BESS

[htrimm08]

well its been a while since I've written

Yesterday I groomed her for about an hour! shes still shedding so that sucks but she has a beautiful coat coming through. it was absolutly gorgeus outside, beautiful day for a ride.

so, shes still in forteau, Im trying to wait until the grass is finished growing home, but if it takes much longer im going to say screw it. So I brought her to the ball field and we worked on leads and loping in circles. The first few times around she went good, but soon got bored with it and tried to veer off, I NEED AN ARENA! Shes so stubborn, but not for much longer.. atm i dont have the time to get posts and stuff for my arena, but right after schools out Im going to start.. cant wait.

I must say after the clinic with Jim I am much more concious about my position. At the lope I used to lean forward a lot. Also working on control/ looking forward to where I want to go next. Before the clinic I never really paid much attention to leads, just getting her to listen. It really helped a lot.

[htrimm08]

just a quick update.

shes pleasantly content with life, nanny rode her out to her house dinnertime and shes been laying around munching on fresh grass until 8:30. Then I rode her back to the barn, Loping all the way, T'was fun. Then I massaged out her muscles and cuddled and went home.

Saturday is moving day!

[htrimm08]

so shes back home with me again *loves. Shes been so happy with life since. We had a pleasant ride over, did lots of lead switching and voice command stuff along the way. It was so warm out, when we got there she was sweating. Previous to our ride I got all the posts for the arena and put them out by the site, now when Schools out ill start digging the holes to put them in, then get the sand for the footing. Hard work ill tell ya.

Yesterday I didn't ride but Nicola asked if she could ride so I went and brushed her and got her all tacked up for her to go. Any chance for the beast to get some excersize is good! This was the first time Nicola went by herself and I was a bit nervous that Bess wouldn't behave, but it went well as far as I know. For anyone who might want to know, Nicola used to ride a Equine and now CRS.

[htrimm08]

Today I decided to dust off the english saddle. I wanted to go in a more western direction with her training, but I'd like to start Jumping with her as well and do frame work.. hmm? I only have a couple months, so I dont think that could go well.

So today we worked on leads again, some circles, and tried at the half halts. I really want her to pick up at least a decent frame, and I know that I need to get her working off her hind end, so I'm going to start off with half halts, but I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly.. is there a way to know?

also does anybody know any good pressure excersizes?

[maria]

You must be so happy she's home with you! Is she just staying there for the summer, or for good?

As for exercises, I'm not sure what you mean about "pressure exercisers" If you look at pictures of Vaquero, you can see he has a nice headset for English, but he is primary a western horse. So it is easy to switch from western to english (in certain aspects).

What I like to do with Connor, is instead of fussing with his reins, and getting him annoyed by playing with my reins, I just try and hold my body centered (it's actually surprisingly difficult!) and then hold my reins evenly, and letting him choose to come up. He learns that if I hold even, it's his choice to release the pressure by coming up, and when he does, the pressure on his mouth release, and he comes underneath himself properly! It takes a LOT of leg muscles though, to keep them going, as I'm learning now in the canter

[htrimm08]

no, I have her at my barn every summer/spring... only because of the snow though! theres too much snow build up at mine in the winter.. but then again.. the other barn is only about 4 minutes away from my house as it is...

when I say pressure excersizes, I mean things I can do to get her to respond efficently to pressure, like moving off my leg.

So. today I didn't ride, but while I was at the barn I trimmed her furry fetlocks I noticed kind of like a growth or something on her hind pastern, it was all crusty and bits kind of fell off when I picked at it, though I never really got a good look, because she didn't like me touching it so it could possibly be a scabby cut.. but I dont think.. im hoping its not mud fever...

[htrimm08]

I HAVE been riding, just have no time to write in here.
well, not much.. being a waitress the hours suck, and I've been busy with arena making stuff. Now the posts are all up, tuesday if its nice I'll start putting up the rope to go around.

Bess is doing great, we've just been doing some trail riding so far, just to keep building back muscle. soon I'll be going on a 23 km ride with her funn. She had her first bath of the summer on friday, it was so hot out so she really loved the cool water. After that I rode around tackless, that was fun too because she behaved well. . . s'all for now.

[htrimm08]

yesterday I had the chance to ride again, another trail with lots of loping and making her work hard. We also worked on our half halting, a few more go's at it and it should be good. When we arrived back to the barn I massaged out her muscles and applied hooflex and soaked her foot, it seems to be clearing up ok.

Today my friend Tim came with me and he helped me lunge her, because I dont lunge regularly shes a bit resistant and tugs on the rope, which can be very tiring. It's something I want to try to do regularly now that I've got the arena on the go, though I dont have the footing for it yet.

[htrimm08]

Today we did some arena work, lots of loping in circles in both directions and practiced half halting again. Though today I used a snaffle and I found she didnt give to the bit as well as when I use a shank. Though its been going fairly well, sometimes I dont think im doing it correctly, but other times I can feel her back unhollow and come under herself.

One of the plus's of having a confined area is that she's not trying to charge off anymore. We also worked on turning on the haunces and forehand.. which is something else thats going to need a bit of patience and work. After that I hauled out some pylons and did a barrel racing pattern with her and discovered that she can turn on a dime.. she surprises me sometimes.

Overall I would consider that a good day. When I brought her back I massaged out her muscles as usual and applied hooflex again, then I let her loose to graze for a bit while I gave the barn a much needed cleaning out.

[htrimm08]

so this is the end of Bess's training log for now, until Im finished the year at NSAC. Penny and her legal owners are taking care of her now, and as far as I know Penny has been riding her frequently, unfortunatly shes not on ntr to update.

I was planning on trailoring her over here but I think she wouldnt take it too well, plus I have my eye on a certian someone else. perhaps a new friend for her in the spring? hmm