It was windy. Unbelievably so. And there was a couple of people with land yachts out there, much to Tally's disbelief and horror. He had a bit of a nap to start with but got over himself and we headed off...in the opposite direction to the land yacht. We trotted for a fair while, mainly because I couldn't stop and had a bit of a canter and a gallop, before hopping over a couple of logs. We then just wandered, my face is extremely windburned now as we were heading into the wind in one direction.
There was a line on the ground and Tally decided that he simply couldn't step over the line or God would pop down from heaven and smite him :roll: After a couple of minutes of arguing, he put one toe over, then with a great snort and a leap, shot over and zoomed off. If there was an Oscar for "best impression of an Arab with a rocket up its arse", he'd win it for sure.
We continued on for quite a while before heading for home. Uh, galloping home with the wind coming from BEHIND is quite an experience. We were going rather fast when I spied a log which looked jumpable. It was about 90cm/1m in the really jumpable bit, Tally launched over it the first time as I was riding quite defensively in case he stopped, but the next time was a little saner. With a great war cry we went continued!
We alternated between trotting and galloping for most of the rest of the way home, although we did some walking. Suddenly, Tally grew to about 18hh and began prancing as he'd seen another horse come over the dunes. Erm..my language was not awfully polite (think "fuckshitbollocks", all said in calm and measured tones) but I said hello and stopped to have a chat, before we went our seperate ways.
Tally left the other horse without nappin. Not even a hint of it!!!! He began gawking again because the land yachts were still on the beach so I decided to take him back home along the road. Apparently my transitioning has worked as he trotted down a metal road without flinching, I didn't actually mean to trot but Tally went "OOH! EXPLORING!" and raced off. He happily wandered down the road with his bare toes, much to the delight of a little girl who saw him from the other side of the road and excitedly told her mother that "That horsey has purple reins!".
I'm bloody exhausted, and also I seem to have damaged my pinkie on my left hand, the middle knuckle is going a classy shade of bluey black and it's rather swollen. I have no memory of it happening and it only began hurting when I noticed the colour change
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tally and I went to pony club - and I didn't die!
I finally got around to taking the rather-fat-and-lazy Tally out to a pony club rally. The first person who greeted me said "I remember you! You have the crazy grey horse!". Good start.
We continued, Tally put in a couple of impressive airs above the ground in protest at...something? before deciding that he had all the attention he needed, ie everyone in the vicinity waiting to dial triple 1 and proceeded to behave himself. There was a lot of neck arching and tail flicking in amongst the "dressage" as he pranced around. He got very annoyed when the crowds attention waned so he put in another, smaller show and received an audible gasp from a small girl on a Shetland pony. He was pleased and I was highly embarrassed.
We then split into groups and began doing some flatwork. Tally put on his super trot and got into a power struggle with a little bay mare. Our instructor was cool, her name is Natalie and she does Advanced eventing. She said Tally looked really nice but I needed to work on my heels. Tally decided that it was time that he showed her his heels and put in a series of rather impressive bucks. By now, he seemed to have all the non-required mothers in the pony club watching him and began to flaunt his obvious superiority over the other horses.
Then it came around to jumping. I was needlessly apprehensive about this, we were each jumping a small course by ourselves and I was a bit concerned Tally would factor in the nearby fence into this course. While trotting around, this little Shetland job was hopping cavaletti on the other side of the fence, Tally took extreme offence at it and shot sideways with much snorting and looks of Arabian horror.
He was awesome over fences Excited Excited He didn't hesitate at all and was really trying hard. He also didn't nap towards the other horses. I was thrilled, even more so when Natalie kept saying what a nice jump he had and how cute he was. Tally tossed his mane in reply and settled down to try and chew another horses reins.
I then was set an exercise in counting strides, cantering in a circle over a pole and counting "three, two, one" on approach. I thought I was doing rather well until Natalie pointed out that Tally was jumping whenever I yelled "one" regardless of whether it was the right stride. After that I avoided another flatwork session as my thighs were systematically committing suicide ("Tally's been so good that I want to end on a good note...") and untacked. Oh, there was Tally sidling off and grabbing a bamboo flag from one of the races and crunching down on it when I wasn't paying attention.
He seemed find on his feet, not sore at all and he was very well-behaved, at least on the Tally scale so hopefully, we're going show-jumping in Feilding on Saturday.
