And swapped him for a fire-breathing dinosaur?
Hmm. Own up, tis not funny. I'd like a broken Maxwell back please.....
Pah. :-))
So tonight was RC lesson night. I stuck to my guns about not taking Magic and had decided I would take Max.... so yesterday Max and I were hacking out in the beautiful sunshine at 6.50am :-)
And then, this morning, it was Magic's turn.... and I must say if I can scrape myself out of bed, riding in the dawn is much more preferable than poo picking (which has slipped off the radar this week :whistlesinnocently:).
Then tonight, off we went to RC. Maxwell the perfect pony loaded straight onto the lorry in the dark as if he did it all the time (first time in the lorry at all!). He travelled fab and had loads more room than in trailer.
We got on and walked round early, and someone was very on his toes.... people walking alongside the arena, wind blowing, etc all caused the Maxwell equivalent of a squeal and pee-off (basically, a roar like the T-rex in Jurassic Park, and a few strides of TB "bounce").
Dan was rolling his eyes at him, honestly, I saw him!
Then other folks started to arrive and we had a few more interesting moments.
Max decided that each new horse into the arena had to be checked out and if female, letched over for the foreseeable future. He wasn't particularly impressed when I suggested that tonight wasn't about "picking up birds"!!!
Then, after explaining to instructor that he was baby, blah blah, broken/rehab, blah... not very fit... blah.... no schooling... blah... we set off to warm up, and got to the car park end of the arena and out of NOWHERE he did the leap/buck combo he does in the field. O.M.G. I nearly bit dirt! He didn't have the decency to roar first, oh no, he roared on landing as we legged it across the arena. :smallembarrassedcough:
Humph. Methinks I shall not feel too guilty about him having to work solidly for an hour!
I have a bad shoulder, and that made it worse. Honestly it was like being on one of those rollercoasters when they set off straight down and there's nout in front of you (or seemingly even beneath you!). Fortunately, he wasn't quick enough to twist as well (phew) and he's got such a long neck, that even the amount of force he put in, his neck still was there as we landed. Ickle sh*t.
So we were a bit careful for a few mins.... and then things started to settle down and he went like a dream.
I need to remember to sling shot right back in trot, and rise all the way, but goodness if Magic requires 100% effort 100% time to "get it", with Max I need probably 60%, 4o% of the time to have a good stab at it. So easy AS!!
Even canters he tried very hard, good trans and no ears up nostrils, in fact offering too much nosedive. But he feels like its canter now, allbeit not very balanced yet. Trot on the other hand is fantastic. Even on small circles.
So I guess, yes, someone has swapped my cripple for a new baby project.... cos he sure ain't a cripple any more!! Yippeee :-)))
He travelled home quietly as well, and loading is just a dream. Unloading was pretty cute as he did "flip flop feet" coming off ramp as it was quite steep and dark having come away from the light in the box so he felt his way down the ramp, bless him.
All in all an excellent evenings work.
He's not got a Bredon hack on Fri now, but we have still got stressage on Sun. Please god he doesn't hit the ejector button again when I am there alone with two horses :coldshudder:
:-))))
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Foiled
We went jumpies this afternoon.... to find it had been cancelled because of the wind/rain.
Bum.
Fortunately, they let us hire the arena, so I had a happy 3/4 hr schooling Magic instead. I'm not sure P and Dan thought as much of the opportunity as me!
Magic was very spooky about the banners to start with, so we walked a 20m circle round on the right rein and past them over and over again with me getting his attentive (on me!) ears and pushing his neck away. Once I'd pretty much got them (barring incidents!) we changed rein and did left rein. No attempt at all on left rein in walk.
So back to right rein, and trot. Wow. By george I think we've got it! I had control of the speed of his legs, so I remembered more rise and I got big trot! Waiting for ME big trot more to the point. When I lost it I needed more bear down and to drag my feet BACK. Weird, but worked... I think he's sneaking me into a very subtle water ski without me noticing, and then off we went in the same old same old... drawing lower leg back got me out of it!
I really really need to keep getting to top of rise... but I struggle sooooo much when he's tense.... So my learning curve from stressage on Thurs, then today is that its ok to forget the rise as long as I have mega beardown, more than reins.... but rising better helps me GET control of the speed of the legs, so the longer I get defensive and ickle rise, the harder it'll be. But beardown first!
