Fanjee

[jessicab]

Thanks guys! I totally know what you mean Biz, shes, as Maggie would say, a "true blue app" ;D Right down to the attitude haha.

I lunged her and rode her yesterday, she was quite good. I've been booting her all around to protect her legs as she frantically tries to figure out what to do with them (silly mare).

Undersaddle shes been swishing her tail ALOT, but thats just how she is... she has no problem voicing her displeasure. I am looking into my saddle fit, as it seems to be a little tight through the shoulder (and hte tail swishing only appears undersaddle), but I think it also has to do with the fact that she has rarely had to WORK undersaddle. I think that once shes in shape enough for her to actually have to sweat a bit undersaddle she will realise that my asking her to carry me around the arena at a walk/trot is really not a big deal We did a good bit of leg-yielding at a walk, both directions, as well as a couple sidepasses and turns on the forehand. She was a great girl

Today we just went up and let them play outside in the snow! I dunno if she enjoys her time out in the fresh air as much as Ilike to think she does, but it reaaaaaaally makes me feel better to see her outside getting some vitamin d There are some pictures posted on her portfolio.

[jessicab]

Its been a few days since I updated this!

We've been continuing to lunge pretty well everyday; I wouldn't do this if she wasn't stalled all day, but she has to get some exercise everyday so I usually try to lunge her for atleast 20 minutes a day, plus lots of walking to cool her out.

We turned the ponies out in the outdoor a few days ago, and she was having a good time cantering in circles around me. When I put the lunge whip down she walked over and picked it up in her mouth, haha Suzanne figured she was gonna make me run around for awhile! Of course, being the foolish person I am I started running away from her and she like ran in the opposite direction and started trying to walk through the arena fence; I think I scared her. You know, being so big and strong and tough and all.

T'was cute.

I've ridden her a couple more times, and shes doing quite well. She has a major issue with swishing her tail and chewing on the bit, but Im hoping that the tail swishing is just going to go away with time. Its not even when I ask her to do something particularly challenging; just asking her to walk-on undersaddle gets her going *swish swish swish swish*. I've been SCRUTINIZING her saddle fit, overall soundness etc etc, and I REALLY don't think its a pain issue (shes fine until you are on her back, and even then its only when you use leg), its probably just a Fanjee issue. The bit chewing I THINK is because her snaffle has a swivle joint in the center, and its encouraging her to play with it etc. I'm going to try a sweet iron dee-ring and see if she likes it anymore.

Yesterday I lunged her with side-reins for the first time since August, walk/jog/lope. They were quite loose (practically no pressure on her), but I still think they did their job; she was really stretching out and seeking the contact once she knew it was there, and she looked pretty darn good to me.
Then I decided to ride her; we did lots and lots of jogging today, doing figures all over the place and lots of 20 m circles/ figure eights. Then it was time to canter Wooo. She did great IMO, like I said to Karen: She didn't fall down and she didn't run into the wall; these are good things.

In all seriousness she was a little angel at a canter, picked up her right lead fairly quickly (only a couple of quick trot strides in between) and although she crossfired the first lap around to the left (her bad side), she switched in behind when I pushed her over with my inside leg. She also stopped quite hard with a simple whoa; now I just need to work on getting her butt underneath her more.

By the end of the ride (after a bit of sweating) her tail wasn't swishing as much anymore either!

[jessicab]

Went up yesterday to see my girliee. It was a little late, and we didnt want to stay too long, so I opted to lunge her instead of ride.

We worked on trot-canter-trot transitions on the lungeline; her transition onto her left lead is improving soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. Like, sooOOoOo much. She doesn't crossfire much anymore either, and if she does she switches over in a few strides. Got a few spunky bucks out of her too ;D

I think her fitness level is slowly improving, I can see a difference in her muscling over the last 3 weeks. Doesn't seem like a lot of time to see a difference, but I guess when you consider the fact that she went from doing NOTHING to being atleast lunged daily, it seems quite possible for her to have started to bulk up a bit. I see a significant difference in her chest, and I'm thinking her hind as well. Hard to say since I see her everyday.

