Cindyg Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 That's him in my avatar picture. Isn't he lovely? Tonight I rode for the first time in two weeks (because of the weather). This is my difficult horse. My problem child. But one thing this horse is great at--when I haven't ridden him for a while, it's just like he's been schooled every day. He's light. He's soft. He's round. He trots softly and canters easily. Lead changes are simple for him. He zigs and zags right in tune with my focus. He stops, he goes, he backs up, he goes sideways. He's just so nice! I ride with a Parelli hackamore, which means no bit. And I ride on a totally loose rein, which--on this horse, the horse I used to hang on to for dear life--is a hard-earned miracle. But we can do all this stuff with no pressure on his head. It's really a lovely partnership. Our big problem is emotional control when we go out. (All this niceness is at home in our boring, small field.) The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, and if I get my nerve up, I'm going to take him on a trail ride. Deep cleansing breath. That's a totally different experience. My nice horse disappears and Chief Crazy Horse shows up. If we go out, I'll post about it. When the day comes that I have my nice horse consistently on a trail rides, I'm going to be a really happy horse owner. Anyway, I just wanted to share what a nice horse I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I guess we never talked about what color he was :-) Got my fingers prayerfully crossed for tomorrow:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 thats all folks..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tia in Wa Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Congrats! Some day my "problem child" will have manners too.:) Oh, and what kind is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted January 27, 2008 Author Share Posted January 27, 2008 I've had him 10 years. There are (very short) videos of us here: mms://wm.vitalstreamcdn.com/ipi_vitalstream_com/Video/7.wmv.wmv mms://wm.vitalstreamcdn.com/ipi_vitalstream_com/Video/2.wmv.wmv mms://wm.vitalstreamcdn.com/ipi_vitalstream_com/Video/3.wmv.wmv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanamom Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I couldn't get the videos to work very well (probably my computer)... but I saw just enough... he's so springy/floaty! You know you're one of my heroes with the trail riding thing, right? I haven't even gotten ON my own horse. I ride the kids' horses. :rolleyes: We were doing really well with our training, but it's been so rainy lately (thank goodness; the whole state really needed it!) that my round pen isn't suitable for training at the moment. We'll pick up again as soon as it dries out. You are an inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 To mind link with your horse like that? Memphis and I went out yesterday. She's pretty good for a baby. Very soft on her right but a bit stiffer the left. She gets better everyday. You'll have the trail riding down in no time. Now I'm off to watch your videos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Have you seen the books, How Your Horse Wants You To Ride and MORE HYHWYTR? They have a lot about building confidence in yourself and your horse. Then again, I need to GET a horse before I can do these exercises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I had a mare like that. Turns out she was picking up on my nerves. I started singing while riding and we both relaxed enough to get better. It must have been interesting to see the lady singing Jesus loves me on the Arabian in the middle of no where. :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 John Lyon's Perfect Horse has an article on this in the current issue. Our riding instructor is constantly telling me to BREATHE, sing, talk, or whatever. It really does help. Last summer we were ALL singing away on a trail ride---I think Jesus Loves Me was the song of choice as well---we had 3 younger girls riding with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 Oh yes. I'm very conscious of all that. I pray every step of the way. "Lord, help me to keep my muscles relaxed. Help me to transmit calm through the reins. Don't let my leg muscles clinch. Help me to breath deeply. Make me a good leader for Ivan. Please let us have a good experience..." This is WAY scary for me, but also very exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I didnt' read all of his articles in this month's magazine yet but I did see where he talked about it being OK to get off and walk if you are really nervous. I think he is the one that said, "ride where you can, not where you can't" and build up from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 Once because of mud on the trail, once because of a low-hanging branch, and three times because other horses came up. But I stayed on when a little animal rustled the brushes. John Lyons was actually a big inspiration to me many years ago when I was afraid to even handle Ivan. I heard him say (on RFD-TV, I think), "Do what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do." In other words, if you can't ride reining pattern bareback and bridleless (HA!), well can you send him in a circle (lunge line)? Well, then enjoy doing that and don't stress over the reining pattern. And that's what I did. I really concentrated on what we COULD do, which for years wasn't much. And little by little it added up. So, last weekend, I could ride on a trail for ten minutes and only have to dismount 5 times. :) Maybe next weekend I'll be able to do a little more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Please keep the horse between me and the ground. Seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 One thing to be positive about is that you CAN mount and dismount safely on a trail. That is good. I could get ON Romeo at the barn with my stool, bridge, picnic table, etc. It was the getting ON along the trail that was fun---not too many stumps where we ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindyg Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 Yeah, good point. He's not huge (15.2 hands), I'm not crippled, and he stands still for mounting. All good! I ride in a treeless saddle, and it would be hard to mount if circumstances were different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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