Rudy!

[rudyrocks]

This is gonna be a log for Rudy, but also for my lessons in general so I might have a different horse in it every once in a while

[rudyrocks]

My lesson with Susan and Red
When I first got to the barn I went up to say hi to Red and he was in a good mood prob 'cause he was in his feild. I also got a few pics of him and he was ok with that. Then I left him alone and did some stuff with my freinds. Anyway, when it was time to start getting ready for the lesson I went up to catch him and Ruth came with me. We almost got him and then he was like NO WAY, he spun around and kicked out. I think he just ment it in fun but unfourtunetly it kinda connected with the back of knee! It didn't really hurt, but i have to admit my feelings were a little bruised

Anyway, we resorted to the grain in the bucket trick and then he was fine. I led him down to the barn and then put him in cross ties. I groomed and tacked him up, and he was ok with all that. He got a bit nibbly when i put on his bridal, but it was nothing big. I led him to the outdoor and hopped on him. He was a gentleman when we were warming up, except for skiding around some puddles He was his usaual stubbern self about trotting and we had a few abrubt transitions to walk I trotted him over a few poles and i could feel his trot get so much more springer when we went over them

He did one BIG spook at an invisible horse monster that I couldn't see ;D but it was only at the walk so it didn't really unseat me. A little bit later 3 horses trotted/cantered past us and he got really excited and danced, tried to bolt, and started popping up with me (doing little rears)! I handled it fine though. After that we just did a little bit more trot and then I cooled him out. I brought him in and untacked him and then put him on cross ties. After I groomed him, I sponged him down with that some special stuff for his hocks and he was pretty ok with it. After that I baisically just popped him in his stall and gave him a few treats.

[Elsabé]

Sounds like you are handling Red really well!!! Do u plan to show him?

[rudyrocks]

If I do lease him, 'cause I'm just trying him out right now, I'll show him english and Em will show him western.

[rudyrocks]

Today I just took him on a little hack. We walked up to clovelly and then we spent about half an hour going on the trails. He was excellent and when we got back to his barn I popped him over a small vertical once or twice and then cooled him out. He was my best boy!

[rudyrocks]

I tried out Conner a few days ago so I just thought I'd let everyone know how it went

I had to ride him with a western saddle 'cause Sue was getting a new english one that fits better.
We walked and did some circles and stuff and then did the same with trot. His only problem so far is that his trot sometimes gets really fast...like I'm not used to that with Rudy It was really funny, 'cause his trot is soooooo springy and almost impossible to sit to. When you sit to it it feels (and probaly looks) as if you are still posting Ah well, practice makes perfect After that we moved onto canter work. We cantered a circle, which with the help of my great geometry kinda turned into an oval His canter is gorgeus! It was funny 'cause I haven't ridden/cantered a bigger horse in a loooong time. I could actually feel the moment of suspension when we were cantering, it was really cool
There was only one tense moment were he stumbled over himself when we wre doing a canter circle. I just picked him up and kept right on cantering, but my mom said afterwards that it was at that point she realised just how far off the ground I was! LOL! Wait till she sees me jumping him over 3'' oxers