Well Bally is most definitely happy in her newly adjusted Wow and we have found forwards...actually compared with last year we have found the turbo boost button!
What a revelation, she's marching out nicely and although we technically aren't supposed to add trot for another week and half she offered when we were in the school and I let her take me up the long side...Blummin heck there is power there!!
Her rehab work is coming along well, now up to 30 minutes walking and although the majority of this is hacking, we are still perfecting leg yield (side to side on the lane) flexions -down, side to side shoulder in and counter shoulder in all to help straighten her right banana default mode.
When I took her into the school on Sunday she was super, really working nicely, taking the contact forward and allowing me to alter her frame long and back up without hollowing. She does still have a tendency to lift her head into halt, which is the next thing we'll tackle.
She had me in stitches though, came round the corner on the right rein and as we walked past the gateway she let rip with almighty whoopee buck then without breaking stride carried on walking - hurrah for velcro pants..well the great position the Wow puts me in anyway lol!
Last night she was in full on go, go, go mode and had to be reined in a bit. Marched off before I'd even got my stirrups and then went to trot off up the drive...Nope, too rude! So I turned her and put her back next to the mounting block and made her stand and do flexions for a minute or so, then off we went.
Apart from a blip as we got to the gate "um, no I can't possibly stand that close to it" with a bit of persuasion and a big treat she manoeuvered around it like an old pro and we had a super hack out down the home bridleway through the woods and back.
For all I wish that Bally had not had such an awful year injury wise doing the long in hand and ridden walk rehab work really has brought it home to me how important the basic foundation and gradual strengthening work are, not to mention the benefit of leaving horses to mature before asking serious work questions. The difference in her attitude and power this year is astonishing!
Next scan in two weeks, let's hope for a good one!
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Wow, Wow, Wow (Kate Bush Style)
Today was saddle fitting day with Louise from FTE, the Wow Headquarters.
I love the concept of the Wow saddle and can't imagine using any other brand now - the flexibility of the Y bar tree, larger bearing surface, double stirrup bars, moveable flaps and total adjustability....what's not to love!
Louise does all Richard Maxwells Wow's and as he's just up the road she was able to pop in on the way back from two days up there, the brilliant news is that she thought the saddle was perfect for Bally - right size and panels, just very low on air and as she's lost condition and muscle through being on box rest and out of work she'd gone down TWO head plate sizes :-(
Bally was much, much happier as we walked down the lane and back, really stretching forward into the contact and tracking up. As usual the air had to be adjusted to suit my daft crooked back and dodgy hip, but she had us swinging along nicely in harmony again.
Really means we can push on with the increasing work in the knowledge Bally is comfortable in her back :-D
I love the concept of the Wow saddle and can't imagine using any other brand now - the flexibility of the Y bar tree, larger bearing surface, double stirrup bars, moveable flaps and total adjustability....what's not to love!
Louise does all Richard Maxwells Wow's and as he's just up the road she was able to pop in on the way back from two days up there, the brilliant news is that she thought the saddle was perfect for Bally - right size and panels, just very low on air and as she's lost condition and muscle through being on box rest and out of work she'd gone down TWO head plate sizes :-(
Bally was much, much happier as we walked down the lane and back, really stretching forward into the contact and tracking up. As usual the air had to be adjusted to suit my daft crooked back and dodgy hip, but she had us swinging along nicely in harmony again.
Really means we can push on with the increasing work in the knowledge Bally is comfortable in her back :-D
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Oh that's what's up!
Missy B has been a tad tense and inattentive the last couple of days, even out in her pen she seemed a little bit wired...not horribly but everything from grazing, to walking in and out, hacking and in the stable was accompanied by occasional bouts of head up snorting and her trademark four legged spook / teleport moments lol.
It dawned on me she'd finished her Hilton Herbs Rest & Recover gold last week! Just goes to show that these things do have an effect and a jolly good one at that! I'd decided that as she seemed so much more mature and is now out for 12 hours in her pen and actually doing some ridden work that she didn't need the calmer....hmmmm might rethink that one ;-D
No worries though, she's still her usual lovely cuddly, snuffly self and I'm used to her sensitivity so we'll take it all in our stride. B's looking lovely, still really needs to build muscle, but she's lost that awful skinny tucked up look she had in the horspital thank goodness. Her coat is gleaming and so dappled again....gorgeous!
This evening was a golden one, with a gentle breeze and we marched out down the lane in the sunshine, off down the hill to the start of the canter track (let's not open ourselves to temptation eh!!) turned around and pootled back up the hill. I'm throwing in some schooling whilst we're walking - leg yield from each side of the track right over to the other and now asking for a few steps of shoulder-in proper. I also work on asking her to work over her back to a contact, pushing her forward down and out to a free walk then slowly picking the contact up, all the while keeping a good rhythm and softness
Yep that all works really well until you hear the rumbling of an approaching combine (the yard is slap bang in the middle of a large arable farming operation) and B does a spectacularly good giraffe on crack impression *sigh* lol!!!
To give her her due she actually walked/ snorted / scuttled past within 15 ft of it whilst the farmer stopped but kept the engine running without actually ever feeling like she might take off...quite an achievement for a baby on semi box / pen rest without a mood enhancer I think lol.
It dawned on me she'd finished her Hilton Herbs Rest & Recover gold last week! Just goes to show that these things do have an effect and a jolly good one at that! I'd decided that as she seemed so much more mature and is now out for 12 hours in her pen and actually doing some ridden work that she didn't need the calmer....hmmmm might rethink that one ;-D
No worries though, she's still her usual lovely cuddly, snuffly self and I'm used to her sensitivity so we'll take it all in our stride. B's looking lovely, still really needs to build muscle, but she's lost that awful skinny tucked up look she had in the horspital thank goodness. Her coat is gleaming and so dappled again....gorgeous!
This evening was a golden one, with a gentle breeze and we marched out down the lane in the sunshine, off down the hill to the start of the canter track (let's not open ourselves to temptation eh!!) turned around and pootled back up the hill. I'm throwing in some schooling whilst we're walking - leg yield from each side of the track right over to the other and now asking for a few steps of shoulder-in proper. I also work on asking her to work over her back to a contact, pushing her forward down and out to a free walk then slowly picking the contact up, all the while keeping a good rhythm and softness
Yep that all works really well until you hear the rumbling of an approaching combine (the yard is slap bang in the middle of a large arable farming operation) and B does a spectacularly good giraffe on crack impression *sigh* lol!!!
To give her her due she actually walked/ snorted / scuttled past within 15 ft of it whilst the farmer stopped but kept the engine running without actually ever feeling like she might take off...quite an achievement for a baby on semi box / pen rest without a mood enhancer I think lol.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
New Shoes....
A day off For Missy B today, as she had her tootsies done by John the farrier and I needed to be on the move taking RD home ready for her little brother's arrival.
Hopefully this was the very, absolutely and definitely last time those ruddy egg bars were put back on!!!
She was a superstar to shoe as always and John checked my front feet trimming and proclaimed them to be pretty good..then gave me a rasp as mine despite being not particularly old wasn't much use - his blunt one was still twice as sharp as mine lol!
