Today was a very full day.
First, I met up with Barb Thelan for lunch and we caught up on all sorts of sidesaddle gossip. Our goal for the year is to see how many sidesaddle demos we can arrange for some local 4-H and youth groups. While it was beautiful and sunny when we entered the Tavern, by the time we finished cold grey weather had started moving in. As I left I gave a brief thought of heading home instead of to the barn, but I told myself that lead changes don't fix themselves so I made myself turn north instead of south on the appropriate road.
When I reached the barn, Cressie was standing around in her loafing shed, so I pounced on her and dragged her to the crossties. She tried a little hissy stuff as I tacked up, and she was less than thrilled when I fiddled with her martingale. Cressie needs a martingale for safety's sake, since she has a terrible bucking habit. Wait a minute, you're thinking...why would you tie down a horse's head for bucking? Cressie is a conundrum, because just before she bucks she throws her head up and elevates her forehand, as if she were fixing to rear. So, what does a rider do but ease up on her head and lean forward a bit...at which point she leaps up and pulls a buck'n'spin, leaving the rider deposited on the ground. Fortunately, she has yet to throw me. So, I adjust the martingale loose enough so that even if she stargazes it won't affect her but if she starts to go up it kicks in. Once again, I used my beat up wintec to ride in, and she was tolerable. First I just did some circles in the paddock before heading out to the pasture; I still don't trust her enough to ride in the open yet. We did some basic work, as well as a little bit of canter on the right lead, which was very nice indeed. She still won't pick up her left lead except by turning her head to the outside, and since bending left is such a problem for her I don't want to ask for a counter bend for any purpose whatsoever lest I reinforce her behavior.
I was extremely sore when I dismounted...she is appallingly wide, which leaves me feeling as if I'd been trying to do splits.
It still wasn't dark and it was just beginning to snow when I got my hands on Owen. He managed to somehow get covered in dried clay since yesterday, and I discovered what could have been a potential problem. He kept pinning his ears, very unlike him, and after some gentle probing I found a cockle burr lodged inside his right ear. It was extremely difficult to remove, and for a frightening bit I was thinking I might have to sedate him to remove it lest I keep pushing it deeper into his ear canal, him trying to throw his head around the whole time. In the end I had a bit of an inspiration and donned a pair of knitted wool gloves and reached into his ear; the wool nicely snagged the burrs and I was able to gently extract it. He is an endless source of trouble.
I threw the manorgrove on him, and found that somehow during the previous 6 months I had managed to forget how to tack up a sidesaddle. It took me a little bit to remember about the appropriate girth and balance girth. I couldn't find my favorite girth to use, so I had to make due with a 50", which is a bit on the large side, but I made it work any how.
I did remember to to stretch before mounting, but I then performed what has to be the most inelegant mount up ever...first the saddle went lurching over to the right side, then I forgot what body part went where and in which sequence. I also discovered that my newly fused neck won't let me look down as well and I was unable to see my billets when I tightened the girth; this coupled with thick winter gloves made drawing up the girth a challenging and somewhat overlong affair.
Some of the ring had thawed, so I was able to use about 50% and when I strayed into the still white covered areas I could hear Owen's feet crunching through ice. His canter work was much better today, and while he still tried to avoid carrying his weight correctly he was much lighter in the bridle. I also remembered to use my crafty rubber stop reins to test them and found they made a tremendous difference in my holding the reins. Since I was able to hold the reins consistently, Owen was more consistent as well. We started out with the long and loose stuff and moved on to canter work and flying changes. I returned to my favorite schooling method of asking for tempi changes on a 15 meter circle. Owen never missed a change, but they weren't terribly impressive in that he was making them far too quickly and landed out of balance. I discovered that my hiatus, while miserable for me, has had some real benefits, and one of those is an increased sensitivity to Owen and what he is doing. It became obvious to me that if the change was too quick and he landed heavily it was because he was swapping front to back rather than vice versa. So, if at any point he became tense in the canter I halted him and did my little leg yield to the outside trick before moving on. Very quickly Owen began to associate my inside half halt with a cue to move his haunches out slightly and step under himself, thus lightening the forehand. Only when Owen was calm did I ask for a change.
