A New Season...

[pintopiaffe]

We are home.  EVERYONE as a matter of fact... Dann & Noah came home on Friday, and Papa came home Saturday.

The last ride at my teacher's was hardly worth reporting on... I'd slept about 5 hours the night before, been up since 0400 and didn't ride until after scribing an entire show.  Expectations were too high, and physical and mental energy FAR too low.  I felt like I used every tool I've learned in the last 3 months--and none of it worked.  Himself had had about a week off, had not been out that day, and all of it combined for an uneventful, but never really through ride.  I had just a few moments.  Fleeting... But I felt all out of sorts, he didn't feel great... I had no adult supervision... and I called it a day.  

I'm very frustrated and sad that he has NOT settled back in at home well at all.  He is worried sick about the girls (and the new foal!) and is pacing the fence and calling, ignoring his food entirely.  I've got Rain next to him, hoping the two of them will settle into the camraderie they had before he left.  That was one of my biggest fears--that he wouldn't be able to be turned out with Rain when he came home.  They were ideal together... shared the same food dish, played somewhat hard--but never a mark on either.  Endless halter tag and good companionship.  I tried them together and all seemed fine enough that I actually went in for a nap.  An hour later, Rain was on the other side of the fence, with no indication as to HOW he got there.  Mac making some aggressive faces now.  So we'll go through the process again of pasturing next to each other, stabling next to each other until a truce is formed, then try again.  I think it's FAR more about Papa's anxiety about the girls than actual aggression toward Rain.  There wasn't a laid back ear when they first 'remet.'

At any rate, we had flooding rain again on Sunday... Monday everything was still entirely knee deep, and I didn't think that with the anxiety he'd been showing that a road ride for the first ride back was the wisest choice.  Probably would've been fine... but...  Yesterday I had to work the Fourth festivities--up at 04:30, home for 2 hours between shifts, back for fireworks--which were cancelled, but it was getting dark by the time I got home again...

So today I finally, FINALLY got to get on him for the first time at home.  I had very low expectations.  I knew his back would be tight with all the pacing and worrying.  I got on right before the hour of 1900, the PERFECT time of day in summer, in my opinion.  It's started to cool down,  you have that beautiful, hazy golden sunlight... yes, the bugs are a challenge, but if you time it right, the only real fuss is the deerflies, who DO respect some bug sprays to a point...

I was more than pleasantly surprised.  I was thrilled, in fact.  He had some sort of 'longing' looks and counter bending in the direction of the girls... but was much more focused than I expected, and far softer too.  I won't say he was completly through the whole time, but he was certainly foward and absolutely lovely reaching for the bit.  

The footing wasn't the worst it could be, but it was a FAR cry from the perfect footing at my teacher's.  And there's more of a grade than I remember too.  :lol:   The first bit was him just figuring out he had to really pick his feet up and pay attention to the footing.  But then as he warmed up and figured it out, we got some really good reaching work.  Even on the DOWNHILLS, which is just huge.

Basically just worked large figures, looking for rhythm and cadence and coming through.  

*I* had a bad day--I'm exhausted.  Last week was a marathon--taught 20 lessons in 2 days at a clinic 90 miles from here... bred Dann, brought her & Noah home, went to MA & back (a 20 hour day) went back to work the following day...  So when I couldn't really sit the trot--I'm not going to blame him.  I DIDN'T quite have his back *enough*, but I'm sure it was MY fatigue and lack of fitness too.  I was fussy about everything... stirrup length, the saddle felt "wrong" and downhill... my position--I kept readjusting but never really finding the right spot...

The canter was LOVELY.  I could've ridden it all day.  Though Himself found it a bit more work than in the indoor.   Still, it was uphill and clearly 3 beats.  The downhills were more balanced.  We will work on building that up.

Tried to really work some transitions, but I was loosing him.  So we ended on some really good trotwork... just plain old posting trot,  large and 20m circles...  but really forward and reaching and with good cadence and balance. (even TOWARD the mares by the end!)  Both of us were pretty darn soaked by the end--but me more than him  <_< .  Just a little over 40 minutes... He is used to much more intense work, but the footing and slope take a toll, as does the rider.  :ouch:  

He grumbled and grunted some, and I'm not sure if his breathing was a bit labored or if it was the grumbling & grunting.  Will definitely keep an eye and ear on that.  I think it was more about him 'holding' himself looking for those MARES.  

