Catch-Up

Hopefully I’ll manage to keep this update short as don’t actually have that much to report I’m afraid. Work was mental last week and unfortunately is not looking like slowing down until at least Wednesday at the earliest.

As a result I only managed a very quick spin on Kika on Monday. I mean quick, less than 20mins in the saddle quick...I didn’t time it but I’d be very surprised if I was up there longer than that. She was good, there were 2 others in the arena with us and I was pretty distracted as I knew time was tight so although she didn’t misbehave she wasn’t exactly concentrated either...

Unfortunately I did not make it to the barn on Tuesday, Wednesday we lunged and she was good. We worked in the new arena – just done it’s only a week old today I reckon. There are two doors at either end which were open as we were working and while she gave them and her new surroundings the googly eyes at the start once we started transitions she relaxed and worked away like a good girl. I had been late-ish leaving work and as such it was late when i got to the barn so I was conscious of not pushing it and letting her get too sweaty as she is still living out 24/7 and getting on the hairy side so I didn’t want her catching cold by having to go out to her field sweaty!

Thursday was great! We didn’t do anything fancy, just worked on our homework from the previous Friday from L’s tips. We worked mostly in trot, varying the speed, circling getting smaller and smaller, serpentine-ing with volts at each turn. I came home that evening over the moon and so so happy with the work we had done.

Friday was another missed opportunity as I was so spent after the day at work, so Kika got to spend the whole day and night in the field which i imagine she was not unhappy about, ;-)

Then today, managed to make my way to a “new” tack shop – new in that i only found out about it on Thursday and had never been there before. I was told they had a sale on so happily went off to see what stuff they had, while keeping an eye out for a sleeveless vest and a royal blue saddle pad if I could find them.  They are top of my to-buy list at the moment, but have yet to find either of them that I have to have! Although I am pretty set on ordering these saddle pads from Pink Equine, ;-) Royal Blue – Aubergine LINK.

I didn’t find either of the things I was looking for, also continuously keeping my eyes peeled for a bridle to go with her fancy new saddle and breast plate again if I can find one, but those are further down the shopping list then the vest and saddle pad. I did manage to pick up a 15kg bag of muesli which I had been going to order off the internet – but didn’t know which brand to go with. So the Mammy (who was with me) and i spent ages looking at the ingredients and trying to figure what all the German meant, ;-)

Got to the barn and brought herself in, after a bit of pampering to tidy her up we tacked up and up I hopped. We rode in the biggest available arena and I actually used the mirror to try and correct myself and make sure I was on the right diagonal when trotting – not something I often get the luxury of doing as Kika doesn’t always give me as good of a spin to allow me try to sort myself out! But she was excellent today, we didn’t quite get to work on as much of the more finickity things we worked on on Thursday as there was another rider in the arena with us. They are relatively inexperienced and don’t always have control so I was conscious of this and kept out of the way. We did work on our circles and in actual fact we got lovely canter work done on a circle – which is often a bit of  a bogey for us as circles are difficult for her till she strengthens up more particularly in canter. But she was really good today, I am overjoyed with what we worked on this week even though we didn’t get the same amount of work we usually get done what we did do was of a good enough standard, in my opinion for whatever that is worth ;-)

Typically this is far from a short update, but if you regularly read our updates you will not be in the slightest bit surprised teehee!

Woods tomorrow for a hack with L and her dogs, so that’ll be fun before the work starts again on Monday and I know already that I won’t be getting out of the office in time to get to see Kika Monday or Tuesday, L Hopefully she’ll still get worked as I know the Mammy has the days off and I’ve asked if she’ll lunge her if my yard buddies don’t have the time/desire to ride her for me...Probably cheeky of me to ask in any case!

Schooling Session Snaps and Video

No great report from me today - I can hear the sighs of relief!
Work was uber-busy last week, I was doing the workload normally shared between 5 of us as due to holidays, sick leave and unforseen family circumstances we found ourselves a little shorthanded. So i was exhausted every evening and didn't have the energy to walk the couple of minutes (well 10minutes and up a hill) to visit Kika since our successful jumping lesson last week. I did manage a walk-by the field on friday evening with my sister on our way to get some food for the evening, saturday was a write-off poni-visiting wise as I'd signed up to do a Discover Luxembourg Treasure Hunt with new colleagues at work (it was good funa nd we'd a beautiful day for it - thankfully as there was much walking involved, 4 hours of it in fact!). Sunday was another write-off due to the weather, it rained solidly interspersed with thunder and lightning storms all day until 6pm where it dried up for about an hour before tipping it down again. As the poor ould dear is still currently living outside i figured it'd be unfair to birng her in dry her off work her then put her back out to get soaked again - to my twisted mind it made more sense to leave her in the field wet and munching on the big bale of hay they have. She deffinitely took advantage of her unplanned week off on that front, the tubbyness of her roundd belly when i finally got her in on monday evening was a testament to that fact!