So hey ho, its back to the same old - kneel (enough), slingshot (enough), buffer (enough), beardown (enough), Bulldog clip (enough), rise (enough). Heeeeeeheee. Simples!
So right trot was good, changed to left trot which has been better than right the last few times, and it still was! Excellent. I had leg to hand and throughness. My goodness, I felt like I could ride, and he felt like dressage coblet!
The other biiiig thing though, is his neck. As in, after watching vid and seeing how jacknifed he was, I was determined straight neck. Easy peasy on right rein as we both LIKE working into left hand. Very hard on left rein.... although doable as long as I turned like a bus....
Again, blow me down this stuff works and I can actually see us improving LOADS at the mo!
Then a breather as my thighs had given up ghost. Once thighs are gone, I can't be strong enough in beardown and back so I lose the trot.
Then onto canter. Right canter first. Lovely trans, my new regime of always sit trot so he knows is working. And he only tried to stretch right down! I nearly fell off. It was gorgeous!
Then left canter, did some trot first, but funnily he was loads more relaxed and less pre-emptive than he's been in the field. Got left canter and worked on turning like a bus and KEEPING right rein. It worked, we did feel a bit like turning on a kinda pirouette, but he relaxed and stretched down this way too. The ONLY time he tensed was when my left hand started trying to steer/flex.... then I had to remember my mandtra (see above!) and release the rein, whilst apologising for bad habits.
Transitions were mainly brilliant. He did one walk/trot where he hollowed. So I halted him with my core, and asked again and he stayed lovely and soft, so I'd suspect I'd "ridden" the trans rather than "working me" on the trans. He did one rubbish left trot/canter one, but otherwise they were fab.
And we have balanced canter/trot trans - soooo nice, he just comes through all balanced as long as (yes, you've guessed it) I keep my mantra running!
The tricky thing for me now is this neck straight on thing. But it soo helps him that I will crack it. I just have to remember that, on top of all else.
The best bit was how calm he was. Yes he spooked, yes we had a couple of whip round/piss off levitate manouvres, but he stopped and carried on without taking a breath/missing a stride.... so now he doesn't STAY panicked by stuff. And there was a horse looning around in field by school that he thoroughly managed to ignore. No mean feat!
We even did some medium trots, where I got to feel a real medium, and transition to working purely from rise/beardown etc. Really really exciting! Plus I can sit trot for at least 2 strides to get canter :-))
We had round wheels for sure today, and I'm now loads more confident that even though I'll probably have "lost" them next time I school I CAN get them back!!!
I'm so proud of him and I'm actually quite proud of me too! We can do this! :-)))
Bum.
Fortunately, they let us hire the arena, so I had a happy 3/4 hr schooling Magic instead. I'm not sure P and Dan thought as much of the opportunity as me!
Magic was very spooky about the banners to start with, so we walked a 20m circle round on the right rein and past them over and over again with me getting his attentive (on me!) ears and pushing his neck away. Once I'd pretty much got them (barring incidents!) we changed rein and did left rein. No attempt at all on left rein in walk.
So back to right rein, and trot. Wow. By george I think we've got it! I had control of the speed of his legs, so I remembered more rise and I got big trot! Waiting for ME big trot more to the point. When I lost it I needed more bear down and to drag my feet BACK. Weird, but worked... I think he's sneaking me into a very subtle water ski without me noticing, and then off we went in the same old same old... drawing lower leg back got me out of it!
I really really need to keep getting to top of rise... but I struggle sooooo much when he's tense.... So my learning curve from stressage on Thurs, then today is that its ok to forget the rise as long as I have mega beardown, more than reins.... but rising better helps me GET control of the speed of the legs, so the longer I get defensive and ickle rise, the harder it'll be. But beardown first!
So hey ho, its back to the same old - kneel (enough), slingshot (enough), buffer (enough), beardown (enough), Bulldog clip (enough), rise (enough). Heeeeeeheee. Simples!
So right trot was good, changed to left trot which has been better than right the last few times, and it still was! Excellent. I had leg to hand and throughness. My goodness, I felt like I could ride, and he felt like dressage coblet!
The other biiiig thing though, is his neck. As in, after watching vid and seeing how jacknifed he was, I was determined straight neck. Easy peasy on right rein as we both LIKE working into left hand. Very hard on left rein.... although doable as long as I turned like a bus....
Again, blow me down this stuff works and I can actually see us improving LOADS at the mo!
