The one that's so good? Well it was shite today, rofl! We got it in the end, but it took some doing. So just as I was starting to disappear up my own arse, good old Wilson rescued me.
It was worth persevering though because once we had our good trot we were able to do some cantery-cantery. The surface was nice and damp and it certainly helped. I was really pleased with our upwards transitions: Wilson is starting to stay soft and round and not come against the hand quite so much. We did a lot of transitions into and out of canter and they are definitely improving, as is the canter itself, but I was most pleased with our very last canter-trot transition which was definitely Good: he really listened to my seat and I don't think I used my rein at all, so he stayed soft and round and just flowed into trot.
Making strawberry jam today. Don't like making it, I can never get it quite right.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
Upping the ante
Last week it all started to get a bit, dare I say it, boring. Wilson just did whatever I asked him to do, and he did it well. I then decided it was time to get to grips with canter transitions and I'm glad I had a go at them because that was what we were doing in our lesson this morning.
I've been giving the rein away when asking for canter because otherwise he comes against my hand; Mr WoW told me that this was exactly the right thing to do, which made me rather pleased with myself. Same thing for downwards transition: as soon as I think he's going to trot, give the rein away.
Our biggest problem is falling out. If I control the outside shoulder everything is much better.
We did quite a lot of work in canter today. The canter itself isn't bad at all, once I actually manage to GET it. Wilson doesn't do crisp trot-canter transitions; Mr WoW says it looks as if he's working out which leg to lead with.
The ante is definitely being upped; apparently our trot is so good we can move on to improving the canter now, with a view to really engaging and collecting it. And we practised trot-halt-trot down the centre line. Just as well we did; it was absolutely the most worsest thing we've done in a long time!
But our squares were great.
I've been giving the rein away when asking for canter because otherwise he comes against my hand; Mr WoW told me that this was exactly the right thing to do, which made me rather pleased with myself. Same thing for downwards transition: as soon as I think he's going to trot, give the rein away.
Our biggest problem is falling out. If I control the outside shoulder everything is much better.
We did quite a lot of work in canter today. The canter itself isn't bad at all, once I actually manage to GET it. Wilson doesn't do crisp trot-canter transitions; Mr WoW says it looks as if he's working out which leg to lead with.
The ante is definitely being upped; apparently our trot is so good we can move on to improving the canter now, with a view to really engaging and collecting it. And we practised trot-halt-trot down the centre line. Just as well we did; it was absolutely the most worsest thing we've done in a long time!
But our squares were great.
Show report
Well, the Young Man scrubbed up beautifully and so did Nadia - she looked very grown-up, not a kid on a pony any more.
He was a bit of a handful in the warm-up and could NOT canter on the right lead; however he did show his flamboyant side with a fantastic trot that was even a bit bigger than medium, complete with flicky ankles! We had no idea he could do that.
In the show ring he was impeccably behaved and bless his darling heart, he gave her the correct canter lead both times. They did a lovely little show, very neat and tidy, so I was disappointed for them when they were only placed 5th. I'd have given them 3rd. And to add insult to injury, rosettes were only awarded to 4th place so they came away with nothing. What's the point of placing to 6th if you don't actually GET anything?
Surprisingly though it didn't matter for more than a minute. They both looked fab and did very very well, and a good time was had by all. There are some photos somewhere which I'll post when I find them.
He was a bit of a handful in the warm-up and could NOT canter on the right lead; however he did show his flamboyant side with a fantastic trot that was even a bit bigger than medium, complete with flicky ankles! We had no idea he could do that.
In the show ring he was impeccably behaved and bless his darling heart, he gave her the correct canter lead both times. They did a lovely little show, very neat and tidy, so I was disappointed for them when they were only placed 5th. I'd have given them 3rd. And to add insult to injury, rosettes were only awarded to 4th place so they came away with nothing. What's the point of placing to 6th if you don't actually GET anything?
Surprisingly though it didn't matter for more than a minute. They both looked fab and did very very well, and a good time was had by all. There are some photos somewhere which I'll post when I find them.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Lovely day yesterday
Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. Lots of wonderful small but important things, to wit:
Visiting my dad was actually a pleasure. There are so many times that I dislike the man intensely, and with good reason; however yesterday I only saw in him what was good and generous and worthy of being loved - and for the first time in ages I felt love for him. I should say that this had far more to do with him being lovely than with me being a good person or anything like that.
