I had another lesson on Saturday, and again he was super good, but we probably could have been better considering we had already done the course on Thursday.
We also did the same warm up exercises which was trotting in from B or E and going through X and then changing direction at B or E, then eventually we had to walk 3-5 steps at X (we were trotting) and then we'd have to come to a complete stop and Rocky was really good!! He can actually stop and stand (mostly) square and he listens (mostly) to really light contact, which is good.
I think my leg is starting to get better, I usually get in trouble for not keeping my lower leg underneath me but it hasn't been so bad lately, so I'm happy about that.
For jumping: Rocky was really good again, sometimes we weren't coming in with enough canter which was why a couple jumps were really weird, and then around a couple of the tight turns I was leaning at him a bit rather than staying back and so he almost trotted. No bucking at all for being disunited today, he gets his front lead but not the back one. And he stood still at the mounting block! Yay!
Soon he's going to be to fuzzy and it's going to be to cold to ride him though and then I don't know what's going to happen. Since there's only 3.5 lesson horses (Rocky being the .5). Rocket, hahaha no. He's the one I rode when I was first learning to jump. Zander, can't. He's already being used in the same lesson I'm in. Kokanne isn't so bad, I rode him once before over the summer but I don't if he's a jumper or what level he would be. I miss Pony, despite her insanity. In fact I rather liked the insanity, Rocky is a tad bit crazy and I like him too.
Speaking of crazy. So Rocky and Rocket loooove cheerios, or anything in a plastic bag, because if it's in a plastic bag, it's food and its for them. After our lesson we brought them into the arena to let them roll or whatever they wanted and so we could move the jumps out for K. She'd put her zip lock bag of cheerios on the mounting block and one of the other girls but it underneath so the horses would be less likely to find it. Right when we were almost done Rocky found them! Flipped over the mounting block and since the bag wasn't completely closed, when he grabbed it and threw his head up, they spilt everywhere. He and Rocket were delighted, but the other horse had no idea what they were eating out of the dirt, so he just sniffed around and looked confused. Eventually they had them all cleaned up but they had a crap load of rubber crumb in their mouths. So they were making all these stupid faces trying to get it off their tongues and gums and one of the girls pointed out Shawn was looking at them like he was think "you guys are stupid". But then Rocky decided that little rock on the ground looks rather tasty, and tried to eat it. Several times. He would spit it out and pick it up again, crunch on it and spit it out. Maybe that has something to do with where he got his name?
Showing posts with label Correct Position. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Correct Position. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2011
Best Ever!!
Rocky was amazing yesterday!! It was probably the best ride I've ever had on him!
He was his usual peppy self when were just walking around the arena, anticipating having to actually do work. At the trot he was sooo good!! Usually he does his weird little short pony strides and he gets going really quick, and he definitely had his moments yesterday, it's most noticeable coming out of a circle that he (tries) to speed up. But it seemed easier to bring him back into a normal pace by just slowing the posting rhythm, when before it was that and using more hand contact to also try and pull him back. I don't remember doing that yesterday, but that doesn't mean I didn't I guess.
Picking up the canter was decent for the most part. He does sometimes do a rushy trot or just falls into the canter which was a bit of a problem yesterday but once he had the canter he was really good and it wasn't difficult to keep a fairly steady, forward pace. When other times he just wants to bolt forward or whatever.
He was super good over the jumps for the most part. He has a really round jump so it feels really weird sometimes and apparently he looks like a deer when it jumps a fence from how he takes off, but he was sooo good that I don't even care. He didn't buck that much and actually managed to stand relatively still at the mounting block.
I still have to do a lot of work on getting the following release correct because that really is what he prefers over having his head.
Lead changes are something else we need to work on, he can do them but he struggles a bit, probably because he's had so much time off and hasn't had to bother with them. But he used to start bucking when he got disunited, just little ones not big get-the-hell-off-me ones. I think he may have done a few little ones on Friday but still not like he did in the beginning.
