It wasn't too exciting here this past week (other than Ssseth's arrival of course). But we're plugging away on the same old stuff.
I'm really not happy with how Pammon is going, but hopefully the chiro will get here sooner than later. If not I'll get the vet out. He's just very stuck. Doesn't want to come forward, trips a lot. I'm almost thinking maybe EPM. He just feels so blah to me, and we're not getting anywhere in our under saddle work. If anything I feel like we're going backwards. But I'm sure we'll get it figured out.
You know who's really stepped up the last few days? This guy:
Despite the falling temps and the fact that we ride in the dark now during the week, he's been really good. Working better and less spooky. I had a really frustrating ride on Pammon Saturday. Not because he was being difficult really. I just was in my own head too much and feeling really anxious. There was a Nona Garson clinic happening outside. CWD had a rep there with a tent up that we could see from windows in the indoor. People coming through the indoor constantly. Very distracting. To me mostly. And I let my own spookiness ruin our ride. I get really frustrated with myself for that crap for a lot of reasons. You guys. I'm a very capable rider. I have a sticky seat. My last couple of falls have been because my horse fell down not because I was spooked or bucked off. And yet I just couldn't push Pammon forward when he wanted to be distracted. I'd let him fall behind my leg and break stride. Over and over. I felt kind of defeated. So I went home and got on Eros. Kind of prepared for a similar ride. I got lucky though and the neighbor wasn't home! We wound up having exactly the ride I needed.
And then I let him eat my face. Because ponies that make their mom feel good about herself get to do what they want.
Shiny though... Guys. This pony. I will preface this with saying I absolutely adore this pony even though she has a few too many opinions most of the time. And this week? She has opinions. Lots of them. I had planned to do some jumping this weekend, but you know. Best laid plans. The neighbor was home for all my Shiny rides this weekend and apparently he found yet another shed to clean out. Shiny is generally not very spooky but she was pretty distracted by all that banging and clanging. We did still pop over some crossrails and cavalletti though.
I know I mentioned recently that she's been fighting the contact. She had gotten over that briefly and was working really nicely. I had even occasionally unlocked an AMAZING trot. I've only gotten this trot on a handful of horses ever, and never thought I'd feel it on Shiny. But it was there! Uphill, horse on the bit, moving up and through the shoulder. Amazing. Wish I'd gotten it on video. But then just days after feeling that, she reverted back to avoiding the bridle. Mostly her usual evasion...
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Inverting
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But last night, she was doing The Eros. Grabbing and pulling down. I almost prefer that though, it's easier to kick her back UP to the bridle than down into it, ya know? Either way it's a little frustrating.
(Side note:
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| oddly enough, Eros had a moment of doing The Shiny... Maybe it was opposite week?) |
I'm hopeful it's the old backwards before you move forwards thing. Hopefully anyway. I guess we're going to have some long evening rides this week. Which is fine. Gotta put the work in if you want results right? I'm debating trying a little three ring on her, but at the same time, I want to do things right with her and not just "train" via gadget. So we'll see. I do have one in her size in the bit box from Mowgli so we are prepared if I decide to go that route.
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I mean, this looks easier than the trot above right? But what do I know?
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So that's where we're at with riding... Plugging away for the most part. I am looking forward to getting back into a program and taking some lessons this winter when we move indoors. I think we need a little guidance to keep moving forward. Or a cheerleader. Or something.
In other news, we're doing professional photos next weekend with all three horses! I've never done them before but I really regret not having done them with Rio and Jampy. So, like a good student, I'm learning from that and doing it now. I had hoped to do them a little earlier for some pretty foliage, but our photographer was already booked. There are still some leaves on the trees so should be good enough. I think fall photos with all my fall colored ponies will be pretty.
Oh and in more other news... I think my stepmom is getting another horse. Which would mean I might get to keep Eros. I'll keep you all posted on if anything happens with that. Here is the potential boy with her aboard:
He's very sweet and cute. I wasn't really on board initially because he's young. But they would keep him on full training. And I watched her have a lesson on him and he made all the right choices even when she was wrong. He never was rattled nor changed his demeanor even if she got left behind or jumped ahead. So I gave my okay to the parentals. She wanted to ride him a bit more and then of course vet him before they buy. So we will have to wait and see what happens!
That's it from here. Did you all have a good week and weekend? How are your horses going?
