I always let him roll when we're done- sometimes you have to let a horse be a horse! :-)
Monday, January 24, 2011
After a Long Hot Ride...
Here's Max relaxing after a long, hot ride:
I always let him roll when we're done- sometimes you have to let a horse be a horse! :-)
I always let him roll when we're done- sometimes you have to let a horse be a horse! :-)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday...
Part of the rehab process for Max has been getting myself back into condition. Granted, I did ride other horses for the roughly two-month period that Max was off, but the muscle memory needs to be tuned up. In fact, it's just as important to get me back into condition as it is for Max. However, while things will go relatively easy for Max, there will be more work for me. :-)
We did our usual lesson this morning, preceeded by about an hour-long warm-up session. The warm-up primarily consisted of a lot of walking in the beginning, gradually moving up to trotting alternated with walking and finally, cantering alternating with trotting and walking. As part of this, I've also been doing a lot of transitions in order to get Max more attuned to my aids.
For myself, I did a number of sretching exercises (but as the lesson later proved, not enough!) to inlcude moving my hips from side-to-side, posting without stirrups (ouch!) and some other exercises.
Another area I've been working on with Max is to strenghthen him laterally by doing some shoulder-in work. For this, I will work him along the long side of an open area about 200-300 feet long (it's actually a driven dressage area) in each direction, first at the walk and then at the trot. It's really not a lot and I don't want to work him hard in this area.
OK, now to the lesson. Lots of leg yields and transitions! One of the key thinkgs here, at least for me, is leg yielding while at the same time maintining a good working trot. Max has a tendency to speed up in these in order to "get 'er done". Probelm is, it's not a matter of rushing but of precision, especially since he also likes to fishtail with his haunches out. It's a constant issue that I have to keep on top of Max about (helped along with a dressage whip to push his haunched into position. After about 20 minutes of this, Max finally settled down and we managed to get some nice leg-yields with minimal fishtailing at a working trot.
Some other things we worked on was alternating colecting and extensions at the trot and then the canter. The goals here were to keep quiet with the hands and use the seat and legs to do most fo the work. It requires some concentration but paid off in the end. The curb bit has really improved Max's collection because I can give him a bigger "hint" to start collecting up- there's no mistaking what I want (although sometimes I have to remind a little harder than I'd like).
In the end, we did some seriously collected canters, progressively slowing him down and focusing the enegy upwards- it should feel like the legs are working like pistons underneath you and while it may at first seem like the horse is crow-hopping, he really isn't- it's the shifting of weigt to the hanches. The other thing that will happen is that the haunches will drop slightly and it feels like you're going uphill- here you have to resist the tendency to start leaning forward (which totally destroys your seat). One of the major benefits to collection is that it will helpMax's arhritis in that more weight is being shifted to the rear, away from the front end where he seems to be affected the most.
After all of this, both of us were pretty tired out and I was sore, to say the least. We made our way home and Max definitely got a nice bucket of A&M and the rest of the day off (by this point we'd been three hours in the saddle).
We're getting there and so far, Max doesn't appear to be having any issues. :-)
We did our usual lesson this morning, preceeded by about an hour-long warm-up session. The warm-up primarily consisted of a lot of walking in the beginning, gradually moving up to trotting alternated with walking and finally, cantering alternating with trotting and walking. As part of this, I've also been doing a lot of transitions in order to get Max more attuned to my aids.
For myself, I did a number of sretching exercises (but as the lesson later proved, not enough!) to inlcude moving my hips from side-to-side, posting without stirrups (ouch!) and some other exercises.
Another area I've been working on with Max is to strenghthen him laterally by doing some shoulder-in work. For this, I will work him along the long side of an open area about 200-300 feet long (it's actually a driven dressage area) in each direction, first at the walk and then at the trot. It's really not a lot and I don't want to work him hard in this area.
