dancing horses

dancing horses

Friday, June 12, 2020

Not Sloppy Seconds: Lesson Recap

If all had gone according to plan, this would be the first show of the year. Of course, this is not normal times. 

wait, what irresponsible person just lets her horse graze free?
I honestly thought I'd be more upset about it. Turns out I am okay about it. I do miss all my friends though and maybe by the time of the second show I'll feel different. For now, though, I'm enjoying working with Carmen. 

Well, sort of. 

You see, earlier this week Carmen became really spooky with all the stuff that comes with it: tension, bolting, refusing to listen. I had two very horrible rides. Both times we ended up in a, well, not exactly good place, but a better one anyway. 

I did a lot of thinking about it and realized that it might be feed related. I have had to put Carmen on a diet because she has been putting on weight. I was worried about her vitamin needs and so I put her back on the supplement I had her on earlier. I thought with the reduced intake of feed it would be okay. But it really is not. So I stopped it. 

Today I had a lesson booked and Julia came out to ride with us. We started with a hack (just like the last rides) and it was clear that Carmen was much more settled. We did the whole hack on a loose rein.  We arrived back at the ring at the same time as Shanea. I explained what we had been dealing with and then we headed out to work. 

The purpose was to keep her with me. Because she was so much better that was a lot easier than it had been. Not that we were without issues. 


In case you want to see a close up:


There were good moments too- in fact far more good than bad. Although this capture makes me laugh: 

if dressage doesn't work out maybe we could be a cutting team

Shanea had me use shoulder fore while riding serpentines and she became supple and quiet. 


It was a great feeling to have things work. 
nice halt. I'm giving her a pat for being such a good girl

We practiced our walk-canter transitions. To the right they were really good. To the left she became a bit frazzled with anticipation and worry. So I stopped and let her set her rabbits free. I then picked up the reins and we started again. After a few walk-trot transitions I asked her to canter. She would get flat and lean on the bit. Shanea had me practice cantering from the halt. It was cool to practice it and feel the lift. 


Carmen was being so good that we decided to finish up with practicing turn on the haunches. I hate to say it, but I am just not getting it. I was getting frustrated so I asked Shanea to hop up and work on it with Carmen so that she could figure it out and I could see it. 

Carmen: what is this bullshit? I thought I was done
It was good to watch Shanea work with her. I was relieved that it wasn't easy (does that make me a bad person?) but it was interesting to watch them work through and see Carmen start to understand. I took some video to study. 

It was a really enjoyable lesson and a lot of fun was had. I think I am okay if this year is all about the schooling and not showing. 

Carmen: How much schooling are you planning on?
I'm exhausted and clearly wasting away to nothing





15 comments:

  1. i admit to having been pretty disappointed back in march when our first show of the season was cancelled just one week before go time.... but now? eh, not so much. agreed completely that it's been nice to focus on not taking it for granted haha. also, omg Carmen the cutting horse!

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    1. We could totally do cutting. But maybe start small, like with ducks. 😁

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  2. Have you tried this: https://madbarn.com/product/aminotrace/

    It is available in Canada and will balance your hay without adding a bunch of calories.

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    1. Ooh interesting. I love mad barn. I do feed her the digestive health supplement.

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  3. I love taking video to watch and study later. Very useful.

    Interesting that a supplement could possibly create such sass.

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    1. Yeah, I was surprised too. But was really high in protein so I wonder if that was it?

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  4. About the ooops ... you handled it so well!

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  5. I'm so fascinated by Carmen's sudden energy and sass. I'm dealing with the exact same thing over here with Nay Nay and was thinking he's getting too much protein too (we've changed a couple other things riding related, but he's been a ball of energy the last couple of weeks). Since Friday night I cut his alfalfa pellets in half (he still gets a ton of alfalfa, but I probably cut out 2-3 lbs), and he was dead quiet on Sunday? Like kicking him forward dead?!?! I'm so completely perplexed.

    ...And sometimes I, err, appreciate (?) when other people struggle too? I don't know if that's the right word, but... It makes me feel like I'm less alone in my world of not getting it while everything seems so easy for everyone else! I'm probably not saying that right, but I completely get what your saying about being relieved when it wasn't easy for Shanea either.

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    1. I think that the protein was too much for her to handle and the energy came out in spooking. She's much calmer now that I've stopped it. And thanks for understanding why I felt relieved.

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  6. haha no I don't think it makes you a bad person that you were pleased it wasn't easy for Shanea to get either, it makes you very human and also shows you how tough it is overall

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    1. I am so very human.....thanks for understanding.

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  7. I love Carmen and all of her opinions. She looks so grown up in that photo with you petting her. Sounds like a good lesson, the type where maybe not everything was perfect, but you feel accomplished at the end.

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    1. She is definitely an adult horse now. I too enjoy her opinions. Well mostly.

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  8. Oh, Carmen! I'll admit though, I had a good giggle at the "cutting" photo. Especially once I read the caption because I was thinking The Same Thing.

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