Well the gorgeous Sammie broke out of his stable today. Not through the stable door but through his pretty sturdy chain and rubber door guard thing. He's developed a habit of poking his front legs out and pawing the walkway when dinner is on the way and tonight he must have really pushed his weight against it and he fell out giving himself one hell of a shock.
He quickly backed up into his box and lots of snorts followed while he stood there shaking his head in disbelief! It's only ever on there when people are about so no worries there, but what a vandal - I told him I'd be issuing him with a Criminal Damage fine. His face was a picture though! I managed to sort of hook the broken bits together quite firmly and then covered it with loads of gaffer tape while he stood there trying to touch it to get some treats.
I managed to long line Sammie yesterday and he was in such a better mood afterwards. He was fairly out of control at some points and very keen to get going and keep going, but he actually looked pretty happy to be prancing around. I'd noticed that he'd got more and more grumpy during the last week when I was too ill to do anything with him. There was such a marked change in him back in his box after exercise. I've never noticed that before or maybe it's just a new thing with Sammie.
Friday 21 November 2008
Monday 10 November 2008
When is enough, enough?
I keep thinking that it's enough for me when I get to a certain stage with riding Sammie, but then we discover something new. RI is such an inspiration and can spot things a mile off - a tweak here and a nudge there - things you really wouldn't think would make any difference at all, but they do. She kept telling me I had my 'handbrake' on in walk and I really didn't believe her at first. But she was right, I did. Sammie's walk is not the best horsy walk, but it can definitely get better as long as I get my act together.
Anyway, after throwing it all around my head, I've come to the conclusion that Sammie will tell me when enough is enough. He's been very good at that all along, so there's no reason he should be any different with this. I guess this still pretty basic stuff to a lot of people, but then I do doubt that a lot of people get that incredible feeling. The horse is trotting forwards, its head is in the accepted position and it's moving, but there's something so different when they are doing it in this way. It's like riding with a whisper and once Sammie starts listening to the whisper, he really gets it. I guess because he was ruined in his early life he just got used to bangs and shouts instead of whispers, so it really is a matter of him learning to recognise a much softer sound.
Anyway, after throwing it all around my head, I've come to the conclusion that Sammie will tell me when enough is enough. He's been very good at that all along, so there's no reason he should be any different with this. I guess this still pretty basic stuff to a lot of people, but then I do doubt that a lot of people get that incredible feeling. The horse is trotting forwards, its head is in the accepted position and it's moving, but there's something so different when they are doing it in this way. It's like riding with a whisper and once Sammie starts listening to the whisper, he really gets it. I guess because he was ruined in his early life he just got used to bangs and shouts instead of whispers, so it really is a matter of him learning to recognise a much softer sound.
Sunday 9 November 2008
Trot Hot Shot
Sammie was amazing today! So light at the front and so lifted and all in sitting trot. Wow! What a great feeling - I literally just sat there, no legs, just closing and opening my seat. RI said he looked lovely and impressive, but I just can't get over that feeling. I just love sitting trot (never thought I'd say that) and Sammie is now better in sitting trot than rising. RI said that's because he's really working through properly which makes it easier for me to sit and he's comfortable like that.
Boy, I'll never cease to be amazed by how tiny, tiny seat changes can bring about a whole host of changes. As soon as I lifted slightly and brushed Sammie forwards with my legs off he goes.
I started off by saying I'd like to get a better walk. So we lifted, brushed forwards and if nothing happened I tapped my boot. RI reckons Sammie finds the walk rather boring now, but by the end we were getting some better strides.
I was just feeling great when RI threw in another challenge - stay sitting at trot but open him up down the long side of the school. Hmmm... well that ain't quite so easy to sit to just yet! You have to lean very slightly backwards, get your pelvis underneath you and release. Bless him, Sammie did it, but I need to get better at sitting to that extended pace!
Then we worked on paces within the canter - letting him out a bit down the long side and collecting up at the top ends. Not as easy as it sounds I can tell you! You really have to use your back and stomach muscles - mine were groaning by the end.
Before we did all of that we did lots of transitions - trot to halt, halt to walk, walk to halt, halt to trot. It really does lighten him up at the front which is why I think we got such a lovely sitting trot.
Once again RI said how well we're doing and that people can have lessons for years and not come on nearly as much. She also said he still looks absolutely fine on his feet as well. I know he is, but it's good to hear other people say that as well.
Boy, I'll never cease to be amazed by how tiny, tiny seat changes can bring about a whole host of changes. As soon as I lifted slightly and brushed Sammie forwards with my legs off he goes.
I started off by saying I'd like to get a better walk. So we lifted, brushed forwards and if nothing happened I tapped my boot. RI reckons Sammie finds the walk rather boring now, but by the end we were getting some better strides.
I was just feeling great when RI threw in another challenge - stay sitting at trot but open him up down the long side of the school. Hmmm... well that ain't quite so easy to sit to just yet! You have to lean very slightly backwards, get your pelvis underneath you and release. Bless him, Sammie did it, but I need to get better at sitting to that extended pace!
Then we worked on paces within the canter - letting him out a bit down the long side and collecting up at the top ends. Not as easy as it sounds I can tell you! You really have to use your back and stomach muscles - mine were groaning by the end.
Before we did all of that we did lots of transitions - trot to halt, halt to walk, walk to halt, halt to trot. It really does lighten him up at the front which is why I think we got such a lovely sitting trot.
Once again RI said how well we're doing and that people can have lessons for years and not come on nearly as much. She also said he still looks absolutely fine on his feet as well. I know he is, but it's good to hear other people say that as well.
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