A Wonderful Ginger Afternoon!

The other day, I was supposed to have a lesson on Honey... we've got our show coming up, but things with her just haven't been going as nicely as they were. I was starting to think we were going backwards rather than forwards, and so when Rahn came out, she had a look at Honey and we decided she really needed to have a stretch. The success to Rahn's babies is that she doesn't confine them to the paddock, they go out places, and do lots of varying things. However, I'm a nervous rider, and have no interest in galloping down a beach or hacking through a forest, it's a downfall I know, but it's who I am. So Charlotte was so kind to take Honey for a hoon around my paddock. It was thrilling to watch. She got the hang of it early on, she only disengaged on both reins once or twice but otherwise really understood, she's such a clever pony. Then Char schooled her after a bathtime break (hehe she got washed down with a rider on her back, now both my horses are good about that!) and to finish up, Char took her over some jumps for the first time.

I had added poles into our work awhile ago and was actually planning on jumping her this week or next, but I have to say having Char show me how she is over a fence only makes me more keen for it! She loved it, and Char's not the interfering type or doesn't have sucky jumping balance cos she's an event rider, whereas I haven't jumped in months lol. Honey is such a tidy wee girl for her first time jumping under saddle. Just lovely!

So I was all hyped up for a ride and unfortunately I didn't get to, but that was okay, it was interesting to see how Honey went for me.

I didn't realise however that I was going to be riding haha! We headed off to Rahn's and I was told I was riding King... Char wasn't going to let me say no... so I didn't. King is a lovely TB chestnut gelding of 17hh!! I felt so little on him, and so far from the ground haha! But my GOD is he wonderful!! Riding him really made me realise that I am getting better. King is a very well trained dressage horse, and is well practised in all three gaits. Therefore, since he can just do his thing, it left me enabled to fix myself and ride better than I normally do. I was able to use more leg, I was able to keep him forward without feeling my knee about to conk out, I cantered him and just thoroughly enjoyed my schooling session on him. I felt for the first time in ages, I actually could do well at riding, and that I am a good rider. And it's definitely boosted my confidence up. He was just what I needed, to understand that I have fixed so much about my riding and now am at a stage where I can start pushing myself a little more, with my schooling work on my own horses.

So go the gingers eh? Honey was flying, and so was I, on the back of such a lovely gelding. Let's hope things get better from here, and whenever I feel like I suck at riding, I'm going to think of the ride on King to remind myself that hey, I do know how to ride, and well!

Signing off as I best shower and head off for my play date with Megan!! Will probably be back on here tonight haha!

Chelle x

Bai's New Adventure!

Well, like I said in the previous blog, I would have news about Bailey... and I do.

Yesterday, a family came out to see my pony. I was pretty much sure they wouldn't want her, no one normally does... but never the less I was nervous about it. They're really lovely people. Bailey will be for two 13y.o girls who love horses, love riding and are correctly educated. The more experienced daughter only just started jumping (shes well established in walk, trot and canter), and has more of a solid background in groundwork than I do. Her Mother has been riding for many years, and is dedicated to her horses. They aren't just their riding partners, but best friends, and pampered to the nines.

Bailey was honest, I rode her and hoped she would rear at the trot so they could see what they're dealing with... they weren't put off when she did haha. They love her, Bailey loves them, and so she's going away on trial to see if she suits their family. The wee girls are absolutely smitten and if anything, Bailey's month away will be like a vacation if she has to come back home! She'll be getting treated just like the diva she believes she is... completely doted on, and not just left in the paddock to "waste" away.

Naturally, after owning Bailey for as long as I have, I'm quite upset about it... but I just know she'll love it with these people, and if they don't mind her naughty side, they're going to have the best wee pony around! Bai has taught me so much over the years and I've definitely learnt from my mistakes with her. Now its time for her to teach another person things, and in return they'll teach her so many things that I couldn't. The best thing is, I know that I'll get to see her when I want to, and get updates too.

Bailey will be getting lessons twice a week (and ridden 6 times a week) from a professional trainer, so if anything does arise, she will be trained properly... and it can be sorted quickly. She'll also be happier, cos Bai's always gonna be the type of horse who likes to be worked often or not at all.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up, she could come back home after the month of trial.. but at least in that month she'll be truly tested out, have lots of rides and if she comes home, well, we'll just cross that bridge when we come to it!

I'm going out to spend my day with her today as I'm not sure when she's leaving this week... we've got it planned for Saturday, but she may go earlier than that as the wee girl just wanted to take her home last night!

Let's hope for Bailey's sake that she's found herself a good new home, and that even if she's naughty, she gets on with things and has a lovely new place to be! I truly think she's going to enjoy herself.