Then a breather as my thighs had given up ghost. Once thighs are gone, I can't be strong enough in beardown and back so I lose the trot.
Then onto canter. Right canter first. Lovely trans, my new regime of always sit trot so he knows is working. And he only tried to stretch right down! I nearly fell off. It was gorgeous!
Then left canter, did some trot first, but funnily he was loads more relaxed and less pre-emptive than he's been in the field. Got left canter and worked on turning like a bus and KEEPING right rein. It worked, we did feel a bit like turning on a kinda pirouette, but he relaxed and stretched down this way too. The ONLY time he tensed was when my left hand started trying to steer/flex.... then I had to remember my mandtra (see above!) and release the rein, whilst apologising for bad habits.
Transitions were mainly brilliant. He did one walk/trot where he hollowed. So I halted him with my core, and asked again and he stayed lovely and soft, so I'd suspect I'd "ridden" the trans rather than "working me" on the trans. He did one rubbish left trot/canter one, but otherwise they were fab.
And we have balanced canter/trot trans - soooo nice, he just comes through all balanced as long as (yes, you've guessed it) I keep my mantra running!
The tricky thing for me now is this neck straight on thing. But it soo helps him that I will crack it. I just have to remember that, on top of all else.
The best bit was how calm he was. Yes he spooked, yes we had a couple of whip round/piss off levitate manouvres, but he stopped and carried on without taking a breath/missing a stride.... so now he doesn't STAY panicked by stuff. And there was a horse looning around in field by school that he thoroughly managed to ignore. No mean feat!
We even did some medium trots, where I got to feel a real medium, and transition to working purely from rise/beardown etc. Really really exciting! Plus I can sit trot for at least 2 strides to get canter :-))
We had round wheels for sure today, and I'm now loads more confident that even though I'll probably have "lost" them next time I school I CAN get them back!!!
I'm so proud of him and I'm actually quite proud of me too! We can do this! :-)))
Trims, when and who
Aero -
7/12/08 (9.5 weeks)
12/2/09 (6.5 weeks)
30/3/09 (5.5 weeks, only a little rasp round the flare really)
7/5/09 (6 weeks)
18/6/09 (3.5 weeks! - desperate, think last of really bad flare)
12/7/09 (5 weeks)
14/8/09 (8 weeks)
7/10/09
Magic -
1/1/09 (7 weeks)
20/2/09 (7 weeks)
10/4/09 (5 weeks)
15/5/09 (8 weeks)
12/7/09 (5 weeks)
14/8/09 (5 weeks til Exmoor 20-27th Sept. Self trimmed nicely!)
25/10/09 (10 weeks total)
Dan -
17/12/08 (8 weeks)
12/2/09 (7 weeks)
3/4/09 (5 weeks) Was footy around this time so they came off the big fields!
7/5/09 (7 weeks) and boy were they ugly flared things!
24/6/09 (2 weeks and as I had the rasp out, I took the flare off again... can't believe how quick they are growing at mo.
12/7/09 (4 weeks) we have another ducks bill section of flare on the lower third... not long now!
14/8/09 (5 weeks)
19/9/09
Max -
17/12/08 (fronts - 5 weeks til...)
20/1/09 (all 4, then 5.5 til)
1/3/09 (fronts - then 5 til)
3/4/09 (all 4, then 5 weeks, (all 4) only a little rasp round the flare really)
7/5/09 (6 weeks) Proper trim at a proper time!
18/6/09 (5 weeks) last of major flare off, whoohoo.
24/7/09 Experimenting with no trim.... as medial/lateral deviation seems to be serving a purpose....
Checked 7/10/09. Roll at toe nearly grown out, great length at quarters has self trimmed out, leaving very self made quarter scoop. Heels still very weedy, but much higher (1 cm?) than sole at heel. Frogs very in ground contact though so assume heels will reduce in height when back of foot can take more ground contact. New hoof at coronet got 1 inch or so of much much tighter growth, so again the stuff at the ground looks very flared. Its going to take a while until this guy grows his perfect foot! (13 weeks!)
25/10/09 Gave in, flare off!
Tig -
1/1/09 (8 weeks)
1/3/09 (6 weeks)
10/4/09 (4 weeks) Mega trim needed - feet are growing!
7/5/09 (6 weeks) Ditto. Possible abscess 5/6 - lame 4 days, homeopathics. Must have reabsorbed.
