Weekend Ramblings

Another lovely weekend with the beasts.  After her heroic effort in our lesson on Friday, I gave Prair the day off on Sat (read: I was on the couch obsessing my way through season 2 of Scandal), but Sunday I went out for a nice hack.

There were two small X's set up in the Outdoor which I took advantage off.  They were about 4 strides apart, but one was set on the quarter line, and the other on the 1/8th line which made them not really awesome as a "line."

Instead after another exceptionally nice warm up, we figure-eighted around them, sometimes incorporating one jump into a big circle, sometimes landing, switching leads and rolling back to the other jump.

Since there was lots of ring both in front and behind the fences I tried (really, really hard) to not rush the change or rollback, but instead focus on landing, picking the mare up, straightening her out, then asking for a change on the straightaway before turning.  Often I use our change in direction to suggest a change and then clean up any fallout afterward, but channeling our lesson on Friday I wanted to ask for the change rather than leave Prair to decide she should swap.

I know I've been in a love fest with the mare recently but omg she was so good.  I had my spurs back on, which I think are helping us at the moment - or at least they are helping me not accept a totally underpowered gait which is ultimately helping us..

So another fun ride with Prair.  She's a gem.

Then it was Gussie's turn, and if there's one thing this horse knows it's how to make his people feel loved.  He cracks me up.  You can barely get out to his paddock without him pricking his ears and galloping his little heart out to get up to the gate.  adorable.

So I groomed the big man up, booted him up and busted out the bareback pad thinking it was time for a serious ride.

But, Gus is as Gus does and when I threw him on the lunge I saw the telltale return of the head bob.  It is by no means as horrid as it was with the abscess, but it's worse than his glorious looking days of the past couple weeks.

Bad Gus.

So I cut our lunge session short and kept our ride to a walk.  He is still moving much better and is able to balance himself more than before which is a good sign... but I'm sad the miraculous recovery didn't last a bit longer. 

That's the update.  There was going to be dizzying lunge footage of Gus' improved trot, but I nixed that when I saw that his improved trot was gone.

Easy week ahead with a couple lessons smeared into a work schedule that's starting to get packed with year end meetings and budgets and fun things like that.

Precision Work

All the fun doddling around and hacking had to come to an end at some point - so today it was back to work and a serious flat lesson.

S announced we were going to work on getting more precise changes, ideally when I asked for them.

Right now our changes just sorta happen.  I do my best to get the mare balanced.  At some point I exaggerate the new bend, then it's a big mish mash of me trying to keep her light up front, my outside leg on and not bracing myself into a weird pretzel shape.

Sometimes we get our change right away (which is nice), but sometimes we careen around for a while looking like a pogo stick as we stumble our way through it.

So, while things are much (much much) better than they used to be, "precision" isn't exactly something I spend a lot of time considering.

I did opt to put my spurs back on.  It's been so hard to get the mare up and active that the thought of trying to execute some decent changes (however precise) was a bit intimidating.  I figured my round roller balls would give a bit more nudge without making things too electric - and I'm glad I got them out.

Prair was certainly much more in front of my leg.  We struggled with impulsion in our warm up (half passes in and out), but eventually we got some nice moments where softness and energy managed to overlap for more than two strides at a time.

Prior to starting on our changes, we warmed up some counter canter (which felt pretty solid) and made sure I could control Prair's big booty.

Then, we would counter canter the long side, hold through the short end and ask for a change at H or M depending on the direction.  We started to the left (so... cantering right lead, changing to the left) and things were surprisingly good.  Prair was very balanced through the short end and I felt like was patient coming out of it and actually waited for me to switch the bend and ask.  The biggest struggle was lengthening her stride through the change and building up steam afterward... which sort of felt like a weakness issue and also me not doing my job.

When we changed directions (going right.. starting on the left lead), things felt totally different.  Whereas to the left, our counter canter through the short end felt pretty even and steady, to the right the turns felt much shaper.

Clearly the arena is is the same shape both ways so that was a little confusing.  It literally felt like I was trying to pirouette her around the turns instead of her just cantering through on an even line... very odd. I tried to sit a bit straighter and just relax which seemed to help, but the difference was still pronounced.

