Poet

[Danielle]

I groomed Poet this morning and he was really good! He was a little bratty about one of his back feet but nothing major. He was really quiet, not moving around or anything really! He was out in the turnout when we had the fun show, with a lot of commotion and everything, and he didn't care! I was really pleased with that. I was sitting dwon in his turnout, with him lying down and his head in my lap. He's calmed down so much these past few months.

[Danielle]

First actual ride in a month and a half. He was really good for all 4 feet and being groomed. He was a little resistant to getting his saddle tightened but nothing like he used to. I took him out and tightened the other side and mounted without any issues. We did a lot of walking, with circles and going over a couple poles. He tried to duck out of a few corners and didn't want to go straight but over all very good. We did a little trotting work and we got a beautiful trot for a rail and a half. For the first ride in forever, he was fabulous I'll post some pictures later.

[Danielle]

Another good ride He had a little spook once, and let out a litle buck but was really good He didn't forget anything at walk but now is hard to getting to trot as opposed to rack. With time and poles, I'm sure he'll come along

[Danielle]

www.youtube.com/user/poetryinmotion11#p/u

Youtube account where I hope to have more clips for soon

[Danielle]

The past couple rides couldn't have gone better! We've been doing a lot of work on forward movement, and trotting poles, and he's really starting to understand it. He's been really relaxed (well, more so lazy ). We have started him over some VERY small crossrails at a walk and trot. They are less then a foot high, just a little step. He doesn't feel the need to hop or anything, he just steps over it. The first few times he stopped and eventuall went over and ducked his head way down, one time pulling me over his neck, haha! But he really seems to love it now that he's starting to get the hang of it. He will not be doing any amount of jumping until his flat work is very secure. This is just something to add in to change it up a little because he gets bored really easily. The past few weeks have gone so well, and I'm really proud of my boy

[Krista]

YAY!
thats great danielle!

[Danielle]

Another great ride! Lots of forward movement and crossrails. He knocked over the crossrail a bunch of times but we'll work on that!

[jpoole]

Sounds like you two have come a long way, congrats!!

[Danielle]

Thanks!
The past few rides have gone so good, especially today! We've rode in groups and alone and he'll trot/rack all the way around (mainly trot after he gets himself going) and even did a couple canters when I asked for them. He needs work on focusing on my when there's other horses in the ring, but that'll come. Today we put him over poles and a little crossrail. After he figured out what we wanted, he did it great! We lunged him ovet a 1 foot jump and he was so good he loves it, and doesn't over jump much for a green horse! I can't describe how proud I am of him and how happy I am that I never gave up on him.

[maria]

I know exactly how you feel! I have felt like selling Connor and buying something easier MULTIPLE times. AND have felt jelouse of the people with the nice, pushbutton horses. However it has made me such a better rider, and person, plus it's so much more rewarding, even if others don't see it in the form of a red ribbon. YOU know how far you've come with your horse, and no one can take that away from you.

[Krista]

very well said maria and i totally agree!

[Danielle]

I could not agree more Maria!
The last couple rides were a little.. off. He's being very ignorant of my leg and doesn't want to bend. We worked on bending on his unblanced way (left rein) and only at the gate he threw a fit. It's not that he's having trouble bending, because I go really deep in to the other corners and he bends fine. He has a lot of trouble with staying bent on large circles in both directions. Anyone have an exercises or tips to help with this? I've been using my legs and outside rein but he's still having trouble.
Other then that, we've trotted a line of two crossrails and he adores it! He trys to canter everytime, his way of rushing the jumps I guess, haha. But over all, this boy is being very good. His crosstie issues are much non existant, I just have to tell him "No" firmly and he'll stop and look at me like "What'd I do?". His back feet are still an issue certain days but he's getting a firmer reprimand and it seems to help.

[Danielle]

Yesterday was pretty bad. He kicked up a fuss and forgot his manners completely. His circles were terrible and his bending wasn't very good.
But today was much better
He was trotting all the way around more then once at once, and even with another horse in the arena (his girlfriend ;D), with a little of reprimanding (or a lot ), he listened up and did circles at the walk and everything. He slammed my knee against the gate once, the first time in forever. But it didn't happen again after that.
Our first show is in 5 days, with 2 in hand classes on Saturday and two walk trot flat classes on Sunday. I hope he'll do well, but surviving is our number one goal (I kid, I kid). I just want him to go out there and do his best and not throw any MAJOR fits

[krys]

Cantering to and from jumps is much easier for horses (definitely was for Rocky) but if they're rushing the canter in and out it causes much more problems.
What I did with Rocky when he used to get excited around jumps was to always ride with at least one in the ring and then very randomly go over it. Some days more than others, some days not at all. I found that really helped to settle him down when it came to jumps.

As for the bending, if he keeps the bend on a smaller circle, I'd start there at the walk and then leg yield out slowly to a bigger circle and then come in again if he loses the bend. Then do the same at the trot. Just make sure the circle isn't too small. And remember that he is just learning and it's going to take time. Just be patient

[Danielle]

Okay, thanks for the advice!
Today was such a good day I had a lesson, and with the aid of spurs , I had him walking, trotting AND cantering, all the way around So proud of my boy! I walked him over a trail class bridge and he didn't care. He hesitated slightly and then went over. Just mixing things up for him a bit
Show in three days, pretty nervous!