Kelly rides Day 2

I just couldn't help myself!!! I knew Kelly was going to ride today but it was such a pretty beautiful gorgeous day... I had to get in a ride!!! So.. we cheated. :) I took Dan for a nice easy hack before we got to our lesson. :) It was glorious!

Dan was fine. :) He was a good boy for Kelly today!

Kelly Lesson

Continuing on with Boot Camp... we had a lesson with Kelly today. I was aiming for dressage and then jumping tomorrow, but... we started talking about how he feels lamer to me.. and she saw it too, so.. she hopped on and rode. She wants to ride him again tomorrow to help her confirm up her thoughts on what she thinks is going on. But the preliminary thoughts are that it is a riding thing, not a true lameness. So.. we shall see. They mostly walked and did some trotting. I got some slow motion video so I could try to assess him more, but... I really can't see anything specific. I can see that there is something wrong/assymetric, but I can't pinpoint it. I also talked to Dr. Molony and I may end up doing a bone scan to see if I can figure out where it's stemming from. Or we may x-ray his neck and see, but... just because we find changes, doesn't mean that's the issue. So... I don't know. With the virus and quarantines, I'm guessing we won't get to bone scan for a bit anyways, so... maybe I'll put him back on previcox and see if that helps. Although it's hard to decide when to do it.. because how will I know if it's boot camp vs previcox? Sigh..

Anyways.. it was SUCH a pretty day though... I took him for a short hack around Jess's farm after. I went with two other foxhunters. They were nice and let me lead. Hee hee. I am going to do my best to get to some puppy walks this Spring and Summer so that maybe Dan and I can foxhunt... That could be really helpful with his bravery...  could also be so much fun we decide we don't need to event...  ;) Or... we could get black balled for being crazyness ;)

Anyways... then I came home and painted the fence... still not done, but much closer! I wanted to keep riding, but... I was a good girl. Tomorrow Kelly wants to ride him again, so I may have to take him for a long hack before or after. :)

Oh.... it did make my day because when Kelly first got on.. I was watching... then I moved my chair... then I went and got my sunglasses and Kelly said that regardless of what was going on ... he sure did love me because he never took his eyes off me. AWWWW.... then why did you kick me yesterday you sod!?! ha! He did apologize last night though. I told him I forgave him but he had to be careful where he was putting his feet because other people may not be so nice to him.

Boot camp continues

So.... since UGA cancelled today, I have the day free and it is a beautiful day!  I ended up seeing one dog this morning and then I sped over to Marians for a lesson. Because yet again.. I'm terrible at time math. But it worked out.

We started off with transitions. Basically, I've got to stop nagging him with my spur into his side and lifting my heels. But it's so hard because he is just off my tempo. I constantly want to cluck at him and it drives me bananas. Marian's technique makes sense too, but it's harder for me.. being impatient. She wants me to keep my legs off and quiet.. then ask... and ask by fluttering my legs, not with the whip. She thinks the whip makes him mad and actually suck back some. And.. she is correct to a degree. But gah.. it's so frustrating! So.. we tried. And she also had us do a ton of shoulder in on the circle. Which is really hard. Especially to the left. He wants to fall in so bad that way. So... lots to work on.

So then we did a grid. It started simple but progressed to a bounce to an oxer. Which.. is hard. And it proved to be hard because he kept getting in short and chipping in. She helped him out by shortening the distance. And... I got frustrated. I mean... you're a 17 hand horse Dan! You used to leave strides out! Why are we now so short strided?!!? And... He felt more "rein lame" today which is worrisome. I don't know if it's boot camp... and he's just body sore and/or weak, or... if I'm actually making the legit lameness worse. He is still not really in front of my leg, which makes it hard to assess. Because once he's in front of my leg.. he's sound. Gah!!! Anyways.... we kept at it. And Marian made a GREAT point. Dan chipped in and I got frustrated and started to get mad and she said "NO... don't punish him. He tried... it was hard and he did it"! So yeah.. she's right. Why would I punish him for doing it when it was hard and trying. Instead I should be rewarding him for that. Maybe that's why when the going gets hard, he's quitting on me. Because I get mad at him anyways. Sigh... I suck. I'm a horrible horse trainer. But... now I realize.. so I started to reward him for trying. And then it got better. I don't know if he got more in front of my leg because I started riding harder... or because he realized it would be easier on him... or what. But it got better. He's still barely making the distances, but... he is making them...

