Super Star!!

 Okay FuFu! Way to show up and show out! We've had so many awesome rides lately! She was so good today. I'm glad we didn't cancel our lesson because of the heat. Because, honestly, today wasn't that bad. Yes, it was hot. And yes, it was humid. But not like yesterday. Yesterday was brutal. Today was bearable. Despite the sweat running down my butt crack at 9 am this morning as Funny and I were just walking around warming up. ;) 

Liz said that my saddle was a hair too far forward before we even got started. Ugh. I had it a hair too far back so I fixed it. But, now I guess I overcompensated. So... I hopped off and pulled it back a hair. And then Funny was like "LIZ... I NEED YOU!". So Liz touched her and found a tight left shoulder/chest and a stuck rib on the left side. She said her fascia was tight on that whole left side. So she did a little releasing and Funny was happy. Liz told me to adjust her today. I told her I would because they were all overdue, though I did manage to get Dan done recently. Liz laughed and said Funny told on me. She knew I had done Dan and not her! Okay... okay!! I did adjust her this afternoon. And we did some fascial work. And some crotch scratching because good grief she was doing the splits to get me to scratch her! She was definitely stuck and tight in the left shoulder, but also the sternum and cranial ribs. And she had some ribs on the left (but also the right) and then her pelvis. I also got big releases in her neck and hyoid. She was actually downright angry about her hyoid... like tried to bite me a few times. Or... threatened to bite me but never actually did bite me. But like came towards me with her teeth open. Same with her lower cervicals too. But I got it done and she got some good releases and then she stopped trying to bite me. 

Once we got Funny happier and my saddle right, I hopped back on and I slowly picked up the reins. I'm getting better at this. Then we worked on the walk. It went much better than the last time. We barely had any jigging and when we did, she and I both softened much quicker. Liz did remind me to let her trot, because otherwise she won't learn from her mistakes. I have to allow her to make the mistake to be able to teach her. So then we discussed the trot and I had an epiphany! Liz had been telling me to ask for counterbend and then trot as I release her back to true bend. But in my brain, I thought she meant... get a nice counterbend... then ask for true bend and ask for trot in that moment. Which is what I was doing. Which was not working. But what she meant was not that. She wanted me to get a nice trot, then ask for counter flexion and then go right back into true bend and ask for the trot then. The counter flexion, flexion and trot was one movement... not two... not counter flex, and then true flex and trot. No wonder it wasn't going well. But once I started to do it the correct way... get a nice walk, then ask for a second of counter flexion, then go back to true bend and ask for trot, we started getting a nice trot. Liz explained that the split second of counter flexion, just put Funny into the outside rein. Ohhhhhh... Good gravy, why did I not figure that out?? But now I know. And that makes much more sense to me. And Funny too apparently.

We got some nice trot work. I had to keep my elbows at my hips, wide hands, and post up and down, instead of front to back. I was getting slightly ahead of her again lately, so by remembering to sit up and stay upright.. and slow my post... it helps. And I had to remember to keep my eyes to the outside. But I can turn my belly button to the inside. And that made a huge difference. A much bigger difference than I expected. So.. noted! We played with spiral in and spiral out too. And we got some really nice trot. Oh, and I have to lift my inside hand slightly compared to my outside hand. Which, really just makes me even. When I think lift my inside hand, especially when it's the left hand, it uncollapses my whole left side. Ahhhh! 

Then we did some cantering and we did the same thing for the upward transition. Get a nice trot, then ask for slight outside flexion for one step, then go back to true flexion and ask for the canter. BUT, I have to keep my eyes to the outside. So... I have to counterflex for the aid too. And we got some nice canters!! Yay! Then I had to lift my hands a little, especially the inside hand, and sit up tall and use my core, and slightly tighten my thighs, and it got even nicer! So then Liz had me go along the long side and "collect" the canter. It worked.. a little bit. She got a really nice canter and then our downwards were nice. Although she did fall out of the canter once because I collected too much. But we talked about that... I think sometimes I back off on collecting the canter because I know she can't hold it long and will break to a trot. But, she'll never get stronger if she doesn't go there. So, even if she can only hold the collected canter for 2 strides and then falls to a trot.. that's 2 strides more in that good muscle pattern, so... I need to go for it. And just not be upset when she falls out of it. And eventually, we'll get strong enough to hold it for a whole circle. And then more. Yay!

