Well its been a wee while since the farrier's been and I haven't been on the boys yet. Unfortunately I've been unwell, and with the boys having had their feet done it just hasn't happened yet. Rat is much happier now, and doesn't look so sore at trot/canter as he hoons around the paddock and George is coping very well. Shannon rode last night and JimJim looked fine. She's working on getting rid of JimJim's giraffe neck with Kerry's help and last night she and he did some beautiful trot on the bit. She was just soo happy with him.
Kerry has been riding Cheeky, unfortunately she was also a tad sore after the farrier visit, seems better now, but still not 100%. She's also in season and feeling the affects of the grass and wouldn't you know we've got someone coming to see her for a second time tonight, arh! But saying all that, Cheeky is still Cheeky and behaving, just not her normal easy ride, but she's been sooo smoochy and loves her cuddles and brushes. I do feel sorry for her as she's not number one horse, or number two horse, and really deserves to be number one in someones life. Just so hard as I do love her. So will be interesting to see how it all goes tonight as George has been a right little toad and destroyed the top wire on the fence between himself and Cheeky twice now in a month, he's obviously been a very naughty boy while I'm not there.
We have a couple of long weekends coming up so hoping to get a riding lesson in with Sandy at Rangiora if I can, want to work on banks, banks, banks, and then more banks. We're going to sort this issue out as I really want to be doing pre-training next year.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday 13 October 08
Had our lovely farrier out on Monday and he took all the boys shoes off and trimmed them up. So we've given them all a few days off to let them get used to having naked feet again. Poor old Rat had a horrendous amount of seedy toe in one of his hoof's so he's probably going to require some extra time to recover as he's a tad sore now. Due to the wet conditions we had none of their feet look great but wasnt' much we could do about that.
I must say I was really pleased with my idiots, they were all running around like loons and kicking out, but old JimJim just stood there, not worrying about that young Rat racing past. They all behaved once caught, was just a few tricky moments when Rat managed to pull down the tape seperating the two groups, and I thought World War 3 was about start, luckily Rat isn't that bright and as it turns out nor are George and Cheeky, so the tape managed to go back up before they raced across.
Kerry's coming out on Wednesday to ride Cheeky, so will update you re that. Cheeky's been a wee dream, she's just as much of an idiot as the others running around the paddock and showing off, but she loves her brushes and would stand there for hours, she's none to happy when you walk away, very definately a girl as it is 'all about her' :) We did a bit of lunging last week, she kept nice and calm even though she pretended she wasn't really sure what was required and ignored my other lot who at that point were galloping around the paddock next door. At the moment whenever you see the horses they're all running at full speed.
I must say I was really pleased with my idiots, they were all running around like loons and kicking out, but old JimJim just stood there, not worrying about that young Rat racing past. They all behaved once caught, was just a few tricky moments when Rat managed to pull down the tape seperating the two groups, and I thought World War 3 was about start, luckily Rat isn't that bright and as it turns out nor are George and Cheeky, so the tape managed to go back up before they raced across.
Kerry's coming out on Wednesday to ride Cheeky, so will update you re that. Cheeky's been a wee dream, she's just as much of an idiot as the others running around the paddock and showing off, but she loves her brushes and would stand there for hours, she's none to happy when you walk away, very definately a girl as it is 'all about her' :) We did a bit of lunging last week, she kept nice and calm even though she pretended she wasn't really sure what was required and ignored my other lot who at that point were galloping around the paddock next door. At the moment whenever you see the horses they're all running at full speed.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
13 October 2008
Well all my boy's shoes are about to come flying off, luckily Grant is due tonight.
We had a great weekend. Worked Rat first on Saturday and we even did some canter work. He didn't run into from the trot, he just popped straight in and floated along, much easier to keep him going too, he actually responded when I asked for more, so yee har. His turn still isn't as good as I'd like but its improving all the time. Rode George, but unfortunately his shoes are really lose and he' just wasnt' a happy camper.