I'm DEFINITELY looking forward to tomorrow.  Next 5 we'll have to work in the heat of the day--aiming for one of those to be a day off, but not MORE than one if I can help it.  I may try to move everyone and ride at the bottom of the hill tomorrow to see if footing's any better.  The next major life goal is to get sand footing in one of the two areas and get it graded.   Meanwhile I hope to mix it up some with hillwork and roadwork, but we really have to concentrate on the dressage now to move up.

What a lovely evening.  I'm so very pleasantly surprized he was as good as he was.  Thrilled.  It's just wonderful to get off already planning the next ride.

And so we begin a new season...   I don't know how well I'll be able to journal.  We've been kicked off the internet entirely at work.      They've even taken away our laptops.  I guess I'll have to get a library card as I can go through just about an entire book a night on a slow shift.  <sigh>  I am job hunting.  Not urgently, but getting the word out and keeping my eyes open.  Other changes there too--it's not just about the 'net... but lets say the laptop thing is the icing on the cake.  We'll see.  

[Linda Baia]

Hourrah ! Himself is at home, and new era starts.

I do not post much on your thread, because I have nothing relevant to say, but I greatly enjoy your prose.

Sad about work. It is a bit harsh to remove the laptops. I do understand about not allowing the "net", but no computer it is a bit primitive.

I hope you find a good interesting job    

[shoveltrash]

hooray!!!!  Papa M is HOME.  i hope he settles back into the regular routine soon - with Rain back as his companion.

i have truly missed your regular journal entries.....i hope you can get your internet stuff sorted out  :(  (no home computer?).

IMHO you need to take some time for YOU, to rest, recover, etc.  i bet it would really help your riding too   .

(edited to add:  good luck job hunting!!!!)

[pintopiaffe]

ah... yes.  I believe I have two days off next week.  No, really, in a row.  At least--I do as of tonight.  That could change.  lol!  Things should settle down now that he's home.  I worked a ton of extra to pay for his stay and my trips to see him/lesson.  Another few weeks of pushing--Excelsis has a date with a big rig on the 27th of July to come HOME to Maine from KY... After that... well... then I do need a couple of trial saddles... no-REALLY, eventually things WILL slow down.  :P

Had an EXCELLENT ride today.  45 minutes--heat of the day, so no bugs to speak of.  It wasn't horribly hot either, but toasty.

Almost didn't happen--he came to the crossties just a full of himself (the girls were all in to eat, so we could ride in their pasture).  He settled, but was dropped... so, as always, I took advantage to clean... Found a rather large bean, got that out, found a bean on the other side which didn't want so much to pop right out as the first had, when WHAM--he cowkicked me into the next county practically.  See, there are times when being FAT is a good thing.  He got me right in my 'apron' fat.  Sent me about 6 or 7 feet, but didn't HURT me.  I went after him--John Lyons' 2 second rule--and after that he was a peach.  It sounds wrong, but he was much better for the discipline.  Perhaps I should've come on stronger sooner with his stallion silliness, but he wasn't really acting up anything to correct... THIS, I CORRECTED.  No anger, (shock mostly, really!) and it was over quickly.  He must've known because he has an innate sense of justice, and if he feels he's been wrongly corrected, won't speak to you for DAYS.  Well, he was over it as fast as I was.  I think he knew it was wrong.  Now, I may have inadvertantly hurt him--but kicking me into next Sunday is not the appropriate answer.   Will have to go after that bean again tomorrow--but will pay more attention this time.  Shame on ME.

So we went down to the bottom of the hill pasture--where it is much flatter.  Still somewhat of a grade, but it's definitely a better place to work.  He was really, really good.  Forward, reaching... had some GOOD through work.  I can't sit the trot anymore.  <sigh>  I suspect it's partly from not riding in the Fhoenix for most of the last 3 months--my hips are TIGHT and my seat is not as open as it had been.  Plus, he's more forward, with bigger strides--even in collected work.  I've lost so much of MY fitness... it's going to take time.  But we had some steps here and there.

Canter was really good.  Amazingly good.  Wonderful.  Wanted to do more of it.  Will, tomorrow.  