He was his usual peppy self when were just walking around the arena, anticipating having to actually do work. At the trot he was sooo good!! Usually he does his weird little short pony strides and he gets going really quick, and he definitely had his moments yesterday, it's most noticeable coming out of a circle that he (tries) to speed up. But it seemed easier to bring him back into a normal pace by just slowing the posting rhythm, when before it was that and using more hand contact to also try and pull him back. I don't remember doing that yesterday, but that doesn't mean I didn't I guess.
Picking up the canter was decent for the most part. He does sometimes do a rushy trot or just falls into the canter which was a bit of a problem yesterday but once he had the canter he was really good and it wasn't difficult to keep a fairly steady, forward pace. When other times he just wants to bolt forward or whatever.
He was super good over the jumps for the most part. He has a really round jump so it feels really weird sometimes and apparently he looks like a deer when it jumps a fence from how he takes off, but he was sooo good that I don't even care. He didn't buck that much and actually managed to stand relatively still at the mounting block.
I still have to do a lot of work on getting the following release correct because that really is what he prefers over having his head.
Lead changes are something else we need to work on, he can do them but he struggles a bit, probably because he's had so much time off and hasn't had to bother with them. But he used to start bucking when he got disunited, just little ones not big get-the-hell-off-me ones. I think he may have done a few little ones on Friday but still not like he did in the beginning.
Friday, September 30, 2011
No Bucking!
Rocky was sooo much better this week than he's ever been! There was absolutely NO bucking! Not a single one for the whole lesson! Small, big, Stamped style, nothing!! So does that mean I was actually riding more with my legs?! I should hope so, because he would have made it clear otherwise.
The course wasn't to bad, good thing Rocky can do crazy little turns with out much difficulty.
We had some "first jumpitice" as K says, whatever that is....
The first jump in the course was a white vertical, and almost every time we had a messed up distance or take off, but the last time we turned to it sooner and it was fine. There was a few weirdish jumps, well not the jump, but how we got over them. Luckily I was able to get my hands out of the way so that wasn't a problem but when we first start jumping I find myself leaning at him a bit and excepting the long, which rarely comes, even on course. So I should stop that.
One of Rocky's sons, Rocket, is at the barn as well. And the girl who rides him has a lesson before me and we were talking after and comparing father and son. Rocky has the better colouring, main & tail, Rocket has the better legs and back. Rocky has a little bit of sway back, nothing to bad that's a problem, otherwise he wouldn't be getting ridden and "bench knees" not sure what those are, but he has them K was saying. Their common factors are being short, not liking bits and having a grumpy attitude. But Rocky's the cutest =P.
In Equine Science we've started body scoring as part of nutrition. So in my novice opinion Rocky's like a 7 or so. I'll have to double check on the sheet but I'm pretty sure a 7.
5 is the best best place to be, possibly a 4 for racehorses.
1 is completely emaciated and 9 is morbidly obese.
The course wasn't to bad, good thing Rocky can do crazy little turns with out much difficulty.
We had some "first jumpitice" as K says, whatever that is....
The first jump in the course was a white vertical, and almost every time we had a messed up distance or take off, but the last time we turned to it sooner and it was fine. There was a few weirdish jumps, well not the jump, but how we got over them. Luckily I was able to get my hands out of the way so that wasn't a problem but when we first start jumping I find myself leaning at him a bit and excepting the long, which rarely comes, even on course. So I should stop that.
One of Rocky's sons, Rocket, is at the barn as well. And the girl who rides him has a lesson before me and we were talking after and comparing father and son. Rocky has the better colouring, main & tail, Rocket has the better legs and back. Rocky has a little bit of sway back, nothing to bad that's a problem, otherwise he wouldn't be getting ridden and "bench knees" not sure what those are, but he has them K was saying. Their common factors are being short, not liking bits and having a grumpy attitude. But Rocky's the cutest =P.