Back to work and normal service will be resumed tomorrow :-D
Hopefully this was the very, absolutely and definitely last time those ruddy egg bars were put back on!!!
She was a superstar to shoe as always and John checked my front feet trimming and proclaimed them to be pretty good..then gave me a rasp as mine despite being not particularly old wasn't much use - his blunt one was still twice as sharp as mine lol!
Back to work and normal service will be resumed tomorrow :-D
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Velcro anyone?
Went for our daily pootle this evening, Bally on good form, a bit looky as she could see a couple of other liveries out across the fields, but responded well to an ask with my leg to flex then a rein squeeze to soften and come back and pay attention.
We went a little way down the lane then turned around and detoured off to have a walk in the school. I figure that the sooner I get her used to the idea of work in there again, even just straight line walking the better - there's an awful lot you can work on even when you're restricted!!
Lots of shortening and lengthening, leg yield, shoulder in, getting B to stretch forward pick up a contact without resistance...all good basic stuff that'll stand us in good stead when work starts properly. Yay!!
And the velcro...ah yes, we'd only just got into the school when the lovely but rather eccentric local lady Viv who patrols the village with her little dog, popped out of the big conifer hedge at the top end of the school just as we were walking up....cue B's ears up my nose and combined scoot, spin and rear combo whilst travelling backwards at speed....well sat even if I say so myself!!
Bally was quite upset by the whole thing, but didn't take too long before being able to listen and relax back into her work. It was actually quite a good training exercise for getting her out and about at ridden competitions where she'll be exposed to all sorts of sights and sounds and need to be able to re-focus.
Nicely relaxed again we finished with some centre line halts and walked back to the yard on a loose rein, what a good girl!!
We went a little way down the lane then turned around and detoured off to have a walk in the school. I figure that the sooner I get her used to the idea of work in there again, even just straight line walking the better - there's an awful lot you can work on even when you're restricted!!
Lots of shortening and lengthening, leg yield, shoulder in, getting B to stretch forward pick up a contact without resistance...all good basic stuff that'll stand us in good stead when work starts properly. Yay!!
And the velcro...ah yes, we'd only just got into the school when the lovely but rather eccentric local lady Viv who patrols the village with her little dog, popped out of the big conifer hedge at the top end of the school just as we were walking up....cue B's ears up my nose and combined scoot, spin and rear combo whilst travelling backwards at speed....well sat even if I say so myself!!
Bally was quite upset by the whole thing, but didn't take too long before being able to listen and relax back into her work. It was actually quite a good training exercise for getting her out and about at ridden competitions where she'll be exposed to all sorts of sights and sounds and need to be able to re-focus.
Nicely relaxed again we finished with some centre line halts and walked back to the yard on a loose rein, what a good girl!!
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Walk on.....
So a couple of weeks in and we're now tootling along in walk for a whole 20 minutes at a time (whoohoo) lol!
Now if I'm completely honest I never really enjoyed hacking Bally out last year after I'd backed her, she was generally a little argumentative, a whole lot joggy and exceedingly spooky....not always an exactly relaxing experience (although she had me in stitches on several occasions with her shenanigans)
But now we've started her walk hacking rehab, well..... Baby B has grown up!
Being Bally she still likes to have her opinion heard and that's fine with me, but so far so good - she's attentive, forward, looky, but not flighty, she's walking out calmly and confidently and we're both enjoying it tremendously (well apart from the day the heavens opened and we got absolutely and totally soaked to the skin - we found the backwards and sideways crab style head almost up her backside buttons that day.
Tonight we went up through the woods which involved negotiating a big double five bar gate which has caused no end of problems before, reversing, jumping about etc...but not tonight - it was opened, walked through, and closed and latched both ways without too much fuss. What a good girl!!
That twenty minute walk, just the two of us, totally chilled and pootling along in the lovely late afternoon sunshine was absolutely blissful.
It's been so long (8 months!!!) I'd almost forgotten just how lovely she is to ride.......and I cannot wait to get back to being able to school her again, BD watch out!!
Now if I'm completely honest I never really enjoyed hacking Bally out last year after I'd backed her, she was generally a little argumentative, a whole lot joggy and exceedingly spooky....not always an exactly relaxing experience (although she had me in stitches on several occasions with her shenanigans)
But now we've started her walk hacking rehab, well..... Baby B has grown up!
Being Bally she still likes to have her opinion heard and that's fine with me, but so far so good - she's attentive, forward, looky, but not flighty, she's walking out calmly and confidently and we're both enjoying it tremendously (well apart from the day the heavens opened and we got absolutely and totally soaked to the skin - we found the backwards and sideways crab style head almost up her backside buttons that day.
Tonight we went up through the woods which involved negotiating a big double five bar gate which has caused no end of problems before, reversing, jumping about etc...but not tonight - it was opened, walked through, and closed and latched both ways without too much fuss. What a good girl!!
That twenty minute walk, just the two of us, totally chilled and pootling along in the lovely late afternoon sunshine was absolutely blissful.
It's been so long (8 months!!!) I'd almost forgotten just how lovely she is to ride.......and I cannot wait to get back to being able to school her again, BD watch out!!
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Anybody out there?
We are back in business!
That little knock in February turned out to be a lot worse than I was hoping. After seeing the vet the swelling got worse despite penning and ice packing poor Bally, so she was hoofed up to the yard on YO's trailer (nearly breaking my wrist in the process, thanks B!) and into a stable.
Xrays clear for splint bone damage, so with 4 x ice a day plus bandaging, I got the swelling down enough to scan...and there right at the point the suspensory ligament branches above the fetlock was a fibre disruption and swelling. No actual tears or lesions thank goodness! Probable cause hoolying in the field. Her right hind scanned clear though so no inherent weakness, a definite injury and just sheer bad luck
And so began the box rest...and the injections and the joint supplements and the herbal potions, with the 4 x a day ice packing...oh and the ultrasound twice a day, and the massage and the 2 x 20 minute hand walks, not to mention the egg bar shoes!!
For a feisty little Luso girl who'd spent the previous year living out in a herd on 17 acres it was an awful big ask to go into solitary confinement in a box....but she took to it like a duck to water. I reckoned she loved having me as a personal slave on call to tend to her every whim lol....me on the other hand...well it nearly broke me emotionally and physically...thank goodness for wonderful husband and sympathetic bosses, who let me reduce my work hours as I really could not cope with everything. Dark days :-(
Several months down the line and Madam B was allowed some pen turnout again, so she came home for a few weeks with a companion, Polly.
All well until the day she was tied up in the gateway, spooked, bounced into the gate and went over / through it, the gate post snapped, the baler twine didn't...so Bally took of in a red mist panic with the gate attached to her. She bolted straight through three lines of post and rail fencing. I got flattened trying to hold her to get the headcollar off and finally the snap hook on the leadrope gave way.
When I caught her I could see she was badly injured, totally non weight bearing right hind, blood pumping from her leg, scrapes and cuts all over including a big gash under her elbow. My vet and my friend Di were soon on the scene and with a makeshift splint on we got Bally to the horspital. I felt utterly distraught and sick with worry as we were sure she'd fractured her leg.