I discovered a little trick with him today. Instead of increasing the intensity of my aids to change leads I prepared him with a few gentle whip taps before asking. At first these taps confused Owen and caused him to get too strong in the bridle, so I returned to the stop and sidepass exercise. Eventually he realized that I was alerting him to an upcoming change and he would gather himself on his hocks and spring from behind when I finally asked. We eventually were able to do changes every four strides on the circle, tho' when I tried to ride them in a straight line he returned to dropping his back and diving in front, so those will have to wait for another day.
I also discovered that all of those positional things we are taught about sidesaddle equitation do not work in every situation. If I hold my hands low when I ride aside, I end up breaking the essential straight line to the bit downward, which destroys contact. Owen just holds his head too high for that to work, and I suspect it's the same in other upheaded breeds. I found that raising them makes him much happier, and that in the piaffe, passage, and extended trot I almost needed to think about riding saddle seat to get him to use his back correctly. In fact, I discovered that during the passage I would get the most floating steps when I sat with my hands in my lap like some Sunday passenger in the park.
I was working on the piaffe/passage tour from the I-2 test (which oddly enough, is more difficult than the GP test; 90 degree turn in the passage followed by transition to extended walk....are you kidding me?!), when a small herd of deer came crashing out of the woods down the embankment at M, where they gracefully loped across the arena before hopping out at H. This was too much for Owen, who was headed toward them at X at the time, and he spun like a cat to the left, nearly unseating me and causing me to grab his mane with one hand to keep my position. But within a few steps I'd once again secured my position and immediately took up the contact and forced him back into the passage, despite the deer watching us from just outside the ring. I must say, the new passage had a lovely brilliance and expression to it that it had lacked heretofore.
I am cautiously optimistic that this may be the year we smash the glass ceiling that has existed between us and FEI.
I'm sore, but not in the manner you might think because when I returned home I drew a nice hot bath to soak in. But the second my bare behind hit the water I leaped up from the tub like a wet cat...it seems that years of riding had given me, well, a hard ass and riding today in full seat breeches and a saddle with a grippy suede seat had taken off a small layer of epidermis...and when I touched that hot water, OW!
We all hear about sidesaddles causing galls, but I just didn't expect them on me!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
(Psssst, Don't Tell Bruce)
I have a confession to make.... I rode today. And it was glorious.
I didn't go out to the farm with the intent to ride, but just to long rein Owen. But when I arrived there I found the ring to be totally covered in snow, and I didn't fancy trying to keep up with him long reining out in the field. It was too beautiful a day to not mess with him, so I figured it was worth a try to mount up and dug out my ancient Wintec Aussie saddle with the poleys and Jesus strap that I use for breaking young and/or stupid equines. It looks like hell but rides well, and I wore a helmet and a neck brace just in case.
Fortunately, I had no need for any safety equipment since Owen went like an old hack. Once I mounted up I felt an amazing feeling of peace and calm come over me, and we headed down to a flat area in the lower corner of one of our hay fields that I enjoy schooling in...it also has the advantage of not being visible from the house, because I didn't want to get caught!
Those of you are dressage purists may want to avert your eyes...I excavated an ancient set of chains from my saddle seat days and buckled them onto Owen's front feet. I'm not trying to go for too much artifice, but Owen just doesn't want to use any more energy than is necessary, and he has this annoying habit of tripping over any branch on the trail. Today he lifted his front feet nicely, but instead tripped with his back end!
I was hoping that the chains would add some expression to his passage, and did not plan to do any canter work in them, but I found they helped marvelously in the pirouettes because they slowed the cadence of his canter and made him carry more weight on his hind end.
