Well if I had posted a few days ago I would have written about how wonderful Mac was doing and he was forward and light and kind of straight. Two days ago I popped him over a cross rail and while he didn't really jump it, he did go over it and in a straight line, at that!
But alas, today is a new day, and I have the green horse blues. Perhaps he doesn't like my jumping saddle. Perhaps he was just in a mood. Perhaps I was riding crooked. If I went left he leaned in to the left and bent his neck to the right. If I went right he leaned in to the right and bent his neck to the left. I'm sure part of it is me but I know that part of it is him being a stinker because if we go along the rail that is closest to home then he has no problem going in a straight line.
I finally decided to sit the trot and that was mostly better because I think I was sitting more in the center and not throwing him off with posting or having a forward position. But ack, I felt like an idiot who couldn't ride today!!!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Big spurs!
I had a mediocre ride on Sunday and I realized that because Mac is small horse when my leg hangs down on the Western saddle my heels (and small spurs) do not touch his belly. In order to get my spur on him I have to hike my heel up and move my leg around too much. So I decided to put my swan neck spurs on which are a bit longer and they point upward - they are made for a situation such as this. Having a spur on allows me to use different signals for different things. Both legs on (but without spur) means go forward. Spur (used on one side or the other, independently) means move over or yield to the pressure.
On Monday I lunged him in side reins and it was a bit windy so he was a bit animated (although for him that's really not a lot, he kind of tosses his head around a bit). I decided in the warm-up (before I put the side reins on) to ask him to canter on the lunge line. I haven't asked this of him for a long time and last time I did he was totally unbalanced and couldn't hold the gait or the lead going to the right. This time he did both, so that's progress! Because of the weather, it took him a bit to settle into the side reins and he never really got into it but again I'll take the progress where I can get it.
Today Colin had a lesson with Paddy and he brought Mac along and I met him there after work. I thought it would be a good adventure for Mac to get out to a new place and see different things. Well he was totally unimpressed and acted as if he had been there a million times. He did have a look-see when the neighbor's goats were bleating and running around but mostly he just stared at them. We worked on yielding to each rein, yielding to each leg, moving over and staying on the rail, and trotting straight. He did really well, actually! We trotted through some poles a few times and that was cute because he decided the he wanted to have a look at the last one as we were going through. Colin had a great lesson on Paddy and Mac did a good job of working and resting and working and resting and just standing around while Colin jumped.
Hopefully someday in the future I'll get to have a jumping lesson, too!!!
On Monday I lunged him in side reins and it was a bit windy so he was a bit animated (although for him that's really not a lot, he kind of tosses his head around a bit). I decided in the warm-up (before I put the side reins on) to ask him to canter on the lunge line. I haven't asked this of him for a long time and last time I did he was totally unbalanced and couldn't hold the gait or the lead going to the right. This time he did both, so that's progress! Because of the weather, it took him a bit to settle into the side reins and he never really got into it but again I'll take the progress where I can get it.
Today Colin had a lesson with Paddy and he brought Mac along and I met him there after work. I thought it would be a good adventure for Mac to get out to a new place and see different things. Well he was totally unimpressed and acted as if he had been there a million times. He did have a look-see when the neighbor's goats were bleating and running around but mostly he just stared at them. We worked on yielding to each rein, yielding to each leg, moving over and staying on the rail, and trotting straight. He did really well, actually! We trotted through some poles a few times and that was cute because he decided the he wanted to have a look at the last one as we were going through. Colin had a great lesson on Paddy and Mac did a good job of working and resting and working and resting and just standing around while Colin jumped.
Hopefully someday in the future I'll get to have a jumping lesson, too!!!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sigh, it has been so long
I've been meaning to write and just keep forgetting. As soon as I ride I think I'll come in and write an update but it always escapes my mind by the time I get in the house.
I am not doing a good job with consistency in the riding department. It seems like something always comes up and gets in the way of the time I have to devote to riding and training.
The good news is that when we do the work we do make progress, it is just going very slowly and more slowly than I'd like. Lunging is going well, with him going more forward, on more contact, and accepting the boundaries of the circle. So that's good. I do feel like we are way behind the curve, though, and should be farther along - but I guess I can't have high expectations given the time we've put into it.
