It's just a phase

First let me say that I still love my horse. I think he's wonderful, clever, friendly, trusting, talented and beautifully flawed. He tries so hard for me, and has a really good attitude about life. He's adorable and knows it and often charms people into thinking he's cute when he's being naughty (like chewing on things). He's also sensitive and does not like getting into trouble, but when he does he doesn't hold a grudge. THAT SAID ... lately he has been a total TOAD. Last night I decided to go for a ride in the outdoor arena. This is the first time we've ridden in that arena since we moved to the new barn - only because it has been raining so much that the BO didn't want people to ride in it with the puddles. Meh. Anyway, I figured it wouldn't be a problem because all he's ever known until recently is outdoor arenas. I started and backed him in an outdoor.
Anyway ... he was immediately tense, distracted, short-strided. Great. So I figured, I'll work through it. (Hmmm, funny how that didn't really work last time!). I tried figure 8s. I tried transitions - which when he's in this state of mind, just make him hotter (good to know). Then he started screaming for his stupid friend in the barn. I ignored it, until he started to scream, rip the reins out of my hands and whirl around. Uh, no. So I made him follow my inside rein around for a bit ... then made him leg yield some. Things just got worse and I thought at one point he might rear, but he didn't. Sooooo .... while this isn't something I've had to do with him ... ever ... I did it yesterday. I lunged the tar out of him. I made him canter until he was begging me to stop. Then I did a couple of transitions. Other direction: Canter some more! I made him move his little ass - even when he wanted to poop, or stop or offer to trot. Nope. It was already a hot day, and he was pretty soaked with sweat.
Although, not too badly out of breath. He may be a little too fit now. Got back on in the outdoor and had a LOVELY ride! He talked a few times, but was calm about it and in that case I just ignore it. Leg yielding quarter line to wall was the BEST he's ever done! I tried some pieces of training level test 2 (left out the canter though) just to practice my figures since I'm pretty rusty. Nice rhythm, calm pony but still listening to my aids. Ahhh. Much better. I know it's just a phase. He's 3 and the work is getting more difficult. Plus, he is looking the BEST he has ever looked since I have owned him. He is filling out, his coat looks fantastic and he's clearly fit. So I do have to keep in mind he probably has a lot more energy now. I'm going to try to work him a little more than usual this week and see if that helps with the 'tude.

Aqua training, and baaaad poneh!

Catherine Haddad is probably the rider I look up to most. I study her videos better than I ever studied in school, and I try to use many of her training methods. I also adore her sense of humor. Anyway, on a recent blog on COTH - she posted this video of two of her horses during an aqua-training session. I've never actually seen this take place in real life (just pictures, videos), because as far as I know there aren't any facilities around my area that offer this. Not even Purdue (I don't think?). Closest facility is probably Kentucky, if I had to guess. But anyway, I found this video really quite interesting - especially watching the horses' back muscles work. I would be more than willing to shell out some money for Hampton to do this even just once a month. Also, I was very jealous of the heating area the horses got to stand in. I wish I had one just like it in my bathroom!



And now ...

Today's ride was ... uh ... difficult. I could tell right away that Hampton was in a "mood" because he was dancing all around while I was tacking him up, and he was fresh and rushy on the lunge. Both not like him really. But it was a cool morning, and the lawn mowers were buzzing around so I thought I'd just work through it. Well, things started out ok. Then I started working on canter transitions. I thought if he was going to be fresh and forward, hell I'd use that energy and canter a little more than I normally would. Got several nice transitions, then out of no where (it seemed to me), Hampton tripped a little, then SLAMMED me against the wall, banging my knee and nearly scraping me off of him. I'm like WTF horse. I got after him a bit, and he proceded to act like a naughty 3 year old the rest of the time. He would not halt. He bulged through my aids. I tried to leg yield left and he came to a dead stop and balked. He got spanked. At this point, one of the girls who helps at the barn, but isn't too experienced with horses walks in. And here I am, tearing around the arena on Hampton ... cussing at him sort of under my breath.

Then he tries to scrape me off on the wall AGAIN! Now I was mad, and he was going to leg yield and move his friggin back legs until they fell off. Well, he didn't like that idea and threw in a HUGE BUCK. I mean, I felt air between my ass and the saddle and for a second thought I may fall off. Amazingly, I did not lose my stirrups, but I did lose my right rein. Ooops. Luckly, he did not carry on or else I would have been screwed. The boy can jump in the air and he gets that from his father - who I saw dump the trainer a couple of times doing the exact same thing. More cussing, and walk, trot, halt transitions later and there was finally some peace. Good grief. The girl in the barn just walked around - I am sure horrified. Everyone else there has older schoolmasters, so I am sure she is not used to seeing the likes of my riding a naughty young horse around. I mean somedays, it is just ugly. That is training. I apologized to her for cussing up a storm (I always sound more mad than I really am). I really need to curb my mouth when I ride, because it's not professional. Anyway, I do feel that Hampton has earned himself a few days of hard lunging and perhaps when I ride this weekend he will be more obedient. Little brat.

