Gathering Momentum

 Since my last post things have really picked up. The weather decided to be more spring-y and I took full advantage. Last week I rode every day Monday-Friday. It was great. Sessions are shortish because we are building up to work. 

Quaid:

On Monday I ended up just lunging Quaid because he was really full of himself. There were puddles in the ring and apparently they insulted his mother based on his reaction. I thought it was a great time to work on teaching him to seek the puddle. Much like the work I did with Carmen to get her to seek the tarp, I set it up so that all my demands ceased as he approached it and upped my demands away from it. It took a bit for him to figure it out but when he did he was like 'ooohhh'.  It was interesting because his attention clearly wanted to be outside the ring and I had to work hard to keep his focus inside and on me, without creating a blow up but not backing down from one either. 

He has opinions about working with puddles

I rode him on Tuesday and Thursday and he was really good. I have been trying to stay conscious of being consistent and connected. Not let him shift his focus to outside.  I'm feeling braver and more confident on him this spring Part of it is that he feels more substantial.  The other part is the mental work I've done on myself. Not that I"m done. I'll probably never be done, lol.  

We even cantered on Thursday and it was fine. You may recall that last week it became a bit of an issue. He would get balky about it and become difficult. I did a lot of work before winter set in to smooth this out.  Now one canter does not a summer make, as they say, but it is positive and I'll take it. 

The vet came on Wednesday and things were pretty good. She noted some interesting things with Quaid's teeth. He's missing some teeth and his lower canine has migrated forward. His upper canine is not there but there is a bony lump under the gum. He had a fragment of a tooth cap that was stuck between his teeth that she took out.  

see that tooth far left? it's his canine, 
instead of an incisor

Otherwise everything was fine. 

This weekend I'm taking Quaid to a groundwork clinic and I think it will be great for us. 

Carmen: 

Carmen usually comes out of winter pretty calm and ramps up. This year she has been spicy from the beginning. What it interesting is that it feels fun and not frustrating. There was even one day that a couple years ago would have had me dismounting. But I found myself shrugging and riding forward. What is interesting about this is that she isn't spooking/bolting. Not that she wouldn't. I'm pretty sure she would but I'm keeping her connected and forward so she doesn't. 

I had a lesson today and decided to start with Carmen.  We did the entire lesson at walk and it was awesome. Jane had me work on riding with my legs. The exercise was to do really shallow loops with my legs. For example, bend with my left leg, use my right to steer her off the rail, then switch. It was really neat and made me focus on being clear and my timing. 

she's a lot whiter this year

Carmen also saw the vet and everything was fine. No surprises. Which is just how I like it. 

Oliver

Oliver? Who's that, I hear you ask.  Last week Ed saw a truck in our driveway. he didn't think about it, just figured someone was turning around. And that could be the case. But later I went out and there was a kitten under our bbq. He took off. Later he came back and Ed was able to catch him bring him inside. The plan was to find a home for him. I went off to exercise class and when I got home Ed asked 'did you find a home for the kitten?'

No

Then he's staying. 

And that is exactly what happened. He's totally bonded with Ed and it really is adorable seeing them. Ed settled on the name Oliver (because he's been abandoned and is quite hungry all the time).  He follows Ed everywhere. 

he's so cute

I mean how can you resist?