7 barns in 4 hours! Not bad if I do say so myself.
I met Denali's lessor to go look at barns around one. I didn't want to go by myself, and like I told her, I don't plan on jumping ship right away, but want to know options.
Let's review.
Barn 1- It said it had turn out. I don't know if you consider little tiny, muddy postage stamp sized boxes "turn out." I do know that Denali would FLIP OUT. She needs to be out for the majority of the day. It was dirty and it was really, REALLY busy! There were at least 6 kids riding in the arena while I was there.
Barn 2- Next door to barn 1 and really nice! Huge turn outs, and runs off the stalls. Nice footing, and it only looked like there were 6 or 7 horses. $450.00 per month. The con is that it is pretty far from Seattle for me. I want to be closer than 30+ miles.
Barn 3- Seriously, there were more chickens there than horses. I could hear chickens in the "office" there were chickens in stalls, there were huge cages full of chickens outside. It was crazy! Nice arena! Nice turn out, but I'm not too sure about the chickens!
Barn 4- I was/am IN LOVE!! It's a dressage barn with HUGE turn outs and amazing stalls and arena. Of course they don't even take names for a waiting list because no one ever leaves. It's $700.00 per month, but that includes lessons/training with some guy who won gold. I won't be able to get here in there ever (and even then I want to make sure I we can walk/trot/canter including transitions with ease) I would just embarrass myself. It was beautiful!!
Barn 5- Was a western pleasure barn w/o any turn out at all. Yuck. (Not the WP, the no turn out.)
Between barn 5 and 6 we stopped by a barn that was a private barn that I had only seen from the road, I didn't know much about it. Turns out to be someone's house. A huge beautiful amazing barn with an amazing arena. We stopped and just watched a "girl" riding her beautiful horse. She stopped and looked at us, so we left laughing. I felt like a stalker.
Barn 6- Really nice, a bit expensive for what it is, but it's closer to where I live. Nice light filled barns. They also have pasture board available. Denali would be with 2 other mares on a pretty big piece of land (big for Seattle standards.) That is $550.00 and so not top on my "love list"
Barn 7- Barn 7 was really nice. The roof collapsed last winter so they are in the process of re-doing the stalls (arena is Olympic sized and totally amazing.) She has an Oldenburg Stallion who I had read about, so I was excited to stop by the barn in hopes of meeting him. He's in California training with (insert big name here) and won't be back for a few weeks. We did get to see some of his off-spring. One was named Rumpus, and is only 9 days old. She was the most correct (confirmation wise) filly I have ever seen. She was amazing! And for the cheap price of $20,000 she can be yours! Ugh. She was so beautiful!! We got to see some pretty amazing horses while we were there. The woman who owns it seems really down to earth and really nice. She's hosting (insert big name here) for a clinic in May and so I am going to audit it and go. The boarding and training are reasonable (for what you get) and I think if I had to pick one, I'd go with Barn 7. If Barn 4 ever had openings it would be a toss up!
I went to my barn after and met a totally different trainer (still my trainer) she came up with a plan for Denali and I. We discussed what it is that I want to get out of it and how we are going to get there. It was a good feeling. We'll see how things go. What I like about my barn is that I can show up and do whatever. It's small and private. I like that about it. I think she got crap from the other trainer for not having a plan for Denali and I. I have a nice one now. I'm going to do a lot of trust building and relationship building with her. I also need to get into shape so when she does spook I don't come off. That scares her and makes her nervous. We'll get there. I will post the plan here when we figure out what/when. I need to make goals. Right now my goal is riding her in the arena. :) Crossing my fingers, it would be so much easier if I hated my barn!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Barns.
I was online getting directions, but though I'd write this down quickly. I'm going with Denali's lessor to look at barns. Not going to jump ship right now, but I am going to see what's out there.
Then I'm off to my barn to continue the conversation I had with my trainer. She called this morning and had some good ideas, I'm still going to step lightly.
Wish me luck!
Then I'm off to my barn to continue the conversation I had with my trainer. She called this morning and had some good ideas, I'm still going to step lightly.
Wish me luck!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Be Brave
There's nothing that makes me want to do something more than to tell me that you don't think I can or that you're not so sure....blah, blah, BLAH.
