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Navigator's Progress

47K views 794 replies 16 participants last post by  NavigatorsMom 
#1 ·
I thought keeping a journal of what I work on with Nav would be a good way to track our progress and keep in mind that even if we have bad rides, we also have a lot of good going for us. So here we go!

Started our work today by lunging in sidereins. This is something I used to do more frequently last fall/winter, but stopped in the summer. I felt it really helped Navigator figure out how to carry himself so decided to start it up again as a supplement to our riding.

He did very well, reaching forward and pushing from behind. We didn't do too much because I didn't want to tire him out when I was going to ride. During the ride he was very attentive (aside from a small buck when he got excited about seeing the barn cat - he loves cats, silly horse!) and pretty soft, though he did get heavy at times. The main thing I'm working on with him is getting him to carry more weight on his hind end and not lean and pull into the bit.

We did some trot poles and he finally figured out how to place his feet, which was a nice small accomplishment. Afterward I had two very clear moments of trot during which he was definitely lifting his back and had his weight shifted back, and so we ended on that note. I was so happy with him though! It's always hard since we don't take lessons or have a trainer, so I have to do a lot of self-teaching and self-evaluation (when I can get someone to come out and record me). Things are a little slow going but at least they are going forward!

I think for next ride I will again do a bit with the sidereins, and then work on our turns on the haunches to shift his weight back.

Horse Liver Working animal Terrestrial animal Snout
 
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#3 ·
Had an ok ride yesterday.

Once again, started off by lunging a little with the sidereins. Before attaching them I had him go around a couple times just to stretch out. He was so goofy, trying to look around at other things to the outside of our circle! It was a little frustrating to get him to focus on me. It's not like he doesn't listen. He responds very well to vocal cues and I rarely have to use the whip or line to get his attention, but I don't want him looking to the outside. It's counterproductive. Anyway, he settled some when I attached the sidereins and really moved for me. But still wanted to look to the outside at any little thing. :/

After that I got on for a short ride, since I had worked him pretty hard. Took him through some walk-trot-walk-halt-etc. transitions and he was decent. I'm really trying to focus on keeping my elbows at my sides and really use my core. I've noticed that he responds well to that, but I just have to remember to do it. We also did the trot poles again, I think I need to set out more than three though. He's getting good at it, and I'm thinking about spacing them a little more apart to see if I can get him to lengthen his stride a bit.

Ended by doing some turn on the haunches work, which is difficult for him. Unless I position my legs and ask perfectly it usually doesn't work well. He tries to evade by doing turns on the forehand (which are super easy for him) or backing up or sidestepping. But when I cue him perfectly he responds pretty well. I am hoping to get him to a point when all it takes is a small adjustment and he'll do it.

Gave him the day off today since I figure he's pretty sore after the hard work we've been doing with sidereins and undersaddle, but hopefully I'll be able to go out tomorrow!
 
#4 ·
Today we kind of had an easy day. There was a lot of excitement with a loose pony when I was getting Nav ready, and since there were only two of us at the barn we had to go after him. He ran down the nearby bike path and then out into the road! He ended up in some of the woods near the road which is where I caught him. What an ordeal.

Anyway, after all of that I decided to take it easy with Nav. We took the long trail up to the arena, and then just did some trot-walk transitions and a little bit with turn on the haunches before doing a hilly trail behind the barn to work his back end and kind of take it easy. He did really well on the transitions! I really focused on keeping my elbows at my side and engaging core during the downward transitions and the difference was huge! I need to make sure to always pay attention to that until it's habit for me. Turns on the haunches not as great, I believe he's just being a little stubborn and lazy about it, as soon as I reinforced my leg with the whip he turned very smoothly. Pretty easy and good ride overall though. :)
 
#5 ·
Well, today was a yucky, cold and cloudy day, so no riding for Nav and I. It's been two days by now, and it's looking like tomorrow will be similar. :( I really hate dreary winter weather.

Classes start up again for me on Tuesday, but thankfully my schedule is very flexible and open, so I should be able to do day/afternoon rides on all days except Tuesday and any times I have evening grad assistant duties.

And just because, here's the most recent picture I have of my cutie boy, from a couple days ago when the weather was nicer :)

 
#6 ·
After a long week of awful, cold weather I finally got out to see and ride Nav yesterday!I was worried that he would be fresh after such a long break, and with the weather being so nice for a change, but he was very well behaved! We didn't do a long ride, I was not feeling 100%, but he did a pretty good job after warming up.