Thankfully no fracture, but she had shadowing that looked very much like it could develop into a hairline fracture and metal shards from the gate embedded in her leg. Her front and hind on the right swelled terribly as did her chest and belly.
So B had three weeks in the horspital on strict no movement box rest having her leg scraped down to the bone and flushed and regular x-ray monitoring...unbelievably and rather miraculously she healed completely and apart from a few small scars that will fade in time is as good as new and signed off fit and well from the accident!!
When she came back to the yard she had four more weeks box rest, then I gradually introduced pen rest with in hand walking...the last scan two weeks ago was a good improvement and as Bally sat and launched herself into the trot up Conor my vet was just..."WOW look at her move!!!" He reckoned the swelling was so minimal now she's pass a vetting on the leg no problem. Bally is enjoying being allowed out all night in her pen too!
So we have the OK to start ridden work...yes a whole 10 minutes straight line walking only, but increasing 5 minutes a week until the next scan...then hopefully we are properly back in schooling business.
So blogdom begins again now we actually have something to talk about other than disasters and upset!
That little knock in February turned out to be a lot worse than I was hoping. After seeing the vet the swelling got worse despite penning and ice packing poor Bally, so she was hoofed up to the yard on YO's trailer (nearly breaking my wrist in the process, thanks B!) and into a stable.
Xrays clear for splint bone damage, so with 4 x ice a day plus bandaging, I got the swelling down enough to scan...and there right at the point the suspensory ligament branches above the fetlock was a fibre disruption and swelling. No actual tears or lesions thank goodness! Probable cause hoolying in the field. Her right hind scanned clear though so no inherent weakness, a definite injury and just sheer bad luck
And so began the box rest...and the injections and the joint supplements and the herbal potions, with the 4 x a day ice packing...oh and the ultrasound twice a day, and the massage and the 2 x 20 minute hand walks, not to mention the egg bar shoes!!
For a feisty little Luso girl who'd spent the previous year living out in a herd on 17 acres it was an awful big ask to go into solitary confinement in a box....but she took to it like a duck to water. I reckoned she loved having me as a personal slave on call to tend to her every whim lol....me on the other hand...well it nearly broke me emotionally and physically...thank goodness for wonderful husband and sympathetic bosses, who let me reduce my work hours as I really could not cope with everything. Dark days :-(
Several months down the line and Madam B was allowed some pen turnout again, so she came home for a few weeks with a companion, Polly.
All well until the day she was tied up in the gateway, spooked, bounced into the gate and went over / through it, the gate post snapped, the baler twine didn't...so Bally took of in a red mist panic with the gate attached to her. She bolted straight through three lines of post and rail fencing. I got flattened trying to hold her to get the headcollar off and finally the snap hook on the leadrope gave way.
When I caught her I could see she was badly injured, totally non weight bearing right hind, blood pumping from her leg, scrapes and cuts all over including a big gash under her elbow. My vet and my friend Di were soon on the scene and with a makeshift splint on we got Bally to the horspital. I felt utterly distraught and sick with worry as we were sure she'd fractured her leg.
Thankfully no fracture, but she had shadowing that looked very much like it could develop into a hairline fracture and metal shards from the gate embedded in her leg. Her front and hind on the right swelled terribly as did her chest and belly.
So B had three weeks in the horspital on strict no movement box rest having her leg scraped down to the bone and flushed and regular x-ray monitoring...unbelievably and rather miraculously she healed completely and apart from a few small scars that will fade in time is as good as new and signed off fit and well from the accident!!
When she came back to the yard she had four more weeks box rest, then I gradually introduced pen rest with in hand walking...the last scan two weeks ago was a good improvement and as Bally sat and launched herself into the trot up Conor my vet was just..."WOW look at her move!!!" He reckoned the swelling was so minimal now she's pass a vetting on the leg no problem. Bally is enjoying being allowed out all night in her pen too!
So we have the OK to start ridden work...yes a whole 10 minutes straight line walking only, but increasing 5 minutes a week until the next scan...then hopefully we are properly back in schooling business.
So blogdom begins again now we actually have something to talk about other than disasters and upset!
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Ahem...we are still alive!
Oh dear
I really was bad at keeping the blog up at the end of last year...good intentions and all that!!
For anyone that's interested in an update the following photo's and video are from Bally's last ride in 2010. She' started her last baby holiday in November but a sunny Saturday and chance of a freebie lesson with a photographer and handy videoer in attendance meant she was dragged out of the field for one last ride.
Very pleased with where we got to, lots to work on this year, but I have to say that working with her has been hugely rewarding!
Sad news that as I was looking to bring her back into work this year she has picked up an injury to her left hind leg - not sure what as yet due to a lot of swelling and Bally being a big baby and being ouchy to touch from hock to hoof. We're keeping fingers crossed it's just a knock and with hot / cold therapy, pressure bandaging and restricted movement she'll be right as rain in no time
- I wanna ride her again!!
Monday, 20 September 2010
Pilgrim's Progress 19.07.10
Had a good session yesterday, did what will be our regular Sunday hike up the road to the school, the mile and a half (currently in hand) is a great way to warm her up, prepare for the fact that we have a schooling session and keeps me fitter!
Loads and loads of cars out as the gardens at the big house were open so good traffic training on the way ...all ignored completely!
Got to the school and discovered all of the C end under water with the sprinkers on full whack...cue much eye popping and snorting, but I lead her down and we walked around for a few minutes just out of reach so she could see and hear the sprinkler but wasn't going to get an impromptu soaking! I find that If I remain completely workmanlike and ignore stuff she's generally picking up and that and taking confidence from it :-)
She was much better about the mounting block this time, but she's still not happy about it - odd when she's so good every where else :-$
Anyway hopped on and B was very forwards so popped her straight up into trot and worked on big shapes - changing the rein, serpentines and big circles. Have to watch her escaping out of her right shoulder!
Only had a few minor steering failures and some wibbly long sides...but discovered that she responds far better to a leg aid on the girth to straighten, than taking my leg back to move her quarters...it was quite a dramatic difference! I could also use the same aid to ask for a couple of steps of leg yield back to the track. To change the aid for a turn around the inside leg I deepen and lengthen my leg with a defininite rock forwards of my inner seatbone
Again I have to be very mindful of using my legs evenly in transitions - a couple of times B reacted to my stronger right leg and skewed off to the left. But we didn't have any pawing, when I asked for halt that was what I got!
I'm have a major wibble about contact though. I'm very conscious of keeping my arms connected to my body and keeping elbows and wrists loose and moving with her to let her take it forwards, but she doesn't - at the minute we're getting some nice moments, but there's a lot of fussing / head moving and it's very hard to reward the good moments as they are followed by a curl or her head going up. I know it's a balance issue on her part....but I wonder if by always following her movement I'm not being constant and offering enough of a steady contact to reach into, so it's a vicious circle of wobbliness...does that make sense?
Don't get me wrong I'm not asking for any kind of outline, just for her to stay between my hand and leg as quietly as she can at this stage and to take a stretch down to release her back when asked
Becky E is coming down to give us a couple of short lessons, so hopefully she can give me some pointers.