Despite our hiatus, our session went very well, and I ended up working him pretty hard. I found him to be rather heavy when tracking left and someone reluctant to bend. He would bend if I used enough force with my hand but wouldn't hold it when I released the rein, which makes it fake. From the ground I suppose it looks fine but it's a fine point that is not acceptable to me. I insist that my horses bend from my inside leg not hand. I found a lot of trot halt trot work as well as canter halt canter worked very well. If he was heavy on the inside rein I made him stop and then leg yielded him to the outside until he was soft, at which point I let him go forward again. I also stopped him if his canter transitions were not absolutely perfect...and by the time we were finished he would pick up a lovely soft canter just off my squaring my shoulders and weighting the outside seat bone. For me this is very important in preparing him for his sidesaddle work, since we work mostly off weight aids aside.
I also had to work on the purity of the canter to the left, since he was slamming down his diagonal pair instead of each beat having a similar intensity. This indicated that he was not using his left hind leg enough and was allowing his fore foot to land slightly ahead of the hind; by positioning him slightly in a shoulder in I was able to make him step under more with his inside hind and therefore carry himself better. I was hoping to work on the changes, but although I threw one in here or there, we really shouldn't be attempting them much until the canter quality is improved.
I know that many dressage people seem to think that firm contact is correct contact, and that Hilary Clayton has published studies stating that 5 lbs per hand is ideal, but I like a very soft contact with a bit of droop in the reins, even in the piaffe and passage. This is partly because of my neurological difficulties, since I have trouble holding the reins, but also because of our sidesaddle aspirations. You may have a firmer seat aside, but you lack the leg to drive the horse forward into the bit, and this can result in a blocked jaw. It may look steady, but heaven help you if you need to change the bend or flexion. If a horse is blocked in the jaw he's likely heavy on the forehand, making graceful aids and transitions difficult. I like my horses to rely on my weight aids alone whenever possible. The horse should be reaching for the contact, not have you insist on it by pulling back.
After our schooling session we headed out for a short trail ride, which was rather muddy. There were a lot more trees down today and I jumped Owen over a fair number ("jumped" is a kind word...it was more like Owen flinging himself over, legs akimbo) but there was one that had a thick vine hanging down over it, making a real horse trap. I sidepassed Owen up to it, grabbed the vine with both hands and gave it a mighty tug to bring it down from the tree it was wrapped around. I then coiled it like a lariat and hung it on a low branch, Owen standing quietly all the while. Then I just pivoted him and he stepped calmly over the now cleared log, and I thought to myself, "I LOVE THIS HORSE!"
When we reached flat suitable places I worked on piaffe/passage transitions, which got increasingly expressive the closer to the barn we got. Toward the end I was able to ride the passage with the reins in one hand and my whip held upright, like the old dressage masters. We were able to do all of this in a plain snaffle bridle with no noseband...and lots of cookies!
Tomorrow, we break out the Manorgrove...
I didn't go out to the farm with the intent to ride, but just to long rein Owen. But when I arrived there I found the ring to be totally covered in snow, and I didn't fancy trying to keep up with him long reining out in the field. It was too beautiful a day to not mess with him, so I figured it was worth a try to mount up and dug out my ancient Wintec Aussie saddle with the poleys and Jesus strap that I use for breaking young and/or stupid equines. It looks like hell but rides well, and I wore a helmet and a neck brace just in case.
Fortunately, I had no need for any safety equipment since Owen went like an old hack. Once I mounted up I felt an amazing feeling of peace and calm come over me, and we headed down to a flat area in the lower corner of one of our hay fields that I enjoy schooling in...it also has the advantage of not being visible from the house, because I didn't want to get caught!
Those of you are dressage purists may want to avert your eyes...I excavated an ancient set of chains from my saddle seat days and buckled them onto Owen's front feet. I'm not trying to go for too much artifice, but Owen just doesn't want to use any more energy than is necessary, and he has this annoying habit of tripping over any branch on the trail. Today he lifted his front feet nicely, but instead tripped with his back end!
