Improvement.

I rode both Cash (a pony that we might be getting) and Gunny today. Both were good. It turned out to be quite a nice day. Gunny and I have been working on lengthening and shortening her stride, speed control, line, and half halts. It's a work in progress, but things are getting better. Her neck reining is getting better, and she's doing better with staying on the rail. I did ask her to lope today -- but tried not to "smooch" too loud..and she went into it, just as my barn owner was near. He said I did a great job. She does still pin her ears, but the head tossing is less, so that's a good sign. Still need to work on getting her head down at the extended trot as well, before I can do loping work, but she is improving.

She's been really spooky on the trail, so I've been trying to take her out of the arena just a little bit, until she gets uncomfortable. I always ride her in the outdoor arena first, so she can get used to the sights and smells, while being in the security of an enclosed area. Every day I try to go a little further on the trail. I've been making up songs and singing to her so that we both relax. Surprisingly, it works wonders. We went a bit further than we have been going today, and I just turned her in nice, slow, gradual circles in the area...she started to relax. Then, we headed home. She's been getting slower and slower on the way home, because whenever she tries to hurry back, I back her up and make her stand. So, she's catching on that it's easier to go slowly and get back to the barn faster. :)

The weather is supposed to be superb this week, so I'll keep working at it. I'm sore from riding so much today, but it's sure nice to be able to ride outside again! I have to get in a lot before I head back up to the island at the end of May. It's going to come quick.

Windy!

Was quite windy today, but I rode Gunny outside in the outdoor arena. I want to get her used to the smells by being in a confined area. She did excellent today. She was very responsive and did everything I asked, like a champ. Worked on speed up/slow down, walk, jog, stay on the rail. After our ride, I went out of the gate on her back (very proud) and decided to start on the trail just slightly. I only took her to the end of the driveway and back, as she seemed nervous. Any time she lost focus on me, I backed her up. Then, whenever she rushed on the way home, I backed her up. She was very calm. A very successful day, especially for it being as windy as it was.

Spring "fresh"

Well, I rode Gunny a little bareback today in the indoor arena. She did very well. I then decided to take her on a trail ride with my barn owners...and she was doing just fine until she got wind of a skunk, I think. Larry got a little bit ahead of Gunny and she exploded...she reared, bucked, and started to bolt. I was able to shut her down, but I still felt like I was on a coiled spring. Thankfully, I was able to get off and work her on the ground some...until I felt comfortable to get back on. We rode back to the barn, and every time she started to act up a little bit, I'd back her up. I then rode her into the outdoor arena so she could get used to the sights and smells but be confined. She relaxed and we ended on a good note. I took about 5 minutes to get back to the hitching rail...because whenever she would rush or lift her head, I'd immediately back her up...but I'm glad I stayed on and was able to get through that. I know i need to do my homework/groundwork outside before I can go out again -- I don't want to get myself hurt.

Turned out to be a nice day

It started out overcast, gray and windy..but turned into a nice, sunny 60º day. I decided to take Gunny on a little trail ride...which was a bad idea. She was fresh and something was in the air, so I didn't feel comfortable after we got out there. She got really hot and wouldn't relax. So I had to get off and walk her home. When we got back to the barn, I rode her in the indoor arena and got her to calm down. Did some extending of her jog...and stopping, backing. But mostly worked on rail work. She's listening to my legs *finally* and I was able to go around the arena without touching the reins once, 5 times in a row, both ways, walk and jog. I was very proud. She ended up being a good girl today. Checked her back for soreness, since she did get pretty sweaty today..and it didn't seem sore at all. I put some liniment on it just to be safe. Gave her more salt in her grain today, so she was a happy camper. Lovely day to ride, plain and simple. I feel so blessed.

Where is the sunshine? I'm sick of RAIN.

Well, yesterday I rode Gunny a little bit. Her back doesn't seem very sore at all now, so that's good. I've been taking it easy on her, as well. I did give her a bit of salt in my hand, and she ate a little bit...but not tons. I also put some in her grain as well, just in case. I'll probably do that again today. She seems like she's moving out a bit more freely now.

My goal for today is, like always, keeping her head down and relaxed, and asking her to speed up/slow down. Her stopping has gotten incredible. I'm so proud of her. She sits her hind end right down and stops almost on a dime. Her backing is getting better too. She may have been a bit reluctant because her back hurt her last week. She's staying on the rail a bit better, but it still needs work. I guess, the goals for today are the "same old, same old."