I'm getting an ulcer. It's been a while, but I'm defiantly feeling it. I'm sure the gallons of Coke Zero I've been drinking hasn't helped.
Yesterday I ran out to the barn because I wanted to talk to my trainer about our conversation the night before. She was riding her horse and told me that she didn't have time to talk but we really needed to sit down and have a conversation.
You can't fucking tell me that and then expect me to not say anything.
I got pissed, even more so because I knew in my heart what she was going to try to tell me. I grabbed Denali (MY HORSE) and took her into the round pen. I did a little walking and trotting and getting her to listen to me. Then I went and got the dreaded flag.
You would have thought that the flag was on fire and trying to attack her. We worked for a long time, and I called it quits when she stopped freaking out and just stood still. She tried to rear a few times but I just made her go backwards as fast as I could so she'd think rearing was a really bad idea. I need to have a lesson on this, I don't remember how to do it exactly.
After that I was still pissed. I went to my trainer and asked her if she wanted me out of the barn and that's why she wanted to talk to me.
She said no, then went on to say that she's just not sure if Denali and I are a good match. Yada, yada, yada. Honestly it was an hour long conversation, but if I tried writing it all here my hands are going to fall off.
She said she just needs to sit down and think the pros and cons. I told her she hasn't given either one of us a chance. Denali has been ridden, but has not been in training since August. That I haven't done ANYTHING in the past 6 months really, and that she's not giving us a chance.
She said that she was talking with the other trainer from Monday night and that she just has some concerns. Safety is her number one priority (or so she said) and she just wants to make sure that this is a safe partnership. Honestly, I feel like it's me and Denali now against the world, and we no longer have a supportive trainer. If she can't believe in me, then it's going to be hard to believe in myself. If Denali was rearing up, or bucking, or trying to dump me, yes, I'd revisit the situation and wonder if it was a good relationship. BUT, she's not. She's green. I'm green. She's also a Thoroughbred. A young Thoroughbred who was trained to race. She needs time.
I told her if it never worked out that she was a riding horse that I'd keep her as my pet. She asked me if that was fair to Denali. Have you met my horse lady? She LOVES eating. She actually excels at it. Also, there are never guarantees when you sell a horse. Would it be fair for Denali to be ran into the ground then forced to have babies? Would it have been fair for her to be on someones dinner plate? There is no way for me to keep any of that from happening if I don't own her.
I was very nice talking with her of course. I love, love, love the barn. I love her too, but not when she doesn't seem to believe in me (or Denali.) The barn is so nice, but I feel like I need to start looking for a new home, JUST IN CASE. If Ophie and her mom weren't there I would have been gone after the "bit incident of '10." I think it would break my heart to leave and feel like I couldn't go back and visit them. I need to do what is best for my horse and for me.
I'm really frustrated. My husband (non-horsey husband at that, who is BEYOND supportive of me) put it best. "Maybe we need to find another trainer if she's not confident enough in herself to stand up for what she believe." (After bit incident and then yesterday.) Both times she's said things or done things is after other trainers have been at the barn. I'm not sure what it is she is thinking. He also said, "If you did put her up for sale what are the chances she'd offer to buy her or know someone who wanted her?" He's a smart man.
What I do know is I'm going to prove her wrong. I'm going to make the best relationship with my horse that she's ever seen, and then remind her that she didn't think it was going to work. I'm not an idiot, I know my horse. I've seen people with horses and a relationship that didn't work. I don't have that with her.
What do you think? I'm going to write in my boots "Be Brave" to remind me that I'm not going to die and I'm going to prove her wrong.
In the world of boarding, I need something 20 miles from Seattle (closer obviously better) with turn out for the majority of the day, but still able to feed grain at night. Indoor arena, stall, and being allowed to have my own trainer come in. All for $450.00. Not an easy task to find. Essentially I want my barn. Sigh.
I'm getting an ulcer. It's been a while, but I'm defiantly feeling it. I'm sure the gallons of Coke Zero I've been drinking hasn't helped.
Yesterday I ran out to the barn because I wanted to talk to my trainer about our conversation the night before. She was riding her horse and told me that she didn't have time to talk but we really needed to sit down and have a conversation.