I was hoping that the chains would add some expression to his passage, and did not plan to do any canter work in them, but I found they helped marvelously in the pirouettes because they slowed the cadence of his canter and made him carry more weight on his hind end.
Despite our hiatus, our session went very well, and I ended up working him pretty hard. I found him to be rather heavy when tracking left and someone reluctant to bend. He would bend if I used enough force with my hand but wouldn't hold it when I released the rein, which makes it fake. From the ground I suppose it looks fine but it's a fine point that is not acceptable to me. I insist that my horses bend from my inside leg not hand. I found a lot of trot halt trot work as well as canter halt canter worked very well. If he was heavy on the inside rein I made him stop and then leg yielded him to the outside until he was soft, at which point I let him go forward again. I also stopped him if his canter transitions were not absolutely perfect...and by the time we were finished he would pick up a lovely soft canter just off my squaring my shoulders and weighting the outside seat bone. For me this is very important in preparing him for his sidesaddle work, since we work mostly off weight aids aside.
I also had to work on the purity of the canter to the left, since he was slamming down his diagonal pair instead of each beat having a similar intensity. This indicated that he was not using his left hind leg enough and was allowing his fore foot to land slightly ahead of the hind; by positioning him slightly in a shoulder in I was able to make him step under more with his inside hind and therefore carry himself better. I was hoping to work on the changes, but although I threw one in here or there, we really shouldn't be attempting them much until the canter quality is improved.
I know that many dressage people seem to think that firm contact is correct contact, and that Hilary Clayton has published studies stating that 5 lbs per hand is ideal, but I like a very soft contact with a bit of droop in the reins, even in the piaffe and passage. This is partly because of my neurological difficulties, since I have trouble holding the reins, but also because of our sidesaddle aspirations. You may have a firmer seat aside, but you lack the leg to drive the horse forward into the bit, and this can result in a blocked jaw. It may look steady, but heaven help you if you need to change the bend or flexion. If a horse is blocked in the jaw he's likely heavy on the forehand, making graceful aids and transitions difficult. I like my horses to rely on my weight aids alone whenever possible. The horse should be reaching for the contact, not have you insist on it by pulling back.
After our schooling session we headed out for a short trail ride, which was rather muddy. There were a lot more trees down today and I jumped Owen over a fair number ("jumped" is a kind word...it was more like Owen flinging himself over, legs akimbo) but there was one that had a thick vine hanging down over it, making a real horse trap. I sidepassed Owen up to it, grabbed the vine with both hands and gave it a mighty tug to bring it down from the tree it was wrapped around. I then coiled it like a lariat and hung it on a low branch, Owen standing quietly all the while. Then I just pivoted him and he stepped calmly over the now cleared log, and I thought to myself, "I LOVE THIS HORSE!"
When we reached flat suitable places I worked on piaffe/passage transitions, which got increasingly expressive the closer to the barn we got. Toward the end I was able to ride the passage with the reins in one hand and my whip held upright, like the old dressage masters. We were able to do all of this in a plain snaffle bridle with no noseband...and lots of cookies!
Tomorrow, we break out the Manorgrove...
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Bling It On
Yesterday Owen was looking so adorable as he greeted me when I arrived to the barn that I just had to get a picture of his handsome little self. Unfortunately, he kept following me around, so this is all I could get. Not terribly flattering, is it?
Work has been really tough lately, since I've been seeing a lot morbidly sick pets. I have three coming back in tomorrow for radiographs under sedation...all double booked with my regular appointments. I haven't actually had a lunch break in several months, but what are you going to do with sick pets? Tell them to come back when it's convenient? The hard thing is that I have a sneaking suspicion that two of them are going to have fatal cancers and one is going to need several thousand dollars of orthopedic surgery if she is ever going to walk normally...breaking bad news to devastated owners is the worst part of the job.
