Winter Waining.

Yes. It has been absolutely too long since I last posted.
No excuses except my complete and utter dismissal of all things computer outside of work hours and with zero free time at work until, hmm... June, I apologize in advance for my radio silence.
Literally. I don't even get my breaks the majority of the time. To much to do, too little time... Other than today I am making time dang-it!


On the equine front, seriously nothing exciting or revolutionary has happened since ...
I am beginning to get a bit of the winter grumpies... Who am I kidding... okay, a lot of the winter grumpies.
Yesterday, someone merely looked at me the wrong way and for too long to be dismiss-able and of course, my mental dialogue began spewing profanities. Thankfully, I have learned over the years that the connection between brain and mouth can be thwarted.
Although, it appears that I am not alone in my stormy thoughts. Whether at work, home or public I get the sense that everyone needs a full dose of sunlight!
Luckily too, said person also caught me after a seriously fun trail ride so it was simpler than usual to dismiss the rudity.

I hadn't planned on going on a solo trail yesterday. The fields are a mix of sheer ice and deep crusty snow drifts. Annndd... low and behold we all know Paloma and ice equals a fiery snorting beast of an equine. But since DH has decided to go on a gym binge, my rides from here on out will likely coincide with his own indulgences.
However, I do rather like being chauffeured compared to driving by my lonesome. (The horror!)

Upon my arrival at the barn lessons were running late and I just flatly wanted some quiet time to myself and Paloma. We quickly brushed and tacked, doing my best to avoid the snow showers that is Paloma's shedding. (Sometimes I wonder why I even wash my barn clothes...)

Heading out past the gates and into the wild beyond the barn, Paloma decided to be exceptionally tall, which made for a rather uncomfortable stretch to mount up. Meeting the rickety, crumbly concrete bridge over the river of death, Paloma heard the cracking of ice while the river attempted to defy it's icy blanket. That ceased all forward thinking.
Grudgingly, I hopped off, put on a brave face/walk (yes, I hate the bridge too), and led dear mare over the bridge without issue. Whimpy mare!
On the plus side though, I was able to position Pal on the lower side of a slope and mount up with slightly less effort this time but still too much effort was required for my liking... (I'm getting old....:'( )

For the first solo trail of the year, Pal was quite well behaved. She was forward and I could feel a spook in the making as we came upon every turn, tree, rock, ditch... o.k at like everything.... I had learned my lesson on the last two solo trails where unexpected spooks left me grasping for life like a rodeo superstar and I kept a solid working walk rein contact.
After a few good, long snorts I convinced myself that she was content enough to listen and began some transitions.
We experienced one moment of of butt-tucking terror when Paloma kicked up a sizable ice chunk. Though, it was quickly dismissed while Paloma sneezed with embarassment. '.. nothing happened, I was just uhh... checking your balance..'
Meeting some knee deep snow drifts, I decided this would be a great opportunity to work on our control out alone. The snow would prevent mad dashing and it would be great for conditioning and lubricating those seldom used joints.

We ended the ride with some fabulous, grin inducing moments, who knew this mare could move so uphill and lofty. Le sigh.
Both of us starting to sweat and accepting that we were on the positive side of gaining full control, we marched back to civilization, slow walking not an option.


On one side I am a bit sad that winter is beginning to wain. I had hoped for many days of snow conditioning but ice is what we got this year.
On the other side, I cannot wait to dig out of this white crap with dreams to find green!

Appy Days & Saddle Fitting.

Some cuteness to bring some warmth to out hearts in this cold, white weather.
Pally @ 3days old.

Not much as happened as far as riding goes this week. The deep freeze has finally taken it's grip on Ontario, Canada (AKA -20*c+), meaning my wimpery has taken hold of me and I have chosen my cozy sectional and snuggy over frost covered equine's. Sorry Pally-loma but you can stay snuggled in your stall and your own snuggy this week.

Saturday.
I did, however, make it out on Saturday and had a fabulous jump school with Pally.
I had set up the below for the day thinking I needed to work more on waiting with my body and releasing with my hands and not disturbing the pace in attempt to make the hard turns required for jumping in the indoor. While it is not uber tiny, it is awkward.
Refreshingly, all the flatwork that I have been doing with Pal these last few weeks, focusing my attention on balance and forward into collection have lended a little credit to Paloma's strength over fences. When I didn't muss with the pace and I allowed a swoopy, not too deep corner compared to my usual roll back turn that I feel is needed for indoor jump schools, I ended up receiving a balanced (behind), forward jump that started from the rock and push in the haunches, rather than Pal's typically quick and tight front end response and the following flat nose dive feeling.
Our consistency in achieving this tracking right failed, for the most part. The combination of jumping on the diagonal, right to left, paired with Pal's deep want to swap leads, (hullo weak side), ended in a sliding stop due to a unbelievably deep distance, which I couldn't blame her for. I didn't help, she didn't find a distance.
Although, we fixed it and moved on and got a couple 'good' fences, we never got the 'it' feeling that occurred the other direction. Baby steps right?

Tuesday.
Anyone else ever heard the saying, 'never Google your symptoms, you may just be dead already'?
Hmm yeap, so I Googled, 'CAIR saddle fit issues'. One wouldn't believe the number of mixed feelings on the Cair saddle systems!
While I haven't had any obvious saddle fit issues and no glaringly negative responses from Paloma, I always wonder why my bareback rides begin with an instantly soft backed and engaged horse, yet it takes a good 15-20 minutes to begin to receive this feeling with a saddle. With the exception of my old Kieffer cutback dressage saddle that I sold back a few years ago in order to afford my current saddle. (Plus, DH didn't understand why I needed a saddle collection. Men!)
Best solution to resolve my spinning mind, get a saddle fitter out.
I emailed Lori, my local go-to for tack deals and saddle fit, on Friday and got an instant response offering to meet me at the barn with the new stuff I ordered, more on my new goodies another time, and take a look at my saddle for the big 'ol price of zippo! God I love this lady!

