what a nice horse. she carried the whip in her left hand and used it often. he was a bit dead on that side. was that his sore hind then or the other? they'd lunged only to the right for 5 minutes at walk and halt before getting started on the ride. it was his worst transition, the worst way, on a dead-as-a-doornail-hot day. she used her dressage whip as a lunge whip. the ripple on the line worked to move him out, thou he thought it was going to be a yank.
before grooming the old guy she'd walked the fence line and found an impassable pile of logs. a trail needed to be forced around that. and it needed to be filled in. as a jump? the bugs were TERRIBLE in the forest on the humid, dark day. she also found barbed wire on the ground, rusty and old. she used it to reinforce where the fence was sagging. the part that had been built up with logs and twigs and branches. she added to that with that as well.
even with a friendly qualified supervisor killing time in the ring she didn't want to jump. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER?
he was the only sensible horse on the property when the trailer hoopla happened. all the geldings went running and bucking like hooligans! she brought him to a halt near stone's gate accusing, "you of all people, to be carrying on like this" people. her little buddy didn't mind the boomwackers either. she was keeping a dressage test in the car for next ride.
she managed to get the little guy's too big leather halter opened on one side, and had left it softening to try again tomorrow. she should be able to shrink it two holes but the noseband needed a punch. his fly mask had been in the mud where he'd rolled it off.
"stone, i get blisters every summer when i first wear my sandals buddy, your face is just going to have to toughen up." she felt bad for the raw spot his new halter had rubbed.
2008-05-31
2008-05-29
More Roadwork
jill thought maybe the pony did have some lameness behind. should she have lunged him to study his way of going? at least she had tied knots in the new lunge line. he was certainly trippy on the grass and tenderfooted on the gravel. but, what a good boy! after 15 min of dressage school he had already done everything she could think of nicely. he even had the SWINGING trot, and finally, she was sitting. transitions, circles, changes, he was lovely. a little low, maybe and a little overbent. all the more reason to keep it short right? he was really soft and really listening. just a little slow off the leg on the up transitions maybe, and not quite coming off the left enough. she'd meant to bring the dressage whip.
"Today, he got away with two things on the roads" Jill reported. They'd walked all the way down to the sheep stop and then past the ever lying down brown foal. he didn't winny. the only thing he spooked at was big rocks. she made him do ten second halts beside or facing the scariest ones. "we went past the driveway and towards the construction. when we came upon that big trailer bed with the big grate gate backing he stopped dead. shaking." he was so small she could like FEEL his heart pounding, through her saddle. "and then he did something he hasn't done for weeks, where he turned and ran away. got about 3 or 4 strides down the road away from it, before i could make him stop."
she had gone back to face it, but a big dumptruck was coming up over the crest of the hill now, from behind it and towards them. when she turned around to see where they could wait it out, she saw another truck coming, this one with a trailer behind it with blue johnny on the spots jiggling around on the back of it.
she trotted right up the asphalt between the trucks, playing chicken in effect, but making sure they were seen until they got to their own driveway and then she turned in. walked back to the barn and that was that.
bike bike bike bike bike. when would she try it?
AND, when would she start jumping?? she was comforted to know that even the Grand Prix horse spooked at the pink planks. it wasn't just her. or, her pony.
*
"Today, he got away with two things on the roads" Jill reported. They'd walked all the way down to the sheep stop and then past the ever lying down brown foal. he didn't winny. the only thing he spooked at was big rocks. she made him do ten second halts beside or facing the scariest ones. "we went past the driveway and towards the construction. when we came upon that big trailer bed with the big grate gate backing he stopped dead. shaking." he was so small she could like FEEL his heart pounding, through her saddle. "and then he did something he hasn't done for weeks, where he turned and ran away. got about 3 or 4 strides down the road away from it, before i could make him stop."
she had gone back to face it, but a big dumptruck was coming up over the crest of the hill now, from behind it and towards them. when she turned around to see where they could wait it out, she saw another truck coming, this one with a trailer behind it with blue johnny on the spots jiggling around on the back of it.
she trotted right up the asphalt between the trucks, playing chicken in effect, but making sure they were seen until they got to their own driveway and then she turned in. walked back to the barn and that was that.
bike bike bike bike bike. when would she try it?
AND, when would she start jumping?? she was comforted to know that even the Grand Prix horse spooked at the pink planks. it wasn't just her. or, her pony.
*
Jill enjoyed how their friendship was evolving, and recognized a closeness in their silence. They were comfortable together not talking, and it implied to her a level of intimacy. There was never a physical expression of affection, just the occassional glance or smile to show intuitive understanding and that they were in synch with each other. It was a constructive partnership, even though it was not romantic. She was pleased to have a male friend without sex being in the picture. They could choose to be romantic, and somehow the fact that they chose not to "wreck it" made the relationship feel somehow superior. Jill felt smug and triumphant.
And, instead of being disappointed that she still didn't have a boyfriend, she was grateful for so many good men in her life.