What's funny is I can tell how much the walls were used as part of the 'aids' to school him.  The 'corners' out in the open are SO disorganized!  Straight lines--great.  Circles, pretty ok. Corners... UG!    Without the physical and visual barrier of the walls--he just kind of IGNORES them!  :ouch:  So I started down transitioning before the corner, really insisting on a few steps of SI.  I am going to add some visual markings--to help ME as much as him... but it's not entirely a bad thing.  It's really interesting to me--because corners are the chance to sit, bend and collect... engage the inside hind... and how much of that is the actual WALL or FENCE... now it's up to ME to do all that.  not a bad thing at all!

Only went 45 minutes... played with half-steps at the end. Note to self: play with them at the beginning like V does--when he's fresh!  I was getting stiff and a bit sore by the end.  I'm just not in shape.  I worked while he was gone, when I should've been *working out.*  Shame on me.  Hopefully it will come back fairly quickly though.  

It's funny because my hands are so much more independant of my seat--yet I was throwing them away now and again.  It's easy to just give them... and not have ANY connection. (throwing the baby out with the bathwater!)  I felt some really GREAT connection  hands-shoulders-seat toward the end of the ride.  It's still soft and light, but CONNECTED... and then, *poof* he's connected.  Good stuff.  

He started singing like Pavorotti again as we headed back up the hill.  There's a fine line between patience as he readjusts, and discipline in things he should know better.  Will be walking that line for a few more days, I think.

He was MUCH more settled after work.  Went over to say "Hi" to Rain without making mare faces.  And though he changed his mind about that later... he wasn't pacing the fence, and actually settled to eat his grain.   I need to remember that the work is HELPING him.  Sometimes it's tempting to not work when they are that fizzed up.  But it helped.  

 

[pintopiaffe]

Short but intense ride today.

Had to make a grain run, and tried to sleep a bit late as I've a 12 hr shift tonight--won't get home until around 0500 and it's supposed to be the hottest day of the year tomorrow, so sleep will be elusive...

Rode up top, worked on lateral work at the walk, and walk/canter transitions.  I shouldn't say 'worked' lateral work--it's there now, I just use it to warm up.  It's not like before where I was trying to build/correct it.  Now it's just a tool.  Even HP.  We'll avoid HI for now, as it's an evasion for him (and definitely got some when he was jazzed up in the canter work and anticipating!)

Did many walk-canter transitions, some back to walk, some to trot.  I *do* hurt today from the kick.  My neck is worst--??? but my belly isn't happy with trot work.  

Only 20-25 minutes, but it was different, and pretty intense.

He is FINALLY settling down to eat his hay... ate his mash last night... and isn't pacing the fence so much.

Tomorrow's a day off due to the work and the weather.   It feels good settling back into the rhythm.  Wishing my fitness would pick up more quickly--but I'm firmly back on very strict LC so that should help.  Now it will be trying to find the balance between feeling like I *have* to ride... the slightly obsessive compulsion to ride... and riding for the joy of it.  Already today because of the schedules of today and tomorrow I was stressing about it--felt like I HAD to ride today, when normally I wouldn't on a work day when I also had to make a grain run and unload grain.  I enjoyed the ride--but need ot find the balance.  Bringing Horses & the Mystical path to work tonight for the long shift to try to gain some perspective on it.  

[shoveltrash]

I shouldn't say 'worked' lateral work--it's there now, I just use it to warm up. It's not like before where I was trying to build/correct it. Now it's just a tool. Even HP.

oh......i hope & pray that one day i can say this!   i am so envious!!!  that, and walk to canter?
COOL. B) i'm guessing that M's training has made him incredibly strong.  that is half the battle IMHO.  cause you can't ask them to *perform* something difficult if they don't have the strength/muscles!!!

sorry to hear about the kick  :(  - hope it gets better soon.

 

[pintopiaffe]

Heat is BRUTAL here right now.  High 80's (at least) and humid so the sweat just drips in your eyes...

I am a heat wuss.  Sure, I'll ride at 15 (f) and sunny and calm, but this was awful.  I have to work, so no riding in the evening when it's cooler.  

So, I lunged today.  Seemed a good idea after a day off, and also to let him get his bearings a little more on the pocky footing.  

He looks fabulous.  Even his 'little trot' has so much more SWING.  