Lori had never actually seen Pal but within two minutes of quiet inspection she told me why I am feeling some inconsistencies, what type of fit Pal needs and how to fix it.

Problem numero uno- Tree too narrow.
Widen the tree to an extra wide to achieve a bit more panel contact with the back, yup, Pal has zero wither and a round shoulder muscle. Then shim my half pad around the shoulder with the thin shim to fill in the empty space.

Problem numero dos- Static killing the messages.
CAIR is more or less a tiny air bag, while it protects the horses back from impact from the rider, it also dulls the messages stemming from my seat and the upper portion of my thigh. From what she is hearing, Paloma is responding to my seat when riding bareback and when in the Kieffer, which are saddles that are known for clear communication. Therefore, she is actually a very sensitive horse but she can't 'hear' me through the CAIR panels. Try shouting through a sound proofed wall.

So, in her opinion, she likes the CAIR concept. It protects the horses back from impact and soreness from inexperienced seats but for more experienced riders it is not the best option.
Plus side though, the saddle fit her perfectly after tiny tweaks. Despite the numerous drool worthy saddles she kept pulling out of her trunk, we couldn't find a better fit.

BEST Solution?
Ditch the CAIR and restuff.

Problem numero tres. 
Some of the Bates saddles cannot be re stuffed properly. So where does mine fall?
Do I chance the potential sacrifice of my saddle in hopes I may be granted reprieve from the radio silence?
Hmmm.... sounds a bit too religious and chancy for my liking.

The Uber Lovely & The Uber Ugly.

Today, this is how we do!

Talk about the twenty-one faces of a mare this week!
Paloma has never been entirely marish, aside from being divalicious, I always brag that she is a gelding stuck in a mares body. A trans-gender equine.
Although, this week, I am seeing 100% pure mare.

This past weeks rides have ranged from 'freak-nut' - spooking at things that never bug her, including snow sliding off the arena dome, yes, it sounds like a gigantic zipper but what is the deal, you were over this two years ago! Then there are the rides where you receive your mare's 110%, everything clicks, you think you have gone to heaven and will no longer dabble in the struggles of the lower beings.
Ha. I shouldn't be so naive.
Next ride, you are all pumped up because you now have a 'grown up' horse, shed a fine tear, you gear up your mind to ensure that you are being consistent with the refinements you have made with your ride annnndd... your ride is uber ugly!

Yeeauupp, that was my ride last night.

Saturday and Monday's ride were just fantabulous! I was working on applying the more refined aids I have learned lately that have proved to be revolutionary.
The even pressure on both reins at all times, inside hand 'tilt' to the outside for flexion (genius FYI), the 'skiing' thigh/leg and the inside leg/spur 'bump-bump' to ask for more engagement on the inside hind.


I tried to replicate the same yesterday evening. Thinking I need to be more consistent in my rides rather than changing it up as much as I usually had been. I had originally thought that the changes would keep Paloma's interest when in turn she was actually using the changes as a tool to her evasions, knowing if she went dull and stiff I would simply move on to something else.
Finally seeing this, I realized consistency was key to working through the evasions.

On I went. Consistent.

Then we hit a wall. A brick one, two bricks thick even. It was NOT coming down. Paloma's response, I could see it in the eyes,

     'No. I said No. This is too hard. Did you hear me woman! Mare says NO! If you don't listen I will envision this bit as your arm, I will chomp it! I'm warning you! Chomp, Chomp!'

This was our ride for the first 55 minutes of the hour. 

I was merely asking for inside hind to come through a bit more and a bit of flexion in my corners/serpentine's. Something that was so simple the last two rides. *sigh*

I moved onto canter. Canter is easier for Paloma. Okay. This is not changing the 'subject' per say but maybe it will help. Nope.

I asked for a bit of leg yield off the wall and to the wall, something I have taught Paloma since year two of training. Simple, no? No.

What did I get, tempi changes and not pretty ones. Bouncy and stiff. Hmm ok. I am shifting my weight somehow? I drop my stirrups to be sure. More tempi's and flailing. Ugh.

This was the picture of the hour. Until something clicked and Paloma gave me five minutes of a great forward walk, soft, engaged and sensitive trot and a hot dang canter leg yield.

This is where I closed the chapter for the day. 

Do I truly have a mare after all? 

Le Grande Cou.

Tired ponay after workout....

Truly work is getting to me. With the new company take over and the primarily french speaking employee base, I am typically stuck on the first sentence of the almost hour long conference call and now I am speaking french. What is the world coming too....?

Yes, I had to google 'neck in french' and I am left thinking even now as I type that 'cou' sounds like 'butt'. 

However, my post today is not about french and not about work.

Ever since I began to zero in on forward before life, I have noticed some subtle changes in Paloma's physical build. 

I first got the comment that she is not long, but rather nice and compact as I was riding, score one for me, but it got me observing for changes. 

I can notice some building of muscle on her back which likely has been created by Paloma 'compacting' herself more, but the biggest change is in her neck and shoulder.

While I would have said Paloma definetly had a 'grande cou' last year, which was actually fat, hence the nikname 'Lardy', slightly TOO easy of a keeper sometimes. But this year it is clearly muscle, even with the 30 ounces of winter fur.

I cannot help but think we are doing SOMETHING within the realm of 'right'.