isnt it so much fun to just play and not ask anything new of your horse? This evening General and I went out into the playground and just messed around for an hour or so. We played all 7 games with new variations, like driving/squeeze over a jump with me in zone 5, also tried out my makeshift see-saw.. HA well the wood wasnt strong enough and the whole thing collapsed! General gave me the 'MUUUUMMMM what are you like?' face ;)
Then I was TRYING to just let him graze and spend some undemanding time, but he had other ideas.. he kept veering onto the pedestal xD So we spent UDT.. on the pedestal. he was so cute. we just cuddled and talked - awh!
Then I walked away and sort of expected him to just follow me back to the yard. He stayed on the pedestal, giving me the puppy eyes 'but mum I wanna play some more!' I turned to him, and combed the rope gently with no pressure on it. And he pricked his ears, got off the pedestal and TROTTED to me!! he was licking and chewing and looking really excited to come to me!!! then he stopped at the right place and rested his head on my stomach, it was soooo cute!!! I wanted to cry!!! I love him so much.
Going on holiday tomorrow :) :(
The reason why I put two faces is because im happy and excited for it... but im going to miss my little boy so much. I hope he doesnt mind having 4 days off!! So glad we ended on a high tonight, put me in SUCH a positive mood for going away :D :D
savvy smiles x
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Friday, 30 July 2010
Its a desire to understand...
We had a tough couple of weeks, I had a lot of decisions, a lot of tests on my trust, faith and emotional fitness with a lot of things, not just my horse! But, we've come out the other end in once piece and stronger than we went in.
Me and General are doing well, we're hacking out loads, just spending time! Whether its alone, or with friends, we're having fun :D His insecurities from racing are gradually fading, he is starting to accept other horses riding next to him, and yesterday we had our first trot alongside another horse, he was fantastic and didnt even think about racing. I was so happy!!
I have taken on Joey now as my big project, playing with him daily and putting him through 'Boot Camp'. He is doing so well, his confidence is getting so much better as is his response to pressure. Hopefully it wont be too long before I can start his ridden training, but not until he's ready :)
Off on holiday next week, so no playing for a few days :( HOWEVER that means lots of time to spend thinking up new play sessions, ideas and savvy thoughts. woohoo!
savvy smiles x
Me and General are doing well, we're hacking out loads, just spending time! Whether its alone, or with friends, we're having fun :D His insecurities from racing are gradually fading, he is starting to accept other horses riding next to him, and yesterday we had our first trot alongside another horse, he was fantastic and didnt even think about racing. I was so happy!!
I have taken on Joey now as my big project, playing with him daily and putting him through 'Boot Camp'. He is doing so well, his confidence is getting so much better as is his response to pressure. Hopefully it wont be too long before I can start his ridden training, but not until he's ready :)
Off on holiday next week, so no playing for a few days :( HOWEVER that means lots of time to spend thinking up new play sessions, ideas and savvy thoughts. woohoo!
savvy smiles x
Thursday, 8 July 2010
I am still here, promise!!
I know its been sooooo long since I last posted. I used to post while on lunch break at school, and now I've left i havent got round to it! But I have sooo much news!!!
1) I have been offered a scholarship with Pat and Linda!!! OMG!!!! :D :D :D :D :D still havent got over it. Hoping to get out there next summer!!
2) I am planning to intern with Mirka Pitts in Florida early next year, she has given me the thumbs up to go when I want! Yeeeha :D
3) I can ride General BRIDLELESS!!! had our 4th ride with nothing today, and our first canter, he was great!! he's still a bit of a buckaroo in canter, but we're working on it, today i worked out that by using an indirect rein to turn and ask again when he bucks, it stops him in his tracks. He was also better bridleless than with the bridle/hackamore!
4) Me and general jumped last weekend!! yeahh!!!
5) We've been hacking out all by ourselves!! what a confident boy I have :D
6) He LAID down for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
7) We hacked up the bridlepath the other day, and had to cross a bridge, he made nothing of it and did it first time no issues :D
8) Ummmmmm so much more hahahah!!