18/6/09 (8 weeks) Moved to new yard on 30/7/09.
14/8/09 (9 weeks)
16/10/09
7/12/08 (9.5 weeks)
12/2/09 (6.5 weeks)
30/3/09 (5.5 weeks, only a little rasp round the flare really)
7/5/09 (6 weeks)
18/6/09 (3.5 weeks! - desperate, think last of really bad flare)
12/7/09 (5 weeks)
14/8/09 (8 weeks)
7/10/09
Magic -
1/1/09 (7 weeks)
20/2/09 (7 weeks)
10/4/09 (5 weeks)
15/5/09 (8 weeks)
12/7/09 (5 weeks)
14/8/09 (5 weeks til Exmoor 20-27th Sept. Self trimmed nicely!)
25/10/09 (10 weeks total)
Dan -
17/12/08 (8 weeks)
12/2/09 (7 weeks)
3/4/09 (5 weeks) Was footy around this time so they came off the big fields!
7/5/09 (7 weeks) and boy were they ugly flared things!
24/6/09 (2 weeks and as I had the rasp out, I took the flare off again... can't believe how quick they are growing at mo.
12/7/09 (4 weeks) we have another ducks bill section of flare on the lower third... not long now!
14/8/09 (5 weeks)
19/9/09
Max -
17/12/08 (fronts - 5 weeks til...)
20/1/09 (all 4, then 5.5 til)
1/3/09 (fronts - then 5 til)
3/4/09 (all 4, then 5 weeks, (all 4) only a little rasp round the flare really)
7/5/09 (6 weeks) Proper trim at a proper time!
18/6/09 (5 weeks) last of major flare off, whoohoo.
24/7/09 Experimenting with no trim.... as medial/lateral deviation seems to be serving a purpose....
Checked 7/10/09. Roll at toe nearly grown out, great length at quarters has self trimmed out, leaving very self made quarter scoop. Heels still very weedy, but much higher (1 cm?) than sole at heel. Frogs very in ground contact though so assume heels will reduce in height when back of foot can take more ground contact. New hoof at coronet got 1 inch or so of much much tighter growth, so again the stuff at the ground looks very flared. Its going to take a while until this guy grows his perfect foot! (13 weeks!)
25/10/09 Gave in, flare off!
Tig -
1/1/09 (8 weeks)
1/3/09 (6 weeks)
10/4/09 (4 weeks) Mega trim needed - feet are growing!
7/5/09 (6 weeks) Ditto. Possible abscess 5/6 - lame 4 days, homeopathics. Must have reabsorbed.
18/6/09 (8 weeks) Moved to new yard on 30/7/09.
14/8/09 (9 weeks)
16/10/09
Friday, October 30, 2009
Video
Edited to show just the bits "this" end as nothing to see the other end and takes for hours to load as it is!
You wouldn't believe how much longer he was in the neck warming up, sob!
You wouldn't believe how much longer he was in the neck warming up, sob!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Stressage
Oh yes. The ears? Had them for most of the warm up, but not much of the test :-)
He warmed up well, concentrating on me and generally trying very hard. Left canter is a complete mare at the mo.... am trying to analyse why but am not really succeeding..... something to do with sliding off the right side of my horse though perhaps?
We warmed up (mainly in walk) for nearly an hour. So I'd cooked myself by the time it was our go. Although thighs are fine today, so obviously wasn't as cooked as I thought!
We went in and he was madly spooking at the wings along the sides of the arena. TBH I let him as I tried once to get the ears but he took it as a reason to be even more spooked. So I let him walk round like a tapir til the bell went.
Then we picked up trot, spooked wildly at A and entered.... He was very tense in the test but I think we both tried our level best. I gave it everything but came out very despondant that my best is sooooo far from being able to successfully match his forces.
He was very spooky, ce la vie.... not helped by them collecting sheets from the judges box AS I WAS TURNING AT C. Now, that peed me off a bit. Since when do they collect sheets in the middle of someone's test? I wouldn't have minded if I'd been the other end, but it gave Magic all he needed to spook at C everytime. So I did my test in a 35 by 18 arena to avoid levitating. Sigh.
Course, he'd have thought I was cross with him, which I wasn't!
Having said that, he was not too bad with the white boards. And we had moments where I could just soften and let him go and he didn't run off (we were going far too slow anyway cos I was soooo not in control of the speed of his legs!).
