Wednesday, March 6, 2013

We Ride Again!

I RODE MY HORSE!!! :)


And I mean for real. I had gotten on Charlie this weekend for the first time in a couple of months, but all I did was walk around to cool him down after a crazy lunge session, so that doesn't really count. Then I rode on Monday (about 50:50 in terms of lunge:ride time) and he was full of it. I think he was sore from all his shenanigans over the weekend (see video 1), but since it wasn't exactly the "proud mom moment" my excitement was dashed (and the videos didn't process quickly enough) so I held off on posting....

I'm not going to lie, today was not uneventful - we didn't do more than walk and trot around - but boy was I proud (of both of us), and what a change from just this weekend! Here is a brief overview:

3/3/13 This is what happens when you go on vacation and give your green TB two weeks off:



3/4/13 We worked through that this weekend and by Monday I had a "semi" rideable horse (please ignore my abysmal not-yet-in-riding-shape posture, especially during the rearing episode around 0:18...):


After a bit of work:
3/6/13 By Wednesday, I was determined to ride and really push through Charlie's quirks and antics. Yes, he is horrible at turns and my defensive position really needs some work but, hey!, we are riding!


21 comments:

  1. He's an athletic booger, isn't he? lol I can definitely see he's starting to "get" what you guys have been working on, even after 2 weeks off.

    Your position is a little more forward than I'd like on a green horse with so many tricks up his sleeve - but I'm guilty of tilting too far forward when I haven't been riding much, too. I think it's more muscular than anything, and it's a hard thing to fix! But, I don't think you need to worry too much about how your position is at the moment, just getting the job done and focusing on him. Once he is more solid, you can work on you again.

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    1. Guilty as charged :( While riding Lucy I got in the bad habit of riding too far forward and although I concentrated on fixing it after I became aware I was doing it, you're right: after not riding for awhile it looks like I've slipped right back into riding cocked forward. My trainer would be slapping my wrists. When I watched this video of me and Charlie I was like "Good god, Lauren, that's embarrassing" haha...guess it's back to basics for me too! :)

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    2. Trust me, I'm right there with you. My boyfriend is a horse trainer but he starts everyone western, so he sits very upright. He's always telling me I'm too far forward...which I know goes well beyond the "hunter perch" LOL but it's a strength thing. When I ride more, I am able to sit up more.

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  2. Although it may not be so obvious in the videos now that I look back at them, what I was really proud of throughout these past few days was how I was able to work through Charlie's tantrums and get him focused and back to work relatively quickly. That NEVER happened before. He used to zoom around and around, bucking and rearing, and I would have a hell of a time getting him to stop and listen.

    I feel I've gotten so much better at recognizing the tantrum warning signs and reacting appropriately: not ignoring the bad behavior but not making a huge deal of it either, instead immediately putting Charlie back to work at the CORRECT pace doing what I want him to do. Especially when riding (despite my horrible posture haha) I was able to at least ride effectively, immediately reprimand him and move on. For the first time in awhile I'm feeling optimistic :)

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  3. He will be such a nice boy someday. :) I like him.

    You are a gutsy rider. I guess I knew that since you rode Lucy, but way to hang in there!

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  4. oh moly Charlie!! He was in the air more than ground in that first video, lol! :) That is spunk and I lurve it.

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  5. The lunging video is impressive!!! He has springs in his legs!

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    1. Now I just need to harness that into jumping!

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  6. Oh my! It was almost like you were flying a kite in that first video!

    I must say you are much, MUCH better of a horsewoman than I am! I would have been eating dirt.

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  7. Holy CRAP. Kaaaaboing!!! I admire you for even wanting to get on him after that display!

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  8. You will an amazing horse very soon I think :-) His gaits are lovely to watch, and you are a wonderful, capable rider (I remember thinking that seeing you ride Lucy). I can see the connection between you two- the sky is the limit! He is lucky to have you.

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    1. Thank you Karen :) I think we will make a very good team, every day we figure each other out a little bit more about each other. I'm excited to see where we go!

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  9. YAY! I was so so excited to see the title on this post. Congrats! But yes, you definitely have more will power than I! I probably wouldn't want to get on after that pogo display.

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  10. I am impressed to rode thru that rear! Looking good :)

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  11. I'm impressed :) I'm glad you're back on. You'll work it out and yay for sitting on you a$$ ^.^ Weeeee! You're definitely making me more motivated. I want to come visit again soon! Miss you guys. <3

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    1. You will definitely have to visit again soon! Let me ride him a few more times so I have something worthwhile to show you though, haha :)

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  12. Wow, he is athletic, he will be so awesome when he's not being such a butt. You are a little far forward, but it served you well with the rear, and you sat quiet for a lot of crap in those videos. I'd never have the courage to ride him, You are an impressive rider!

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  13. holy bananas that was not a little rear! but you hung on great! good for you, I'm glad you're back in the saddle :D stay safe.

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    1. I seriously thought we were going over...but that was the only one and once I pushed him through and he realized that wasn't going to get him out of work he got better. Each time he threw a tantrum it seemed to be in response to thinking he was done and I asked him to do something else; but each time I corrected him and forced him forward his reaction decreased so I think that's a good sign.

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  14. OMG that rear was legit.. he was not messing around, dang! Great job staying on!

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  15. AIR CHARLIE!! Wow, I had to replay that fine display of catching air in that first video! Impressive, like you said, once you can harness that spring, boy is he ever going to be a fine jumper. Holy cow, you are braver than I am, staying on for that rear was truly a feat, who cares what you looked like, you stayed on for cripes sake! :) By staying on, I think that really said something to Charlie too, as in, that's not going to get him out of work. Oh, I'm sure he will keep trying, but good for you! Be careful out there.

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