Of Saddles, Spooks and Intention

 According to my watch I rode a total of 22 times in April. Which is way better than the total of 4 for March! It's been pretty even between the two of them. 

It's been an interesting start to training. Carmen had a few days off with what was probably an abscess or stone bruise. She was off with zero heat or swelling. It's also possible that it's the saddle.  The saddle fitter was out and she said that while the saddle fit wasn't terrible she probably needed more room for her shoulders. I figured it was coming and she's bringing in some saddles for me to try.  She's moving sound now so I think that, while the saddle isn't doing her any favours, it was more hoof related.  I can't argue because I've gotten 11 years out of it and you can see how she's changed:  

2015

2025

That means that Quaid has been stepping up. I had another lesson on him last weekend and it was so good. Even better than the week before.  

Last year I had an issue with wasp nests around the ring. So this year I bought some fake ones and hung them around the ring. I totally underestimated how scary the horses would find them. So I had to work through that. Carmen took all of 10 minutes and she was over it. But, in fairness, this is the work we've spent 10 years doing.  While she's been spicy this year, she's also been really rideable, so it's fun. We've not had any big explosions this year.  Not that the spooks aren't there, they totally are. I just think my timing in answering her questions has really improved. 

Quaid, however, was really upset by the nests. So I've been working on it with him. Yesterday was a rare gorgeous day so I decided to work both of them. I rode Carmen in the morning and was a great ride.  I then headed off to karate where I was worked hard.  Because Sunday was supposed to be heavy rain (which it is), I decided to work Quaid after karate, despite being tired. 

I spent some time working him on the ground by the nests and he was fine. I then hopped on. It started fine but then he began to object to going by the nests. I was working through it and then he started to act up even when we weren't by the nests. It felt less like an uncertain horse and more like a horse asking me some fundamental questions. And not really liking my answers.  

I was all alone and wasn't feeling too safe. So I hopped off and I put him to work from the ground. Rather than working on him being quiet and soft, I was working on him listening to me and following my guidance. When he was all 'yes ma'am'  I got back on and we went to work. I realised that I was probably being too tentative about asking him to go forward and letting him set the pace because of his worry about the nests. Now I worked on keeping my intention super clear and not worrying if my ask was not perfect and stopping. I asked him to deal with me and my asks and go forward. There was some judicious use of the crop to reinforce the leg. 

And it worked, he went forward and focussed on me and not on all the things he was being distracted by. I swear one day I will learn, lol but maybe not.  But if we can't work through stuff at home we have zero chance of doing it elsewhere.  So I think my homework is that we go forward and follow my lead. 

Now it's May and soon it will be time for our first show.....