Thought we'd finish off by just asking for a hop up into canter from trot on each rein to see what we got and although she ran into it a little (note to self...do not drop the contact forwards!!!) she gave me a lovely steady few strides with a correct strike off both times and nicely back down :-D Until she's stronger that's pretty much all I'll be asking of her in the school. The majority of any ridden canter work will be out hacking.
Walked her off and stood her over by the mounting block whilst I had a drink and she stood like a lamb bless her!
The we hacked back down the road and she was good...another wibble at the same gateway as last week, but she let me pop her quarters back in and walked past without much of a fuss.
All in all really pleased with her progress, but really looking forward to a lesson so I can check we're on the right track!!
Loads and loads of cars out as the gardens at the big house were open so good traffic training on the way ...all ignored completely!
Got to the school and discovered all of the C end under water with the sprinkers on full whack...cue much eye popping and snorting, but I lead her down and we walked around for a few minutes just out of reach so she could see and hear the sprinkler but wasn't going to get an impromptu soaking! I find that If I remain completely workmanlike and ignore stuff she's generally picking up and that and taking confidence from it :-)
She was much better about the mounting block this time, but she's still not happy about it - odd when she's so good every where else :-$
Anyway hopped on and B was very forwards so popped her straight up into trot and worked on big shapes - changing the rein, serpentines and big circles. Have to watch her escaping out of her right shoulder!
Only had a few minor steering failures and some wibbly long sides...but discovered that she responds far better to a leg aid on the girth to straighten, than taking my leg back to move her quarters...it was quite a dramatic difference! I could also use the same aid to ask for a couple of steps of leg yield back to the track. To change the aid for a turn around the inside leg I deepen and lengthen my leg with a defininite rock forwards of my inner seatbone
Again I have to be very mindful of using my legs evenly in transitions - a couple of times B reacted to my stronger right leg and skewed off to the left. But we didn't have any pawing, when I asked for halt that was what I got!
I'm have a major wibble about contact though. I'm very conscious of keeping my arms connected to my body and keeping elbows and wrists loose and moving with her to let her take it forwards, but she doesn't - at the minute we're getting some nice moments, but there's a lot of fussing / head moving and it's very hard to reward the good moments as they are followed by a curl or her head going up. I know it's a balance issue on her part....but I wonder if by always following her movement I'm not being constant and offering enough of a steady contact to reach into, so it's a vicious circle of wobbliness...does that make sense?
Don't get me wrong I'm not asking for any kind of outline, just for her to stay between my hand and leg as quietly as she can at this stage and to take a stretch down to release her back when asked
Becky E is coming down to give us a couple of short lessons, so hopefully she can give me some pointers.
Thought we'd finish off by just asking for a hop up into canter from trot on each rein to see what we got and although she ran into it a little (note to self...do not drop the contact forwards!!!) she gave me a lovely steady few strides with a correct strike off both times and nicely back down :-D Until she's stronger that's pretty much all I'll be asking of her in the school. The majority of any ridden canter work will be out hacking.
Walked her off and stood her over by the mounting block whilst I had a drink and she stood like a lamb bless her!
The we hacked back down the road and she was good...another wibble at the same gateway as last week, but she let me pop her quarters back in and walked past without much of a fuss.
All in all really pleased with her progress, but really looking forward to a lesson so I can check we're on the right track!!
Hacked Off 16.07.10
Well we went out hacking completely solo yesterday (in a howling gale again lol!!)
I did the first 15 minutes just hand walking with her, up the lane, past the scary fishing lakes and then got on her from a random fence as we turned onto the cricketfield bridleway (have treeless will mount from anything I can stand on...or get horse to stand in!)
Bally was nicely forwards and although a little looky at things she wasn't overly spooky which was great considering we hadn't been down that particular bridleway before
Had a lovely trot and she came back nicely without any bother, then we got slightly lost and ended up in a lightly harrowed bit that used to be a pathway...and had a lovely lovely canter along the edge where the ground was softest.
Ended up in a bit of a dead end and had to turn back and sadly when we got back onto the bridleway and headed for home Bally blotted her copybook a bit!
She tried to jog off so I halted her with my seat, asked for walk on...jog...halt...sideways evasion.... HALT with neck rope and seat...walk on..jog. HALT..foot throwing, re-applied halt aids and ooops up she went :-o
Cracked her once on the backside to get her forward as I simply will not tolerate that antsy tantrum behaviour then asked her to halt again. This went on for about ten minutes and it was extremely hard not to to be tempted in to take a pull on the reins and just keep my halt from body into a steady hand, although we did have a one rein circle at one stage as she was flinging her head at me and bouncing up again :-$
It was a bit of a battle of wills and I'm actually quite chuffed that I stuck to my guns, remained calm and just repeated my halt, walk on, halts everytime she did anything other than what I was asking for and didn't let her get to me...her frustration was understandable but not acceptable and I just wasn't going to get into an escalating fight about it
It worked thank goodness and she gracefully walked on, accepted a couple more walk, halt, walk transitions (with much less aiding applied) calmly and so on we pootled.
Stayed on her and rode onto the lane and presented her with the challenge of walking up the lane between the scary lakes, past a car disgorging a couple of excited children feeding the ducks.
She stopped and baulked a little and I let her have a breather and take it in then asked her to walk on, then trot past and she did, nicely straight no spooking what a good girl!!! YAY
Back onto our little lane and I let her take the rein a little longer, then hopped off half way down so we in hand walked the last five minutes to let her have a wind down.
So a good ride despite the shenanigans, nice to know that we can deal with them and move on as I'm sure there'll be plenty more!
I did the first 15 minutes just hand walking with her, up the lane, past the scary fishing lakes and then got on her from a random fence as we turned onto the cricketfield bridleway (have treeless will mount from anything I can stand on...or get horse to stand in!)
Bally was nicely forwards and although a little looky at things she wasn't overly spooky which was great considering we hadn't been down that particular bridleway before
Had a lovely trot and she came back nicely without any bother, then we got slightly lost and ended up in a lightly harrowed bit that used to be a pathway...and had a lovely lovely canter along the edge where the ground was softest.
Ended up in a bit of a dead end and had to turn back and sadly when we got back onto the bridleway and headed for home Bally blotted her copybook a bit!
She tried to jog off so I halted her with my seat, asked for walk on...jog...halt...sideways evasion.... HALT with neck rope and seat...walk on..jog. HALT..foot throwing, re-applied halt aids and ooops up she went :-o
Cracked her once on the backside to get her forward as I simply will not tolerate that antsy tantrum behaviour then asked her to halt again. This went on for about ten minutes and it was extremely hard not to to be tempted in to take a pull on the reins and just keep my halt from body into a steady hand, although we did have a one rein circle at one stage as she was flinging her head at me and bouncing up again :-$
It was a bit of a battle of wills and I'm actually quite chuffed that I stuck to my guns, remained calm and just repeated my halt, walk on, halts everytime she did anything other than what I was asking for and didn't let her get to me...her frustration was understandable but not acceptable and I just wasn't going to get into an escalating fight about it
It worked thank goodness and she gracefully walked on, accepted a couple more walk, halt, walk transitions (with much less aiding applied) calmly and so on we pootled.