So much news!!! So much excitement!!! I bloomin love my horse!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off to Festival of Horse tomorrow to see Pat and Linda! and Sunday too! Very excited :D
Phew. I can breather now :)
Savvy smiles x
1) I have been offered a scholarship with Pat and Linda!!! OMG!!!! :D :D :D :D :D still havent got over it. Hoping to get out there next summer!!
2) I am planning to intern with Mirka Pitts in Florida early next year, she has given me the thumbs up to go when I want! Yeeeha :D
3) I can ride General BRIDLELESS!!! had our 4th ride with nothing today, and our first canter, he was great!! he's still a bit of a buckaroo in canter, but we're working on it, today i worked out that by using an indirect rein to turn and ask again when he bucks, it stops him in his tracks. He was also better bridleless than with the bridle/hackamore!
4) Me and general jumped last weekend!! yeahh!!!
5) We've been hacking out all by ourselves!! what a confident boy I have :D
6) He LAID down for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
7) We hacked up the bridlepath the other day, and had to cross a bridge, he made nothing of it and did it first time no issues :D
8) Ummmmmm so much more hahahah!!
So much news!!! So much excitement!!! I bloomin love my horse!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off to Festival of Horse tomorrow to see Pat and Linda! and Sunday too! Very excited :D
Phew. I can breather now :)
Savvy smiles x
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
School school school
my exams are looming in front on me so it means im spending ridiculous amounts of time revising. needless to say, i've been making time for general, still playing everyday (as long as the weather's good!).
A couple of days i've stolen a lift from a friend straight after school so i can spend a few hours worth of playing, by god i think i may have found the answers to all my problems! i'm realising a few hours of playing a week just isnt enough to stimulate general's overactive mind, but instead, a few hours a day. obviosly, i cant do it EVERYDAY, due to school and stuff, but i try as much as i can, then more at the weekends.
Heres the improvments ive seen already:
On the ground just to lead around he stays with me more rather than yanking me around.
He is being less dominant when online and liberty.
He is more focused.
He listens and doesnt argue when i ride.
:D :D :D
The best thing was last night. I played online for half an hour, then rode him for an hour. Just in the paddock, i wanted to work on a dressage test i have been given to try. He was PERFECT. he didnt get strong, arguementative, threaten to have me off, try and run away or anything. he just wanted to please :D
extra mints that evening ;)
So yay!! i'm so happy at the moment. He's being a superstar again, and we're taking things at his pace, not worrying about where we're going, just focusing on the now.
I have somthing to work on, which is very interesting. His jumping has always been very rushed, and he tends to run fast at it, then jump it flat and knock the pole down. I always wondered why nothing i did would slow him down, now i've worked it out. As he raced (he only flat raced but was trained over hurdles), they teach them to run as fast as they can and jump flat, as they can jump 'through' the hedge. so thats what he's doing. he thinks its right, then cant understand why the jump ends up on the floor. So, i have been playing with reverse psychology and getting him go EVEN FASTER (just online), then he starts to ask if he can go slower. So, its gonna take some practice, but we'll get there :D
savvy smiles x
A couple of days i've stolen a lift from a friend straight after school so i can spend a few hours worth of playing, by god i think i may have found the answers to all my problems! i'm realising a few hours of playing a week just isnt enough to stimulate general's overactive mind, but instead, a few hours a day. obviosly, i cant do it EVERYDAY, due to school and stuff, but i try as much as i can, then more at the weekends.
Heres the improvments ive seen already:
On the ground just to lead around he stays with me more rather than yanking me around.
He is being less dominant when online and liberty.
He is more focused.
He listens and doesnt argue when i ride.
:D :D :D
The best thing was last night. I played online for half an hour, then rode him for an hour. Just in the paddock, i wanted to work on a dressage test i have been given to try. He was PERFECT. he didnt get strong, arguementative, threaten to have me off, try and run away or anything. he just wanted to please :D
extra mints that evening ;)
So yay!! i'm so happy at the moment. He's being a superstar again, and we're taking things at his pace, not worrying about where we're going, just focusing on the now.