So then we were talking a break and Funny marched up to the gate and was standing there like "I've cantered both ways.. it's hot... I"m done.. let me march home". ha ha. But Liz said she had one more thing in mind. So I picked Funny back up and she had me walk over the cavalettis in the circle. Funny got a hair fussy but then settled because I did all the right things and just let her come back to me. So then we trotted them and she was great! She actually trotted them and stayed soft and happy. So then we cantered. We started on the right lead (her easier lead) and it took a minute, but we actually got her to stay collected and literally canter over the cavaletti vs jumping it. And she didn't take long spots... she got to the base. Ooooooh, good girl! So then we went the hard way and she was so good. The first cavaletti she jumped it but was soft and quiet and landed quietly and then the next cavaletti she cantered over nicely and to the base. And it was awesome! So then I kept the super nice canter and then collected it til we got a lovely downward trot. And then.. that trot!! Holy cow! It was lovely. And she was in true self carriage... she was round and soft with a lifted back and I softened the reins and nothing changed! Whoo hooo. We got a nice downward to a walk and then we quit. GOOD PONY!

Slicing and Dicing!!

 She's so freakin' smart!

 

 

So... after our last jump lesson with the angled jump woes, I decided to try again today. It was so stupid hot today. Like... so much hotter than it has been, so I only rode one horse today! I didn't get up super early, but honestly, it's more humid first thing in the morning it seems like anyways. But I'm definitely glad I rode and was done when I was because it was still brutal. Plus, Funny and I were bored of flatting... and she needed some time in the woods! So.. we headed to Ashland and I booked the jump arena. 

 

We got there at 9:30 and it was already getting toasty but we tacked up and headed out to the trails. We hacked around heron lake and down to the XC field and then headed out to XC. I figured we might as well walk up and down the banks and do the ditches and water on our way to stadium. She walked down the small bank without hesitating. Good girl. And then back up it and then down and up the big bank. No hesitations. Yay! We then walked over the ditches and then trotted right into the water. However, when I went to trot out the up bank, she stopped. And hard. And far back. Seriously Funny?? It's tiny!! I walked her up to, despite some sideways flingings on her part, and she went up it. Then we came down it fine. Then we went back in and went up the other bank, which was a little smoother. And then we went back and trotted in the water and up both banks and it was fine. Except... she seems kind of nervous about them. It almost feels like she can't quite judge how far to take off so she almost panics and throws herself at them. But she's taking such a long spot that it feels a little bit like she might miss and not get her front feet up and faceplant. Which... is kind of terrifying! I came back again and made her walk the small one and tried to keep her closer to the base, and it was a hair better. But hmmm... I'm not sure how to address this. I'll ask Jacel and Liz, but that's definitely something to work on. (Later I talked to Liz and she mentioned that those banks at Ashland aren't very well delineated and small enough that they are kind of hard to judge, but.. I also feel like maybe she's a little bit off at the non-water bank too.. just felt like that was more boldness but now I wonder if it's more insecurity?).Anyways... after that we trotted up to stadium.

 

And perfect! The jumps were set low. Maybe 18". Maybe one 2' or so. So we warmed up and we actually had a lovely trot! She was quite fancy. And we got some nice leg yield too, especially when I let go of the inside rein. ;) We cantered a bit and then we jumped a cross rail. And then I took her over the small vertical correclty and then we came at it from a steep angle. At the trot. She ran out. Which... fair enough.. I didn't quite close the door and I was way too steep to start. So we came at it a few more times with less angle but still angled and she got it and was jumping. And then I made it slightly steeper and she still got it. So then we moved to another fence and she was like "ohhhhh, okay.. I understand the question". And so then I strung a few together. They weren't quite a straight line with steep angles because of how they were set. So I had to arc some but overall, it was stil slicing and dicing! She was so good. There was also a line of 4 jumps set up and we popped over those. But holy cow.. ha ha.. She got WAY too big and long (or the striding was awful) and she boing boing boinged her way through on half strides! Ha ha.. I'm guessing it was a one stride, to a two stride to a three stride, and I'm guessing we did a 1.5 to a 1 to a 2 stride. Doh! We came again and I held her more and it was better but still super tight. We played with a few more angled lines and then I set them up slightly. Maybe 2'3". Nothing crazy. And we did some more angled lines and she was perfect! Well, she got quick, but once I rode and insisted she stay smaller, she did. Probably not small enough, but... smaller for sure. Good pony!! 

After that, we were both hot. She was blowing hard too. It wasn't even THAT hot.. just so dang humid! So we went to the woods and hacked a little bit. We walked in the shade to the lake and I was hoping she's splash and paw some but she didn't. She did walk in and sniff the water.. then sort of spooked/snorted at the water... Silly! But she didn't try to roll. We headed out and took racoon loop back up to the field and then cut back across XC to get back into the woods in the shade. It was actually quite lovely in the woods. There was a great breeze, which was odd. Maybe there was a breeze in the field too but the sun was so hot it made it not noticeable. 

