The Fulcrum of Balance.

The past few rides I have actually been able to ride in daylight! Who does that! So amazing...

The only con with getting to the barn in daylight is that this is when everyone else shows up and books the arena for 2-3 hour intervals. But being the trooper that I am, during those times I have opted to get out and go for a trail ride solo on Solo. *Tehehe*
The footing in the fields is not yet optimal being that the farmers tilled the soil late which led to wet and now frozen clumps that have not yet had enough snow to cushion so road hacks it is!

Solo is pretty much mega baby horse road hack trooper. He plods along, alert but composed only batting an eye when the school buses whiz on by. Those things are pretty terrifying even to me, so I get it.


When it comes to the actual rides I have been able to swing. Solo has been ultra strechy, swingy and also unbalanced....
As per usual I always have a ride game plan but the last few I have just allowed to flow. (Not normal for me to go with the flow yo!)
Solo has been really wanting to reach down, lifting his back and arching his studdly neck and it has felt glorious! This is probably the thing I had missed most about Pally, the 'stretchy swingy floaty trot'.
For Pal, this did not come as early as it is coming in for So. Pal was about 4 y/o before she really started to lift her back and swing but I think this could be the difference between a) Being a mare and b) Pal's lack of forward.
All in all, I have been eating this up, taking advantage of every moment meanwhile still asking for small amounts of leg yeild, haunches in/out and TOH/TOF periodically along with also allowing So to find his own balance in this new found strechy trot and even a bit in the canter.

Mind you he loses his balance every now and then and he stumbles or sucks back to regain and Hey! I am good with that! As long as he is stretching down and lifting himself properly he can do what he needs to do.

"Ugh... she made me wear orange. Hunters with guns out there she said....
I saw No One...except my orange polos..."

I also tossed in a couple more tiny cross rails, 2' at most. Of which I have added in ground lines at the base to bulk it up and try to avoid rapping the rail, which Solo finds pretty confusing and often has to do a little pause and hop/step over though he is still willing to go forward and over.... it just may not be very fluid yet... (but this HAS ki-boshed the rail rapping! Thanks Alex!) 

Meh... what do you do... baby horse gotta baby I guess.
Though, there is the other side of me that wants to remind forward with a little whip. However, I am pretty sure this would confuse and stress him out.


Anyhow, progress is progress and I am SO ready for Christmas this year.... despite having to pack and move the few days afterwards... Gift cards people, gift cards!

In Twenty Meters, Turn Left ... Recalculating.

You know how your GPS spells out instructions for your route and it never ceases to fail at some point along the way? Somehow, somewhere, you will miss a turn or hell, go completely off course and end up driving in circles.

This is how I have been feeling about my rides lately and no matter how much I hate deviating from my precisely laid out game plan, I accept it as part of A) riding horses, where no things actually follow the book and B) only to accentuate part A – riding baby horses.

Today, I had planned on schooling a couple cross rails,  making them a bit more solid looking than I had before and removing both take off/landing and trot in poles. Reason being I have been finding that Solo concentrates so much on where his feet are falling over the poles (something we have been working on often), that he doesn’t really know what to do over the little jump. Mind you the size of the fence doesn’t really warrant ‘jumping’ but he does have to be a bit more conscious about where his feet are. Yes, I admit I would like him to touch a couple times to learn and hey it is totally normally for this age and having only seen maybe half a dozen fences in his entire life thus far but riding alone, getting off and on to reset the poles is not very convenient. So, my theory is to roll the take-off and landing pole into the fence to give ground lines and make it appear more ‘jump’ worthy rather than merely raised trot poles. On the plus side, the lack of poles to boggle his still baby brain will give him more time to look and think about the question.

Anyhow, long explanation short, we had to recalculate our route after missing the exit on account for having a super duper floaty and stretchy pony this day.

Solo’s balance is all over the place. I never really ride the same horse as the day before yet so you have to make the most out of the horse you’ve got that day. #babyhorseworldproblems.

I am honestly not sure what triggered ‘this horse’ to come forth but today after a short warm up Solo was really forward, lifting his back and floating along. It could be from his recent pedicure Friday (the 1^st), or maybe because the mud is beginning to dry … hell maybe it was the fresh round bale. Either way I opted to make use of this version of horse and play with it.

All in all, we played basic w/t/c, transitions and some odds and ends of lateral work. Nothing fascinating but progressive all the same and I am betting it will make it all the better for our next ride to have a nice relaxed and stretched out pony.

Next stop, crossrail crossing.

The Real Work Begins.

Solo has been a bit tender footed with the constant changing mud fest to frozen mud daggers for footing in the paddocks. However, he has finally been feeling better so I wanted to get to working more in the canter and with some canter poles seeing as his balance is actually beginning to come together and his last stallion hormones/habits have more or less depleted. Not that he had much in the “balls” department hehe.
Anyhow. While I wanted the pole “circle of death” but I just don’t feel he is there yet so we went half way and set one just inside A and another just inside of C.

We warmed up in our usual way. Working on thinking slight turn on the forehand coming through corner with a little half halt to get our haunches back underneath us and tossed in a few transitions from halt to walk, halt to trot, walk to canter etc.
Solo doesn’t require much “wake up” time like P did but he does need this time to gain a good attitude and stretch out and find his parts. Going from I think I can to I got this tude.