OK, now to the lesson. Lots of leg yields and transitions! One of the key thinkgs here, at least for me, is leg yielding while at the same time maintining a good working trot. Max has a tendency to speed up in these in order to "get 'er done". Probelm is, it's not a matter of rushing but of precision, especially since he also likes to fishtail with his haunches out. It's a constant issue that I have to keep on top of Max about (helped along with a dressage whip to push his haunched into position. After about 20 minutes of this, Max finally settled down and we managed to get some nice leg-yields with minimal fishtailing at a working trot.
Some other things we worked on was alternating colecting and extensions at the trot and then the canter. The goals here were to keep quiet with the hands and use the seat and legs to do most fo the work. It requires some concentration but paid off in the end. The curb bit has really improved Max's collection because I can give him a bigger "hint" to start collecting up- there's no mistaking what I want (although sometimes I have to remind a little harder than I'd like).
In the end, we did some seriously collected canters, progressively slowing him down and focusing the enegy upwards- it should feel like the legs are working like pistons underneath you and while it may at first seem like the horse is crow-hopping, he really isn't- it's the shifting of weigt to the hanches. The other thing that will happen is that the haunches will drop slightly and it feels like you're going uphill- here you have to resist the tendency to start leaning forward (which totally destroys your seat). One of the major benefits to collection is that it will helpMax's arhritis in that more weight is being shifted to the rear, away from the front end where he seems to be affected the most.
After all of this, both of us were pretty tired out and I was sore, to say the least. We made our way home and Max definitely got a nice bucket of A&M and the rest of the day off (by this point we'd been three hours in the saddle).
We're getting there and so far, Max doesn't appear to be having any issues. :-)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Really Back in the Saddle _ Saturday
This past weekend was a good riding weekend. With the weather warming up considerably in the past few weeks (got to love California!), Max's leg problems appear to have mostly resolved and I've been gradually working him (as well as myself) up to his previous fitness levels. I didn't ride Max for part of November and most of December due to some leg issues (mostly arthritis, a crappy shoeing job and a stone bruise) so now we're getting back into the swing of things.
Saturday saw us participating in drill team practice with the Warhorse Militaria Heritage Foundation. This is the first time since switching to the Pelham bit that I have ridden him so I wanted to see how things would go- the curb bit is a whole new thing for both Max and I, so it was going to be interesting how it would work while having to deal with formations and other horses. I need not have worried...:-)
Max quickly fell back into his old routine and he renewed his acquataince with the other horses. They all get along for the most part so there were few issues in that department. The one thing that struck me is that Max was a lot more crisp on the turns, even with two-handed reining (actually I'm using double reins which makes things even more "busy"). Sometimes I was bit too crisp so I have to think more about moderating my rein effects so that I get more gradual turning action rather than abrupt cornering.
We worked first at the walk and then eventually trainsitioned into the trot. As a finale, we also cantered in line. Max, as usual, was eager to canter and would get so excited that he would move leap around some (sort of a ya hoo thing)- I'm used to this and quickly kicked him forward. When we repeated the exerciese, he settled down so the departure was more smooth. I had Max positioned more towards the inside because of his relative slowness and he did just fine, keeping up with the horses around him and overall having a good time. The nice thing is that when we would reach the ends of the arena, I was able to smoothly and quickly put Max into a collected canter with just a squeeze or two on the reins- so basically we were cantering at a slower pace wile the outside horses were moving at a full canter/gallop. Max seems to do better on a more inside position so hey, go with what works!
Afterwards, we all went on a long trail ride, crossing Wentworth and winding up at a small market where we stopped to buy drinks and take a break. There was a lot of green grass so Max munched contentedly while we drank gatorade. You couldn't ask for better weather.
