Riding a green bean is definitely an experience. The last green horse I rode was Steele.
Quaid reminds me a lot of Steele in many ways. Both of them are pretty easy going. Quaid worries more than Steele but tries really hard and has excellent concentration skills. Like Steele he has an 'old soul'.
the apple trees are blooming
I've been working with him regularly just quietly building on the skills. Linda has been doing a lot of posts on what makes a horsewoman. One thing that stands out for me is to work towards being better not perfect. When I used to try to for perfect I did a lot of drilling. Now I aim for whatever I'm working on to be a bit better. I find that this pays off with a happier horse who tries (even Carmen).
When I first started riding him at home I started on the 20 metre circle at the top of the ring. I then added in the centre. Each ride I tried to expand it. Why like that? I didn't want him to be worried about the various parts and to be tempted to gallop off. Now I can get on and walk him all over the ring. And this week we trotted the entire ring. Green horses are so honest. Not that trained horses are NOT honest. But there are lot more layers to things. With Quaid I know right away when he's trying, tired, distracted, happy, etc. He really tries to figure things out.
Halting at X (ish)
Straightness is always fun with a green horse. I've been taking Jane's teaching to heart and making sure that my reins are not unbalancing him. I've started to introduce walking on a straight line on the quarter and center lines. It really helps him to figure out that the legs mean more than just go and to balance himself. I'll introduce trot on the quarter line soon.
One thing I haven't done with Quaid is canter. I've been waiting for our balance to improve and to feel like we won't be flailing too much. I wasn't worried about it, I figured the time would come. And it did this week. We were working and he was being great. It was a hot day and he had more whoa than go, which I don't mind. We were near the end and were trotting a circle and it felt right. So I sat up, grabbed a bit of mane and said 'and caanter'. He flicked an ear back and trotted faster. I stayed balanced (as best I could) and asked again with a kiss. He picked up a canter and we did about 1/2 a circle when I asked him to come back and I hopped off.
Each ride we are building our confidence. In ourselves, in each other.
On Sunday I had 2 lessons again- 30 minutes for Quaid and an hour for Carmen. My friend Stephanie offered to come and help which was great. The plan was to lunge/groundwork with Quaid and then ride. I had them both tacked up and Stephanie held Carmen while she grazed. The weather turned cold for the weekend (of course). Sunday was a bit better but it was foggy, cold and windy. Because of the weather I didn't set up my Pivo so there's no media.
the pasture is doing great
Quaid was a bit up and required more lunging and moving out then is typical but I felt he was in a good place when I went to mount, just as Jane was arriving. I lined him up but as I started to mount he walked off. I hopped off the block, brought him around and lined up again. This time he walked off as I swung my leg over. With the high cantle of the Spanish saddle I hit it with my leg and he got a bit upset as I tried to find my balance. Fortunately, he didn't do anything and I got him to whoa. I hopped off and lined him up again. For me, standing while being mounted or dismounted is a non-negotiable for me. I hate feeling unbalanced and I'm not nimble enough to just go with it. This time he stood and we did our usual stand there and flex to the rein before walking off.
He was tight and because of the mounting issue I was also tense. When we walked down the long side two blue jays burst out of the brush screeching. I got to experience his spook. Which turned out to be a sudden jerking stop, splay of the feet and then breathe and carry on. So that was nice.
Jane was getting on my case to follow with the reins. I thought I was but she said my elbows were moving too much and if I'd just put my elbows at my side they would move naturally with him. Turns out that as soon as I did that his fussiness in the bit ended. We worked on the circle at walk and trot teaching him about the outside leg and steering. I was also to ride him forward, especially at the trot. I was riding him too slow. As soon as we got forward everything smoothed out. I could definitely feel things falling into place. The 30 minutes went really fast.
I untacked him quickly and turned him out. I then put on Carmen's bridle and hopped on. You may recall that I said she was being challenging lately. When she was a bit a strong to start I honestly didn't think anything of it. Until we went to walk down the long side and she began to throw the haunches around.
interrupting the wall of text with Me and Mini Me
We went on a circle working on bend and half-halting. Carmen totally blew off my half-halts requiring me to get quite strong. But about 5 minutes in when I was supposed to leg yield down the long side Carmen threw a massive hissy fit. She tried to bolt, throwing her shoulders around. When that didn't work she began to spin. I did not feel safe. I asked Jane to come in and hold her so I could get off. I apologised to Jane and said that I needed to lunge her before riding and it was okay if she had to leave.
I'm pretty sure that there were a few things going on with Carmen,. One was that she's now on grass which always gives more energy. But the big thing was that she was in a massive heat and frankly didn't want to fucking do the thing. What she wasn't was scared. Before I got on she was grazing calmly and without issue. It was a big middle finger at me. I put on her halter over her bridle and brought her down to the end of the ring she didn't want to go to. She immediately picked up this relaxed jog.