After a bit of work both ways and a brain break I started in a canter, chose a rhythm and kept a keen feel of where out shoulder or haunches were. Our biggest issue. Then as I started a circle I headed over one pole to test before adding the other.
Solo did extremely well to the right. Holding his rhythm, pace and picking his distance nearly every time. I felt a few warbles and near stumbles but he held his own!
The left was more what I expected of a three year old. Unbalanced, fumbly and totally out of straightness lol.
The trouble seemed to stem from the inability to hold his balance to keep the rhythm and pace and weighting the inside shoulder too much, leading to falling on the forehand and loss of haunches.
So as much as I love “figure it out” I had to step in. A little tap on the inside shoulder and a good half halt and steady outside aids seemed to fix it and Solo was quickly floating over the poles. Though, not without losing it all four strides later. But progress.

Today, after staying in two point to free up his back I am feeling it in my hips. Who knew....  I am actually starting to ride again!!!

Growing Up Quarter Horse; One Year!

A few crappy video stills from a recent ride.
I am starting to feel a bit of a balance change in short moments. More loft.

We can actually bend a circle in the canter now! 

Next week, December 4th, will be one year since Solo came home. With that in the back of my mind I couldn't help but compare how he has been to work with Paloma at this age.

Thankfully, back then DH was gung ho on coming to the barn so I have a ton of footage and photos to look back.

The biggest differences between the two aside from personality and mental capacity which I have covered previously, has been movement, growth and body positioning.

As for movement, Pal was quite a bit more balanced back to front, Solo's "fulcrum" or point of balance is a lot more wobbly. Like balancing on a 2" board versus 6". Pal also didn't offer up moving up and out like Solo easily does but that seemed counter acted by the more natural ability that Pal had to hold herself and self carriage.

Pal was also quite a bit more comfortable to sit however less engaged. She would have been the perfect pony express mount.

Growth. Paloma grew a lot more slowly but also filled out faster and held her weight a little too well. 

Solo at the moment, still continues to grow up at the haunches and not much, if at all, at the wither. Roadster style. Though, I notice Solo's shoulder and muscling to be defining quicker. I wouldn't normally think to compare the growth rates but I feel like it really affects how quickly and what you can introduce at certain times.

Body positioning. Pal didn't have much lateral balance and that even continued into later years. She just didn't have the natural ability to shift her weight diagonally. Solo has that, even too much at times and nearly leaves me hanging horseless. I think this part is conformationally related. Solo's haunches is true quarter despite his more thoroughbred gangly frame. His hip to bum to stifle area is very round and equally proportioned yet his legs are set a bit more mid gravity than Pal who wanted to naturally hang her legs back, hunter conformation style. All in all I think this lends to easily accessible bum power rather than having to prepare, hold and then attacking the task.

Looking at the year as a whole though, Pal was quite a bit more wingy and spooky at this age yet more mature physically and emotionally. She was like the ideal amateur rising 4y/o. Steady but babyish. 

Solo, while an old soul, requires an aware rider. He doesn't find spooks in simple everyday things but makes a big sideways jumping deal if something could be received as an attacker. Ie. Plastic bags blowing towards him.

Pal was also super forgiving, school master type, Solo is easily offended with strong aids or if he thinks he knows what he is doing. "That is NOT haunches out, That! Is leg yield, like THIS!"

In conclusion, I think Solo is going to take me further, despite having a slight lack of height he makes up simply in scope. Though, he is going to make sure I am very precise with both my body positioning and aids. Second chances but begrudgingly.

Probably a good thing for my riding in the end.

I do fear the ease of flying changes..... I don't even know what it is like to have a horse you have to teach changes to....hmm. 

Luckily, the future holds lots of time!

Here is a video from a recent ride. We have been working quite religiously to get some control over our haunches ... Solo clearly finds this tricky and protests a few times, thinking he has better ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFOQkckIs8g

Of Making Concessions; A Non Horse Life Story.

The building process begins again... With a very long and bumpy road ahead, er well a very bumpy and rough construction driveway.

Recently my life has been full of up's and ... Well I don't want to say downs, so let us say stale points.
We put the house on the market end of August. Yeah, I know... Here we go again!
Our 5-10 year plan house has turned into the 2.5 year plan, but that is how my life goes. I am driven, I don't hold back and I get things done. One way or another.

We intentionally bought the building lot in our area because it is a brand new subdivision in a suburban area right between two major cities and right off the freeway. Plus DH and I thought being so new it would make us stay for awhile, knowing people don't generally like living in construction zone. My life is a construction zone so I didn't care.

Anyhow, houses and horses are my passion so I don't really mind.

Among the many showings, great feedback, second showings .... It took us almost three months to get an offer. Then as soon as one person wants it everyone does!
We are now in limbo until the end of the week to find out if the house is sold. It is kind of sad in a way, we worked really hard on this house and we know the love and detail that was put in, yet the second person who offered wrote us a lovely letter with pictures and their story. Call me old fashion but this meant a lot and rest assured us that someone will know the love that we put in and love it even more.

Along with selling the house comes moving. Moving in with my mother in law... For the third time so we can build again. Third time is the charm am I right?!
However... The closing for the house would be the 2nd of January and conveniently it is DH and my turn for Christmas supper, which is really not going to work seeing as we sell mostly everything rather than store it all for 8 months.

Long story short, with split families, snobby families (mine), and Portuguese families (DH's), we can't fit everything into one day with nothing but an oven, plastic cutlery and a bed. Reminds me of college age days....
Two of the three categories took it fine, they know we don't sit, we don't stop. My side...well is snubbing me. Christmas spirit yo!

At this age of my life I have learned that swimming upstream is way harder, though DH and I are not sedate people. We have goals, we have dreams and no one is going to make it happen but us. Much like my riding and horse life. I accept that there will always be someone better, I don't need to prove my worth, I want to be MY best and that is good enough for me.