He's still talking too much... but is starting to self-correct.  A few more days... He's eating and much, MUCH more settled in his paddock.

Me, I'm exhausted.  Too little sleep yesterday becuase of the double, too much damn heat.  Guess I'll have to cave and put the air conditioner in soon.  But I have to find side baffles for it as the originals are all broken and bugs get in.    

[Jolene]

So glad to hear Papa's home!  The heat here's awful too, I can't stand to even longe.  First off I feel like c**p out there, and second I feel awful making her work in it...  Of course, I suppose if you never do it they'll never be fit for it, huh?  I'm sure he'll settle back in soon and you guys will get to be doing some lovely work this summer!    

[Torsornin]

love the journal again sounds like its going well
 

[pintopiaffe]

I'm going to be late for work for posting this, but I just HAD to.

Feel like there was HUGE progress today, and a GREAT ride.

Still just 35 mins-- 90+ degrees and 60+% humidity makes it as nasty here as it gets.  Neither of us are up to working much longer in that yet.

I started out walking without stirrups, my hips finally feel like they are getting more open and supple again.  It actually took longer to warm up than I expected--he's lazy and stiff... lazy from the heat, and stiff with the stallion tension, wondering what the mares are up to...

I was truly *planning* on just walk work, because of the heat, but he suppled up nicely, and onward we went into trot.  I started really focussing on keeping my hands up and open, and using my legs--tap-RELEASE (V's voice in my head "tap-tap")  Also, for the first time since he's been home, I really *expected* him to perform to a certain level... and he DID.

We had some tremendous, really through and supple trot.  The corners getting better--MY timing, his balance without walls or fences...  Went back to no stirrups and worked transitions to sitting/collected trot.  I REALLY had to loosen my hips as his trot is so much bigger (the looseness/suspension I saw yesterday on the lunge) I think SEEing it yesterday connected to my brain how I had to sit.  I REALLY had to loosen the hips... but got some sitting trot again!  YAY!

Worth mentioning I'd doubled up on the joint supps since even with full turnout, that LH was stocking up some.  Will have to keep an eye, that certainly could be part of the equation.

Canter just keeps getting better.  Today it was uphill, round, and SLOW!  I quit on that--only asked for a long side here and there... wanted to really impress on him THAT is the canter we want.  

I just felt so much better in the saddle.  Tummy is better too... but it was a hips/seat thing.  Still not quite the security I had last fall, but Wow, what a difference.  

Yay.



Day off tomorrow, it's my early day into work, so a scheduled day off for Himself.  
Just really, really  

[pintopiaffe]

Planned day off yesterday, and a good thing as it was the worst yet heat-wise.  Not as high temps, but humidity more than 65%.   :ouch:

Tonight was LOVELY.  He had some issues being brought in to groom and tack up.  I'm just going to MOVE the spot for now.  Not his fault entirely, but definitely new behaviour.  

We rode bottom of the hill pasture... he was really spooky at first, but settled nicely.  Pretty intense 45 minutes.  He took a bit to warm up, but once he did, we did quite a bit of sitting trot.  Still perfecting the corners--we both relied FAR too much on the walls!    

He really wants to burst into a good lengthening--beginning of extension--after collected work when we come to the 'uphill' long side.  It's good energy, but hard to contain the exhuberance without squashing it.  You don't want him lifting off into that without being *asked* OTOH, it's LOVELY that he's offering. lol!

GOOD canter work, and counter-canter in both directions.  I really felt my legs quietly hanging at his side, some good supple back on BOTH our parts... some rushing, but also some collection.  

A bit of a revelation on 10m circles (which, of course, correlates to the corner issues, as a corner is just 1/4 of a 10m circle!0  He was really hollowing every time I'd put him on a circle.  I was quite conscientious of using LEGS to turn him (and seat, but we were mostly posting) and still he was really hollowing. Finally discovered I was not giving.  I tell my students a 10m circle is a bend every stride.  Well, bend dictates GIVE.  When I stopped trying to drive him around the circle, and instead did 'bend, give, bend, give, bend, give' every stride, we got some really good stepping under 10m circles.

