Saturday, November 28, 2009

The hunt continues... and a nasty rant.

Got a new show jacket today- it's brown herringbone.

Anyways, picked up a pelham today- just a low port short shank. The ladies at the barn were mortified that I actually bought it, and I was subjected to an endless stream of unsolicited advice and how pelhams are only for Gran Prix riders and how the port (which was little more than a mullen mouth, TBH) was so harsh because it wasn't jointed. Ack, that sort of thing pisses me off.

Not to be rude, but I spent a long, long time investigating bits for my horse, posting questions on forums, and getting second opinions, in addition to Denna's. The conclusion drawn was that this was the best choice for my situation. I wish people would accept that.

The same thing happened when I switched farriers after Roy lamed Berky. The BM was saying how he was lame to begin with and it's normal for horses to be sore after a trim and how I shouldn't have him barefoot in the first place (despite the vet reccommending it) and how it's ok for Roy to trim him down to the white line because he had the beginnings of a crack and and and. So much shit went around after I switched to Jason.

But what was I supposed to do? Roy made him lame FOR A MONTH... twice! It would have been irresponsible to do otherwise. He wasn't lame before the trim, either: I could ride him on gravel without any problem, take him on trail rides, etc. etc. I was careful about using conditioner and sealant. Blah blah blah. And she still talked about me like I was a little girl making a stupid decision. I read. I research. I get opinions. I'm not always right, but GOD give me some respect! I wish they would quit talking down to me. The worst part was, they didn't take me aside- they chewed me out in front of everyone for making a decision that was none of their business to begin with.

That said, sweet Michelle offered to help me out with our flatwork. She does second level dressage with her big goofy Hanoverian, Wendig ("Digs") and used to train. She let me use her copper mouth bit she brought back from England (where she was taught). Berky really liked it, so now it looks like I'm going to buy one similar to it. My bit collection is ever-expanding.... She wasn't worried about the pelham for jumping, but we both like to ride in the mildest thing possible, and since that copper bit is about as mild as it gets, I was willing to give it a shot.

We took my running martingale and ghetto rigged it to shorten it just enough that he couldn't bonk me and went into the jumping ring. It's been so long since I'd ridden with someone dressage-y... all my little nasty hunter flaws were painfully obvious. The stereotypical "perch", stiffness, hands in the lap lol. Also, I tend to turn my leg out and dig in with my heel when I try to give him leg. So many habits haha.

It was amazing how well he responded to her tactics- he had never been so round and supple!

Pictures to prove it:

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Berky can haz psuedo-engaged canter!
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He was not impressed.
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My straps were driving me crazy today, but I couldn't let go of the reins to fix them.
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Berky sneezed.(Oh hai Paige)

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Yeah, jumping in flatwork-length stirrups was a bad idea, but my dad wanted a picture. Bye, lower leg!
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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Eh

We've been working on our courses again, in addition to our flatwork. He got over his Bat-Outta-Hell phase, so it looks like we are still on for the show.

Did our first skeery 2'6 haybale oxer- it wasn't pretty the first time around.
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He got a looong spot and propped before he took off, so I was super defensive. The next time around was better, although I jumped way ahead. I love how he just cantered over it, no big deal. His form improves over the bigger stuff, at least when he's free-jumping, so I'm not to worried about the scissor legs.


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That's about it. He's in a kimberwick with two reins, which I'm holding a la Fillis, and he goes so nicely in it. His Tom Thumb pelham is coming in soon, so we'll be show legal before too long.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Berky gets another new bit.

My horse is such a dumbass sometimes, but geez I love him.

Anyways, he went from steady Eddy to bouncing off the walls OTTB in about three days flat, so the general consensus is that my eggbutt snaffle isn't going to cut it for the time being. I hate resorting to bigger bits to solve issues like this, but when you consider I can either yank his teeth out with a snaffle or take up the slack on the curb portion of a pelham, the choice is obvious. I don't "do" twisted bits, and a Kimberwick doesn't phase him, so it looks like we are going to get a short-shanked rubber mouth pelham and another set of reins. If I am going to use a big bit, I am going to take the time to do it right, even if it means slowing things down and learning to ride with another set of reins.

UGH. I have a show in two weeks. Hopefully we'll be able to smooth over the bumps before then.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Post-Denna practice.