Nope I said. You had energy and you are going to move your ass. I worked her butt for a solid 10-15 minutes at a trot and canter. She was to go forward with energy and when she tried to be lazy I chased her. I was, understandably pissed but I wasn't looking to punish her. I was looking to match my energy to her resistance. As we worked I was able to begin to use softer and more subtle aids. And she was not ignoring those. When she did (at first), I raised my energy and got after her. Carmen is really good at giving me half (or less) of her attention. If she was human we'd be talking while she scrolled on her phone.
Jane was still there when I mounted again. This time we were able to have an actual lesson with Carmen. We worked on getting her to bend and maintain it while half-halting on the outside so she wasn't blasting off. She was not allowed to bend herself into a pretzel to carry on a circle while looking out. Only once did she act like she wanted to bolt. Fuck around and find out I growled because we'll go. And that was the end of that.
it was hot today so she had a bath
In the end it was a really good lesson and Carmen had some great work. My body felt like I had done an intense workout. Which I guesss I had. My abs were actually sore.
I usually give her the next day off or just do a stretchy walk. But I knew that I would obsess about the debacle of Sunday, and I needed to follow up. I tacked her up and went for a ride. And she was letter perfect. Not a hint of any hissy fits. That felt like vindication. I know we've come a long way and I've done a lot of work. Carmen will always be Carmen and at times her feelings overwhelm her. Add in her tendency to be dominant and she can be challenging. It helps that I don't buy into the feelings nor do I buy that she's frightened. She just, well, Carmen.
Fortunately, Quaid is a little more easy going because I'm not getting younger.
I realise it's been a while since my last post. Part of the reason is shortly after I wrote it I came down with Covid. Believe it or not it was my first time. I have to appreciate the irony of dodging it for four years and all the travel to actually get it after a single visit to the local rec centre. It knocked me on my ass for a bit and even after it was gone I had zero stamina. Fortunately, it's all gone and I'm feeling normal. I was happy that I was all better in time for my birthday. It was a big one:
It feels weird to be 60. Like, I officially have more years behind me than in front. Which was true when I was in my 50's too but it felt different. Anyway, I had a small party to celebrate with my family and friends and asked that people bring donations to the local animal shelter rather than gifts. The balloons though- I kept those. I don't feel old even I'm officially a senior. I guess that's the key.
We also lost our OG hen, Beth about 10 days ago. She was such a lovely hen and my favourite. I believe she had heart failure. She lived to be 4 which is fairly aged for a commercial layer. I will miss her hanging out with me.
The weather has finally decided to cooperate and I've been getting more riding in, now that I'm feeling better. Carmen and I had a lesson last week. While I was sick I transitioned them to the back pasture. AS always, when Carmen is full time on grass she gets a bit strong and pushy. In my lesson Jane commented that, while she was definitely challenging, she wasn't out of control and we worked through it.
We had some nice moments
and some hilariously bad ones. Like what are we even doing here?
After Carmen and I had previously worked through her going forward she's decided that she needs to do everything at speed. And still not stepping up behind. So we're trying to find that middle ground of a working pace and pushing from behind. It's hard work. I realised that we've learned that if she goes fast when I put on my leg I'll take them off. Sigh. So I have to fix that screw up with the idea that my leg means more than go faster. We shall get there.
Quaid, however, is being a superstar. Every ride is better than the one before. There was one day when he was quite up that I decided to not get on. I'm thrilled that it was just one. The next day he was great. We can actually travel in a sort of straight line. Our travel on the right rein is getting better. I love how he tries to figure stuff out. Most rides are 20-30 minutes.
It's fun to see how quickly things can progress with a young horse. He reminds me a lot of Steele in that way.
Cordelia is growing like a weed. She's very smart and sweet. Most of the time. Every now and then she gets overexcited and turns into a nipping/hyper puppy. It usually means she needs a nap. We're going to puppy classes and she's super smart.
do you like her new tag?
I can't believe May is almost over. There's our usual show the beginning of June and, as usual, I don't feel ready. But I'll go. I'm trying to decide if I should register Quaid for 1 or 2 walk/trot classes for the experience. He'll be there anyway. We'll see.
My original plan was to alternate lessons with Quaid and Carmen. However, Quaid is only being ridden 20-30 minutes and we've had to cancel quite a few lessons. So when the call went out to sign up for lessons last Sunday I reached out and asked if I could have a lesson and a half. And Jane said yes!
Cordelia: I have my brush, where's my pony?
Now I had to work out how to limit the downtime between the two. I did a lot of thinking and decided on a plan (and you know I love a plan). That morning I put Quaid's saddle, pad, girth and both bridles in a wheelbarrow and took them up to the ring. I also hung a hay net and put a ring in a post. About 30 minutes before I brought them both in and groomed them. I put a saddle on Carmen and then led the both of them up to the ring (thank heavens I had worked on that). I tied up Carmen then tacked up Quaid and began our groundwork.