I really had his back the majority of the time tonight.  My seat felt RIGHT for the first time.  Though--when we started I checked stirrups visually and they were even.  Felt crooked as h*ll when I got up, and caved in and lowered the left stirrup one--and felt GREAT.  When I dismounted--the stirrups were VISUALLY EVEN again, yet an entire hole off.  They are wintec webbers.  Which I realize CAN stretch... but... still it frustrates me.  I might've mixed up pairs--I have two.  Will check that tonight.

A long lazy night to browse around the net tonight--shhhh don't tell, a night ENTIRELY off.  I was going to go in and do some training.  But I caved.  I'm settled in with a lovely brew and contemplating supper.   B)  

[pintopiaffe]

Baaahhh...  <_<

Only 25 minutes today.  The *work* was good, but frustrated by things.

This morning was gorgeous--cool, rainy, breezy...  but I futzed around with my new mailbox, putting the farm name on the side etc. instead of getting out to ride then.  So I'm feeling all rushed by the time I get out (working tonight at the PD), do chores, get tacked up... only to find it wouldn't have mattered.  Had about 2" of rain overnight--but it was downpour rain, so everything is SLIMY.  Slick, not deep.

Not worth risking a suspensory to trot or canter...

So we walked.  Mostly without stirrups.  LOTS of lateral work, and me expecting him to be through even at the walk, most of the time.  (ALL of the time, except for breaks) which meant a few moments of fuss and bother... after which he was brilliant.  

My seat finally, finally feels even and open and secure.   Yes, the stirrup leathers are a hole off.  (!) I wonder how long I've been riding like that!    

He was settled and actually a bit pokey, I suppose it wasn't a complete waste, but it felt like it.  

[pintopiaffe]

a very, VERY hot 50 minutes of work with me today, then Papa made his debut as a lesson horse!

I rode first, before the student arrived, as I knew the mostly-walking lunge lesson would not be enough work for the day.  I aimed for 'short and sharp' work with lotttttts of walk break in between.  Heat was BRUTAL.

He was pretty darn brillant.  We played with HP, and Renvers.     Both are VERY easy for him now, not so much for me, but i'm getting there.  Canter transitions.  About half the time to the right I get counter-canter.  MY fault beacuse of my locked up left hip.  Worked it a little.  

A good, solid ride.  

Then he played lunge horse for an adult beginner.  He was BRILLIANT.  Positively perfect.  I've always said I wish I could use him for my special olympians because he's the best darn horse on the farm manners & temperament wise.  This student is a volunteer, putting in time and labor for the SO students.  He had a fab lesson.  Danny hsould be back in lesson mode in another few weeks--provided she is pg.  But for now, Mac was an excellent teacher.

And, FWIW, lunged The Young Master Irrenaeus today too!  In saddle with stirrups up but banging, and bit under the cavesson.  He started out being quite obtuse about staying on the circle, but finished BRILLIANTLY.  Then had to nap, as he was utterly EXHAUSTED by all that work, poor boy.  :P

A hot, but very good day.  I loff my boys.  

[pintopiaffe]

what an absolutely AMAZING day!  Wow.

It started a bit too early... but I was up at dawn to go judge my first dressage show and combined test.  It was a very low key, mostly in-house schooling show at the facility where I taught two weeks ago.  Mostly very low level CT, with two or three of the girls bumping up a level for the first time.  Only one ride above TL2. (and only one TL2 at that!)  It was a GREAT experience.  After scribing for so long, I was more comfortable than I expected.  It was SUPER hard not to judge the *rider* but just the horse.  

That went from about 07:30 until 15:30.  Got hom a bit after 1600.  Succumbed to a nap--as I'm not sure I EVER slept last night.  Heat is also just unbearable for us.  One more day and we've got an official heat wave.  Today was mid-to-high 90's and air so thick with humidity you were soaked just sitting.  Woke up, had a popsicle to cool me off, and went out to do feet.  I thought with the heat I would just do feet and call it good.  Did Papa all four, got most of Rain's fronts done (! GOOOOOOD BOY!!!) and Did Dan's fronts.  The sweat POURING in my eyes made me quit there.  Enough for one day, I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow.   :blink:  

So I was all set to chalk up riding.  And when I splashed off my feet to get the mud out of my crocs (fake crocs, mind you--but still, summer clogs which get FULL of dirt) somehow I got a second wind.  It was a bit cooler, a beautiful sunset attempting to break through the haze, and the thunderstorms had changed their mind.