Coming back, Max was a little full of himself so I have to work him a little bit and we had a "discussion" as to why I make the decisions. Since he raelly hasn't been out on the trail a lot, I wasn't too worried about it. Overall, it was a productive day and Max was rewarded with his usual bucket. :-)
Saturday saw us participating in drill team practice with the Warhorse Militaria Heritage Foundation. This is the first time since switching to the Pelham bit that I have ridden him so I wanted to see how things would go- the curb bit is a whole new thing for both Max and I, so it was going to be interesting how it would work while having to deal with formations and other horses. I need not have worried...:-)
Max quickly fell back into his old routine and he renewed his acquataince with the other horses. They all get along for the most part so there were few issues in that department. The one thing that struck me is that Max was a lot more crisp on the turns, even with two-handed reining (actually I'm using double reins which makes things even more "busy"). Sometimes I was bit too crisp so I have to think more about moderating my rein effects so that I get more gradual turning action rather than abrupt cornering.
We worked first at the walk and then eventually trainsitioned into the trot. As a finale, we also cantered in line. Max, as usual, was eager to canter and would get so excited that he would move leap around some (sort of a ya hoo thing)- I'm used to this and quickly kicked him forward. When we repeated the exerciese, he settled down so the departure was more smooth. I had Max positioned more towards the inside because of his relative slowness and he did just fine, keeping up with the horses around him and overall having a good time. The nice thing is that when we would reach the ends of the arena, I was able to smoothly and quickly put Max into a collected canter with just a squeeze or two on the reins- so basically we were cantering at a slower pace wile the outside horses were moving at a full canter/gallop. Max seems to do better on a more inside position so hey, go with what works!
Afterwards, we all went on a long trail ride, crossing Wentworth and winding up at a small market where we stopped to buy drinks and take a break. There was a lot of green grass so Max munched contentedly while we drank gatorade. You couldn't ask for better weather.
Coming back, Max was a little full of himself so I have to work him a little bit and we had a "discussion" as to why I make the decisions. Since he raelly hasn't been out on the trail a lot, I wasn't too worried about it. Overall, it was a productive day and Max was rewarded with his usual bucket. :-)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
On the Trail - Last Fall
OK, some more catching up... :-)
I call this the "Jungle Trail"- this actually runs from the Haul Road by the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center to another major trail that leads towards Shadow Hills. The significant thing is that it crosses one of the major watercourses leading away from Big Tujunga. It can get really deep and fast during the rains.
Taking a break on the trail...Max and some of his friends enjoy some fresh green grass.
The river crossing. The water level was relatively low and easy to cross when this picture was taken.
Another view.
Last Fall, I hit the local trails with some friends of mine. Here's a few of the regular places that I ride:
I call this the "Jungle Trail"- this actually runs from the Haul Road by the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center to another major trail that leads towards Shadow Hills. The significant thing is that it crosses one of the major watercourses leading away from Big Tujunga. It can get really deep and fast during the rains.
Taking a break on the trail...Max and some of his friends enjoy some fresh green grass.
The river crossing. The water level was relatively low and easy to cross when this picture was taken.
Another view.Monday, January 3, 2011
Long Beach Civil War Event - 2010
Last August, Max and I went on the road for a day down to El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach for a Civil War event. It wasn't a bad event although there were plenty of gopher holes to avoid although Max had a few excitable moments out there. Once he settled down, things went pretty good.
Moving out. As usual, Max is slower than everyone else and is struggling to keep up.
At the charge...the reason some of these pictures are off-kilter (sort of artistic...) is because they were taken by a guy lying on the ground who was acting as a casualty
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Christmas Party 2010
OK, I have to admit that while I'm not the biggest social butterfly, the Christmas party at my friend's house was pretty cool. Here I am looking dapper in my Southerestern-themed outfit- pretty much what I used to wear in my SASS days. :-)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Years!
I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
2010 wasn't bad but it wasn't the greatest either. I'm hoping for a better 2011 and I realize that I haven't posted anything since September. Let's just say life got in the way...I'll be better in 2011. Really. I promise! :-)
2010 wasn't bad but it wasn't the greatest either. I'm hoping for a better 2011 and I realize that I haven't posted anything since September. Let's just say life got in the way...I'll be better in 2011. Really. I promise! :-)
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