Carmen was funny. She thought about being worried, then annoyed then happy she wasn't working but insulted she wasn't first.
I set up the PIVO too. Unfortunately, my phone battery died during Carmen's lesson. I'm thinking I'll dig out a portable charger and tie it to the tripod to keep the phone charged.
When Jane arrived Quaid was ready for me to get on. I talked about what I'd been doing with him. I've ridden him about 11 times since I brought him home. I need guidance on what I should be asking from him and how to support him. Jane asked if she needed to hold him while I mounted. I said 'no, if he won't stand for me to get on then he's not ready to be ridden'. Here's a video of how we do the mounting. I pull the block out the middle, mostly because I don't want to have the discussion about grazing on the edges.
As you can see he stands very still while I get on. The slight backing up once I sit needs to be fixed but I'm trying to not make a big deal about it. Mostly because I don't want to ride off as soon as my butt hits the leather. Instead we stand there and I do a couple flexions. It's just to have him thinking that my ask will be something other than walking off.
Jane's feedback basically was for me to ride my horse and stop trying to baby him around. Which is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been too caught up into being careful. And, my god, my arms are so tight. I didn't even realise it until Jane pointed it out and I watched the video. I think it comes from me being careful- with him and myself. Even though he hasn't done anything when I've been on him, I am still not sure what he will do if/when he gets upset. Which makes me ride defensively. Throw in the general unsteadiness of a very green horse and it feels quite awkward at times.
pats for the best boy
Despite all this, we weren't really half-bad. Quaid tried really hard and I tried really hard and we each gave each other grace. He's such a cool horse that way. The lesson was walk and trot with steering. So only interesting to a few people, I'm sure. There was a definite draw to Carmen, which you can see here. But he responded to my outside leg. No one is surprised that I was relying mostly on my inside rein and Jane was clear that I needed to get off it.
Carmen is watching us here.
I also need to keep my legs draped on his side and not try to keep them off. Poor Jane, she kept having to say 'stop riding him like a baby'. And by that she didn't mean that he wasn't a baby but that he needs to have clear aids and I need to do them properly. She also worked on me getting him to do downward transitions with just my seat, no hands.
looking down but not otherwise looking good
The time really flew during the lesson (for me anyway). He stayed pretty attentive through all of it. Here's a video of the end.
look at his reach!
After our lesson I untacked him and put him in the paddock. I then put Carmen's bridle on and started lesson # 2 (honestly, thank heavens I started working out last winter). I shared that Carmen has been really good. I've been really happy with how quickly she connects with me. Jane had us a do a lot of walking, adding in shoulder-in and leg yields. I am so guilty of letting Caren bend her neck and not her body. We did a lot of giving the rein and taking it back at all three gaits. In the past when I gave the rein too much Carmen would become really uncertain and would often spook/bolt. Now she's learning to soften and lengthen her neck.
Carmen: finally it's my turn
We did shoulder in on the circle too and that is so hard. We had to do a 10 metre circle and then keep that bend coming onto the larger circle. But the pay off is that I could feel her come up and soft and balanced. When Jane asked us to canter for the first time she just lifted off into a balanced and soft canter. It was lovely. I gave the rein forward on the canter circle and she just stayed really steady and didn't lose her rhythm at all. We even did leg yields at the canter and Carmen did not get all emotional about it. I love not having to spend 30 minutes getting her mentally in the game. Instead we can just go to work.
Doing the lessons this way was a lot of work- the organization and riding two horses in very different places in their training. But it was so worth it.
Carmen: move over baby genius it's time for the expert
Last weekend was pretty epic. And it had very little to do with horses.
As you may recall, Guinness was getting a new assistant: Cordelia, a 9 week old GSD puppy. She was just outside Montreal and we had always planned to go get her. But you can't just go to Montreal and back without enjoying it a few days. I also coincided with a PWHL (Professional Womens Hockey League) at the Bell centre between Montreal and Toronto. When my daughter suggested we go I realised that the timing was perfect.
I am a country girl but I do love to visit big cities. Especially one like Montreal. It has such a great vibe and is built to walk around. We got a great hotel (with parking!) close to the Bell Centre and St. Catherine's street. I was wonderful to walk around and see everything.
Love how the new and old are connected
The game was Saturday afternoon and the Bell Centre was pumping. It was sold out crowd (a world record for women's hockey attendance) made of 80%+ women. There were infants and women with walkers. Everyone was so excited. The game did not disappoint (although Montreal lost in OT- boo!).
wearing our hockey shirts
you can't go to Montreal and not get a Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich!
both teams warming up
Sunday morning we drove about an hour to go and meet Cordelia and her family. I've known Dawn (the breeder) for a bit but have never met in person. Cordelia was as lovely as she appeared in the photos. When it was time to go Dawn was crying; she loves her puppies and gives them the best start.