So, when I get home I really need to do something satisfying, and as of late that's been sewing. I've had some more ideas about western outfits that I'd like to sew, and I'm afraid this making garments is getting to be a bit of an obsession, especially since I don't even have a western horse! Owen may have to start showing in western pleasure this summer just so I have a chance to wear it all. But he's gotten so lazy that may not be much of a stretch. The lambskin came yesterday for the appliques.
First I sketched a curlicue and cut it out of cardboard. Here is the template on the apron corner:
Then I cut the shape out of crocodile embossed lambskin and lightly glued it down so it would stay in place when I started sewing:
Sewing down the appliques was a real pain...I wish I'd been a little less ambitious, since turning a couple lbs of leather in the machine was very tough! But here it's sewn down, with a bunch of crystals painstakingly hand placed. The glue's not quite dry, so that's why there are some whitish areas; the glue will eventually dry clear.
I don't think this apron is ever going to be finished.
Work has been really tough lately, since I've been seeing a lot morbidly sick pets. I have three coming back in tomorrow for radiographs under sedation...all double booked with my regular appointments. I haven't actually had a lunch break in several months, but what are you going to do with sick pets? Tell them to come back when it's convenient? The hard thing is that I have a sneaking suspicion that two of them are going to have fatal cancers and one is going to need several thousand dollars of orthopedic surgery if she is ever going to walk normally...breaking bad news to devastated owners is the worst part of the job.
So, when I get home I really need to do something satisfying, and as of late that's been sewing. I've had some more ideas about western outfits that I'd like to sew, and I'm afraid this making garments is getting to be a bit of an obsession, especially since I don't even have a western horse! Owen may have to start showing in western pleasure this summer just so I have a chance to wear it all. But he's gotten so lazy that may not be much of a stretch. The lambskin came yesterday for the appliques.
First I sketched a curlicue and cut it out of cardboard. Here is the template on the apron corner:
Then I cut the shape out of crocodile embossed lambskin and lightly glued it down so it would stay in place when I started sewing:
Sewing down the appliques was a real pain...I wish I'd been a little less ambitious, since turning a couple lbs of leather in the machine was very tough! But here it's sewn down, with a bunch of crystals painstakingly hand placed. The glue's not quite dry, so that's why there are some whitish areas; the glue will eventually dry clear.
I don't think this apron is ever going to be finished.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Ruff'n It
I've had a couple of comments from ladies that also enjoy sewing sidesaddle attire, so I thought I'd show you a casual sidesaddle turnout that I have admired for many years, and which inspired me to attempt a leather apron.
These pictures are of a trail riding apron made by my friend and long time sidesaddle enthusiast Barb Thelan. Barb is one of those riders about whom you tend to hear little, because she dedicates her sidesaddle time to the trails. It's ladies such as Barb that I think we really need to trumpet about because, while you'll never see her picture in a horse show magazine, she quietly promotes riding aside by the sheer numbers of people she interacts with on the trail. She rides out with the cowboyz in their tough astride saddles...and she keeps up over very tough country. She literally spends hours in the saddle at a time, so if there is any sort of fit or comfort problem, she'll know about it.
Here's the apron sitting on a stand. I'm pretty sure it's cowhide...tho' it may be deerskin. She didn't have a big enough hide to get the entire primary pattern on and had to piece. While I added a seam down the front thigh dart, Barb ran a vertical seam about 6 inches from the back edge. Like me, she used handcut fringe.
Barb looking sportin' in her cowboy hat and leather apron. You can see her Steele sidesaddle on her horse, Beau, in the background.
However...Barb values her cranial contents more than her appearance, so she wears a helmet once mounted. Her apron is fastened with a velcro strip, allowing for infinite adjustment.
Barb also has this cool matching suede jacket with Native American style beading to go with her apron. She's all geared up to hit the trail with matching saddle bags, etc..
Barb has had this apron for many years and it has held up beautifully. Given the rough type of riding she does, there is no way a fabric apron would have lasted as long. When they take a break out on the trail for lunch, Barb just pulls off her apron and spreads it on the ground to use as a picnic blanket! She says that she has little trouble cleaning her apron...the dirt and mud brush off the leather once dry.
