Getting Back in the Saddle Again

THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED MEGIVOR............is there internet up at the barn.....if so, I can bring the laptop one day and hook you up............

Had a wonderful day at the barn today. I brushed T and the pony until they gleamed, got all the tangles out of their manes and tails and conditioned their hoofies. Then I gave T a good hour long massage and stretched out his legs and spine before his heat therapy. He was so relaxed afterwards that he fell completely asleep, and snored with his lip hanging down. He looked positively drunk. It is so good to see him happy and relaxed as usually he is running on all cylinders.

I tacked him up and jumped on him for a bit around 3:30, we just did basically what we did last night, nothing fancy, just slow walking and working on frame and bending. He was a bit jumpy as two other people were schooling in the arena at the canter so he was distracted and wanted to go run around as well. But over all it was non eventful, short, and he was pretty content after a nice relaxing day to have some mental stimulation.

I had to pick up Rae from daycare at 5 (which is why my ride was so short) and her and I came back to the barn to feed supper. The other girls were just getting back from their trail ride as Rae and I were getting Amigo out of the pasture and Rae wanted to ride with them. So I put her on his back and I lead her while we walked with the other two around the track (my barn used to be a standardbred breeding barn, so there is a track behind it where they would train), it is a 1/2 mile track that encircles our big paddock and is bordered by woods, so Rae had a wonderful time on her first 'trail' ride. I was proud of Amigo too, as he is quite spooky and it was his first time back there, I expected the worst... but he decided he wanted to lead and he was cool as a cucumber and took very good care of his little charge, despite going a bit faster than I would have liked. I was holding him under the chin and had my other hand on Rae's belt loops, 1/2 mile at a brisk walk while bent sideways and trying not to get toes stepped on is a trick I have yet to master and I am thoroughly wore out and twisted!

All in all, it was a fantastic day for me, Rae, and our horses. Couldn't of asked for more.

I'll have to see if I can get the Wi-fi back there, Joan! Skyping on horseback is one thing I don't think we've accomplished yet.

At the very least setting up a video camera on the gate would add some interesting sights to the blog. I must start bringing a camera man with me so you can all get a taste of my daily excursions.

video would be way cool........glad you had a great day finally. :cowboyhound.gi

Doesn't a good day with your horse feel just so good!

Sometimes I think that putting that extra effort (although I really don't find it an "effort" to be with my baby) doing the massaging, etc. has more value than we may realize. That bond just seems to strengthen and I find that he is forever "turning another corner".

I am still at the stage of getting him to move off my leg......walking a bit and stopping (just blocking my hands......not pulling back) and then walking on. He also backs up without a fuss. I do this until I feel like he is listening to me and then try to bump him up into a little trot.....wow!....it is not the most comfortable but I'll take it :-)

Having a track to use sounds good. I just have a small paddock area and the road. Thankfully the road is not used heavily but I still have to be careful that he doesn't pull one of his "Hey, I think I'll stop now and show her how I can back up and swing my butt out to the yellow line!" antics. (We're working on THAT one big time.)

Oh, oh.........is it alright to talk so much on a blog????? Blogs, Stickys, Threads..............all GREEK to me LOL........(which I am assuming means lots of laughs or something like that).

Hanover......you can write as much as you want.......the girls are really happy to have feed back and comments.....its why they write in the first place........COMMUNICATION...........its the best reward............ :cowboyhound.gi

Okay........I guess I was just thinking that it is the person's blog so didn't want to take it off in another direction.

Soooooooo I shall keep blabbin' away then 'cause I have a special little nook in my heart for Turizmo.

Hanover.....pretty sure that Fiere(MegIvor) would love the interaction........

Hanover and I used to talk quite frequently about little things and share our Standardbred stories, like many things, I have fallen off the bandwagon with that as well. So this is very welcome.

Talk all you like, Hanover! As Joan said, I really do appreciate the feedback and commentary!

I agree about the massage. After yesterday, seeing how much T loves it, I felt bad for not having done it in a while. He was a horse possessed this morning trying to go outside, this is only the second night he has been in since June, and he hates it. He was really stocked up so I forwent our morning grooming and turned him out to run as he clearly wanted. He will get a good rub down after supper tonight.

Is Shane a trotter or a pacer? Do you work him a lot over poles and things and in frame to get his butt built up and him carrying himself correctly? I find that helps a lot with making gaits a bit smoother. You and him will get there soon enough with the legs. He seems to be a good horse who is very willing to please.
T has a huuuuuuuuuuuge trot, you need to make sure you are ready for it as his walk is so slow and loose and then he just lurches into this mother of an trot, and a few times I have almost unseated my self with that initial lurch. For a horse is such a straight shoulder and short front legs, he has a power house trot, it is very smooth and easy to sit or post to, his strides are ginormous and he covers a lot of ground quickly. His lope is the same as his walk, so to have this massive forward gait in the middle is really funny. He has a wonderful smooth transition from walk into jog and jog into lope while lunging, but undersaddle he just explodes.