Under saddle he is doing better with staying on the rail. I had an a-ha movement when I figured out that I was crooked and so when I straightened my body he was straighter, too. He still does drift toward home, though, so I need to put more thought into that. Steering with reins alone to keep him on the rail really doesn't work so I've got to spend more time working on steering off of the leg, which will be my focus this week.
On an unrelated note, he is beating Paddy up so I've got to keep them mostly separate. Paddy is very polite and does not push the boundaries and try to take over herd leadership, so Mac is being a bit of a bully toward Paddy. He doesn't act that way toward people, but when it comes to other horsey relationships he is firm about maintaining his top dog position.
So today I will lunge him and perhaps I'll be able to have a lesson this week to get us dialed back in on the program. These are the times that I miss being at a training barn.
I am not doing a good job with consistency in the riding department. It seems like something always comes up and gets in the way of the time I have to devote to riding and training.
The good news is that when we do the work we do make progress, it is just going very slowly and more slowly than I'd like. Lunging is going well, with him going more forward, on more contact, and accepting the boundaries of the circle. So that's good. I do feel like we are way behind the curve, though, and should be farther along - but I guess I can't have high expectations given the time we've put into it.
Under saddle he is doing better with staying on the rail. I had an a-ha movement when I figured out that I was crooked and so when I straightened my body he was straighter, too. He still does drift toward home, though, so I need to put more thought into that. Steering with reins alone to keep him on the rail really doesn't work so I've got to spend more time working on steering off of the leg, which will be my focus this week.
On an unrelated note, he is beating Paddy up so I've got to keep them mostly separate. Paddy is very polite and does not push the boundaries and try to take over herd leadership, so Mac is being a bit of a bully toward Paddy. He doesn't act that way toward people, but when it comes to other horsey relationships he is firm about maintaining his top dog position.
So today I will lunge him and perhaps I'll be able to have a lesson this week to get us dialed back in on the program. These are the times that I miss being at a training barn.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Captain Destructo, at it again!
So I thought that Captain Destructo had left us for a while once we figured out the tape fence wasn't properly electrified, but nooooooo, he's back. Or he was. And probably will be again. Colin had made temporary modifications that should have done the trick but Captain Destructo showed us that he can get past our modifications, muahahahaaaaaa! We had to have our super handy handyman out to properly wire the fence so that ALL lines would be on ALL THE TIME. A-ha! But then he ripped out one of the connectors so Colin had to put that back together. I think that now we've got it set, because there hasn't been any destruction for the past few days. But we'll see!
In other news, the other day Mac decided he didn't want to get on the trailer. Odd, because he's been really good about it up until then, even easily walking on with the rope over his neck (vs. me standing to the side and sort of guiding him in) when going in after Paddy. I thought it was due to the time of day and that the sun might have been blinding him when he was walking up to it, but he got worse over the next few trailer-loading incidents.
Just Saturday I took him out for a trail ride. He loaded so-so but I really didn't have much trouble. Then we had a wonderful and fun trail ride - he's just so much fun on the trails!! There was a large group of people there, horses and trailers everywhere. (Sidenote: If you have a trailer, please learn how to park it thoughtfully. So many people are so rude and just pull their trailer into a spot that is parallel to a tree line. If they took the time to learn how to park it properly (perpendicular), THREE other trailers could fit into that same space. I have the same trouble at the vet clinic. People, PLEASE learn how to park your trailers!!!!) Mac did not want to leave his newfound friends. He would NOT get in the trailer. We had words. I looked like an idiot. One of THOSE idiots who cannot load their horse. Sigh. A woman asked if I wanted help and I said no because I wanted to keep trying but eventually I broke down and asked her to give a wave behind his butt while I walked him in the trailer (he's supposed to walk in himself). It was not pretty.
Of course we had to go home and work on trailer loading. We had to have a discussion about personal space and moving forward and away and yielding, etc. We worked it out and he got on and off and on and off and on and off and so I called it a day.
