Puffy The Majik Pinto Pony

[pintopiaffe]

B)  

<blissfulsigh>  

I had a marvelous ride today.

Oh, the footing was pretty awful.  We did get 'enough' snow, but it's very fine powder, and the temp never got high enough to day for it to settle, so it's just fine powder OVER pockmarked cement.

But I felt straight in the saddle!  For the first time in... two weeks?  I didn't feel like I was going to topple off to the right.

Himself was quite good.  We did mostly halt work.  Yup.  Well, walk/halt transitions... but also, 'waiting.'  Just standing still and waiting.  A few winters ago that was our main project.  These days he's very good about it.  It's very handy when we're out and about.  I can just let him stand and gawk and *settle*.  

45 minutes... some lateral work, ended with some HP in both direcitons.  I don't fuss too much with things though when there's no footing--I don't want to screw up the walk.  

The sun was nice... it was just a tad chilly, but overall a lovely day.  I didn't think very much about 'training' at all.  Just truly appreciated what a novelty is was to be sitting tall and feeling both seatbones and feeling *right* on him.  Just riding to RIDE.  Soaking up as much sun as possible... The sun sets today at 16:08.  Already it's down up here on the mountain, though it's not 'dusk' yet.  But starting tomorrow, the sunset gets later.  (the sunrise does too--Dec 20/21 is still only 8 hours of daylight and the shortest of the year) but sunset starts getting later TODAY.   YAY!  

I plan to go to bed horribly early tonight.  Tomorrow have church in the morning, then have to pick up dog food & oil at the wholesale store (yuk.  Shopping on a weekend with holiday crowds.  <_<   ) Have to work the PD in the evening, so not sure if we'll get a ride in or not.

Today was something to hold on to though.  

[shoveltrash]

good for you!
and i love the new 'title' :lol:
T.

[pintopiaffe]

I need to get pictures.  He's rather more puffy than usual, what with the mohawk haircut and all.

Today isn't a horse training update, but rather a rider update.  Session #2 with the Chiro and we went over my Xrays.  VERY interesting.  So cool to see what's going on in there.

My hips/seatbones are off by FOUR CENTIMETERS.  Now, that doesn't sound like too very much, but it's a HUGE amount when you consider that no matter how hard I try, I'm not going to be able to weight my left seatbone properly when my right one is 4cm lower!   No wonder I feel as if I'm totally bearing right and constantly trying to correct by pushing down on the left stirrup.  I'm not too sure why this affects half-pass to the *right*, but I *think* I'm so overweighted to the right I'm probably blocking him.

The other thing that was so totally interesting to me is something I've said for ages and ages... Even when I stand up straight, my legs kind of point forward from my body.   The Dr. Showed me some angles, and explained, calling one a 'gravity' line, which should be center of your spine.  Mine is off by some 23 degrees, and just him showing where the line *should* be, I said "Is that why my legs are forward..." and he said, YES!  So that's very, very interesting.  

Then there's the neck... I have no curve to my neck at all, and the top two vertabrae where the head should 'float' are almost fused.  

None of it is awful--and in fact, the very GOOD news is the arthritis in the hip isn't so much.  There's some you can see on the radiograph, *but* the bigger problem is the way the ball is jamming up into the socket.  And *that* should be fixable.  

Already my right arm which used to go numb when I slept on my left side (i.e. the right arm on TOP) is completely fixed.  The adjustments aren't gentle... and my body is certainly reacting to them... but I see it as GOOD, I hope.  I know that Osteopathic manipulations, while more gentle, would often trigger migraines, so I'd much rather take the minor discomforts following the Chiro adjustment.

I'm very excited and hope we're on the road to fixing some things.  

And it's not an EXCUSE, but it sure is nice to see a physical explanation as to why some things just don't work riding, no matter I've done them in the past...

I'm really quite excited.  The OMT helped enormously, but I don't think I was able to get in enough to actually *fix* the problems.  I'm very, very optimistic that we're going to get somewhere this time.

(should add here, I'm doubly blessed... I didn't know this at the time, but the Chiro doesn't charge insurance co-pay for Police, Fire & EMS. So while the insurance comes out of my paycheck, I am not having to pay out of pocket for this.  Which is really, really helpful since you go twice a week for quite a few weeks... )
 

[pintopiaffe]

had a really wonderful ride today.

It was still really cold, not quite 20 degrees, with 10-15mph winds, so felt like single digits, but after the last couple of days that felt positively balmy!

Started super well, I realized I hadn't done up my chin strap on my helmet, and was fiddling one handed with the reins on the buckle in the other hand, I asked for a halt with voice and seat--and got it.  Promptly.  I was thrilled.  What a good boy!

We seem to be having better halts, obviously.  I think the twist helps.  

