I've been having some good rides on Edgar. He is getting into shape much faster than I expected, we are still taking it slow but it's clear he isn't getting tired as quickly. He is also traveling much straighter and I don't feel like I am constantly adjusting his direction - he is going where he's pointed (well, mostly...).
I also tried something new. I don't know if it was the "right" thing to do, I just went with the moment. So, Edgar was going along quite nicely, no shenanigans, when he decides to bolt. There was no discernible reason, I think he just feels good and decides to take off. This time, instead of bringing him down right away and circling back to the place where he bolted etc., I let him go. I just rode it, kept myself balanced and stayed out of his way. Within I'd say 10 strides his ears flicked and he went to slow.
Uh-uh, I pushed him on. You wanna run, we're gonna run, I thought. I swear I could feel his surprise! Again, I just rode it, steering a little. The next time he tried to slow I got after him again, just to make sure he got the point. And he did, I think. I then asked/allowed him to slow and we walked on quietly and I continued with circles, transitions etc. Not another bolt, just a nice, attentive horse. I had to giggle.
I am supposed to be heading up to the barn soon but 1) husband isn't home with car yet (grrr) and 2) it looks like rain, again (double grrr).
I just have to share - I just paid off student loan #2, so now I only have one left!! Don't ask why I have three, I have no idea...they split and "integrated" but only partially depending on the date of issue, blah blah. I am feeling pretty good right now, hopefully it rubs off on my lesson tonight!
I don't have any video of Mattie the speedy yet as it's been raining the last few days and tonight I'll be at my lesson and Sasha will be handling both alone. SO, I'll leave with one from a couple months ago that I didn't post cause it's kinda ugly and boring. Sasha is in the viewing lounge so the angle and view through plexi-glass isn't great. Here is me riding one of my favorite boys. That's my instructor's dog crying, he just wants to be pet.
We have a new foster puppy who will be with us for the next 3 to 4 weeks. I got the call asking if we could take her yesterday morning and we picked her up in the evening.
This is Mattie. She is very happy in her crate.
She is a four-month old lab cross...I was thinking Greyhound yesterday and after watching her run off leash today I am quite positive I'm right on that. Mattie is an extremely timid dog and is in serious need of socialization. Hazel is the right dog for the job on the canine front and since we don't have children it's a good environment to slowly ease her into normal noises etc. She has been extremely quiet so far and barely shows interest in Tonka (cat). Tonka actually approached her right away and gave her a good sniffing-over so he must have sensed that she was no threat.
When we first brought her home, she was terrified of pretty much everything. She would look at the wall as if trying to figure out how to disappear into it. It was very, very sad to see. I've never seen a dog try to make itself so tiny.
She figured out she could wedge herself between Hazel on her bed and my little laptop table.
Today Mattie was starting to relax a fair bit. I let her run off leash during the evening walk and after the first few minutes she really started to enjoy herself. The tail started coming up, she was sniffing around and following Hazel's every move. She is very clumsy! She bombed through the bush without much regard for branches and tripped a fair bit. She also doesn't watch where she's going and often stops by running into Hazel's butt. Well, Hazel's butt IS where all the Ruckus happens, after all, hee hee. I will have to get some video of her running to show the racing dog gait.
Here she is, starting to relax and enjoy herself outside.
Riding always involves driving for me. My lesson barn is about half an hour away, Edgar is half an hour in the other direction. Cherokee is a little over an hour away. Usually, I see driving as a necessary evil to get where I need to be – with horses. On Sunday, the drive itself was exactly what I needed to get my mind where it needed to be.
I was thinking about Mugwump’s new ‘Wordy Wednesday’ idea and had all these thoughts swimming through my head about stories. I kept replaying the details of one particular event in my life and, before I knew it, I was filled with a combination of anxiety, sadness and anger.
Now, you and I both know that is NOT the mind-frame to be in when riding! I think this is especially true when working with a green horse. Edgar needed me to be there with him, relaxed and ready to calmly communicate with him. Fortunately, I had 20 minutes left of the drive when I realized I needed to snap myself out of it.
So, what did I do? Well, I needed a distraction that would stop me from dwelling on thoughts but would also let some of the pent-up tension out. There is really only one solution to this, for me. On went Tori. I was lucky to have the album Boys for Pele in the car, it was perfect for the occasion. Especially the song “Horses,” here is an excerpt from the chorus:
I got me some horses to ride on, to ride on They say that, your demons can’t go there…
Against my better judgment, I am posting a video of me riding Edgar. Sasha came up with me last weekend and I put him to work grooming Edgar's grandma. I asked if he would take a couple photos of the ride and the brat took some video too!
It was a very windy day, the ground was wet and it was cold. Edgar was full of himself!! You can hear the wind in the video; did I mention it was really bad? This is the beginning of our ride; he is calling out to the other horses and fighting me the whole time. He either wants to grow roots or bolt (which he did a bit last week). Even Cherokee never tried to bolt with me! (blogged about in this post and this one).
Anyway, I am glad to say he settled down after 30 minutes or so. In a way it was good that it was a spooky, windy day because it gave me a chance to ride him in that type of weather. It was good for him and was great for me because I was not alone for a change!