A friendship based on strong opinions and common ambitions and the pleasure of professionals. The treat was always dutch and the conversation always lively. Passion and friendship are two different things and while the ideal relationship features a balance of them, Jill could see that the presence of one did not neccessarily imply the other.
*
*
i have no recollection of this, but it says here in the old pages the old man wouldn't let me clip his ears.
*
2008-05-28
Lesson Talk
"he is a lovely dressage pony. i am starting to crave a lesson, so as to know more about we should be working on." jill was asking a friend to come video tape her riding. she remembered the days of working in a ring with mirrors, useful in leui of a teacher.
he did not bend as well to the left. she wanted to do some ground work with him as well as the mounted work to address the issue. she wasn't sold on the added value of lunging, in his case, esp. with their lack of side reins etc.
he was good on the roads and she was keen to get the shoes back on so they could go farther.
even tho she'd heard he was up to date on his shots and didn't need a new vet, he wasn't up to date and she couldn't go to the event? she better get the training plan and show dates presented asap.
they only jumped the vertical, not the pink planks, even tho somebody was home. maybe she just didn't like jumping anymore?
she wished they had an agreement about the blanketing. there was another frost warning coming their way in may!
*
They started the day's lesson by discussing the top hat Jill had been given for her birthday. "You don't wear those things until you're competing Intermediate" the teacher said, pretty much choking on her bagel for lunch during summer camp.
*
They worked on keeping him in the frame, through tranisitions. Jill needed to prevent him coming up off the bit and resisting before it happened. And, to keep the canter contained down the long side. She tried to think "flowing" and "forward" and thoughts like that throughtout the test.
There was a moment, in sitting trot, when everything was just right. The teacher said "yes, yes, Jill. He's moving perfectly, your position is good. I can SEE the top hat now." Jill could feel it, isn't that cool?
*
Counter canter to correct his balance. not hind quarters out, but in.
*
Jill thought it was awesome to ride in the snow. She and her pony agreed on everything for once! It was deep and soft so the old bones didn't creak too much and it was working him like up and down hills or like water and she didn't have to hold him back. It was the most comfortable canter she had ever felt on him. The views were beautiful and he was happy too and even the drive home was lovely!
Jill thought you could learn a lot more being one of the NOVICE riders at a barn than being one of the CELEBRITY riders at a barn...
he did not bend as well to the left. she wanted to do some ground work with him as well as the mounted work to address the issue. she wasn't sold on the added value of lunging, in his case, esp. with their lack of side reins etc.
he was good on the roads and she was keen to get the shoes back on so they could go farther.
even tho she'd heard he was up to date on his shots and didn't need a new vet, he wasn't up to date and she couldn't go to the event? she better get the training plan and show dates presented asap.
they only jumped the vertical, not the pink planks, even tho somebody was home. maybe she just didn't like jumping anymore?
she wished they had an agreement about the blanketing. there was another frost warning coming their way in may!
*
They started the day's lesson by discussing the top hat Jill had been given for her birthday. "You don't wear those things until you're competing Intermediate" the teacher said, pretty much choking on her bagel for lunch during summer camp.
*
They worked on keeping him in the frame, through tranisitions. Jill needed to prevent him coming up off the bit and resisting before it happened. And, to keep the canter contained down the long side. She tried to think "flowing" and "forward" and thoughts like that throughtout the test.
There was a moment, in sitting trot, when everything was just right. The teacher said "yes, yes, Jill. He's moving perfectly, your position is good. I can SEE the top hat now." Jill could feel it, isn't that cool?
*
Counter canter to correct his balance. not hind quarters out, but in.
*
Jill thought it was awesome to ride in the snow. She and her pony agreed on everything for once! It was deep and soft so the old bones didn't creak too much and it was working him like up and down hills or like water and she didn't have to hold him back. It was the most comfortable canter she had ever felt on him. The views were beautiful and he was happy too and even the drive home was lovely!
Jill thought you could learn a lot more being one of the NOVICE riders at a barn than being one of the CELEBRITY riders at a barn...
2008-05-25
Another Hack
"is this horse your neighbour, or do you just WORK here?" jill shouted to the little girl seated in the chopped trees, while the chainsaw of her father roared on, nearby.
the pony stood nicely, but the child r a n over. with her colouring book and crayons. she had never patted a horse before, so jill dismounted so she could try it.
they walked for 40 minutes on the road, including a long way up 11, on the road itself instead of the gravel edge. the sheep were no where to be seen and he was happy enough with all the neighbours. traffic was different on saturdays.
his feet were very tender. where shoes even going to help? how was she going to get further aground???
*
she was to chicken to present the pink planks without knowing if anyone was home. but, was pleased to notice the home phone number also rang in the barn. bonus! and the tiny vertical was probably the biggest thing they'd tried together so far anyway.
*
when she was at the show, she thought "my pony could pack me around all these, no problem."