Right well as usual, my plan to not write so much is failing miserably but i swear there are pictures and a video to come, please just bear with me!

I finally got up to her properly on Monday evenign after work, having cancelled my jumping lesson with L as Kika and i hadn't done ANY work since our lesson the week before. To ease the beastie back into the mindset I lunged her without the pessoa on monday evening. (Aside: pessoa work is on pause for the moment as my guru L agreed with me that the current pessoa set up was not encouraging correct work out of Kika as she was blocking her head/neck area and not relaxing down into the work like she is supposed to - so we've to source a girth with a buckle on it to change the ropes to ecourage her to work with her head/neck in the most helpful way for muscle development. I do work with her after riding to get her to stretch down in trot and walk as part of the cooling down process but we have as yet not managed to incorperate it in our warm up process as she prefers to act like a giraffe to begin with!)

Long story not so short (as usual - SORRY) we did some flatwork schooling last night, just her and me - my "baby" sister (who is 21 and no longer a baby) is back from her J1 Summer in New York and gladly agreed to be photographer/videographer yesterday evening. I won't include all the photos as a lot were fuzzy, but she did get some pretty cool (in my opinion) panoramic shots of us which i will include as well as a video.
NB: all photos and video were taken on my phone so please excuse quality where necessary, ;-)

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And a video; please ignore comments from my sister as she filmed and the outburst of laughter that overcame her before she could hit pause as Kika released enough wind to float a boat!

Also my parting words today (I'm sure you're wondering how have i possibly got words left after this "brief" update), I think i have fixed the comments option so that now anyone can!
Hopefully it works!

Fiesty Flatwork & Jumpty Jumping

Another fantastic weekend/start to the week's riding!

Saturday was our flatwork day with help from L. The day was a scorcher 30C still at 6pm! So we waited till 6.30 to get mare in and it was 7pm before i was in the saddle, even then a bit of trotting and the poor beastie was well sweated up (as was i but that is besides the point - teehee).
L set us straight to work on serpentines using the whole arena, she made me go straight from one side of the arena to the other, she had me keep the mare straight and set her up for the turns better so that she doesn't fall into them. After an up and down the arena she had me add volts/small circles into the mix when i met the side as we turned. She made me make the circles smaller and smaller until on our bad side we ran into Kika's brand of trouble although i knew we would once L had us decrease the size of the circles...Two mini rears later I remembered to release the reins and we moved on again keeping the circles smaller on our "good" side and my chicken self giving her slightly larger circles on the "bad" rein. I didn't let the rearing upset us or dwell on it as i had anticipated their arrival with the decreasing circle sizes so we worked around that hiccup and kept going. She settled right back to work as i knew she would and didn't attempt any circus tricks again afterwards - she had said her piece, I had listened so we were back on speaking terms again, ;)

We moved up to cantering, where I have to work to keep my shoulders back, sit into the saddle, keep my heels down and my inside hand soft, this is all well and good on the good side. I felt she kind of took the mick out of me on her bad side, she wouldn't settle or canter correctly and in the corner of the ring where we turn slightly back on ourselves (we were circling) she was inclined to prance and bounce instead of canter smoothly around the bend. I know that it is her bad side and as such more difficult for her, she is in no way helped by this being my bad side also. I think I mentioned in a previous post that i sit very crookedly in the saddle when on the right rein (as it happens Kika's bad rein). L explained it to me in such a way that when i change rein it is as if my body position does not move, so i am still sitting twisted as if we were going left...if that makes sense *wibble* So to counteract this she has me stare at her with my head and whole body turned in her direction as i try to get Kika to canter correctly under me - not an easy task, but one we will work on!
I did get one good circle out of her on her bad rein in canter, whereby she struck off calmly and on the right lead and then kept calm and not bouncy on the turn from the side across the arena to complete the circle. This accomplished we called it a day and encouraged herself to stretch out and elongate her back to cool down.

Sunday was her day off so she spent the day lounging in the field - Happy Days!