Elie and Glyn's mum went shopping for her (Elie's!) prom dress. The prom is tomorrow. We had found a lovely dress a few weeks ago but it turns out that all Elie's friends are wearing pink meringue-type frocks and hers was rather classic and dare I say it, plain, so the poor kid wanted something a bit fluffier. I dropped them off in Liverpool while I went to see dad and got a phone call saying she'd found something, it was THE dress, but it was expensive. What the hell, I know what my mum would have said if she'd been there, so I okayed it.
It's gorgeous! Not at all the sort of thing I'd ever have thought Elie would wear. It's coral pink with gold bling and a short, gathered-up skirt. Today they're shopping for shoes, bag and accessories :rolleyes: :skint:
Then Nadia took Rocky for their first gallop in the field. All by themselves. Well I was watching, but no equine company. She did a bit of W T and C first, then took him for a gentle canter further into the field and on returning to me, bless her, she asked if he was tired now or could she take him for a bit of a blast. The pony wasn't even out of breath, but she cares about his joints and tendons and things because he's an oldster. Anyway off they went and they had the most lovely gallop. He's so careful with her, he loved stretching his legs and she had the biggest grin I've ever seen.
So that was my day. It doesn't sound like much when I write it down, but my heart felt full to overflowing. I am so blessed!
Visiting my dad was actually a pleasure. There are so many times that I dislike the man intensely, and with good reason; however yesterday I only saw in him what was good and generous and worthy of being loved - and for the first time in ages I felt love for him. I should say that this had far more to do with him being lovely than with me being a good person or anything like that.
Elie and Glyn's mum went shopping for her (Elie's!) prom dress. The prom is tomorrow. We had found a lovely dress a few weeks ago but it turns out that all Elie's friends are wearing pink meringue-type frocks and hers was rather classic and dare I say it, plain, so the poor kid wanted something a bit fluffier. I dropped them off in Liverpool while I went to see dad and got a phone call saying she'd found something, it was THE dress, but it was expensive. What the hell, I know what my mum would have said if she'd been there, so I okayed it.
It's gorgeous! Not at all the sort of thing I'd ever have thought Elie would wear. It's coral pink with gold bling and a short, gathered-up skirt. Today they're shopping for shoes, bag and accessories :rolleyes: :skint:
Then Nadia took Rocky for their first gallop in the field. All by themselves. Well I was watching, but no equine company. She did a bit of W T and C first, then took him for a gentle canter further into the field and on returning to me, bless her, she asked if he was tired now or could she take him for a bit of a blast. The pony wasn't even out of breath, but she cares about his joints and tendons and things because he's an oldster. Anyway off they went and they had the most lovely gallop. He's so careful with her, he loved stretching his legs and she had the biggest grin I've ever seen.
So that was my day. It doesn't sound like much when I write it down, but my heart felt full to overflowing. I am so blessed!
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Lemon squeezy
My first thought this morning when I woke up was "Wilson! Riding!"
It took me ages to tack up because I kept snogging him, he is absolutely delicious. I'm gratified that he's turning into a real mummy's boy, hehehe.
We worked on our squares again and he was utterly fantastic. Our first walk-trot transition was a bit ropey but almost before I could bring him back to walk and do it again he had got his act together, so we didn't bother doing it again and just enjoyed what we had.
We'd worked on left bend yesterday and it was much better today. Well, I say much better - it was, but it's still fairly embryonic. But we're moving in the right direction.
I had a lightbulb moment while practising canter transitions. They have been utterly utterly vile and horridge and today I thought I'd see what happened if I didn't try so hard! I sat back (not enough, I'm pretty sure I still tipped forward a bit), gave the inside rein away, and let the canter happen. There was no hand for him to come against and he sort of poured into canter, carrying himself to a greater extent than usual.
So I was very pleased with that but I'm even more pleased with our sitting trot practice because it's starting to feel doable. Not for some considerable time, I don't think, but when we first started I was quite despondent about it because I didn't think I'd EVER even come close to it. It's still jolly difficult though and I doesn't like it.
Finished our session and I don't think I even broke sweat, it was all so easy today. I wonder how I'd fare on a different horse!
It took me ages to tack up because I kept snogging him, he is absolutely delicious. I'm gratified that he's turning into a real mummy's boy, hehehe.
We worked on our squares again and he was utterly fantastic. Our first walk-trot transition was a bit ropey but almost before I could bring him back to walk and do it again he had got his act together, so we didn't bother doing it again and just enjoyed what we had.
We'd worked on left bend yesterday and it was much better today. Well, I say much better - it was, but it's still fairly embryonic. But we're moving in the right direction.
