a weak (in terms of strength of cues) rider. He fell into an insane trot, and I asked for that canter straight away with my hips. He listened and then remembering what I was told, let my arms follow the motion.

Huge... mistake. He was a hair below a full fledged gallop, my friend watching on the ground and the girl were staring mouths wide open (so they told me, I was just staring ahead at the road.)

But on a good note, he was using his hind end xD and his back.. he was nicely rounded and forward. Supple, not tipping over.

It was just freaking fast as ever... at one point I couldn't sit it without making it even faster, so I went into 2 point. I told him "trooooooooot.....troooooooooooooooot" and he started to slow down. I stayed in two point, and he went down to a trot and I sat once it became steady and balanced.. not... tornado-like.

I taught myself a bad habit now, I should have stayed in the saddle and worked it out, but I was so nervous of hitting my friend, the horse, the wall, flying off..

He was just... wow.

Well, I was determined to get a good canter. So I put him to work. I went to a walk, and we did leg yields. Absolute perfection! We did circles and serpentines and then picked up the trot. He hollowed and threw his head. NO YOU ARE NOT DOING THIS! I urged his forward and started to comb the reins. "Ahhhhhhhhhh" his expression and demeanor changed.. he stretched down and kept contact. I asked for a trot, immediate response. It was beautiful, he stayed round and supple. We did some serpentines, and circles, then I asked for a canter, it was wonderful and I asked for a trot before it went south. He didn't listen right away but then he did (and my *** came out of the saddle to post!!! GRRR bad habit!)

After that he was tired and sweating so we took all of his tack off and I took my friend, popped her on him, and we went for a bareback halter and lead trail ride. It was his first one, and he did great.

Halfway my friend wanted me to get on, and I was nervous.. especially since all I got was a little thin piece of mane to hold onto. We used a fence (I was too heavy for her, at 125 lbs lol) and he stood so still as I got on. I thought he'd spook but he was great :)

Got on, and omg... it was nerve racking. But Sky kept slow and he was enjoying himself. I felt each of his muscles working, and then I felt mine start to unwind and loosen. By the end of it, we were going up and down hills without tension, turning on the haunches without losing my seat, and leaning forward to give him a treat without clenching or being scared.

My friend wanted to make me trot, but I was happy and Sky was happy. It'd been a tiring day so we ended it there after a bellyful of grass. Next week though, it's on!
 
#20 ·
February 1st, 2012. We were rocking it!

I decided to talk with my trainer about the training fork. She still thinks he needs to be in it just to keep his head down at the canter.

Well I lunged him in his side reins today, which I haven't done in over 2 weeks. He was very attentive and listening, he didn't try to walk off or spook/shy away. He waited for instruction. Walking was great, he was stretching down into the reins, trotting was lovely, and even the canter transition was smooth and soft. Though in his iffy direction he bucked and leaned on the side reins for the first bit. I just sent him forward and softened the bit in his mouth, when he stopped, I gave a little.

I got on and we practiced being on the bit, round, stretching down, forward forward, forward. He was wonderful. He gave me trouble with the trot--> canter transition and he tried to stop a lot but I kept my legs stretched down, my hips sent him into a canter and my arms were giving and softening the bit.

And this was all without the fork.

Much nicer today than previously. He was soft and didn't give me any sort of trouble.

:) Now I'm tired but happy! Lesson on Friday.
 
#21 ·
February 3rd.... yikes!

Today we rode and Sky exhibited to my trainer, whom I was pleading with and guaranteeing and talking with about taking off the training fork, that we still need it on. Naughty boy!

We rode in the outdoor, which I always have a lesson inside so it was different. The arena was pretty good except for one entire side was soppy and a little pool by the gate. I was nervous about riding in the slop and slipping but the indoor was so dusty it wouldn't be safe.

So we warm up, he's doing okay. We start the lesson and she's asking me to ride into the corners.. even the soppy ones. So I try.... Sky resists so much. He pops his shoulders out, he barrels and plows my legs and just bullies his way into the nicer stuff.

URGH!

I try again.. he's getting to be a pig. I'm doing everything I need to be doing. I'm putting my weight where it needs to be, using my leg properly (not my heel!) I'm helping with my hands, supporting him on the outside rein, driving with the inside leg. Nothing.. he just was being an absolute pig.

So I got flustered and I kicked the living daylights out of him on my inside leg until he went over there. My seat was compromised but he got over there. And then I stopped and just continued riding as usual. From then on, he wasn't a pig.

Yeah.. one can dream.
Our trotting and leg yields were okay. He kept popping his shoulder out and overbending (HIM not me!) so I had to keep putting him straight and wouldn't let him drift (which I noticed that he does drift..) without the cue first. Then we started having beautiful leg yields with a nice supple and straight body. I was so sore though.