You can't fucking tell me that and then expect me to not say anything.
I got pissed, even more so because I knew in my heart what she was going to try to tell me. I grabbed Denali (MY HORSE) and took her into the round pen. I did a little walking and trotting and getting her to listen to me. Then I went and got the dreaded flag.
You would have thought that the flag was on fire and trying to attack her. We worked for a long time, and I called it quits when she stopped freaking out and just stood still. She tried to rear a few times but I just made her go backwards as fast as I could so she'd think rearing was a really bad idea. I need to have a lesson on this, I don't remember how to do it exactly.
After that I was still pissed. I went to my trainer and asked her if she wanted me out of the barn and that's why she wanted to talk to me.
She said no, then went on to say that she's just not sure if Denali and I are a good match. Yada, yada, yada. Honestly it was an hour long conversation, but if I tried writing it all here my hands are going to fall off.
She said she just needs to sit down and think the pros and cons. I told her she hasn't given either one of us a chance. Denali has been ridden, but has not been in training since August. That I haven't done ANYTHING in the past 6 months really, and that she's not giving us a chance.
She said that she was talking with the other trainer from Monday night and that she just has some concerns. Safety is her number one priority (or so she said) and she just wants to make sure that this is a safe partnership. Honestly, I feel like it's me and Denali now against the world, and we no longer have a supportive trainer. If she can't believe in me, then it's going to be hard to believe in myself. If Denali was rearing up, or bucking, or trying to dump me, yes, I'd revisit the situation and wonder if it was a good relationship. BUT, she's not. She's green. I'm green. She's also a Thoroughbred. A young Thoroughbred who was trained to race. She needs time.
I told her if it never worked out that she was a riding horse that I'd keep her as my pet. She asked me if that was fair to Denali. Have you met my horse lady? She LOVES eating. She actually excels at it. Also, there are never guarantees when you sell a horse. Would it be fair for Denali to be ran into the ground then forced to have babies? Would it have been fair for her to be on someones dinner plate? There is no way for me to keep any of that from happening if I don't own her.
I was very nice talking with her of course. I love, love, love the barn. I love her too, but not when she doesn't seem to believe in me (or Denali.) The barn is so nice, but I feel like I need to start looking for a new home, JUST IN CASE. If Ophie and her mom weren't there I would have been gone after the "bit incident of '10." I think it would break my heart to leave and feel like I couldn't go back and visit them. I need to do what is best for my horse and for me.
I'm really frustrated. My husband (non-horsey husband at that, who is BEYOND supportive of me) put it best. "Maybe we need to find another trainer if she's not confident enough in herself to stand up for what she believe." (After bit incident and then yesterday.) Both times she's said things or done things is after other trainers have been at the barn. I'm not sure what it is she is thinking. He also said, "If you did put her up for sale what are the chances she'd offer to buy her or know someone who wanted her?" He's a smart man.
What I do know is I'm going to prove her wrong. I'm going to make the best relationship with my horse that she's ever seen, and then remind her that she didn't think it was going to work. I'm not an idiot, I know my horse. I've seen people with horses and a relationship that didn't work. I don't have that with her.
What do you think? I'm going to write in my boots "Be Brave" to remind me that I'm not going to die and I'm going to prove her wrong.
In the world of boarding, I need something 20 miles from Seattle (closer obviously better) with turn out for the majority of the day, but still able to feed grain at night. Indoor arena, stall, and being allowed to have my own trainer come in. All for $450.00. Not an easy task to find. Essentially I want my barn. Sigh.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Riding Horse or Pet
Today was one of those days.
From the moment my alarm went off I just had a feeling that today was going to be one of those days. I even laid in bed thinking to myself, "oh, here we go."
My morning at home did not go well, so I left my house in a foul mood. I got to work and my kiddos were just totally wild. I spent my day e-mailing a parent trying to make him understand why their child was not included in the general education classes.
I couldn't make anyone happy.
I spent the day writing an IEP (Individual Education Plan) that no matter how I wrote it, didn't make the family happy. Sigh. I sent the PLOP (Present Levels of Performance) to the parents for them to review via e-mail at least 6 times, this in between teaching a classroom full of 10 wild students.