As I've struggled to understand people for many years, to keep everyone happy, take in all advice, I have learned that nothing will make me feel better than knowing I listened to all perspectives, tried to make concessions and compromises and in the end did everything in my power to keep my mental and physical sanity.
Really I could not imagine a better Christmas than ditching all the presents, bon bons and booze and spending the day with my horse.

Yes horses aim to please but in the end they don't complain if you miss an important date, they don't hold grudges and they just simply live in the moment.
This is the life I want to live!

Of Setting a Winter's Pace Before Springs Race.

"Are you done....? I has a bored...."

These past couple weeks have been spent surviving the seeming monsoon season which has now turned to frozen monsoon, leaving brutal footing for the poor ponies which were inundated with near knee deep mud just a few days ago.

Last week I spent the majority of my equine time scrubbing, shampooing and hosing mud off Solo due to the brutal pasture conditions and dang white legs! The poor guy easily catches boughts of mud fever on his white legs, so 3 out of 4. This time was not so different but different at the same time.

In the spring, the poor guy got mud scratches and the majority of his white hair rubbed off his legs from the fetlock down.

This time only his hind legs where affected except while the hair stayed, they stocked up to the point where he was favouring them in anything more than a walk for a full two days. So ground driving and ground work were the name of the game.

The stocking up quickly resolved as the weather cooled which led to the herd exploring the paddocks further and getting into the river which had breached it's banks and flooded into the paddocks. The horses must have been drinking the nasty stagnant water and a couple of the horses ended up with different types of ailments. Solo got drippy bottom, his seemingly only response to all things stress related or food related. 

This usually lasts about a week which is ultra fun now that it is -15 ....poosicle tail anyone?

On the riding front, now that So is back to riding soundness we have been working on bits and pieces of our recent lesson and really trying to get Solo to be a bit straighter with his haunches. 

So has really picked up on how to move his haunches away from pressure without flying sideways and now gives me ear sass when I ask with a bit too much pressure, which was needed when he didn't quite understand.

We can now go from 's' shaped to running circles around our front end in 2.2 seconds, haha. The joys of sensitive horses (actually joys... I love this. This I can work with).

Once we do get it right. Both our walk, trot and canter instantly flow and float... Until we lose it a few strides later.

P.s his canter is becoming something of dreams... Not quite as couch worthy as Pal but ideal and comfortable for jumping.

On the poles and jumping front, I did set a ground pole set 10ft from a raised pole then 10ft to another ground pole on a curve in the short end.

My goal was to get a bit more lift in the canter and use the short end/curve to achieve this. In turn gaining flexibility, balance and awareness of our feet.

I mainly left him to figure it out himself, aside from setting the canter. Solo broke a couple times to the trot but I also felt the canter was not 'right' a few strides out. So my fault but good lesson for Solo too, I am sure he'll have to save my a** a few times in the future. Best to learn how now.

November 1st mud ridden confo shot.

All in all, while I didn't get a ton of saddle time, I did get time to watch and reflect on where we and just Solo are now.

Watching and reading where everyone else is with their late three year olds, I feel behind, yet ahead.

Mentally Solo is far beyond all the others, acting more like a 8-10 year old as far as tackling new things and general behavior. (Most of the time...). Except physically I feel behind.

Solo is massively growthy right now. Especially noticed with blanket adjustments 24/7. And I keep getting a feeling deep down to keep my rides short (30-35 mins), and not push it. So while most in our age group are starting over cross rails at least once a week and more than once or twice through, much like I was doing with Pal as a coming four year old, I feel like I should listen to my gut and stick with our pace. 

I am thinking I am for once going to allow myself/Solo a slower pace this winter, then get back into the grind for spring.

 

A Talented Worm. A Lesson Story.

Much wet, much miserable.

True to my fashion of lessoning, I haven't had a lesson for a few months. I tend to get in the lesson line when I am stuck or just need new ideas. Obviously at Solo's age there are lots of ideas and explaining them take a couple rides. No lack of content here.

Sunday rolled around and there was a slot open on lesson day with my old dressage coach S. I find S to be really perceptive of what the young horses are thinking and how to explain in ABC's rather than skipping to lmnop....etc. She also has a talent for picking up on underlying issues rather than ignoring and keep pushing on. Ie. She is very technical like I am.

Though, sometimes she leaves me in the dust when she rants on and it takes me more time than the horse to get it lol.

Anyhow. I started the lesson with a rundown of what has been going on with So, what we work on, what I have been feeling, what I think etc etc.

S watched us do our usual warmup. Loose and stretchy work, getting So to move out while winding our way about the arena.

Today the wind was howling, the rain was pouring and everything was getting the dirty baby horse eyeball. Even as he kicked up some sand and it hit the mounting block he blamed me.

I have developed techniques with So. As long as he is wondering what the heck I am doing, he won't spook. Now I carry a whip with me and give it a jiggle on the opposite side of the fear factor.

So much for my explanation of my cool cucumber three year old. Haha.

S quickly discovered what I was feeling. I just couldn't feel the connection coming through. It came and went, mostly went and felt like it would come from the hind and fly out the shoulder.

S watched and blurted, So is a very talented worm. He is tracking straight, tracking up and has quite a nice swing BUT he is riding in haunches in to the left and shoulder in to the right.

Straightness issues are hard.... Sigh.