We also worked on me. For crying out loud, I don't know WHY I cannot grasp the concept of keeping my back and shoulders up, but putting my hands down. My elbows don't want to extend. Maybe that's what I need to focus on... opening and closing my elbows... instead of pushing my hands down.. or keeping my shoulders up. It got better... but it's still so frustrating.

So yeah... I'm still giving it a month or so of boot camp to see if we can fix this. I'm still going to try to figure out if there is a medical reason. Not sure how... (I need to call Dr. Molony again). It's just.... we can't be eventers if I can't figure out how to reliably get him and keep him in front of my leg and get him back to seeking and taking me to fences. I'm not brave enough nor good enough to be able to ride him to every fence. And... it's sad... and frustrating because he used to be brave and bold. Even when we ran training at Jumping Branch... that was our best run ever! He basically took off and took me for a ride. But in a very steerable and in control-ish way. I want that horse back. I feel awful that I've broken his confidence... or that I'm continuing to ride him despite him having some pain problems potentially. Sigh...  It's sad...

It is well.... with my soul....

It's amazing what normalized hormones, sunshine, and a good 2 hour long trail ride can do for your soul. Ahhhhhhh..... I feel better. 

I was supposed to have another lesson with Marian... because... boot camp! I'm going to fix this! Or at least give it a fighting chance. But... a client didn't realize her appointment was today so that made me late, which meant I didn't make my lesson, so... change of plans. I ate cheese dip and salsa and then went for a hack. :) It was actually quite lovely! I was able to work on my fitness and Dan and I haven't been on a long hack in quite some time. Not like we used to. And certainly not without the dressage or jump ride before hand. So.. it was awesome! 

We started out and happened upon Laura and her kids and chatted briefly! Dan and I both were wearing our green because it's St. Patricks Day. I joked that Laura's horse wasn't and Dan was going to pinch him and then 2 seconds later Tom squealed and struck out with a front leg and Laura's daughter said "I think Dan did pinch Tom!". ha ha... They were on their way to a lesson so we parted ways. 

Dan and I hit the woods and the fields and the creeks and did some two point work for me. It's actually not as bad as I thought if I can just get my leg where it belongs, which is apparently ever so slightly in front of me. Then my leg just snuggles in and I'm much more strong and secure than I thought. But it was still a lot of resting in between. We did some trotting and cantering but Dan was being a bit of a slug so... we did lots of walking too. He's getting so grown up though. We were back by the "Hooky" trail and heard a commotion. He stopped and looked for a bit but then when nothing happened and I closed my leg, he trekked off. We came upon two guys working on a downed fence. And Dan sort of shied around their truck but carried on happily. We had a little canter in the Halfshire field... and then did some hills and more hills. Then we had another little happy canter up the wooded path and then went down the creek path. Then we went to the far creek crossing and took that path. We finished up in the XC field and ran into Laura and the girls again, so we hacked back to Halfshire with them. We stopped in the lake and splashed a bit. And.... I don't know how he did it... because I swear he was deep enough that he couldn't have rubbed it off on his face... and I'm almost positive he didn't rub it off on the pony... but suddenly Dan's bonnet was in the lake, along with his entire bridle. He literally just spat it off his head! I pulled on the reins and got his bridle up out of the lake... and Dan started to play with the bonnet and even grabbed it in his mouth, but then he spit it back out. Doh! Luckily Eliza was able to grab it. So.. then I'm just sitting there trying to figure out if I can reach down Dan's long neck to put his bridle back on and he's just sitting there.. half heartedly chewing on Eliza's pony. Ha ha. They got out of the lake and Dan followed so then I jumped off and put his bridle on. He was totally chill and fine. Ha ha... Then I had to carry his soaking wet bonnet though. 