I'm so glad I got it videod, even though its a bit far away. I came out thinking I'd ridden in my old hunched over, lean right forward way, so it was nice to play it back and see that although he looked tense and like I needed to ride forwards, I was pretty upright and he looks pretty polite.
I even got to the point in right canter where I started half halting, setting him up and then letting him go. I think he will have appreciated that.... I didn't just hang on for grim death as usual.
His canter was pretty sideways and I can see how not straight we are in canter... lots more to work on with withers in and head/neck out to straighten us up, but the left canter looks better than expected (!) so just goes to show I'm feeling much smaller stuff now than I used to.
We got 60%. Given the tension I guess we didn't deserve more but I can see potential there now that I didn't think I'd ever be able to tap... maybe a few more stressage outings and he'll learn to relax at that too.
Then we went jumpies. The jumps were tiny but I was able to focus on hands down and control and keep the canter rhythm, which he seems to be fooling around with just now... he's doing the "I need to drop back to trot to have a good peer at it" routine... but for now I'm letting him as long as he still flows and jumps... its not my fault his peering trot is the most square wheeled in the world, I just have to try to ride it properly! He went clear and is getting more relaxed jumpies.
Dan on the other hand, warmed up beautifully for stressage, even if silly at times to get to Magic, then refused to go into the main arena. at.all. Lots of showing everyone his tummy. Not even going to take a lead from a handy person. Magic and I had to lead him in, but then of course I worried he'd show the judge his belly and leave the arena in his test. But he didn't, phew. Test was tense but everything in the right place. His paces have changed so much and I think he really needs to just chill out a bit... but its mostly Magic so the sooner he's partying with Max the better! He then jumped round clear in his dressage kit, to prove that the jumpies bit is fun and easy!
Dan and Magic jumping on Sun, then flat lesson for Max and Dan on Tues, and a hackety on Bredon for Max on Fri, before Magic and Max's first dual outing on Sun for stressage (P is away).
Busy busy!
He warmed up well, concentrating on me and generally trying very hard. Left canter is a complete mare at the mo.... am trying to analyse why but am not really succeeding..... something to do with sliding off the right side of my horse though perhaps?
We warmed up (mainly in walk) for nearly an hour. So I'd cooked myself by the time it was our go. Although thighs are fine today, so obviously wasn't as cooked as I thought!
We went in and he was madly spooking at the wings along the sides of the arena. TBH I let him as I tried once to get the ears but he took it as a reason to be even more spooked. So I let him walk round like a tapir til the bell went.
Then we picked up trot, spooked wildly at A and entered.... He was very tense in the test but I think we both tried our level best. I gave it everything but came out very despondant that my best is sooooo far from being able to successfully match his forces.
He was very spooky, ce la vie.... not helped by them collecting sheets from the judges box AS I WAS TURNING AT C. Now, that peed me off a bit. Since when do they collect sheets in the middle of someone's test? I wouldn't have minded if I'd been the other end, but it gave Magic all he needed to spook at C everytime. So I did my test in a 35 by 18 arena to avoid levitating. Sigh.
Course, he'd have thought I was cross with him, which I wasn't!
Having said that, he was not too bad with the white boards. And we had moments where I could just soften and let him go and he didn't run off (we were going far too slow anyway cos I was soooo not in control of the speed of his legs!).
I'm so glad I got it videod, even though its a bit far away. I came out thinking I'd ridden in my old hunched over, lean right forward way, so it was nice to play it back and see that although he looked tense and like I needed to ride forwards, I was pretty upright and he looks pretty polite.
I even got to the point in right canter where I started half halting, setting him up and then letting him go. I think he will have appreciated that.... I didn't just hang on for grim death as usual.
His canter was pretty sideways and I can see how not straight we are in canter... lots more to work on with withers in and head/neck out to straighten us up, but the left canter looks better than expected (!) so just goes to show I'm feeling much smaller stuff now than I used to.
We got 60%. Given the tension I guess we didn't deserve more but I can see potential there now that I didn't think I'd ever be able to tap... maybe a few more stressage outings and he'll learn to relax at that too.
Then we went jumpies. The jumps were tiny but I was able to focus on hands down and control and keep the canter rhythm, which he seems to be fooling around with just now... he's doing the "I need to drop back to trot to have a good peer at it" routine... but for now I'm letting him as long as he still flows and jumps... its not my fault his peering trot is the most square wheeled in the world, I just have to try to ride it properly! He went clear and is getting more relaxed jumpies.