So, enjoy! Be nice.My only defense will be to point out that I was wearing a fluffy down vest under my fleece jacket, so not only do I look pudgy but my posture looks rounder than normal.
I meant to post on the weekend but I got sick and hence felt much more like reading blogs rather than writing my own. I did get out to ride Edgar on Saturday. No pics, sorry. Must drag Sasha out one of these days. The ground was much better (not frozen solid) but it is really uneven earth. I guess it will be good for teaching him to mind his feet, but not great for many things. Oh, to have an arena...
By Saturday night I was sick so I was pretty boring on Sunday. I DID make some hot toddys with the scotch I bought on my way back from Ireland in February. [What? I haven't blogged about my trip to Ireland or posted photos?? It's on the list!]. This was the first time Sasha had one, he really liked it! This photo isn't mine, but looks pretty close. Here's what I do:
1-2oz Scotch or Irish Whiskey (don't argue, just pick one :) ) 1-2 Tb Honey (to your taste; when my throat is really sore I go for 2Tb) 1 slice lemon 3 cloves Boiling water Extra lemon juice, if desired
I stud the lemon with the cloves and drop in mug. Add scotch and honey and top with enough boiling water to fill mug (if mug is big, leave an inch or so at the top...or use more scotch etc!). I don't use cinnamon, but it would probably be good.
Oh wait! I wasn't completely boring on Sunday (pre-hot toddy)!! I somehow convinced Sasha to drive me to the horsey store so I could spend too much money on new paddock boots and half chaps. They made me feel a little better, hee hee. They are way too pretty right now. They will look much better with some dirt and sweat. Will fix that in my lesson tomorrow, no doubt.
We also popped into the "feed and seed" to purchase some seeds to start. We have: arugula (rocket), rainbow swiss chard, mesclun mix, and kale. Can't wait to bring things to life!
Last weekend I met the Fjords and their family. Everything was still icy so this was just to meet them and check the place out etc. The family is very nice and the horses are well cared for, so I was happy to agree to try out an arrangement where I exercise at least one of their horses, Edgar. Edgar is only 5 years old and he spent last summer in training but he still needs some experience and miles. Edgar's owner is just not able to do that right now. For inquiring minds, I feel it is not my place to discuss other people's lives on my blog, so you will just have to trust me when I say that the need for help is due to an entirely honourable situation.
This is Edgar. I wish I didn't cut off the tip of his nose in the photo!
Today I went up for my first real "session" with him. Of course, spring is just begining here so the horses are all furry, furry beasts. Actually, make that furry and muddy. So I started the process of getting to know him with a good, thorough grooming. Edgar is very people oriented. He is kind and interested in what you are doing. He is also smart and clearly tested me the first little while. At one point, I turned my back and went to get something (a sip of tea, in fact) I turned around and he had undone his lead rope and strewn grooming tools all over the place! I honestly have no idea how he could manage to do it so quickly and silently. Little bugger. The good thing is that he is smart so he learns what he can and can't get away with quite quickly. I am sure he will stay a trouble-maker though.
Edgar is wondering when I am going to be done with all the
fussing. Look at the fur on the ground - I had just started!
Man, Fjords are fuzzy! The chunk out of his mane was my
marker for where to trim to. (He is not as "nesty" as he looks here, honest)
I took a break and decided it was time for a ride. I saddled him up and he acted like he did that every day. He was a little more annoyed at the bridle but I am pretty sure that is because it got in the way of the almighty hay pile. Very food motivated! Edgar is pretty green and he hasn't been ridden in months (Fall, maybe?). I was told he will take advantage of a rider who isn't capable of controling him. He did very well; we had no real issues, just him testing me a little now and then. I can tell he's had some training but he is pretty wiggly, for lack of a better word. Straight lines were a pretty big challenge...more like a series of little zig-zags. He did spook a couple times, but he didn't move more than 6 inches either way - basically spooked in place. Nice. I am certain he was just feeling good and not used to being out under saddle in a big field like that.
He really carried himself nicely when he wanted to. Hopefully I can make that more frequent in time. I really felt like I was riding a much bigger horse! So far, so good. I wasn't looking for this type of project but I think it's a good match.
Crazy owner told me to go ahead and trim his mane. It was starting to get heavy and flop a little. I have never done this before AND was given kitchen shears to do it with!! Surprisingly, they worked very well. I would still love a pair of clippers but totally understand not wanting to pay the crazy $ for them.
Here is the mane after the first few cuts. Oh my, I was so scared!
HorseOfCourse, I apologize for massacring your native breed.
I promise I will make it better next week!
I forgot to take an "after" photo but it ended up ok. Not perfectly smooth across the top, but I think you need to do it over a couple days anyway. Oddly enough, Edgar seemed fairly sensitive to having his mane combed. Most horses don't even notice it...wonder if that's usual or not.
I've been having some good rides on Edgar. He is getting into shape much faster than I expected, we are still taking it slow but it's clear he isn't getting tired as quickly. He is also traveling much straighter and I don't feel like I am constantly adjusting his direction - he is going where he's pointed (well, mostly...).