Nav is very easily distracted and there were a lot of other people at the barn working today so it was a good opportunity to work on getting him to focus on me. We did a lot of walk-trot-halt-trot-etc transitions to keep him thinking and not looking all around. He eventually did settle down and listen to me, and we had quite a few good moments of self carriage. He still isn't super strong and I know it will take a long time before he is able to do it for longer amounts of time, but I am so happy with the progress he is making. We ended our short ride with some turn on the haunches work - it is getting easier! - and a little trail ride. Being able to take him on a trail and trot him without him deciding to bear down on the bit and run is absolutely amazing. He is a completely different horse from a year ago, much lighter and just all around nicer to ride. :)

The rest of this week should be decent weather (40s and some 50s!) so I will hopefully be doing some more riding when my schedule allows for it.
 
#7 ·
Well, school got into full swing and I haven't had time to write here. Have had some time to ride though! :)

I've been working Nav about two times a week only, unfortunately, though I made it out four times this past week. I just have to really plan and make time to do it. We've still been doing a lot of trot work, poles, and transitions. I've also been lunging every now and then with the side reins.

Today was excellent though! First of all, weather was in the 60s, which is amazing for January. I started off by lunging Nav, with side reins, and we have finally worked up to the point of having a decent contact with them. He worked really well and was lifting and really reaching with his back legs. Only did about 20 minutes of lunging total, and then got on for a short ride. I could actually feel a difference in his movement immediately! He was definitely lifting his back, and was pretty good about giving to the reins and accepting the bit. And in an open field too! It was so great! I just trotted him around and did a little hill work but kept it pretty easy since I had already lunged.

Very happy with how things are going :)
 
#8 ·
Unfortunately it got cold here again, so I haven't ridden since my last post. It was sunny and a bit warmer (like 40) here today, so I went out and lunged Nav. Don't want to let him go too long without work.

Decent lunging session, started without side reins and really got him moving forward. A little too much forward though because when I tried to bring him down from trot to walk he just kept trotting! Very frustrating since he's normally great with voice cues.

I used my downward transition voice, did some gentle give and take on the line and even pulled the line in until he was doing a small circle around me. That's what it took for him to finally walk, and when I let him go out again he almost immediately wanted to trot again! I'm not really sure how I can go about fixing this.

Anyway, I put side reins on after a bit, and he moved pretty well. There was still some slack in the reins, but he's not going behind the vertical so I think I could put them up a hole next time and give him some more contact. Not sure they're doing much good when they're slack.

He's a frustrating horse to ride. When he's good, he's really really good! But when he has an off day he is just totally frustrating. He's smart, kind of pony-like, and knows what to do to get out of work.

 
#9 ·
Rode yesterday, lunged only the day before.

He really wanted to lean down into the bit for our transitions from trot to walk. I tried keeping my leg on and doing half halts and giving with my inside rein but he just kept reaching. It was very frustrating. He never really settled out of it, though it helped when I did a ton of walk halt transitions. He seemed to get it, all I had to do was sit deep, close my thighs and barely take up the outside rein and he would halt. I noticed he does it better to the left (when my right hand is outside). I wonder if this is because I am crooked? I had a harder time cuing him properly going directionally right.

Anyway, his transitions got better, but when I brought him back to trot walk it wasn't as good. Better than before so I suppose I should think of that as a positive.

I did get some very nice walk-canter transitions though! This is something he has never been great at - probably in part due to is draftiness and heaviness on the forehand - but he did so well! It felt like he just stepped into it, instead of having any kind of run or rush around like he used to. Now, there were a couple of times when he did just try to run into a trot and then canter but I was able to bring him back down right away and get it better the second time. And when he would go into it it would be such a nice uphill round canter! I'll have to see if I can get someone to record next time we work on it, because I would love to see if he looks as good as he feels, or if he's faking it. :P

He was overall super spooky during the ride though and I could have done without that. I think he was looking for things to be afraid of! But I tried to just force him through it and we ended up with some good results in the arena. Even on our ride back to his field though he kept looking around. I guess it was just because it was pretty windy.

Today was very cold and gusty, so no riding this time. The week is supposed to warm up though so I should be able to get more rides in soon. :)
 
#10 ·
Well today felt like 100 steps backward. :(

Nav was just not listening to me. The whole way up to the barn he had his head high up and was just looking for things to be spooky about. Then once we got to the arena he settled a little bit, but refused to bend.

We didn't get a single walk to canter transition and the major extent of our cantering involved Nav bearing down as much as he could. I kept my elbows to my sides but felt awful putting such pressure on his mouth.

At the end I got an ok canter out both directions with an ok downward transition, but I am just not happy about how today went. :( We worked for an hour and it felt like it was completely pointless.

Can't ride tomorrow because it's my long day. Maybe I'll get another chance on Wednesday.
 
#12 ·
Unfortunately no. I did get out to lunge him though. Just a short one, didn't have much time because of all kinds of grad work. :P

Nav was pretty good. He got going nicely forward, and is figuring out how to carry himself at least a bit. I know it will just take time for him to build up the correct muscles. I think sidereins are helping, though I don't want to lunge him with them every time I go out. Not sure if that would be beneficial or not.