Dan on the other hand, warmed up beautifully for stressage, even if silly at times to get to Magic, then refused to go into the main arena. at.all. Lots of showing everyone his tummy. Not even going to take a lead from a handy person. Magic and I had to lead him in, but then of course I worried he'd show the judge his belly and leave the arena in his test. But he didn't, phew. Test was tense but everything in the right place. His paces have changed so much and I think he really needs to just chill out a bit... but its mostly Magic so the sooner he's partying with Max the better! He then jumped round clear in his dressage kit, to prove that the jumpies bit is fun and easy!
Dan and Magic jumping on Sun, then flat lesson for Max and Dan on Tues, and a hackety on Bredon for Max on Fri, before Magic and Max's first dual outing on Sun for stressage (P is away).
Busy busy!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dem ears...
So, getting a Magic's ears is a big thing... possibly the biggest thing.
And by getting his ears I mean, sideways listening ears, not pricked ears looking for lions! Because he is sooo spooky, and so ready for the lions, schooling in a field on top of a hill has been interesting over the last few years. So interesting I've rarely done it!
So this week, the clocks changed and I decided that I needed to work in the field whilst I still could. Mon they both got schooled, one night and one morning.... Tues, Magic and I had a schooling session in the dark, and then today Magic and I went out in the half light this morning, and Max and I actually managed to sneak out for a very flourescent hack in the dusk.
I needed to decide who I was taking on Thurs... and at the last count, it was Magic. I schooled Max in a normal (dressage legal) bit and after being so nice last time, he was horrid and mouthy and fighting it. He did improve, but not enough for me to feel that schooling is the right thing to do until I have his mouth quiet again. When we hacked tonight, we went in dressage legal bit and actually by the time we were coming home, he was frothing well and totally relaxed in his jaw, despite having had a busy hack. So I think I shall continue to lay off him and take him for flat lesson next tues as a first port of call.
Magic and I have schooled 3 days running then. And don't I know it. Goodness me I have to use sosoooo many muscles to keep him. To keep his ears I need to sling shot, narrow, buffer, bulldog clip, push out into my wall. And to keep the trot how I want it without resorting to reins, I need to feel like I lift my knees up, keep foot light, and repeat everything else.
I've been also doing board work when driving, as can do on Max (much narrower and smoother) but struggle on Magic. That has got better. And now it seems that I can trot both reins (in fact today, left rein trot was better than right, whooohooo). And canter right is fab, but canter left not so good....
I think I "may" loose outside seatbone out.... and I "may" push weight down into left foot.... but I think I'm zoning out so much in left canter that I haven't yet discovered if I am!
Today's canter work was the best of the three.... he was more relaxed in left canter, so although we did only a short bit, by the end I was starting to feel right seatbone had fallen off, but didn't manage to retrieve it in time.... patience, it will come!
He's still pre-emptive, but the nice thing is that even though he anticipates canter trans after we've cantered, now when I say no he relaxes straight back into the trot, plus, because I can now sit in the trot, I am consciously ALWAYS sitting before I canter, so he can't assume canter if I am ever rising.... watch this space!
So dem ears is the key to a Magic, and hacking Max tonight who was in "lala" land, I suspect they will be a big piece of the jigsaw with him too!
And by getting his ears I mean, sideways listening ears, not pricked ears looking for lions! Because he is sooo spooky, and so ready for the lions, schooling in a field on top of a hill has been interesting over the last few years. So interesting I've rarely done it!
So this week, the clocks changed and I decided that I needed to work in the field whilst I still could. Mon they both got schooled, one night and one morning.... Tues, Magic and I had a schooling session in the dark, and then today Magic and I went out in the half light this morning, and Max and I actually managed to sneak out for a very flourescent hack in the dusk.
I needed to decide who I was taking on Thurs... and at the last count, it was Magic. I schooled Max in a normal (dressage legal) bit and after being so nice last time, he was horrid and mouthy and fighting it. He did improve, but not enough for me to feel that schooling is the right thing to do until I have his mouth quiet again. When we hacked tonight, we went in dressage legal bit and actually by the time we were coming home, he was frothing well and totally relaxed in his jaw, despite having had a busy hack. So I think I shall continue to lay off him and take him for flat lesson next tues as a first port of call.
