Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Back in business

On Thursday I sucked up my courage on got on Gwen again. I slid on, C/T, slid back off onto the mounting block, C/T, three times. She was wonderful and fabulous and only wanted to know which side her treat was going to come from.She didn't even wait until I was settled before her questing little muzzle started sniffing around for food. Just the cutest.

I did wuss out and use the bareback pad instead of the saddle.

I know what you're thinking, "in what world is choosing a bareback pad instead of a saddle wussing out when getting on a nervous mare who's greener than grass?"

Here's the thing, my Ansur- which I love- is kinda tall. I can't just slide into it gracefully, I have to wiggle into it. I can just slide on top of the barepack pad with a minimum of fuss, so until she's rock solid with mounting and dismounting again I want it to be as smooth as possible. I'll probably introduce the saddle when I she's ready to start moving forward and do hip yields again.

I put the old Crosby back on her Saturday and ponied her off Coriander, we did a bit more trotting and cantering this time. Uphill, downhill, and round the hill. I'm trying to get her used to the feel of a saddle over varied terrain and movements. No more bucking when the saddle surprises her!

We trotted downhill and I got a chance to be impressed with Coriander, he's really learned how to regulate himself going downhill which was made clear by Gwen's cluelessness. We started trotting downhill and she just couldn't stop herself from picking up speed until she was passing us. That made Coriander cranky and he shot a hind hoof at her, over which we had to have a conversation. No starting fights when the human's on your back!

After the ride I put the pad on her again and got on a couple more times. She was calm as a cucumber and I was feeling pretty confident. Unfortunately Saturday night the local town shot off some fireworks less than two miles from their pasture, and she's been a mess ever since. Hopefully she'll be back to normal tonight.

If not I'll be standing there shaking my fist at the sky shouting, "why fireworks, why?"

Speaking of bucking, I've been watching a lot of capriole lately, remembering just how heartily she can buck, and thinking that the capriole looks a bit like bucking. I bet she could capriole with the best of them. Future plans...

15 comments:

  1. Great progress with Gwen. Coriander sounds like a real character, nobody gets in front of him when he's doing his ponying job.

    Love the Knapstrupper horse in the capriole. I think this is the same place that Filur (on my sidebar) is living. Beautiful horses.

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  2. I bet the horse in the video is Filur! He's the blind Knapstrupper of Bent Branderup's, right?

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  3. On second glance, maybe it isn't Filur- but I have seen videos with him in it.

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  4. Is she a green horse or has she had a break for a long time?

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  5. She's a very green horse, less than 20 rides total. She bucked me off in June and it ruined her confidence, which ruined my confidence. I've been slowly getting her ready to ride again, waiting until she wasn't afraid.

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  6. I see. Well, I will be interested to follow your progress.

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  7. Coriander sounds like he takes his job pretty seriously! :) I'm glad to hear things with Gwen are going well!

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  8. I think you're doing the right thing using the bareback pad, easy to get on, but also much easier to get off if you or Gwen start to feel insecure.

    Love Brent Branderup, I have his double DVD on classical riding and riding aids.

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  9. Thanks in2paints!

    twohorses- he has a DVD set? How can I get my hands on that?

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  10. Let Coriander build your confidence back. He sounds like a steady fellow. Good work with Gwen. Nothing wrong with taking time.

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  11. Yay, Gwen!! Stupid old fireworks. Hope she was OK this evening.

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  12. She was great, I didn't even have to shake my fist at the sky :)

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  13. Oh, whoops, hey Val. He's pretty great, we spent some time in the arena tonight. Only one buck, yeeha!

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  14. You can get Bent Branderup's DVD here http://knighthoodoftheacademicartofriding.eu/branderup/dvd-riding-aids-2/

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