Anyways, Ladies, I am off to do some errands and get my supplies for my course. Then I may be able to get a ride in before Rae is done school and the weather frigs off. We will see what happens.

Trotting poles! Of course! I completely forgot about that. Will have to see what I can do. My paddock is a tad on the small side and I don't think the highways guys will let me put them across the road ..........

He shoots his head up from the walk to the "trot"........(which I think actually starts out as a kind of canter because I can sit to it and it feels so smooth) but then it all goes to pieces. We have lots of work to do but that is the fun/point of it all anyways. Really need someone on the ground to help me. Hopefully, I can get him to an indoor this winter and see what we can do. Did I say WINTER!!!??? arrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh

Also forgot to answer........he is/was a pacer.

any progress over the last week?
your blog inspires me to do something with my stbds, keep writing :)

An indoor would be lovely... oh what I wouldn't give for one.

Pacers, in my experience, have a roller coaster trot. Once evened out they are quite lovely though! Will post some more tips later, they may help you with your work with Shane if you haven't already tried them.

Thanks, Twist. I'm glad it makes you want to get in the saddle, too!

It's Exhibition week here in Cape Breton, so that means I am up, showered and out the door foolishly early and don't get home till 1am or so. No updates with the nags yet, they go feral during Ex week. I check on them twice a day, throw food over the fence and make sure they have 8 working legs and 4 working eyes and I am gone again. They love this set up.

Today is the last day, so hopefully, updates tomorrow. Watching the Ex always gives me the itch to show, so now I have the plan to get at least Amigo ready for the circuit next year. So lots of riding is going to have to be done over the next three seasons to prepare!

Update: went to look at a horse for kicks. I really had no intention of buying but he seemed nice and I was down that way looking at a truck, figred why not? I'm 3 hours away from home and I might as well make a day of this trip.

He might be what I need. He scares the bejesus out of me but the following day I had an experienced friend come out to ride him, she thinks the same thing, he is what I need.

Only problem? I can't have three horses, and this new fella isn't cheap. As I said, I was really just going out to tire kick, I am not in the market with so much on my plate. I might take him for a month and try him. Maybe... I am so friggin' torn apart right now.

im confused. you said he scares you, but he is exactly what you need?

i thought the problem was you already have a horse that scares you?

I have a problem where I am scared of riding in general because I expect every horse to act as T does. This guy I looked at is a dreamboat. He is that quiet it's unreal. He's new, I don't know him, and he's reeeeaaaally tall, also, I had nothing but wide open hay field to ride in, so yes, he scares me. But, he doesn't bolt, doesn't buck, and hasn't almost broke my back. My friend thinks he is perfect for what I need, she knows me well and can really judge a horse. We rode him for two hours, at all gaits. Nothing phases him, he is a perfect family horse. He takes care of his rider.

T has me shell shocked. I love T. I intend to ride T as often as possible to get over our issues. But after several rides on him, I think it is going to take me a really long time to trust him again and I don't know how long it will take me to get over that major issue where I expect him to act up, and T *knows* I'm scared, and we all know how that goes. I'm not saying I am giving up on him, he will never be sold and I intend to continue to work him in baby steps, gain confidence with him, rebuild my trust in him. Having something sane and safe to ride when I am not riding T would be so nice, though. Something that can get me over my fear and let me get my seat back, something uncomplicated and calm. I personally feel that by getting my confidence back I will be better able to serve myself and my horse, but riding the horse that broke my confidence is not going to do that anytime soon. I have had great rides on T as of late, but they are at a walk in a roundpen. New guy I think will help me like riding again and get me riding at higher speeds, out on the trails, putting up with little battles that I can feel comfortable in winning because I know there is no blow up. With T, I do everything not to have a battle to avoid the blow ups.

I feel like crap over the whole thing, like getting a safe horse is admitting failure with T. I'm trying to look at things positively right now, and after copious amounts of thought, I think little plods around on T a few times a week paired with good long rides on another horse a few times a week and a refresher round of lessons would be our best bet.

If this makes sense, at all, I don't know. I know what the 'right' thing to do here is, but I am having a hard time with it. I'm leaving it up to chance right now.

i dont know if you've read my blog, but i understand EXACLY what you mean.
I was there. although, i luckily wasnt chucked from a horse that was mine, meaning I didnt have to face him or ride him again. But the fear was still there. I kept riding, but was mediocre at best, and very obviously scared. I didnt progress, I just kinda got by. I didnt enjoy it anywhere near as much as I had before.

This is why I suggested Amigo before, but this new guy may be even better. Since pony's are brats. I was goig to suggest putting Amigo up for lease, but I see you've already done that :)

I just did my own blog entry about how working with Angus, my "safe" horse, brought back my confidence, nerve and level-headedness that my coach recognized before - and started me training.

She also used to make sure that I got lessons and rides on "trained" horses to work on MY riding.

Dont feel guilty, I think this is a great idea. You are not giving up on T, or letting him down in anyway, it appears you are doing this for him, because you are doing it for YOU. if you regain confidence in the saddle, (speaking from experience!), it transfers to other horses.