Stayed on her and rode onto the lane and presented her with the challenge of walking up the lane between the scary lakes, past a car disgorging a couple of excited children feeding the ducks.
She stopped and baulked a little and I let her have a breather and take it in then asked her to walk on, then trot past and she did, nicely straight no spooking what a good girl!!! YAY
Back onto our little lane and I let her take the rein a little longer, then hopped off half way down so we in hand walked the last five minutes to let her have a wind down.
So a good ride despite the shenanigans, nice to know that we can deal with them and move on as I'm sure there'll be plenty more!
Little schooling session 14.07.10
Really nice short ridden session last night. Just in the corral but with saddle and bridle (and hat if hubby is reading!) I used the drop noseband (no headcollar) and B was happy in her mouth, nicely mouthing and steady.
Started with a bit of flexion work ....or boot nibbling if we get a good side stretch lol then on just to work in walk at me getting my positioning, seat and aiding clear so B can respond easily and correctly - aiming for softness.
I think we worked really well. B is now starting to reach for the bit and take it forwards so long I'm asking from my leg and keeping a strong flexible core. It's blatantly obvious when that strong core becomes a tense leg or seat though as Bally just grinds to a halt underneath me (oops!)
Much better turns and circles last night with the occasional flash of harmony as I got the aiding spot on and we glided around on just a seat aid!
We worked on getting good square halts without any sideways wibbling and she got it best if I concentrate on remaining central, straight and even when I put my legs on....then I lighten my seat and bingo up she steps beautifully square :-D
So what did we learn...well I cannot get away with any sloppy riding for a start lol!! and if I'm clear in my body and mind what we want...we generally get...hey she's bright that girl
Started with a bit of flexion work ....or boot nibbling if we get a good side stretch lol then on just to work in walk at me getting my positioning, seat and aiding clear so B can respond easily and correctly - aiming for softness.
I think we worked really well. B is now starting to reach for the bit and take it forwards so long I'm asking from my leg and keeping a strong flexible core. It's blatantly obvious when that strong core becomes a tense leg or seat though as Bally just grinds to a halt underneath me (oops!)
Much better turns and circles last night with the occasional flash of harmony as I got the aiding spot on and we glided around on just a seat aid!
We worked on getting good square halts without any sideways wibbling and she got it best if I concentrate on remaining central, straight and even when I put my legs on....then I lighten my seat and bingo up she steps beautifully square :-D
So what did we learn...well I cannot get away with any sloppy riding for a start lol!! and if I'm clear in my body and mind what we want...we generally get...hey she's bright that girl
Proper schooling 12.7.10
It's been far too hot to subject the pair of us to a three mile round walk, plus schooling time but it was much nicer and breezier yesterday afternoon so we trundled off up the road for a session.
B was in a lovely mood and nicely marched out with me as we made our way up the lane (on foot at this stage) I'd gone back bridle and headcollar with reins attached to both for stability and B was happy with this arrangement.
Met Gi on his bicycle and B was happy to walk along with the bike at her side which bodes well for bigger hacks out.
Got to the school and she had a bit of a hissy at the mounting block. Odd as she stands pefectly happily next to fences and gates for me to plonk myself on from. She was a bit rude at one point and kicked out at the whip as I asked her move her quarters over from the ground as she'd swung away from the block as I stepped on it, so she got growled at!
After a bit of groundwork I got her where she should be and she stood nicely so I could get on :-D
Interesting session, I rode for about 20 minutes in all doing nice big shapes to change direction and bend and getting transitions on markers. We still had some banana issues, but had more success asking for a little flexion, then straight and repeating.
There was little issue at the top end of the school with birds flapping in the hedge and initially B was a bit tense and spooky up there, but I worked on ignoring it completely and B was able to take a lead from that
Bally was super in her mouth, no signs of irritability or discomfort at all so I do think it's a support issue and that a drop is going to the best place to start, then try a different bit if that doesn't suit.
She was also very nicely off my leg with good crisp transitions. One halt was a bit of a disaster and was down to me not being straight...I sat up and closed my legs on and suddenly found myself leg yielding across the school :-o
I wasn't 100% happy with her trot work, we seemed to veer between a rushed choppy trot and a slug impression as Bally struggled to find her balance within the pace. So I worked on getting her forward, then introducing the idea of using my seat to slow and lengthen and gave her a longer rein to reach forward to. Had a couple of nice circles with a much better rythmn.
Stopped there as pleased with how well Bally had worked and hacked her back all the way down to the field with Gi following on the bike to keep an eye on us
Had one moment of uh-oh as she took a bit of an exception to a driveway and crabbed sideways bum out into the lane. I turned her around and walked her back to it where she had a bit of a dither and I just sat until she relaxed then asked her to walk on and she did YAY!!
I felt her tense right up as we approached the big house as they were having a rather noisy game of tennis behind the hedge, but again just gave B a scratch and vocal reassurance and she walked past no bother, clever girly!!
Best bit of all, we had a little trot on the big raised verge on the little lane, I gave her an extra nudge and we had our first canter :-D
It was as lovely as I thought it would be, only a few strides, but she came back immediately when asked and she was beautifully light and balanced which bodes well for the future!!
B was in a lovely mood and nicely marched out with me as we made our way up the lane (on foot at this stage) I'd gone back bridle and headcollar with reins attached to both for stability and B was happy with this arrangement.
Met Gi on his bicycle and B was happy to walk along with the bike at her side which bodes well for bigger hacks out.
Got to the school and she had a bit of a hissy at the mounting block. Odd as she stands pefectly happily next to fences and gates for me to plonk myself on from. She was a bit rude at one point and kicked out at the whip as I asked her move her quarters over from the ground as she'd swung away from the block as I stepped on it, so she got growled at!
After a bit of groundwork I got her where she should be and she stood nicely so I could get on :-D
Interesting session, I rode for about 20 minutes in all doing nice big shapes to change direction and bend and getting transitions on markers. We still had some banana issues, but had more success asking for a little flexion, then straight and repeating.
There was little issue at the top end of the school with birds flapping in the hedge and initially B was a bit tense and spooky up there, but I worked on ignoring it completely and B was able to take a lead from that
Bally was super in her mouth, no signs of irritability or discomfort at all so I do think it's a support issue and that a drop is going to the best place to start, then try a different bit if that doesn't suit.
She was also very nicely off my leg with good crisp transitions. One halt was a bit of a disaster and was down to me not being straight...I sat up and closed my legs on and suddenly found myself leg yielding across the school :-o
I wasn't 100% happy with her trot work, we seemed to veer between a rushed choppy trot and a slug impression as Bally struggled to find her balance within the pace. So I worked on getting her forward, then introducing the idea of using my seat to slow and lengthen and gave her a longer rein to reach forward to. Had a couple of nice circles with a much better rythmn.
Stopped there as pleased with how well Bally had worked and hacked her back all the way down to the field with Gi following on the bike to keep an eye on us
Had one moment of uh-oh as she took a bit of an exception to a driveway and crabbed sideways bum out into the lane. I turned her around and walked her back to it where she had a bit of a dither and I just sat until she relaxed then asked her to walk on and she did YAY!!