Truly a multipurpose garment.
These pictures are of a trail riding apron made by my friend and long time sidesaddle enthusiast Barb Thelan. Barb is one of those riders about whom you tend to hear little, because she dedicates her sidesaddle time to the trails. It's ladies such as Barb that I think we really need to trumpet about because, while you'll never see her picture in a horse show magazine, she quietly promotes riding aside by the sheer numbers of people she interacts with on the trail. She rides out with the cowboyz in their tough astride saddles...and she keeps up over very tough country. She literally spends hours in the saddle at a time, so if there is any sort of fit or comfort problem, she'll know about it.
Here's the apron sitting on a stand. I'm pretty sure it's cowhide...tho' it may be deerskin. She didn't have a big enough hide to get the entire primary pattern on and had to piece. While I added a seam down the front thigh dart, Barb ran a vertical seam about 6 inches from the back edge. Like me, she used handcut fringe.
Barb looking sportin' in her cowboy hat and leather apron. You can see her Steele sidesaddle on her horse, Beau, in the background.
However...Barb values her cranial contents more than her appearance, so she wears a helmet once mounted. Her apron is fastened with a velcro strip, allowing for infinite adjustment.
Barb also has this cool matching suede jacket with Native American style beading to go with her apron. She's all geared up to hit the trail with matching saddle bags, etc..
Barb has had this apron for many years and it has held up beautifully. Given the rough type of riding she does, there is no way a fabric apron would have lasted as long. When they take a break out on the trail for lunch, Barb just pulls off her apron and spreads it on the ground to use as a picnic blanket! She says that she has little trouble cleaning her apron...the dirt and mud brush off the leather once dry.
Truly a multipurpose garment.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Happy (early) Valentine's Day to Me
My thoughtful husband asked me last night what I would like for Valentine's Day. He is well aware that I have no use for jewelry, etc., and that I cherish useful things. My first responses were joking: a new gooseneck trailer with living quarters, a new horse...but in the end he bought me this new sewing machine. Imagine...a machine with a motor that does buttonholes.
I know at least two of you (Jeannie and Jessica) like me, sew re-enactment clothing, and to be accurate we sew our buttonholes by hand. Oh, they're hardcore alright, but they don't look so polished on modern attire. In response, I've had to limit any modern sewing to garments that did not need buttonholes. But this machine is heavy duty, can handle sewing leather, denim, and multiple layers of melton, and for people like me who still use a hand crank machine, this model brings me into the 20th century. I'm not in the 21st yet as far as sewing goes, but I feel ready to start tackling more modern attire. Perhaps I'll even attempt a shadbelly, and I've had some requests to sew garments for others; perhaps I could even bring in a little extra $$$ to pay for some shows or clinics.
Owen moved back to Woodwind yesterday but there was no drama associated with his return. He just settled in, apparently very bored with the whole process and like the 'tudinous teenager he is, was too chill to express any interest at all. He certainly has turned into a rather laid back sort. Today I returned him to work in the long reins since I'm not supposed to ride for another 3 weeks...we'll see how long that lasts. I just might find myself remounted by the end of the week, since I'm so weak willed. I will allow that he hasn't been long lined in something like 7-8 months, but really, did he have to be quite so lazy? He strode out beautifully toward the arena, but once there he had to pop his eyes and snort as if it were totally new. He's in very good condition, but he is so very lazy and doesn't want to burn one calorie more than necessary so I had to really get after him to encourage him to move out. I emphasized moving out at a medium trot on the 20m circle, followed by some trot half passes. His half pass left was very nice, but to the right he kept letting his haunches fall behind. I had to give him a swat or two with the whip to get him engaged, but once he was really moving well I was so exhausted I couldn't keep up, so we had to take multiple breaks.
I rather optimistically has hoped to work on canter pirouettes, and had set up barriers in each corner. My plan was to canter him on the diagonal toward the corner, and then allow the chest height barriers back to him off on to his hocks for the pirouette. But my optimism was ill placed, because when asked for the pirouette all he did was drift into a ho hum halt and turn around and give me silly looks.