We worked most of the lesson explaining how to move your barrel away from the leg without surging forward or getting tense. Doing shallow serpentines on the quarter line, asking for two steps moving over our barrel left then right and so on. It took quite awhile but I could feel his hind legs begin to stride deeper and lift.  We tried this in the trot too, but with only leg, no rein so he didn't dive and only rein to catch the jog as he mixed the signals up.

Then we proceeded on a 30m circle in trot. Thinking not more forward, we have lots of that but haunches out a bit, so every time we 'wormed' he had to bring his haunches in line rather than bring shoulder in line. S explained that both have a straightening effect and neither are wrong but this is to help So build strength behind and get thinking more of his inside hind.

This was very hard. As I did the tiniest bump with my inside leg to move his haunches, So automatically jumped forward. Good but not what I am asking. We struggled with the mixed signals for much of the ride until I got very good at catching the forward with my outside rein before he even knew it was happening, but then softened quickly so he didn't bulge his shoulder and take too much outside rein, leaning on me.

However when I felt the correction it was amazing. The swing and flow that came through picked me up softly in every post and it felt like floating.... For like three strides.... Humph!

Overall it was a great lesson. So wasn't overly tired but more brain fried by the end so he's getting a few days to horse now....while I hibernate from the rain.

The Hexagon Leg Yield.

After owning Paloma for so long and with her constant need for changes in routine I found myself in search of new, fun and revolutionary dressage exercises the other day.
With Solo's sensitivity I had kind of fallen into a rut of sorts, repeating the same exercises, in the same way, every few days, in constant rotation, hoping that he can keep his nerves in check. Day one of this week, do that.... day two of this week, do this...

At this point in his training, however not yet far but I feel I can ask him to expand his thinking to a point where I can have a dose of change and he can contain himself, (he is a man afterall), so off I went in the interconnected world.


What I found reminded me how one movement can be so diverse yet, executed in the same fashion and granting so much improvement. Amazing!

The Leg Yield Hexagon.... as found on Dressage Fundamentals.
The reason I chose this was because Solo is so reactive to my leg aids, he readily moves away from my leg, but tends to lose his shoulder and doesn't quite know what to do about my outside aids yet. This exercise proved exceptional for teaching what outside aids mean and therefore giving me control of the shoulder.

I won't re-explain the exercise entirely but I did begin at the walk, ask for a bit of leg yield over (three or four steps), then halt, execute turn on the haunches for just a couple steps, then back to a few steps of leg yield and so on. However, I did preface the exercise with turn on the haunches at each corner from a walk to refresh the idea.

The walk proved simple and amazing!

The trot went very well too. Though, with the bi lateral swing you don't get the instant satisfaction of progress because the change isn't so drastic, however, I did instantly notice that Solo respected my outside rein which he usually isn't sure what to do with.
The moment I felt him begin to fall through his shoulder on the leg yeild, I took a bit more outside rein, instant correction on his part.
So there lies the proof that this exercise works and I will be utilizing this for many years to come!

The Attack of the Scarf!

This morning was very windy, cold and damp, all equaling great riding weather. Not!

Solo is a pretty zen guy, though if something sets him off it can be tricky to get his brain back on track. Baby brain I can only assume.

I had in mind a pole exercise, three trot poles, to a pole spaced 9ft away from the last trot pole to simulate a 'jump'. All in hopes to work on picking up the canter on the other side. 

Let's just say in all things true to horses... we didn't make it that far.

I tend to have a long walk warm up... whether this is to let the coffee kick in or because I generally like to get a feel of where we are and what we need to do, I am not sure.

During the warm up we walked by the open arena garage door, the windy was howling through and wound up picking up a piece of the torn arena tarp. It is partially attached still and ended up reaching Solo and touching him on the shoulder. MELTDOWN AHH!

From there on, Solo wouldn't really relax. We managed to get some work in, though he is still very stiff tracking left, fighting my requests for bend or even just a little flexion in the neck. We continually worked, attempt sorry... to work shoulder in, leg yield, spirals etc to help loosen what I assume to be his tight right side.

We really weren't getting anywhere, however our canter transitions were spot on, I was getting hot so I tossed my scarf on the door. A scary, terrifying stripey scarf!

Mind you, Solo didn't care until we swapped directions and of course we were not going near that thing. I tried all my tricks, busying his mind, making changes, circling way before it and spiraling out etc etc... he would not take his eye/ear off it. Normally, I expect a scoot spook, Solo was all 'I AM NOT going anywhere near THAT. Ride stops here!' 

Eventually, I got frustrated, picked up the lunge whip (which was near the scarf by the way ugh), and rode with it in my inside hand, jiggling it in the air when he began to fixate on the scarf again.

It worked well and we continued through it but his mind and body had checked out so I walked So out and hopped off. I went to pick up my scarf off the door and melt down ensued. Like really? You spook at nothing? Why a scarf... why today *Insert tired cry face*. 

So.... we had a discussion about scarves.... this is where we ended up. 

"Omigosh, I get it already, scarf is no longer scary.... this is going on the internet isn't it??!!"

Solo literally sat like this for minutes while I gufawwed laughing.
So embarrassing of course!

A Downhill Climb.

Have you ever tried to climb a staircase backwards?
No? ...well, me neither but I imagine it would be really hard and feel a lot like how riding Solo feels right now. Always fighting your bodies seeming need to tilt your body this way and that and then your conscious attempts to right yourself.

On top of riding an unbalanced youngster, I am also riding a youngster who has two bodies squashed into one package and maintaining your body in he center of said two bodies is quite a challenge.

For the last two weeks, Solo has been undergoing a massive vertical growth spurt. However, only on one end of the horse. His haunches are bordering nearly 2" taller than his wither.