We're all happy, Cordelia is wondering what's going on
The plan was to drive a long time on Sunday, stay over in a hotel and a shorter time on Monday. Cordelia was a great traveller. She would complain a bit and then go to sleep.
first selfie
Guinness was a bit barky at first when we got home but now they are settled in together. Guinness has taken her under his wing and is, perhaps, a bit too lenient. I actually saw her push him away from his food. Which is something I stopped immediately. She doesn't get to be too rambunctious with him.
We have a crate on the main floor and one upstairs in the bedroom for night time. We have our snuggle in the bed and then I put her in the crate. She protested a lot the first night but it's getting better and better. Last night she barely said a peep. Guinness was sleeping by her crate and he got up to move, she started to cry so he gave a sigh and came back and laid by the crate again. She went right to sleep.
I mean, who could resist those eyes and bunny ears?
It's been a long time since we had a puppy (7 to be exact) so we're all on a bit of a learning curve. Cordelia is enjoying the farm dog life.
helping to clean stalls. I don't know why it's taking me so long these days
this cushion fell off the couch and I don't have the heart to put it back
Overall, she's a good dog with sharp needle teeth that latch on to things and don't let go.
Right now she's glued to me- which is good. I use that to support the behaviours I want. I've enrolled us in puppy classes starting next week. Those should be fun. I'll have to remember this cute phase when she goes through her velociraptor phase.
I've always been one of those people who like to ride consistently. I get frustrated and out of sorts when the universe does not cooperate with my plans. This spring has been particularly challenging- between weather and lessons being cancelled I could literally see my training time trickle away. It's probably all part of my over-thinking, planning and control issues. But, like Emma so clearly pointed out, it's also a a path to anxiety. This quote from her post really resonated with me:
"If every step relied on the steps before, and every ride was critical for accomplishing some future plan, suddenly you're kinda in this inescapable pressure trap, right?"
And there are a lot of perspectives to take on the word 'consistency'. The way that I tend to approach it is to focus on frequency. I feel that I must ride X times per week for progress to be made. And that's not necessarily wrong- horses do like a routine. but with the way things are going I haven't been able to get into a groove. I can ride is rain or cold or wind but when these start to be combined I am much less motivated. And when you have a horse like Carmen who's not predisposed to love being ridden and Quaid who's learning how he feels about it I tend to be a little more careful.
nothing to do with the post (other than there's a post in it) but here's Quaid helping Ed with fence maintenance
I can't control the weather, but there is another type of consistency which I can control. And that is how I work with my horses and my expectations. I've been trying very hard to keep our sessions very consistent. With Carmen this means that I am consistent in my expectations of forward and being responsive. I can understand that riding 4 days in a row and then not for another 4 has definite impact on fitness so I am careful to give her breaks and not exhaust her. But I still expect her to be forward and to use her hind end. It is very common that our first trots are incredibly sucky. She's behind the leg and pins her ears. I can work her out of it but one day I was feeling like all I was doing was pony kicking a reluctant shetland around the ring. So picked up my whip. And she was magically forward. I hadn't even touched her. So. Yeah.
With Quaid I found myself falling into a pit of not wanting to screw up so not doing anything. Which is fundamentally wrong and self-destructive. Being so afraid of fucking up that I do nothing is not new. Once I realised it I could take steps to counteract it. My approach is to work with Quaid following a pattern: groom, go to the ring, work in hand, tack up and, once he's fully tuned in get on. I am also okay with not riding if he seems to be not ready. But so far, that hasn't happen.
both horses get to graze after work. Here Carmen has totally forgotten she had her turn
My expectations that he pay attention and tune in I keep to the forefront. And it's paying off so well. There are days when he's fully engaged from the get go. One day I was able to mount after 10 minutes of groundwork. Other days take a little longer. And one day I had to dismount and start again. On that day we were having a discussion over who got to choose where we went. He was getting upset with the steering and ramping up. so I got off and worked on steering from the ground. He pitched a small fit and then just got it and settled in. Which is pretty much how he operates-aaah I am not happy. Oh. never mind, it's all good.
I've been pleasantly surprised by how much of an impact my consistency in how I work vs when actually has on our progress, even though I describe it as glacial. Like I said, Quaid is still at the point where what happens can influence how he'll feel about work in the future. This makes me careful to keep things clear and pushing boundaries a bit but working to not overwhelm him. After our work I take his bridle off and he chooses to follow me even though he's completely free. That tells me a lot about the work we've been doing.
following me away from the gate
The weather is improving so I've been able to work more frequently as well. Tomorrow we leave to go spend a few days in Montreal and pick up Ms. Cordelia.
So regal and already judging me
I suspect I'm going to need a lot of consistency with her too.
