Overthinking

Had lesson on Wednesday this week because it was so terribly cold and windy Monday and Tuesday (leftovers from Hurricane Sandy I believe), and we have only the outdoor arenas, so we cancelled Monday lesson. 

So on Wednesday I went over and rode Mr. Wild again.  We had some great flatwork at first at walk and trot; I pretty much know how to get him on the bit now and after I get him on the bit I can let the rein out gently and he will stretch down nicely.  He even kept himself stretched down a bit from time to time, which is huge for him!  He is a master of the ostrich neck.  Ha.  But there was very nearly no ostrich on Wednesday, even though we were trotting poles and doing circles.  Naturally I was very happy about that! 

Then we went on to do a very simple, very small figure-8 course.  And there is where I lost it.  I do not know what happened to my ability to jump.  It's just gone!  It's immensely frustrating!  I guess I wasn't doing as badly as I used to, because Wild wasn't getting squirrelly and wasn't diving out on jumps, but it felt dreadful nonetheless.  Maybe it feels worse because now I know how it's supposed to feel.  I was behind him, ahead of him, holding him back, releasing too soon, doing everything but riding with him doing what I was supposed to do!  Sheesh poor horse.  He was very patient with me, thank goodness.  And we did have about three good jumps out of the whole time.  Two of them were the last line we did, which was a good note to end on. 

I think I'm overthinking the whole jumping thing.  I'm picking it to pieces and then I have to think about each piece as I'm riding.  Just doesn't work.  I know how to do it, I know how to do it well.  I just have to quit thinking and ride!  Ha.  :)

On a better note, I rode the Bay Boy a little bit and he was good!  No bucking and a very nice, free canter.  Yay!  So apparently I have not lost all my riding ability; that gives me hope that jumping shall return to me when I start just riding.  ;)  And I'm supposed to start riding Paradox and Rhapsody again.  :)  Maybe I will get some pictures.  I keep trying but it keeps not working...haha...

And Fall Break Begins...

Yay for no classes till Monday!!  And what better way to start fall break than with a ride??  So today I went off to the barn after my last class for a free ride. 

Coach had asked me to ride her Thoroughbred a bit since she (the horse that is) is just getting over some deep-muscle soreness after a bad trim and needs some gentle regular exercise.  So we did walk and trot on the grass for 20 minutes or so, while Coach was riding one of her off-track project horses.  I love Lass (her horse).  She makes me feel like an equine genius even just doing simple flatwork.  Haha.  Now it helps she was unusually calm and quiet today, but still.  So I focused on keeping my legs steady and fixing my posture--a.k.a. not slouching--and if my back's soreness is any indicator, I did pretty good.  Ha. 

After that we turned the horses out and at Coach's suggestion I went back up and caught the Bay Boy.  I was going to ride with her again but since her horse proved hard to catch, she decided to take off early.  ;)  So the Bay Boy and I had a ride to ourselves while other instructors were getting their lesson kids ready.  Overall it went all right.  He was spooky--unusual for him--and rather dull off the aids, but otherwise okay.  After the first couple canter departs, though--I was working him mostly on transitions since those are his sticky spots--he seemed to get "sour" and was avoiding the bit and trying to throw his head around and buck.  He did get a couple good bucks in after slipping on a big canter circle but the slip wasn't my fault this time--he was throwing his head down and not paying attention, so he got unbalanced.  Since we were getting worse rather than better, I opted for a trot round without issues in order to quit while we were ahead.  Someday I really want to have the time to work with this guy regularly. 

Ahh I'm tired. :)  The Coach has said I can ride every day during break but I do have to work tomorrow...Friday though I'll be back.  Forget Florida, riding is definitely the best way to spend break!

We Like Carrots

(Bay Boy says, "Carrots?  I like carrots too!")

I have regained my Friday afternoons!  Ha but really.  My foot is doing enough better so that I can go out to the barn and "play" on Fridays after work.  And startle the barn manager because she apparently didn't expect me to be there (I did ask permission before starting in on this, I promise!). 

Today I got some leftover baby carrots from the fridge at home and took them out to Rhapsody and the gang in her pasture.  Well the girl likes carrots much better than grain.  ;)  So does the Coach's horse, and since the Coach is gone and has been for the last week, I gave her horse a couple carrots too as I imagined she might be lonely and anyway I had two left over.  Haha. 

With the aid of carrots and discovering Rhapsody's favorite itchy spots, we worked on introducing the little rope.  She came over rather nicely and after a while I moved the rope off my shoulder to my hand and got her used to me moving it around off to the side, then gradually closer to her, and finally rubbing her shoulder.  All this she was okay with and I gave her lots of scratches and carrots throughout.  Then I started rubbing it on her neck further up, closer to her head.  She did not like this so well and sometimes she would startle a little and move off, at which time I just stood still or turned around and waited, and in a minute or two she would be back asking for more carrots and scratches, and we'd begin again.  We made quite a lot of progress and I fully expect that by the next week or two I'll be able to halter and catch her without any shenanigans, using the little rope.  Then perhaps we can move to the rope halter.  It was a very nice half hour and ended on a good note. 

Then I went and caught the Bay Boy (who practically begs you to catch him) and took him down for a little groundwork session.  Went nicely overall, though I had to chase him off of me several times when I sent him out on a circle and he promptly tried to run me over and/or circle so tightly that he was practically tripping on me.  Not very respectful, my friend.  He was overall a little rusty on the cues, but not bad; however I will have to do a bit of planning to keep him on his toes and listening to me.  Tried to do some free lungeing canter so I could see his transitions, but my foot started acting up so I quit.  Overall though, a nice day and it feels good to be back out again doing something.  :)

A Good Way to Start College Again

...is riding baby crossrails on the back of an adorable Arabian gelding who's currently not getting worked much because he's decided to start bucking. :)

I seriously need to get a picture of my latest "advanced project horse."  He is just so cute! 

Lesson today with another instructor since the Coach is out of town.  Between working on sitting all gaits correctly (post coming on that, I have discovered why bareback was always my nemesis!) and trying to ride proactively to avoid problems with the horse--to protect his reputation and whatever else, since he is for sale, I shall call him Bay Boy--I had a grand time jumping again and working the Bay Boy without restraint.  Usually, because of his head tossing and sometimes obnoxious tendencies, he's on a martingale or neck stretcher, but we couldn't find either, so I rode him in just a full-cheek snaffle bit and regular headstall. 

He really is good, he doesn't need the martingale if you keep your hands up and let him know once or twice that throwing his head in your face doesn't go.  He does need to learn to carry himself better but I seriously suppose he has some physical issues with the way he goes around with his head cocked to one side half the time when you take a feel of the reins, and a quarter of the time even with no pressure whatsoever.  Hopefully some chiropractic work will help him feel better and maybe help him carry himself better. 

We had fun though, he was really locking on to the crossrail, but also responding beautifully to half-halts from my seat and cantering off the jump nicely.  And I only got left behind once when he massively over-jumped the thing.  Ha.  One bucking session but it was my fault, I asked for too much bend in a canter circle and about the time I thought, Ooops, this is too small!  he slipped a bit and then started bucking.  Not a good response but at least I know what caused it. 

So the instructor is happy he got worked, I am happy he was good overall, hopefully he is happy he got hosed off well and put out to pasture with lots of grass.  ;)  School starts tomorrow but at the moment I feel like I can conquer the world.  Ha isn't it funny horses can make you feel so great one minute and then knock you right off your pedestal the next.  Guess it's what makes riding so addictive. ;)