Still a bit frustrated. I didn't ride today either, but no classes tomorrow so I should get an opportunity.
 
#13 ·
Happy to say that today was a better ride!

The main thing I'm realizing lately is that I really need to find an instructor who will travel out here to do lessons with me. I have been trying but so far have no luck. If not that, I need to at least start getting regular videos of myself riding to look back on for self critique, and post on places like here to get critique from better riders.

Anyway, after our warm up/walk to the arena, I tried something different. Instead of starting with some trot, I brought him to a canter right away, and let him go around the ring a couple of times, with some circles thrown in, both directions on a fairly loose rein, just to get him in a forward mindset. I think it made a difference! Once we went to trot he was moving much more forward than he normally starts out, and seemed to be lifting his back and rounding up some of the time.

We then did some trot-canter and trot-halt transitions, which went mostly well. He still pulls down, mostly going to the right, when my left side is outside. I think that's my weaker side and it's really hard for me to get a good halt going that direction. Going to the left, all it takes is for me to sit, close my thighs and close on the reins and he will halt with very little pulling down into the bit. Going to the right I can't get him to stop and there's weird bending, and it honestly is just harder for me to close my hand and move my arm properly. It's kind of hard to explain.

I also took him over some trot poles, to help get him lifting, and we spaced them out a little more today too to get him to reach more. Seemed to work pretty well. Ended with some shoulder-ins and turns on the haunches, which he is getting very good at!

I think I need to get a video and post it here for critique. Not a super edited version, something that really shows what we deal with so that I can get the most accurate critique. Hopefully I can get someone out there with me this weekend while the weather is nice!

In the meantime, here's a short clip from lunging the other day. I had music playing out of my phone so that's why that is there. :) I've been working him with sidereins a couple of times a week, and I do think it's helping. And I know it's not perfect, but I'm happy to see that he's got slack in the reins and is not bearing down at the canter. Hopefully we'll be able to get that undersaddle more regularly soon!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOdNEASfu4Y
 
#14 ·
Today was a lot of fun.

Didn't really do much at all in the way of working, but I did get to go on a trail ride with another person! I am so often alone at the barn that this was a pleasant change. :) Nav of course acted like he had never been around another horse before... He was so excited about having a buddy that I had a hard time keeping him focused while we warmed up in the arena. Silly horse! We had a couple of good moments before our ride, but nothing special.

I still think I need to get a video. I cannot tell if he's round or hollow. I feel like he's going fairly round and forward with impulsion some of the time, but I also feel like he hollows or gets on the forehand quite a lot as well. Didn't help that today I took my a/p saddle out because I didn't want to carry my dressage saddle (since it's a hair bigger/heavier and I was feeling lazy), which doesn't actually fit me as well so I felt like I didn't know how to ride a horse.

Hoping to go out again and just do a short bit of arena work, and hopefully have the boyfriend out to get some video for me!
 
#15 ·
Last two rides have been pretty good, but nothing spectacular. I feel like we're stuck in a spot and aren't progressing. Or if we are we're progressing very slowly.

He did some good stretching and lifting at trot, only for a few strides at a time still, but it's something. We've also continued the canter first during warm up to get him forward and that seems to be helping. Yesterday's ride he saw the farm dog (who he has seen basically every time we ride...) and decided to freak out and spook over him. Even though the dog was not doing anything or even near us. I made him work hard after that, because I think he was being bad, and we did a ton of change of directions at trot, circles, transitions. He got to work and settled into a good working trot after that.

I wish I had someone to take lessons from. I feel like that would help us a lot.
 
#16 ·
Haven't been able to ride much at all lately because I've been trapped with a cold. I did go out and lunge Navigator yesterday though and he did amazingly well!

He really started working into the side reins and reaching under and lifting his back. And his canter is getting better too. Transitions are helping it seems :) when we were done with side reins I had him go around a couple more times each way and he stretched down so well!! At trot and canter, it was some of the most beautiful movement I've seen from him! Hopefully we'll eventually be able to recreate that under saddle!

The next week and a half or so calls for lots of rain and thunderstorms so probably not a lot of horse time in the near future.

And just look at how handsome this guy is. I'm seriously so lucky <3
 

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#19 ·
Haven't been able to ride in over a week due to sickness and now awful rainy weather.

Nav is probably enjoying himself out in the pasture with his buddies at least.