I had a lightbulb moment while practising canter transitions. They have been utterly utterly vile and horridge and today I thought I'd see what happened if I didn't try so hard! I sat back (not enough, I'm pretty sure I still tipped forward a bit), gave the inside rein away, and let the canter happen. There was no hand for him to come against and he sort of poured into canter, carrying himself to a greater extent than usual.
So I was very pleased with that but I'm even more pleased with our sitting trot practice because it's starting to feel doable. Not for some considerable time, I don't think, but when we first started I was quite despondent about it because I didn't think I'd EVER even come close to it. It's still jolly difficult though and I doesn't like it.
Finished our session and I don't think I even broke sweat, it was all so easy today. I wonder how I'd fare on a different horse!
Monday, 22 June 2009
Better today!
I'm so glad I didn't ride yesterday. As a matter of fact, Wils had been lying down looking as if he had one hell of a hangover and moaned something about it having been one hell of a session the night before, and did we HAVE to ride? So because neither of us was in the mood I let him be.
The result was that at 8 am I had a horse who was up for a lesson with Mr WoW and did SO well. The lessons with ScaryButNice are paying off too and between them they seem to have everything just about covered: he is very concerned with straightness, she is equally concerned about bend. Today we had both, almost all the time in the right places, lol. She's also made a difference to my hands - not that she's said anything I haven't been told before, but when she says "keep your hands soft" somehow I understand what she means, and today Mr WoW told me he liked them very much :-D
Once again Mr WoW waxed lyrical about my "talented" horse. He'd been doing a clinic yesterday he said, and there was only one horse he'd seen who was a patch on mine - and that was a 14hh Connemara that did piaffe! He'd liked the pony so much he'd actually got on it (and done the piaffe), and he must be nearly 6ft tall!!
All I know is that even if Wilson was the most talented horse in the world, he'd be no use to me unless he was sweet-natured, kind and generous - which he is, abundantly. And he's priddy too :wub:
I was so touched by Mr WoW's raptures, and so delighted with our lesson, that I texted Wilson's previous mum to tell her how wonderful he is, and thank her for letting me have him, and assure her that I love him with all my heart.
Ooops, gushing ...
The result was that at 8 am I had a horse who was up for a lesson with Mr WoW and did SO well. The lessons with ScaryButNice are paying off too and between them they seem to have everything just about covered: he is very concerned with straightness, she is equally concerned about bend. Today we had both, almost all the time in the right places, lol. She's also made a difference to my hands - not that she's said anything I haven't been told before, but when she says "keep your hands soft" somehow I understand what she means, and today Mr WoW told me he liked them very much :-D
Once again Mr WoW waxed lyrical about my "talented" horse. He'd been doing a clinic yesterday he said, and there was only one horse he'd seen who was a patch on mine - and that was a 14hh Connemara that did piaffe! He'd liked the pony so much he'd actually got on it (and done the piaffe), and he must be nearly 6ft tall!!
All I know is that even if Wilson was the most talented horse in the world, he'd be no use to me unless he was sweet-natured, kind and generous - which he is, abundantly. And he's priddy too :wub:
I was so touched by Mr WoW's raptures, and so delighted with our lesson, that I texted Wilson's previous mum to tell her how wonderful he is, and thank her for letting me have him, and assure her that I love him with all my heart.
Ooops, gushing ...
Sunday, 21 June 2009
What IS the matter with me?
I feel so very down.
People keep telling me that I've been through a lot lately; well yes I have, but it's over now. I suppose I'm not as bad as I was because at least I've started to have more good days than bad, but the bad ones take me by surprise.
I couldn't bring myself to ride today so I just had cuddles and kisses instead. Wilson was lying down - evidently a heavy session last night, as all the horses except Rocky were lying down and he was lolling rather than standing!
I have to finish our end of year accounts and see the accountant, which I'm fretting about.
I also have to go to France with my brother in a week or so to sort out some of Mum's affairs, which I'm dreading - not because it will be awful because it won't, and we'll have a laff (and charge the trip to my dad, lol) but because it means she's dead. Just when you think it's over and done with, something else crops up.
And unbelievably, the worst thing of all is that Glyn and I are having a weekend in Rome. This is the day after I come back from France: I'm going to be away from Wednesday to Monday which is AGES and who wants to go to Rome anyway - what the hell is there to do in Rome?
People keep telling me that I've been through a lot lately; well yes I have, but it's over now. I suppose I'm not as bad as I was because at least I've started to have more good days than bad, but the bad ones take me by surprise.