*
does it make any difference working up horses if you are training them as SCHOOL horses vs. show horses? i.e. sounds and vocal commands
*
well, now she had the little guy's hand me down way too big halter undone at both buckles, but she couldn't do it up on the tighter hole, on either f-ing side. she fiddled around with different tools for a half hour before she just oiled it again and left it to try again the next day. she wished he just had one that fit him...
he had a mark on his face that wasn't there yesterday but that didn't look new. the old guy had horse goober on his back from how they were chewing on each other's withers. she had never seen him do that his little buddy, but all the other geldings in that paddock were equals?
all the new turn out arrangements seemed fine, though she was left with no where to ride BUT the roads. the ground was pretty soft with the rain, so what the heck. she lunged a little at walk and trot in the indoor first, the footing was so deep. and, a young cat kept running into the arena to attack the lunge line. for crying out loud!
he was really sore behind. again or still? she didn't know. perhaps when the vet and owner came by on tuesday she could ask about it.
if the owner didn't want her to take him on the two hour trail ride, why didn't she just say that up front? and, what exactly was the concern? she said his shoes had been barely off a month when they had in fact been off two full months and the WALK was on GRASS. it was a lot easier to address a person's concerns if they expressed them.
if the last trainer had so much trouble with him off the property, then surely the benefits of trailering off more often could be considered? jill felt that you don't solve problems by avoiding them. jill wondered how the last trainer had done with him on trails BY HIMSELF. or, out on the roads exploring the neighbourhood. maybe he had come a long way?
that very woman had shrieked at jill once during her very short time there that she was not allowed to ride him up the driveway because "he'd kill you." yet she told the horse's owner he was brave, bombproof and reliable as a lead trail horse. could all these things be true? none of it made sense.
the new boarder was nice. and was looking for a horse to RIDE since her guy was off for 5 months.
EVERYONE was cutting their lawn today, so the pony had to pass many a variety of mower in motion. he took a few good spooks. and a few good scoots. but nothing TOOOOOOOOO dramatic. jill got the creeps at a beware of dog sign at a driveway they had never passed before and turned around to head home, only to notice that almost every single neighbour had such a sign! for sure there was one dog that couldn't be trusted, the owner had held him the one day they'd ridden by while he was landscaping.
almost all the traffic was polite. she was in the habit of nodding and mouthing thank you rather than taking a hand off the rein to wave. he was being a good boy, but she knew how quickly he could get out from underneath her.
the day before when she was cleaning tack, she'd wanted someone to take her picture! c'mon you guys, commemorate this moment she'd joked.
ripping the elastic out of the waistband of the white breeks was genius. now she suddenly, actually had one pair of riding pants that fit! and, better colouring for heat and bugs, whoo hoo!
the pony stood nicely, but the child r a n over. with her colouring book and crayons. she had never patted a horse before, so jill dismounted so she could try it.
they walked for 40 minutes on the road, including a long way up 11, on the road itself instead of the gravel edge. the sheep were no where to be seen and he was happy enough with all the neighbours. traffic was different on saturdays.
his feet were very tender. where shoes even going to help? how was she going to get further aground???
*
she was to chicken to present the pink planks without knowing if anyone was home. but, was pleased to notice the home phone number also rang in the barn. bonus! and the tiny vertical was probably the biggest thing they'd tried together so far anyway.
*
when she was at the show, she thought "my pony could pack me around all these, no problem."
*
does it make any difference working up horses if you are training them as SCHOOL horses vs. show horses? i.e. sounds and vocal commands
*
well, now she had the little guy's hand me down way too big halter undone at both buckles, but she couldn't do it up on the tighter hole, on either f-ing side. she fiddled around with different tools for a half hour before she just oiled it again and left it to try again the next day. she wished he just had one that fit him...
he had a mark on his face that wasn't there yesterday but that didn't look new. the old guy had horse goober on his back from how they were chewing on each other's withers. she had never seen him do that his little buddy, but all the other geldings in that paddock were equals?
all the new turn out arrangements seemed fine, though she was left with no where to ride BUT the roads. the ground was pretty soft with the rain, so what the heck. she lunged a little at walk and trot in the indoor first, the footing was so deep. and, a young cat kept running into the arena to attack the lunge line. for crying out loud!
he was really sore behind. again or still? she didn't know. perhaps when the vet and owner came by on tuesday she could ask about it.
if the owner didn't want her to take him on the two hour trail ride, why didn't she just say that up front? and, what exactly was the concern? she said his shoes had been barely off a month when they had in fact been off two full months and the WALK was on GRASS. it was a lot easier to address a person's concerns if they expressed them.
if the last trainer had so much trouble with him off the property, then surely the benefits of trailering off more often could be considered? jill felt that you don't solve problems by avoiding them. jill wondered how the last trainer had done with him on trails BY HIMSELF. or, out on the roads exploring the neighbourhood. maybe he had come a long way?
that very woman had shrieked at jill once during her very short time there that she was not allowed to ride him up the driveway because "he'd kill you." yet she told the horse's owner he was brave, bombproof and reliable as a lead trail horse. could all these things be true? none of it made sense.
the new boarder was nice. and was looking for a horse to RIDE since her guy was off for 5 months.
