Anyway, here are some new pics of the boy. Looking rather good (err, aside from the muddy legs!)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Hangin' Out
Ben has been hangin out - just doing light work on the ground. Our saddle came today - so I'm all excited to ride...gah, stupid injuries!!!!
Anyway, here are some new pics of the boy. Looking rather good (err, aside from the muddy legs!)
Anyway, here are some new pics of the boy. Looking rather good (err, aside from the muddy legs!)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Made Ya Look
Ben's Simple Guide to Giving Your Owner a Quick Heart Attack.
Step 1: mid-dinner, when you hear your owner coming, abandon hay and lay flat on your side with your legs stretched out, groaning.
Step 2: sit up before they take you for a seriously sick or dead horse- cuz ya really don't want 'em calling the vet.
Step 1: mid-dinner, when you hear your owner coming, abandon hay and lay flat on your side with your legs stretched out, groaning.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Mysteries of Saddle Fit
As you know, we are getting a new saddle, as I've fallen completely out of love with my Prestige Galileo.
So while we wait for said new saddle to arrive from 6,000 miles away, Ben and I had been using a trial saddle. This one was slightly different, being the cob model and also made of partly synthetic bits.
At first I thought "oh my this looks like it fits him better than the other" which was fine, if even a bit exciting because then I could get 2 saddles! But in the midst of all this joy, Ben started PACING under saddle. He hasn't paced since the day I met him. I had a suspicion that it was the saddle, perhaps it looked a bit too narrow after all. Or maybe it could be me, who is having extreme pain in my hip and groin. Maybe my body is interfering and sending an unintended cue.
Nevertheless, I changed the gullet to the MW and rode again. I got pacing, again. Of course, my own pain has not gotten much better.
So now I'm undecided because this particular model looks like it fits better, but he certainly didn't move as well in it. I am anxious now to get my saddle and see if he is more comfortable in that. Which would be strange, as it is by looks, not the better fitting of the two.
While we wait, I am taking a wee break from riding to address my very apparent medical issue. I have a massage therapy appointment next week, and in the mean time, am trying to learn some gentle stretches that will hopefully loosen up my lower limbs in the areas that matter.
So while we wait for said new saddle to arrive from 6,000 miles away, Ben and I had been using a trial saddle. This one was slightly different, being the cob model and also made of partly synthetic bits.
At first I thought "oh my this looks like it fits him better than the other" which was fine, if even a bit exciting because then I could get 2 saddles! But in the midst of all this joy, Ben started PACING under saddle. He hasn't paced since the day I met him. I had a suspicion that it was the saddle, perhaps it looked a bit too narrow after all. Or maybe it could be me, who is having extreme pain in my hip and groin. Maybe my body is interfering and sending an unintended cue.
Nevertheless, I changed the gullet to the MW and rode again. I got pacing, again. Of course, my own pain has not gotten much better.
So now I'm undecided because this particular model looks like it fits better, but he certainly didn't move as well in it. I am anxious now to get my saddle and see if he is more comfortable in that. Which would be strange, as it is by looks, not the better fitting of the two.
While we wait, I am taking a wee break from riding to address my very apparent medical issue. I have a massage therapy appointment next week, and in the mean time, am trying to learn some gentle stretches that will hopefully loosen up my lower limbs in the areas that matter.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Spring...I has it
Just a couple of photos from today after our ride.
I am really excited over how Ben is turning out. He's been quite solid and reliable- and really fun, too! I appreciate this as I have been struggling with my left hip, and it has basically made me forget how to ride. Probably not the best idea to go on training a young horse, but oh well. I'm trying to stretch it out, take supplements, do what i can- but it is still very much locked. I may have to break down and go see a professional- boo. Through all of this, though, Ben has been a rock star, despite having to deal with me.
 |
| Spring...I has it. |
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| That's the biggest damn bucket I've ever seen! |
I am really excited over how Ben is turning out. He's been quite solid and reliable- and really fun, too! I appreciate this as I have been struggling with my left hip, and it has basically made me forget how to ride. Probably not the best idea to go on training a young horse, but oh well. I'm trying to stretch it out, take supplements, do what i can- but it is still very much locked. I may have to break down and go see a professional- boo. Through all of this, though, Ben has been a rock star, despite having to deal with me.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Lofty
Wee Ben and I rode in a new saddle today, thanks to the saddle fitter coming out with a bunch of saddles. And OMG - the lushness that is the Kent & Masters dressage saddle. It is love.