I couldn't bring myself to ride today so I just had cuddles and kisses instead. Wilson was lying down - evidently a heavy session last night, as all the horses except Rocky were lying down and he was lolling rather than standing!
I have to finish our end of year accounts and see the accountant, which I'm fretting about.
I also have to go to France with my brother in a week or so to sort out some of Mum's affairs, which I'm dreading - not because it will be awful because it won't, and we'll have a laff (and charge the trip to my dad, lol) but because it means she's dead. Just when you think it's over and done with, something else crops up.
And unbelievably, the worst thing of all is that Glyn and I are having a weekend in Rome. This is the day after I come back from France: I'm going to be away from Wednesday to Monday which is AGES and who wants to go to Rome anyway - what the hell is there to do in Rome?
Friday, 19 June 2009
Tired, but good lesson
God I'm exhausted.
Had a good lesson with Sarah today though. She suits me very well indeed: talk about attention to detail. It always feels good to be able to work on doing things better, then better again, then better still.
I've been wondering if Wils could do with a bit more sparkle and today she asked what he was fed on. I told her, and she agreed with me that higher-octane grass nuts might be worth a try. I'll get round to ordering some eventually although at the moment I hardly even have time to go for a wee.
I'm becoming increasingly worried about my finger. It's much less swollen but still doesn't bend much, and I can't straighten it either: it's just crooked. And it's still quite painful. I hope I don't need an operation on it but at the same time, I'd rather have a finger that actually worked.
Had a good lesson with Sarah today though. She suits me very well indeed: talk about attention to detail. It always feels good to be able to work on doing things better, then better again, then better still.
I've been wondering if Wils could do with a bit more sparkle and today she asked what he was fed on. I told her, and she agreed with me that higher-octane grass nuts might be worth a try. I'll get round to ordering some eventually although at the moment I hardly even have time to go for a wee.
I'm becoming increasingly worried about my finger. It's much less swollen but still doesn't bend much, and I can't straighten it either: it's just crooked. And it's still quite painful. I hope I don't need an operation on it but at the same time, I'd rather have a finger that actually worked.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Just a quickie:
I took Wils and Nad took the Rocket in the field last night. They were cantering long before we were! We did a bit of schooling and it was ok, then we did a bit of walking and trotting around the perimeter of the field, no problems.
We came back across the middle of the field and as we did so some mares were being turned out in the adjacent field. Shades of Joe reappeared as Wilson did walk to buck :rolleyes: but it was ok, they weren't big bucks, I wasn't unbalanced (not physically anyway, lol) and he didn't do anything else.
Trouble is, I KNOW he'd be absolutely fine if I just said "Go on then!" and let him razz; he bucks because I won't let him go ... but I can't, yet :(
Today I woke him up to ride (6.30am, no wonder he was the embodiment of the word "disgruntled"). He's such a generous horse though that he gave me a super ride. We got that nice soft "huffing" trot and I tried to sit to it but that didn't go very well. Everything else was brill, spesh our medium canter and even MT was good in parts - wind in my hair, and all that.
Discovered that it's easier to practise ST right at the end when he's just about trotting on a loose rein. I was more relaxed, he did tense - nose on floor - AND do you know what: if you sit on your bum it's a lot easier!
Visiting my dad today :s but hey, all I have to do if things get orrible is to think about riding my horse.
I took Wils and Nad took the Rocket in the field last night. They were cantering long before we were! We did a bit of schooling and it was ok, then we did a bit of walking and trotting around the perimeter of the field, no problems.
We came back across the middle of the field and as we did so some mares were being turned out in the adjacent field. Shades of Joe reappeared as Wilson did walk to buck :rolleyes: but it was ok, they weren't big bucks, I wasn't unbalanced (not physically anyway, lol) and he didn't do anything else.
Trouble is, I KNOW he'd be absolutely fine if I just said "Go on then!" and let him razz; he bucks because I won't let him go ... but I can't, yet :(
Today I woke him up to ride (6.30am, no wonder he was the embodiment of the word "disgruntled"). He's such a generous horse though that he gave me a super ride. We got that nice soft "huffing" trot and I tried to sit to it but that didn't go very well. Everything else was brill, spesh our medium canter and even MT was good in parts - wind in my hair, and all that.
Discovered that it's easier to practise ST right at the end when he's just about trotting on a loose rein. I was more relaxed, he did tense - nose on floor - AND do you know what: if you sit on your bum it's a lot easier!
