Saturday 31st March
Sunshine, light breeze, peace in the glen and two people with head colds!! Seems Mark's caught my nasty cold which is very unlike him but we decide that maybe instead of the ride we were thinking of, to just go out, be with them for as long as we can and then come home. We managed two hours and in that time Mark trimmed Holly's hooves and played with her a bit and I groomed all 4 horses, played at liberty a bit with Stormy and then Tara but did most play at liberty and online with Solly ;)
Mark and Holly doing a GREAT sideways towards from a distance now!! go M&H ;)
straight on a circle and not bracing in with her belly
to be on the circle the more I do of this ;)
After warming up for relaxation, obedience, impulsion and flexibility, I did some games on the 22' feather light first and then went to liberty and he did a very nice set of weave and fig 8 the 'wrong way'...and hopefully later on I'll have the video to show on that ;) We also had a nice liberty Z5 session of large fig 8's which was cool and I also checked out our backing from touching his back stifle and backing from a few tail feathers....all still good there too. Love that he remembers everything once we've established it as a good pattern in his repetoire ;)
Sharing water with my friend ;)
Friday 30th March
Friday 30th March
Not a lot of energy today but
Thursday 29th March
I've had a head cold for the last few days so haven't even managed to see the horses since Sunday ;( But today my head was less muzzy and I walked down to the field to see if I can spend some time reconnecting with them as a herd and individuall.
I first put back up some fencing that the boys have pulled down. The arena area's have been opened up as the grass hasn't grown since they went in here beginning of March (we need some rain). Once the fencing was done Solly volunteered to come into the round pen... he was positively waiting patiently to get in and I started by just gently grooming his whole body, mane and tail. Then I sat on the mounting block, Solly at my side and just sat there with my head on his shoulder. We spent quite a few minutes just doing this, resting together and being as one, his eyes started to shut and we had a completely uninterupted meditation.
After quite a while I got up and stroked him back to me and then we had some liberty play. He was very connected in our S2M transitions, COD's and he did some great liberty circling w/t/cod too ;)
Next I decided to do something completely new, off the cuff so to speak, I had no idea we were going to do this but hey, that's being spontaneous for you. We did some weaves and fig 8's but without the draw at the ends, I asked him to go away and spin around the outside of the cones instead of going outside and drawing to me around the cones...does that make sense? it was cool. He didn't have much trouble going outside towards the right but had a little trouble on the left. I just totally slowed it all down, stopped at every good point and built it up until he did two weave lines L&R and two fig 8's....LOTS of licking and chewing but he looked pretty pleased with himself and I gave him lots of verbal praise and soft strokes whilst it all went into his memory banks ;)
On that good note I then went and played quickly with Tara at liberty and then caught up with Solly again to do a S2M two horse play with large fig 8's and weaves with the both of them. I love my babies, they're so cool.
I then let them both graze in the round pen whilst I groomed the big Storm, who had been hanging around the gateway watching what was going on for quite sometime. He enjoyed his groom and then I did a little bit of liberty play with him in the large field and he didn't once think of running off today...yeehaa.
We did some lovely S2M with DHQ and COD's, then transitions w/t/w/h/bkup and then some great sideways with me next to his shoulder/belly and we synchronised feet crossing over (to the L&R)...amazing boy, he really got this today and again at liberty.
I was so happy with the connection of all three horses today that I let them go back to grazing and helped Mark with some poo picking. They all went to the top of the field thinking it was dinner time already but then came back down and hung around nearby until we left to sort their dinners out. Lovely day, nothing complicated but a great connection and feel from all of them.
I first put back up some fencing that the boys have pulled down. The arena area's have been opened up as the grass hasn't grown since they went in here beginning of March (we need some rain). Once the fencing was done Solly volunteered to come into the round pen... he was positively waiting patiently to get in and I started by just gently grooming his whole body, mane and tail. Then I sat on the mounting block, Solly at my side and just sat there with my head on his shoulder. We spent quite a few minutes just doing this, resting together and being as one, his eyes started to shut and we had a completely uninterupted meditation.
After quite a while I got up and stroked him back to me and then we had some liberty play. He was very connected in our S2M transitions, COD's and he did some great liberty circling w/t/cod too ;)
Next I decided to do something completely new, off the cuff so to speak, I had no idea we were going to do this but hey, that's being spontaneous for you. We did some weaves and fig 8's but without the draw at the ends, I asked him to go away and spin around the outside of the cones instead of going outside and drawing to me around the cones...does that make sense? it was cool. He didn't have much trouble going outside towards the right but had a little trouble on the left. I just totally slowed it all down, stopped at every good point and built it up until he did two weave lines L&R and two fig 8's....LOTS of licking and chewing but he looked pretty pleased with himself and I gave him lots of verbal praise and soft strokes whilst it all went into his memory banks ;)
On that good note I then went and played quickly with Tara at liberty and then caught up with Solly again to do a S2M two horse play with large fig 8's and weaves with the both of them. I love my babies, they're so cool.
I then let them both graze in the round pen whilst I groomed the big Storm, who had been hanging around the gateway watching what was going on for quite sometime. He enjoyed his groom and then I did a little bit of liberty play with him in the large field and he didn't once think of running off today...yeehaa.
We did some lovely S2M with DHQ and COD's, then transitions w/t/w/h/bkup and then some great sideways with me next to his shoulder/belly and we synchronised feet crossing over (to the L&R)...amazing boy, he really got this today and again at liberty.
I was so happy with the connection of all three horses today that I let them go back to grazing and helped Mark with some poo picking. They all went to the top of the field thinking it was dinner time already but then came back down and hung around nearby until we left to sort their dinners out. Lovely day, nothing complicated but a great connection and feel from all of them.
Sunday 25th March
What a stunningly beautiful day today. Sunshine, blue skies, warmth and shirt sleeves ;)) FAB
Out with Mark to horses around noon and whilst he does some poo picking I groom all 4 horses. Then I play for a short while with Solly & Tara together and then with Holly.
I then play for a while at liberty with Solly, he was not totally connected to me so I asked for circles and claimed space when he stopped and claimed it from me and moved his feet a lot by changing his direction regularly. He was son connected to me and came to me nicely for a rest.
We then did some nice liberty with S2M, weaving, fig 8's and connected circling.
I then put him online (22') and we played with lots of circles and he relaxed beautifully with his head down, blowing out regularly ;) Then circle transitions w/t/c/t/w. And then I put him on my 12' non-clip rope (for softness and lightness) and we walked companionably to the HA arena.
We took two takes but we filmed our Advanced On Line OLHA test and it felt good to film it today, Solly did very well and I feel it would be detrimental to continue practicing the course, our test today was SO much better than when we started practicing it so it's time to rest now and give Solly a week off from OLHA before the next course.
He got a few treats for being so good and then I took him back to the round pen, saddled up, cinched, mounted and started a riding session. Here's the pictures:
Out with Mark to horses around noon and whilst he does some poo picking I groom all 4 horses. Then I play for a short while with Solly & Tara together and then with Holly.