EVERYONE was cutting their lawn today, so the pony had to pass many a variety of mower in motion. he took a few good spooks. and a few good scoots. but nothing TOOOOOOOOO dramatic. jill got the creeps at a beware of dog sign at a driveway they had never passed before and turned around to head home, only to notice that almost every single neighbour had such a sign! for sure there was one dog that couldn't be trusted, the owner had held him the one day they'd ridden by while he was landscaping.
almost all the traffic was polite. she was in the habit of nodding and mouthing thank you rather than taking a hand off the rein to wave. he was being a good boy, but she knew how quickly he could get out from underneath her.
the day before when she was cleaning tack, she'd wanted someone to take her picture! c'mon you guys, commemorate this moment she'd joked.
ripping the elastic out of the waistband of the white breeks was genius. now she suddenly, actually had one pair of riding pants that fit! and, better colouring for heat and bugs, whoo hoo!
2008-05-19
Day to Day
the old guy's coat was gross, was it the thyroid? at least he had fun rolling in the mud. he was shaking so she put a baker sheet on him, hoping it wouldn't rain. he didn't seem to have a water repellent less than full blown winter option. he was getting hippy to go with his ribby. he needed more food.
*
the young guy was obnoxious in the cross ties and she couldn't find a lunge line, so she turned him out for a half hour before she rode. he was f r i s k y. the cold no doubt. the show horse bucked and bolted and reared playfully when they came by, so they were all feeling it...
she took him right out of the driveway for 10 minutes but he was so fresh it didn't feel sensible, so back to the ring for some dressage effort. he was so speedy, but he listened to tranisitions and odd figures and routes. he came very easily on the bit and he was pretty smooth to ride. she wanted a softer bit in his mouth, until they got jumping or for the dressage or whatever...
then she took him left out the driveway to the end, where they'd been before but far less time, since it was in a record breaking trot. he went thru at least 4 strange puddles and by 2 running fenced dogs and past a big scary work truck parked on the shoulder. she made him go for an extra excursion down concession 11 til it turned gravel and then they turned around. about 50 minutes all told, through rain and hail and sun. what a weird weather day.
her helmet did not fit. it got caught in the tree branches when they fiddled with the gate and after that it was basically like she was riding with nothing, because it was flopping around all over the place.
"you either have a troxel head or a tipperary head."
"i forgot to mention when we actually got the gate latched correctly."
*
she knew the old guy to be a big drinker. that's why his stall was always so wet and messy. but, she wasn't convinced he was drinking out of the automatic water bowl. or that one bucket in the paddock all day was enough. or if he even drank that one bucket.
it was almost all the same problems as usual.
he was not eating the hay. and he was not making enough manure.
but he'd made alot on the way over there and he'd made some and if he wasn't eating or drinking and walking away from yo all day as he had been, then... maybe he was just settling in okay after a bunch of stress?
she was going up early again in the morning. and was confirming the farrier for the weekend or else. the poor guy was limping again and so stiff. she wanted to help him out.
[ ] hoof ice?
[ ] extress? msm?
[ ] wormer?
[ ] hay?
*
the little guy was rather obnoxious. whinnying when she took the old guy out on cross ties. and circling around in his stall and nipping at her as she tacked him up. and then to ride? he was sideways, speeeeeeeeeeeedy and spooky. ohmigosh. can you say fast motion? up down zig zag duck spook stop start zing zang?
luckily, he did not seem to be actually trying to ditch her, and, she managed to go with his motion. the rain was miserable, and they were miserable and it was a quick trot only ride. but, there were loose horses in the paddock next door. and, she made him go straight thru a milk crate and a jump. and they went round and round and round nicely. on the bit even and bending correctly around 15 m circles. walking nicely around and around at the end too.
its nice to have lights in the stalls. and there were lots of nice shavings. and yo's bowl had water in it.
too bad the forecast called for more r a i n.
*
the young guy was obnoxious in the cross ties and she couldn't find a lunge line, so she turned him out for a half hour before she rode. he was f r i s k y. the cold no doubt. the show horse bucked and bolted and reared playfully when they came by, so they were all feeling it...
she took him right out of the driveway for 10 minutes but he was so fresh it didn't feel sensible, so back to the ring for some dressage effort. he was so speedy, but he listened to tranisitions and odd figures and routes. he came very easily on the bit and he was pretty smooth to ride. she wanted a softer bit in his mouth, until they got jumping or for the dressage or whatever...
then she took him left out the driveway to the end, where they'd been before but far less time, since it was in a record breaking trot. he went thru at least 4 strange puddles and by 2 running fenced dogs and past a big scary work truck parked on the shoulder. she made him go for an extra excursion down concession 11 til it turned gravel and then they turned around. about 50 minutes all told, through rain and hail and sun. what a weird weather day.
her helmet did not fit. it got caught in the tree branches when they fiddled with the gate and after that it was basically like she was riding with nothing, because it was flopping around all over the place.
