Go, Speed Racer

Steve Holt! was in fine form this evening when I hauled up to the riding club. Typically, he begins at a nice, easy pace, walking all relaxed around the rail and not really caring much when we move up into a trot.

Not so tonight. He was ready to trot immediately, and from a trot he wanted to move into a lope. I let him, and he stayed fairly soft and easy. I'm finding it odd that a week ago he couldn't manage a soft lope to the right, but now it's the left that he's struggling with. But that's just the way he's operating right now. So to the right we went and things were good. He even whoa'd when asked, changing directions and picking up that left lead which was so elusive yesterday. Too bad it was taking him 5-6 strides to do it.

At first I let it go, happy enough that he was picking it up. But after a couple of circles and starting and stopping, I began suggesting a bit more firmly that he pick it up sooner. He insisted equally strong that it wasn't going to happen like that. Before long we were both having a melt down as we battled over the lope.

Frustration is never good. Before I'd begun to ride, I'd set up three pole bending poles in a tight V, as well as 3 ground poles to practice trot overs. I decided it really didn't matter if Steve Holt! had his act together or not picking up leads and doing circles if he wasn't able to negotiate the trail obstacles. One cannot make the finals, after all, if one can't do trail. So I rode him over to the upright poles and asked him to back between them, then around the point (which would be the bottom of the V), and back up through the top poles again. He did it with relative ease considering we'd never done anything like that before. I then began to do some trot over work, and a bit of side passing. His heart rate went down, as did mine.

I've been wondering if he'd tolerate me carrying something while on his back. Sandy freaks over fluttery stuff, but Steve Holt! appears more sensible with such things. There was nothing to nearby suitable for carrying, however...unless you counted the pole bending poles. I aimed Steve Holt! towards one, lifted it up and asked him to cross the arena. He was aware that something was there and that it was coming along with us, but he wasn't bothered. I picked up all three and transported them from one side to the other (one at a time, of course), and he stayed relaxed through it all. And in case you didn't know? Those poles are heavy! At least the base, and my arm is sore tonight from carrying them around.

Twenty minutes later I turned him back towards the center of the arena. I asked for a lope to the right. He stayed relaxed this time. I only made one circle, then asked for the stop. He did it nicely. I asked for the left lead, and again he took too many strides to pick it up, but his pace was slow and his whoa was there. I asked for a few steps backwards and got them, so I dismounted and called it a night. What started off as rocky ended well. I've just got to get the whole ride like those last few minutes!

To Spur or Not To Spur

That would be the question.

Jeanette popped me an email the other day and we've been discussing Steve Holt!'s shoulder issue. Whether he struggles to keep them up, or whether he's too lazy, and just how do I encourage him to stop drifting to the outside while I make circles?

As it stands right now, that boy has a lot of flexation going on in his neck. He can bend it straight back to my knee and lope a straight line. Yesterday we loped circles to the left, and I tried to spiral him down into something smaller but aside from his nose, not much else moved.

Okay, so that may be a slight exaggeration. He did make smaller circles, but it was a lot of hard work on my part. Left hand into the center so he'd follow it, right hand crossing over towards my shoulder for a brace to help; left leg away from his side so he had somewhere to go and right leg making every attempt it could to encourage his body to move willingly to the inside. But what my right leg met with was the ribcage of resistance.

So I'm thinking perhaps it's time for some spurs to help nudge him along and help him better understand what I'm asking for. We'll see.

Sunday Stills

This weeks assignment was reflection. I'd thought about doing a horse eye, but everyone is doing that these days. Besides...the best one I've got has snow reflected in the eye and undoubtedly MiKael the northwest weather woman would come along and mention how we have no snow this week.... =>

So out into my big backyard I went, certain there was nothing at all unusual or super fun or lovely. Sure...there are trees reflected in puddles back there on Carpenter Creek. But bare trees in water are not really exciting.

I was certain that's what I'd end up with, though. That is...until the cat came along!

Bingo!

To see who else is participating, go visit Sunday Stills.