I then play for a while at liberty with Solly, he was not totally connected to me so I asked for circles and claimed space when he stopped and claimed it from me and moved his feet a lot by changing his direction regularly. He was son connected to me and came to me nicely for a rest.
We then did some nice liberty with S2M, weaving, fig 8's and connected circling.
I then put him online (22') and we played with lots of circles and he relaxed beautifully with his head down, blowing out regularly ;) Then circle transitions w/t/c/t/w. And then I put him on my 12' non-clip rope (for softness and lightness) and we walked companionably to the HA arena.
We took two takes but we filmed our Advanced On Line OLHA test and it felt good to film it today, Solly did very well and I feel it would be detrimental to continue practicing the course, our test today was SO much better than when we started practicing it so it's time to rest now and give Solly a week off from OLHA before the next course.
He got a few treats for being so good and then I took him back to the round pen, saddled up, cinched, mounted and started a riding session. Here's the pictures:
and stop are in place without reins ;)
so used technique of one step walk and then straight
back into trot...really works with Solly ;)
only 2nd attempt of this at trot, felt good
so my go slow riding has paid off ;)
Lovely day today. Woke up early and walked dogs with Mark to horses field, helped feed them b'fast and haltered Tara who I then rode back to the house. She gets some grazing at home as a reward for the ride and Mark and I have our b'fast.
After some office work I go out and trim Tara's hooves and then let her graze a bit more whilst I have a cup of tea. Then around 12 noon I ride Tara bareback back to the field for some horsey play ;)
First up is Stormy, I groom him from my mounting block and he looks so handsome when clean and tidy.
After some office work I go out and trim Tara's hooves and then let her graze a bit more whilst I have a cup of tea. Then around 12 noon I ride Tara bareback back to the field for some horsey play ;)
First up is Stormy, I groom him from my mounting block and he looks so handsome when clean and tidy.
I then play with him and the play is good, although asking for two laps L&R in trot worked out to be about 10 laps as he kept changing gait or stopping. BUT in the end he got it and he got plenty of rests and praise. He's still quite a baby sometimes but hopefully this year I'll have more time to play/ride him.
After the play to make sure there is some willingness, obedience and all gaits checked out I saddle him up (take one saddle and bits down as the three horses I ride in a saddle are all the same sized saddle ;) Once saddled I cinch him in three stages and make sure everything is tickety-boo.
After the play to make sure there is some willingness, obedience and all gaits checked out I saddle him up (take one saddle and bits down as the three horses I ride in a saddle are all the same sized saddle ;) Once saddled I cinch him in three stages and make sure everything is tickety-boo.
Then I ask him to sidle up to the mounting block again, make reins out of the 22' line and mount him and rest for quite a while. I then check his LF L&R and DHQ's move FQ's L&R...all okay. I then just want to really walk a circle left and stop and then right and stop. He's not sure if I want forwards or back so I just take it slowly and emphasise my aids big for him and eventually we get one circle L&R in walk and then I dismount.
This is only the 2nd time I've ridden him since our accident (nearly 2 yrs ago) and it feels lovely being back on him when he's being so good ;)
Next up is Holly who does a fabulously calm play session after her groom. Everything going well, lightness there, willingness there and trying her hardest to be flexible too. So I saddle her up and cinch her in three sittings.
This is only the 2nd time I've ridden him since our accident (nearly 2 yrs ago) and it feels lovely being back on him when he's being so good ;)
Next up is Holly who does a fabulously calm play session after her groom. Everything going well, lightness there, willingness there and trying her hardest to be flexible too. So I saddle her up and cinch her in three sittings.
When she's gone through all her gaits in the saddle and all okay I ask her to sidle up to the mounting block and mount her. Check her LF, DHQ and move FQ's and all not bad so we go to RtR in walk. I check for freestyle turns which go well but I have to remind her to stay on the rail a few times but I think this is to do with her unflexible side rather than her not remembering what to do.
Once her walk is good and her turns are good we do some w/t transitions and keep it light until I feel she can relax and be calm in trot rather than going into the numatic drill type trot where she's not listening. Once the trot is good I ask for RtR in trot with some COD, then we do some bullseye which is leg yielding into the centre of the round pen and then leg yielding out to the rail again...she does really well with these to the L&R and I end on a good note in the centre ;)
Last up, although he's been standing just watching me play with the others, is Solly. I groom him and then play at liberty with him. He's not connected straight away so we play circling around the pen with me changing his direction often to help him see that I can control where his feet go, this works to get him connected to me by me being more of the alpha (like Holly does) and soon his is wanting to be with me so I draw him in to me with enthusiasm.
i then play S2M for a while making sure it incorporates some weave around the cones and fig 8's. All is light and good so I halter him and take him to the HA arena where we pracitice his trot through the 'U' bend again, walk/turn/walk on the tarp, sidepass along a pole, canter through the pole corridor and canter weave...all in place and not bad at all SO, quickly back to the round pen where I saddle him up, cinch him in three sittings and mount.
We do the checks, LF, DHQ, move FQ's and then RtR in walk for a while. His impulsion is pretty bad and he puts in a couple of ears back and thinking about stopping and not going forward so I just sit there patiently and then re-ask him to move on and my patience pays off as he starts to walk nicely along the rail. I check his freestyle turns to L&R are there (yup) and that he can weave the cones with me hardly doing anything (yup). I then ask for w/t transitions and once he seems to have trot in his mind I then ask for some trotting RtR with some COD's across the pen and finally two laps in trot L&R and stop in the centre for a good rest. I then dismount and untack and set him, Stormy and Holly back out into the large field after some treats for working well.
Once her walk is good and her turns are good we do some w/t transitions and keep it light until I feel she can relax and be calm in trot rather than going into the numatic drill type trot where she's not listening. Once the trot is good I ask for RtR in trot with some COD, then we do some bullseye which is leg yielding into the centre of the round pen and then leg yielding out to the rail again...she does really well with these to the L&R and I end on a good note in the centre ;)
Last up, although he's been standing just watching me play with the others, is Solly. I groom him and then play at liberty with him. He's not connected straight away so we play circling around the pen with me changing his direction often to help him see that I can control where his feet go, this works to get him connected to me by me being more of the alpha (like Holly does) and soon his is wanting to be with me so I draw him in to me with enthusiasm.
i then play S2M for a while making sure it incorporates some weave around the cones and fig 8's. All is light and good so I halter him and take him to the HA arena where we pracitice his trot through the 'U' bend again, walk/turn/walk on the tarp, sidepass along a pole, canter through the pole corridor and canter weave...all in place and not bad at all SO, quickly back to the round pen where I saddle him up, cinch him in three sittings and mount.
We do the checks, LF, DHQ, move FQ's and then RtR in walk for a while. His impulsion is pretty bad and he puts in a couple of ears back and thinking about stopping and not going forward so I just sit there patiently and then re-ask him to move on and my patience pays off as he starts to walk nicely along the rail. I check his freestyle turns to L&R are there (yup) and that he can weave the cones with me hardly doing anything (yup). I then ask for w/t transitions and once he seems to have trot in his mind I then ask for some trotting RtR with some COD's across the pen and finally two laps in trot L&R and stop in the centre for a good rest. I then dismount and untack and set him, Stormy and Holly back out into the large field after some treats for working well.
I didn't do too much with any of them, keeping it short and sweet for now and giving them some nice play and riding to help bring them back into fitness. I then haltered Tara and rode her bareback up the hill for their dinners. Then I walk home with Mark and the dogs who have come to help feed the horses.
So, that was today....4 horses groomed, 4 horses played with well, 4 horses ridden and 1 horse trimmed.....excellent ;))
Wednesday 21st March
Went and groomed all 4 horses, then play seriously with Stormy, Holly and
Solly and then rode Solly for the first time since they came back to the big field. He was a bit under impulsed and we started from scratch on freestyle riding but it only took about 10 mins and he got turns L&R again and we soon had the weave and fig 8's from eyes, bellybutton, leg cues ;)
Solly and then rode Solly for the first time since they came back to the big field. He was a bit under impulsed and we started from scratch on freestyle riding but it only took about 10 mins and he got turns L&R again and we soon had the weave and fig 8's from eyes, bellybutton, leg cues ;)
Went and groomed all 4 horses and then played seriously wiht S
I also did lots of small transitions of w/h/bk/w/h/w/h/w/t/w/t etc to help motivate him a bit more. Then I asked for RtR in walk and then trot. He wasn't his normal chirpy self and it could be that he is just unfit so I aimed for one lap RtR in trot L&R and once gotten I stopped him in a bullseye. Always best to leave it short and sweet and build slowly with dear Solly to keep him sweeter for next time. lol.
When I let the big three horses out of the grazing arena I haltered Tara and we had a nice ride bareback up the hill. We did w/t/w/bk/w/t transitions and also freestyle circles L&R without using any reins so she's getting lighter too now. Good day with fun today.
Tuesday 20th March
Lovely weather again and out with the horse around 1.30pm, Solly &Tara catch me and we walk down the hill to the arena's. Holly & Stormy catch us up and wait for us by the gate to the arena grazing,,,good habits paying off now ;0)
Stormy cantering past me and my two,
Holly was in front of him, out of pic range
I take Tara first into the round pen and groom her thoroughly. She enjoys some scratches and I play gently with her afterwards, just some dhq and S2M in walk and then set her back to the grazing arena.
Next up is Stormy, he was just waiting to come into the arena ;) I stand on my box and ask him to come over for grooming, he came over stayed a while and then moved off so I stayed where I was and re-asked him to come back to me...he thinks about it and then did. I groomed him thoroughly and then trimmed the long hairs on his jaw, the long hairs on his ears and the feathers over his hooves. He looks so handsome now;-)
Next up is Stormy, he was just waiting to come into the arena ;) I stand on my box and ask him to come over for grooming, he came over stayed a while and then moved off so I stayed where I was and re-asked him to come back to me...he thinks about it and then did. I groomed him thoroughly and then trimmed the long hairs on his jaw, the long hairs on his ears and the feathers over his hooves. He looks so handsome now;-)
So, we play with some games and patterns as usual but I make sure that softness, lightness and willingness are the top words on my list with all the horses, in everything we do today. Stormy was good, attentive, light so that I could be soft and we had a really good session. Not bad as I'd forgotten to pack his large halter in my rucksack so we played with just the 22' neck rope....actually think I should do this more as it will help him to be almost at liberty and then his liberty will at a distance will get better.
I lead Stormy back out of the pen to graze with then and I go and ask Holly to come and be groomed. She always turns away and so I turn with her and manage to block her. Being the herd alpha she is a very quick, sharp girl and if she tests you you have to be quick and sharp too lol. But just that one move and she stood still for some head scratches (her favorite) and I put the neck rope around her neck and lead her into the round pen.
First I trim her jaw line and ears, then her feathers and then tidied up her mane, forelock and tail...looking good ;) Then I set her at liberty for some leadership play, she likes to be in charge so playing softy in liberty I go from side to side of the pen changing her direction and after only a short time instead of trying to see if she can out run me she wants to come into me and allow me to be the leader. This done she relaxes more and I put her on a 22' feather lite rope and we play. Again I dance lightly with her so that we have some lovely light, soft games and patterns. Good session, hopefully next time I will ride her as like when she relaxes she can move with pure lightness and no brace ;)
when you ride her like this it's like floating ;)
A lovely calm session with the beautiful Holly, no sweating up and relaxed to go straight back to grazing with the herd when I let her loose. And now Solly comes over wanting his groom and play (just love it when the horses want to be with me like this). He comes. into the pen and I stand on my block and groom him thoroughly...still lots of winter coat coming out of all of them, feels good to help them shed more of it.
Grooming goes well, he moves, turns and stands still perfectly. Now some liberty play and he does some great liberty circles in w/t/c both ways with a smooth trot COD. Fab. I then put him on the 22' feather lite and check him transition into canter. With that in place I then do some S2M to the Horse Agility arena and there we very quickly check the trotting around the 'U' bend (good), walk on tarp, stop and off again (good), sideways along a pole (v.good), canter through pole corridor (pretty good) and canter weave (excellent). I realised with the canter weave that I can just not keep up with his canter so to help me and to keep him in a controlled canter I put 6 cones in a large circle and he can weave in canter through them quite nicely and without me having to 'push' him around them.
Good practice and hopefully Mark will film Sol's OLHA on Sunday...fingers crossed. On that good note I take Sol back to the round pen and saddle him up, play some games to cinch him up and then mount. I test the basic manoeuvres of LF, DHQ and move FQ's and then we ride the rail at walk for a while, making sure he can uphold his responsiblities (don't change gait, don't change direction and look where you're going) and I don't have to ask him back to the fence too often. All goes well so I ask for some small circles freestyle and back onto the rail. He's a bit slow today but it's been a few months since doing any freestyle riding like this so we just plug away at it and ask for the slightest try and reward often. It doesn't take long until we're getting some circles on just the eyes, belly button, legs and getting some nice ridden connection.
We take rests when things go well to reward Sol and we end up with some nice circles in walk, w/t transitions, backups and walk weaves around the cones that are nice and light. We don't over do it and we stop on a good note to encourage more next time we ride. Taking things slowly helps us keep our confidence together and looking forward to the next session.
I finish the sessions with about 20 mins to the horses dinner time so I set the three big horses out into the main field and ask Tara to join me, which she does nicely. I halter up and out in the field I mount her from the gate and ride up to the top of the field. On the way we do some fab freestyle circles L&R, w/t/w/h/bk transitions and with some lovely impulsion ;)
What a great day, horses happy, me happy and moving along in our training towards fitness and greater horsemanship.
Grooming goes well, he moves, turns and stands still perfectly. Now some liberty play and he does some great liberty circles in w/t/c both ways with a smooth trot COD. Fab. I then put him on the 22' feather lite and check him transition into canter. With that in place I then do some S2M to the Horse Agility arena and there we very quickly check the trotting around the 'U' bend (good), walk on tarp, stop and off again (good), sideways along a pole (v.good), canter through pole corridor (pretty good) and canter weave (excellent). I realised with the canter weave that I can just not keep up with his canter so to help me and to keep him in a controlled canter I put 6 cones in a large circle and he can weave in canter through them quite nicely and without me having to 'push' him around them.
Good practice and hopefully Mark will film Sol's OLHA on Sunday...fingers crossed. On that good note I take Sol back to the round pen and saddle him up, play some games to cinch him up and then mount. I test the basic manoeuvres of LF, DHQ and move FQ's and then we ride the rail at walk for a while, making sure he can uphold his responsiblities (don't change gait, don't change direction and look where you're going) and I don't have to ask him back to the fence too often. All goes well so I ask for some small circles freestyle and back onto the rail. He's a bit slow today but it's been a few months since doing any freestyle riding like this so we just plug away at it and ask for the slightest try and reward often. It doesn't take long until we're getting some circles on just the eyes, belly button, legs and getting some nice ridden connection.
We take rests when things go well to reward Sol and we end up with some nice circles in walk, w/t transitions, backups and walk weaves around the cones that are nice and light. We don't over do it and we stop on a good note to encourage more next time we ride. Taking things slowly helps us keep our confidence together and looking forward to the next session.
I finish the sessions with about 20 mins to the horses dinner time so I set the three big horses out into the main field and ask Tara to join me, which she does nicely. I halter up and out in the field I mount her from the gate and ride up to the top of the field. On the way we do some fab freestyle circles L&R, w/t/w/h/bk transitions and with some lovely impulsion ;)
What a great day, horses happy, me happy and moving along in our training towards fitness and greater horsemanship.
while the other three work their way around the
fence line to the hill and dinner ;)
Monday 19th March
Out with horses around 2pm and they're all in need of some good grooming. First up is Tara, then Solly and then I spend quite some time playing with him. We do some warm ups and S2M, then obedience with some sideways away and towards. Then some FQ's towards me. After a short rest we start on some impulsion exercises, circling transitions, fig 8's and weaves. Then we do some liberty and have some 'yeehaa' play.
The session in the round pen wasn't too long and Solly was Relaxed, Willingly Obedient, Good Impulsion and Flexible and so I lead him over to the Horse Agility arena to practice our March OLHA.
All the tasks for the OLHA go well and hopefully after some extra tweaking all the parts will flow nicely together. I then let him have a long graze, some play at liberty with the ball I let him back to graze with the herd with a peppermint treat ;)
The session in the round pen wasn't too long and Solly was Relaxed, Willingly Obedient, Good Impulsion and Flexible and so I lead him over to the Horse Agility arena to practice our March OLHA.
All the tasks for the OLHA go well and hopefully after some extra tweaking all the parts will flow nicely together. I then let him have a long graze, some play at liberty with the ball I let him back to graze with the herd with a peppermint treat ;)
Solly learning how to pick up other things on command
Such a good session with Solly and time left to play more SO Stormy comes to be groomed and I do this from the mounting block and then halter him up and play with him. We work on some circling with obedience and relaxation. He does some great walk and trot circles and tries his hardest with the fig 8's I ask him to do. He often tries too hard and ends up tripping over the cones as he isn't watching where his feet are going! lol
Anyway, it was a good session and he really enjoyed himself. I then go and see if Holly wants to have a groom and play, she came up for a rub on her ears and I halter her and take her into the round pen. We have a good time, I'm mainly wanting to see if I can keep her relaxed, being a RBext she needs to stay relaxed and calm for her to learn.
We start with sideways away with me next to her as when leading. She is calm, light, relaxed, willng and it was like dancing with her. She did it both ways too ;)
Anyway, it was a good session and he really enjoyed himself. I then go and see if Holly wants to have a groom and play, she came up for a rub on her ears and I halter her and take her into the round pen. We have a good time, I'm mainly wanting to see if I can keep her relaxed, being a RBext she needs to stay relaxed and calm for her to learn.
We start with sideways away with me next to her as when leading. She is calm, light, relaxed, willng and it was like dancing with her. She did it both ways too ;)
and to the right
After our nice dance sideways we get into some circles. Now circles are hard for Holly, she's had a broken hip as a youngster and she's quite stiff trying to bend, especially to the right. So, working to help her flex (which will help her be straighter) I keep in mind the sideways on the circles and ask Holly to try some leg yielding on the circle for a few strides, then go straight, then leg yield and then straight.
A break and then we work on weaves, soft calm fig 8's and transitions on large circles.
and into canter...yeehaa ;)
It was a lovely three sessions, all the horses were calm, willing and tried their very best for me...it was a lot of fun and hopefully we can have another session tomorrow ;))
Saturday 17th March
Had a good day today, Mark tried a something new when riding Holly and moving stormy around at liberty and Solly and I went around the OLHA course tweaking each obstacle for better, softer, lighter responses and it went pretty well. Here's pic's from the day:
Backing horses together
with the stick and string around her ;)
from Holly ;)
from Holly
their heads, legs etc ;) cool
these two working together even in this big field
was actually jumping the poles!
around his whole body
the hula hoop and not moving whilst playing with umbrella
Totally relaxed going to the jump
I use this as a fun thing to do at the end
of the sessions ;)
Excellent focus ;))
end of the session
Friday 16th March
Today is a bit cooler but a great day for a hack and I need to post a couple of letters and get some mobile phone top ups SO it's me and Tara off to the village shop today ;)
Tara was okay for catching and the rest of the herd followed us all the way around the fence line to see where we were going. I then groomed her and saddled her up and once everything was in place I took her out of the field and up through the forest behind the field to the track. Through the gate and I mount up and slowly start our hack.
Tara is always pretty slow to warm up but that's fine, sometimes I am too! lol. We mosey down the hill track and on the flat we have a lovely long trot. SHe starts to get some energy and on/off the whole way to the village we do walk/trot transitions. Just before the village on the village green we have a fabulous canter too ;))
She waits very patiently whilst I do my bits in the shop and after her apple and carrot reward I mount back up and head on home. She is quite perky on the way home and just before the track starts again a quad bike and farmer pass us by and we spend a good quarter of the track trotting behind this. Tara is usually worried by quads, tractors etc but maybe she smelt the food on the quad or she just wanted to get home as she was very bright and her trot was quick and lively ;)
Once the quad had gone off into a field of sheep Tara and I had a short burst of canter then back to trot again. This must be the most trot she's ever done over a complete hack....loving it. Before the big hill back to the horses field I make sure she takes it all slowly so as to cool her down and past the gate by our field I decide that Tara can bring me the mile back home. She is a bit reluctant to pass by the herd but I walk her for a few hundred feet before mouting again and letting her know that there is grazing back at the house with her name on it! lol.
We got home, she really enjoyed her grazing and I had some lunch and a rest for an hour or so and then tacked her up again and followed Mark and the car and dogs back to the field for some poo picking, feeding horses their dinner and walking the dogs home for our own dinner. A lovely day out and it was nice to give Tara a purpose today, enjoy our riding out and give Solly a rest from practicing OLHA.
Tuesday 13th March
A gorgeous sunny, warm day today and I get to the field by 1.30pm. The herd are at the top of the hill today and they seem reluctant to come down and play so I go and fetch Solly and have some fun playing S2M all the way to the round pen. In the pen I groom him thoroughly whilst standing on the block and he's very good at moving around me today.
Next I start out some play with small movements, move his hindquarters and forehand slowly and with precision. Then we have a play around with S2M w/t/backups and then make sure his canter is still there and work on getting the canter from walk and then from halt. It's getting better each time but I don't overdo it, just improve slowly each day is good for us ;)
Next I start out some play with small movements, move his hindquarters and forehand slowly and with precision. Then we have a play around with S2M w/t/backups and then make sure his canter is still there and work on getting the canter from walk and then from halt. It's getting better each time but I don't overdo it, just improve slowly each day is good for us ;)
Sound at last...Solly's trot is good again ;)
We take a short rest and then I ask him to do some larger circles in trot and canter. I've put 4 cones around one part of the round pen, 7 strides apart and use these for trot weaves on the circle. He's pretty light on the weave in trot and he's getting better at staying in canter on the circle SO I'm going to work to bring these two things together at liberty so that Solly learns the canter weave pattern.
We take another rest and I praise him lots and then we wander on over to the Horse Agility arena. Today things are a step better than yesterday with the HA tasks and Solly really puts in some good tries for me. The umbrella went very well and he went straight into the hula hoop and didn't move once. The jump was fab and the sidepass was cool. Pushing the ball to him was fun and he's getting used to doing it with the lead rope on more now.
Cantering through the pole corridor is okay but I need to sort out whether we're going to do it from halt or walk and I would like him to be more responsive to my double cluck for canter SO a couple of things to work on with this. Again we didn't work on canter weave in the HA arena, I would like to get it at least tried out in the round pen at liberty first.
The tarp task is going well and he's understanding that there is a stop in the centre now and he's thinking more about his feet and where they should be. The 'U' bend just seemed to tight so I made the bottom of the U longer so that it's more even on all sides. I then asked him to trot behind me but he was getting a bit excited so we went and calmed down with some friendly game. He was then trying to get next to me but on the left side and I need him to be on the right so instead of asking him too many things at once I just ask him to tot, online, on his own around the 'U' shape. He was too fast and jumping the poles so again I asked him to slow his energy down and to help him I put some 'feel' on the rope to direct his head around the shape.
I've found with Solly that if he can't figure it out in about 2 sessions then showing him the pattern, way or pace helps him out enormously and then once he understands the pattern in his body it will start making sense in his mind. I always make sure I show him things gently and with good feel and it saves a lot of frustration.
After this session we go back and have fun kicking the ball about at liberty again and then I ask him to wait at the fence while I put some equipment away and get him some tasty treats ;))
We take another rest and I praise him lots and then we wander on over to the Horse Agility arena. Today things are a step better than yesterday with the HA tasks and Solly really puts in some good tries for me. The umbrella went very well and he went straight into the hula hoop and didn't move once. The jump was fab and the sidepass was cool. Pushing the ball to him was fun and he's getting used to doing it with the lead rope on more now.
Cantering through the pole corridor is okay but I need to sort out whether we're going to do it from halt or walk and I would like him to be more responsive to my double cluck for canter SO a couple of things to work on with this. Again we didn't work on canter weave in the HA arena, I would like to get it at least tried out in the round pen at liberty first.
The tarp task is going well and he's understanding that there is a stop in the centre now and he's thinking more about his feet and where they should be. The 'U' bend just seemed to tight so I made the bottom of the U longer so that it's more even on all sides. I then asked him to trot behind me but he was getting a bit excited so we went and calmed down with some friendly game. He was then trying to get next to me but on the left side and I need him to be on the right so instead of asking him too many things at once I just ask him to tot, online, on his own around the 'U' shape. He was too fast and jumping the poles so again I asked him to slow his energy down and to help him I put some 'feel' on the rope to direct his head around the shape.
I've found with Solly that if he can't figure it out in about 2 sessions then showing him the pattern, way or pace helps him out enormously and then once he understands the pattern in his body it will start making sense in his mind. I always make sure I show him things gently and with good feel and it saves a lot of frustration.
After this session we go back and have fun kicking the ball about at liberty again and then I ask him to wait at the fence while I put some equipment away and get him some tasty treats ;))
It was a lovely session and as we walk back to the herd we pop into my new jumping arena and he jumps 5 jumps in a row from trot online...his foot/leg is better and I hope to get in some riding soon ;)
Solly and Tara up the hill at the 'watering hole'
Monday 12th March
Well after the OLHA fun with Stormy on Saturday and w/Solly yesterday I decided to try the Advanced OLHA with Solly today. I wasn't sure if he was sound so we just take it nice and slowly.
As you will see, below, there are quite a few tricky sections (well at least for me and Solly) so I know that I have two weeks to try and work on some of the individual bits. So, where to start?
I decide to start at the beginning, go around he course in order and have a play with each obstacle and see what needs working on so that the following sessions over the next week or so will have a plan of what's needing work and what's good but needs refining. Here is today's session:
I decide to start at the beginning, go around he course in order and have a play with each obstacle and see what needs working on so that the following sessions over the next week or so will have a plan of what's needing work and what's good but needs refining. Here is today's session:
Task: 1 + 2) stand front feet in hula hoop and then walk around left and right opening and closing umbrella:
Sollly has always had trouble standing his feet into things but over last year and all the OLHA's we've worked on this regularly. Now it seems that Solly likes to 'play' with it, SO, every time Sol plays with the hoop with his feet or step out of it I quickly insist (nicely) that the only place he can be still is with his front feet in the hoop. He soon gets the idea and stays quietly in it ;) This is a good strategy as we've worked on relaxation and being okay around the hulahoop, now is the time to reinforce good behaviour and trusting my instruction a bit more.
The next bit is a worry for him, not done any umbrella work for over a year so to start with I just go around him one way, pet him and then back the other way without anything in my hands, just working on him staying still. I work up to walking with the umbrella unopened to help him slowly build up to having the umbrella opened as I walk. It didn't take long and I end with him standing still and me walking around both ways moving the umbrella below waist height. Over the next few days we will work on taking the standing still and finding more relaxation with the umbrella around him until hopefully we can open and close the umbrella a bit higher around him with true relaxation.
The next bit is a worry for him, not done any umbrella work for over a year so to start with I just go around him one way, pet him and then back the other way without anything in my hands, just working on him staying still. I work up to walking with the umbrella unopened to help him slowly build up to having the umbrella opened as I walk. It didn't take long and I end with him standing still and me walking around both ways moving the umbrella below waist height. Over the next few days we will work on taking the standing still and finding more relaxation with the umbrella around him until hopefully we can open and close the umbrella a bit higher around him with true relaxation.
3) Jump with a draw back:
Solly has done this sort of squeeze jump for a long time now and he does it today very well and we move on quickly ;)
4) Sidepass along a pole, handler standing still:
Again, Solly and I have been doing this for quite a while now so he does this well BUT I need to work on a decent, straight stop. Am used to using a training arm to pet him for a stop so need to teach him a slightly different stop now, all good refinement training.
5) Push ball twice to horse, horse pushes back with nose or foot/leg:
We've not done any ball work for a while either and Solly was quite sceptial about it today being online SO I worked with him at liberty first (as our connection is very good nowadays) and ask him to walk with me following the ball. This creates draw and curiosity and bravery and before long I can bring it closer to his front legs and away again. Within 5 mins he is happy to have the ball roll towards his feet and push it back with his leg. We do it online and I realise I need to really keep the rope away from the ball to have it move freely. Again I leave this on a good note and will ask for more tomorrow.
6) Canter through pole corridor:
This is a challenge that we've not tackled before!! SO, I think about how to make this easier for Solly. I know he can transition from trot to canter on a circle online SO we do some of those, each time he picks up the canter quickly for me I reward him with a stop and rub. I then ask him to circle canter around the pole corridor so as not to make it about the poles or worry him. Another stop and rub for calmness and willingness. Next I ask him to circle canter and I move around each time he circles so that on about the third circle the pole corridor is in front of him, he jumps it but I ask him to stay in canter circles and then direct his nose to the opening of the pole corridor...yeehaa success ;)) We stop, reward and I let Solly think about what he's just done for a while.
I then take him away from the poles and just ask him to try to do a halt to canter transition. After three tries he does it and I reward him with a treat and hug...hopefully if we can work on the halt to canter transition and put that with the canter pole corridor then this task will be do-able ;) we'll work on this more tomorrow and see how it develops.
I then take him away from the poles and just ask him to try to do a halt to canter transition. After three tries he does it and I reward him with a treat and hug...hopefully if we can work on the halt to canter transition and put that with the canter pole corridor then this task will be do-able ;) we'll work on this more tomorrow and see how it develops.
7) Canter weave:
Well I decide that we'll try to do a three cone weave (rather than the normal 5 cone trot weave) as with only three cones we give ourselves more of a chance of success. So, with the success of the halt to canter in the last obstacle I decide to leave canter weave for now, once our halt to canter transitions are there on a suggestion (and controllable) we will then bring that knowledge into some controlled canter into the weave...fingers crossed.
8) Horse to walk on tarp from corner, halt at centre, turn horse 90* and walk off next corner...handler 1m away:
This is quite complicate and so I take it first of all with Solly right next to me...work on one bit slowy and build on it gradually. SO, by my side I ask Solly to walk over the corner to the centre of the tarp and then halt. Then I ask him to move his hindquarters 90* away from me and halt again. Then I ask him to walk off the tarp over the next corner. Lots of rewards. We do this a few times, each time me getting further away from him so that in a couple of day I'll be able to stand 1m away and manoeuvre him from a distance ;)
9) Run through curtain, horse trots behind you:
Done this before, he trots nicely behind me and he respects my space now so not a problem, but will test it a couple of times to make sure before filming! lol.
10) Trot through 'U' bend:
This one will need some practice, Sol trotted behind me but he didn't bend enough to keep inside the poles.,,,but at least he didn't knock any poles, just trotted over them! lol
I'm hoping that with consistent practise on the 'bits' of the tasks (rather than the whole tasks or course) then it'll all come together in 'the mix' as I say ;)) I'll let you know how it all goes.
Down with the herd again today, weather nice and we split the horses up into pairs, Mark with his two big babies and me with my smaller babies ;) Mark plays online with his two working on 'togetherness' and connection with them together again. I work on playing with Solly whilst Tara grazes as I want to try to put the March OLHA Liberty class on video with Solly today, he seems sounder today and he's quite happy to trot about for me so I take a practise shot and then Mark films us and I'm very very pleased with the result. Solly did me proud. You can see the video on the HA section here (1c) Horse Agility 2012
Mark starts off playing with his two together again
Much better connection today ;)
Solly playing at liberty and asking to stand on the pedestal...
Working on extreme friendly game with the umbrella
Getting confident with the ball and asking him to kick it to me...
....think he thinks I should pump the ball up properly! lol
Very confident with the ball and his feet now
And liberty jump...he's feeling much better today and it shows ;)
Stick to me at trot looking good
Following me, in walk to start with, through the 'U' bend...
...going well and he's following very nicely...
...what a good boy, not one knock of the poles ;))
A quiet moment together
The hand signal to 'STOP' and wait ;)
Trotting through pole corridor went exceptionally well
Saturday 10th March
Good day weather wise so Mark and I go down to the field for some big play with all the horses. I take Tara and Solly into the roundpen straight away and groom first Tara and then Solly whilst standing on the mounting block. Then I have some fun playing at liberty with them together. We do some S2M (one horse on left, one on right) transitions (w/t/w/h/bk etc) and then some S2M fig 8's where the inside horse has to walk slowly and the outside horse has to trot to keep up, it went well and started really flowing nicely. I then ask for some S2M sideways, again me in the middle I ask one horse first to sideways away and the other has to do sideways towards me to keep up. I do this both ways so each horse has sideways both ways. Very pleased with this, it was light and responsive with no brace at all ;) I then let them go and graze in the pen as a reward.
Whilst I was doing this Mark was connecting with his two big beauties. Again playing S2M but online and setting good examples for them both for when he starts riding/leading them out and about this year. They did well and he realises that he needs to give more leadership to both so that they can settle nicely into position without worrying about their own herd dynamics. He then does some great sideways along the fence...one horse moving sideways away and the other horse facing and following (not doing sideways), this is the first step to doing what I was doing at liberty with my two.
After this he tried at liberty with just their head collars on but Holly decided she was lead horse again and went off to graze so Mark worked a bit at liberty S2M with big Stormy. Again it was a good start, and whilst he was walking about he managed to sidle up to Holly and put a finger in the bottom of her headcollar and walk about with the two together, Holly nearly at liberty and Stormy following at liberty ;)) Very impressed with his imagination there.
So, I then took Stormy into the round pen with my two horses and groomed him at liberty, again off the mounting block, him moving around me ;) Mark played more with Holly online.
Then, after all this initial reconnection I take Stormy in head collar and 22' line out of the round pen and do some enthusiastic circling for impulsion and flexibility exercises. He does very well so I then take him on a 12' line into the Horse Agility arena and we film our March OLHA online and liberty sessions. He did exceptionally well and we worked on some precision but more on the whole flow and fun of the course and we had fun doing it. He tries so hard and loved his reward of carrots at the end of it.
We'd been out for a few hours now so as a last thing Mark trimmed Stormy's feet and I did a quick mustang roll on Sollys feet and then we set them all loose and they galloped to the top of the hill ready for their dinners ;)) Here's some piccie's from the day...enjoy.
Whilst I was doing this Mark was connecting with his two big beauties. Again playing S2M but online and setting good examples for them both for when he starts riding/leading them out and about this year. They did well and he realises that he needs to give more leadership to both so that they can settle nicely into position without worrying about their own herd dynamics. He then does some great sideways along the fence...one horse moving sideways away and the other horse facing and following (not doing sideways), this is the first step to doing what I was doing at liberty with my two.
After this he tried at liberty with just their head collars on but Holly decided she was lead horse again and went off to graze so Mark worked a bit at liberty S2M with big Stormy. Again it was a good start, and whilst he was walking about he managed to sidle up to Holly and put a finger in the bottom of her headcollar and walk about with the two together, Holly nearly at liberty and Stormy following at liberty ;)) Very impressed with his imagination there.
So, I then took Stormy into the round pen with my two horses and groomed him at liberty, again off the mounting block, him moving around me ;) Mark played more with Holly online.
Then, after all this initial reconnection I take Stormy in head collar and 22' line out of the round pen and do some enthusiastic circling for impulsion and flexibility exercises. He does very well so I then take him on a 12' line into the Horse Agility arena and we film our March OLHA online and liberty sessions. He did exceptionally well and we worked on some precision but more on the whole flow and fun of the course and we had fun doing it. He tries so hard and loved his reward of carrots at the end of it.
We'd been out for a few hours now so as a last thing Mark trimmed Stormy's feet and I did a quick mustang roll on Sollys feet and then we set them all loose and they galloped to the top of the hill ready for their dinners ;)) Here's some piccie's from the day...enjoy.
Grooming at liberty, moving shoulders over towards me...
Grooming mane....
grooming other side mane and neck...
...and his tail ;))
riding/leading later on ;)
fig 8's...Solly walking, Tara trotting ;)
Solly a bit slower today as still slightly lame ;(
did the other way too ;))
Stormy feel connected more ;)
whilst Stormy is very connected now ;)
idea of circles, now I can be more particular about
certain aspects of them....ie. how big, what speed and
how flexed ;)
like most horses he is left sided and finds flexing to
the right harder as the left side muscles are short and strong
and the right side muscles are long and weak. I have to help
him stretch those left ones and strengthen the right ones so that
he's flexible on both sides equally and then he'll be straighter throughout ;))
after filming two OLHA sessions
Friday 9th March
Out in the afternoon, not too cold, not too windy and the horses very up for being groomed again so I basically did exactly what I did on Wednesday (below), Tara first, then Solly with a short liberty play session afterwards, and then big Stormy who was very hairy indeed, and a good play session afterwards which involved lots of circling trots (now that he's getting more consistent with the trot circles I'm starting to be more particular about the shape of them and ask him to arc around me more ;) and then two OLHA sessions, first online and then at liberty...he was pretty good in both SO going to bring video down tomorrow to see if we can film them for the OLHA competition.
I also rode Tara bareback again and she did some lovely 10 and 20m circles in freestyle without any corrections today ;))
Stormy showing off on his pedastal
he's just a tiny bit unsound but nothing too bad now ;)
and be in the right place for when Mark comes to give them dinner.
Wednesday 7th March
Weather wise it's been on/off drizzle with signs of dry patches and snow flurries...it's also very windy and cold so I wasn't sure how much of anything would get done BUT at least I can get some grooming done as the horses winter coats are coming out in handfuls.
So, off out to the field I go, grooming kit, halter and rope in hands to see who wants to be groomed today. First up to say hello is Solly, then Holly, then Stormy but Tara really looks at me for a groom so I ask her to catch me and with a string around her neck lightly we go through the arena's to the round pen where I let her loose.
Standing in the centre I call her to me and she comes and stands perfectly still whilst I groom her first with the rubber curry comb to get the top loose hair and dry mud off. Then the plastic curry comb to get the under coat and surface coat off and to give her a good scratching on bits that are itchy. Next I use a face brush and then mane/tail brush. I finish off her groom with some scissor work...this means I trimmed her moustache, feathers around her hooves and made sure her tail wasn't dragging on the floor. I won't trim her ears or cheek hair until it's much warmer ;) Then I set her free to graze in the round pen at leasure.
Next up to the fence is Solly and I do a similar groom to Tara but without any scissor work as he's pretty unhairy horsey. He enjoys his groom and then I have a quick play session with him online in the pen. This is just to see how his lameness is getting better really. So, he does some nice 'Rolling Rock' (backup, move FQ's, sideways, DHQ's, backup, move FQ's other way, sideways and DHQ's other way to backup again). He was a bit sticky but generally okay. Then I ask for some circles in walk, transitions to trot, COD fluidly and trot and back to walk. He seems to be very very slightly limping on his bad foot (left front) so circling to the right was harder but his head was only bobbing about 1" rather than the 1' he was bobbing a few weeks ago. SO improvement but not fully sound yet. I let him graze in the pen with Tara for a while.
Hanging over the fence now is Stormy with a plea of 'me next, me next' in his eyes. lol. He LOVES his grooms especially as he has a LOT of winter coat to come out, so I halter him and bring him into the pen too. I stand on the mounting block boxes and ask him to let me groom him whilst he moves around me...which he does beautifully...even when Holly, outside the pen had a yeehaa moment of buck and gallop around, Stormy didn't fuss or move ;))
Whilst he was online I took Stormy out of the pen and over to the Horse Agility area where all but one obstacle is in place for the March test. I took him through the course and he was very obedient and responsive and after each task I gave him plenty of praise, then we went out into the big field and we worked on some circling. Stormy hasn't had consistent circles for a while so I asked him to walk then trot circles on the 22' line and just asking for him to stay focussed on going forward, then COD and go the other way. I had to remind him to stay on the circle a few times going one way and more the other (can't remember which was which) but in the end he starteed getting more relaxed and circling with his trot more rhymically so we stopped and praised him lots. He's so lovely when he does things nicely but often has to be asked seriously to do it as he's had a LOT of time just doing his own thing so isn't as consistent when I ask him as I'd like him to be...but he'll get there if I take the time to play with him every opportunity I have as he connects very quickly and LOVES being played with ;)
I let him loose back into the field and he followed me around at liberty for a bit until I set him back towards Holly ;)
I go back to the round pen and ask Solly to be with me and we do some S2M at liberty in the arena next to the round pen and then set him free with the herd, he wants to stay with me until I give him the 'go' signal and he meets back up with H&St ;)
During this time I had left the round pen gate open (into large arena but not back into field) and Tara had trotted out and thought she was free, she went to another fence and realised she couldn't get out and when I called her to me she CANTERED to me with eagerness ;)) I think this is the first time ever she's cantered to me and I know it was because she was worried about getting stuck in the arena and wanted to be back in the big field but it was a lovely response without reaction and I praised her big time for it ;))
I then haltered her up and out of the big pen I mounted her bareback from a gate. We then did some RtR at walk and I put in some 10m circles to the right. There was machinery noise going on and Tara was about 2" taller than normal so we took it slowly and I asked her to relax more and listen to what I was asking of her but the noise got to her and she thought that my leg on at her shoulder meant go sideways rather than move FQ's over. SO I spent quite a lot of time quietly and gently asking her to move her FQ's and then her HQ's independently. She eventually got it and went nicely so that I could do some backup, move FQ's, backup, mover HQ's, back up and then sideways with short breaks inbetween. I then rode her, w/h/t/bk/circles all the way up the hill to where the rest of the herd were ;))
So, off out to the field I go, grooming kit, halter and rope in hands to see who wants to be groomed today. First up to say hello is Solly, then Holly, then Stormy but Tara really looks at me for a groom so I ask her to catch me and with a string around her neck lightly we go through the arena's to the round pen where I let her loose.
Standing in the centre I call her to me and she comes and stands perfectly still whilst I groom her first with the rubber curry comb to get the top loose hair and dry mud off. Then the plastic curry comb to get the under coat and surface coat off and to give her a good scratching on bits that are itchy. Next I use a face brush and then mane/tail brush. I finish off her groom with some scissor work...this means I trimmed her moustache, feathers around her hooves and made sure her tail wasn't dragging on the floor. I won't trim her ears or cheek hair until it's much warmer ;) Then I set her free to graze in the round pen at leasure.
Next up to the fence is Solly and I do a similar groom to Tara but without any scissor work as he's pretty unhairy horsey. He enjoys his groom and then I have a quick play session with him online in the pen. This is just to see how his lameness is getting better really. So, he does some nice 'Rolling Rock' (backup, move FQ's, sideways, DHQ's, backup, move FQ's other way, sideways and DHQ's other way to backup again). He was a bit sticky but generally okay. Then I ask for some circles in walk, transitions to trot, COD fluidly and trot and back to walk. He seems to be very very slightly limping on his bad foot (left front) so circling to the right was harder but his head was only bobbing about 1" rather than the 1' he was bobbing a few weeks ago. SO improvement but not fully sound yet. I let him graze in the pen with Tara for a while.
Hanging over the fence now is Stormy with a plea of 'me next, me next' in his eyes. lol. He LOVES his grooms especially as he has a LOT of winter coat to come out, so I halter him and bring him into the pen too. I stand on the mounting block boxes and ask him to let me groom him whilst he moves around me...which he does beautifully...even when Holly, outside the pen had a yeehaa moment of buck and gallop around, Stormy didn't fuss or move ;))
Whilst he was online I took Stormy out of the pen and over to the Horse Agility area where all but one obstacle is in place for the March test. I took him through the course and he was very obedient and responsive and after each task I gave him plenty of praise, then we went out into the big field and we worked on some circling. Stormy hasn't had consistent circles for a while so I asked him to walk then trot circles on the 22' line and just asking for him to stay focussed on going forward, then COD and go the other way. I had to remind him to stay on the circle a few times going one way and more the other (can't remember which was which) but in the end he starteed getting more relaxed and circling with his trot more rhymically so we stopped and praised him lots. He's so lovely when he does things nicely but often has to be asked seriously to do it as he's had a LOT of time just doing his own thing so isn't as consistent when I ask him as I'd like him to be...but he'll get there if I take the time to play with him every opportunity I have as he connects very quickly and LOVES being played with ;)
I let him loose back into the field and he followed me around at liberty for a bit until I set him back towards Holly ;)
I go back to the round pen and ask Solly to be with me and we do some S2M at liberty in the arena next to the round pen and then set him free with the herd, he wants to stay with me until I give him the 'go' signal and he meets back up with H&St ;)
During this time I had left the round pen gate open (into large arena but not back into field) and Tara had trotted out and thought she was free, she went to another fence and realised she couldn't get out and when I called her to me she CANTERED to me with eagerness ;)) I think this is the first time ever she's cantered to me and I know it was because she was worried about getting stuck in the arena and wanted to be back in the big field but it was a lovely response without reaction and I praised her big time for it ;))
I then haltered her up and out of the big pen I mounted her bareback from a gate. We then did some RtR at walk and I put in some 10m circles to the right. There was machinery noise going on and Tara was about 2" taller than normal so we took it slowly and I asked her to relax more and listen to what I was asking of her but the noise got to her and she thought that my leg on at her shoulder meant go sideways rather than move FQ's over. SO I spent quite a lot of time quietly and gently asking her to move her FQ's and then her HQ's independently. She eventually got it and went nicely so that I could do some backup, move FQ's, backup, mover HQ's, back up and then sideways with short breaks inbetween. I then rode her, w/h/t/bk/circles all the way up the hill to where the rest of the herd were ;))
It was lovely to get the horses groomed and clean but also to get some nice riding in with Tara and start the year off reinforcing and refining our light aids.
Monday 5th March
Again not much play, reconnected with all the horses, Solly was the first to walk up and say Hi to me, then Holly, then Stormy and Tara did it from the distance ;) It's nice to see them all relaxed and moseying about and think Solly's leg is getting plenty of rest. I've left the magnetic boots on every day (off at night for rest) and each day he seems a bit better. He's also getting plenty of laying down time which is good.
All I did today was ask Stormy into the roundpen for some very necessary grooming. I stood on my mounting block beer crates in the centre of the pen and at liberty Stormy sidles up for grooming, moves a step at a time for each part, turns for the other side and does all this many times as I start with the rubber brush to get his winter coat out, then a plastic curry comb to help relieve any undercoat that wants to come out and then again to brush his mane/tail and feathers. He looks much better afterwards and I think he really appreciated it as he behaved beautifully ;)
After wards I do a bit of liberty play with some S2M with w/h/bk/w etc but I can see that his connection is more with Holly and the herd and I need to spend time online with him to get a better connection with him so I let him out to go back to the herd for today.
After wards I do a bit of liberty play with some S2M with w/h/bk/w etc but I can see that his connection is more with Holly and the herd and I need to spend time online with him to get a better connection with him so I let him out to go back to the herd for today.
Our herd at the bottom of the big hill, dozing in the sunshine....
what a beautiful view they have ;)
what a beautiful view they have ;)
Sunday 4th March
Solly looking much better today, standing straight on both front legs and the slight swelling on his front left practically gone. He's moving about more in the home paddock so we decide that going back to the big field will be better for him as it's got flatter ground and some nibbly grass so hay will be reduced too.
So, didn't do much today with the herd but interacted with them by just walking about, saying hello and touching in with them all ;)
Mark took Solly in to the field while I took slower Tara,
His two big horses are interested in what's going on ;)
His two big horses are interested in what's going on ;)
it's also where the other herd members are so it's good to
have them all together ;)
Good stretch at the trot uphill Tara ;)
Stormy needs a roll after a bit of play with Solly
when they went loose in the big field...his winter coat
is coming out big time so rolling really helps relieve any itches ;)
when they went loose in the big field...his winter coat
is coming out big time so rolling really helps relieve any itches ;)
And there's the roll...hehehe
he's such a cutie ;)
The herd back together and happy
Thursday 1st March
Well today is positively warm with a slight breeze sometimes from the south. I've brought Solly and Tara back to the house paddocks and Solly's lameness isn't getting much better in the big field, there are just too many chances of him running around with Spring fever with Stormy and Holly and the water and feed is up a rather large hill so that's not doing him any good.
Back at home he will be able to rest the foot/leg and hopefully mend quicker. I think it's probably a strain and he has magnetic tendon boots on during the day and plenty of tlc from me and Tara. It took him quite a time to settle today though, after only being in the big Summer field a couple of days he must have thought I was being mean to him taking him out so quickly but this is for the best. He'll be back in the big field before he knows it I'm sure ;)
