Good Times

I think our boys are wintering well...

Been playing around with a friend, taking lessons. Learning and remembering to break things down simpler and work on one thing at a time. Great success with Maximus in this approach! Such as an active walk. Simply getting a good, comfortable stride rather than our pokey amble has been a worthy and rewarding task. I've adopted a dressage whip to reinforce my leg cues, rather than my short bat. I'm very glad to be able to say that a little tap behind my leg goes a LONG way with this boy!

Bush Wacking

Well, it's been what? 4? 6? weeks since I've last ridden this sweet boy?

He was AMAZING. He definitely responds well to the lovey-dovey approach and opened right up to me. Bridling is 80% better with the lovin'.

Right off the hop we decided to hit the bush on the property rather than try to battle the windy road. We locked the rest of the herd up front in our 2 acres of open pasture and found our trusting mounting tree stump just inside the bushline of our 8 acres out back.

Exploring the horse-made trails through the bush is like entering a private world all their own. Of course, watching out for branches above wither height is necessary to ensure rider survival.

Max lead like a champ once I made it clear forward motion at a reasonable pace was expected. He marched down their trails, off their trails and through all kinds of bush. Winding around trees prompted tighter communication as the boy has no idea how to watch out for anything beyond the sides of his barrel (read: KNEES!). Oh, who am I kidding? He's the kind of horse that will "Opps." rub and bump his way through things with only his own fuzzy grey coat to slow him down. It was tricky work and I've got at least one bruise to show for a critical moment's lack of attention.

All in all it a great break from the arena routine and an opportunity to really test him in a trail-like environment with a touch more comfort to him. I was able to snap branches left & right, above his head without him twitching an ear. Decent-sized sapplings were tugged and pulled between his barrel and my leg without a worry. We became somewhat proficient with our back & forth, enabling us to miss almost all of the more substantial trees.

Mostly, I was impressed with his sweet willingness to pick up right where we left off. I love how he just plunks along with whatever plan is put to him. Such a good boy!

Bugs

Been laying pretty low for quite a while. First, the weather. Then some mysterious sinus infection ran through our herd, affecting 4 of 7 horses. The two younsters were hit, of course. Our boy had to be upgraded from pills to shots and finally we see results. He's getting better for the handling, I think. Despite some punk-antics and understandable reaction to the 4 18-guage needles per day, he remains a very well-balanced boy. We really like him and are excited about what kind of horse he's going to be!

Just said hullo to Maximus for the first time in weeks, tonight. He's as sexy and funny as ever. If they could bottle him up, I'd be rich. Of course, I'm disgustingly bias.

Not sure if I'll take him off property this week or wait another, just to be safe. No sense spreading this thing around.

Feet are on the docket soon, too. Going to take some brush-up lessons from my farrier and recharge my batteries. All three look quite good, if long. I hope to never have difficult feet to keep again! In fact, upgrade that to a difficult horse to keep, period, again! I just love our three boys!!

Hoar Frost!!

Beautiful weekend...

Well Hell

I have NO idea what is happening but I'm forced to confront an issue that has come up.

I am crazy about this fun-loving, inquisitive beast. I do not want to 'break out of him' what makes him him. I want a willing, eager partner. He's always been sluggish. The lightest tap of a spur will having him forward. If only I could wear spurs every time I ride. Without them, our communication is immediately one-sided. That said, the trot is his happy gait. Once there, I never have to ask for any more. He'll give this gorgeous, yummy, consistent pace until he runs out of steam, which we discovered tonight was at about 30 mins. Then NO amount of asking will get any more give until he's rested up for a bit. But all this makes me chuckle, despite how annoying it can be in the moment.

The real issue that concerns me is his growing aversion to head gear of any kind. I have to wonder if my general impression of his lack of sensitivity in the above activities hasn't caused me to be less empathetic about handling his face. I'm sure it's not a bit issue as he doesn't fuss once tacked up, other than his 3 minute sulk with his nose in the dirt. He's not as bad for haltering, but every time he sees the bridle, Ugly Face appears and evasion begins. I actually have to back him into an obstacle and block him from bouncing his head off mine in his tactics.