Then it came time to canter... what a monkey. It was nice going his stiff direction (to the right) because it's my better direction. Now going to the left was a different story.... HUGE surge from a soft cue... head went up, butt tucked under.. it was like a very nasty sliding stop mixed with a bunny hop canter. Soooo naughty!!!!!!! So I brought him back to a trot and asked again, he picked it up but it was so fast... and he was ignoring my half halts and cues to slow down. So I just had to ride it. I did okay, I kept looking down which was a disaster.. but when I looked up and sat up and RODE, it was good. Just I was so scared of him slipping and me flying out of the saddle.

Needless to say, I am sore, I had a huge horse wedgie, and I couldn't stop nodding off in the car. Thank the bees I wasn't driving.

Hopefully tomorrow goes better.. I have a LOT of homework.

1. work on poll bending l and r at a halt
2. leg yields
3. bending and riding into the corners
4. keeping my outside elbow close to my body and supporting rather than dancing and encouraging naughty behavior.
5. LOOK UP
 
#22 ·
February 4th and 5th

So Saturday was a mess.. so I'll start with that first. My bestie came to visit again (woo!) and we got Sky ready. It was very very cold out and my bestie was froooozen. I was doing great but worried about her keeping warm so I offered to let her ride first after we lunged him in the side reins. He was wonderful.. his canter transition was perfect on the ground and we was ready to go.

She climbed on, walked him, trotted him, and then it came down to the canter.

Oh... boy. He was fine.. until she started to lose her stirrups. She panicked because the last time she lost a stirrup, she got caught and was dragged or something. So she leaned down and tried to put it back in (terrible idea) at the canter. Well her leg came up and tickled Sky at his hip area. His ears went so flat trying to pinpoint what the heck was going on... he flung his nose up and went out of control bolting towards the arena gate.

Yikes.... there was nothing I could do. She flew off as he turned sharply and luckily she tuck and rolled so she didn't hit the gate or land wrong. I caught Sky within seconds but I was so worried about her!!

Luckily the new barn manager came to check up on us (how awesome is that!) and then she supervised as I got back on him and trotted him around. Then she watched as we cantered. At first he was being a pig, but then he knocked it off and was a lot better. We started with his good side (his naughty naughty side) and then did his stiffer side (my good side) and ended on a fabulous note.

Now today, the 5th, I had a lessee coming to meet me at 9am. I got up at 7am, got ready and left by 7:50am, got there at 8:30 and just as I was going to catch him, she walks up. So we both get him ready, she asks me to show her a demonstration of his abilities and whatnot. We warm up, work on all of the stuff that I had to work on for homework. He would NOT go on the rail. It made me so mad..... but eventually I got him close enough. Then we went for a canter and he threw his head so I pushed him forward and halt halted hard on the reins so he wouldn't take that as an invitation to speed off. He settled down and then we were fine. She got on and walk trotted him and she was in awe of his movement and how sweet he was. She decided to lease right there!

After she rode my friend didn't want to cool him down bareback since we were both so close to falling asleep. Just then Sky pooped so I picked it up with one of those cow bag things and picked some up because I'm having it analyzed. So we drove to the vet and I payed my bill and all is great!

We ride again this Tuesday
 
#23 ·
February 7th.... oh I am angry.

My horse was such a jack *** today. I can't even begin to describe how I am feeling or how I felt.

This part was my fault.. as I was tacking him up and had his boots on and his pads and his saddle.. I went to put his bridle on, and I shoved my thumb too deep into his mouth (I wasn't paying attention) and... crunch and hold...

My thumb was crushed by 3 tons of pressure, at least... oh it hurt. He didn't know it was my thumb.. he thought it was the bit. But man! My left thumb is now crushed, the fingernail is ripped/disconnected at the cuticle.. it's ugly as sin and painful.

So that was the first sign of negligence on my part.

Got him tacked up, ready to lunge. He tried to walk all over me so I reprimanded him and put him in his place. Made him w/t/c both directions and he did well.

Got on and worked on asking him to use his back with a nice slack rein. He moved into frame nicely as I felt his back lift up. We walked around the arena working on leg yields (they are awesome now :)) and circles and staying on the rail, and serpentines and all sorts at the walk. He was doing great. Time to trot... he fell apart. We went to the walk again, I got him all sorted again and asked for the trot.. nope... back to walking.. asked for the trot and softened as I did. There we go.. he didn't drop his back that time. We did figures, leg yields (they were horrible....)

Let me just tell you... at the beginning I was doing things wrong (like my leg at the trot was confusing) and once I sorted that out, he was listening to my leg really well and stayed nice and supple.

But that little jackass decides to give me problems when we went near the gate to the indoor arena (they are connected) and there was another horse in there. We spent literally 10 minutes trying to keep him from slamming or riding himself into the gate. He was doing it to be an ***.. and once my instructor told me how to prevent it, he stopped really quickly.

Then came time for the canter. FML FML FML FML.

He completely blew my cues.. without any pulling or anything on MY end, he hollowed his back, scooted his butt underneath him, threw up his head and bolted like he was being chased by 100 tigers. That jackass.