Just 20-25 minutes of walk work--still not much in the way of footing.  Lots of lateral work.  I'm *better* more even, but not quite there yet.

Lots of SI/HI/some HP.  I can SI and HI without crossing.  Still want to cross that pesky right hand.  Though not as badly.  I think I was blocking SO much with the right seatbone...

I'm really pleased.  It was a really nice, nice ride.  It was one of those rides that was very easy.  Very subtle cues.  Granted, it was all walk, but still, it really felt like we were working as a team.  Partners.  Dancing.  

[thecatsmother]

I'm really pleased. It was a really nice, nice ride. It was one of those rides that was very easy. Very subtle cues. Granted, it was all walk, but still, it really felt like we were working as a team. Partners. Dancing.

      Sounds great        

[pintopiaffe]

Wow.  Today was a gift.  BEAUTIFUL weather. Cold, yes, but clear and calm and sunny... just gorgeous.

And I LOFF my pony!  Himself was WONDERFUL.

A little tension to work through, but man oh MAN once I did--he was brilliant.  We did lots of trot work, a little bit of canter even!  The footing was good.  Not perfect, but pretty darn good.  No more slick than wet grass.  A little spring to it.  We still need just a touch more snow for it to be perfect, but hay, I'm not complaining!  

Rode in the double, still fiddling to find the right bits.  Used the kangaroo revolving shank curb with the KK leine snaffle.  Rings are HUGE--not meant to be a bradoon, but the mouthpiece is thinnish, and he seems to go well in it.  Hard to say if the early tension would've been there in another bit--I tend to think it WOULD as he was looking up the hill back toward the barn and the girls.  

Just some really lovely work.  When he comes through, it's all self carriage.  He's really starting to sit behind some too.  Lateral work was WAY better.  Lots of feelings I'd like to memorize. The trot, when it is good, is just WOW.  The canter is amazing--I can't wait to WORK it, but today was not the day.  When you do just a bit of it, it's WAY uphill, like a rocking horse, but still with plenty of jump (humpy back like he's going to buck almost--there's a fine line between that feeling and the feeling of THROUGH and 'jumpy' canter. )

When he's through he's sooooo soft in the bridle.  Doesn't matter WHAT I have in his mouth then.  I do feel like we are getting there more often and for most of the time.   I can't wait for his right-sized snaffle to come so I can see if it's going to hold true in the snaffle as well.

editing to add pictures... Puffy is NOT a derogatory name at all.  My sleek, exotic Ayerab tends to go bohemian for the winter.  It's worse, of course, with the mohawk...

... drumroll.......  


at least I don't have to worry about it growing back in...


editing to add: those rings are HIDEOUS aren't they?  I suppose I'll have to keep fiddling to find a *bradoon*...   And the throatlatch is NOT tight at all.  It's all fluff.  Truly.  I wasn't choking him...  :blink:  

[shoveltrash]

oh i love the pics! (but i have to agree with you about those rings..... <_< )
he looks SO handsome.
i hope that one day i will be able to give such great reports as you!  
something to aspire to.......
it sounds like things are really coming together for you - fantastic
Trish
 

[pintopiaffe]

:blush:   I love that the photos really caught his eye, and his demeanor.  These were POST ride, mind you.  He just has this completely contented *glow* when we've done well.

I feel like I'm gushing and waxing poetic... but today exceeded yesterday even.

Went out for some hillwork in the pelham.  Mostly walk, some trot, some canter.

Came to the bottom for just a weeeee tiny bit of flatwork--how could I not?  Footing was IDEAL.  Snow breaking up like good footing, not icy, not slick... He felt marvelous.  

And I had the most marvelous half-pass at trot.  It. Was. Soft. And. Steady. And. Even. And. Light... just like that.  Oh, gosh, it was pretty darn wonderful.  It was one of those moments of harmony that you work for and wait for and hope for... and just when i wasn't really trying for it... *poof* there it was.  (and no, don't think that goes unnoticed...  <_< )

The hillwork helped--sit him down, get him reaching, get him forward... But it was just the timing... he was so incredibly *on* whichever rein I put him on... just THERE.   And so after some pretty impressive haunches in at the trot,  I asked, and he gave.  Honestly.  After all the blood and sweat and tears gone into Half-pass... his bend was perfect, the angle was right, and it was just so STEADY and SOFT.  <bliss>

I suppose it helped that Mother Nature seems to be fighting the darkness for all She's worth... the snow was incredibly colourful in the afternoon sun--improbable glitters of bright, iridescent colours.  The sky was that winter-black threatening bank of clouds, red beneath/beyond it, and sun bursting through where we were.  It was another lovely afternoon--calm and warm.  Somehow I think all of that kind of came together and we danced more easily for it.  I told you... waxing poetic!