One of my students, a little girl, informed someone today, "I'm not a girl, I'm a hoe."
Sigh.
I started feeling sick at 3:00.
After work we had a faculty meeting...it lasted for 2 hours.
Then I worked on the IEP some more, and finally left work around 6pm still feeling like crap.
Went grocery shopping since we're apparently out of food.
I was beyond tired, stressed, and exhausted.
Got home and started cleaning my house. Did some laundry. I still felt like crap.
Called Denali's trainer to discuss "What I want for her."
She was busy, and I should have known better than to try to discuss Denali with her. Especially since I'm already in a really crappy, foul mood. I haven't talked to her since Monday night, after the lesson Denali's lessor had with the Dutch guy. She was trying to talk to me, and I'm not sure what she was trying to say. What I got was that Denali is a smart, beautiful horse that many people would love to have, and maybe it would be better that way. I could be wrong, I'm probably wrong, but I'll worry about it until tomorrow. She asked me if I wanted a riding horse or a pet. Dumb question. If I wanted a pet I would have rescued a pasture pet. Believe me, she costs enough, I'm going to ride her. Who knows. I do agree, I need to have a plan of what I want to do with Denali.
Nothing makes me want to do something more than, than to be told that I can't.
I'm in a really craptastic mood. I'm exhausted, I'm stressed. I have to wake up at the crack of dawn to have a meeting at 7am. Tomorrow is going to be an extra long day too.
I want to take my horse and move to a deserted tropical island. I'm sure Denali would like to eat pineapples. We could swim in the ocean. She'd like that, I know it!
From the moment my alarm went off I just had a feeling that today was going to be one of those days. I even laid in bed thinking to myself, "oh, here we go."
My morning at home did not go well, so I left my house in a foul mood. I got to work and my kiddos were just totally wild. I spent my day e-mailing a parent trying to make him understand why their child was not included in the general education classes.
I couldn't make anyone happy.
I spent the day writing an IEP (Individual Education Plan) that no matter how I wrote it, didn't make the family happy. Sigh. I sent the PLOP (Present Levels of Performance) to the parents for them to review via e-mail at least 6 times, this in between teaching a classroom full of 10 wild students.
One of my students, a little girl, informed someone today, "I'm not a girl, I'm a hoe."
Sigh.
I started feeling sick at 3:00.
After work we had a faculty meeting...it lasted for 2 hours.
Then I worked on the IEP some more, and finally left work around 6pm still feeling like crap.
Went grocery shopping since we're apparently out of food.
I was beyond tired, stressed, and exhausted.
Got home and started cleaning my house. Did some laundry. I still felt like crap.
Called Denali's trainer to discuss "What I want for her."
She was busy, and I should have known better than to try to discuss Denali with her. Especially since I'm already in a really crappy, foul mood. I haven't talked to her since Monday night, after the lesson Denali's lessor had with the Dutch guy. She was trying to talk to me, and I'm not sure what she was trying to say. What I got was that Denali is a smart, beautiful horse that many people would love to have, and maybe it would be better that way. I could be wrong, I'm probably wrong, but I'll worry about it until tomorrow. She asked me if I wanted a riding horse or a pet. Dumb question. If I wanted a pet I would have rescued a pasture pet. Believe me, she costs enough, I'm going to ride her. Who knows. I do agree, I need to have a plan of what I want to do with Denali.
Nothing makes me want to do something more than, than to be told that I can't.
I'm in a really craptastic mood. I'm exhausted, I'm stressed. I have to wake up at the crack of dawn to have a meeting at 7am. Tomorrow is going to be an extra long day too.
I want to take my horse and move to a deserted tropical island. I'm sure Denali would like to eat pineapples. We could swim in the ocean. She'd like that, I know it!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Photos
(Love, LOVE, LOVE this one!!)
I just love this face! 
She's really not that skinny!! Damn ribs!
I am so grateful to have a friend who has such an amazing camera! A million thank-you's Ophie's mom for your skills! I could never capture pictures like this!!