Our change from L to R is usually easier, so I was less obsessed with my "ask" and spent more time trying to half halt the mare back and maintain our stride length both before and after the change which worked nicely.

The change felt smooth, not at all rushed and very balanced.  Very awesome indeed.

Finally we ended with a good 'ol standby exercise.  Two trot poles across the centerline that we pass through (like a tunnel) not over (like normal poles). 

Changes happened as you passed through the poles...

First we started by cantering in, then trotting while we were in the poles, and cantering away on the new lead.  Only room for about 2 trot steps, so lots of collection and control made this much easier.

Then we upgraded to asking for a flying change in the poles.  I focused on an exaggerated bend going in, straightening about a stride before the poles, then exaggerating the new bend and asking for our change.

Our Left to Right change was nails.  Prair stayed light, straightened easily and was precise with her change.  Going from Right to Left.... was... worse.

It might have been made worse by Prairie starting to anticipate, but the first few attempts were marked by collapsing on her new inside shoulder, inverting a bit and really scooting through the change.  We got it - I just wouldn't have wanted anyone to see it.

When I focused more on my right leg (ie, using it) and also riding straight through the poles and not diving to the left too soon, Prair was much much better.  Still more tense than L to R, but better.

At the end we strung both changes together in a figure eight and called it quits.  Prair gave me a change when I asked every time, and even managed to change cleanly almost every time.

I guess this means I need to be more mindful of our changes over fences since when I actually ride and pay attention to my aids the mare is perfectly capable of offering a respectable change.

Super productive lesson for us both, but I hate when the solution is as simple as "ride better."

Plans. Made.

(brow wipe).

Things continue to march forward.  After mulling over all the pros and cons and more pros, and more cons of the options for Prair, I finally settled on sending the mare to the trainer I know, at the barn far, far, away.  For the record I am much more decisive on these issues when I'm allowed my regular ration of wine.  Mulling over decisions with a cup of lemon tea or apple juice just isn't as... awesome.

I really appreciated everyone's comments and found it helpful to hear how other folks would balance the considerations, even though I know everyone has slightly different priorities.

What it came down to for me was just peace of mind.  Regardless of how far away the mare is, I had to acknowledge that there will be more days where I don't see her than when I do, and if I'm not 100% comfortable and confident in the team and her surroundings, then I'm going to be a freakazoid and no one likes anxious freakazoids, especially me. 

Because I like this picture.  Not relevant to content.

So, we'll likely move the mare after Christmas, but before the New Year, which gives me a little bit more time to enjoy her being so close to home before she goes into boot camp to get ready for THERMAL. 

We're still going. 

I'm hoping I can ride.  Right now I can't imagine that being a problem, but you never know... I guess either way, Prair will go get some miles and some sunshine and it'll be a good start to the new routine.

In other pony news, Gus continues to look awesome.  I'm wondering how much of that is the continued colder weather and reducing his inflammation further.. whatever it is, it's just so nice to see him perky and back to his uphill, floaty, lovely self.  That horse is just too much fun.

Ahh, My Loves

Maybe it's the Holiday season, or maybe it's the fact that I know long, ambling days at the barn are limited, but I have just been enjoying the crap out of the horses recently. 

Prair has continued toe be a relatively calm, lazy mare and I have relished light hacks where I just... don't. care.  Is she using herself perfectly? no.  Are we engaged and uphill all the time? for sure not, but it is so freaking nice to just ride and not pick a fight and know that Prair is relaxed and happy that it's enjoyable.

I think the fact that we have a move to a more structured program looming in the near future is also contributing to my current love affair with such a laissez-faire attitude. 

Also, spirits have been buoyed by a significantly less-lame Gus, which is also fun to see.  He has more spring to his step and is just more energetic and engaged.  He is clearly feeling better (why I don't know, I'm just enjoying it) so playing with two, happy, healthy horses is just not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Also, look at this face.  She has been an absolute lover.  Just soft and quiet and willing to stand untied and gently negotiate for cookies.

sweetest mare.

a slightly more insistent cookie face

Gussie and his cute faced friend.

I will definitely miss having the ponies in the same place!