|
|
Post by Champ on Nov 12, 2006 0:46:30 GMT -3
There will probaly only be a half dozen posts in here but I am bored and I like to talk about Dawny. Dawnatello, or Dawny, is an arabian gelding at West Winds in Calgary, AB that I am riding in my lessons. I ride him in hunter over fences lessons once a week. Our first lesson was last week. We warmed up at the walk and trot on a figure 8, practicing sitting, standing, and jump position. Then I had to stand up in my stirrups for three figure 8s- after which I could barely walk for a week. Next we cantered on a 20 m circle, I think the coach was assessing my level. I love his canter though! www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TqErXK40IIThen we started with a simple crossrail, trotting up and over but staying in two point the whole way around. He spooks at the wall, and I had to block him with my legs most of the time to keep him steady. He ran out on me several times, and then settled down for a long while. but he spooked again and my good old safety stirrups broke like they should and I fell off. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQKYxoGnIbUNevertheless, I still enjoyed riding him. The instructor raised the jump to a small vertical and we did that several times as well, and he has a cute jump but is still learning. He continued to be a bit spooky, but was generally good. |
|
|
|
Post by Champ on Nov 12, 2006 0:54:55 GMT -3
Today was our second lesson. I got there extra early and bonused an extra 20 minutes with Dawny. I spent that time walking him up to the wall he found so scary last week and stopping him to look at it, backing him up to it, and standing him in the corner. He snorted and head bobbed each time for about ten minutes, but I talked to him quietly and used my legs to hold him together. By the start of the lesson he was being very good, and I had started pushing him up and into my hands. He's very responsive and listened very well, even arching his back up much higher. I wish I could get the same response from Champ! We worked on some trot to warmup, practicing circles and shallow loops. He bends quite easily, and you can easily trot a 6 m circle just by staring at the center and using your legs. He would be great for dressage, he's leg yielding at the trot and canter and does turn on the forehand with a little persuasion. I didn't try it because no one asked me to, but I have a sneaking suspicion he would trot on place if asked. I tried to slow him once and he barely moved, just kept trotting in place a few steps. I'm totally impressed with him. His canter was better this time, I pushed him more forward to get him working from behind and he really came up a bit. I shortened my stirrups at the coaches recomendation and was better able to keep my heels down. Unfortunately our lesson was cut short because a mare collapsed in the field. She was collicking really bad and covered in sweat. They took her into the arena to walk her and she kept falling down. It looked like her legs were paralyzed. Her foal was freaked out, and all the kids and I ended up leaving. They were trying to get her up once when she fell over and she rolled onto a man and started thrashing, kicked him a few times. I left before the vet got there but it looked bad. My next lesson is Saturday coming, and I am reading a book on hunter/jumper tips, trying to increase my mental perception of hunter  |
|
|
|
Post by happilyeverafter on Nov 12, 2006 3:37:23 GMT -3
Dawny sounds great!! Get lots of more pictures and videos!
That poor mare...I hope she is okay.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jessica on Nov 12, 2006 9:05:53 GMT -3
Yes Kelly, get some more pics and videos!
And wow, poor mare..
|
|
|
|
Post by Sarah on Nov 12, 2006 9:10:29 GMT -3
Sounds awsome! It is great to hear that you are enjoying yourself up there! Dawny reminds me of a lot of the horses I get to ride here (don't you just love arabs??). Keep us updated!
|
|
|
|
Post by sarahparmiter on Nov 12, 2006 10:19:06 GMT -3
He sounds great kelly! aww poor mare =(
|
|
|
|
Post by Champ on Nov 12, 2006 15:26:43 GMT -3
I love arabs too, especially since I started ridng Dawny. That poor mare, I felt so bad for her... I don't know if she's going to make it, that was the worse colic I ever saw. She was thrashing on the ground, not a good sign  Michael is going to tape my lesson in a couple of weeks so I can judge my progress from using videos. I think it helps a lot, the coach said I was doing a better job of keeping my heels down this lesson- something that was sorely obvious in the video! When I come back I can easily tape all the lessons anyone wants, like Jess and Maria- then you can use them as training aids, I can even burn them as DVDs! |
|
|
|
Post by nat on Nov 12, 2006 17:47:51 GMT -3
u looked great...pony is pretty=)...lots of pix and videos..good luck in ur other lessons..and have tons of fun!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Champ on Nov 24, 2006 23:19:22 GMT -3
So last week I had my lesson on Dawny, they let the lesson go to almost 2 hours! That was because of the previous week. (For those wondering, the poor mare died after, but her foal is doing well. It was really bad colic, and they had to put her to sleep.)
We warmed up over a foot vertical, and then she put it up and up and up. She made me do the whole lesson in 2 point- I guess as punishment for having a lousy position over jumps. She said I should be in a more advance class(I ride with kids, because its the only time I can go) and that I was in too easy of a class. So she made me jump 3 feet and I was like "holy cow, this is huge! I never jumped this high!" and she said that was ridiculous and put the jump up AGAIN! So here I am in a class with all these kids, jumping 3 foot 9, and scared because I'm a fraidy cat and she starts making me approach it with my eyes closed and counting out loud the last three strides. And everytime he lands, he puts his head down and gives a little happy buck. She says "hold on a sec" and puts the jump up to 4 foot.
My sides still hurt. If anyone ever went to driving school, they will know about the third crash. In a car accident, the first crash is car hitting object, then body hitting inside of car. The third crash is your organs hitting your rib cage. My organs were banging off my ribs, and I jumped the 3'9 3 times and the 4 foot 3 times, plus I jumped like 40 times before. Boy do I ever love that horse!
|
|
|
|
Post by krys on Nov 25, 2006 10:32:08 GMT -3
Wow, Kelly! Sounds like you two are doing amazing!!
I remember when you had that jumping lesson here a while ago, you had that pain from third crash for about a week!
I can't wait for you to come home!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Champ on Nov 25, 2006 19:20:23 GMT -3
wahhhhhh I missed my lesson today, and it was going to be my last one Our apartment had to be evacuated because the buildings nearby were on fire.... so sad, I have to live in the hotel where I work now |
|
|
|
Post by happilyeverafter on Nov 25, 2006 19:41:40 GMT -3
woahhhhhhhhhhhhh 4'!!!!!!!!!! thats intense
|
|
|
|
Post by Mellu on Nov 25, 2006 21:35:21 GMT -3
Oh, KElly:(. Well, look at the bright side, HOME SOOOOOON  |
|
|
|
Post by sarahparmiter on Nov 26, 2006 9:56:32 GMT -3
yup! we're all pumped! especially your boy. he misses his mommy  |
|
|
|
Post by Maria on Nov 27, 2006 14:33:36 GMT -3
Wicked Kelly! that horse looks awesome, he always look so happy and loves to be ridden!!
Please no more falling!! but wow, it sounds like your doing awesome, and me and Champ can't wait till your back home!!!!!!!!
|
|
