Pony-Vision

CUTENESS!

Things are on the up and I feel great! Mini vacation this week other than pet-sitting. Sunday and Monday off, half days yesterday and today, then Thursday and Friday off. I can't complain too much. Was going to try to surprise my friend Bre and show up to Maine (I know she reads this) this weekend but a lot to catch up on come the weekend and it'd be cutting it close to get back to work on Sunday.

Otis the Mini-Mutt

So as my title states, I've been in total pony-vision mode. FINALLY! I don't want to kill anyone and everyone or even myself anymore. This week is exactly what my non-existing doctor ordered... I should probably get one of those. A girl at work even told me today that I looked normal and less... What's a good word... Homicidal? Yeah, that's perfect. I guess my threshold for B.S. finally started to crumble but woohoo! I made it through!

Saunders the Old Man

Let's start with Ms. Lucy... Talk about getting right back into the game. This mare has completely done a 180 this week. I got back on her for the first time this weekend, A has been coming and working with her again which is great. We did a lot of ground work as always and long story short, this pony got schooled on the ground and under saddle. The next day we brought up the whole canter thing again and she took it quietly and without a fight. I really got to loosen the reins and let her do her thing a few times which was nice, we only had one little "bump" but we got over it quickly. Monday and Tuesday? Amanda rode and let me tell you, she was smiles from ear to ear. They finally broke through the wall they've been fighting and they cantered. Yes you heard me, cantered. Not bolt around the ring running through the bit in a half-seat hand gallop. I'm talking head quiet 1-2-3 canter. It was a little rough in the beginning but as soon as A got her seat you could see them click. I was so happy. Of course Tuesday was show-and-tell and K got to see what her Princess has been up to. Impressed? I think she was.

I did a little lunge work and today before I got on her. Some loping (LOPING) around before I got on. She was pretty quiet which was good since the temperature was dropping and the rain started. I've been working with her on leg pressure and releasing to the bit. Lots of short serpentines and circle spirals. Also some lateral work (if you can call it that). Asking her to follow my hand and leg into the beginning of a rollback. I'll back her up and ask her to drop at the pole then open my hand and move her shoulders over with the opposite leg. Piece of cake for this one. She's becoming more tolerant of the leg pressure which is great. Instead of taking away the pressure when she gives, I leave it, only to desensitize her. There's sensitive and then there's ridiculously reactive. Definite difference. A will ride tomorrow, fingers crossed for consistency!

Oh Mr. Brantley. I can't tell you how amazing he was to get back into work. We had a great ride Sunday (had to skip Saturday do to not being able to share the ring) and even better Monday and Tuesday. I worked with Comic and Natalie tonight so B got the day off which I really wasn't too concerned about. I've been doing a lot of lateral work with him. We started doing some spiral work but he is not as light on the bit as Lucy is. He tends to lean on the bit and although he gets better the more I work with him, I sometimes think about switching to a little stronger bit. Only thing I worry about is if he does panic and I want to break him down a bit, I don't want to snap him in the mouth. I could use a square snaffle versus smooth instead of going right to a twisted bit, it's a little more bite but less chance of tearing out his mouth. I'm familiar with a twisted snaffle when I was riding with the Old Cowboy at Freedom. There was one draft that was just so heavy and within about 1 week, we had him back to the smooth snaffle. My hands are light enough, but I just don't think B is ready for something like that.

So something that B witnessed yesterday was Comic having an issue that ended up with Natalie on the ground. Now we haven't been introduced to this whole watching another horse crow-hop/buck their rider off especially in such close quarters. I couldn't have been more proud/impressed with either Brantley or Lucy. Right away I moved Brantley over by the door to cut off Comic just incase he headed for it not thinking what I'd do if he shot towards B. I dismounted and B walked with me to catch Comic. Old school master in the making? I think so.

Comic got a little schooling today as well. He was pretty dopey since his lunging session last night after the "incident", but there was no excuse. We cantered along a circle on the lunge line for about 10 minutes, 5 in each direction. As soon as he started to get comfortable and quiet I'd push him on from behind with the rope and ask him to move up. He finally gave in and didn't want to "react" to me getting after him. I put the bridle on, hopped on, walked in each direction, then went to work. We trotted, did some teardrop changes, serpentines, and then I asked him to canter all on a loose rein. He only got jiggy once and I broke him down, nose to my toe, bumped him with my leg with enough force to get his hind-end around, then back out to the rail at a canter. A few hours later N came to the barn and we tacked him back up and I had he do some seat work on the line. She felt a lot better after my vulgar balance "lesson". Hoping for the best tomorrow!

Captions Please?

K spent 1 hour grooming yesterday... Lucy was so proud.