   

We headed back and she got a nice long shower. And then she kept licking the hose water again. I tried with a bucket of fresh cold water and she licked the water a few times but never drank. She's so weird! 

 

When we got home it was so humid I ended up not riding anyone else. Ugh. It was miserable. So I ran errands and then hosed them off before dinner. Then after dinner, just before sunset we heard  a giant crack of thunder and they all bolted out of their stalls. I went out there and it was bright and sunny with some small dark clouds.. and then about 3 minutes later it came POURING down.... absolutely pouring and blowing. But at least it cooled it down. And after it poured buckets for 20 minutes, it stopped and then has been raining on and off for a bit, with some nice thunder rumbles. Ahhhh... Yay! My pastures and flowers will be happy and thank goodness it's cooled things down! 

Another good ride!

 It was hot today, but... it's gonna get hotter! And actually, it didn't feel quite as bad as it should have. And there was a nice breeze at times. So, I decided to ride Funny. I was tempted to go to Ashland and stay in the woods, but figured I'd do that tomorrow. (I was supposed to be working but then had my biopsy scheduled so moved work and then they postponed my biopsy... last minute, so.. I'm just gonna enjoy the day off). Plus I had already been to Ashland twice today. So that's what we did.

  

We hacked up through the pasture and did some walk to warm up. And she was a little bit fussy but not too bad. She was tense but not throwing a tantrum about it. And we got some nice walk fairly easily. We also played with turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches. Not too shabby. 

 

We picked up the trot and played with it. Overall, she's so much better and her tempo is much improved. I'm just getting greedy now and want more balance and a slower tempo. But she was pretty decent. She was also a bit better in the connection today too. Sure, there were moments of head tossing and fussing but.. lots of moments of a really nice soft elastic connection. Yay! She was also better about bending today. Especially if I opened my outside thigh to give her space when we were tracking left. We did some cantering too and they were really quite decent today. And we did some transitions and she settled down to a nice trot pretty quickly. We even got one nice trot lengthen to working again. And we had some fun leg yielding too. I played with letting go of the inside rein and it also helped with her. (Not just with Lyric in my lesson today). Duh! We did some halts too, but those aren't great. I need to make a mental note to start practicing the "easy" test movements to gain some "easy" points. Like... we need to practice our centerlines and our halts so we can get good scores there. We also played with the stretchy trot today but it kind of sucked. She wants to run tracking left and gets too quick. But it is better and more bendy tracking right. So, I'm guessin ghtat my right stretchy trot tests will score better. We did a few walk transitions, within the gait and to the trot and back and they were decent. 

 

She was a good girl and we had a pretty nice ride overall. Yay!! We headed home and she got a nice long bath. She let me spray her face off, although she was not happy about it, but then she wanted me to spray her in the muzzle. Right on her boop! Which, made it splash back at me. Hee hee. Silly girl! 

 

 

Tomorrow we'll go play in the woods and do some angled jumping! (Not a ton in case we get our lesson with Jacel). 

Well that was lovely!

Well, today turned out surprisingly good! I got up early for the farrier and had the ponies ready for him. His daughter came because school is out and she had fun snuggling and petting the girls. She even did Funny's hair. :) I can't decide if Funny was horrified or pleased. But she was really good with her. So was Lyric. Even Dan was a good boy. 

Then I went to the chiropractor and got my neck adjusted. Also sat on the roller table. Yay! Then I rode Dan at Ashland with Sharon and we went for splashy swim. Then when I got home, Mike went to get chain cleaner, so I decided to hop on Funny. She wasn't finishing her grain a few days ago for two meals and then the third meal she walked away entirely after only eating a few bites. I can't decide if she's in raging heat (AGAIN!) and just wanted to go hang out with Jean's horses.. or if she's ulcery. She's definitely in heat, but... she's been in heat many times before and has never walked away from her grain. So I started giving her sucralfate before meals and she went back to eating. So, when I caught her today for her ride, I gave her sucralfate and then we tacked up. I put the pretty gold pad on her and I really kind of like it!

 

We headed up to the arena and she was a little fussy because Dan and Lyric were in the barn. But they eventually came up and she got over it once we were most of the way to the arena. We spent a little bit of time at the walk and we actually had a decent walk most of the time. Then we did some trotting and in the very beginning she was lovely! She got quick fairly quickly, but it wasn't too bad. We had some really nice work. She was more bendy today and not as against my left leg. And she was softer in the contact and didn't invert as much. We played with some leg yields and some lengthens and sitting trot. And then we did some canter. It was a decent canter today. We went back to trot and got some nice work again, although as usual she was still a bit quick after. We played with transitions so she is learning to come back to "neutral" quicker each time. I even touched on the walk again and she wasn't too bad at all. 