Monday was our Pole Work/Jumping day. As I'd the day off I arrived at the yard for about 4pm to help L set up the fences she wanted and stick around while she schooled her two rides around them to move poles etc etc. Then N went in on her mare for her schooling session while i tacked Kika up. Then it was our turn and the poles were dropped to trotting poles on the ground. L had explained to me what i was to do as K worked the trotting poles, she didn't know the French term but it is called a Parade in German/Luxembourgish not usre which and from her description to me it sounded not unlike a half halt - which by the way I have never quite understood or mastered for that matter. She wanted me to hold Kika together/gather her up just before the pole and then as we were going over them to squeeze with my legs to make her push from behind - or at least i think that was the purpose of the exercise. She said we were doing well and I could feel Kika really picking her feet up over the poles when i could get the finger squeeze and leg squeeze timed correctly - it really was great.
So then L asked if i fancied jumping again today, to which i said yes please - might aswell attempt this technique over a cross pole as this was where K had struggled the week before. So round i came to the pole and then cross bar, no problems. So after a few more L had me ask for canter after the cross pole and keep K going to pop down over a straight bar. The first couple of times K insisted on striking off on the wrong  lead in canter so we had to come back to trot circle, get the correct lead and then pop down over the upright (wasn't high, prob no more than 60-70cms i reckon). When we finally got it together and right L changed direction, she moved the ground pole on the cross and we had to jump that down then canter round a loop and jump the straight bar up - we managed this much better.
A double up the longside of the arena was then re-constructed (had been demolished for the trotting poles), a ground pole was placed a little aways from the first part and we trotted into it landed in canter and continue don nice and smoothly over the second part. We came around again to to the same and Kika got herself all hett up tried to canter the trot pole and jumped ground pole and first part of the double as a spread then bounced happy out to the second part and sailed over it. We tried it again and she again got herself all excited, bounced and tossed her head into the first part, I managed to keep her at a trot although it was very messy and my turn into the fence was unforgiving - so we were both to blame, although I'd wager i tensed and didn't do much to help keep her head...
So L moved to position herself in such a way that we would have to turn around her for the approach to the fence and had me stop before we reached the ground pole - typically as she was standing there and i didn't want us to trample her i had started to ride better so Kika behaved better. I had thought there might be a fuss at being aske dto stop and no jumping, but as i was calm she was calm - result.
So round we came again and this time i was to keep the canter going and come down again over the earlier upright then turn back on ourselves and up over the cross pole we'd started out over. All went well till the turn back to the final cross pole, where i took it too tight and we know Miss Kika doesn't like turning tightly (yes the turn was on her "bad" rein) so bouncy bouncy she went and i knew i wasn't in enough control to tackle the cross pole so steered her away from it coming back to a stop. We tried again starting with the double, down over the upright and although i gave her more room to turn this time she still wound herself up and got all bouncy so again i didn't let her jump. L suggested we come back around and take the cross pole on it's own once more which i did from trot first - no issues. So calmly i was told to canter her again and just do the cross, it wasn't perfect but i t was a lot calmer!
So we finished on that note, when i asked L about it afterwards she said K and i have a similar problem to her and her mare O. In that the humans in the partnership are anticipating bad behaviour at certain times so the horses figure - sure why not give them what they are obviously expecting us to do. Silly chestnut mares - too smart for their own good!
But it wasn't all down to Kika, the first attempts turn was way to tight and even as i did it i knew we'd run into trouble - plenty to work on and as always mostly msyelf!
If i can sort me and my horrible riding habits I've no doubt Kika will come around, cos when i can get it right it is magical!
Have only felt glimpses so far, but the holy grail is not so far out of our reach anymore. Correct riding is on it's way!

Wonderful Woods

We went for a lovely long hack today and she walked really well. I was with my trusty pal L and was talking to her about the pacing, as she identified it for me - she reckons it's another defence mechanism of Kika's (we're starting to rack them up, admittedly this is less dangerous to my well being then her go-to defence of rearing ) happens when i stiffen or she feels tense/worried about something the mare starts to pace, although only in walk.

As for our hack we had a fab time, weather was a toasty 29C today so i really didn't fancy a lesson (having one tomorrow instead) and L had had a long day of running around for appointments etc so a gently wander in the woods did us both (and the two mares) a world of good,  Shade = our friend today!

We only had one minor disagreement when we came across the first of 3 tents (mini-marquee type things, L mentioned she thought there might be some type of rally or relay thing going on in the woods at some stage today or over the weekend). The first tent/mini-marquee K spotted before L's horse O, when she saw it Kika stopped and stared eyes on stils, but moved forward obediently as O had kept walking. Then when O spotted it and stopped to stare Kika had to stop again, we coaxed the pair of them forward a few more steps but then it was just too scary. Bad news is that O has a not too disimilar defence mechanism to Kika's in that she spins away from what she's scared of but if forced back can rear/buck/bolt - if really scared. So L got down and decided to lead her mare up to it and passed it, i was going to also get down but she said no to stay in saddle and see if K'd be alright "following" O. Kika's second spook and O's reaction made K think about rearing, but when i felt her think about it and L saw it cross her mind that's when she decided to hop off as there was no point in the 4 of us getting injured. So with O blowing, huffing and puffing trying to blow the thing down, K tootled along behind her stopping each time O stopped, she'd give a little start each time O snorted (which was every few steps - you know in the horse's scared of something way teehee) anyways i could feel that K had relaxed and had already decided this tent/mini-marquee thing wasn't really as scary as first impression implied. I was able to turn her away from O who walked passed the tent and L hopped back up off a conveniently placed bench on the other side, while K and i took wander around the tent to see that it wasn't scary from any angle - I toyed with the idea of riding under it, but it was just that little bit too low that i knew even if i bent down beside her head that i'd run he risk of rubbing my back off it and didn't fancy the reaction to such a sound while we might be under the low tent - so decided to leave it till we come across a larger one some day...if ever,
Anyways met another one a little further on that neither one batted an eyelid at, they both walked passed happy as lambs not even looking at this one. A little further on we crossed another one, Lord this one was terrifying again as this one was completed with a table which two people were setting up on and a car parked alongside it. The two mares stopped again, and L hopped off to lead O passed it while K followed happy as a pig in muck behind. They make a right double act the pair of them