I have somthing to work on, which is very interesting. His jumping has always been very rushed, and he tends to run fast at it, then jump it flat and knock the pole down. I always wondered why nothing i did would slow him down, now i've worked it out. As he raced (he only flat raced but was trained over hurdles), they teach them to run as fast as they can and jump flat, as they can jump 'through' the hedge. so thats what he's doing. he thinks its right, then cant understand why the jump ends up on the floor. So, i have been playing with reverse psychology and getting him go EVEN FASTER (just online), then he starts to ask if he can go slower. So, its gonna take some practice, but we'll get there :D
savvy smiles x
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
I havent forgotten you!!
Ive only just realised how long its been since ive posted on here!!
Right so, I'll update you on General first. He started being silly in canter again so we went back a step and are taking things slooooowwww. But his walk and trot are good, i think its just me really, i need to stop getting direct line and start following the level 2 freestyle stuff properly, i keep drifting off and trying things we're not ready for *slaps face*.
But, we're hacking out sensibly now, he's had about 12 hacks now and they've been great. After the first 'OMG i'm FREEEEEEEEEEE' scenario, he settled down and i've been able to ride him out on a loose rein with no trouble :)
Oh, and my reins snapped! I was leading him out to get on, and he put his head down to try some of the tasty grass and stepped on them, breaking the leather :( anyway, i was so thankful he can be ridden in just a halter, so many people would have panicked at this point lol!
On the ground, he's doing so well. We've built a pedestal, its not finished yet and not quite sturdy enough to hold all four feet, but 2 feet is fine :) general, and holly in fact, took to it straight away and love stepping up and down from it. His direction changes are AWESOME!! he'll turn right the way when i step back now, and in canter he's offered flying changes very regularly!
We've started liberty too! I built myself a round pen and got started, and he's sooooo good. He sticks to me so well, plays all seven games (sideways is a little sticky but he tries so hard!!) and does the figure 8 and direction changes patterns with ease. what a superstar!
Ok, Joey next. I spent all easter seeing him pretty much everyday, getting all the 7 games up to scratch and Karen (owner) started riding him! We've taught him to do lateral flexion and i taught her how to ride with fluidity and had a pushing passenger lesson. She's pretty proud of him and herself that she can ride her horse in just a halter!
I've got tickets to festival of the horse!! im soooo excited. its going to be awesome!
ooh, i got featured on parellitube too, heres the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPytalDgv6Y
and heres some pics of general on the pedestal :)
savvy smiles x
Right so, I'll update you on General first. He started being silly in canter again so we went back a step and are taking things slooooowwww. But his walk and trot are good, i think its just me really, i need to stop getting direct line and start following the level 2 freestyle stuff properly, i keep drifting off and trying things we're not ready for *slaps face*.
But, we're hacking out sensibly now, he's had about 12 hacks now and they've been great. After the first 'OMG i'm FREEEEEEEEEEE' scenario, he settled down and i've been able to ride him out on a loose rein with no trouble :)
Oh, and my reins snapped! I was leading him out to get on, and he put his head down to try some of the tasty grass and stepped on them, breaking the leather :( anyway, i was so thankful he can be ridden in just a halter, so many people would have panicked at this point lol!
On the ground, he's doing so well. We've built a pedestal, its not finished yet and not quite sturdy enough to hold all four feet, but 2 feet is fine :) general, and holly in fact, took to it straight away and love stepping up and down from it. His direction changes are AWESOME!! he'll turn right the way when i step back now, and in canter he's offered flying changes very regularly!
We've started liberty too! I built myself a round pen and got started, and he's sooooo good. He sticks to me so well, plays all seven games (sideways is a little sticky but he tries so hard!!) and does the figure 8 and direction changes patterns with ease. what a superstar!
Ok, Joey next. I spent all easter seeing him pretty much everyday, getting all the 7 games up to scratch and Karen (owner) started riding him! We've taught him to do lateral flexion and i taught her how to ride with fluidity and had a pushing passenger lesson. She's pretty proud of him and herself that she can ride her horse in just a halter!
I've got tickets to festival of the horse!! im soooo excited. its going to be awesome!
ooh, i got featured on parellitube too, heres the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPytalDgv6Y
and heres some pics of general on the pedestal :)
savvy smiles x
Friday, 26 March 2010
My horse is perfect! The weather.. not so much...
