Valerie's Journal

Horse
Name - Ruby
Breed - Appendix QH (half QH, half TB)
Color - Chestnut
Age - 12
Discipline - western: trail riding, gymkhanas



July 29, 2008
Since Ruby's one shoe is broken, I haven't been able to ride her the past week or so. We have an appointment with the farrier on Wednesday. We've been working on side-passing and lunging. She's starting to get the concept of both, quite quickly actually. I haven't asked her to do any speed with lunging yet, we're just working on her walking around me and stopping when I want her to in both directions. I'm going to incorporate turning into it soon, once she stops immediately when I give her the sign.
She's also doing well with side-passing. When I put pressure where my foot would normally put pressure she moves away without hesitation except she doesn't always cross her legs over the other ones and doesn't always stay straight. But she's getting better. :)

07.30.08
Yay. Farrier visit. Ruby's shoe is fixed and her feet are trimmed. I can now resume riding. Although, I'm not sure if I'm going to. I still have a lot of stuff I can work with her on the ground first. We worked on lunging yesterday again and also side-passing. She's brilliant. She moves right away from the pressure. But then Mads on here/UHB suggested I do turnings on the haunches and forehand before I teach her side-passing. So...I guess we'll start working on that too. JEEZE. There's so much to teach this horse. Oh well. Hopefully I'll be able to do it. [/b]

07.31.08
Rode Ruby todayy! Decided we weren't really going to work on anything, just go for a trail ride since it was the first time I've ridden her in about 2 weeks because of her broken shoe. She was really good. Had a fun little ride. :)

08.01.07
Rode Sheba and Ruby. Only took Sheba out on a trail ride. Went okay. Then took Ruby out. Went on a mini trail ride and then worked her down in the ring. I'm depressed and frustrated right now with the horses. I don't have the expertise to get the training into the horses that I need to and I don't know what to do.

08.03.07

Sheba - Went on a trail ride. Pretty good. We're working on her barn/buddy sourness. She was much better today than the first time I took her out by herself in a while. Then we went down to the ring and I worked on some impulsion. At least I tried to. She did okay, at least I think so. Haha.

Ruby - Rode her bareback today. Went on a trail ride. Really good. Basically did the same thing as I did with Sheba, but I worked with Ruby longer. <3

08.05.08

Rode Ruby bareback. We just went on a trail ride. I was planning on coming back and working in the ring...but I started talking to my neighbor and yeah. The evening light went bye-bye. Haha.

08.06.08

Rode Ruby out bareback again. My friend came along and walked my dog. I wanted to show her this one horse I am reallyy interested in. I was going to go back out later but it started raining.