10/10/04 Riding around the place

In between rain shows on Sunday I decided to get up on the new mare and see what I had to work with. I'd been on her after lunging earlier in the week, but I just asked her for a forward walk and stopped when she gave it. Today I stayed near the driveway because of the rain, but we did end up in the grass on the side because she was sensitive to the gravel.

She stands nicely for mounting and getting settled. I also clipped her earlier this week (not her feet) and she was great for that. I've been working with the trailer loading all week, and today we walked over, I pointed her and clucked, and she climbed right in. Backed her out and did it again. She definitely learns and I think my training style will work with her.

 

Some panicky moments before we started off, but then we got in sync. After mounting I pulled on a rein to turn her and she pivoted and then went sideways when I asked her to halt. I think the bit doesn't sit right with her mouth (teeth or something). I'm going to try a different one and also have the vet out for a float. Oh, and also a comment on me after that point. I asked Bart to come hold her, which he did, and then I asked him to lead her just a bit. He said that he didn't feel comfortable, and if she did the same thing he'd let go and get away from her. Well, that sounded worse than just going it on my own, so I asked her to walk on again. From there on I didn't feel afraid. I rode in a secure seat, but I didn't have to get off. It's pretty nice to have my nerve back and feel like I can handle a green horse.

We've got a nice stretch of driveway to go up and down. I almost feel safer on it than in the open arena in the pasture. Most horses aren't that keen to go fast on the gravel, so I feel a bit more in control. This girl kept trying to get in the grass, which would put me under the trees, so I had to work at keeping her straight.

 

Of course she ended up getting her way and we moved over to the grass. On a loose rein, we had no problems and got a great walk and had a little trot. She almost listens to my leg for staying straight and turning, but I had to go to the bit for turns.

Please, please stay out of the trees and listen to the bit and don't get upset that I'm putting pressure on your mouth.

 

Her usual response to any bit pressure. Not asking her to flex, but just testing contact.

One nice thing I discovered. She knows to move her hind legs away from leg pressure. It made her a little worried, but she's doing that crossover in back with just a request from me.

 

So, not really contact, but she's not braced and is moving freely. (love the feathers and wouldn't mind if she stayed this height)

Unfortunately this was sometimes the response when I asked her to soften standing still. I really think it's an over reaction to something hurting her.

 

She'll learn, they all seem to, that I really mean it when I praise her. For her reactions to the bit and nervousness about my aides, she never spooked or shied, even when the cat ran back and forth in front of her and climbed the trees.

Just a little stretching forward and down. It's going to take a while for her to learn that relaxing is a good thing.