We carried on our trail ride and then when we got back to Halfshire Dan and I turned around and headed back home. Ahhhhh..... it was great! 2 whole hours hacking in the gorgeous sunshine... green grass... blue skies... birds... flowering plants... It was glorious!

I feel better now. :) I think Dan does too. He got frisky when we met up with Laura and her kids and got a second wind, so... that made me happy too. 

It's the end of the world.... not really

This is a weird time in the world. So... horses! I took both boys for a ride.

First I dressaged Daniel with Kelli. He was super. We had a pretty good canter to walk on the shoulder in/circle, but it was tougher when we were straight. We were able to hold the right lead counter canter. Yay. Our half passes were decent. He felt a bit stiff in the right rein though. But overall a good ride. After we dressaged, we went for a short hack.

Then it was Flecks turn for a quick bareback hack. :) He was a good boy too.

Jumping.... Saving my bacon... all in a day of Dan

D-Rex may have his quirks... and he may still be a stinker, but.. he's grown up so much! We had a lesson with Marian again today. We started off with the usual stuff where I work on shoulder in's. Then we moved on to some grids. It was a tough grid too. Dan was really having to reach and push. We started with just letting him struggle through. I mean, I was adding leg and encouraging, and NOT half-halting, but... I sent him in in the trot and it was up to him to get us out. So I supported with my leg but didn't chase him or really get after him. Marian reminded me to reward the try. So, sure enough, after a few rounds of him reaching and having to work harder than he should have, he started pushing more and made the distances better for himself. Granted, he cheated a teeny bit by adding a small canter stride right at take off. But whatever... he's smart.. he's doing what we ask.. we won't punish that. We know this is hard for him. 

Then, a few people walked up and were watching... about the same time the neighbor kid started zooming around on his four wheeler with his dog chasing him in the pasture next door. Dan was distracted and a little bit on edge but managed to keep going. I kept riding and we headed into the grid. I don't know why, but I jumped up his neck. Like literally.. I landed practically on his head! He jumped the last fence or two and then bless him... he stopped, kept his head straight up in the air, because he was staring at the kid on the 4 wheeler. But that kept him entranced enough and still enough long enough that I was able to shimmy myself back down into the saddle.  It was so embarassing but I'm glad he didn't dump me. He should have. I literally threw myself onto his head! Bless him. So they were all polite, despite the fact that I'm sure they were thinking I'm an idiot who cannot ride. We came again and he went through just fine and I waited my seat! :) So yeah... we did a few more goes and it got better and we quit shortly after. Marian was sweet and said that it was very brave of me to keep riding... most of her students would have quit or made her get on when the 4 wheeler started up. I doubt that, but.. it did make me feel better about flinging myself over the fence before him. Ugh...

Very weird day....

Friday the 13th.... corona virus weirdness.... Was supposed to have a lesson after working on one horse... and Dan pulled a shoe. Luckily, Freddie to the rescue and we were good to go again, so.. we went to Ashland and moved my lesson to tomorrow.

Did some dressage...  good ride!! Lots of transitions... had a good trot half pass right, but not so good left. Good shoulder in and haunches in. Good trot medium, maybe.. .maybe an extension?? Did some canter work. Took a few but got the counter canter... have to roll my pelvis back to the outside a little, but managed to get right lead to trot to left lead to trot to right lead to trot on the straight line... even got the counter lead on the rail when I asked. Not quite as good at the walk to canters, but did manage it a few times.

Then went for a hack. A short one.. because he was feeling a little lazy and I had life stuff stressing me out.