I realized my plans were a little too ambitious, so instead I put him back out onto the 20m circle at the canter with occasional transitions into the super collected pirouetted canter for a few strides before rewarding him by letting him really go forward again. This was met with some snorts and grunts of his lack of appreciation. We finished up with piaffe-passage-medium trot and back again transitions, and I was pleased that he would come back to a well balanced and energetic piaffe from 20 meters away with just a voice aid.
I think I'd better inject his hocks before we get too far into the season. One amazing thing is that last year, in a desperate effort to improve his use of his hocks, we pulled his hind shoes and he has been much happier since. When he came to us he had some issues with his feet since someone had tried to make a saddle seat horse out of him and grew out his hooves very long and boxy. It took several years of patient shoeing to get his feet back to a normal shape, and perhaps he's ready to have the front ones pulled. Sure would save some $$ every 4-6 weeks.
After all that long lining I am exhausted, and may fall asleep during Downton Abbey. That would be a travesty.
I know at least two of you (Jeannie and Jessica) like me, sew re-enactment clothing, and to be accurate we sew our buttonholes by hand. Oh, they're hardcore alright, but they don't look so polished on modern attire. In response, I've had to limit any modern sewing to garments that did not need buttonholes. But this machine is heavy duty, can handle sewing leather, denim, and multiple layers of melton, and for people like me who still use a hand crank machine, this model brings me into the 20th century. I'm not in the 21st yet as far as sewing goes, but I feel ready to start tackling more modern attire. Perhaps I'll even attempt a shadbelly, and I've had some requests to sew garments for others; perhaps I could even bring in a little extra $$$ to pay for some shows or clinics.
Owen moved back to Woodwind yesterday but there was no drama associated with his return. He just settled in, apparently very bored with the whole process and like the 'tudinous teenager he is, was too chill to express any interest at all. He certainly has turned into a rather laid back sort. Today I returned him to work in the long reins since I'm not supposed to ride for another 3 weeks...we'll see how long that lasts. I just might find myself remounted by the end of the week, since I'm so weak willed. I will allow that he hasn't been long lined in something like 7-8 months, but really, did he have to be quite so lazy? He strode out beautifully toward the arena, but once there he had to pop his eyes and snort as if it were totally new. He's in very good condition, but he is so very lazy and doesn't want to burn one calorie more than necessary so I had to really get after him to encourage him to move out. I emphasized moving out at a medium trot on the 20m circle, followed by some trot half passes. His half pass left was very nice, but to the right he kept letting his haunches fall behind. I had to give him a swat or two with the whip to get him engaged, but once he was really moving well I was so exhausted I couldn't keep up, so we had to take multiple breaks.
I rather optimistically has hoped to work on canter pirouettes, and had set up barriers in each corner. My plan was to canter him on the diagonal toward the corner, and then allow the chest height barriers back to him off on to his hocks for the pirouette. But my optimism was ill placed, because when asked for the pirouette all he did was drift into a ho hum halt and turn around and give me silly looks.
I realized my plans were a little too ambitious, so instead I put him back out onto the 20m circle at the canter with occasional transitions into the super collected pirouetted canter for a few strides before rewarding him by letting him really go forward again. This was met with some snorts and grunts of his lack of appreciation. We finished up with piaffe-passage-medium trot and back again transitions, and I was pleased that he would come back to a well balanced and energetic piaffe from 20 meters away with just a voice aid.
I think I'd better inject his hocks before we get too far into the season. One amazing thing is that last year, in a desperate effort to improve his use of his hocks, we pulled his hind shoes and he has been much happier since. When he came to us he had some issues with his feet since someone had tried to make a saddle seat horse out of him and grew out his hooves very long and boxy. It took several years of patient shoeing to get his feet back to a normal shape, and perhaps he's ready to have the front ones pulled. Sure would save some $$ every 4-6 weeks.