It's one of the shortest days of the year... the dark is winning right now.  Only a few more before they start lengthening again.  The moonrise the past few nights has been stunning.  Blood red and so huge as to look like something out of a Speilberg movie.  The light is fighting back...

I know I sound incredibly sappy.  I'm so MOVED by just a few strides of half-pass.  I did not even try it in the other direction.  (had done it in the 'good' direction.)  I halted, fed sugar, and walked the rest of the ride.  I don't think I verbally praised him enough--I was too into the moment to speak to him.  I hope he knows how brilliant he was and how right that was...

Amazing.  

Now I'm greedy.  I want MORE!   :P   Tomorrow might be a day off, or maybe some long-lining or a walk on the road... needs to be something completely different.  

I'm so proud of him.  I'm so humbled.  It's the most incredible thing when it happens.  Half-pass has been such a stumbling block for me.  I cannot even ride it on schoolmasters well anymore, it's been so long and become such a monster to overcome.  I used to do it without thinking about it, and now I think about it too hard.  No one else has ever ridden half-pass on Majikjaz.  I've spoiled it, I've worked it, and perhaps even I've taught it to him--or at least taught him to interpret this poor rider's muddled clues...

Nuno says somewhere that real dressage doesn't begin without half-pass.  

Well, maybe we're almost ready to begin.
 :blush:  

[pintopiaffe]

well, today was good proof that I am not making it all up, exagerating, and living in a fantasy world!   :lol:

It is very dreary and raw out.  I'd planned to ride on the road, but realized I'd no idea how icy it still is out there--hadn't paid a bit of attention to that on the way/way home from work yesterday.

So instead we rode again in the bottom of the hill pasture.  Snaffle bit.  The "plan" was lots of stretching, big, steady forward figures... bending/counterbending.  Basically the 'stretch and loosen' work.

And it was.

And it was pretty good at times.  He really wasn't focused at all though.  It became almost comical.  We'd halt or walk, and he'd be there with me for a minute, then his gaze (and mind) would have to wander away... to the woods, to the road, to the other horses up the hill...

He was a little stiff in the jaw.  Stiff isn't really the right word, because he'd bend, but he was *holding*.  I'd like to have the time to try him the french link *then* the single joint *then* the comfy contact (when it ever arrives) to see if perhaps he's holding onto that french link.  I almost got that feeling.    VERY nice moments of self-carriage in between.  He's starting to sit just a wee bit more too.

Steady tempo was the word of the day.  I'm leery of asking for too much forward with the snow.  It's just starting to pack and wasn't as reliable as it was the last ride.  

Had a BRILLIANT canter to the right.  I *thought* it and he transitioned... Never did get to even ask for it back to the left as he was anticipating too much.  He started to get very slightly blowy too, when we went back to the left.  Wasn't the work--hadn't done that much aerobically... I have had this nagging thought in my head for about two days now that he needs the joint supplement again for that LH.  He's been ever-so-slightly stocked up.  Not sure if it's the scratches...  But I think we've been doing some fairly demanding work and that LH might be achey.  Maybe I'm anthromorphizing (sp?) because my hip is achey with the weather.  But he's just ever-so-slightly tight/resistant/NQR to the left and it's nagging at me.  So I'll pick up some joint junk for him and see if there's a difference.  

I was sloppy today too.  I really need to get some discipline and start working out again.   :ouch:   I'm not going to stress over it the next 2 weeks as I'm workign some extra/odd shifts for the holiday, then switching to my new shift. (similar hours, but different days/crew) I think the goal will be the 2nd week into January to try to get into some kind of steady schedule and start working out again.   I cna't expect him to be fit and progress if I don't do the same.  

So, not quite the bliss of the last few rides, but I AM really pleased with the self-carriage when it's there.   Tomorrow road or longlining (or longlining on the road?) Thurs should be off due to weather... Chiro anyway for me, so that's ok.  

[pintopiaffe]

And then there are days which just blow you away.  

I cannot believe how wonderful my ride was today.

It was an awful day.  Fighting a migraine, fighting fatigue... had to go into town and didn't want to.  Got stuck behind an accident on the way home and loosing daylight fast.  

Opted to throw on the bitless and go bareback, as it was just past sunset when I finally was able to swing a leg over.

Belatedly realized he'd gotten a smidge of alfalfa last night and might be spooky.  

He wasn't.

He was brilliant.  

He made me cry.     In a good way.

I could sit that trot bareback for HOURS now.  It's the most comfortable thing.  A tiny shift of weight and he's in SI or HI.  

He was a little more stiff to the left than right, but SO much softer in his throughness, I think the joint junk was needed.  It's something you probably can't even see, but I can *feel* in the way the energy comes through him.  The way he puts his feet down... subtle, yet definite.