My friends could vouch for me here and say Im a much improved rider, in a short time, because i found the right horse.

oh yeah, and i forgot to add. I felt the same guilt, wasnt riding, and when i did i didnt really school/try to teach the brats anything. I was stagnant.

Then I made a joke to Angus's owner, as it was muddy and cold in Ontario, and still green and mild here, saying "well i have room for another, and would love a properly trained western pony". Not really being serious, although part of me knew it would be a huge relief. I knew I couldnt afford him either, plus the transport.

I left it to chance/fate.

A month later, he was in my backyard. :)

*sending you good vibes and good luck* I hate to sound crazy here, but I firmly believe that what is mean to happen, will :)

Amigo is not getting used as much as he should be to excel. He is a great pony, but forward and too much for my little girl. I've been thinking of leasing him for a while, so this new fella was the kick in the butt I needed to do right by Amigo and find someone to enjoy him for a while. Not that I don't, he's awesome, but I don't get out of him what a kid would bombing around and gaming with him, which is really what he should be used for.

This new fella is calm and steady, he's a WP/family horse. Green as sin, but just personality and temperament plus. In that regard, he is exactly what I need. Sane, sound, and slow.

Essentially, Twist, what you did is what I am trying to do (I do read your blog, it is inspiring). Get a triple S horse (sane sound slow!) who I can feel comfortable on, take up lessons again so I can renew my ability and progress, and learn to relax and have fun like I used to. Really the third horse wasn't in the plan at all (I think the money is better invested in lessons), but upon finding one, and having others test drive him, the point was made that I can't progress riding once a week and then getting a fright put back into me, I need to be able to take the lessons home where I am not in a nice cushy indoor.

I talked to the seller yesterday about taking the horse for a month, so I could get used to him and get some riding put on him. Seller was all for it yesterday and I went home to think it over. I called him today, someone else is coming to look at him this afternoon. Seller understandably wants to just get rid of him outright, so he will call me back tonight and let me know whats going on. I'm leaving it up to fate.

Really, the fact that a truck came up for the right price (it was a bust, too much body work, poooo) 3 hours away, I stumbled on the horses ad who coincidentally was 5 minutes away from the truck, decided to go see him because I didn't want to drive 3 hours for the sake of 20 minutes even though I had no intention of buying (I usually don't waste people's time like that, but he seemed nice, I wanted a gander), and then he ended up being really freaking nice and could be the horse who makes me enjoy riding again.... I think fates been pretty good so far. So fingers crossed I can take him for the month.

Im a big fan on leaving things to fate. I had the opportunity to get a trained horse last year for free, but something didnt feel right, so i backed out. If I had gotten him, I would never have gotten Angus, who proved to be EXACTLY what i needed, and MORE.

Judging from your posts, Im sure you havea solid foundation. I understand the need to invest in lessons, but I find its not the only way... Since I was broke all winter, I saved my pennies, and went to monthly clinics, and stumbled upon a new reiner's dream on the internet : reiningtrainingonline.com

through reading, and practicing on my own, and reinforcing it through clinics, I think i learned more than I would have in regular lessons, since it stuck :)

but to each their own.

and yes, i know im a bad influence :P

LOL well I wasn't planning on doing this till this till literally yesterday. And I still don't know if financially I *can* do this. But really, this route, if it works, might be what I need.

I've been riding since I was 10, and working with horses since I was 2. I have all the foundation in the world, and not trying to blow any horns, but I used to fancy myself a quite decent rider. I've just been ruined. After taking four years off, losing my fitness, and then near ending up a paraplegic, my riding sucks. I'd be ashamed to ride in a clinic now, besides the fact I am too fearful on a horse to actually do anything more than walk/trot. My old reining coach is excellent, and I really feel she will help me with my issues. I took a few lessons with her again just before I bought Amigo, and I noticed a difference, being able to ride a horse who I don't need to carry every step will help me focus on me, and having her there to bark at me when I fall into bad habits and work in an indoor allows me to realize what I need to do, and do it, instead of worrying about the horse. However, like you mentioned, practicing on my own is where the key lies. I need a combination of both, and as my friend said, I can't get that with my current horse. Amigo is possible, but he was trained english, so there is a disconnection there. I need to ride more than once a week on a Triple S Horse. And with my friend putting work onto this new fella (which she is a absolute doll for offering) I can really progress with him.

If he falls through I will just continue as I have been and still start lessons. Maybe look for another horse later on when I am more sure in myself and my ability. As I said, financially, I dunno what the heck I am gonna do. Upkeep costs are no issue, it's the initial pricetag I am worried about.

Sitting tight for now. Chewing my fingernails to the bone.

that outsider "barking orders" is definitely a good idea.

keeping my fingers crossed for you, :)

I think this sounds like a very interesting and intriguing opportunity! It might get your confidence back. I need to get into some lessons too, it's been far too long and I know I am not as good as I used to be. I definitely get where you're coming from.

Intresting and intriguing indeed!

No call as of yet. I wonder if he'd let me know either way. I hate the waiting game.

He's sold. Fate I guess.