We went to PC on Sunday, I took Rat for his first outing in ages and he got a little agitated at the start but he soon settled down. We lost the turn completely and kept dropping his shoulder so he got a few nudges with my foot up around his shoulder, as I didn't use my dressage whip as he wasnt' sure what he wanted to do to begin with, race, buck or rear that lasted all of a minute (I actually felt like I had a racehorse for a while there). Was great to have eyes on the ground, he is over tracking, and really pinging up off the ground, so that trot that feels so slow and lazy isn't, so really need to get used to what is his natural gait and stop hassling. Really pleased with the wee boy, and they were perfect to load up on the float as well, well done boys.
I hardly saw Shannon at all at PC, but sounds like she had great fun. JimJim and her have really bonded. Saw the funniest and scariest thing on Saturday, she was jumping the double at home, and JimJim came in a tad deep and did this huge leap over, well Shannon went too, but went to the side, this horse almost in mid air went sideways and when they landed they landed together and then he straightened up and did the second element, never seen the likes of it before. They are the 'Girl and her pony' you read about in books, theres a special bond there already and its lovely to see.
We had a great weekend. Worked Rat first on Saturday and we even did some canter work. He didn't run into from the trot, he just popped straight in and floated along, much easier to keep him going too, he actually responded when I asked for more, so yee har. His turn still isn't as good as I'd like but its improving all the time. Rode George, but unfortunately his shoes are really lose and he' just wasnt' a happy camper.
We went to PC on Sunday, I took Rat for his first outing in ages and he got a little agitated at the start but he soon settled down. We lost the turn completely and kept dropping his shoulder so he got a few nudges with my foot up around his shoulder, as I didn't use my dressage whip as he wasnt' sure what he wanted to do to begin with, race, buck or rear that lasted all of a minute (I actually felt like I had a racehorse for a while there). Was great to have eyes on the ground, he is over tracking, and really pinging up off the ground, so that trot that feels so slow and lazy isn't, so really need to get used to what is his natural gait and stop hassling. Really pleased with the wee boy, and they were perfect to load up on the float as well, well done boys.
I hardly saw Shannon at all at PC, but sounds like she had great fun. JimJim and her have really bonded. Saw the funniest and scariest thing on Saturday, she was jumping the double at home, and JimJim came in a tad deep and did this huge leap over, well Shannon went too, but went to the side, this horse almost in mid air went sideways and when they landed they landed together and then he straightened up and did the second element, never seen the likes of it before. They are the 'Girl and her pony' you read about in books, theres a special bond there already and its lovely to see.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
10 October 2008
I love my horses. Left poor old George last night, just in case his eye was a tad sore after poking it on a branch and swelling right up, thank goodness its all good again now, was sooo worrying.
Shannon and I both rode. JimJim started out very slow, even his walk was pathetic, I've never seen a horse take so long to lift his back leg and take it through the air and place it down again LOL! Shannon gave him a boot in the guts and he decided he'd better move a little faster. He's such a dag. She was having a bit of difficulty getting a decent trot out of him but when I finished I gave her my dressage whip, as she'd managed to drop her's on the ground. He really has a lovely floaty trot and even though he was going faster than he wanted to, they both looked happy. They really are ideally suited. She'll have no problems taking him out next year and doing some pre-intro's I really think she'll have a blast on him.
I rode Rat again, we're certainly not falling into our downward transitions anymore, and I think he's realised the time for him to be a baby is over. His trot is getting much better, still hard work for me but we can get a decent trot now when we ask (problem is it just doesn't last). He's very soft and when that head comes down he becomes this floaty cloud, till he loses rhythem again but not bad really for his third ride after coming back into work. So pretty pleased so far. We've still got loads to work on at a walk and trot, left rein is hard for him, so thats going to take some time, keeping a rhythm and not relying on me to keep him going. This summer is going to be pretty full on for him, as I really want to get him ready for the Winter Dressage Series next year, so thats our goal. Will be interesting to look back and see how much progress we can make month by month.
Hoping to take Rat with JimJim this weekend to Pony Club, will play it by ear as to how much I do with Rat out there, as I really just want to be able to take him out and have him relaxed and not worried about other horses coming and going. So will keep you updated.
All the horses require their feet doing badly! Being sick and rushed off my feet hasn't helped as I'm not seeing the farrier till next week now, such a bad mother I am. Thank goodness when he says he's coming he is, and he does such a great job. Can I say I love my farrier without offending his wife :)
Shannon and I both rode. JimJim started out very slow, even his walk was pathetic, I've never seen a horse take so long to lift his back leg and take it through the air and place it down again LOL! Shannon gave him a boot in the guts and he decided he'd better move a little faster. He's such a dag. She was having a bit of difficulty getting a decent trot out of him but when I finished I gave her my dressage whip, as she'd managed to drop her's on the ground. He really has a lovely floaty trot and even though he was going faster than he wanted to, they both looked happy. They really are ideally suited. She'll have no problems taking him out next year and doing some pre-intro's I really think she'll have a blast on him.
I rode Rat again, we're certainly not falling into our downward transitions anymore, and I think he's realised the time for him to be a baby is over. His trot is getting much better, still hard work for me but we can get a decent trot now when we ask (problem is it just doesn't last). He's very soft and when that head comes down he becomes this floaty cloud, till he loses rhythem again but not bad really for his third ride after coming back into work. So pretty pleased so far. We've still got loads to work on at a walk and trot, left rein is hard for him, so thats going to take some time, keeping a rhythm and not relying on me to keep him going. This summer is going to be pretty full on for him, as I really want to get him ready for the Winter Dressage Series next year, so thats our goal. Will be interesting to look back and see how much progress we can make month by month.
Hoping to take Rat with JimJim this weekend to Pony Club, will play it by ear as to how much I do with Rat out there, as I really just want to be able to take him out and have him relaxed and not worried about other horses coming and going. So will keep you updated.
All the horses require their feet doing badly! Being sick and rushed off my feet hasn't helped as I'm not seeing the farrier till next week now, such a bad mother I am. Thank goodness when he says he's coming he is, and he does such a great job. Can I say I love my farrier without offending his wife :)
Monday, October 6, 2008
6 October 2008
I felt like a complete useless blob yesterday, so when I couldn't make up my mind whether to ride or not and then at the last moment I decided to, I was sure something was going to go wrong. For once I'm happy to say it didn't.
Day before we had found the bottom wire in George's paddock had been ripped down, we guess that Cheeky the slapper who is in season, has been spending a bit of time with George and George being the complete nob he is probably got rather frustrated or was just showing off and got his back leg caught in the wire and managed to rip it off the fence posts. Luckily he's just taken a little hair off his leg but no swelling. But due to this I decided that Rat was getting a ride and I'd give George another day.
It was pretty windy, and I was expecting to have a horse shooting off left and right but forgot I was on Rat LOL. We just started out with lots of walk and turn, he's still not great on the right rein but really working on that now, and then we moved on to trot, I know soooo brave. We didn't panic so much with getting a really strong gait as there were moments when I knew he was losing it due to the conditions, so we just kept if nice and settled and in the end we were working in a lovely outline either rein, and his trot to walk was no longer a dead stop, we actually had a proper downward transition Yee har! So lots of cuddles and pats for Rattybag.
Shannon managed to muck out the paddocks and while she was doing this I got loads of cuddles and kisses from JimJim (Sush, don't tell her), he is such a smooch!
Day before we had found the bottom wire in George's paddock had been ripped down, we guess that Cheeky the slapper who is in season, has been spending a bit of time with George and George being the complete nob he is probably got rather frustrated or was just showing off and got his back leg caught in the wire and managed to rip it off the fence posts. Luckily he's just taken a little hair off his leg but no swelling. But due to this I decided that Rat was getting a ride and I'd give George another day.