He was as round and through and up in the bridle with no bit and very little contact as he is in any bit or bridle.  Proof of correct work.  The bitless is more obvious for things, I am not interested in working in it daily, but I DO think it's proof of going well.   Half-pass at trot.   ^_^  just thinking of it.  ^_^

And then we cantered.  Uphill, a bit humped in the back--he was thinking of joy bucking.  But it was so much FUN I just laughed.  He was brilliant.  Canters both ways.  God he was great.

Actually worked a bit of piaffe too.  He was SO up after the canters, and the communication so effortless... it was just there.  True, it was part evasion... but it was there.  And it was PLAYING it.  Just a few steps.  VERY correct.  Unbelieveable the posture on a loose rein.  Oh my.

I cried.  I'm crying again as I'm posting this.  So touched.  When everything else feels awful... (I'm feeling a bit pathetic and homesick today.  I don't know why, I haven't been home on the holidays in years and years.  Suddenly I want my Mum though.    ) I don't know if he knew... or if it was just the lack of pressure.  It was playing and dancing and incredible.  

[pintopiaffe]

Crooked, crooked, crooked, crooked.

ME, that is. And the saddle.  

Argh.

BEAUTIFUL, perfect, incredible day.  Warm and new snow, and the clouds playing on the mountain...

I noticed as I was walking out the saddle was a bit crooked.  No big deal, thinks me, since it's to the off side--it'll come over when I mount.  Which it did.  And I was still crooked.

One of those days I just can't get right.  Even without stirrups, I was jamming on my left seatbone.  My left hip aches now that I'm sitting.

Interestingly--to me at least--I woke up with a migraine today.  Drugs have kept it at bay, but it was one of those neck ones... the pain at the base of skull and neck wake me up.  I wonder if it's caused from something lower down?  Or if the neck being gummed up pulls the hips out.  Dunno.  I suspect I won't ride again until after the chiro on Tuesday.  

Very frustrating on such a nice day.

Himself was very good, considering.  Some really lovely walk work, and all is not lost, since the snow was just a tiny bit deep, so 20 minutes of work was really a bit more than it would be.

Off to work.  

[Sonora]

What a handsome horse, I love his colouring    

[pintopiaffe]

Thanks Pioneer.  I can't take an ounce of credit for breeding him, only for picking hiim out.  Diamond in the rough... his breeder has the most amazingly athletic, USEFUL Arabians I've ever seen.  I'd take every one of them in a heartbeat if I could--including the homozygous grey.   His kids are wonderful.  He outproduces himself, even though he's pretty darn hard to fault.

Today...

Ah... Lazurus arises... It's amazing what a new piece of tack will do for one's health and optimism!     Our Neue Schule Comfy Contact in 4 3/4 FINALLY arrived in the mail yesterday.  About 3 months after returning the 5".  At first I was worried the smaller one would be TOO small... but it's still QUITE roomy.

I feel only slightly more human today... but just had to give it a whirl.  Himself really loves it.  He telescopes out to it like he does the pelham.  He's very relaxed in it.  We even had some very soft, voluntary chew-and-swallowing.  UNHEARD of for him.  He responds to pressure by yeilding and chewing.   Not tension champing, but soft giving.  

It was too icy--and I couldn't SEE the ice under the snow--to do anything other than gentle walk work.  Did the hill a few times.  Made use of the fresh snow to check out our Shoulder-in... yup, mostly 3 tracks.  Definitely when it felt right.  So my feel is on the right track (pun acknowledged--unintended    )

I felt very evenly seated today.  Felt quite plugged in and secure, even though I'm kind of yukky and weakish from the flu.  A little uncoordinated with the left leg... but much, MUCH better than the last ride.

Only 20 minutes alltogether.  Just too icy and feeling too lousy for much else.  A very nice ride though, and I can't wait to work more in the NS.  

[pintopiaffe]

no riding update. :( just a bit of a pity rant.

It was quite mild today and I *could* have ridden on the road, but instead I had a migraine.  :ouch:  

And Kat seems to be coming into heat.  Or loosing the baby.  

What a rotten day.

I started my new shift and tomorrow is my early day in.  Supposed to be mild again, but not sure I'm going to be able to fit in a ride with the schedule.  We'll see I guess.

It's SO frustrating to me when the weather gives me a chance to ride, and LIFE somehow manages to take that chance away.      

[pintopiaffe]

A very quick ride on the road.  It was about 20 degrees out, but windchill below 10.  Brrr.  My left ear started to really, really smart so I turned for home.  Just 1/2 mile, the two good hills... maybe 20/25 minutes tops.  He was understandably a bit tense.  

More than nothing I guess.  

Waiting for a callback from the vet on Kat, something's just not right with her. Eating/drinking/peeing/pooping, but acting like a total moron.  Pacing, weaving, generally getting herself into a panic over nothing. :unsure: