My lesson and 3rd day of the shelter

I have been so nervous all day about my lesson. I had to float Sam into my instructors place so I was nervous about floating him, about how he would react at a new place, how backwards my riding has gone lately. I have been sick to my stomach for most of the day.

Sam loaded reasonably well. I wasn't overly happy with it taking 10min but when I look at his history that is very good. He probably sensed my nervousness and was feeding off that. We loaded up and my other half drove for me. I appreciated it because I really wasn't feeling up to it.

We arrived with 30min to spare. Unloaded Sam, walked him around with me while I was looking for a chock for the float. Sam was happy to follow me around with a low head carriage, grabbing a bite to eat when he could. OH held him by the float and I saddled him up. I thought I would lead him down to the arena in his halter and put the bridle on when we were ready. My instructor was already there so we could get started straight away. I mounted and we walked around the arena letting him have a look at everything. He took it all in and didn't spook once. We worked on getting him to go forward at the walk and getting me to relax! So we went through my relaxation exercises and moved up to the trot. We worked mainly on my position for the entire lesson. It was really good. I felt confidant and was reminded of the following points -
# use my ankles in trot as springs
# to stay light in my seat in the canter but maintaining leg length - stretching down through my legs
# when on a circle don't drop the inside shoulder and DON'T take your hands towards the outside - make the inside leg stronger to stop him from falling in - kick if needs be!!!!!

Sam worked well, active behind with out rushing. He did work very hard due to the sand that he had to work through. In all I was worried about nothing - as usual and he loaded very well to come home!

The shelter is coming along nicely. Steve thinks he should be done by Sunday/Monday - I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Rides and my shelter is started!!!!!!!

I rode on Sunday arvo - took Sam for a walk and he seemed happy. Happy to stride out and happy to be out and about. Missed riding Monday so Tuesday arvo I made time to ride. I thought I would take Sam out to the reserve and go for a long relaxing walk with some easy trot and canter. That wasn't Sam's idea! We started off at a brisk walk and this time I thought we would enter the reserve the way we have been exiting. This meant we had to walk 900m down the road and go through the bottom gate. No probs, though the concrete drain in a driveway that we pass is a scary thing. Once we entered the reserve we had a walk around the dam and said hello to the sheep, then I thought we could go for a trot along the track, this was extremely forward and tense. I could feel Sam wanted to let loose, poor bugger just wanted a good canter/gallop and maybe kick up his heels I think. I did not want this so bought him back to a walk. Once we reached an area where I could put in a few circles I asked for trot again. Once again too forward and excited so I asked for a large circle to the left. Keep in mind to the left was the way we were having problems with on the lunge. He really didn't show any signs of being in pain - awesome.

So we would trot along the trail but if he felt too forward I would put him on a circle. That only seems to work for a bit with Sam then he gets cranky so I asked him to trot up the steep hill - try and wear him out a little, walk back down and see what we have. A little better, a little more controlled but still not nice. I popped him into canter that he bounded into. We were able to canter down the trail and then onto a circle if required. I only cantered him on the right rein as I wasn't brave enough to try the left just in case an issue arose. I concentrated on me - relax through my seat, don't grip with my knees, keep my lower leg off him, give with my hands. This all helped. I find if I stop thinking about what he is doing and concentrate on me and what I am doing he settles and relaxes!!!!!!

We cantered up the steep hill and I pushed him up - asked him to really stretch out up there. Back to a walk and time for the long walk home to cool down. This also wasn't in Sam's plan. We were near the gate to go home but I wanted to go through the bottom gate that we had entered through. Sam's way of objecting is to slow right down and try to turn in a largish circle back in the way he wants to go - after a reminder that we weren't going home that way he started to stride out again.

This afternoon I was able to ride again and this time I wanted to stay at home in the 'arena' . We walked around and I asked Sam to stretch down and bend around my inside leg. To the right no problem but too the left, very stiff. I did a few leg yields to help and moved up into a trot. I didn't want collection just a swinging trot with a stretching down frame. It wasn't consistent but he was certainly trying. In one area of the 'arena' and only on the left rein Sam would shorten his stride, raise his head and sort of jump up in the front. HHMMM was he still sore? I asked for things on the left rein in other parts of the arena and no objection but once again coming to this one area he would jack up again. I just kept riding him through it. At one point this area became bigger! I was getting a little concerned so asked my other half to come and watch - moral support. He said he looked tight, stiff when I was working him on the left rein. I asked him to canter on the left rein. Transition was horrible but I just wanted forward. I finally achieved this. The frame was heavy but I didn't care it was forward. I asked for canter to the right. He was so heavy so I asked for halt. Walk four strides and canter. Half a circle in canter and then halt once he became heavy again. Walk four strides and canter. Every time he became heavy, halt. I only had to do this a few times and he became lighter so I let him walk it out. He doesn't have the strength to be light the whole way around the arena but he doesn't have to lean like a steam train either. I was really happy this worked but what I was really excited about was that I was able to get a canter from a walk. Once again not pretty but he was moving off my aids!!!!