In Equine Science we've started body scoring as part of nutrition. So in my novice opinion Rocky's like a 7 or so. I'll have to double check on the sheet but I'm pretty sure a 7.
5 is the best best place to be, possibly a 4 for racehorses.
1 is completely emaciated and 9 is morbidly obese.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
No Reins & CALIFORNIA?!
Practiced more on the releases, getting better. We used the long crest release a lot more, Pony seems happier with it. We had one run out the first time at the bounce, which was kind of my fault for not pressing her forward when I felt her start to slow up a bit. Then a second when we just had no distance into the second bounce so that wasn't as much of a problem.
On the flat we really have to work on not letting her head drop below her withers at the trot because then she's not using her back end, which is what we want her to do. As well as picking up the correct lead, which we've started having a few problems with.
Still need to keep working on getting more of a left bend and less of a right bend.
So, my mums going to a teaching conference thing in California at the end of July, and I really want to go! I think that would be sick!! Although I'd be a lot more freaked out walking around an American city alone than I ever was in Australia..no idea way. Considering Sydney has a population of 4million, one million more than in my whole province. But yeah, I think that would be a sick trip, unfortunately my sister can't come to because her passport isn't valid anymore.
Except she doesn't even remember where the conference is, how forgets something like that? Oh well, hopefully she finds out soon, and then I can look for plane tickets! Although what I hear about TSA is almost enough for me not to want to fly to the states...even though we had, like, no problems going to or coming back from Australia.
Have you seen Tangled?! It is literally my new faveorite movie!
On the flat we really have to work on not letting her head drop below her withers at the trot because then she's not using her back end, which is what we want her to do. As well as picking up the correct lead, which we've started having a few problems with.
Still need to keep working on getting more of a left bend and less of a right bend.
So, my mums going to a teaching conference thing in California at the end of July, and I really want to go! I think that would be sick!! Although I'd be a lot more freaked out walking around an American city alone than I ever was in Australia..no idea way. Considering Sydney has a population of 4million, one million more than in my whole province. But yeah, I think that would be a sick trip, unfortunately my sister can't come to because her passport isn't valid anymore.
Except she doesn't even remember where the conference is, how forgets something like that? Oh well, hopefully she finds out soon, and then I can look for plane tickets! Although what I hear about TSA is almost enough for me not to want to fly to the states...even though we had, like, no problems going to or coming back from Australia.
Have you seen Tangled?! It is literally my new faveorite movie!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Weekend
Hoping this will give some good tips/advice or whatever to help me improve my position while doing flat work.
I tend to ride with my leg to far forward and then when I move it back to where it should be at the canter Ponys like "Oh, go faster? Okay."
We had a free ride on Sunday, she was sooo good! We did lots of work on getting the left bend, she's still a bit stiff, but it's coming. And there was almost no crazy canter towards home! Actually there was not crazy, she got a bit quick, but most of the horses do, so I'm not to worried about it. We'll see how she does on Tuesday when there's actually jumps in the arena. Then we might be back to crazy mare.
I got to work both Saturday and Sunday, on Saturday I had to bring the jumps out of the outdoor arena, holy crap they are heavy! Still it's an awesome job. =)
On an irrelivant note, my grad is on the 29th of June, and I kind of don't want to go. It's just going to be sooo long and yeah... that's kind of my only reason, which is not a very good one.
I have pictures of me and Pony, but I look sooo fat on her. I don't really care if I look like that most of the time, but some how it just seems worse when she's so small. It's like how small standards make 3'3" look high and the bigger standards make it look small.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Rodeo Mare!
Indeed, Pony seems to think that the rodeo will make a good career for her.
We had our first complete jumping lesson outside today! It was interesting to say the very least. On one long end of the arena there was a triple combination, and then off the second long side there was a vertical and next to that, a second vertical on an angle.
First we did the grid both ways (to and from home) and she did great, at the canter she was very good away from home, but got stronger and stronger heading to home. Not much of a surprise because that's what she like last week too.