"you either have a troxel head or a tipperary head."
"i forgot to mention when we actually got the gate latched correctly."
*
she knew the old guy to be a big drinker. that's why his stall was always so wet and messy. but, she wasn't convinced he was drinking out of the automatic water bowl. or that one bucket in the paddock all day was enough. or if he even drank that one bucket.
it was almost all the same problems as usual.
he was not eating the hay. and he was not making enough manure.
but he'd made alot on the way over there and he'd made some and if he wasn't eating or drinking and walking away from yo all day as he had been, then... maybe he was just settling in okay after a bunch of stress?
she was going up early again in the morning. and was confirming the farrier for the weekend or else. the poor guy was limping again and so stiff. she wanted to help him out.
[ ] hoof ice?
[ ] extress? msm?
[ ] wormer?
[ ] hay?
*
the little guy was rather obnoxious. whinnying when she took the old guy out on cross ties. and circling around in his stall and nipping at her as she tacked him up. and then to ride? he was sideways, speeeeeeeeeeeedy and spooky. ohmigosh. can you say fast motion? up down zig zag duck spook stop start zing zang?
luckily, he did not seem to be actually trying to ditch her, and, she managed to go with his motion. the rain was miserable, and they were miserable and it was a quick trot only ride. but, there were loose horses in the paddock next door. and, she made him go straight thru a milk crate and a jump. and they went round and round and round nicely. on the bit even and bending correctly around 15 m circles. walking nicely around and around at the end too.
its nice to have lights in the stalls. and there were lots of nice shavings. and yo's bowl had water in it.
too bad the forecast called for more r a i n.
2008-05-17
Endurance
jill sent an email to her cowboy. "he drank from a puddle this morning. after a good 20 minutes on the road past loud riding lawn mowers, landscapers with brooms bouncing on the back of truck beds and ponds and a loose dog and ... riding IS a pleasure." she refused to understand his phrase, "i don't ride for pleasure."
*
the next day, they went all the way down to the gravel road stop sign. in trot this time. afterall, the easiest way to get a horse to go straight was to go forward! it reminded her of the trot sets with peter (he always said she went too fast and rode them too much off her leg).
she was finally agreeing that he'd need shoes. jun 16? to even try and turn around on that gravel had him flinching. as if she would be able to ride all the way over to deliver her resume!
*
the grey mare always made her dark brown foal lying in the tall green grass get up when they came by. and he was definitely spooking less than yesterday. and their dressage school in the bridle in the grass ring had just gone so tremendously well they had time for trot set! whoo hoo.
no unsupervised jumping though. she was playing it safe.
*
the next day, they went all the way down to the gravel road stop sign. in trot this time. afterall, the easiest way to get a horse to go straight was to go forward! it reminded her of the trot sets with peter (he always said she went too fast and rode them too much off her leg).
she was finally agreeing that he'd need shoes. jun 16? to even try and turn around on that gravel had him flinching. as if she would be able to ride all the way over to deliver her resume!
*
the grey mare always made her dark brown foal lying in the tall green grass get up when they came by. and he was definitely spooking less than yesterday. and their dressage school in the bridle in the grass ring had just gone so tremendously well they had time for trot set! whoo hoo.
no unsupervised jumping though. she was playing it safe.
2008-05-15
Royalty, with aching arms
it seemed as tho he stopped in to make a date with his girl/wife/mother of his children during Jill's lesson.
they chatted quietly for a while and Jill was left to her own devices cantering around to get rio balanced and collected and really engaging his hind end with the forward a bit collect a bit trick. she was circling round and round and round and thought she was doing pretty good, she was bending him with all her might and as he softened just a bit more she softened a bit more and said good boy
and suddenly the teacher piped up out of nowhere and said "good. now bend a little bit."
jill laughed and said, but i was just bending with all my might!
the teacher said, you don't need more might. you need more finesse.
ah yes. jill was grateful for the deeper sand that was helping to keep the rhythm.
*
the teacher cooled out her horse for her, and the teacher's daughter had tacked up the horse for jill's student while she'd been riding in her class. the student's parent had brought her a coffee, so all she had to do was admire the icicled scenery and blizzard quiet on the way back into the arena to teach. she felt like royalty.
they chatted quietly for a while and Jill was left to her own devices cantering around to get rio balanced and collected and really engaging his hind end with the forward a bit collect a bit trick. she was circling round and round and round and thought she was doing pretty good, she was bending him with all her might and as he softened just a bit more she softened a bit more and said good boy
and suddenly the teacher piped up out of nowhere and said "good. now bend a little bit."
jill laughed and said, but i was just bending with all my might!
the teacher said, you don't need more might. you need more finesse.
ah yes. jill was grateful for the deeper sand that was helping to keep the rhythm.