He wasn't scared, he wasn't in pain, he was doing it as an evasion. It started as just throwing his head up but kept nice and soft cantering. But now it's just out of control. He bolted sideways at the canter.. forward, sideways.. I stayed with him until I wanted him to trot again. I sat down deep.. no answer. "Trot" I told him sternly. Ignored me again...

He yanked the reins (which my hands were holding onto) and unseated me. I knew I was going down. I told him sternly again, "trot!" "Trot damnit!!!! TROT TROT TROT" I grabbed ahold of his neck with all of the strength I could muster, still telling him to trot. He started galloping as I got my feet out of the stirrups. Still holding onto his neck, I swung so I was on the outside side of him. I TOLD YOU TO TROT!!!!! I dug my heels into the ground and pulled back on his bit. He stopped and I continued to reprimand him "YOU DO NOT EVER DO THAT TO ME, EVER!" I was on my feet and made him soften his bit NOW and backed him up NOW. "NO" he knew he was in trouble.. and I was so angry.

Everyone around was laughing their butts off.. I had done this really unique emergency dismount and refused to fall off and put him in his place once he did stop. They made sure I was okay, that's when I burst into tears. The pain from my thumb and I managed to hurt the right side of my chest hurt. I think I pulled a muscle and probably Sky's neck is sore from 125lbs of kickass hanging on him.

Anyhow, she (my trainer) got on him, worked through his canter. I got back on, we did trot work, with beautiful leg yields (we figured out the problem and then everything became crystal clear to him) and then got on the lungeline to canter twice each way. I was crying the entire time and he was anxious to be done. We did canter twice each way.. to the right was troublesome and he had a perfect canter transition to the left.

I am tired, and might have another lesson this Thursday since the girl that I usually ride with didn't have time to do it today. Hopefully it happens.. he is forbidden to canter OFF of the lungeline.

We have a sneaking suspicion this dangerous new game of his came from all those other people riding him because he was fine as rain before. "/ Downside to leasing out my horse...
 
#25 ·
Yeah I should have someone follow me around with a camera. I just know that falling off is what he wants because that means no work for him, so I didn't give it to him, I did everything I could to stay on. I made it harder for him, then corrected him at the end. Got back on and he was perfect.

Gotta have guts if you're working with a greenie! :P
 
#26 ·
Sky, hold in there! I've done similar things. I call it an "Emergency Dismount". My paint acts like that in a canter too, until I lost it on her and got a little mean, then got all my frustration out by yelling at her and then crying. :P But she lopes good 70% of the time now!
 
#28 ·
Feb 11th and 12th, 2012.. both amazing days.

I was so nervous on the 11th.. it was the first time riding him after the little incident. My thumb was doing better, muscles weren't pulled. But I was scared.. I kept imagining everything going wrong. (Before I got to the barn) because as soon as I got there, peace. It was quiet and sunny and it was lovely.. all my fears melted.

I went to go grab him and he waited patiently for me. I haltered him and went to the gate, opened it up, lead him through and put him on the cross ties. I took his blanket off and brushed him down, every spot of him was nice and clean. My cousins came by and they helped brush him (both men!!) and he did fabulous. Got him all tacked up with his side reins and lunge line.

We all went down to the arena and I lunged him in his side reins, w t c a few times. He did really well and this went on for about 30 minutes.

After that, I hopped on and we began to walk forward and I was encouraging him to stretch.. thinking about my elbows being bent but not rigid, thinking about my legs hanging down with my toes pointing forward and my heel away from his side. We moved into a trot and I took up a little more rein. We trotted and he stretched down into the bridle, did leg yields wonderfully and circles like he'd been doing it his entire life. We trotted over a ground pole and he didn't miss a beat.

It was wonderful.. :)

Today was similar, he was so curious when I got him from pasture. Today my lessee rode in the morning and I noticed my saddle and bridle were clean!! How nice of her! But Sky was confused as to why he was being gotten again. Well tough toodles! Only 6 days left so I get to spend as much time with you as possible! :P

I got him all tacked up and brought him down to the indoor. I got on and then we spent a long while stretching and warming up. We felt so good together, and I asked for a trot and he obliged. A lady whom I ran into (she's new) popped up from the gate and asked me (well hollered) across the arena if I could help her with a question. It startled Sky and she was carrying a cute little white Maltese dog so he tried to spook away. Nope. I turned him sharply with my leg and made him halt.

I helped her with her question and we rode off again. We did a lot of trot work and leg yields, trotting over poles and circles.. lots of direction changes and then I worked in two point.

I then got off and lunged him at the canter. He looked so lovely.. he even cantered freely on his own, correct lead, good tempo, soft upfront and using his hind.. he was so happy.

We only worked for about 35 minutes.. it was in the low 30s and he had already been out. Gave him some hay and then he had dinner :)

I love my horse.

Last.. Final... Lesson on Tuesday!
 
#30 ·
Thank you :)

I really remember the weirdest stuff.. like all of the dog breeds, what someone has said, random facts. But I'm a very hands on girl.. I can recall feelings and dreams and occurrences from years ago like they just happened.

But I can't remember the "important" stuff like where I left my glasses, haha!
 
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