We seem to be making some progress on getting more of the left bend too!
As for the jumping, the jumps were small 2'-2'3" thank god because she was CRAZY! Going away from the out gate (which is also on a slight down hill slant). Anyway, she got way out of control going home over the grid, after the second jump she was just out of control!! I turned her towards the middle of the arena and tried to get her to just relax and stand, but then she started doing little rears and kicks. She is a crazy mare!
K says she just has loads of energy and then she stood on a long piece of grass(?). Well that's what K thought too when she picked it up of the ground, so maybe?
After that we trotted around for 10-15minutes to try and burn off some of her crazy energy.
Anyway, after that we didn't end up doing anymore jumping towards home. And for the most part she was really good, she did listen when I asked her to slow down and collect, but after the second jump in the grid she did start to get quick again, but nothing like her first freak out.
K also thought that it might have to do with how I carry my lower leg. That it should be farther back than it is when I ride flat, which is where it tends to be when we jump and she's so sensitive to leg that she might think I'm asking her to go faster when I'm not. So on Thursday K's planning on tying my stirrups to the girth and I'm going back to the library to find the book about correcting riding position
Me and my friend N where talking about the classes we're planning on entering for the SM show coming up, I guess we can't cross enter and do 2'6" and then 2'9" which is what I wanted to do. She's doing the 2'9" and 3'4".
So that's what I'm doing as well! Aren't you excited? Apparently that's what we jump normally! I was so insanely surprised, I didn't think that at all! Usually we do about 2'9" but then there's usually a couple other jumps that are 3'4"! Isn't that insane?! Especially for Pony!
The good thing about SM's opening show is usually not a lot of people go, so even it's horrible, not many will see!
I need a show name for her! For the little ones I don't have to use Lil' Miss (thank god!) so what do you think would be a cute name for her?
We had our first complete jumping lesson outside today! It was interesting to say the very least. On one long end of the arena there was a triple combination, and then off the second long side there was a vertical and next to that, a second vertical on an angle.
First we did the grid both ways (to and from home) and she did great, at the canter she was very good away from home, but got stronger and stronger heading to home. Not much of a surprise because that's what she like last week too.
We seem to be making some progress on getting more of the left bend too!
As for the jumping, the jumps were small 2'-2'3" thank god because she was CRAZY! Going away from the out gate (which is also on a slight down hill slant). Anyway, she got way out of control going home over the grid, after the second jump she was just out of control!! I turned her towards the middle of the arena and tried to get her to just relax and stand, but then she started doing little rears and kicks. She is a crazy mare!
K says she just has loads of energy and then she stood on a long piece of grass(?). Well that's what K thought too when she picked it up of the ground, so maybe?
After that we trotted around for 10-15minutes to try and burn off some of her crazy energy.
Anyway, after that we didn't end up doing anymore jumping towards home. And for the most part she was really good, she did listen when I asked her to slow down and collect, but after the second jump in the grid she did start to get quick again, but nothing like her first freak out.
K also thought that it might have to do with how I carry my lower leg. That it should be farther back than it is when I ride flat, which is where it tends to be when we jump and she's so sensitive to leg that she might think I'm asking her to go faster when I'm not. So on Thursday K's planning on tying my stirrups to the girth and I'm going back to the library to find the book about correcting riding position
Me and my friend N where talking about the classes we're planning on entering for the SM show coming up, I guess we can't cross enter and do 2'6" and then 2'9" which is what I wanted to do. She's doing the 2'9" and 3'4".
So that's what I'm doing as well! Aren't you excited? Apparently that's what we jump normally! I was so insanely surprised, I didn't think that at all! Usually we do about 2'9" but then there's usually a couple other jumps that are 3'4"! Isn't that insane?! Especially for Pony!
The good thing about SM's opening show is usually not a lot of people go, so even it's horrible, not many will see!
I need a show name for her! For the little ones I don't have to use Lil' Miss (thank god!) so what do you think would be a cute name for her?
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