Business travel will take me out of town for a good portion of this week so I wanted to make sure I got a ride in today. A break cleared mid-day, my prayers were answered and off to the barn I went. I whirled into the parking lot and practically sprinted out to the paddock -- not a second to waste. I calculated that if I could keep my commute and prep time down to a minimum, this would give me a full hour in the saddle. I had to be back for a 2pm meeting... So Blu was quite happy to see me coming right up to the gate for the bribe, I mean snack, I had in my pocket. I explained to him the haste with which I dispatched him and he was fine as long as there was the occasional treat.
He was fresh today. Of course gale force winds blew across Sawyer Hill stirring all the ponies into a frenzy. He spooked at every door and every strange noise he heard. I decided to just pick up the reins and go to work because walking on a long rein was an invitation to anarchy. So we did our walk warm up on the bit and did lots of lateral work, bending and transitions walk/ halt. He got the message quickly. Have I said lately just how smart this horse is?
He was really strong but I just love when he comes out that way. It gives me a lot to work with. By the end of the ride I even had a little piaffe and it was not an evasion tactic. He was honest into the bridle and through his back. He was yet once again magnificent. We did a walk through of 2-1 and if I did not know better I think he knows the darn thing... Was he checking out the new tests on the USEF website???
So I go off to the frozen tundra of MN with a smile on my face and a warm spot in my heart. May my memories keep me in comfort as I sit through all day meetings and long for my next ride.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Raising the Bar
Blu has come such a long way -- from a very lame horse with an aching back to being sound and strong and ready for collection. Every week I see a positive change in him. Every week he provides me with more of a challenge -- good challenge. This is where the education really begins.
Conformationally we are all challenged and Blu is no exception. The true secret to life is learning to rise above these challenges and making the most of the ride. Blu is built a bit croup high thus automatically putting him on his shoulders. The good news is that as he builds strength in his hind end and back he is able to lift and free his shoulders. To build the strength he needs to rock back and work from the hind end. It is a tough cycle to break but we are slowly chipping away at it. He has moments of brilliance in his trot work. His canter is already there. My trainer thinks he most definitely will be able to do this work. When I do get him off his shoulder and working from behind his trot grows into this beautiful gait. We both rise above our challenges - his conformation and my innate adult respond to hold too long.
As I have said before, every day is a lesson and gains are made. I will have to work very hard in this growth phase to really develop Blu and myself as a team. Time in the saddle is the best I can do and getting back to riding five times per week is essential to making this break through.
Conformationally we are all challenged and Blu is no exception. The true secret to life is learning to rise above these challenges and making the most of the ride. Blu is built a bit croup high thus automatically putting him on his shoulders. The good news is that as he builds strength in his hind end and back he is able to lift and free his shoulders. To build the strength he needs to rock back and work from the hind end. It is a tough cycle to break but we are slowly chipping away at it. He has moments of brilliance in his trot work. His canter is already there. My trainer thinks he most definitely will be able to do this work. When I do get him off his shoulder and working from behind his trot grows into this beautiful gait. We both rise above our challenges - his conformation and my innate adult respond to hold too long.
As I have said before, every day is a lesson and gains are made. I will have to work very hard in this growth phase to really develop Blu and myself as a team. Time in the saddle is the best I can do and getting back to riding five times per week is essential to making this break through.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Saying good-bye
While this blog has been primarily about my boy Blu, on occasion I let my posts wander to those who preceded him. It is because of all those wonderful animals and the lessons I learned, I was ready for this bright and beautiful boy. Today my thoughts are consumed by my precious C'est La Vie (aka Colby).
Colby passed from this earth today after 26 glorious years. She was a fiery red-headed alpha mare who came into my life after the untimely passing of my beloved PSG schoolmaster due to a pasture accident. I was filled with despair when my trainer asked me to come take a lesson on Colby. I acquiesced because I did not know how to say "no". (a life long problem...) The lesson was just OK because I could not get out of my head and Colby was a bit strong. My trainer informed me Colby was for sale but I really was not ready to consider another partner even though several months had passed. A week or two passed and my trainer asked me if I wanted to go on a trail ride. I really was quite excited because it had been too long since I had been out on trail. So off we went. She was strong and wanted to take the lead. I was hanging on because I just did not know enough to let go and trust her. It was a good ride but I really thought she might be too much horse for me. Despite this, I just could not get her out of my head. Several weeks later my trainer said someone else was interested in buying her. When I heard that I said, "no, don't sell her! I want her!" There is was, I could not let her go. So we began a partnership that really took 1.5 years to cement. You could not get on Colby and just go off on a lovely ride. She had to let you ride her. After the 1.5 year struggle, I just let go and she said "FINALLY!" and we forged a partnership that took us to horse shows (through second level and scores for a bronze medal at 1st and 2nd), on trail rides and yes, bushwhacking -- going where there were no trails -- real pioneers!
So here is to you my dear Colby. You will always be in my heart and you are certainly in every ride I am graced with on the back of my sweet Blu.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I can ride
So I had a one of those rides this evening where you say "yep I really do know how to ride." Magical... please let it burn into my brain so I can replicate it tomorrow.
