Thursday, March 26, 2009

It is cold again with snow falling but not sticking. Twenty-eight degrees on the way out to Josie. I was very happy to see they moved the hay feeders up close to the barn. The mud has frozen which makes going through a RRTI even more dangerous. Mud is very hard on a horse's joints. Hopefully, Josie has enough sense to stay on this side.

She was a bit hysterical to watch walk tonight. She had frozen mud balls in her tail. They irritated her as she walked. She kept lifting her back legs high like she had too tight of leg wraps on. We aren't suppose to wash mud off but I figured a few mud balls should be okay. I was a bit worried if I left them on that we might end up doing a little ranch rodeo. I cut off a couple inches of her tail. I wanted to wait until I washed it but with the cold who knows when that will be.

The DVD, "If Horses Could Speak" finally arrived. I stayed up late to watch it (the second of many times). I cannot express how essential it is that all riders watch this. I will be ready to ride tomorrow night (puppy play date was cancelled). I am a compassionate rider. Perhaps sometimes to a fault. I want my horse to like doing what we do. I want to be a centaur. I try to achieve harmony with Josie. If I ask something and she doesn't do it, I don't assume that she isn't doing it because she doesn't want to. I must not be asking properly or she isn't able to do it for whatever reason. We have been working on relaxation and her strength for two years now. Lately, I have been raising the bar as she is ready.

The body is a mystery any ways and this DVD really breaks down anatomy and proper movement so you understand. What I see the big time riders doing and think of it as "classical dressage" is NOT! My horse may not be progressing fast but she is definitely a back mover. My eye has developed well over the years but this DVD has given me more to identify that a horse is moving as it should or when a horse is forced to move incorrectly. I can identify when they are uncomfortable - eyes, swishing tail and general lack of beauty in the movement.

Tonight's ride is a good example. She was very stiff to start with. When did I last ride - Saturday? We walked a while and then trotted, took a break and then went to work. She didn't want to move forward to the bridle so instead of trying to make it happen. We just kept moving - doing my best to ride from back to front. We did long and low and some halt transitions. She quit being crabby and became the Josie I know. When I sat I could really feel her back moving. She started being in my hands which was when I knew I was doing the right things. We did a couple walk to canter transitions.

Tomorrow's ride should be awesome!