I usually limit jumping to twice a week, so I took today to practice while everything from yesterday was fresh in my mind. I set up a low course and cantered through it a few times- it's amazing the difference a new, milder bit can make. Then we put up the fun stuff: the traffic cones a few of the girls pinched from the construction site, the roadblocks, a stopsign, a tarp, a few diamond shaped wood things, and all sorts of stuff to make for spooks and refusals. One of the other girls had dragged it out to the arena, apparently, so we seized the opportunity.

When Berky is good, he's very good, but when he's bad, he's horrid. Today he was amazing. We did our full course, jumped over the three foot wide "open water," jumped the stopsign, made an oxer with the cones, and got every single lead. No refusals today!! AND FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHANGES! Holy crap, my little jumper must be remembering his training. We had a two other not-so-hot ones, but he got them so reliably when I didn't get in his way. I was a proud parent. Too bad Denna missed it.

Anyways, it makes me feel a lot better knowing we'll be able to jump a nice course for our shows. He is such a doll when he wants to be. I'll be spending a week at Denna's place for Christmas (you know you love your trainer when your present every year is a trip to her barn)with him, so we'll have plenty of things to work on.

Denna!

So yesterday Denna gave her monthly clinic at the barn. It was tough, as usual, and Berky was in a new bit, so he was kind of feeling everything out. Denna disliked the bit as much as Berky and I did, so we're back to a kimberwick. (Last Tuesday, he had been a complete pig for my lesson and Allanah gave me a double twisted wire snaffle to ride him in for a few days so at least I would have some brakes, even if they were harsh. I hate hate hate twisted bits, but it was a safety thing.) Denna wants him in a rubber-mouthed pelham with two reins next time she sees me, so we'll be off to the tack shop soon. I really prefer pelhams to other curbs, so I'm kind of ok with this, especially since I'll be able to regulate the amount of curb I engage.

Anyways, that played a large part in his behavior yesterday. He is so sensitive to my hand, and that bit did not do us any favors. He would try to carry himself, and then he'd pop his nose up. Poor boy :/ he's usually so willing.

Denna was having us do just an outside to outside crossrail line (we were riding with a couple of beginners because it was the last slot available) and I was thinking, "Ok, we got this. We've been doing 2'6, getting our changes. Piece of cake."

Uh, no. He ran out. Twice. At a crossrail. Denna said he was just being a jerk the first time, but the second time I was waiting for him to goof and so he kind of seized the opportunity. It was thrilling. On the other hand, it was a learning experience. Denna reinforced my suspicion that he likes a light seat in the canter (when he was running around like a maniac), and gave me a nice way to visualize the seat to hand connection when we half-halt: push your seat forward like a swing and contain with your hand. It's amazing what ideas you pick up when you teach for thirty years and hang out with George Morris.

Here are my pictures from yesterday:

HE'S BENDING! A MIRACLE!
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Denna likes to make us do two-point until we nearly die, but look how happy he looks!
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No stirrups is miserable. Good thing I have an arab pony to practice on.
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Good boy!
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And the HOLY CRAP canter.
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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Doings.


So Berky had a month off when the stupid farrier took his toe ALMOST ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE WHITE LINE, and he was consequently lame. Needless to say, he got fired.

He just came back into work- he's shod by a new farrier, is on a million supplements, and is blessed with quick-growing feet- so here we have a few lovely pictures of our schooling, pre and post screwup. We are doing 2'3 and 2'6, but these are pretty low because he's out of shape :/ We have been focusing on flatwork and adjusting his stride- just the typical extend-collect-extend, etc. to get him listening. A few weeks into his soreness, he was feeling good enough for some in hand work and light walking, so we spent a lot of time on engaging his hind, shoulder fore, some pathetic haunches in, and no stirrups. He has really taken to lateral movements- they just clicked for him. In hand, we got some shoulder-in voltes, desensitization, and voice commands. I now own the only horse in the world who can stand, back, lower his head, AND make both his smiley face and offended face on command.

Offended face. Tyler made it into an icon for me a while back.


Right now, flying changes are slowly but surely being incorporated as well. We do two a ride, right to left, left to right- and are doing our best to stay collected. We have to use a pole sometimes, but it's better than nothing.
Anyways, pictures for your enjoyment.


Gotta love the gameface here. I wish his head didn't get cut off, but this is a still, as usual.





He's over enthuisiastic.





First time over the teeny oxer.




Cantering. (No, really?)

He is breaking out in Birdcatcher spots. He has five new ones, in addition to his booty spot [pictured].

Hands in muh lap.




LOOK HOW FAT HE GOT! My hard keeper is FAT.