Magic and I have schooled 3 days running then. And don't I know it. Goodness me I have to use sosoooo many muscles to keep him. To keep his ears I need to sling shot, narrow, buffer, bulldog clip, push out into my wall. And to keep the trot how I want it without resorting to reins, I need to feel like I lift my knees up, keep foot light, and repeat everything else.
I've been also doing board work when driving, as can do on Max (much narrower and smoother) but struggle on Magic. That has got better. And now it seems that I can trot both reins (in fact today, left rein trot was better than right, whooohooo). And canter right is fab, but canter left not so good....
I think I "may" loose outside seatbone out.... and I "may" push weight down into left foot.... but I think I'm zoning out so much in left canter that I haven't yet discovered if I am!
Today's canter work was the best of the three.... he was more relaxed in left canter, so although we did only a short bit, by the end I was starting to feel right seatbone had fallen off, but didn't manage to retrieve it in time.... patience, it will come!
He's still pre-emptive, but the nice thing is that even though he anticipates canter trans after we've cantered, now when I say no he relaxes straight back into the trot, plus, because I can now sit in the trot, I am consciously ALWAYS sitting before I canter, so he can't assume canter if I am ever rising.... watch this space!
So dem ears is the key to a Magic, and hacking Max tonight who was in "lala" land, I suspect they will be a big piece of the jigsaw with him too!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Jumpies!
We went to Allens Hill yesterday. A traffic jam on route meant we only just arrived in time for the "Derby" class at 85cm.
As Dan and P have only jumped twice in last 3 months I'd hoped to get them there for an earlier SJ class. The Derby was very similar to arena eventing, but just without a corner. Lots of water trays, spooky flowers etc. We walked the course, and then had a quandry.
P decided that she felt more confident doing the 85 derby than the 95 pure SJ class next. I decided that as I'm trying to work on Magic calming down and relaxing when SJing, that arena eventing and lots to spook at was not on the cards today.... so we entered the 95.
Got Dan off and ready, then wandered around getting me and a very muddy Magic ready.
Couldn't go and work in or anything as knew it would set Dan off and P didn't need that.
I was terrified. Loads of people were having issues at stuff. Then they came in, Dan looking like a totally different horse since his treatments, he has a neck, a bum, a back and can reeeeaaaallly jump!
They jumped a smashing round, with just a green stop at a viaduct filler at 4. He looked like he was going to get eliminated as he ran backwards from it.... but then, as usual, once presented again, he did stop look go into it every stride, and then just popped it.
From there on in, he cleared everything. Got a bit onward and a bit flat, but P did a fantastic job of trying to keep him calm/relaxed and jumping properly. Apparently brakes were an optional extra, but from watching he looked really keen to jump and didn't look at any of the other spooky things.
The rhythm was really good too, ok a bit fast, but he wasn't getting tooo fast. Just a smidge more relaxed and it would have been perfect.
So a huge sigh of relief and off we go to warm up. Magic was very good in spooky back school with all the diggers beside. He did some lovely trot work, (and I had his ears!) and then did the most gorgeous canter work, both ways, totally soft and relaxed. Even when I started jumping the practice fence he stayed soft and jumped amazingly, spot on every time. He did try the bronks on landing a few times and seemed very pleased with himself.
Then in we go.... we got through the shoot ok, but once in the arena he napped and tried to leave. He was very very stressed. Fortunately they were having to put a fence back up, so I had time to walk him round and chill out for a circle. Then off we went. Had an appalling approach to number one, as fillers on the fenceline were going to bite him... but I stayed narrow and once he locked onto it we were flying.
1-5, I could feel I did my horrid "hocking back" hands on the last 2 strides, but I was busy trying to be soft and keep the canter from my body that I did "zoning out" on approach as well as landing, sigh. After 5, I remembered what Marie said about hands down, and so from there on it was much better. Tried to keep him relaxed, and for some reason (well we know the reason really!) steering is sooooo much easier, he just flowed round corners, and was never doing the silly stressed lock-on to wrong fence (easier in a huge arena, I grant you!). He did seem to relax through the round. The jump off fences were 1m, so I'm back to jumping the right sort of height after 2 outings in new saddle and snaffle.
He just pinged everything, it felt so effortless, and even when he jumped me out, I could stay in balance. The big things are - iron bar thighs, push toes/shins into resistance... and as I remembered half way through - hands DOWN. And then coming home I realised I need to concentrate more on pushing my core too.... that definately went out of the window, along with "land".