I felt her tense right up as we approached the big house as they were having a rather noisy game of tennis behind the hedge, but again just gave B a scratch and vocal reassurance and she walked past no bother, clever girly!!
Best bit of all, we had a little trot on the big raised verge on the little lane, I gave her an extra nudge and we had our first canter :-D
It was as lovely as I thought it would be, only a few strides, but she came back immediately when asked and she was beautifully light and balanced which bodes well for the future!!
In-Handy Stuff 07.07.10 pt 2
Repeated similar work last night but altered the height of the bit in her mouth first..actually put it UP and popped my drop noseband on her, loose in case she is sore and so that she can still mouth (able to get three fingers under easily, but adjusted so that it could give a small amount of support to the bit.
Came to the conclusion that Bally really objects to me working her inhand directly from the bit but is much happier if I put myself further back and hold the reins as if I'm riding...and is even happier on longlines. If I was being really hamfisted I'd have thought it would be the other way round??
Anyway she was steadier in her mouth, not great, but nothing like as irritated as she was before, so a small step in the right direction.
Walked her up to the corral and popped on her again. Did a little work on reinback from a legs back / lighten seat aid accompanied by the verbal clunk I use on the ground and lot's of praise when she moved her weight back
She got it straight away :-D
Then we just did five minutes of working on walking straight with halt transtions added, trying to keep her channelled straight throughout.B was much better with her mouth and head ridden, I just tried to keep a soft elastic even contact and she took it forwards and was settled by it. I'm obviously doing something seriously wrong inhand!
We ground to a halt a couple of times as I got grippy with my thighs, entirely my fault and good in a way because at least I know my holding aid to step up into halt works.
I'll walk her up to the school tomorrow night to see how we get on on a nice surface rather than rutty potholed grass....I'm hoping I'll be even more pleasantly surprised by her.
She's such a lovely willing calm girl who really seems to be enjoying her work, but I worry she's not thinking forwards enough which is imperative at this stage, so lot's more hacking out on the cards
Came to the conclusion that Bally really objects to me working her inhand directly from the bit but is much happier if I put myself further back and hold the reins as if I'm riding...and is even happier on longlines. If I was being really hamfisted I'd have thought it would be the other way round??
Anyway she was steadier in her mouth, not great, but nothing like as irritated as she was before, so a small step in the right direction.
Walked her up to the corral and popped on her again. Did a little work on reinback from a legs back / lighten seat aid accompanied by the verbal clunk I use on the ground and lot's of praise when she moved her weight back
She got it straight away :-D
Then we just did five minutes of working on walking straight with halt transtions added, trying to keep her channelled straight throughout.B was much better with her mouth and head ridden, I just tried to keep a soft elastic even contact and she took it forwards and was settled by it. I'm obviously doing something seriously wrong inhand!
We ground to a halt a couple of times as I got grippy with my thighs, entirely my fault and good in a way because at least I know my holding aid to step up into halt works.
I'll walk her up to the school tomorrow night to see how we get on on a nice surface rather than rutty potholed grass....I'm hoping I'll be even more pleasantly surprised by her.
She's such a lovely willing calm girl who really seems to be enjoying her work, but I worry she's not thinking forwards enough which is imperative at this stage, so lot's more hacking out on the cards
In-Handy Stuff 07.07.10 pt1
Bally had Monday off after all the fun on Sunday - it was quite a long day for her - I was up at the field at 7, walked her home along the bridleways, bathed, plaited, loaded hung around and wandered about the showground, did a class, went for a ride around the showground and then back home by 2pm...phew!
Still her behaviour was exemplary and you really can't ask for more than that :-D
In an odd mood last night because of the sad news about my lovely girl Leyna, went up to the field and ended up having a good weep. Bally, Dee and Bonita stood with me, then over me as I sat and bawled my eyes out and gently whiffled my hair and nuzzled my shoulders. Bless them
Decided to do a little bit of in hand flexion work with B. Very unsettled with any sort of contact and I had to be almost whisper like to get her to mouth and not yaw at the bit or throw her head around.
I'm going to have to either rethink bitting / noseband or go bitless for a wee while as she's teething. She's much happier and steadier when the reins are attached to the bit ring and the headcollar so it feels more stable in her mouth (I use a Neue Schule loose ring bit) so if she's happy with the mouthpiece she may need a drop noseband just to support the bit & hold it steady in her mouth of maybe go for something like a half / full cheek..... Not sure will probably have a play and see what she's happiest with.
Well after I'd manage to get some nice calm and soft in hand work I walked B up to the corral and popped on her for a little bit of ridden walk work
Bareback :-O
There aren't many just backed babies I'd even think about doing this with but B has been so like Safi in her fabulous attitude to being ridden (and maybe I'm feeling a bit fatalistic atm due to recent events...no body protector or hat either :-$)
She was lovely, definitely better with flexing to the left after working her inhand, although still has a tendency to banana to the right whilst going straight - seems to be her default position and something I have to be very clear on correcting every time she starts it
One teeny nap by the fence where the rest of the gang had grandstand seats..she didn't move straight off my leg when asked to walk on from a nudge...so got a double nudge and a voice command...then a tickle from the whip which did the trick.
I've been holding off riding her on my own and only actually sitting on her once a week when I could get Gi or Jen to help me, but after her being so wonderfully amenable tonight I think we'll be fine so, as long as I can keep her comfortable in her mouth, we can crack on and start hacking out a bit more and have at least one school session a week on top.
I really have missed riding!
Still her behaviour was exemplary and you really can't ask for more than that :-D
In an odd mood last night because of the sad news about my lovely girl Leyna, went up to the field and ended up having a good weep. Bally, Dee and Bonita stood with me, then over me as I sat and bawled my eyes out and gently whiffled my hair and nuzzled my shoulders. Bless them
Decided to do a little bit of in hand flexion work with B. Very unsettled with any sort of contact and I had to be almost whisper like to get her to mouth and not yaw at the bit or throw her head around.
I'm going to have to either rethink bitting / noseband or go bitless for a wee while as she's teething. She's much happier and steadier when the reins are attached to the bit ring and the headcollar so it feels more stable in her mouth (I use a Neue Schule loose ring bit) so if she's happy with the mouthpiece she may need a drop noseband just to support the bit & hold it steady in her mouth of maybe go for something like a half / full cheek..... Not sure will probably have a play and see what she's happiest with.
Well after I'd manage to get some nice calm and soft in hand work I walked B up to the corral and popped on her for a little bit of ridden walk work
Bareback :-O
There aren't many just backed babies I'd even think about doing this with but B has been so like Safi in her fabulous attitude to being ridden (and maybe I'm feeling a bit fatalistic atm due to recent events...no body protector or hat either :-$)
She was lovely, definitely better with flexing to the left after working her inhand, although still has a tendency to banana to the right whilst going straight - seems to be her default position and something I have to be very clear on correcting every time she starts it
One teeny nap by the fence where the rest of the gang had grandstand seats..she didn't move straight off my leg when asked to walk on from a nudge...so got a double nudge and a voice command...then a tickle from the whip which did the trick.
I've been holding off riding her on my own and only actually sitting on her once a week when I could get Gi or Jen to help me, but after her being so wonderfully amenable tonight I think we'll be fine so, as long as I can keep her comfortable in her mouth, we can crack on and start hacking out a bit more and have at least one school session a week on top.