Visiting my dad today :s but hey, all I have to do if things get orrible is to think about riding my horse.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Hello campers!
Today is the first day of the rest of my blog.
I doubt if it'll be hugely interesting and as you probably know, I don't do photos so I shall have to rely on verbal rather than visual effects.
My SU blog helped me through no end of difficult times and although I don't intend to be miserable on here, shit happens and I hope my friends will continue to support me.
Now. Wilson and I had THE best day yesterday. Mr WoW came, for the first time since 6th April (but he is so worth waiting for). That lesson was easily our best and I couldn't wait to get on with things and just maybe, maybe we'd be ready for Elemental by September. Then of course the wretched horse injured himself 3 days later and two months went down the pan.
Mr WoW was supposed to come and ride Wils for me in the meantime, but he was busy with his eventers :rolleyes: and I'm not important enough. And his client base tends to be more westerly; I think he only has 3 people who live this way. So Myles, Nadia's SJ trainer, rode Wils a couple of times but it wasn't a felicitous combination: he's the best person I've ever seen with quirky/difficult horses, but he doesn't seem to realise that the easy horses are just as sensitive only they don't let on.
So while I was waiting for Mr WoW to reappear on the radar I contacted Sarah Dobell, a BD judge and BHS trainer, and had a lesson with her the other week. She liked Wilson enormously (natch!) and we liked her too except that she wants me to start to sit to the trot, which I think is a Bad Idea and something I have studiously avoided to date.
Annnyway Mr WoW finally came yesterday and within the space of 45 minutes managed to get us almost back up to speed, and was entirely responsible for THE best trot we have ever done: Wilson just relaxed - head down, back rounded, hind legs really underneathy - and I almost felt as if I was going to ping over his head. His breathing was deep but not laboured and was absolutely in time with his stride. It was the softest ride I've ever had and Mr WoW told me that it would be (relatively) easy to sit to. I think he wants to wait until we can get this trot all the time before asking me to sit. Hey, I don't mind waiting!
And as you'll have seen on my FB status, he was very complimentary about Wilson and it feels good to have him back. It's a pain when he can't come but well worth it when he does. I knew he'd appreciate the matchy-matchy: that's the sort of thing he notices!
Later today Nadi and I are hoping to go in the big field. We'll do a bit of schooling in there first so the horses settle, and then we'll have a bit of fun!
I doubt if it'll be hugely interesting and as you probably know, I don't do photos so I shall have to rely on verbal rather than visual effects.
My SU blog helped me through no end of difficult times and although I don't intend to be miserable on here, shit happens and I hope my friends will continue to support me.
Now. Wilson and I had THE best day yesterday. Mr WoW came, for the first time since 6th April (but he is so worth waiting for). That lesson was easily our best and I couldn't wait to get on with things and just maybe, maybe we'd be ready for Elemental by September. Then of course the wretched horse injured himself 3 days later and two months went down the pan.
Mr WoW was supposed to come and ride Wils for me in the meantime, but he was busy with his eventers :rolleyes: and I'm not important enough. And his client base tends to be more westerly; I think he only has 3 people who live this way. So Myles, Nadia's SJ trainer, rode Wils a couple of times but it wasn't a felicitous combination: he's the best person I've ever seen with quirky/difficult horses, but he doesn't seem to realise that the easy horses are just as sensitive only they don't let on.
So while I was waiting for Mr WoW to reappear on the radar I contacted Sarah Dobell, a BD judge and BHS trainer, and had a lesson with her the other week. She liked Wilson enormously (natch!) and we liked her too except that she wants me to start to sit to the trot, which I think is a Bad Idea and something I have studiously avoided to date.
Annnyway Mr WoW finally came yesterday and within the space of 45 minutes managed to get us almost back up to speed, and was entirely responsible for THE best trot we have ever done: Wilson just relaxed - head down, back rounded, hind legs really underneathy - and I almost felt as if I was going to ping over his head. His breathing was deep but not laboured and was absolutely in time with his stride. It was the softest ride I've ever had and Mr WoW told me that it would be (relatively) easy to sit to. I think he wants to wait until we can get this trot all the time before asking me to sit. Hey, I don't mind waiting!
And as you'll have seen on my FB status, he was very complimentary about Wilson and it feels good to have him back. It's a pain when he can't come but well worth it when he does. I knew he'd appreciate the matchy-matchy: that's the sort of thing he notices!
Later today Nadi and I are hoping to go in the big field. We'll do a bit of schooling in there first so the horses settle, and then we'll have a bit of fun!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