*
the teacher cooled out her horse for her, and the teacher's daughter had tacked up the horse for jill's student while she'd been riding in her class. the student's parent had brought her a coffee, so all she had to do was admire the icicled scenery and blizzard quiet on the way back into the arena to teach. she felt like royalty.
2008-05-14
Yikes, Elk
“you can ride right?” they kept asking and asking. Jill's ride had been arranged by her "big brother" as part of her visit, at a business associate's farm/home outside Calgary. First big brother asked, then the associate himself asked her. She assured them each time, yes, yes, whatever they had for her to ride she would be fine. And she looked forward to going out, guided by a 12 yr old on her brother's horse (who was less of a handful on the trails), so Jill could have her horse.
"You can ride right?" the kid wanted to know as they set out.
Hours later, her chesnut mount started taking a fit on the edge of some trees. The kid's horse started to act up too and it was very dramatic. Jill's heart was in her throat as she spotted the elk and told the kid to lead them out of there "Reverse Course!" she was having real trouble staying seated and staying in control. Paige and she booted it out of the area. When they came back to walk and calmed down again, Jill did not want to acknowledge how scary the episode was for her, or how she could see why they wanted assurances of her riding ability etc. The kid was acting like it was no big deal so she did too.
When they got back to stable the kid started shouting to their entourage "ohmigod you should have seen it this happened and this happened and my horse did that and jill did this and this horse did that i did this and ohmigod it was AWESOME"
*
As they stood chatting, she told Jill about the time she flew her horse to Bermuda for a competition. "Lady, I am not in your league." Jill thought, disappointed because she'd seemed like such a good potential friend.
*
The farrier created quite a traffic jam downtown trying to turn around to park near her place.
They had talked about how they were each dating other people, and when they passed a random stranger on the street, he said “you dating him?” to be funny but she nodded and said hello to her friend.
*
“I know how much you like working with him on the ground”
*
Whatever happened to the laurier students?
*
Jill reported that the cowboy was too distant.
*
"They were separate" she said, indicating the success of the efforts for individual turn out for once. She didn't mention they were both walking the fence and uptight about it, or what a pain it was to bring them BOTH in to use the ring.
"No they weren't" said the blond, when clearly, they were.
*
She and the pony turned left out of the driveway. The pre-set goal was to make it to the gravel concession road to turn around, past 290 even though he was tender footed and it was refreshing out. She could not be bothered to lunge him and hopped right on, with whip. It was garbage day, that oughta make for something! He was pretty good down the driveway between the pond. They had to walk over the orange spray painted word CULVERT between two orange and black striped markers on the road. the neighbours had huge rocky landscapes and flowers and mailboxes and construction vehicles and ponds and driveways and they made it to the turn around point. One car was polite past them and one zoomed rudely by. After they turned around one more polite vehicle came past and nothing too spooky jumped out of the trees at them. Jill loved the zippy 1-2-3-4 sound of his hurried steps on their driveway heading towards the barn.
She wore a watch. It was a 40 minute ride. Obviously, she was getting ready to start actually working up to things.
They jumped all the new little fences, one from a standstill because he'd stopped. All from a trot because she hated cantering fences and trying to judge distances, though she also reasoned he was sore footed and wanted to go easy on him...
She was grateful for the sense she could garner supervision and suggestions from her stablemates. And, she prepared a riding logbook to keep on hand.
"You can ride right?" the kid wanted to know as they set out.
Hours later, her chesnut mount started taking a fit on the edge of some trees. The kid's horse started to act up too and it was very dramatic. Jill's heart was in her throat as she spotted the elk and told the kid to lead them out of there "Reverse Course!" she was having real trouble staying seated and staying in control. Paige and she booted it out of the area. When they came back to walk and calmed down again, Jill did not want to acknowledge how scary the episode was for her, or how she could see why they wanted assurances of her riding ability etc. The kid was acting like it was no big deal so she did too.
When they got back to stable the kid started shouting to their entourage "ohmigod you should have seen it this happened and this happened and my horse did that and jill did this and this horse did that i did this and ohmigod it was AWESOME"
*
As they stood chatting, she told Jill about the time she flew her horse to Bermuda for a competition. "Lady, I am not in your league." Jill thought, disappointed because she'd seemed like such a good potential friend.
*
The farrier created quite a traffic jam downtown trying to turn around to park near her place.
They had talked about how they were each dating other people, and when they passed a random stranger on the street, he said “you dating him?” to be funny but she nodded and said hello to her friend.
*
“I know how much you like working with him on the ground”
*
Whatever happened to the laurier students?
*
Jill reported that the cowboy was too distant.
*
"They were separate" she said, indicating the success of the efforts for individual turn out for once. She didn't mention they were both walking the fence and uptight about it, or what a pain it was to bring them BOTH in to use the ring.