Not much in the way of riding updates obviously, but, I did find out about a local dressage club that hosts shows a few times a year. The season starts in April. I am very seriously considering joining and taking Nav to some shows just to get him out there and give him some experience. I would have to find someone to haul me, but I have at least one person in mind. Hoping it will all work out! :)
 
#21 ·
Thanks Raina! The only big thing holding me back is the worry of not finding anyone who could haul us to shows. I think I might get involved though. :)

I was finally able to go out for a ride on Saturday afternoon. It was still very muddy and rainy, so I just decided to hack Nav out bareback. He was very well behaved and did really well! Unfortunately it was too muddy to even trot without fear of slipping - the last time I fell it was because I cantered him when it was too muddy, so I'm always very cautious of footing now.

The ride was just what I needed though, and I'm really happy I was able to go even though we got cut short by heavier rain. Today the weather is beautiful! Sunny and 70s! But because of my schedule and adult responsibilities, I won't be able to go riding :( Hopefully the weather will hold out until Wednesday, that's looking like the next chance I'll have.
 
#22 ·
Had a pretty good ride on Nav today! This was our first real work ride in over a week. He was a little spooky and silly, which I expected due to the amount of time off and the wind.

But he really tried for me, and actually did quite a bit of nice trotting with his back round and stretching into the bit instead of bearing down! He got tired after a bit and did resort to his normal evasion by pulling my hands but I corrected him with some transitions and it was all good. We did a little hack on the trail behind the barn after which is mostly uphill so got some good hill work in. :) Overall very happy with my boy!
 
#23 ·
Went out and worked on Nav's feet today. They are looking good.

Also went ahead and moved him to the new pasture, with barn owner's permission. The two horses he is with now he has been with in the past, one of them very recently. One of them is a mare (his sister actually) and she was not too happy to have a new pasture mate. They seemed alright at first, and since they have all been together before and there are only three of them total, I went ahead and let him go.

Of course, right away mare starts to chase him, lots of squealing. He didn't try to pester her, pretty much just ran off. They circled the field once and then settled near the fence so I was able to keep an eye on them before I left. Everyone seemed fine, every now and then mare would come over and sniff at Nav's nose and then squeal and stomp her foot. They seemed fine though.

Then just as I was leaving mare comes up to Nav, who was happy with the mineral block, turns and kicks him hard on the side/haunches! :( And the poor guy doesn't even try to run off, he just sort of walks away after she stopped. He wasn't limping and did not seem to be favoring or resting that side. Unfortunately I had to leave, so I let my barn owner know what had happened, and she said she would keep an eye on them and come check them later.

I haven't heard anything from her so I have to assume that that means he's fine and they've all settled. I know horses do things like this all the time, and it's known that this mare is very bossy and dominant. I just have never seen a horse kick another, and especially not my horse! It was startling.

Worst thing is, I'm going out of town tomorrow and won't be able to see him for about a week. I may have a small window in the morning where I can go out and see how he's settled in, but not much time. Hopefully he's ok and will just be a little sore for a bit.

I feel like a bad horse mama though. :(
 
#24 ·
Went out shortly to check Nav this morning, after a long night of poor sleep thanks to a combo of worry about him, and coffee too late in the evening. :P

Thankfully, Nav seemed perfectly fine! No swelling and he wasn't limping or favoring anything, and his behavior with me was normal. Of course, I'm sure he's sore, so a week without me working him will probably be nice and give him a chance to recover. He's definitely keeping his distance from Ms Mare, but she didn't seem to take any notice of him while I was there. Hopefully they'll all settle down and get along.

Now maybe I can relax and not worry about him so much during my little trip!
 
#25 ·
Spring break was super busy and I didn't get much riding time. Nav probably enjoyed the break of course!

I lunged him shortly on last Monday, after I got home from visiting my friend. He was not sore or stiff, so I believe he's been keeping a safe distance from his mean herdmate.

Last Thursday the vet came out to do shots for all the horses and take a stool sample to check for worms. Turns out Nav had a count of 50 - super low! So that was quite exciting, he was the best off of any of the horses there. Made me feel like at least I'm keeping him healthy, even if our riding isn't the best!

I rode for the first time in over a week on Saturday and Nav did ok. He got a little wound up and distracted when someone else started lunging in the arena, and lost a lot of the good bend we had been having. But, I was not expecting much after such a long break, and he wasn't really bad. Just a little distracted. Will be able to go out this evening after a flute lesson (yay, extra income!), so I'll see how he does tonight. :)
 
#26 ·
Not a great ride today.

Nav was unusually spooky and he bucked me after a transition to canter. His bending was awful and he just wanted to run around with his head up. Maybe I'm just an awful rider and someone else should be working with him?

I'm also a bit concerned that because of the bending problems and the buck tonight maybe he's sore and needs to have the chiropractor out. Which is not necessarily something I can easily afford right now but if it will help Nav then I think I can manage.

Blah.

Have a cute picture to make up for all the negativity...
 
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