Drunk Horse
I wasn't planning on going to the barn yesterday, but I got a phone call around 3:30 from our trainer that (insert name that I can't remember here) was going to be coming by the barn. He's from Holland and did big time hunter/jumpers and now dressage. I guess he goes all over now doing clinics. Hell if I can remember his name. I'll edit when I can remember. Anyway, the price of his lesson was 60$, and my trainer asked me if I'd defray the cost for Denali's lessor so that she could take a lesson with him. I said sure, and that I'd check with my husband and then be out.
I learned a lot of different ideas from him. Things I didn't know, such as what side the buckle faces on the reins. I had no idea. Denali's lessor hooked her up to lunge her, and as she was doing that he said, "why do you do it that way?" (through the bit, up and around the poll, and connected to the other side.) I was afraid that my trainer would pull out the, "I've been saying that's not the way to do it" but she didn't and said that's how she taught us. He told us that with an OTTB you shouldn't put pressure on the bit, because they are trained to go faster. He put the lunge line through the bit and then attached it to the nose band on the other side. I still have visions of her freaking out and breaking my new expensive bridle. I guess it makes sense. He also said he hates bridles without flashes. He said you need it to help support the bit in the horses mouth. Well, my new one does not have a flash, and I'm not running out and buying a new one so she'll deal for now. He also wanted a thicker bit for her mouth.
He was very critical, he said Denali should only be working on walking collected on the bit until she doesn't walk like a drunk horse. Once she's accomplished that then move up to trotting, but not until. He kept picking on Denali's lessor. Poor Lessor! I kept laughing, and felt horrible for doing so, but I was just so thankful that it wasn't me on the horse.
He hopped up and rode Denali for a little bit (without a helmet, I thought I was going to die.) He said she was a very quick learner, and that she a very smart horse with a perfect dressage neck. I love hearing good things about my horse. He was very surprised where I got her and impressed with how she looked. I can't take any of that credit, her lessor put all her muscle on her.
I asked him about my new saddle, he said it fit her well, but by looking at me it wasn't going to fit me. I know that, it fits good, just not perfect. I had a hard time keeping my knee in the right place naturally on Saturday. I had to work really hard on that, but it will work for the next few years. I still feel better in it than my Harry Dabbs. I just never felt really secure in my other saddle. Once I start riding more and more, I will look into a different saddle. I mentioned through e-mail to my husband that I'd like to save for a custom saddle, but that's not going to happen, if ever. It's hard to explain to someone who isn't into horses that you'd like to drop $3,000 on a saddle when you already have to pay $500.00 + each month just for board. He'd probably feel better if he got the meat from the cow that the saddle was made from. Regardless he'd be proud of me this month, I just got our credit card bill and it's $1,000 less than normal. See honey! I do save!
Denali did spook when her lessor got off. I still think I freaked her out when I hopped off on Sunday, and that she's having flash backs to me coming off of her screaming my head off. I guess we'll need to work on getting on and off, and on and off until she decides that it's okay. I was worried that it had something to do witht he saddle fit, but this guy (who's name I don't remember) got off slowly and quietly, and she was fine. I think it's the noise of hitting the dirt that reminds her and freaks her out. Does that make sense?
On May 2, I'm taking a saddle fitting clinic. I called the tack store here yesterday to talk about saddles and saddle fit (because I'm super anal and I've been worried since last Wednesday about Denali and her new saddle, because apparently she was a PITA on the lunge line.) They send her to England and she said she's going to regurgitate everything she knows. I'm excited. I always like learning new things, especially when it comes to something so near and dear to my heart.
Other than that I was impressed with the lesson yesterday. Not too sure how Denali's lessor felt about it. She's been picked apart lately when it comes to riding and it makes me feel bad. I obviously want what's best for Denali, but I also want her to be happy to come to the barn. Not sure how much fun it is going to be to ride a horse who should only be walking. We'll see.
I have a bunch of pictures I wanted to post but my computer at home is on it's last leg. It's not working right at all, and that frustrates me!