"No they weren't" said the blond, when clearly, they were.
*
She and the pony turned left out of the driveway. The pre-set goal was to make it to the gravel concession road to turn around, past 290 even though he was tender footed and it was refreshing out. She could not be bothered to lunge him and hopped right on, with whip. It was garbage day, that oughta make for something! He was pretty good down the driveway between the pond. They had to walk over the orange spray painted word CULVERT between two orange and black striped markers on the road. the neighbours had huge rocky landscapes and flowers and mailboxes and construction vehicles and ponds and driveways and they made it to the turn around point. One car was polite past them and one zoomed rudely by. After they turned around one more polite vehicle came past and nothing too spooky jumped out of the trees at them. Jill loved the zippy 1-2-3-4 sound of his hurried steps on their driveway heading towards the barn.
She wore a watch. It was a 40 minute ride. Obviously, she was getting ready to start actually working up to things.
They jumped all the new little fences, one from a standstill because he'd stopped. All from a trot because she hated cantering fences and trying to judge distances, though she also reasoned he was sore footed and wanted to go easy on him...
She was grateful for the sense she could garner supervision and suggestions from her stablemates. And, she prepared a riding logbook to keep on hand.
2008-05-13
Pink Planks and Other Excitement
in retrospect, jill thought the pink planks might have been intended for her and the little bug bait bay. because it was going up until she left the ring and then it was down again before the green pony tried it. jill said she thought it looked like a puppet theatre in its former life, near the house, around a fire pit... it had been left on the property by the previous owners. funny the different purpose for this gang. there was a big huge shutter for a much smaller, plain brown plank new jump too, and new standards made by the kid's dad, whoo hoo!
*
she thought a great date with a new friend would be dinner at her place and a drive to the horse show the next day. the kid and their mom and their friend/occasional teacher would be there, and it would be a good place for her/them to market horse messages and products... but she was afraid to offer to cook, and tired of rejection and decided she was better off just practicing her music.
*
it was so hot, she tried the road. she thought the farrier might be right about the shoes, because that was not hospitible ground - the gravel then asphalt driveway first of all, and then not always a soft shoulder, espescially when you were spooking a little.
jill thought they would be better off if they could just get trotting. but barefoot? when could they make it all the way to the end, right, left, right again to drop off her teacherness resume??
they went up the road to 246, an arbitrary number where she chose in advance to stand still for a minute. then cross. and head back. she laughed to see two geese waddling across the road to their very driveway pond, creeping out her pony the most when they splashed into the water and swam/flapped over a fallen tree in there... just as a car came by on the road! such a crossing!the pony waited for the geese as the car waited for the pony. Fun!
*
Jill took pleasure in the farm owner's comment that pony was developing a more sweet personality. It wasn't exactly credit extended to her, but at least someone else was witnessing what SHE saw.
The vet said that when she first put the stetescope on the old guy, his heart rate almost gave HER a heart attack. But that when Jill had come and stood in front of him, his heartbeat could be HEARD to instantly slow significantly.
*
she thought a great date with a new friend would be dinner at her place and a drive to the horse show the next day. the kid and their mom and their friend/occasional teacher would be there, and it would be a good place for her/them to market horse messages and products... but she was afraid to offer to cook, and tired of rejection and decided she was better off just practicing her music.
*
it was so hot, she tried the road. she thought the farrier might be right about the shoes, because that was not hospitible ground - the gravel then asphalt driveway first of all, and then not always a soft shoulder, espescially when you were spooking a little.
jill thought they would be better off if they could just get trotting. but barefoot? when could they make it all the way to the end, right, left, right again to drop off her teacherness resume??
they went up the road to 246, an arbitrary number where she chose in advance to stand still for a minute. then cross. and head back. she laughed to see two geese waddling across the road to their very driveway pond, creeping out her pony the most when they splashed into the water and swam/flapped over a fallen tree in there... just as a car came by on the road! such a crossing!the pony waited for the geese as the car waited for the pony. Fun!
*
Jill took pleasure in the farm owner's comment that pony was developing a more sweet personality. It wasn't exactly credit extended to her, but at least someone else was witnessing what SHE saw.
The vet said that when she first put the stetescope on the old guy, his heart rate almost gave HER a heart attack. But that when Jill had come and stood in front of him, his heartbeat could be HEARD to instantly slow significantly.
2008-05-12
Inspired Horses
he asked her if she'd been out late the night before. NO she said, emphatically because she had not been out At All. ug.
*
she never made the arguement about INSPIRING your horse. Jill believed that just like motivating people so that they surprise you with Grander Accomplishments than you knew to imagine for them, your horse can Add Value to your Vision too. If you're not SO much of a control freak. But, that's got to come from the collaborative approach to the leadership provided...
she actually didn't make any arguements at all, tho she said she disagreed with things
She always chatted to her horses in part, to focus her intention. She always said horses have esp, she just said her part out loud anyway, to really cement it in her subconscious. Focus, clarity
Jill always taught that petting your horse is the easiest way to reward it. Its such a simple thing to do and gets the horse to understand when it has done something correctly -- when you're on the ground and in the saddle.