It was pretty windy, and I was expecting to have a horse shooting off left and right but forgot I was on Rat LOL. We just started out with lots of walk and turn, he's still not great on the right rein but really working on that now, and then we moved on to trot, I know soooo brave. We didn't panic so much with getting a really strong gait as there were moments when I knew he was losing it due to the conditions, so we just kept if nice and settled and in the end we were working in a lovely outline either rein, and his trot to walk was no longer a dead stop, we actually had a proper downward transition Yee har! So lots of cuddles and pats for Rattybag.
Shannon managed to muck out the paddocks and while she was doing this I got loads of cuddles and kisses from JimJim (Sush, don't tell her), he is such a smooch!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
2 October 2008
Arh, how long ago that last post seems!
Admittedly we've had a pretty shite year this year, but I had thought things were coming right, oh how life likes to play tricks on you!
Because of school holidays I took Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday off, well we rode Monday, albeit briefly, wasn't feeling particularly good by then so kept it brief, George was okay, but the 3 days off hadn't done him any favours, whereas I rode Rat and he was a wee pearler, tracking up nicely and really moving this time, so will just keep working on that so we get that consistently and we should be away and laughing. That was the end of my riding over the holidays, as on the Sunday I was generally feeling miserable with another sore throat and by Tuesday I was just feeling completely miserable. And wouldnt' you know it, i had organised a lesson (which took ages to jack up) and was going to go riding with some friends, thats not happening now either, arh! Last year it was the silly horse doing dumb things, this year its me, I need to have a big sign on my forehead, Bad Luck Central! And to top off my miserable three days, my car yet again wouldn't start, no not the battery..... Petrol Pump - apparently very important item if you want the car to go! I didn't want to ring Roly and tell him as this car is becoming the bane of our life, must say he took it all very well, after the 20 seconds of silence and no doubt some pain inflicted on his desk, he sounded reasonably calm, he did much better than me, I'm sure the builders were stunned mullets at the language coming out of my mouth. So car is now sitting in garage and I'm taking Roly's to work, poor long suffering Roly! I can see why he wants to get rid of the car, by the time I sell Cheeky, it will have only just paid for the repairs this year, so theres the money we had hoped to set aside for house money.... ARH!
Sorry this is so non horsie, but they you go for once. Roly and Shannon flew up to Auckland last night as he's got some work to do for a friend, so Shannons having her first ever trip to Auckland. They're not back again till Saturday night and that can't come round fast enough, its a very empty house! See if they were home I would have someone to moan too :)
Admittedly we've had a pretty shite year this year, but I had thought things were coming right, oh how life likes to play tricks on you!
Because of school holidays I took Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday off, well we rode Monday, albeit briefly, wasn't feeling particularly good by then so kept it brief, George was okay, but the 3 days off hadn't done him any favours, whereas I rode Rat and he was a wee pearler, tracking up nicely and really moving this time, so will just keep working on that so we get that consistently and we should be away and laughing. That was the end of my riding over the holidays, as on the Sunday I was generally feeling miserable with another sore throat and by Tuesday I was just feeling completely miserable. And wouldnt' you know it, i had organised a lesson (which took ages to jack up) and was going to go riding with some friends, thats not happening now either, arh! Last year it was the silly horse doing dumb things, this year its me, I need to have a big sign on my forehead, Bad Luck Central! And to top off my miserable three days, my car yet again wouldn't start, no not the battery..... Petrol Pump - apparently very important item if you want the car to go! I didn't want to ring Roly and tell him as this car is becoming the bane of our life, must say he took it all very well, after the 20 seconds of silence and no doubt some pain inflicted on his desk, he sounded reasonably calm, he did much better than me, I'm sure the builders were stunned mullets at the language coming out of my mouth. So car is now sitting in garage and I'm taking Roly's to work, poor long suffering Roly! I can see why he wants to get rid of the car, by the time I sell Cheeky, it will have only just paid for the repairs this year, so theres the money we had hoped to set aside for house money.... ARH!
Sorry this is so non horsie, but they you go for once. Roly and Shannon flew up to Auckland last night as he's got some work to do for a friend, so Shannons having her first ever trip to Auckland. They're not back again till Saturday night and that can't come round fast enough, its a very empty house! See if they were home I would have someone to moan too :)
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