Signing off,

Chelle x

Evo is the Man!

You know, horses are the best medicine. I've been having a really bad week, I've been ill, both Evo and Honey went unsound, and my dog almost died. I think I'm allowed to be a little down in the dumps for that! But I'm always the type of person that if I let myself get that low, it's hard to get back on track quickly. Today, Evo really boosted my spirits and made me feel so much better.

He's been difficult to catch for some time now, and has to wear a halter in the paddock. I don't really want to have him in one... but it takes so much longer without it on. We're working towards a level where I can take it off. It's getting to the point of frustrating me... although I'm not trying to let it affect me whilst catching him... I've been trying to figure out why he's doing it, is he playing games, is he scared, is something bothering him. It's definitely the third answer, well at least to a point. Today I realised how foolish I've been. I've gotten so focussed on Honey, with the upcoming show etc, that I've been opting to ride her more. This leaves him hanging out in the paddock. He's always been the type who likes to have a job, likes to do more than just "hang out". I guess I've forgotten that, and so he's punishing me for it. He thinks I'm just gonna catch him so I can do something, like rug/unrug him... and then let him go. So he doesn't want to bother... he wants my attention... whats a better way to get it by evading me!!! Lol.

Today I caught him, unrugged him, let him go be with his girls, did some chores and then caught him again. I then lunged him. He's been unsound, but after checking him out fully, I found him no longer throwing his leg and trotting very nicely. So after a big warmup, a walk, trot and canter, I thought I'd just let him navigate the trotting poles and we'd leave it at that, not pushing it. Mr Evo had other plans lol. He enjoys jumping and watched me set up two jumps earlier. As one was kinda near the poles, he eyed it up eagerly so I thought, why not, if he lands and looks sore, we'll stop. He was thrilled, cantering about and popping over the jump happily. I decided I'd try the bigger one... he could walk into it and bound over he's that clever lol (which he did at first cos it was a tyre jump and he hasn't done them in awhile I think)... he was so happy, and after doing that one three times we went for a huge as walk around the paddock to cool down. I was talking to him a lot, I think he liked that cos he'd nudge me and snuggle me lots... and I enjoy talking to him, it was really nice. So after our walk, I took him back to his paddock, rugged him back up and let him go. He wasn't interested in Honey at all (to my blatant surprise!). I thought he was just tired and wanting to stay where he was... but as soon as I moved off, so did he. I had a shadow, and it was the best shadow to have! He made all the crappy stuff this week go away and I just had to hug him for his actions. I think we're at a good level now... or here's hoping so anyways! Everytime after that when I tried to "catch" him, he didn't even walk away!

Tomorrow, I'm hoping I'll have some more news to add here about Bailey. But I don't wanna jinx myself too much about it, so I'll wait and see before annoucing it!
Signing off,
x

Honey's Adventure!

Today despite the temperature, me and Simone headed out to my paddock. I had told her that I had a big plan in mind and when we were in the car I let her know of it - I was gonna take Honey out on the road. With our upcoming show several weeks away, I've decided that if I don't start leaving my paddock and throwing Honey into new situations, then I'm going to struggle a bit at Green Horse. But as much as I just would like to do stuff, I have to push myself to the limit I'm comfortable with. I have no interest in riding down a beach or in a forest - I've never done it, and my curiosity has never sparked enough to do it now. I know however that it's good experience for horses to do these things, give them more confidence in their work at home. So I knew I had to do something and since I'm going to be riding to the pony club to use the arena over winter this year, I thought we ought to tackle this first.

I was gonna take her for a walk inhand first to get her used to leaving the paddock - she hasn't since August last year when I got her. But I just never got around to it, so after warming up (she proceeded to race a bit but I slowed her down), I got Simone to chuck us on a lead and with me keeping my nerves down as much as I could, we left my paddock and headed to the front gate. All went well until we got out onto the gravel. Surely she must have seen gravel before in her life, but apparently she just couldn't figure out why it was moving and making noises under her feet. She was watching it so intently, and I just remained calm, she wasn't doing anything - infact she didn't do anything at all. We got to the bridge and she kicked a stone onto it... watched it skittle across the wood and flipped out... tensed right up, snorted "fire" and refused to step onto it. With encouragement she stepped on and crossed it... but then she was back onto that horrible gravel again lol. Basically she reacted so much, more than I expected. But she wasn't bad about it... she stretched and had a look at everything, trembled a couple of times and by the time we reached the rail tracks I figured she had handled enough without exploding. We turned back and crossed that horrible bridge with a bit more speed (haha) and then once we were back in the paddock again it was like she could breathe again, poor girl. I knew I was more relaxed than she was, I remained as calm as I could, checked my heart rate often etc. My baby horse has finally been faced with something that's thrown her off... and all she did was tense up and tremble! I was so proud of her. Once back in the main paddock, I asked Simone to unclip us and walked her by myself around and she couldnt care less... so working at home now seems easy to her compared to the big adventure out. It was successful and we'll be doing it again soon.

