Oops, have forgotten to update the blog, and I wrote it all out and then the inet lost it!! Argh! I have been out to visit and ride Drum a couple of times since and we have even been to our first show!
I have done a few more rides in the paddock, trying to get rid of old bad habits and start back at the basics with my riding skills and aids. Trying to let go of my inside rein and have a good contact on the outside rein has been very hard work. And then trying to keep Drum on a circle and not let him drift out with my outside leg, and not over bend his neck with my inside rein, but asking him to turn with my inside leg. Yesterday we were working much more consistently in an outline, lifting Drum up to the outside rein with my inside leg. We work much better when we are alone, Drum tends to duck and dive and try to go to other horses or Gemma on the ground and it makes hard work for me to keep my balance and guide him properly. Obviously we need to be able to ride with other horses and people around, but I still need to relearn my aids properly first. I cantered him and did a flying lead change - by accident! We got a bit fast and confuzzled on one corner and he started cantering and did a lead change to rebalance himself before coming down to a trot as I was squeezing my legs frantically to slow down, phew! Talk about giving me a heart attack!
I rode Gemma's school mistress Katie after riding Drum yesterday. She was really lovely with an enormous walk and was very sensitive. I could hardly get her into a trot as even though I wasnt nervous, my thighs were still instinctively tense from holding on and she just thought I was putting on the breaks. After doing a few rounds with her, I managed to completely loosen up and today I will ride in longer stirrups on Drum and see if that helps us.
We did our first in hand show on Sunday. Gemma kindly dropped Drum off on her way to a Blyth Tait lesson and he was very good tied to the float and when we started walking around. I shouldve entered much more classes but only entered 3 for our first show. Our first class was 'best stallion/gelding over 4yrs' and Drum tanked around, wouldnt stand still, head butted me, neighed and was over all, very frustrating and embarrassing. We didnt place. We left the ring, gathered our wits about us and went back into 'mannered' which I thought we'd flunk, but we placed 4th out of 10! Hooray! Our first ribbon, and a green one - our colour. We were then in 'suitable dressage' which was supposed to be jumping, but either way we didnt place. The rest of the day we walked around the floats, other horses, up and down the stable aisles, tied to the float, grazing and standing in a yard near the arena, watching the other horses and talking to friends. Later when Gemma came to pick Drum up, she threw his lead rope over his back, poked his head in the float and he loaded himself up!
Another small ride today and tomorrow and then we are doing a 12km hill trek on Saturday! Shawn, Riley, me and the dogs move into our new home near the Alps on Sunday and I am hoping to bring Drum home a week later.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
I finally went riding!!
17 & 18 September 2009
Since we are finally home in CHCH I can start riding again. I went to see Drum on the 17th and Gemma tacked him up and got on for a ride, walked, trotted and cantered and then I got on. Had some RR lozenges before hand. Fumbled a bit getting him to stand beside a barrel for me to mount from... and then we were away! He was so cruisy. We just walked and trotted to begin with, with lots of reins changes. It was hard trying to co-ordinate my hands and legs again, fumbling around a bit there but Drum was pretty patient. I kept him away from his girlfriends with my outside leg and had him flexing nicely on some corners and taking a light contact on the bit when I got all my aids right lol. I was really stoked with how my first ride back went!
On the 18th - yesterday - I had the saddle fitter out and he was really lovely and explained things really well. He showed me how to check the right gullet size and then put it in the saddle and showed how to fit the saddle properly. Drum is in a blue [med-wide] gullet and his new saddle fits nicely =) He may go up to a red [wide] gullet when he gains a bit more of a top line as he lost a little condition while he had a sore foot. Saddle fitted usually cost $65 but since Gemma had a saddle checked, we both got a discount and it only cost $45. He also is wearing a normal saddle blanket and then a half pad type blanket between that and the saddle. The farrier saw Drum last week and was giving him another week to let the wee hole grow out, then a trim and he should be pretty much better!
I tacked up Drum and mounted up and rode in a different area to the day before. One of the dogs was pottering about in the pretend arena but Drum ignored him. I did lots and looots of trotting and rein changes, again trying to co-ordinate myself and get the aids right. We were doing really well but when Gemma got the camera out, Drum got all camera shy and went camel haha. After a tiring schooling sesh, we went out for a long hack with Gemma and Lenny, her eventer. We went past some cars, a stallion, across and bridge, through some paddocks, through some streams, past some curious cattle, Drum led Lenny through a scary gate!
It was such a great ride and I am sooo stoked! RR has been a life saver, I feel like I did before my accident! And Drum is so cruisy and quiet.
I cant wait to go ride again and have him home! Next ride is Tuesday. And we have entered a all breeds in hand show next weekend, sport horse section. Just for the experience out and about.
Since we are finally home in CHCH I can start riding again. I went to see Drum on the 17th and Gemma tacked him up and got on for a ride, walked, trotted and cantered and then I got on. Had some RR lozenges before hand. Fumbled a bit getting him to stand beside a barrel for me to mount from... and then we were away! He was so cruisy. We just walked and trotted to begin with, with lots of reins changes. It was hard trying to co-ordinate my hands and legs again, fumbling around a bit there but Drum was pretty patient. I kept him away from his girlfriends with my outside leg and had him flexing nicely on some corners and taking a light contact on the bit when I got all my aids right lol. I was really stoked with how my first ride back went!