Yesterday I did ride this cute little paint gelding that this lady is trying to give away. I really would love to take him, but my parents said it's probably not a good idea. He's only 14.2. He's stocky, and I'd train him for my sister. He's blind in one eye, but is an absolute sweetheart. The lady said I can ride him whenever I want. He needs his teeth floated...even with gentle hands he tilted his head sideways...evident that he wasn't happy. He had a HUGE curb bit in his mouth. he doesn't need that...at all. The lady said I can ride him in a snaffle (thank goodness) to see how he does.

I did a bit of Ryan's ground work with him..and he was actually VERY good. Not pushy at all, amazing back up with just a nylon halter. His only problem was the "go forward" cue...he'd swish his tail every time you'd tap him at the girth line with the whip. I think it was mostly confusion. If I have time today, I'll work with him again. But he's such a sweetie. I brushed him for like a half an hour, and he just stood there. Picked up all four feet...big baby. Both him and Gunny lost another "horse" of hair, they're shedding so badly! Spring is here, folks! :)

Anyway, updates soon.

Spring is here (!?)

Gunny's back seems to be a lot less sore. I gave her about 4 days off, and I rubbed liniment on her back to help ease the pain of the muscles. I rode her a little on the trail today, although we didn't go far because the mud was deeper than I thought. She did, however, cross 3" deep puddles without even thinking twice. I was SO proud of her!

I rode her in the arena...just lightly. Walk/jog and a little bit of an extended trot. I worked with my legs to keep her on the rail, and she's getting noticeably better at not darting into the center. I just have to be consistent and know when she goes off the rail to prepare to correct her. She's keeping her head down quite well at the jog. She doesn't stay flexed at the poll, but she keeps her head down..so that's a start. I think I made her sore by pushing her too hard, too fast, so I want to take it easy on her and build up her endurance to the training.

I've been giving her a little bit of grain (Nutrena Safe Choice) after each ride, too. She really enjoys that. Only about 4-5 pounds, once a day. So it's just a "treat". Until I can find a hay probe to use to get a hay test (since I board at a barn...I can't just cut open a ton of bales for a test), I hope a little grain will help make up for any protein she might be lacking. I'm going to see if that makes any difference in her top line definition.

For some reason, I've never noticed any salt in the paddock in which she's in. They usually give them scoops of mineral salt (loose) in a dish every day, but every time I go out there, it's empty. I don't know if they have a block somewhere that I didn't see, but I hope that she's getting enough salt. I was thinking of possibly giving her a little sprinkle of salt on her grain, just in case. She has access to free choice, fresh water from a Nelson Automatic Waterer System.

All in all, she seems to be doing well. It was overcast today, but 60 degrees, so it was a nice change. Rain is supposedly coming the next couple days, so I have a feeling I'll be staying home and studying!

Gunny's Sore. :(

I decided to put out 4 trot poles for Gunny to go over, in hopes of defining her top line, since she seems like she's getting a little sway-backed. As soon as I got on her today, she dipped really hard underneath me. I thought maybe she just lost her balance, like when you mount when the horse isn't square.

I rode her today, she did quite well. I tried deletion when she came off the rail. I'd back her to the point she'd come off of it, and begin working again as soon as she was in the right place.

She tripped over the trot poles because she didn't pick up her feet, so they were caddy wampus the entire time. I tried to only trot her very slowly or walk her over them. When she decided to take huge steps over them, I did come down on her back pretty hard and I felt bad.

I worked on speeding her up and then slowing her down just before the poles, to prepare her, just like you would for jumping. She responded quite well.

I decided after our ride to test her back for soreness, because her dipping kind of worried me. I ran my fingers down the outside of her spine down her back. Right in the middle of her back she dipped and started to twitch. It was obvious that she was sore. I felt horrible. It was in an unusual spot -- I am not sure that it's just because she's never been ridden english before and that's a spot that hasn't had much stress with her western saddle, or the fact that she's not nearly at obese as she was before, since she doesn't get free choice hay, or a combination of both. It's right where the seat of the saddle is with my English saddle...not quite as far back as the loins, but, around that area. Either way, I feel horrible for hurting my horse. I put some liniment on her back and tried to massage it a little. It hurt her, for sure, but I tried to do it gently and let her know that I didn't mean to hurt her. I'm going to give her the day off from riding tomorrow, as much as I hate to back track her progress. Maybe I'll try western again since it has different pressure points and I have my new CSI pad. See if that makes a difference. I've had such a hard time with her seeming to be sore ever since she lost some weight from switching barns.

She's probably a body score of 5 maybe 6. She used to be around the 7 range. She has withers now, and is lacking the fat on the topline. She's not skinny by any means, but she's definitely not fat, and I think that may play a factor in how my saddles fit. Maybe it's a lack of muscle...but I've been riding her consistently 3-4 times a week, walk and trot.

