Post by brigadier on Mar 3, 2015 16:38:30 GMT
Should have ridden yesterday! Both horses were spooky and flighty-especially Harriet who was the worst she has ever been, refusing to go near one corner of the school as there was a monster, luckily I had a whip so I could give her a tap as she completely refused to listen to my leg, at one point I was nearly out of the side door as she spooked at nothing on the ground and did one of those nimble stops and then a quick feint to the left. I finally after about forty minutes of madness (but only just) managed to get a few figures of eight with a bit of rhythm so decided to call it a day but I was shaking with effort and she was really sweaty.
I decided I must do Floss so got her out to groom but she was on edge also and it took me ages to flick her over and put the saddle on (note to self to send bad karma vibes to whoever has scared this lovely mare) I left her with the saddle on, tied up whilst I had a cuppa, hoping it would give her time to settle.She did and a pre-lunge went beautifully, so I decided to ride her. Well it must have taken me 20 mins to get on- I tried change to the offside but that frightened her, Every time she came forward to the block she then went backwards so I couldnt get on. Now I have seen someone sort a horse doing this, out very quickly. But they were rough and I think if I employed the same tactic she would melt! So I kept following her with the block and eventually she stood and I got on. I could feel she was tense- more so than the last three times I had ridden her so I spent a while just walking and singing to her (this helped believe it or not) so I started to trot and something at the far spooky end of the school spooked her and she set of, head practically vertical galloping down the arena. I just held her gently and soothed her so she stopped and we continued our trot but I could sense it could have been so much worse. We finished on some nice even trot but she was more rigid in her outline and less inclined to drop her guard. On reflection, the session didnt go too badly though, I think I need to keep her ticking over more as she has had a few days off and she is putting on weight so there is plenty of good stuff going in.
Officially exhausted!
I decided I must do Floss so got her out to groom but she was on edge also and it took me ages to flick her over and put the saddle on (note to self to send bad karma vibes to whoever has scared this lovely mare) I left her with the saddle on, tied up whilst I had a cuppa, hoping it would give her time to settle.She did and a pre-lunge went beautifully, so I decided to ride her. Well it must have taken me 20 mins to get on- I tried change to the offside but that frightened her, Every time she came forward to the block she then went backwards so I couldnt get on. Now I have seen someone sort a horse doing this, out very quickly. But they were rough and I think if I employed the same tactic she would melt! So I kept following her with the block and eventually she stood and I got on. I could feel she was tense- more so than the last three times I had ridden her so I spent a while just walking and singing to her (this helped believe it or not) so I started to trot and something at the far spooky end of the school spooked her and she set of, head practically vertical galloping down the arena. I just held her gently and soothed her so she stopped and we continued our trot but I could sense it could have been so much worse. We finished on some nice even trot but she was more rigid in her outline and less inclined to drop her guard. On reflection, the session didnt go too badly though, I think I need to keep her ticking over more as she has had a few days off and she is putting on weight so there is plenty of good stuff going in.
Officially exhausted!
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