 

I also did a tiny bit of cantering over the ground poles and sliced them, after our lesson the other day was so tough. But they weren't really conducive to it how they were placed in the arena. And I was too lazy to get off and move them and in the dressage saddle, so I just figured we'd do that another day. 

 

She was really quite nice and we finished with some decent trot work and a halt. Then I made her walk aound again and we practiced free walk to working walk to free walk and on and she was still better than I expected. Then we did the WE gate once and she did pretty darn good! Then we walked to the actual gate.. and I made her stand there and she took a breath and didn't try to move off immediately so I opened the gate and she stood until I asked. Ahhhh. Good girl! So we meandered back down and then she got a nice long rinse. And then I prepped feed and she ate. Even though I didn't immediately redose the sucralfate. So.. now I have to decide... was it coincidental or does she really have ulcers and the sucralfate is making her feel better? I guess my only way to decide for sure is to pull her off the sucralfate and see if she goes back to not eating. Well, I guess I should technically scope her to really know. But I'm wondering if I should just pull her off it fairly soon and see what happens (because it's not like the ulcers will be healed by 3 days of meds). If she keeps eating... it probably isn't ulcers. If she stops again immediately, it's likely ulcers and then I need to decide if I want to scope or just treat. And then decide what to treat with... oof. We'll see if I decide to check tomorrow morning or if I wait til tomorrow evening... 

 

 

 

Feral Beasty!

This morning Funny got her coggins pulled and then microchipped. She was a very good girl for it. And now she's legit!

Then this evening we went for a lesson at Barbara's. It was hard! And she was feral! We did some hard lines... angled jumps. Stuff we've not actually really ever done. And not just casual angles.. hard slicing! 

 

She started out pretty feral. We did get in some trotting but she was bucking, propping, going sideways, etc. But, we managed to trot the cross rails! They were set on a circle/large arc.  After we did the cross rails on the arc Jacel had us do a course with bendy lines and arcs. And Funny was just running and strung out and taking down almost every single fence. Okay... No ma'am! I finally took a shorter rein and rode her barrel and got her stride shorter and more compacted and then she was better. It was really cool to feel her hind end coming up and under herself. And it takes inside leg to do it, but.. it's hard to put your inside leg on when they feel that feral and fast! But, it works!

 

Then we did some hard lines. Angling the jumps. Initially Jacel had the jumps fairly big because Funny usually isn't phased by anything. But she was not quite sure of what I was asking. Basically there were three random jumps that Jacel managed to make a line, but it was sharp angles on all three. The first time through Funny jumped them all but mostly because she was surprised and had no idea what I was asking. The second time we tried it, it unraveled super quickly. I don't know if I changed the angle and made it too steep or if she just was confused as to the question or just didn't want to or what, but we had a bunch of run outs. So then we jumped it straight on and it was fine. And then Jacel dropped them and we did more of the angles. We eventually finished with the steep angles at low fence height. And... I have to cut us both some slack. She hasn't been educated in angles. And we threw really hard steep ones at her. Because she's Funny and game and nothing has challenged her yet. Until today. But that made for a not so fun ride. Because... I don't like when we struggle so much. I hate sucking and I felt like I was not riding great. And she was extra feral today. BUT... we ended on a good note. And she became more educated. And now we know some things we have to work on. Including ridability. Because Funny.. you don't always know where we are going and sometimes it's going to be stupid dumb lines that don't make sense and you'll have to rely on me to hold that line! Laura said that she thought the first time we got through it was more luck.. because she thinks Funny wasn't sure what was happening so she didn't have time to "take charge" and then once she realized she was mad and didn't want to follow directions. Maybe.. maybe...

 

So... we both learned today. She learned about angles and I learned (or was reminded) that I need shorter reins so that I don't let her get so long and strung out and don't have to yank and make big moves to get an effect. I have to keep my hands low and do alternating half halts so she doesn't brace against me. Especially when my reins are shorter. I have to ride her barrel. Yes, it's hard when she's essentially bolting with me, but if I ride her barrel, she gets more supple and soft and jumps better. It brings her hind end up underneath her and gives her power vs just speed. The leg creating bend in the barrel slows her down way more effectively than my rein aids! And then, when we do the angles, just keep her between my aids. So... we'll practice some at home and we'll get it. We've got plenty of time to figure it out. But knowing Funny and me, it won't take long. 

It was so nice to hang out with Laura and Jacel again! I've missed them so much. Yay!