I am determined for this to not be a problem so instead of chickening out on loading him up and going for a trail ride, I faced it head on and we went. Before I closed him in the trailer we practiced getting on and off a few times. When he was going on easily then I decided we were ready to go. Off we went to the same place, had another lovely ride (although a bit shorter this time) and this time he loaded up much better.
I think I figured out that he likes it best if the divider is swung open while he's loading and then I move it over once he's on. It gives him a wider space to walk into and I don't inadvertently "block" his entryway as he's trying to get on. Moreso than any other horse I've had, Mac is very sensitive to body language and positioning, so I'm trying to be in tune to that. Sunday's experience was so much better.
Mac had Monday off and today I just did ground work. First I longed him in side reins and we worked on going forward and transitions. He will go from a trot to walk just by me changing my breathing. Talk about sensitive! After our groundwork we did more trailer loading work and it went very well. He must have gotten on and off 10 times or so. Twice when he got on I swung the divider over and closed it up and then went up front and gave him cookies (the only place I'll do so). The last time he walked right on easily and stood quietly while I put up the butt bar and so I quit on that good note.
In other news, the other day Mac decided he didn't want to get on the trailer. Odd, because he's been really good about it up until then, even easily walking on with the rope over his neck (vs. me standing to the side and sort of guiding him in) when going in after Paddy. I thought it was due to the time of day and that the sun might have been blinding him when he was walking up to it, but he got worse over the next few trailer-loading incidents.
Just Saturday I took him out for a trail ride. He loaded so-so but I really didn't have much trouble. Then we had a wonderful and fun trail ride - he's just so much fun on the trails!! There was a large group of people there, horses and trailers everywhere. (Sidenote: If you have a trailer, please learn how to park it thoughtfully. So many people are so rude and just pull their trailer into a spot that is parallel to a tree line. If they took the time to learn how to park it properly (perpendicular), THREE other trailers could fit into that same space. I have the same trouble at the vet clinic. People, PLEASE learn how to park your trailers!!!!) Mac did not want to leave his newfound friends. He would NOT get in the trailer. We had words. I looked like an idiot. One of THOSE idiots who cannot load their horse. Sigh. A woman asked if I wanted help and I said no because I wanted to keep trying but eventually I broke down and asked her to give a wave behind his butt while I walked him in the trailer (he's supposed to walk in himself). It was not pretty.
Of course we had to go home and work on trailer loading. We had to have a discussion about personal space and moving forward and away and yielding, etc. We worked it out and he got on and off and on and off and on and off and so I called it a day.
I am determined for this to not be a problem so instead of chickening out on loading him up and going for a trail ride, I faced it head on and we went. Before I closed him in the trailer we practiced getting on and off a few times. When he was going on easily then I decided we were ready to go. Off we went to the same place, had another lovely ride (although a bit shorter this time) and this time he loaded up much better.
I think I figured out that he likes it best if the divider is swung open while he's loading and then I move it over once he's on. It gives him a wider space to walk into and I don't inadvertently "block" his entryway as he's trying to get on. Moreso than any other horse I've had, Mac is very sensitive to body language and positioning, so I'm trying to be in tune to that. Sunday's experience was so much better.
Mac had Monday off and today I just did ground work. First I longed him in side reins and we worked on going forward and transitions. He will go from a trot to walk just by me changing my breathing. Talk about sensitive! After our groundwork we did more trailer loading work and it went very well. He must have gotten on and off 10 times or so. Twice when he got on I swung the divider over and closed it up and then went up front and gave him cookies (the only place I'll do so). The last time he walked right on easily and stood quietly while I put up the butt bar and so I quit on that good note.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Black and white and green all over
That is going to be a double entendre, as you will soon find out. Colin was nice enough to take a short video of me and Mac last week. He hit some button on the camera that gave the video odd coloring and it is black and white and green! And also Mac is a "green" horse so there's the double meaning!
So we're still working at the walk and trot in the arena, which is really not very exciting. I'm trying to work on geometry, i.e. going in a circle that is actually a circle not an oval or a square. We're also working on transitions from the walk to the trot to the walk, etc., with a loose rein. He seems to like a looser rein and not a lot of contact with the bit so we're doing that for now.