[Hilary]

sounds like she is comming along well Next time im out that way, im shure to come and visit

[jessicab]

Grr, I keep posting on Suzannes account and then having to go back and delete it! haaha.

Yes Hilary, definitely stop by for a visit!

Today was a lazy day. I finally got home this weekend to get my rasp and knife (and visit Fury!) so I was more than a little anxious to get her feet trimmed up!

For all you barefooters out there, I FINALLY, after over a year of trimming her, had the guts to take her heel really down and back. I backed her toe up a good bit too. I had a chance to "practice" some of my newfound knowledge on Fury the weekend, and his feet looked like a million bucks afterwards. It gave me the courage to try it on my girl (who has crappier feet). I am definitely pleased overall with how they looked afterwards. Her toe is still too far forward and she still has alot of tightening up to do in the white line, but I guess that will all take time. Since I don't have to worry about hard sharp rocks here at the Murphys it will be a good time to get her feet on the right track for the summer!

I just lunged her afterwards, I wanted to get a good look at how she was moving etc. Looked fine to me. We did some: small circle, straight line down center line, small circle at other end stuff, to get away from the same old boring circles. I'm hoping to get enough "finesse" on the lungeline that I can start taking her over some small crossrails etc (on straight lines). While I walked her out I worked a bit on pivoting from the ground, which she seems to be catching onto very quickly. Woo girliee!

[nat]

she sounds like she's doing amazing...can't wait to see you guys in the show ring//meet her=)

[shelly]

That's it Jess, you're gonna have to invent a special "barefoot reining trim". You'll make a fortune!

[jessicab]

I know, imagine if I ever have to put sliders on her, it'll be tragic

[jessicab]

Well once again today I didn't have an immense amount of time so I opted to lunge her rather than ride.

She was being a silly little fart on the lungeline so Suzanne suggested I just free-lunge her and play around for a bit; wheeeeeee did she ever enjoy galloping around and bucking. Did lots of rollbacks etc, and by the end of it she was pretty darn sweaty! Once again, worked on some showmanship stuff while cooling her out.

Tomorrow I WILL ride!

[shelly]

wheeeeeee did she ever enjoy galloping around and bucking

I don't believe it!

[jessicab]

I know She was pretending to be an arab stud, with her tail stuck right up (along with her head haha).

She was also pretending to cut a cow up and down the wall a couple times; got right down and dirty.

[shelly]

Practicing for the Timberline Challenge!
We're hoping Calvin might let us borrow a cow or two so we can have some fun.

[jessicab]

Ah, Calvin got lots of cows! He must have one or two that we can play with

I'm pumped, Fanjee's gonna be like: OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG WTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IS THAT!

She's only seen cows a few times and everytime she just stopped in her tracks and stared hahaha. Wouldn't take another step further haha.

[jessicab]

Well I spent a whole 3 hours with Fanjee yesterday.

Ginger got to chill out outside in the round pen and exercise herself a bit (and boy did she ever ).

I free-lunged Fanjee a bit at first and once again, she was galloping around and playing up a storm. its nice to see her feeling so good!
I then rode her for a good solid hour, at a working trot most of it with a bit of canter work at the end. She still gets really pumped when we canter but I'm assuming thats just because shes so green with it.

She was QUITE sweaty after the cantering (I think its just because she gets nerved up) so I spent a half hour walking her out and then another half hour towel drying her. I did her fronts again (found some sole that needed to come out so I could lower her heels more), and put pony back in her stall.

Today shes gonna get to go outside and play !

[jessicab]

Well I rode my pony today!

We did a bit of walk/trot on a loose-rein, working on our neck reining skills. Lots and LOTS AND LOTS of figures and changes in direction, small random circles etc. She was relaxed and steady, and steering beautifully. The best part? She wasn't swishing her tail like mad! Only every now and again, even though I was using a good bit of leg for turning.

Im a very proud momma!