I had initially noticed that my saddle just didn't fit right. Unusual sweat patterns first, solved by swapping to a medium-wide gullet (as narrow as this guy is, he is getting a big shoulder). Then, when tacking up one day I thought he might be sucking his belly up, I checked, he wasn't, until I then realized he was insanely bum high.
Mind you, Pal went through some crazy growth spurts at times, it was at most an inch, if that, before the rest of her would catch up.

I had read and spoken to many owners/breeders of AQHA's and they have advised that they grow much quicker than the warmblood breeding, but really, all this at once?

Either way, I can appreciate the growth because it brings him very close to my ideal height of 16 hands. However, I have to say it is very tricky to ride. My body is constantly wanting to get in a sort of hunt seat, rather than maintaining a more upright dressage seat, which he needs at this stage of training. Any extra weight on the front end is just a loosing battle.


You might think, 'well, why not give him time off?'

Well, yes I could and I think he would be fine with it, but he literally waits at the gate every day until he has had his ride, and those days he has off he sulks. (Very much like mama, cannot have fun until we know the work is done).
As well, I find at this age the light work keeps them sounder in the future.

After much reading, many studies have found that mild concussion on the joints and cartilage at a younger age, (not too young),  lead to stronger, healthier joints etc later on in life as this is the time for growth in these areas. The body is an amazing beast, changing to adapt to what will be asked of it.

Progress still seems unaffected, he is still happy to work so really it is just me who has to deal.

Always taking a positive outlook- it makes me very aware of my body!

Exhibit A. Please ignore soaked rain pony.

Miserable wet pony.

'Did you say you has cookies?... sad wet pony needs a cookie cheer up'

Linear Progress.

Phew... where does the time go?
I always mentally rehearse my blog titles and content but getting the chance to sit my butt down and commit fingers to keyboard seems so darn difficult!

The past two weeks have been very linear as far as the training scale with Solo. He has the occasional moment of baby sass when he doesn’t quite understand or finds something tricky. As far as it goes is a little tail swish or a nose ‘f you’ as I have dubbed it, then he moves on and gives it a shot.
He is a very fast learner and easy to teach.

I tend to try to switch it up now being constrained to the indoor. Overall we have made good progress  on all his “assignments”, for instance, canter transitions while still met with sass when I ask a little too firmly, which isn’t firm at all but spells out just how sensitive and in tune he is, however the transition itself is very prompt and reaching. Leads are decent if I ask at the right time, which is sometimes hard to feel with baby horse awkwardness, but he consciously does a little skip if when I asked would have gotten the wrong lead and he does a mini change of leg behind to strike off properly. That is very smart y’all!

The transition into shoulder in from shoulder fore is still causing slight grief but progress is still linear just slower than others. Solo tends to fall on my outside leg, attempt to correct and fumbles. Rinse, repeat and I ask for a little less of a degree change and we can hold it for a few strides.
I am not concerned with this because it is all about strength behind and he has the cards stacked against him right now being a full 1 1/2 inches (measured) higher at the haunches than his wither, this and actual strength that will build as we go.

Softness and forward still reign his best quality. A ten minute brain warm up and his is game for anything and is truly softening through his back now. I can actually sit his launching canter most of the time. To the right more than left though. He is also now accepting the bit in the canter. Hallelujah because that was ugly!

Trot and canter poles were once stumbling blocks but are now actual gymnastics to be conquered, yahoo!
AND we even did our second crossrail this morning. A bit higher than the last one just to emphasize an actual lifting of the front rather than falling over.
I preceded the crossrail with a pep talk, lame I know but Solo gets me, I explained the steps to jumping beginning with the trot poles to shifting of his weight to the haunch and lifting the front etc.
Solo completely understood, trotted right in and picked a decent spot (if that exists for a crossrail), and popped right over. A sort of jump and a HUGE party on the other side.
We came through twice more. More because I rode a bit too defensively and forgot to steer through the poles, in turn we ended up over the higher sides than center so Solo actually had to jump slightly. His jump felt amazing though, he brings his head down, rounds his back and snaps his knees but then my reins were too short and I didn’t follow well enough, so I caught a touch of mouth. I am so used to horses who don’t use their necks! Sorry buddy! He totally took the joke and didn’t make a peep about it.

I am super impressed with this guy. I am hoping he continues to be such an impressive partner. I also cannot wait to actually start jumping in the spring. For now all I get are a crossrail or two once every few weeks.... ho him

Speedhumps; A Baby Horse Story.

"You don't have to see the whole staircase to take the first step"

"Did you see what I did today!? I jumped. Imma like superman! No?"

Today was the day. I felt it. I knew it.
I didn't have a whole lot of plans for today when I first got to the barn. I knew I wanted some form of pole work and something easy and simple, it has been a bit of a week for Solo after going to his first show, well since he was a foal anyways. I tend to feel Solo's mental state now, somehow, it just comes.
Solo had a few days off after the show, had a just barely dawn w/t/c hack outside Wednesday where he nailed a walk to canter transition, getting the lead. Before being eaten by mosquitoes... me too!
There is nothing like looking behind you and seeing a black swarming mass swimming towards you in the fog.

Today I just felt like something different, something to rev his engines....
I came up with nothing. Except. Maybe I could turn the three trot pole, 9ft to another pole into a wee teeny crossrail? That is exciting! The last time I had a serious jump school, aside from stealing Thunder earlier this year was the night before Pal left in November.
Mind you, this would not be a serious jump school but a step in the right direction is one step closer, yeah?