Horses learn complex things through repetition and conditioned response.
*
She also felt that when a horse becomes accustomed to your presence and your voice he will begin to take on a personality, and that a quiet, authoritative voice that can soothe and give confidence to the animals, to the point that they trust you implicitly? Most horses may not learn more than twelve command words, but the tone of your voice will speak many things to him.
*
She thought they agreed at least that horses can sense your emotional state, and they will often push boundaries if they feel like they can. Thus, it is critical to remain calm and focused when training your horse, and to show true leadership.
*
Jill was as thrilled with her gymkana ribbon as all the kids, although she had to admit she had not been much of an asset to her team in the obstacle race. In front of all the parents no less...
*
she never made the arguement about INSPIRING your horse. Jill believed that just like motivating people so that they surprise you with Grander Accomplishments than you knew to imagine for them, your horse can Add Value to your Vision too. If you're not SO much of a control freak. But, that's got to come from the collaborative approach to the leadership provided...
she actually didn't make any arguements at all, tho she said she disagreed with things
She always chatted to her horses in part, to focus her intention. She always said horses have esp, she just said her part out loud anyway, to really cement it in her subconscious. Focus, clarity
Jill always taught that petting your horse is the easiest way to reward it. Its such a simple thing to do and gets the horse to understand when it has done something correctly -- when you're on the ground and in the saddle.
Horses learn complex things through repetition and conditioned response.
*
She also felt that when a horse becomes accustomed to your presence and your voice he will begin to take on a personality, and that a quiet, authoritative voice that can soothe and give confidence to the animals, to the point that they trust you implicitly? Most horses may not learn more than twelve command words, but the tone of your voice will speak many things to him.
*
She thought they agreed at least that horses can sense your emotional state, and they will often push boundaries if they feel like they can. Thus, it is critical to remain calm and focused when training your horse, and to show true leadership.
*
Jill was as thrilled with her gymkana ribbon as all the kids, although she had to admit she had not been much of an asset to her team in the obstacle race. In front of all the parents no less...
2008-05-11
Screaming
At least the kid didn’t screech (she was a screecher) while she managed to sit rather a large buck. Jill loved how the students always looked right into her eyes during any kind of trouble. And she always looked right back, with quick, authoratative, helpful, and hopefully even r e l a x i n g suggestions out loud.
*
How was a guy supposed to be able to get to know her, like even as a friend? Jill's friend suggested that maybe she oughta spend a little more time being friendly with the boys, rather than expecting to be the only woman in their life. like, before allowing or even encouraging anything 'romantic' to develop! Jill was a single in a time most of her friends were coupled up. It was lonely, and she kept insisting it be that way. Why?
*
when they were back in the barn, the teacher said "that was some really nice work out there Jill"
"He can really do this, eh?" she gushed, excited to agree.
"You'll do well with him."
Jill felt great. Her horse was really good. And, she had a great coach to work with.
*
*
How was a guy supposed to be able to get to know her, like even as a friend? Jill's friend suggested that maybe she oughta spend a little more time being friendly with the boys, rather than expecting to be the only woman in their life. like, before allowing or even encouraging anything 'romantic' to develop! Jill was a single in a time most of her friends were coupled up. It was lonely, and she kept insisting it be that way. Why?
*
when they were back in the barn, the teacher said "that was some really nice work out there Jill"
"He can really do this, eh?" she gushed, excited to agree.
"You'll do well with him."
Jill felt great. Her horse was really good. And, she had a great coach to work with.
*
2008-05-05
ask a vet day?
jill's favourite part of the unconventional, natural method of trimming the old guy's hooves was when the farrier said "i bet you'll bring him out of retirement. so many of the issues can be traced back to one cause eventually, the feet. like his back thing, i bet it turns out to be the club foot that we just fixed!" jill had to admit she liked the way the old guy trotted away when they turned him loose in the paddock.
"the guy who did my boss's horses feet in florida last winter had been to a 4yr university program for it." jill said, foreboding before she asked the girl to outline her education in the field.
*
"oh he was fast enough for the track, just a little idiotic. so i took him on, ha ha"
*
it took several minutes to get past the parked horse trailer. and, in general, he was much spookier than the day before... is it possible that the scent of nearby lambs and lamas were actually comforting him the day before???
"the guy who did my boss's horses feet in florida last winter had been to a 4yr university program for it." jill said, foreboding before she asked the girl to outline her education in the field.
*
"oh he was fast enough for the track, just a little idiotic. so i took him on, ha ha"
*
it took several minutes to get past the parked horse trailer. and, in general, he was much spookier than the day before... is it possible that the scent of nearby lambs and lamas were actually comforting him the day before???
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