I started the evening with a bit of an attitude. I got Blu ready for his lesson and brought him down to the indoor only to find another unscheduled trainer in the indoor providing a lesson to a small child on a pony and to make matters worse, she had two small fences set up. I had purposely checked the lesson schedule to make sure we were not going to run into this mess. I wanted a lesson dammit!!! Besides this trainer there was another who had regularly scheduled time and I expected her and her adult student to be present during my lesson. Besides all these lessons there were two other boarders attempting to school their horses in the middle of the mayhem. ARGHHHHHHHH...
So I said to myself, "Self, get over it and own the ring." So I did. I rode like no one else was there and did what I had to do to get my boy warmed up. He was perfect by the way only snarling once at the little pony who got way too close. Linda then arrived and while it was not conducive to her teaching, she got on and schooled the first half of the lesson. He was strong so it was probably a good thing that she schooled him. The ring cleared a bit and then I got on. From there the ride was spectacular!!!! Yes, he was still very strong but I owned the ride. Blu was strong in a good way and as Linda put it -- he is very fit and sound so it is time to expect Blu to be sharp about his responses to the aids. Game on Blu! He figured it out very quickly and it was almost as if he grew several hands taller. He was on fire! What a team! He loved the fact that we upped the game. My sitting trot was just the best. Our transitions were crisp and his canter work was perfect. We did some canter half pass that was poetic... fluid, no change in tempo, bending , no rushing or leaning. It was just the best I have ever felt. We did lots of transitions trot/halt/trot medium trot to passage to collected trot and this lovely trot lateral work -- shoulder-in to renvers/ shoulder-in to travers to half pass. I did not want to stop it was so magical.
Linda praised the ride and felt my position was very strong resulting in a beautiful partnership between the Biggers and me.
How lucky am I? (Just pinched myself!) OMG can we please replicate it???
I started the evening with a bit of an attitude. I got Blu ready for his lesson and brought him down to the indoor only to find another unscheduled trainer in the indoor providing a lesson to a small child on a pony and to make matters worse, she had two small fences set up. I had purposely checked the lesson schedule to make sure we were not going to run into this mess. I wanted a lesson dammit!!! Besides this trainer there was another who had regularly scheduled time and I expected her and her adult student to be present during my lesson. Besides all these lessons there were two other boarders attempting to school their horses in the middle of the mayhem. ARGHHHHHHHH...
So I said to myself, "Self, get over it and own the ring." So I did. I rode like no one else was there and did what I had to do to get my boy warmed up. He was perfect by the way only snarling once at the little pony who got way too close. Linda then arrived and while it was not conducive to her teaching, she got on and schooled the first half of the lesson. He was strong so it was probably a good thing that she schooled him. The ring cleared a bit and then I got on. From there the ride was spectacular!!!! Yes, he was still very strong but I owned the ride. Blu was strong in a good way and as Linda put it -- he is very fit and sound so it is time to expect Blu to be sharp about his responses to the aids. Game on Blu! He figured it out very quickly and it was almost as if he grew several hands taller. He was on fire! What a team! He loved the fact that we upped the game. My sitting trot was just the best. Our transitions were crisp and his canter work was perfect. We did some canter half pass that was poetic... fluid, no change in tempo, bending , no rushing or leaning. It was just the best I have ever felt. We did lots of transitions trot/halt/trot medium trot to passage to collected trot and this lovely trot lateral work -- shoulder-in to renvers/ shoulder-in to travers to half pass. I did not want to stop it was so magical.
Linda praised the ride and felt my position was very strong resulting in a beautiful partnership between the Biggers and me.
How lucky am I? (Just pinched myself!) OMG can we please replicate it???
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Winter training is not a favorite
Out to the barn I went and while it was a mild 32 degrees with a gentle breeze blowing at the top of Sawyer Hill, I felt the chill in my bones and dreaded the march out to the paddock to retrieve my pal.
Since the road to the paddocks was terribly icy, I cut through the main barn and when I opened he doors at the other end, there was Blu with his head high in the air calling to be let in. He had had enough and some of his friends had made it into the coziness of the barn before him. So I went up to him and hooked on his lead and he decided he had to run to the barn. WRONG! I have never had to shank him but he got it yesterday. It jolted him back to reality and instead of being 19 hands tall he shrunk to his meager 16.3. He still danced his way back up the hill though. He is not to be left behind.
After some late winter currying -- white hair flying everywhere, I saddled him up and off we went to the indoor. It was lovely because only a few friends were in the ring (they all knew how to steer so that made for a great ride!) Blu felt great from an energy perspective. He was ready to go. He wanted to go on his forehand so we spent a good deal of time working on transitions. This seemed to improve matters and I was able to manage to get some really great canter work. He was up in the bridle and all I had to do was let go. We worked on the simple changes and they were terrific. I am really focusing on keeping my weight on my inside seat bone and that seems to do the trick.
When we were done he got another currying... He is really feeling the late winter itch. I could not curry him enough. Then it was his favorite time of all... dinner!!! He may not like winter turnout but he looovvvveeesss his winter supper!