There I went, I set a three trot pole to a mini crossrail. I told myself, he just had to go over it a couple times without sillies and without killing me.

We warmed up with a few trot transitions, really trying to stretch out that right side which constantly feels like a force against my left leg and left rein. We did spirals, smaller deeper circles, giving and taking while maintaining outside leg for direction seeming to be the best success.
And then we just went for it.
Solo came in all workmanlike, "I do this all day" type, trot, trot, trot and then I felt the itty bitty speed hump and we kept trotting away all "yeap, we just nailed it".

Our jump extraordinaire. Over fences life... for what feels like years from now. Boo yah.

It took me a second to realize I was totally riding defensively and yet Solo clearly didn't give a rats behind about the change.

We came through twice more, got the same result. Not really any sort of jump, but a little hump in the step. All that is really warranted for the size.

Solo got mad pats, my jumping hunger satiated for a few months until we can actually start over fences and we finished the day with a bit of work on moving from shoulder-fore to shoulder-in. He tends to confuse the aids and anticipate often asking "are you sure you didn't mean this...?"
Mentally, I get the feeling that he hasn't quite gotten to the stage for this but at some point, I need to push his envelope every now and again.

Double fist pump for a good ride, AND Solo moved into a bigger gullet in my saddle. Thank goodness I opted for this option!

Solo; A Debut

Scoping out who we need to stay away from during our two minute warm up.

We are getting pretty close to near silence again, I feel like at times life takes over my days, while I just coast and tread water. I am sure all feel the same!

I managed to convince myself last week that I should get Solo out to atleast one schooling show this year. I was originally weary, I kept debating if this is too young and it might fry his little brain, not to mention he is going through baby moments where he can't stand for long periods while being ridden and he just starts throwing everything at me, turn on the forehand? No? Turn on the haunches? No? Oh, I have got it! Leg yield!
Let alone his leads are spotty. Overall not the package I really want to present but it isn't for me right now is it?

So, by luck we located a shipper, good old retired trucker Charlie with his fab truck and trailer and convinced him to be reasonable on fees lol.

I opted to bathe and smother in show sheen the day before. Solo stood like a pro despite the cold water.

Saturday was show day. Charlie was booked to pick us up at 7:30am but rolled in at 6:40. Only ten minutes after I had gotten to the barn.
Thankfully So stayed cleaned and everything was already packed. My OCD self winning for once.
The trailer was a gorgeous slant load, nice and airy, Solo thanked me for the killer ride and walked right up after failing to walk in his new shipping boots.

I was able to score ride share and picked up another horse along the way to save some costs and gain some company.

We arrived at the show at 7:30am, first class at 9am but it gave us lots of time to settle in. Not that Solo proved to need it. He walked off the trailer, looked left then right and went back to ground tying and napping.
This is not something I am used to. My Pal, in he end, became great but never this good!
Solo didn't even glance at anything, spook at speakers, atvs ripping by etc.

We entered the halter classes first, my thinking was to get him in the ring before being ridden. Increase success for living haha.

We totally bombard these classes I had no idea what I was doing. First time for everything right?!
Solo went like a pro, he remembers apparently from his baby days. I sucked. Sorry buddy.

We came out with a 4th & 5th in these in hand classes. Meh.
Afterwards we had ten minutes to tack. Solo ground tied while I got everything on and we had two minutes to spare to warm up. Ugh.

The announcement came in stating that there were 22 entries in the class and they were not splitting the class. Say what?
Solo and I managed to find a spot on the rail and attempted to stay deep in every corner to gain space before the long side. It was interesting.
A few horses in the class lost their minds, even my sisters seasoned congress horse couldn't handle his willies. (Hehe... funny because his name is willy). Moving on, I felt Solos tension but he kept it together even as one lady came off beside us.

Afterwards I spent all my concentration containing Solos massive trot, and holding back his big canter. I could not leave my spot so we had to adjust our stride to keep it for sake of losing it and not finding a new one.
The judge called for all canter transitions from walk. Ugh.

We didn't get the walk to canter but it was aacfrificed for our leads. I will take it! Good boy!

The class was over quickly. Solo only took a teeny unnoticeable side step as the photographer popped out from behind the signage on the fence.
We lined up and didn't hear our number for what seemed ages, thought we blew it but I was so pleased with him then low and behold we came in second!

The stake pleasure class followed suit, Solo was a gentledman again and showed off to everyone despite his bum high three year old gangly stage going on. Another second!

I am shocked how amazing this horse is, and he has so much more in there! I cannot wait to see it in the future!

I didnt realize how bum high we were...
Solo the pro three year old

Containing our trot. Solo not entirely sure about all the horses around.

A little shut eye before class time.

Baby quarter horse....awww

Woah... Did you see those people?

Our head still pops up during walk to trot transitions... but hey it looks cute!

And now... we nap...

Something In The Air.

A misty morning at the barn.

This past week has been a bit of a whirlwind, I honestly don’t know if it has to do with my allergies (grr, rag weed), or if it is something in the air with the rest of the world. Is it me or is it you? Haha.

While I cannot seem to get my head straight and put out the fires fast enough, I actually had decent productive rides.

Monday was basic, meat and potatoes type of ride. The usual w/t/c, encouraging Solo that he can be forward as well as stretch down and soften instead of dropping back a gear in order to relax and stretch down. Think peanut pusher! Much harder feat for him compared to Pal.

Wednesday morning, while I had planned to ride outside, I somehow got caught in my morning zombie routine and started laying poles. Meh. I planned to do that anyways this week and I am not lugging all the stuff outside.