So I probably did zone out a lot, but it was a fab double clear and he did get progressively more relaxed and trusting. I need to keep getting him out jumping courses, no matter how big/small until I "have" what I need to do as well as I've got it on the flat.
Came home on the back of that as didn't want to then stress him out doing the next derby class.
Hopefully we are well on the way to relaxing a Magic. Funny how this time last year we were in pelham, spurs and stick and now we in snaffle, no leg (!) and no stick. All because of changing how I'm sitting. Fanbloomintastic. :-)
Stressage on Thurs, but there's clear round there too so will probably pop round that as well, then jumpies again on Sunday.
Might have changed my mind again and decided to take Magic on thurs.... but not for definate!
As Dan and P have only jumped twice in last 3 months I'd hoped to get them there for an earlier SJ class. The Derby was very similar to arena eventing, but just without a corner. Lots of water trays, spooky flowers etc. We walked the course, and then had a quandry.
P decided that she felt more confident doing the 85 derby than the 95 pure SJ class next. I decided that as I'm trying to work on Magic calming down and relaxing when SJing, that arena eventing and lots to spook at was not on the cards today.... so we entered the 95.
Got Dan off and ready, then wandered around getting me and a very muddy Magic ready.
Couldn't go and work in or anything as knew it would set Dan off and P didn't need that.
I was terrified. Loads of people were having issues at stuff. Then they came in, Dan looking like a totally different horse since his treatments, he has a neck, a bum, a back and can reeeeaaaallly jump!
They jumped a smashing round, with just a green stop at a viaduct filler at 4. He looked like he was going to get eliminated as he ran backwards from it.... but then, as usual, once presented again, he did stop look go into it every stride, and then just popped it.
From there on in, he cleared everything. Got a bit onward and a bit flat, but P did a fantastic job of trying to keep him calm/relaxed and jumping properly. Apparently brakes were an optional extra, but from watching he looked really keen to jump and didn't look at any of the other spooky things.
The rhythm was really good too, ok a bit fast, but he wasn't getting tooo fast. Just a smidge more relaxed and it would have been perfect.
So a huge sigh of relief and off we go to warm up. Magic was very good in spooky back school with all the diggers beside. He did some lovely trot work, (and I had his ears!) and then did the most gorgeous canter work, both ways, totally soft and relaxed. Even when I started jumping the practice fence he stayed soft and jumped amazingly, spot on every time. He did try the bronks on landing a few times and seemed very pleased with himself.
Then in we go.... we got through the shoot ok, but once in the arena he napped and tried to leave. He was very very stressed. Fortunately they were having to put a fence back up, so I had time to walk him round and chill out for a circle. Then off we went. Had an appalling approach to number one, as fillers on the fenceline were going to bite him... but I stayed narrow and once he locked onto it we were flying.
1-5, I could feel I did my horrid "hocking back" hands on the last 2 strides, but I was busy trying to be soft and keep the canter from my body that I did "zoning out" on approach as well as landing, sigh. After 5, I remembered what Marie said about hands down, and so from there on it was much better. Tried to keep him relaxed, and for some reason (well we know the reason really!) steering is sooooo much easier, he just flowed round corners, and was never doing the silly stressed lock-on to wrong fence (easier in a huge arena, I grant you!). He did seem to relax through the round. The jump off fences were 1m, so I'm back to jumping the right sort of height after 2 outings in new saddle and snaffle.
He just pinged everything, it felt so effortless, and even when he jumped me out, I could stay in balance. The big things are - iron bar thighs, push toes/shins into resistance... and as I remembered half way through - hands DOWN. And then coming home I realised I need to concentrate more on pushing my core too.... that definately went out of the window, along with "land".
So I probably did zone out a lot, but it was a fab double clear and he did get progressively more relaxed and trusting. I need to keep getting him out jumping courses, no matter how big/small until I "have" what I need to do as well as I've got it on the flat.
Came home on the back of that as didn't want to then stress him out doing the next derby class.
Hopefully we are well on the way to relaxing a Magic. Funny how this time last year we were in pelham, spurs and stick and now we in snaffle, no leg (!) and no stick. All because of changing how I'm sitting. Fanbloomintastic. :-)
Stressage on Thurs, but there's clear round there too so will probably pop round that as well, then jumpies again on Sunday.
Might have changed my mind again and decided to take Magic on thurs.... but not for definate!
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