I'll keep you posted.

HUGE steps!

Well, today there were a total of 6 of us riding. It was too dusty in the indoor arena, so we decided to ride in the outdoor, since it was 40 degrees or so, and beautifully sunny. Gunny did excellent, both English and Western. Her speed changes are going excellent, and she's improving.

Everybody decided to do a "horse swap" today. I got to ride a TWH, a Missouri Foxtrotter and a MULE! What fun! I think the walker was my favorite. She was such a good girl, and so smooth. Not to mention she's beautifully tall. The fox trotter was also a favorite of mine...he's got such a big stride when he trots. He's such a sweet pea. I also let 3 other ladies ride Gunny. I wasn't sure how she'd do, but she walked around, nonchalantly, head down, relaxed and calm. I was SO proud of her. She's come so far and she's a much more relaxed and confident horse. I've got to keep working on her extending and collecting. I'm so incredibly proud of her. I got so many compliments today on how good and calm Gunny is.

That's a huge success in my opinion!

JoAnn said that maybe we can go for a trail ride sometime in the future. She has two horses -- maybe I can ride her Foxtrotter, Nick, again. Boy, wouldn't that be great!

I'm so thankful for today -- and every day -- that I'm able to be around horses. God is good!

Mom comes to the barn

Rode Gunny english for a few minutes today. My mom came with me today, which never happens. She was smiling and proud as punch of how I was "beaming" on Gunny. We've both come a long way. Just did some short work today, and since Gunny did very well on the basics, I called it a day. I did try smooching today to see if she remembered our confrontation from yesterday. She did raise her head a little bit, and put her ears back a little, but not all the way and not as bad as usual. I was SO proud! She remembered! She did excellent today. Not to mention got all kinds of lovin's from my mom. :)

I did get my CSI pad in the mail today, so maybe western tomorrow? Group ride tomorrow with Joann and the girls. I'm excited!

Goal achieved!

I rode for TWO hours today, and even in an English saddle! Gunny was very good, toward the end of the lesson I was walking and trotting her, and she was staying in frame. I don't post in an English saddle, I use it more or less as a bareback pad. I'm working on my balance and seat for western.

I realized today that clucking/kissing for Gunny to go faster is what triggers the ear pinning. So, confrontation and deletion were done when she pinned her ears. I applied the head-down cue at a scale of 10 and held it until she dropped her head, then immediately tried again. I'm going to try to desensitize her to smooching, because that seems to cause the unwanted behavior. If I ask her gently, she usually goes into a faster gait without any question. She just raises her head. So we went around the arena at an extended trot, me continually kissing, and correcting her if the ears went back or the head went up. We both got a good workout, but I totally think that it was a great lesson. She's coming along nicely.

She's actually getting better at going around the arena to the right, which was her bad side. Now her left side is rusty! I've got to start working on the left side again, because she's getting better at her "bad" side now!

She was a little heavy on the bit when I first started riding her today, but a little bit of backing up and deletion was all she needed. I even saw her salivating on the new sweet iron full cheek bit. That's something I've never seen before with her! All good things.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I had a great ride. Wonderful day!

If the weather is good tomorrow, I'm going to ride again, hopefully for just as long if possible. I'm going to keep working on the head-down cue, working and tuning half halts and speed changes. She tends to hollow her back if I ask her to step out, so we've got to work on that. Her half halts are very rusty. I don't think she really knows what they mean yet -- slow your feet. I've got to work on being clear of what I want when I ask her to slow down to a slower pace.

She's still having issues with staying on the rail, but I also noticed that I was dropping my shoulder more to the left than I was the right. I tried to sit up correctly, and the English saddle is helping me with balance. It wasn't a 360º change or anything, but I did notice a difference with her veering off the rail less when I tried not to drop my shoulder. Something else to work on. :)

Little successes are very refreshing!

Goal for tomorrow:

I didn't get to the barn today, although it was a glorious day. I went ice fishing/snowmobiling with my dad and his friend, Mr. Quinn (who is Joann's husband).

My goal for tomorrow is to ride for at least an hour, allowing Gunny to stay on the rail by herself, at both the walk and the jog, and minimally have to correct her head. If that goes as planned, I'll try to speed her up and slow her down with half haults. I may get the cones out and work on gradual circles and having her not drop her shoulder. I know it's the same old, same old, but things need to be polished before I can move on. My new pad should be here tomorrow, I believe. Hopefully having a day off didn't set her back too much. We'll see how she is! :D