Part of my plan this winter is to gradually ease Solo into over fences. Tossing in a couple teensy crossrails or verticals once a week until spring when I can confidently admit he is physically ready to get into a bit more serious work (… weird thinking 2’ fences are huge….)

Anyhow, I set up three trot poles to a 9 ft ‘log’ set on 4” risers, making the pole roughly 10” high and I stuffed a couple flower filler bars which likely made for a 12” vertical.

My goal here is simple. Increase Solo’s confidence with his foot placement and over ‘strange’ objects, teach him to stay straight & quiet and slowly begin to implant the ‘jumping’ idea.   

Solo thought the whole idea was rather unexciting but I think he appreciated the new task. He gave the whole gymnastic a little ear perk, picked his own pace and striding without me babysitting with half halts over every pole and merely lifted his feet a bit higher for the ‘glorified trot pole’.

Initially I was a bit disappointed for the small effort but he did check off all the boxes I was asking him to and no horse really has to ‘jump’ something this teensy.

We trucked through a few more times and went back to encouraging a bit more activity behind rather than ‘throwing’ all our energy away up front.

If I thought Solo was sensitive before, I was misguided. He is VERY sensitive now that he realizes what it is that I am asking.

My little reminders clicked instantly and I could nearly feel his embarrassment about forgetting, lol.

At least if the world has lost its marbles we all still have our horses to keep us grounded!  (Hypothetically not actually grounded)

Tooth Fairies & Lesson Time.

Yes ... I shall be patient and wait while you make a fuss...

This past week DH and I have been on staycation so this post will condense my last three rides seeing as I have given Solo pony a few days off while I relax too.

Last week I went out to ride in the evening which is very weird for me. The night before we spent planning the startings of the new house with a contractor. (Pray for our house to sell soon and decent pricing please!!!)
Anyhow, I accidentally downed three cups of coffee while chatting and despite caffeine having little effect on me, I was wound!
So, 5am came much too early!
I lucked out that night and no one was at the barn.... Weird. I brought Mr So in and noticed him chewing his goodies funny, here we go I thought! A few minutes into more cookies as I watched him chew happily I noticed a 'plink' sound as something fell. I glanced down and low and behold a baby tooth!

Sorry I know it is gross but I had to share. 

Afterwards he was much happier chewing. Phewf!
My ride that night ended up being me trying to bring him back to a balanced trot. He has this habit of taking too big of a step for his haunches to balance quite yet and he falls into the canter.
No biggie, time will improve but uncomfortable now.

The next ride after was my lesson. Number two with Vivian, who is a PSG dressage coach. A newbie to teaching but knows her stuff.
As much as I love my good ole tried and true dressage coach, I felt Vivian's style better matched and understood Solo.
Before my old coach had me holding him back and manipulating his body this way and that to help him learn to balance, which helps don't get me wrong, it just didn't suit his worrier want to do right type/forward way of going.
Vivian has me pushing him to stay forward and even a bit more than his normal trucking and just asking him to not fling the shoulder so much and rather stride up more behind. A feat now and nearly feels too soon but deep down I feel he needs to learn to use more haunches in order to avoid getting strung out. Leading to I proper balance and in turn more stress in his little do-gooder brain.

Vivian pushes me to work quite a bit on the canter, which is something I don't do enough yet. She believes since he steps much deeper behind here, this is where I can build some strength to lend in my trot.
At one point, she even grabbed the lunge whip since he just didn't understand what I was trying to get at.
Solo who goes on mere voice commands on the lunge totally got the message quickly and we did not need much reminder there after.

One thing I also asked Vivian was why it feels like Solo is getting a bit behind the vertical and too deep. I am not handsy with him he just moved like this when he finds balance.
Her answer had to do with his conformation. Solo's neck is set quite low on a very angled shoulder so his head and neck when relaxed naturally falls into what feels like, but apparently does not look too deep. Her advice was he looks good just maintain asking for a bit of haunches in our forward instead of letting it go up front.
Great advice!

The lesson ended with Vivian very pleased with her punishment on me and very pleased that she finally got Solo to break a sweat and get some butt foam.
Love her!

Solo then got a few days off and a very light w/t/c hack Wednesday. Solo was very forward and remembered the whole lesson so I called it a day after 20 minutes and gave in to some pampering. So in love with his man!

Here we are, Saturday, I have planned to give Solo until Monday off. He needs to horse a bit.

K.

About ME Monday... Or Not?

Solo clearly wishes to sleep in today. Forelock the equivalent to pillow over face?

I woke up Monday morning, checked the weather as my coffee slowly brewed. Not a chance I am leaving the house without the nectar of the gods!

I was almost shocked when I saw the temperature sitting at 9*c.... Is it still August right? True to being used to 20's and 30's, I threw on a long sleeved T, sweater and a puffer vest. Yes, I am a wosey when it comes to going from Summer to Winter.

Luckily, the rain had held off for the last few days and despite the dewy grass ring we were able to get outside for maybe the fifth time this summer! ...Minus hacks.

I had read a couple articles Sunday about rider body positioning and function and now that Solo is at a point where I can reliably say that he is safe to ride I wanted to work on me.

While Paloma was sensitive to aids because she knew I wasn't asking, Solo is sensitive because it is his personality and I need to make sure I am using my body in the correct ways to affect him positively and not overly and also to find a more secure seat. Mind you he isn't naughty, but being sensitive combined with inexperience, the forward or halt can come unexpectedly when I make a mistake or give too much aid.

The two exercises I chose to work on were; 

-1.  Develop a more secure seat by weighting in your thigh not only your seat 

AND

-2.  Work more on 'jumping' in my body with the canter strides rather than trying to absorb Solo's bounce and flow along with him. Like sitting trot.