I have to say I get a bit discouraged sometimes. I have to remember to adjust my expectations to Mac. He's a mustang. He knows nothing. Well not nothing, he IS learning, but he didn't have the benefit of growing up in a training barn where he would have been taught all these things at a young age and would therefore be further along in his riding career by now. I'm sure he could care less, of course.
I was at a show this weekend with Paddy and someone I know was there with his three year old gelding. At such a young age that little horse is so much further along than Mac. That horse is walking, trotting, cantering, jumping, and showing! It is going to take me a while to get to that point with Mac, if we ever get there.
What he does have going for him is his sensible mind. He's wonderful on the trails. I can take him out alone or in a group, he can be first, middle, or last and he doesn't really care. He actually does have some get up and go, as I've cantered him on the trails, and also galloped him on the trails! What fun! If we had trails right off our property, I'd probably never do anything else!
I will continue to take him for a lesson every now and then with my dressage trainer. She's having me work on lunging and voice commands, but I must admit lunging gets pretty boring after a while, Mac thinks so, too! I'll just keep plugging along and getting help from professionals who have way more experience with this than I do.
So we're still working at the walk and trot in the arena, which is really not very exciting. I'm trying to work on geometry, i.e. going in a circle that is actually a circle not an oval or a square. We're also working on transitions from the walk to the trot to the walk, etc., with a loose rein. He seems to like a looser rein and not a lot of contact with the bit so we're doing that for now.
I have to say I get a bit discouraged sometimes. I have to remember to adjust my expectations to Mac. He's a mustang. He knows nothing. Well not nothing, he IS learning, but he didn't have the benefit of growing up in a training barn where he would have been taught all these things at a young age and would therefore be further along in his riding career by now. I'm sure he could care less, of course.
I was at a show this weekend with Paddy and someone I know was there with his three year old gelding. At such a young age that little horse is so much further along than Mac. That horse is walking, trotting, cantering, jumping, and showing! It is going to take me a while to get to that point with Mac, if we ever get there.
What he does have going for him is his sensible mind. He's wonderful on the trails. I can take him out alone or in a group, he can be first, middle, or last and he doesn't really care. He actually does have some get up and go, as I've cantered him on the trails, and also galloped him on the trails! What fun! If we had trails right off our property, I'd probably never do anything else!
I will continue to take him for a lesson every now and then with my dressage trainer. She's having me work on lunging and voice commands, but I must admit lunging gets pretty boring after a while, Mac thinks so, too! I'll just keep plugging along and getting help from professionals who have way more experience with this than I do.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Captain Destructo
Well Captain Destructo had been at it again, taking the tape fence down...it looks like he was really trying to tell us something - namely that the electric fence wasn't electrified! I had changed the fence line earlier in the spring and in doing so took away one of the connections that kept the whole thing hot. OOPS!!! Colin fixed it yesterday so we'll see if he leaves it alone now.
I thought I'd try to put a video in here. I longed Mac today in side reins. He's coming along well in his longing and seems to be better balanced going right than when we first started longing. Of course the video I'm sharing is of him going to the left, but you get the idea.
Mac longe 2.mov
I thought I'd try to put a video in here. I longed Mac today in side reins. He's coming along well in his longing and seems to be better balanced going right than when we first started longing. Of course the video I'm sharing is of him going to the left, but you get the idea.
Mac longe 2.mov
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Some working pictures!
Colin got us a new little camera and he was kind enough to come out and take some pictures of me riding Mac the other day. Mac was a Good Boy (tm) and Colin commented that he seems to be coming along well. He feels more balanced, he's more accepting of contact and leg, and we're actually working in almost-straight lines!
Without further ado, here are some photos of the cute guy.
Trotting down the rail, doo deee dooo deee doooooo
Walking over poles, la dee daaaaaa
About to run over the photographer...look out!
Without further ado, here are some photos of the cute guy.
Trotting down the rail, doo deee dooo deee doooooo
Walking over poles, la dee daaaaaa
About to run over the photographer...look out!
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