Last weekend we did lots of playing and riding, i did lots of work on his canter on sunday and he was great, he's really getting the hang of being guided just by my body and the stick. at one point i let go completely and put my arms out, cantering along the side of the hedge. it was beautiful!! thats one of my goals checked off the list :D
During the week i havent played at all. the weather has been so awful, its been lovely while im at school then rainy in the afternoons, so i cant play :( The one evening it WAS nice, i had a job interview so couldnt see him. GRR! anyway. thats a whole 'nother thing. Job! I had an interview at a supermarket, hopefully i'll get a job, it would really help out.
Easter soon! I'm due 2 weeks off starting next friday. thats a lot of playtime, if the weathers good. I have gypsy to look after too, and i'm going to be doing a LOT of training with Joey, try and get his foundation down and sorted so he's in a good position for his owner to get her confidence with him, hopefully so she can ride him soon. Also in easter i'm hoping to have a PP out to give me a lesson, cant wait!!
I really enjoyed this months SC dvd, direction changes. especially as it covered all 4 savvies. AWESOME! I played with direction changes online with general at the weekend, he even offered a couple of flying changes in canter so i was really pleased.
just a little update :)
savvy smiles x
During the week i havent played at all. the weather has been so awful, its been lovely while im at school then rainy in the afternoons, so i cant play :( The one evening it WAS nice, i had a job interview so couldnt see him. GRR! anyway. thats a whole 'nother thing. Job! I had an interview at a supermarket, hopefully i'll get a job, it would really help out.
Easter soon! I'm due 2 weeks off starting next friday. thats a lot of playtime, if the weathers good. I have gypsy to look after too, and i'm going to be doing a LOT of training with Joey, try and get his foundation down and sorted so he's in a good position for his owner to get her confidence with him, hopefully so she can ride him soon. Also in easter i'm hoping to have a PP out to give me a lesson, cant wait!!
I really enjoyed this months SC dvd, direction changes. especially as it covered all 4 savvies. AWESOME! I played with direction changes online with general at the weekend, he even offered a couple of flying changes in canter so i was really pleased.
just a little update :)
savvy smiles x
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
And now we're cantering!
Ok, the last two nights have been so BRILLIANTLY, FANTASTICALLY OUT OF THIS WORLD!!
lol.
last night i played online and freestyle, his driving from zone 5 is getting so good, he will play all seven games (except circle) from there now.
freestyle he was being a star, i practiced driving him using the carrot stick rather than the reins and he was really good, and he felt so awesome i thought hmm... why not? so i literally shifted my weight and he took off into canter, he sort of waggled his legs around a bit at first as if getting into position, then settled into a nice canter. i only did a few strides, but i was soooo proud of him! and me lol, it was pretty nervewracking! (remember he hasnt cantered with me on his back for over 5 months!)
Anyway, i played tonight and he was great online and freestyle, i completely dropped my reins and just used the stick and my body to speed up, slow down and turn, he was in a very responsive, willing mood, and he learnt to move from pressure very quickly. we played with the weave and figure 8 pattern, then just circleing in a spiral in and out etc. then we had a canter (one handed agh!) and he was beautiful again both ways.
I am so proud of my man!! Big BIG hugs to him tonight.
I can see us really getting somewhere this summer now.
YEEHA!
savvy smiles x
lol.
last night i played online and freestyle, his driving from zone 5 is getting so good, he will play all seven games (except circle) from there now.
freestyle he was being a star, i practiced driving him using the carrot stick rather than the reins and he was really good, and he felt so awesome i thought hmm... why not? so i literally shifted my weight and he took off into canter, he sort of waggled his legs around a bit at first as if getting into position, then settled into a nice canter. i only did a few strides, but i was soooo proud of him! and me lol, it was pretty nervewracking! (remember he hasnt cantered with me on his back for over 5 months!)
Anyway, i played tonight and he was great online and freestyle, i completely dropped my reins and just used the stick and my body to speed up, slow down and turn, he was in a very responsive, willing mood, and he learnt to move from pressure very quickly. we played with the weave and figure 8 pattern, then just circleing in a spiral in and out etc. then we had a canter (one handed agh!) and he was beautiful again both ways.
I am so proud of my man!! Big BIG hugs to him tonight.
I can see us really getting somewhere this summer now.
YEEHA!
savvy smiles x
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