I had limited success one time in creating yummy lovey low snuggly time and being super gentle. (I could not create this today.) Once our ride was over, during untacking he tossed the entire bridle 10 feet away in the sand. In fact, Ugly Face reappears once I reach for the buckle on the cheek strap. I even clipped a bridle path, recalling that my mare of once-up-a-time had issues with mane 'bunching' at the top of the bridle.

I'm considering getting him assessed by a chiro. Haven't done it yet and there are other indicators that crease my brow, such as rounded toes on the hinds and frequent urination. These have been present since I got him - I know... shame on me for no vet check. Being a recreational rider, I don't need the most supreme example of conformational perfection. I just need a sound buddy.

I may try the path to his tummy first, as this approach was so successful with trailer loading. Honey on the bit can be messy, but it might be worth it.

Tete a Tete

Not a whole lot of saddle work this past Wednesday. We focused more on our invisible connection with some follow-me-at-liberty work. Unfortunately, right when I went to collect him from the pasture he made it clear that he did NOT want to play with me. He maintained his grouchy face throughout the day. He was good enough to humour me on the follow-me game, but made it entirely clear he was doing so under extreme duress. ha!

There were two other horses playing the same game with their riders in the arena at the time. I removed the halter and just draped the lead rope around his neck/withers. We went over and around all kinds of obstacles, including around the other horses. The goal was to have his head at my shoulder the entire time, by free will. I had to slip my hand onto his outside cheek quite a bit, especially when his friend May was walking by, but we did not too shabby. If only I could have pried his ears from laying flat on his neck!

The next day, he met me at the gate with his usual playful demeanour. Defintely had an off day. Save those for any day but Wednesdays, buddy!

Oh and I forgot my camera. pffft.

Reinin' in the Freight Train

Had a FABULOUS time last Wednesday. Started out by trying on a new Christmas gift - a sexy black cooler purchased via gift card, compliments of my brother. Whaaa...? The first time EVER a member of my oh-so-non-horsey family has set foot inside a true horsey store. This thing is made of some modern super-wicking material and comes with all the strappings. I chose a no-neck model for my fuzzy "sweater" and I must say he does look like quite the dapper breyer model in his new wardrobe. I'll remember my camera this week, I almost promise.

I got the chance to really try out the new threads, too. Hand-walked him down for 15 minutes or so after our ride with it on. When I pulled it off to let him roll (THE best reward for this guy after a solid ride), he was easily 90% dry. Chillin tied up in the arena during lunch accomplished the rest of the task.

Starting with a modeling session was a great groundwork exercise. Don't know if he'd ever worn such a thing, but he took to it like a good little curious puppy. Next came the hulla hoop. Swung it all around him, put it over his head and lunged him at the trot. Dropped it off every side of him and had him stand in it with every foot (not at once). His first response when I dropped it on the ground in front of him was to pick it up in his mouth and flop it up and down with his lips. Pretty classic Maximus.

Once mounted up we did some steady follow-the-leader at the trot. Max is always up for some of that. Set the pace and just march it out. He's got great rhythm. He has typically been the leader and took some work to maintain as a polite follower. He's got racing brain from our trail rides with Old Man Competative Bill.

Next was some canter work (finally!). I failed to mention that I chose to ride with my glorious little orange crop for the first time. Spurs are difficult to fit to Sorrels and riding without them, I've been very disappointed to see serious regression in his response to leg cues. Rather than repeat our typical 300 foot mad-dash-before-departure, upon my first ask I gave a solid crack to the rump (a loud but harmless startle effect). And we were OFF! And I mean off. Let him get a few strides out before asking him to come back and tried it again and again. Not once did I need to use the orange stick again, in fact. He still runs into it a stride, but I think it's more about confidence. Our very last try was much more elegant and controlled.

...Interesting to note that when I once lost my centre of balance for a moment, he too had to scramble a bit. Have to be more diligent about helping him out! Babies... too cute!