Since the road to the paddocks was terribly icy, I cut through the main barn and when I opened he doors at the other end, there was Blu with his head high in the air calling to be let in. He had had enough and some of his friends had made it into the coziness of the barn before him. So I went up to him and hooked on his lead and he decided he had to run to the barn. WRONG! I have never had to shank him but he got it yesterday. It jolted him back to reality and instead of being 19 hands tall he shrunk to his meager 16.3. He still danced his way back up the hill though. He is not to be left behind.
After some late winter currying -- white hair flying everywhere, I saddled him up and off we went to the indoor. It was lovely because only a few friends were in the ring (they all knew how to steer so that made for a great ride!) Blu felt great from an energy perspective. He was ready to go. He wanted to go on his forehand so we spent a good deal of time working on transitions. This seemed to improve matters and I was able to manage to get some really great canter work. He was up in the bridle and all I had to do was let go. We worked on the simple changes and they were terrific. I am really focusing on keeping my weight on my inside seat bone and that seems to do the trick.
When we were done he got another currying... He is really feeling the late winter itch. I could not curry him enough. Then it was his favorite time of all... dinner!!! He may not like winter turnout but he looovvvveeesss his winter supper!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Happiness is...
Happiness is seeing that smiling face when I walk in the barn. He always has that look of "hey, where have you been and where is my treat?" He has trained me well because there is always a piece of sugar, the bite of an apple or carrot or maybe a stray peppermint in my pocket that tops off my salutation. He is very content to take the small offering and go back to his second cut while I gather all the paraphernalia.
Happiness is NOT all the paraphernalia during the winter months. Blankets (2), boots (6), saddle pad, riser pad, saddle, girth, quarter sheet, bridle, whip, cooler... all of it must be dragged out and pressed into service after I have groomed my dirty boy. I work up a sweat just thinking about it. Yet at the same time, I would not trade one moment I spend with His Magnificence. His overt love for a good curry, his curious nature, the little nips he gives me then self-flagellates for inflicting... it is all good and makes me of good humor. So why complain?
Happiness is... watching four little girls on their ponies enjoying horsemanship as only a young mind can... with abandon. Happiness is NOT having to share the indoor with these joyful children who can run you down in a moment's notice. Can you tell not much schooling was done today? Blu felt a bit stiff and stuck to start so we had a nice canter in both directions, got him loose and called it a day. The beauty of having a schoolmaster is that you do not have to school hard everyday. I think he thanked those 4 ponies as we left the indoor.
Happiness is NOT all the paraphernalia during the winter months. Blankets (2), boots (6), saddle pad, riser pad, saddle, girth, quarter sheet, bridle, whip, cooler... all of it must be dragged out and pressed into service after I have groomed my dirty boy. I work up a sweat just thinking about it. Yet at the same time, I would not trade one moment I spend with His Magnificence. His overt love for a good curry, his curious nature, the little nips he gives me then self-flagellates for inflicting... it is all good and makes me of good humor. So why complain?
Happiness is... watching four little girls on their ponies enjoying horsemanship as only a young mind can... with abandon. Happiness is NOT having to share the indoor with these joyful children who can run you down in a moment's notice. Can you tell not much schooling was done today? Blu felt a bit stiff and stuck to start so we had a nice canter in both directions, got him loose and called it a day. The beauty of having a schoolmaster is that you do not have to school hard everyday. I think he thanked those 4 ponies as we left the indoor.
He snows everyone...
Out to the barn on a beautiful winter's day. My car was telling me it was 39 degrees. I walked into the barn and one door was open and the thermometer read 41 degrees. Be that as it may, it felt like spring after the weather we have been having. I then trudged down to get Blu from his paddock. Snow was blocking the gate so I gave it a kick and down went the fence. OH NOOOOOO. Blu stood and waited while I picked my way over the snow bank and forced open the gate. He is such a good boy!!! After making our way through too tiny an opening again both of us carefully picking our way over the snow and through the gate, we made our way to the barn... both with our snow treads on... He got lots of hugs for being such a good and patient boy and not getting upset by the fence tumbling at his feet. When I got back to the barn I noticed one of his bell boots was missing and while my first instinct was to forget about it til spring, Frugal Fannie walked back down to the paddock and waded through snow over her knees to look for the missing protective gear. Did I find it? Heck no, what was I thinking... I think he will now go without them until the snow is either gone or packed down. He should be out in a new paddock today.
The next fun was replacing his chewed up leather halter with a brand new fleeced lined synthetic halter. It has a lovely leather breakaway and while for safety and to please my aesthetic I have alwys purchased leather, this will probably better withstand the rigor of halter tag. Check out the picture above... Handsome no?
As usual the ride was fabulous. Due to multiple storms, Blu had three days off. So he felt full of himself. His canter down the long side of the area became extended canters. waaaaaaahoooooo!!!! I let him get it out a couple of times and he was quite satisfied with himself. Our canter work after was just great. He becomes more balanced and up in front.
After our ride we headed back up to the barn and Blu was full of anticipation because his supper had been poured. We arrived at the barn and a young gap-toothed girl greeted him with a joyous "It is Blu!" He has more fans every day.
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