June 1, 2009

Wow! The past few days have flown by. To catch up . . .

Thursday
I worked M's Moe on the lunge while she was oot. He is a bit of a nervous guy. He did very well in the round pen but felt the need not to pay attention and to neigh for his buddies. I make a lot of fuss over him and then ask him to move away from me at the walk, he takes off cantering. Okay, let's let him get that out of his system. I decided it wasn't "normal" cantering, a bit on this side of frantic. All right. Let's get him busy and try to get him to focus on me. I asked for trot and after a few go rounds I try for walk and he ends up doing his western pleasure jog. Hey! That isn't a walk. I bring him in closer and finally get a walk. Making a big deal of him after a halt. I change direction and ask for just a walk. What I get is a scoot away and some more rushing canter. Man! What a tough cookie he is. I didn't realize.

I repeatedly ask for trot to get him down from canter. I want him to stay in the gait I have requested. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt as I am not sure of what M's commands are. I can see he is getting my commands. After he settles a bit I ask for just walk, relax, walk. He actually stretchs down a few times. He needs to think slow down not race around. I made good progress so asked for a halt and made much of him. He is a good boy. He is an appendix Quarterhorse so he has the thoroughbred mentality - flighty and go fast, ask questions later.

My ride on Josie was very nice. I can't remember details this many days out. My mind has been focused on Lethal Lester (Moe). I am going to get his number.

I went on trail with Pam. I had worn my breeches planning to do arena work but bag that we are needing a trail ride. So I rode in my western saddle with my half chaps and breeches - nice! The half chaps met the bottom of the piece on my saddle that covers where the stirrups attach to the saddle. I warmed in the updoor. She was listening very nicely after being schooled inside for a few days. I had her cantering in both directions with just a little issue to the left. I need to keep my inside hand in and down a bit and use my inside leg more (my poor weak left leg) so she doesn't motorcycle in out of balance. Hang in there Josie I am figuring this out.

Josie's nemisis came along on the trail ride. K was just asking where she should go and I was replying when Josie made the decision for us. She is a bit opinionated - I wonder where that comes from - LOL! Sometimes I get the feeling she has a bit of Tilly spirit in her, sans bucking (knock wood). After the order was decided Pam first, nemisis second, Josie and Pam's pups taking up the rear we mosied down the trail. Oh, it was glorious. BTW I left Wyatt to keep Pixie company. She is getting so big around that going on trail would have been too much for her. She probably would have picked a shady spot and waited for us but rather than have her be coyote bait, she remained in the SUV.

The bugs weren't bad yet. Josie is really using her hind end these days. Sometimes I don't even have to tell her to sit when we are going down hill. She thinks running up is much easier. I can't wait until we can scamper through in two point.

Friday
Pups' vet day. Ouch $230 buckeroos. Glad I didn't put Frontline on Pix. Heartworm medicine is okay.

I lunge Moe before I watch L ride Kans in the clinic with Raf. They did some of their best work yet. Back to naughty Moe. Lunging was more of the same but he was better at transitions. I gave him a nice shower and went to let him go. I barely had the halter off his head when he wheeled to run after his friends. I let him get away with it and think of a battle plan.

Josie and I worked inside. Lots of great work today. I surprised her asking for canter transitions early in the ride. It has helped with her anticipating cantering. Ha! What will T do next???

Pat's Pub (town home neighbor) opened for the first time this year. Oh, man did I have fun. Needless to say I was a bit lazy Saturday. I also woke up with a sore throat which I started treating as a cold but have a sneaking suspicion it is allergies. The most allergy I have is just a few days in the Spring each year but this isn't the case this year. I worked on the second room and did odd laundry. I started watching Stacy Westphall's Bridless DVD. I really admire this gal.

Sunday
I work Moe first. Little turkey up to the same business. More of getting him to focus on me by changing gaits and halting, etc. Quick shower and let the training begin! My battle plan was to put the lead rope around his neck and then take the halter off. There was a flaw in this plan as he bolted away to join his friends on the grass and I got a bit of rope burn. Okay, Mr. this is WAR! I march out there, my walk has purpose which is recognizes. Uh oh! He deftly maneuavered away, using the grazing horses as shields. Fine I will make you move even if I have to move them. Two times and he surrendered. I put the halter and lead back on. Made him move his feet. I had him backing, turning on the forehand, anything to make him think he had worked again. Then I put the lead rope around his neck and gently removed the halter, telling him whoa in no uncertain terms. He stood perfectly. I made much ado and released him. Wanna rematch Moe?

I go to get Josie ready and made the mistake of checking my phone. Hmmmmm four missed calls something bad is happening. DARN IT! Voicemail is down. I don't even get to ride my girl. She, mean while, has enjoyed treats. Sometimes it is good just to visit.

Monday
I break normal routine to get my riding jones taken care of. It is gorgeous out! I had noticed on the drive in there was a "crossing guard". A plastic, green, standing stick type figure holding an orange flag. Hmmmm this could be an issue for Josie. We will see. We make our way along the driveway and darn if she didn't take more offense to the small piles of brush than the crossing guard. She looked at him but by her body language, he was a non-issue. What a good little girl.

There is only one other horse in the arena - blocking the gate. I say "GATE" and she remains in place. I wait patiently and she finally realized I can't get in with her in the way. Hopefully there won't be any more of this going on.

We warm up and pick up a lovely canter (surprise Josie!) and take the long side to the other end where we circle and then transiition down to trot. Oh, what a girl! I slowly feed her the reins and we have a wonderful stretching trot circle going. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Life is good!

I practice turn on the forehand and legyield along the wall in preparation for leg yield toward the wall. I think we did our best leg yields ever! I have sweat dripping from under my helmet but feel my heart soaring. We are making progress, We did a few circles with her flexed and you could just feel the suspension increase as she just moved along. Not letting greed get in the way, I ride without stirrups for a while to be that better rider I want to be. Going through the checklist I can feel Josie relaxing and moving better with each stride. I don't want to but I ask for a walk and give her rein. Oh, yes! You are my good girl Josie. My little DQ - All Around best horse ever!

Today's ride has set a new level for us. Now if we can get this each ride and go higher - We can! (LOL! Little bama)