I learned a lot of different ideas from him. Things I didn't know, such as what side the buckle faces on the reins. I had no idea. Denali's lessor hooked her up to lunge her, and as she was doing that he said, "why do you do it that way?" (through the bit, up and around the poll, and connected to the other side.) I was afraid that my trainer would pull out the, "I've been saying that's not the way to do it" but she didn't and said that's how she taught us. He told us that with an OTTB you shouldn't put pressure on the bit, because they are trained to go faster. He put the lunge line through the bit and then attached it to the nose band on the other side. I still have visions of her freaking out and breaking my new expensive bridle. I guess it makes sense. He also said he hates bridles without flashes. He said you need it to help support the bit in the horses mouth. Well, my new one does not have a flash, and I'm not running out and buying a new one so she'll deal for now. He also wanted a thicker bit for her mouth.
He was very critical, he said Denali should only be working on walking collected on the bit until she doesn't walk like a drunk horse. Once she's accomplished that then move up to trotting, but not until. He kept picking on Denali's lessor. Poor Lessor! I kept laughing, and felt horrible for doing so, but I was just so thankful that it wasn't me on the horse.
He hopped up and rode Denali for a little bit (without a helmet, I thought I was going to die.) He said she was a very quick learner, and that she a very smart horse with a perfect dressage neck. I love hearing good things about my horse. He was very surprised where I got her and impressed with how she looked. I can't take any of that credit, her lessor put all her muscle on her.
I asked him about my new saddle, he said it fit her well, but by looking at me it wasn't going to fit me. I know that, it fits good, just not perfect. I had a hard time keeping my knee in the right place naturally on Saturday. I had to work really hard on that, but it will work for the next few years. I still feel better in it than my Harry Dabbs. I just never felt really secure in my other saddle. Once I start riding more and more, I will look into a different saddle. I mentioned through e-mail to my husband that I'd like to save for a custom saddle, but that's not going to happen, if ever. It's hard to explain to someone who isn't into horses that you'd like to drop $3,000 on a saddle when you already have to pay $500.00 + each month just for board. He'd probably feel better if he got the meat from the cow that the saddle was made from. Regardless he'd be proud of me this month, I just got our credit card bill and it's $1,000 less than normal. See honey! I do save!
Denali did spook when her lessor got off. I still think I freaked her out when I hopped off on Sunday, and that she's having flash backs to me coming off of her screaming my head off. I guess we'll need to work on getting on and off, and on and off until she decides that it's okay. I was worried that it had something to do witht he saddle fit, but this guy (who's name I don't remember) got off slowly and quietly, and she was fine. I think it's the noise of hitting the dirt that reminds her and freaks her out. Does that make sense?
On May 2, I'm taking a saddle fitting clinic. I called the tack store here yesterday to talk about saddles and saddle fit (because I'm super anal and I've been worried since last Wednesday about Denali and her new saddle, because apparently she was a PITA on the lunge line.) They send her to England and she said she's going to regurgitate everything she knows. I'm excited. I always like learning new things, especially when it comes to something so near and dear to my heart.
Other than that I was impressed with the lesson yesterday. Not too sure how Denali's lessor felt about it. She's been picked apart lately when it comes to riding and it makes me feel bad. I obviously want what's best for Denali, but I also want her to be happy to come to the barn. Not sure how much fun it is going to be to ride a horse who should only be walking. We'll see.
I have a bunch of pictures I wanted to post but my computer at home is on it's last leg. It's not working right at all, and that frustrates me!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
All Gear, No Skill
There's another blog that has that name, but I'm thinking that I should use that one for my blog title now. Lol, got the new bridle, new bit, new saddle pad, and new saddle out on Saturday. Tacked up Ms. Denali and lunged her for a bit. Our trainer worked with us for a little bit on the proper way of doing it. It's been a while since I've worked Ms. D on the ground and I know that I need to do a lot more of it.
When we were finished I put her back into her paddock and started to clean my tack. During this time Ms. Ophelia was getting wormed. She broke loose and took off running around the property. Ms. Denali got all excited and fell AGAIN. Ugh. She is a walking disaster.
Today I went out to do some light lunging and to see how she was doing. As I was tacking her up, I stretched out her legs. She reached down, started nussling my hair, and then sighed. It was so sweet. She was super lovey today.
We went to work. She's still off on her right hind, when we were lunging to the right she was definitely off on it, but there was no heat or swelling. After a little time she seemed to loosen up and was doing better. I'm assuming falling down isn't helping her heal, whatever is wrong with her. She likes stressing me out.