On the 18th - yesterday - I had the saddle fitter out and he was really lovely and explained things really well. He showed me how to check the right gullet size and then put it in the saddle and showed how to fit the saddle properly. Drum is in a blue [med-wide] gullet and his new saddle fits nicely =) He may go up to a red [wide] gullet when he gains a bit more of a top line as he lost a little condition while he had a sore foot. Saddle fitted usually cost $65 but since Gemma had a saddle checked, we both got a discount and it only cost $45. He also is wearing a normal saddle blanket and then a half pad type blanket between that and the saddle. The farrier saw Drum last week and was giving him another week to let the wee hole grow out, then a trim and he should be pretty much better!
I tacked up Drum and mounted up and rode in a different area to the day before. One of the dogs was pottering about in the pretend arena but Drum ignored him. I did lots and looots of trotting and rein changes, again trying to co-ordinate myself and get the aids right. We were doing really well but when Gemma got the camera out, Drum got all camera shy and went camel haha. After a tiring schooling sesh, we went out for a long hack with Gemma and Lenny, her eventer. We went past some cars, a stallion, across and bridge, through some paddocks, through some streams, past some curious cattle, Drum led Lenny through a scary gate!
It was such a great ride and I am sooo stoked! RR has been a life saver, I feel like I did before my accident! And Drum is so cruisy and quiet.
I cant wait to go ride again and have him home! Next ride is Tuesday. And we have entered a all breeds in hand show next weekend, sport horse section. Just for the experience out and about.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Drum Has A Sore Foot
I think I lost the original txt from Gemma re his foot. But the jist of it is, he was living with Wendy and she had the vet out to see his foot and they dug a hole in his foot (to relieve pressure?) which caused a secondary infection - abscess. Here at the txts and emails I still have to update.
25 Aug
Dum dum still a bit sore, after the bruise and everything went away he got a dam secondary infection :-( he was been on Anti-biotics and is now heaps better. I will be working him again after his little unplanned break as soon as he is happy on his foot again.
31 Aug
Drum still has a hole in his foot, damn vets, I could kill em :-( Dont worry, you'll not get his vet bill. My friend is paying it.
Drum will be coming back to my place this weekend and I will work him all week (foot permitting). I was so wild about the vet digging holes! It would have been better to have left it, as it was just a stone bruise to start with and only abcessed due to the digging argh. But Wendy thought it was for the best. Her hearts in the right place anyway.
She has fallen in love with Drum Drum and is very sad he is has to leave. She has offered him a home if you ever not want him, I have told her it is not at all likely! LOL You love him far toooooo much :-)
4 Sep
He does have really great feet, just a shame the vet made a hole in it! I am very pissed with the vet to say the least!!!!!!!!!!!
It is padded with a vet shoof boot, as there is a bit of mud where he is. As soon as he is here, where it is dry he won’t wear one.
He is heaps better; the shoe will only be if the farrier thinks it need protection. I am going to try without but that is worst case scenario!!
The lad should be fine for you to ride, and yes he has started moulting out! Hair everywhere.
I will give you an update on Sunday when he gets back here from his little break. It should have done him good anyway despite the foot.
7 Sep
Dum dum's home :-) looking fab, sporting a nice new cover! A present from Wendy lucky boy :) His foots ok he jut a little lame. Farrier out tomorrow.
Wendy likes to spoil ponies! Lol. Yes will keep you posted bout foot. Want to get some work into him before he heads home :) He'll be sweet though. He's a good boy
25 Aug
Dum dum still a bit sore, after the bruise and everything went away he got a dam secondary infection :-( he was been on Anti-biotics and is now heaps better. I will be working him again after his little unplanned break as soon as he is happy on his foot again.
31 Aug
Drum still has a hole in his foot, damn vets, I could kill em :-( Dont worry, you'll not get his vet bill. My friend is paying it.
Drum will be coming back to my place this weekend and I will work him all week (foot permitting). I was so wild about the vet digging holes! It would have been better to have left it, as it was just a stone bruise to start with and only abcessed due to the digging argh. But Wendy thought it was for the best. Her hearts in the right place anyway.
She has fallen in love with Drum Drum and is very sad he is has to leave. She has offered him a home if you ever not want him, I have told her it is not at all likely! LOL You love him far toooooo much :-)
4 Sep
He does have really great feet, just a shame the vet made a hole in it! I am very pissed with the vet to say the least!!!!!!!!!!!
It is padded with a vet shoof boot, as there is a bit of mud where he is. As soon as he is here, where it is dry he won’t wear one.
He is heaps better; the shoe will only be if the farrier thinks it need protection. I am going to try without but that is worst case scenario!!
The lad should be fine for you to ride, and yes he has started moulting out! Hair everywhere.
I will give you an update on Sunday when he gets back here from his little break. It should have done him good anyway despite the foot.
7 Sep
Dum dum's home :-) looking fab, sporting a nice new cover! A present from Wendy lucky boy :) His foots ok he jut a little lame. Farrier out tomorrow.
Wendy likes to spoil ponies! Lol. Yes will keep you posted bout foot. Want to get some work into him before he heads home :) He'll be sweet though. He's a good boy
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