After all that long lining I am exhausted, and may fall asleep during Downton Abbey. That would be a travesty.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Nothing Important
We're hoping to have Falcon placed in a new home before too long. The lady we bought him from has a friend that just adored him when he was still at home in PA. It might be a good fit, and we are far more concerned about finding him a good home than trying to get any $$$ for him.
But in the mean time, Sis says she knows the horse she wants...and it's Owen! Take a number. Perhaps I can build a genetics lab in the basement of the new house and start cloning. After all, I do have experience in DNA replication, and there are several people who'd like an Owen. Maybe we can edit out the cribbing problem in Owen.2.0. But certainly she can take some lessons on him to regain confidence while she looks for the next equine addition.
I found this really cool trailer decal that I must have to trick out Owen's ride...
And here's the decal:
What are the odds that I could find a trailer decal that depicts a sidesaddle rider performing piaffe? Check out her website...she has lots of other cool decals.
But in the mean time, Sis says she knows the horse she wants...and it's Owen! Take a number. Perhaps I can build a genetics lab in the basement of the new house and start cloning. After all, I do have experience in DNA replication, and there are several people who'd like an Owen. Maybe we can edit out the cribbing problem in Owen.2.0. But certainly she can take some lessons on him to regain confidence while she looks for the next equine addition.
I found this really cool trailer decal that I must have to trick out Owen's ride...
 |
| Here's Owen... |
And here's the decal:
 |
| https://www.nickerstickers.com/ |
What are the odds that I could find a trailer decal that depicts a sidesaddle rider performing piaffe? Check out her website...she has lots of other cool decals.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Even Steven
So, I lost my cherished new shadbelly to moths and I've been trying to work out how I could replace it. Then I found a used Borso D' Este (the Italian version of Pikeur) on ebay for the whopping sum of $89.00 with Buy it Now last week. So, without hesitation I pounced. The shad is black, which is not my first choice, but since these coats go for $700-800 new, I'm willing to put up with a ho hum color. This is one of those times when I not only replaced my damaged garment for a song, I was able to substitute it with one of the premier shads in the world with the same tune. The coat arrived, laden with grey hairs and some dried horse slobber on one sleeve, so it's headed to the dry cleaners tomorrow.
At least it will be easier to match the black at a fabric store than trying to match other colors, so I'll pick up a few yards of suitable wool and make myself yet another black apron...hopefully it will be easier to sew than leather!
And speaking of that leather apron, it is technically finished but I found some beautiful crocodile embossed black lambskin that I plan to make a couple of appliques out of to put on the left corner. It will add detailing but not too much contrast. I hope that I find an obvious stopping point with this garment, since like doing an oil painting or sculpture, it's important to know when to stop lest you "overwork" it.
But the most important thing...Owen is coming home this Saturday! Happy Dance! My life has been so empty without his cheerful visage, and tho' I can't ride for another month I can at least long line him and work him in hand. The question burning in my mind is whether riding aside or astride will be more painful...and I fully expect to be very sore come March.
But a certain amount of daily Owen exposure is necessary for my health.
At least it will be easier to match the black at a fabric store than trying to match other colors, so I'll pick up a few yards of suitable wool and make myself yet another black apron...hopefully it will be easier to sew than leather!
And speaking of that leather apron, it is technically finished but I found some beautiful crocodile embossed black lambskin that I plan to make a couple of appliques out of to put on the left corner. It will add detailing but not too much contrast. I hope that I find an obvious stopping point with this garment, since like doing an oil painting or sculpture, it's important to know when to stop lest you "overwork" it.
But the most important thing...Owen is coming home this Saturday! Happy Dance! My life has been so empty without his cheerful visage, and tho' I can't ride for another month I can at least long line him and work him in hand. The question burning in my mind is whether riding aside or astride will be more painful...and I fully expect to be very sore come March.
But a certain amount of daily Owen exposure is necessary for my health.
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