Turns out its a pretty good fit for Ben, and very adjustable to accomodate his devloping body.
Turns out, my checkbook is a little lighter right now, cuz I just had to get one.
In 2 weeks we shall have our very own.
Back to the lesson- did some trot- took awhile to get the saddle, girth, irons right. But we did our trots, and started to teach him how to turn so we can begin to do big circles. My mantra-outside leg, outside rein, step inside. 1.2.3. I can do this. And once I got myself sorted- Ben figured it out.
And once I figured out how to sort my upper body out- Ben gave THE.BIGGEST.TROT.EVER. Said trot is completely suspended in air- it was so lofty I stopped him at first because I thought he was being naughty and doing something to evade the work. LOL
The funny part was- the more praise he got from our trainer- the bigger he went. LOL
I can tell you what- his stride is huge and thank goodness I have until 2nd level to post the trot! HAHAH
Needless to say- impressive, REALLY impressive.
Turns out its a pretty good fit for Ben, and very adjustable to accomodate his devloping body.
Turns out, my checkbook is a little lighter right now, cuz I just had to get one.
In 2 weeks we shall have our very own.
Back to the lesson- did some trot- took awhile to get the saddle, girth, irons right. But we did our trots, and started to teach him how to turn so we can begin to do big circles. My mantra-outside leg, outside rein, step inside. 1.2.3. I can do this. And once I got myself sorted- Ben figured it out.
And once I figured out how to sort my upper body out- Ben gave THE.BIGGEST.TROT.EVER. Said trot is completely suspended in air- it was so lofty I stopped him at first because I thought he was being naughty and doing something to evade the work. LOL
The funny part was- the more praise he got from our trainer- the bigger he went. LOL
I can tell you what- his stride is huge and thank goodness I have until 2nd level to post the trot! HAHAH
Needless to say- impressive, REALLY impressive.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Pictures!
Finally- a barn mate was able to snap a photo of Ben and I.
Yesterday's ride was PAINFUL! Oh my hips. I had to keep it short.
That said- I'm going on the attack. Weapons: Joint supplement. Advil. Tiger Balm. Sore No More. Heat packs. Back on Track long johns.
Coupled with as much stretching as I can do.
This has got to get resolved asap!!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Now
My plan is to one day look back on this blog and have an OMG before-and-after type reaction. And hopefully, our "after" picture is much better than our "before" picture. That said, I feel like I should at least document where we're at now.
Anyone who ever starts a horse knows what I'm talking about. Generally speaking, they are usually stiff, usually don't have the greatest movements- all of which is developed over a long stretch of time according to the training scale.
No better way to document than by pictures.
Currently - Ben is very stiff. While we have now established the "go" button - we have not yet gotten any sort of real rhythm, nor have we gotten any kind of softness.Which is ok. We'll get there- that takes time. Due to his shape and level of training- Ben is like riding a warped 2x4. In fact, at any given moment he looks and feels like any one of these, mainly the first one:
One great thing about Ben is that he canters. However, its not the greatest, most fluid thing in the world. In fact, he reminds me much of my favorite cartoon skunk friend, PepeLePew. While ground covering, we're not exactly the most fluid, beautiful movement in the world. More like a hop from place to place. Le Meow. Le Purr.
Anyone who ever starts a horse knows what I'm talking about. Generally speaking, they are usually stiff, usually don't have the greatest movements- all of which is developed over a long stretch of time according to the training scale.
No better way to document than by pictures.
Currently - Ben is very stiff. While we have now established the "go" button - we have not yet gotten any sort of real rhythm, nor have we gotten any kind of softness.Which is ok. We'll get there- that takes time. Due to his shape and level of training- Ben is like riding a warped 2x4. In fact, at any given moment he looks and feels like any one of these, mainly the first one:
One great thing about Ben is that he canters. However, its not the greatest, most fluid thing in the world. In fact, he reminds me much of my favorite cartoon skunk friend, PepeLePew. While ground covering, we're not exactly the most fluid, beautiful movement in the world. More like a hop from place to place. Le Meow. Le Purr.
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