I threw together the spanish bridle with mosquero--ostensibly a great fly veil! and tacked up.  Plan was hillwork.  I haven't done hillwork since... March! :unsure:

I don't know if it was the magic mosquero or what, but I had the most absolutely brilliant, amazing, stunning 40 minutes of walkwork in my entire life.  He was supple, soft, forward and through.  I *had* his back for every moment.  The free walks were swinging and incredibly reaching... the oh-so-pesky transition from free walk to medium was just THERE.  Was it my fatigue and/or my back being loosened by doing feet?  I don't know.  It was just the most incredible feeling.  Half-Pass was just a THOUGHT.  I kept breaking up the hillwork with a round or two at the bottom... LY then SI then HP... I did so LITTLE.  He was just THERE.

I wish I could take credit for causing it.  I'm not *sure* why it was so great.  I had a fleeting moment of thinking I should trot... but then thought there was absolutely no reason to.  Just SAVOR the walk.  Tell him how BRILLIANT he is.  And imprint it on my brain and body.

Truly.  I never thought just walking could be quite so fulfilling and exhillarating!

Didn't hurt the wildflowers are all blooming, the air was sweet and thick, a light (too light) breeze, bugs weren't awful...

I did have to quit at 40 minutes because of darkness and bugs both--the mosquitos come with the dusk.  

But what a lovely, amazing ride.  

Finished everything up with moving the girls to new pasture--uneventfully.  Not a big deal in the past, except the pasture is next to the boys' paddock and I wasn't quite sure how Papa would react.  He has been great.  Snorted and pranced and called a bit, but no *stress* and not pushing boundaries.  Of course the girls aren't interested (knocking wood madly--Dann is coming right up on heat if she's not bred!) so that helps.  

Even Noah gave me some good moments.  He's getting there.  He's VERY interetsed in me, looks at me quite intently when I call his name or talk to him, bounds right up to the front of the stall when they are in... but still isn't entirely fond of touching.  Better today.  Found the scritchy places.  ^_^

Just *wow*.

I imagine I'll be sore in the morning.  It will come WAY too early because we're singing at Church--normally we have the summer off, we've been requested for a special occasion... If it's as hot and buggy tomorrow as today was, I doubt I'll ride, as I have to work.  But now I won't have to feel *guilty.*      :lol:

God's so cool.  What a fabulous day and night.  

[pintopiaffe]

<_<  <_<  <_<

BAH!

I've succumbed to the heat wave.

 <_<  

Mid 90's, humidity running between 65 & 80%. Horses are sweating and blowing just STANDING in the shade, who am I to put a saddle on and ride?  The air's hardly fit to BREATHE.

Yesterday was a planned day off--early, early church then a nap then a full work shift... Good thing though.  Today... <sigh> I guess I could've done walk work, but... it's just brutal.   Instead I caught up some on my LC eating plan and that's about it.  <_<  I don't *sleep* in this weather, and that's the biggest issue.

Sometimes I think I'm just not dedicated or disciplined enough for dressage.  We're so close, but to move up from here takes STRENGTH.  Hours and hours and hours of work, hundreds and thousands of transitions... sometimes I think it's just beyond me.  I'm too lazy for it.   Or just not disciplined enough.

Perhaps it's partly my job(s). I  don't have the kind of job you can go to half-awake and still be ok.  It takes a ton of concentration, a lot of adrenaline and mistakes can cost lives--both of the 'customer' and the police/fire/ems personell.  So when I don't sleep well, I feel like the last thing I can do is push to ride, be *more* tired, and then still go in for a 10hr shift.  The hours don't relaly leave me time to ride when it's cool on workdays.  16-02 means I leave at 1500 and get home at 03.  I'm toast by the end of a shift and lucky to feed before passing out into bed.  So riding in the morning when it's cool isn't an option.  I get up by 10:30 and by then it's brutal out.  <sigh>

Don't mind me.  Just rambling.  I think I probably should've ridden or done SOEMTHING today.  Tomorrow's a scheduled day off--my early day to work, quick turnaround.  And Wed & Thurs I am teaching again all day both days.  Wed am bringing mare & foal for ultrasound... Thurs I might just bring Papa to ride there in between lessons or afterwards... But that means 4 days off in a row.   :ouch:

bleh.