I am floating Sam to my instructors place tomorrow for a lesson so we will see how we go. New place, floating, a lesson, I am sure we will be fine! I would like to wash Sam for his lesson but it is so cold here at the moment - too cold to wash so he will have to have a really good groom in the morning. Also I hope she will be able to tell me if she thinks he is sore or just putting on a turn.

My shelter was started yesterday!!!!!! Very exciting!!!! This is what it looked like Tuesday afternoon - that is Steve the gentleman that is building it.


This is what it looked like at the end of today - that is Gull in the background wondering what I am doing.

My other half has been changing gates over for me.

And little Wilbur thought it was too cold today to come out and play........

Sam had a headache

The chiropractor came out this morning and Sam was out in his hips, shoulders, very tight through the wither area, poll. The expression on Sam's face while he was being worked on was amazing. He has had a pinched look all week but after a few adjustments you could see Sam's expression finally soften and relax. He has happy to walk out with a bob in his head and it down low, a good stretch.

I am very happy that Sam is a lot more comfortable and happy. I am allowed to ride him this afternoon but only at walk so I plan to take him over to the reserve and we will have a lovely long relaxing walk.

One thing that upset me was how quick it all was. From beginning to end took about 15min. That was from talking about his history - right back to his trip down from Townsville - to me walking him out, a few adjustments and walking him out again. I am not used to treatments being so quick. The cost was certainly not cheap. Sam really does look better and I hope when I ride him I can feel the difference. What can you do?

Quick thought on hooves

Quick thought as I was feeding up this morning about Sam's hooves. They really have improved out of sight since bringing him down to Wagga Wagga from Townsville. Just looking at them this morning, they look like normal horse hooves, no chips, cracks, no major flaring. We can actually fill a shoe now. I will take photos on the weekend so I can show you the difference. Having the right environment for hooves really makes a massive difference! I am even going to chat to the farrier in the morning about the possibility of Sam going barefoot - that hoof has held up so well with no shoe on.

Have a wonderful day and I hope you get to play with ponies!!!!!! I get to go horsey shopping at work today for Sam! YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Loosing a shoe and a new blog!

Sam lost a shoe last night! He has terrible hooves but you know what, this time you wouldn't even know the shoe has come off! No damage, the hoof is still looking beautiful! I think because the ground is so soft at the moment.

My best friend has just started her own blog. If you love kittens then check it out! http://livingwithsootyandsweep.blogspot.com/

Sore Sam

I think Sam is sore. I have booked the chiropractor for this weekend so hopefully we will have an answer to what is the problem. I can't really see anything, maybe a little short stepping from behind but on the left rein he won't go forward - something hurts. Canter on the left rein on the lunge is accompanied with a lot of bucking, changing the lead or just falling back to a trot. I guess this is why we should listen to our horses more.

Yesterday I rode and really concentrated on the warm up and asking for him to be really loose. I sort of got it, more on the right rein, the left rein was tense. He was able to give me a few strides of relaxed coming from behind but then straight back to being tense. I finished by taking him over to the reserve and going for a walk. In walk either rein he is fine. He walked out happily, very forward for a good 25min.

I put him on the lunge this afternoon just to see if there was any improvement. I started him on the right rein and no problems. Happy to walk trot and canter. Happy to travel around with his nose near the ground. Change the rein to the left. Walk fine, trot a little tense, canter - it took a lot to even get him to canter then buck, flying change so he was on the other leg. I left it at that - no point on pushing him when he is obviously in pain.

I pushed down along his shoulder/neck line on both sides and he moved away from the pressure. Now I don't know if he was moving away from the pressure or from pain. I guess we will just have to wait and see what the chiropractor says. I will take him for walks I think - keep the mind ticking over and to see new things.

Not such a good pony

Poor Sam struggled to behave himself today. He hasn't been worked since last Sunday and he did get locked up for two days this week due to the weather so I was expecting some forwardness but he has always contained himself in the past. Today I popped him on the lunge first so he could have a buck and just help get the sillies out. He didn't show too much so I figured he must have had a gallop around his paddock at some stage today. I mounted and we went straight over the road to the reserve. It is so slippery everywhere due to the weather but I figured we may have been able to have a trot around the tracks. Even getting across the road was an effort. Monsters were out and about this afternoon so we had to take our time.

Monsters where everywhere!!!!! We couldn't even trot out happily down the track like we normally do. I tried to get his focus by doing a few figures of eights, moving off my leg extra at the trot but that just made things worse. He would either stick his head in the air or speed up or put his head down touch the bit and then act as if I had jabbed him really hard with the bit. I ended up just walking and asking him to really bend around my leg, moving off my leg, moving hindquarters, moving shoulders. By this time it was getting late so I couldn't try trot work again but we ended on a good note. I am not working tomorrow, hopefully it is a beautiful day and we will have another go. I am sure he will be a lot better.

Yesterday a friend came around and bought his two little girls with him. Of course they wanted a pony ride and Sam was happy to help. (I am not a fan of children riding without helmets and I would have preferred to have them in a saddle but I just didn't have anything small enough!) Sam did receive a lot of licorice after his hard work!!!!!