Sorry for neglecting the blog lately, my life has been crazy with school and coming back from break, etc. Next week is finals week, meaning this week is that fabulous time when professors throw last minute assignments at you and make term papers/projects due. I've actually been very productive since Sunday, powering through a bio quiz, a 22 page Holocaust journal, a 6 page bio paper and a group project. I'm almost there and finals week will actually be less stressful for me because I only have one real cumulative exam. I'll be home for break a week from tomorrow :) Which also means that starting next Thursday, I'll get to ride at my home barn with
Hillary and Huey EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! Collyn kindly offered to haul the Limmers and I'll drive my car with all of that unnecessary human stuff... I can't wait!
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| The day I got him :) You can really tell how big he is here... |
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| Immediately after this, he got tired of posing and threw his head up, out of my reach... he can only handle so much cuddling |
Because of this awesome and unusual productivity level, I've been out to see the pony and ride twice this week. Yesterday, he started out extremely stiff and I was concerned that he might be lame. Kimmie watched us trot around and agreed that he was short in his hind left... to me it felt like he was only willing to take baby steps with it and wasn't reaching forward. My B.O. aptly described it as a "flat tire," which is exactly what it felt like. She and Kimmie both thought I should keep working, and he did work out of it a little bit, but something still felt a little funny. We didn't do anything stressful, just trotted around in fun patterns and cantered a little bit over some poles. I figured I'd leave him be and see how he was today.
Today, he was much more willing to reach forward with that leg :) I could still feel the slightest limp, but that was mostly because I was looking for it and being overly sensitive. The ride started out really frustrating though. Since G started riding him on a regular basis, he has become really pissy about my spurs. I've noticed that G keeps her spurs on/in his side the entire time she's riding, which to the best of my knowledge is improper use. However, S acted like that's how she should be doing it and thought he was reacting negatively to me intermittently tapping him with mine.
I always thought that keeping a spur on a horse's side the entire ride would make them dead to leg aids... is that not true?
Regardless, he was not listening to my leg at all today and would swish his tail/pin his ears every time I nudged him with my spur, so I took them off and grabbed a crop. What a difference that made! I got the best, most forward walk I've had from him in a long time, he actually listened to me, and for some reason he was much more willing to go on the bit, come round, and actually carry himself. Coincidence? I didn't think so, and Kimmie said that he looked awesome and super relaxed. He also did not listen at all when I asked him for the canter transition, with or without spurs. The crop made a world of difference and allowed me to give him subtle (or not so subtle, if necessary) reminders to listen to me and pay attention. I think he learned a little bit of a lesson and that yes, I did want him to canter and keep cantering, not break to the trot the second I took my leg off or got distracted. After using it the first couple of times, just carrying it with me was enough of a reminder for him. The difference was incredible and I've decided that I'll be using a crop instead of spurs, at least for now.
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| One of my favorite pictures of us (even though he looks like he hates me) |
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| Love this picture that Collyn took of us during a lesson with S! We both look so happy :) |
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| From this summer. Hillary and I died laughing because of how freakishly small this fly bonnet was! Poor guy was embarrassed that we made him a public spectacle |
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| A normal fly bonnet |
Yay!!! I prefer to ride with a stick or whip lately as well.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you next week!!!
I don't really prefer it and I feel like I have almost no use of the hand I'm carrying it in, but I guess I'll have to deal!
DeleteCan't wait to see you either :)!!!!
Umm, the pics of you when you first got him are adorbs. As for the spur discussion-- the best thing to do is ask!!! No more of this wondering/questioning shenanigans. Without being accusatory, ask G or S about spur use, and that he doesn't really seem responsive to them anymore-- is that because I always ride him in them? Why would he prefer my whip over spurs? Even mention that it seems like G uses them on him a lot more than you do, ask if that's good, bad, or just different riding styles? As you know, I ask lots of questions. If I'm paying someone, I expect them to be receptive of my million questions, including ones like, "uhh, Reese, what am I supposed to be doing with my legs right now?"
ReplyDeleteThanks :) I'll talk to them after break... I probably won't see Gail before then and Limmers won't be back at CVF until February! Hopefully if Emily and I don't ride him with spurs over break or when I'm in France, he'll sort of go back to normal.
DeleteDitto what Collyn said - I would even bring it up to Em and ask her in one of your lessons about a good plan? :)
DeleteI wish that you would be at HB through February too... But no no you have to go off on an awesome study abroad semester - don't mind me while I turn green.
Wow I didn't realize how big he is!! :) He is so lovely. I have always been taught that spurs refine your aids. That they are most effective when you lightly tap tap tap with them.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :) That's what I thought too... I might have to have a discussion with G about not riding in them.
DeleteI agree with Karen. Spurs are supposed to refine your leg aids. My horse was trained with heavy spurs and now he is spur dead, much to my distress (and exhaustion). The more you use spurs, the worse it gets, so it's definitely better to tap than to hold your leg on. I was taught that I could wear spurs and use all of my leg, the inside of my ankle, etc. instead of constantly holding spurs on. I would think that keeping spurs on him all the time would be the same as constantly dragging on his mouth: sooner or later, he'll just learn to grin and bear it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that's what I always thought too! I'll stop riding in them for the time being and I'll talk to G and my trainer to see what they think about her riding in them... I don't really like having to use a whip to get him to listen, but he's ignoring my leg =/
DeleteI am incapable of coordinating myself with a crop, but there are a couple horses at our barn who just need you to hold the whip and never use it and they instantly start paying attention. There may be a benefit to that with Limerick.
DeleteYeah I rode with it again today, only used it once or twice, and he was awesome! Just carrying it definitely helps with him, even if I feel like I have a club for a hand...
DeleteThats what your trainers for!! Ask them lots of questions like I do :-) Limmers looks adorable, I love how dark of a chestnut he is.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's just a little bit complicated because my trainer and G are friends and my trainer recommended that G ride him, so I'm not sure how to approach it. Thanks, I'm partial to the liver chestnut color too :)
DeleteDitto the above--ask questions. It could be that you have an unsteady leg and catch him occasionally, which pisses him off, while the other girl is quiet and barely uses them. It could also be that she digs in and hangs on and he's jsut over the whole topic. Won't know unless you ask!!
ReplyDeletePS France? Loser. :p
I'll definitely ask! I was actually very nervous to start using spurs because so many people who shouldn't use them do, so I asked pretty much everyone I know (trainers, friends, etc.) to watch me ride in them or just watch me ride in general. They all told me that I have a very steady leg and there was no reason I couldn't ride in spurs, so I started using them on a regular basis. I think the problem I'm having now is differences in riding style.
DeleteYes, France :) I am kind of a loser, I'm mostly going to study and spend a lot of time in museums analyzing art...