Mosied on home after that thankfully none the worse for wear and i actually think perhaps foolishly bigging up my own capabilities, but i think that had i come across such items on my own on a hack with Kika we'd have coped differently. I think she'd have been more trusting of me when i told her it was alright rather than balking when O backed off the same things she was wary about... But live and learn, unlikely to be hacking on my own for a while as it's more fun with someone else natter-wise, especially when they know all the routes and trails,

L and I are going to work on some flatwork schooling tomorrow evening and may be heading to a tack shop in Germany in the afternoon as apparently they have fab reductions on at the moment (like up and above 50% off)!!!
I really shouldn't be spending monies as a) I don't really have it to spend after the saddle purchase last month and b) I still have to pay the insurance on K which has been out with the last month , but x) which to my mind cancels out a) & b) is that if i can buy a nice new matchy-matchy bridle and the girth with a ring for the pessoa for half the prices I'd be paying for them here...well that is just more money concious in the long run, right?!

Pleased as Punch

Will hopefully keep this small, but just had to make a quick post to say that I was so happy last night!
After not having seen the mare since monday, when we had our good Pole lesson and even popped a cross pole a couple of times (see earlier post) I was a little wary as to what might greet me when my backside hit the saddle last night. Not scared or worried as such, as she has been really good the last few spins and she used to only be ridden at weekends in Irealnd, so that two days off weren't bothering me but weather was really hot which is never conducive to the best behaviour from anyone (humans included).

Anyways I needn't have worried, she was an angel for the 20mins or so we worked on our homework. We only had the use of half the arena as someone was lungeing below us, and if i needed more proof that Kika is in behaving form, said horse being lunged was a complete messer. He kept taking off, bucking, farting and squealing like a bould child - which is in fact what he was doing - to see the look of glee on his face as he cavorted around the place...Kika didn't bat an eyelid at him or break stride at all, she did get herself a little hett up when i was asking for canter, but this is not out of character for her, We got some really nice work from her and i tried to remember to work on the tips L has been giving me in our 'lessons' - namely sitting better and keeping my heels down as well as keeping my leg on in canter and inside hand soft on the rein - i feel like i made some progress although we are still a good bit off public displays (although i dunno if my center stage phobia will keep me from doing that forever, lol)

As it was so warm i didn't do more than 20mins, and that in itself had the poor beastie sweaty. So we finished up and decided to go for a bit of a stroll around the barns to cool off in the evening sunshine. My friend A was hand grazing her boy (whose name also begins with A, teehee) near where we'd been riding. As i'd had to get off to leave the arena to walk passed the guy lungeing his horse, i had to remount outside. K and A were riding buddies when he wasn't injured so in the interest of camaraderie I asked human A if she and horse A fancied joining us for a little stroll round the block. At this stage K reminded me she is not completely over her "demons" as there is work going on around the yard (expanding by adding new stables and another indoor arena) and decided it was far too scary to pass the construction stuff littered around the doorway of the new stables. Cue a bit of spinning and head up threatening to rear, but she made no real attempt at it and with some growling from me and horse A for reassurance we mosied on. Poor horse A is a bigger chicken than Kika, so once she'd decided things were terrifying he too was then on the look out for the horse eating apparatus Kika wasn't really scared she was just acting the hound, so i bullied her back up slightly infront of/beside A. She has also developed this annoying habit when she doesn't to walk properly but does a type of pacing - i think it's called, not sure as when L was explaining it to me she used the German word but i think that's what it is in English. Basically when the horse is using it's legs on the same side rather than alternating, like they are supposed to, it's quite uncomfortable and disjointed...I really have no idea why she has taken to doing this, more than likely another way she has found to avoid working properly, even though in this case she was simply being asked to stroll around the buildings of the barn to cool off in the evening breeze! She really is a lazy nag...but i guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and animals really are like their owners as I too am a lazy nag!