I really have missed riding!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Show Time!! 04.07.10
Took Bally to a local show today..turned out to be much busier than I envisaged as not only was there a horse show, but also a dog show, and EBG 12 mile ride setting off all day and a big driving competition on site so masses to see and a really buzzy atmosphere :-o
B was just brilliant, took it all in her stride and was very chilled, so decided what the heck and entered her into a class....it was choice of Riding Club horse / pony or prettiest mare :-$
Well we went into the RC horse class as I didn't want to deprive all the pig-tailed little girls and their doe eyed ponies and she was like an old pro, totally calm, stood up when asked without a hint of a fidget, walked out in the lead for the whole class, didn't flicker an eye at some behaviour issues from the mare behind her. Did a lovely individual show, trotted out beautifully around the ring and was just an absolute delight to work with.
Competition was stiff as there were two winners and a couple of second placers from previous classes in the ring with us, plus three of us the judge hadn't seen before.
Well blow me down we were pulled in second behind a stunning and immaculately turned out pony YAY!!!!!!
Afterwards I tacked B up and we had a ride around the showground. Got Superhubby to lead us through the lorry park for safety sake as I could feel Bally was on her toes a bit, but we went up into the showground proper where the rings were and other horses were working in and rode her around - just a bit of walk and trot and she was so good - no napping or silliness, but a very apparent lack of left bend when not in the confines of an arena! (homework ahoy!!)
Back to the box and we still had a couple of hours to wait for the inhand championship we'd qualified for and I decided to forgo our place and come home as I didn't want to make Bally stale and spoil the fabulous day we'd had.
I LUFF my gorgeous girl :-D
Lots of photos in this album http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee15/LarriDB/Bailarinas%20first%20party/
B was just brilliant, took it all in her stride and was very chilled, so decided what the heck and entered her into a class....it was choice of Riding Club horse / pony or prettiest mare :-$
Well we went into the RC horse class as I didn't want to deprive all the pig-tailed little girls and their doe eyed ponies and she was like an old pro, totally calm, stood up when asked without a hint of a fidget, walked out in the lead for the whole class, didn't flicker an eye at some behaviour issues from the mare behind her. Did a lovely individual show, trotted out beautifully around the ring and was just an absolute delight to work with.
Competition was stiff as there were two winners and a couple of second placers from previous classes in the ring with us, plus three of us the judge hadn't seen before.
Well blow me down we were pulled in second behind a stunning and immaculately turned out pony YAY!!!!!!
Afterwards I tacked B up and we had a ride around the showground. Got Superhubby to lead us through the lorry park for safety sake as I could feel Bally was on her toes a bit, but we went up into the showground proper where the rings were and other horses were working in and rode her around - just a bit of walk and trot and she was so good - no napping or silliness, but a very apparent lack of left bend when not in the confines of an arena! (homework ahoy!!)
Back to the box and we still had a couple of hours to wait for the inhand championship we'd qualified for and I decided to forgo our place and come home as I didn't want to make Bally stale and spoil the fabulous day we'd had.
I LUFF my gorgeous girl :-D
Lots of photos in this album http://s233.photobucket.com/albums/ee15/LarriDB/Bailarinas%20first%20party/
Going solo with video evidence! 27.06.10
The whole gang are all happily back together now, and seem to have slotted back into herd like perfectly amenably
Well once again Ballyboo has been an absolute star today, she is just so laid back about this being ridden lark and she's such a joy to ride
I took her on her first proper solo / off lead hack, in fact she was never on the lead, Gi and Spuddy dog came with us and were supposed to be leading, but in the end she was so chilled out I kept a hold of it in case it was needed but nope, the girl was going solo with a vengeance
She stood stock still as I threw myself at her off the fence and we went out the gate and off up the lane for about half a mile, past the fishing lake, the (thankfully parked up) diggers doing the car park there, the wheely bins and then turned down the woody bridleway. She was a teeny bit cat creepy to start but as well as using my legs in time with hers I used my whip on my boot as a back up which worked really well. Once she got the idea she marched out wonderfully :-D
Once we got to the bit where the bridleway goes into the village I turned back as didn't feel quite ready for the main road just yet !!! Then we had a few little trots and she was nicely off my leg and easy to bring back down too, clever girl. One tiny baby stroplet when I asked her to stop and wait for a minute before moving on again, this brought on a minor fit of the Kevins in the form of foot scraping ..norty!!!
Happily pootled on when I asked her to, back on to the lane and home again, no fuss, no bother and big, BIG grins all round
Well once again Ballyboo has been an absolute star today, she is just so laid back about this being ridden lark and she's such a joy to ride
I took her on her first proper solo / off lead hack, in fact she was never on the lead, Gi and Spuddy dog came with us and were supposed to be leading, but in the end she was so chilled out I kept a hold of it in case it was needed but nope, the girl was going solo with a vengeance
She stood stock still as I threw myself at her off the fence and we went out the gate and off up the lane for about half a mile, past the fishing lake, the (thankfully parked up) diggers doing the car park there, the wheely bins and then turned down the woody bridleway. She was a teeny bit cat creepy to start but as well as using my legs in time with hers I used my whip on my boot as a back up which worked really well. Once she got the idea she marched out wonderfully :-D
Once we got to the bit where the bridleway goes into the village I turned back as didn't feel quite ready for the main road just yet !!! Then we had a few little trots and she was nicely off my leg and easy to bring back down too, clever girl. One tiny baby stroplet when I asked her to stop and wait for a minute before moving on again, this brought on a minor fit of the Kevins in the form of foot scraping ..norty!!!
Happily pootled on when I asked her to, back on to the lane and home again, no fuss, no bother and big, BIG grins all round
On the move - 24.06.10
Finally the girls are back down road at the 20 acre.
Got left in the lurch and ended up walking the pair of them the mile and a half down the road by myself.... Not something I would contemplate normally, but I just wanted to get them back out of the incredibly lush pasture as it was really damaging their feet!!
Popped every bit of hi viz gear I possessed on the three of us and just got on with it. Couple of spooky moments from the little one, and 3/4 of the way down the road she decided she'd absolutely walked far enough Thank you and wasn't taking another step :-o
Took some pressure / release work and a bit of wheedling to get Little Donkey Dee moving again lol
Bally was a star and just got on with it...she's definitely taking life as a grown up very seriously!!
Got them settled in and then Polly and Bonita magically appeared today, not sure why the boys haven't come down, but the girls were all getting on quite happily together...phew!!!
Got left in the lurch and ended up walking the pair of them the mile and a half down the road by myself.... Not something I would contemplate normally, but I just wanted to get them back out of the incredibly lush pasture as it was really damaging their feet!!
Popped every bit of hi viz gear I possessed on the three of us and just got on with it. Couple of spooky moments from the little one, and 3/4 of the way down the road she decided she'd absolutely walked far enough Thank you and wasn't taking another step :-o
Took some pressure / release work and a bit of wheedling to get Little Donkey Dee moving again lol
Bally was a star and just got on with it...she's definitely taking life as a grown up very seriously!!