Exercise #1 - This exercise involved rotating your thigh slightly inwards at the front and not gripping but imagining the weight falling into your thighs not just the seat or your stirrup.

I felt the burn on this one! However, it actually worked much better and I found Solo to be more free and forward. At many points when I remembered to notice what he was doing, it felt like floating, Solo was over tracking and really opening up his shoulder and back, stretching down into the contact without asking. Could have been REALLY nice if he was carrying more behind but that is a few years out yet, baby steps, Lol.

I also felt that I could catch myself more effectively in the event that he did make a jerky move. 

Exercise #2- Well... as horses go and we all know, I didn't really get to work on this much. Though, the moments I did, made a remarkable difference. I have learned that P didn't have a ton of jump in her canter so this is likely where my following, sitting position came from which does NOT work for So.

Solo had his mind on other things. Maybe it was because I had changed something with exercise #1 and he was worried but I spent much of the ride quietly bringing him back as he would break into a quiet lopey canter, or coming back to a walk or halt to 'show' and remind him that he can move his haunches over and back in line with his body rather than going all wiggly. So would get frustrated but bringing him back seemed to give him more 'brain time' to figure out what I wanted and where to put his body. 

Thinking about it, it ended up being a really good ride. Yes, Solo gets frazzled pretty easily with simple things but they really are not that simple for a baby brain and he is trying! Plus, his tantrums are merely being a bit more forward or getting busy with his mouth, typical young horse things.

Right now, he sees black and white, with no grey. I compare it to seeing the answer to a math question with no supporting solution. 

Now THAT is frustrating stuff!

Next ride, exercise #2, or not...

:P

"If I do a turn on the haunches do I get cookie? No..? Okay, I try again!"

Boo Yah! Imma clean pony!
... That sand looks lovely!

"OKAY! I won't do it! Hate chu!"

Feathered Friday.

'There hath a bridge for crossing these fetid waters madam'

Maybe it is something in the air, maybe it was the eclipse this week, maybe it is the sudden change of weather. Lord only knows.
This morning I don't really recall how I got to the barn, I remember thinking of what I should do with Solo that involved minimal work on my part so I could 'brain nap'. So tired!

However, I did get to the barn and found Solo happily munching in a nice round bale, finally hay! But also a sign of fall influx...
I do believe his new found glee upon seeing me in the mornings is a result of mornings bearing breakfast but I choose to believe he is just happy to see me :P. Something just so touching when they see you coming and run up to the gate to greet you... *adds quietly* then b-line to the barn for the breakfast bucket. Anyhow. I didn't have a plan on what I wanted to do today. That is not usual for me.

Somehow, I spent half an hour dozing...er, grooming an already pretty clean horse...
I hopped on with thoughts of just getting Solo a bit more comfortable with my leg aids. Right now if my leg moves, I can nearly see a rolla-dex filtering through and searching for the correct information. Then, he starts to stress out when he doesn't quite know what I want. It is a downhill spiral from there. I have yet to meet a horse who wants to please and get the right answer so bad!
I have to really remember to just stay quiet, if he cannot find the solution, move to something he knows for a few strides and revisit.
Mind you, these are things we have been working on like shoulder-fore, haunches in, TOF/TOH etc but the similarities between certain aids, like the aid for canter and haunches in. He seems to jump to conclusion and forget that there is an aid missing/different. Typical baby brain, but smart and he is trying, so I don't blame him.
All in all, this is the biggest thing I struggle with Solo. He is overly willing, overly strong and able for a guy his size/age but he worries/stresses and this causes little 'battles' between us when he get's frustrated and his baby brain fizzles out.

After riding a mare for seven years that always tried to push you around if she thought you were not on your game it is tough to reprogram my brain to just simply say, 'Hey it is okay, well do something else and try again later' and just leave it at that with no ill feelings.
I mean I realize his age, I realize I have less than a hundred rides on him and likely a grand total of 24hrs saddle time, I do! But my brain instantly says, 'come on man, it's just a leg yield'.
Thankfully, I hash things out in my brain in the milliseconds that have gone by and I do just stay quiet and move on but my point is, It is SO hard riding a polar opposite horse!

In the end today;
- he got a few decent steps of the few items we tested! Win! ... less his bit chomping 'cursing'.
- I confirmed he has a pretty stellar walk to canter, mistake but we won't admit that. Win!
- I tested out a few different ways in attempt to sit his canter that launches your butt and hips out of the saddle as I feel him step deep under and thrust forward. I think the best result was when I thought about actually gluing my a** to the seat, million dolla' bill y'all! Sitting deep-deep and stretching up seemed the answer. But is pretty tricky as he teeters back and fourth when trying to stretch into the canter. Balance is something that will be tricky with his canter... for both of us. Ugh! I can't complain though, it is what I need for the hunters... but it is nothing like Pal's flat couch canter.

Mindless Monday.

Because I my brain isn't overly functional today and because photos are worth a thousand words....

Solo- I despise this head contraption, if I lift my head high enough you will understand my distaste...

Solo - ugh... she has no idea how ridiculous it looks... or just doesn't care...

Some pretty from our 'solo' as in lonesone trail ride.... the usual....

Happy pony.

Solo- eww grossness

Solo- Eh did you see that... something is in the water...
(Dismounted due to the pretty steep decline on the one side and slippery grass that he refused to walk unless I did first... men!)

Solo- Eh.... tell me you didn't see the bridge we could have crossed instead of playing in the water.