Credit where credit is due

I almost forgot! These fabulous new photos were taken by a college friend of mine. She specializes in horses, kids, portraits but photographs all kinds of things.


Here is her website.

Let's talk about wings, shall we?

I really admire fellow blogger Gogo's Human for a recent post in which she analyzed and pointed out some of her riding flaws, using specific photos. It's difficult for many of us (me included) to face our flaws, especially in such a public manner. But how incredibly helpful it is to others (and yourself, when you go back and look). I know I am very much a visual learner, so photos, videos and diagrams are so important to me. Anyway, I want to point out one of my bigger riding "issues" ... and that is, that I have wings. And they are not the good kind.
See, I have always ALWAYS rounded my shoulders. Probably ever since I began riding. It was especially bad during my hunter days, when tipping foward was OK to do. I've gotten better, but my shoulder blades still stick out - giving me the appearance of wings. My posture at work is really no different. I am a sloucher. Guilty as charged, but when I make the correction - it changes my appearance drastically. It also makes me more effective as a rider. Because my shoulders slump, I also have a hard time keeping my thumbs on top. (this is making improvement though, thanks to my instructor who keeps nagging me about it). Because my shoulders slump, my core doesn't stay activated. Which in turn creates a who slew of problems. (Like I tend to not carry my hands)

I know my black shirt kind of hides my awesome shoulder wings, but I think you get the idea. It is something I will probably always struggle with, because it has been a habit for SOOOOO long. (like 20+ years I'll guess) I've had numerous instructors give me tips on how to correct it. "Flatten your back." "Stick your boobs out." etc etc. It works for a while, but it's difficult for me to maintain - especially when I start to concentrate more on the horse. Any ideas? I've managed to correct a helluva ton of bad habits in my riding career, but this one keeps rearing it's ugly head. However, I did find a couple of photos online of a certain pro rider (who I greatly admire) who has the same issue! I am not alone with my shoulder wings! Recognize her? :-) Next time perhaps I will dive into the fact that my right toe refuses to point foward. ugh!

Report card

I have gotten a few more rides in on Hampton. He continues to be consistent, calm and willing to work. I think the improvement in his fitness level is a major factor in our progress. He is quick off the aids, nicely forward and balance in the canter is improving on a daily basis. After a basic warm-up, I have been doing the "needlepoint" exercise from the book 101 Dressage Exercises. It seems to be a good thing for Hampton right now as it involves nice flowing changes of bend and isn't too taxing on his gangly body. Here's what else we have been doing:

• Leg yield quarter line to the wall.  These are getting pretty darn good!
• The square. I have been starting to ask him to walk a square, teaching him how to move off the outside aids a little more and step under himself. Pretty good going to the left, a little sticky to the right yet.
• Foward and back. Half halts are pretty well installed now (well, for a 3 year old), which has allowed me to start some transitions within the trot. I ask for big trot, then little trot, then sharp push back to big trot. He's quick off the leg, but when I half halt to bring him back, he gets behind the vertical sometimes. This could be because I need to add more leg, or just a balance issue or I could be using too much hand? Maybe a combo of all of them? Anyway, something to work on there.
• 2-3 steps of shoulder in at the walk. Check! That'll all I will do for a while, but I thought I would at least introduce the concept to him.
• Trot to canter transitions. The bucking and kicking out is pretty rare these days. Transitions are much MUCH better, and the canter actually feels like I'm riding a young warmblood, and not a out of control, wobbly yack. Progress indeed! Picks up both leads fine, still a little bit falling in to the right but we'll get there. This week I may add a little bit of a straight away at the canter. We have mostly been sticking to large (25+ meter) circles.
• And of course, more transitions. Walk to trot. Trot to walk. Trot to halt. Walk to halt. Blah blah. Boring, but vital.

I'm really hoping by next week I can get back into a normal routine. Because right now there isn't one. Ugh.

My cat cat, Grover.

I'm still super busy moving and doing stuff around the barn. So in the

meantime, here is a comical video of my cat, Grover. Possibly the

world's laziest cat? Anyway, his eyeballs crack me up. Enjoy!

On the move ...

Hampton made it to the new farm safe and sound (and yes I did ride him 6+ miles on country roads). I'm very busy moving myself into the new house, and plus it's Election Day at the newspaper so I really want to pull my hair out. I did ride Hampton yesterday in the arena (his first time working in an indoor) and he was as charming and wonderful as he always is. No spooking or sillyness. *sigh* Wuv him. He's starting to adjust to the new turnout situation. He has made it known that he would rather be outside 24/7 by dumping his water bucket a couple of times, flooding his stall. But he'll adjust. :-)
Anyway, here's an google maps photo of the new place. Hopefully things will be settled down by the weekend and I can get back into a routine.