After warming her up for a while, I asked our trainer to "hold her" so I could try riding her. I haven't ridden her in a while, and wanted to see how the saddle felt for me. Of course she spooked! What the hell! Here's my logic, you tell me what you think:
She knows I'm not confident and she doesn't feel safe when I'm on her back. When something happens she feels responsible and needs to react. Almost like she needs to save us, because she doesn't trust that I will save her. I don't honestly think she does it to be evasive. She's not that kind of horse, if that makes sense. What do you think?
I'm going to do a lot more ground work with her in the coming weeks. I want her to realize that she can trust me. After our ride I hoped off of her and she FREAKED! I got off of her the way I get off of all horses. So of course after her little 'episode' I had to get back up on her to get off again. I asked her to walk on then 'emergency dismounted' She really freaked out and about ran over my trainer. She does NOT like me coming off her back. I think it's a "flash back" to me coming off of her. So then it was back to ground work. We put things on her back and trotted her so it would fall off. She did okay with that. Then I took her saddle off and she jumped at that, so then my trainer had me put it on and take it off at least 20 times until she stood still. My arms hurt! She calmed down and went back to thinking everything was fine.
Ophie's mom brought her super amazing, wonder camera to the barn and we had a photo shot. We groomed the girls up beautiful and took them out to the grass field to graze and take pictures. We had Ophie's mom's boyfriend chasing them to get them to run for the photos. We didn't tell him that her camera memory was full, and let him continue to chase them. It was hilarious. I'll post some of those pictures when I get them. I also need to get her permission.
Sorry this is a kind of random blog. I have a million things to think about and wanted to at least put down part of my weekend. I'll try to organize my thoughts and make a better blog this week.
When we were finished I put her back into her paddock and started to clean my tack. During this time Ms. Ophelia was getting wormed. She broke loose and took off running around the property. Ms. Denali got all excited and fell AGAIN. Ugh. She is a walking disaster.
Today I went out to do some light lunging and to see how she was doing. As I was tacking her up, I stretched out her legs. She reached down, started nussling my hair, and then sighed. It was so sweet. She was super lovey today.
We went to work. She's still off on her right hind, when we were lunging to the right she was definitely off on it, but there was no heat or swelling. After a little time she seemed to loosen up and was doing better. I'm assuming falling down isn't helping her heal, whatever is wrong with her. She likes stressing me out.
After warming her up for a while, I asked our trainer to "hold her" so I could try riding her. I haven't ridden her in a while, and wanted to see how the saddle felt for me. Of course she spooked! What the hell! Here's my logic, you tell me what you think:
She knows I'm not confident and she doesn't feel safe when I'm on her back. When something happens she feels responsible and needs to react. Almost like she needs to save us, because she doesn't trust that I will save her. I don't honestly think she does it to be evasive. She's not that kind of horse, if that makes sense. What do you think?
I'm going to do a lot more ground work with her in the coming weeks. I want her to realize that she can trust me. After our ride I hoped off of her and she FREAKED! I got off of her the way I get off of all horses. So of course after her little 'episode' I had to get back up on her to get off again. I asked her to walk on then 'emergency dismounted' She really freaked out and about ran over my trainer. She does NOT like me coming off her back. I think it's a "flash back" to me coming off of her. So then it was back to ground work. We put things on her back and trotted her so it would fall off. She did okay with that. Then I took her saddle off and she jumped at that, so then my trainer had me put it on and take it off at least 20 times until she stood still. My arms hurt! She calmed down and went back to thinking everything was fine.
Ophie's mom brought her super amazing, wonder camera to the barn and we had a photo shot. We groomed the girls up beautiful and took them out to the grass field to graze and take pictures. We had Ophie's mom's boyfriend chasing them to get them to run for the photos. We didn't tell him that her camera memory was full, and let him continue to chase them. It was hilarious. I'll post some of those pictures when I get them. I also need to get her permission.
Sorry this is a kind of random blog. I have a million things to think about and wanted to at least put down part of my weekend. I'll try to organize my thoughts and make a better blog this week.
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