As for Simone, she rode Miss Bailey today in front of her Grandma... it went super well... although we had to shift her saddle as shes so big that it slipped forward. But Simone did incredibly well and I'm so very proud of her! Bailey decided to be naughty at one point but then had a "oh its just easier to do it isn't it?" moment and got on with things - yay!

So it's super hot, and I've got a headache from being out in the sun... but what a brilliant day and I can't wait to work with Honey tomorrow and see how today's venture out impacts our session together!

Signing off!

x

Showing "the baby horse" off!

What a completely different world eventing is compared to the show scene! Sure I know what happens at an event, you compete in three different sections and the one with the lowest score ranking wins. I've watched and read enough about eventing to get the basic logistics to it. But all the extras - wow I felt like I was in another world... in fact I guess I was! I've been show groom for Rahn on and off since 2004, and know what happens in the show world quite well, as I should do. But on Sunday I watched my first event and it was such an experience. Granted, I don't believe it was run as neatly as it could be (I understand it's a hefty task though!), but it was certainly interesting. It has had a perspective on how I see what I do with my horses. All I know is the show world, and am about to enter it next month with Evo and Honey (Green Horse Show)... and have always wanted to progress into dressage days too, but had no idea what happened at a dressage day (from experience, again I know the logistics of it)... I still don't really, but I watched the dressage section with keen interest and now have the urge to enter some dressage later this year - of course the real baby tests, haha!

Anyway aside from being at my first event in the weekend, and recovering from exhaustion yesterday (and I didn't even ride at the event!!!) I went out to my paddock with my Mum. I decided I would ride Honey, even though it was rather windy... but we've been riding in all sorts of weather. The last time Mum saw me riding Honey was before Christmas, actually I believe it was some time in November. She told me she was really impressed with us... even though she doesn't know what she's looking at, she did say we looked much better together... which is always good, cos I believed me and Honey were doing really well last time she watched. Honey was really good... a little fast in her warm up, but she's still in "race mode" ever since learning to canter. I don't let her race, but you can really feel her forward movement... which is never a bad thing I guess! I actually found my way to bring Honey back to the trot I so love and adore from her (forward, but steady and not feeling like she has legs going everywhere)... I've been half halting her a lot but she just thinks I'm shutting her down in the front and fights it at times... so I've been trying to think of other alternatives as I'm not satisfied with our corners... but I've now found the answer! Again its a simple thing, and just goes to show how as riders we sometimes look too much at the problem and not the bigger picture. I found if I just held on the outside rein briefly (support with my legs and then close my hand more around the reins, give it a squeeze and then release), Honey slowed right down and started trotting! I began to really prepare for each corner (as I don't ride her on circles so much, but more rectangle shaped workouts) and we were just lovely in my opinion... I tell her clearly what I want and she gives it... as it should be done, but I just get so focused elsewhere sometimes! Mum called me over at one point and without thinking, I just clicked her on into trot and made my way to the fence... when I got there, I was like, haha didn't even think about that... I know it seems so small, but it was just a comfortable reaction, I guess that's what I'm trying to explain... I know I have a favouritism over who I ride... because Evo and I are not struggling, but not really comfortable like Honey and me... and Bailey I've yet to take out into the big paddock (going to this week though!) and I just adore riding Honey... I can't help it... we're so suited to one another, I don't feel like one of us is at more of an advantage than the other. It's a horrible way of thinking of things, but it's true and if I'm honest I enjoy my rides on Honey the most... although I feel more rewarded riding Evo. Anywho, I just went off on a tangent lol. Mum called me over and asked if I would show her our "canter canter canter pace pace pace" as I've been calling it haha. So I did, and Honey really showed off... Mum was thrilled, she knows how much this all means to me... then she went back to the car (which was parked in the middle of my "tree paddock") and after cooling down, I rode Honey in there... she eyeballed the car but cruised on passed it... I just love how she has a wee think but doesn't hold back. She's just lovely!

Well I thought I needed to keep this more updated and have fulfilled that today so I best get on with reading Moll Flanders, the next book in my Eighteenth Century Novel paper!

Signing Off,

Chelle x