Got them settled in and then Polly and Bonita magically appeared today, not sure why the boys haven't come down, but the girls were all getting on quite happily together...phew!!!
Rasp Ahoy 22.06.10
Bally had her teeth done this morning and she was a superstar
Brought her up on the the yard and let her have a good sniff at Gary's tools, the she pootled behind me into a box (first time in one since December and no hint of the panic she had when she first came to me and I put her in her new stable! )
Gary made his introductions to her and put her and me completely at ease then got on with having a good look, Bally was so calm and accepting of the whole process, nothing more than a bit of eye rolling at the rasp and popped her head higher when she had the gag fitted, but a little tweak on the rope and she relaxed and lowered it again.
She had a good tidy up and four baby teeth / caps taken off all on a loose rope with no sedation, what a brilliant first time !!
He's recommended that she has her wolf teeth out as he rightly assessed that she's unsteady on the contact. He said to see how she is now she's been rasped as that might be enough to make her more comfortable, but he did think they'd need to come out at some point, especially if I ever wanted her to have a bit seat.
A far cry from the last dentist I used who almost left the yard with his rasps up his doodah he was such an arrogant unfeeling and abusive G*t and the vet who sedates them if they so much as flicker an eyelash
Highly recommended !!
We measured B for the first time yesterday too....I chased a snorty Bally in a few circles until she realised the pokey stick thing wasn't going to kill her...and .....first measurement was over 15.2, which I refused to believe and next was just shy of 15.2 :-o
My old YO always maintained she'd make 16hh but I couldn't see it at first...when I first saw her last year my first thought was OMG she's looking well lol...closely followed by OMG she's really diddy!!) Safi kept growing till she was 8, so I think B's got a fair bit of growing to do still!!
Brought her up on the the yard and let her have a good sniff at Gary's tools, the she pootled behind me into a box (first time in one since December and no hint of the panic she had when she first came to me and I put her in her new stable! )
Gary made his introductions to her and put her and me completely at ease then got on with having a good look, Bally was so calm and accepting of the whole process, nothing more than a bit of eye rolling at the rasp and popped her head higher when she had the gag fitted, but a little tweak on the rope and she relaxed and lowered it again.
She had a good tidy up and four baby teeth / caps taken off all on a loose rope with no sedation, what a brilliant first time !!
He's recommended that she has her wolf teeth out as he rightly assessed that she's unsteady on the contact. He said to see how she is now she's been rasped as that might be enough to make her more comfortable, but he did think they'd need to come out at some point, especially if I ever wanted her to have a bit seat.
A far cry from the last dentist I used who almost left the yard with his rasps up his doodah he was such an arrogant unfeeling and abusive G*t and the vet who sedates them if they so much as flicker an eyelash
Highly recommended !!
We measured B for the first time yesterday too....I chased a snorty Bally in a few circles until she realised the pokey stick thing wasn't going to kill her...and .....first measurement was over 15.2, which I refused to believe and next was just shy of 15.2 :-o
My old YO always maintained she'd make 16hh but I couldn't see it at first...when I first saw her last year my first thought was OMG she's looking well lol...closely followed by OMG she's really diddy!!) Safi kept growing till she was 8, so I think B's got a fair bit of growing to do still!!
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Back in the saddle
Decided I was riding Bally today come hell or high water after her wangling 10 days off with scraped legs, a teeny new splint and a split hoof!!!!!
....and as usual we had to contend with some interesting distractions......
Set off down to the school and two of the kids on the yard came clattering down the path by the lane on their whizzy little ponies, went to go trotting past Bally which understandably wound her up a bit so I asked them not to scoot past, ten seconds later their ponies have planted as someone is making a commotion in one of the houses we pass and Gi, Bally and I have to give them a lead lol!
Discover that they are putting jumps up and having a short jumping lesson...now I'm all for introducing Bally to things going on, but I'm wondering if watching two PC ponies charging around leaping fences is maybe something to save for a ride when we're a leeeetle bit more established! ;-o
We had a ride round the school whilst they warmed up and before Mum turns up to put up the fences. B was a bit unsettled but as her steering was Ok I got Gi to let us off the lead pretty much straight away and Bally was really good considering. Tried a bit of a nap back to the ponies a couple of times but I just made semaphore size turning aids to get her back on track, then loads of praise when she went where I wanted her to. :-D
Transitions to halt good and nice crisp walk ons to follow. We managed a nice circle of trot on each rein - first time we've trotted off the line and by this point Gi had actually wandered off to the mounting block so I really was in charge and flying solo :-o
By this point jump wings were being dragged into the school so we had a nice walk down past all that and past the ponies, Bally got a big good girl for being totally unfussed!!
We walked off out the school and decided to have a 10 minute hack down the road. Bally had a couple of hesitant moments, but responded really well to me using the lead rope I was carrying as a Wip wop and suddenly discovered her forwards button lol
She was nice and calm as we had cars pass her from in front and behind (although I asked Gi to actually walk right by the side of her for support this time) and even gave me a little leg yield across the road after wandering off line a little
We also had a really good little trot and then turned around and walked back to the yard, past all the scary stuff..B had an eek about a mound of gravel, but happily went back to investigate it when asked.
All in all I was really pleased with her - what was that, fourth time I've sat on her???? Superstar girly (wub)
....and as usual we had to contend with some interesting distractions......
Set off down to the school and two of the kids on the yard came clattering down the path by the lane on their whizzy little ponies, went to go trotting past Bally which understandably wound her up a bit so I asked them not to scoot past, ten seconds later their ponies have planted as someone is making a commotion in one of the houses we pass and Gi, Bally and I have to give them a lead lol!
Discover that they are putting jumps up and having a short jumping lesson...now I'm all for introducing Bally to things going on, but I'm wondering if watching two PC ponies charging around leaping fences is maybe something to save for a ride when we're a leeeetle bit more established! ;-o
We had a ride round the school whilst they warmed up and before Mum turns up to put up the fences. B was a bit unsettled but as her steering was Ok I got Gi to let us off the lead pretty much straight away and Bally was really good considering. Tried a bit of a nap back to the ponies a couple of times but I just made semaphore size turning aids to get her back on track, then loads of praise when she went where I wanted her to. :-D
Transitions to halt good and nice crisp walk ons to follow. We managed a nice circle of trot on each rein - first time we've trotted off the line and by this point Gi had actually wandered off to the mounting block so I really was in charge and flying solo :-o
By this point jump wings were being dragged into the school so we had a nice walk down past all that and past the ponies, Bally got a big good girl for being totally unfussed!!
We walked off out the school and decided to have a 10 minute hack down the road. Bally had a couple of hesitant moments, but responded really well to me using the lead rope I was carrying as a Wip wop and suddenly discovered her forwards button lol
She was nice and calm as we had cars pass her from in front and behind (although I asked Gi to actually walk right by the side of her for support this time) and even gave me a little leg yield across the road after wandering off line a little
We also had a really good little trot and then turned around and walked back to the yard, past all the scary stuff..B had an eek about a mound of gravel, but happily went back to investigate it when asked.
All in all I was really pleased with her - what was that, fourth time I've sat on her???? Superstar girly (wub)
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