We continued, Tally put in a couple of impressive airs above the ground in protest at...something? before deciding that he had all the attention he needed, ie everyone in the vicinity waiting to dial triple 1 and proceeded to behave himself. There was a lot of neck arching and tail flicking in amongst the "dressage" as he pranced around. He got very annoyed when the crowds attention waned so he put in another, smaller show and received an audible gasp from a small girl on a Shetland pony. He was pleased and I was highly embarrassed.
We then split into groups and began doing some flatwork. Tally put on his super trot and got into a power struggle with a little bay mare. Our instructor was cool, her name is Natalie and she does Advanced eventing. She said Tally looked really nice but I needed to work on my heels. Tally decided that it was time that he showed her his heels and put in a series of rather impressive bucks. By now, he seemed to have all the non-required mothers in the pony club watching him and began to flaunt his obvious superiority over the other horses.
Then it came around to jumping. I was needlessly apprehensive about this, we were each jumping a small course by ourselves and I was a bit concerned Tally would factor in the nearby fence into this course. While trotting around, this little Shetland job was hopping cavaletti on the other side of the fence, Tally took extreme offence at it and shot sideways with much snorting and looks of Arabian horror.
He was awesome over fences Excited Excited He didn't hesitate at all and was really trying hard. He also didn't nap towards the other horses. I was thrilled, even more so when Natalie kept saying what a nice jump he had and how cute he was. Tally tossed his mane in reply and settled down to try and chew another horses reins.
I then was set an exercise in counting strides, cantering in a circle over a pole and counting "three, two, one" on approach. I thought I was doing rather well until Natalie pointed out that Tally was jumping whenever I yelled "one" regardless of whether it was the right stride. After that I avoided another flatwork session as my thighs were systematically committing suicide ("Tally's been so good that I want to end on a good note...") and untacked. Oh, there was Tally sidling off and grabbing a bamboo flag from one of the races and crunching down on it when I wasn't paying attention.
He seemed find on his feet, not sore at all and he was very well-behaved, at least on the Tally scale so hopefully, we're going show-jumping in Feilding on Saturday.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
And we hit the beach...
I finally got around to taking Tally out to the beach for a romp. I did plan to hack home but due to his shoeless feet, I decided it wasn't fair. The other main problem came in the form os a howling nor-wester (Dina, it was a bit less than the one when we were there, but not much!). Tally was dragged in and marched up and down the drive and road for his feet, he was quite content as he'd picked up a willow stick on the way and continually whacked me in the arse while we walked. I assume this means the same in equine as it does in English...
When we got to the beach it was absolutely atrocious, you pretty much couldn't see the beach and there was foam flying in all directions. Being insane, I decided we'd go anyway and hope for the best. Tally didn't actually nap much for the first bit until we came across a little stream. It all went tits up and involved half an hour of a mixture of growling and coaxing. He eventually splashed through the stream and didn't nap at all for the rest of the ride, which was nice.
I had a wonderful, wonderful gallop for absolutely ages, which was lovely. Tally was really striding out and enjoying himself, although he did do the occasional horrified jump sideways when hunks of foam blew at his legs. He was really moving, and I'd forgotten to put my stirrups up so after a few km I managed to pull into trot, so we continued on for a while, doing a very elegant weave in amongst various trees which had washed up and thankfully managed to avoid standing on any bluebottles.
Now comes the most exciting bit...
We were heading homeward when a kid on a motorbike came up behind us. He was very polite and slowed right down and went quite a distance around us (which was difficult because there wasn't much beach to work with!) but neither Tally or I heard him until the last minute and jumped so badly. He went past us very slowly before heading off again. Tally then took off after it Shocked. He didn't bolt, he just seemed rather determined to race this kid. I'm certain this was the fastest I've ever been on him and it was rather fun although slightly terrifying. I did eventually manage to pull up, using a very inelegant technique which involved bracing against my stirrups, anchoring one hand into his neck and pulling with the other.
I then took his saddle and bridle off and dragging him into the sea to bathe his feet. He was having a whale of a time splashing around and we went for a bit of a job with the water up to his belly. He was arching his neck and trotting like a Spanish stallion.
All in all? It was great fun!
When we got to the beach it was absolutely atrocious, you pretty much couldn't see the beach and there was foam flying in all directions. Being insane, I decided we'd go anyway and hope for the best. Tally didn't actually nap much for the first bit until we came across a little stream. It all went tits up and involved half an hour of a mixture of growling and coaxing. He eventually splashed through the stream and didn't nap at all for the rest of the ride, which was nice.
I had a wonderful, wonderful gallop for absolutely ages, which was lovely. Tally was really striding out and enjoying himself, although he did do the occasional horrified jump sideways when hunks of foam blew at his legs. He was really moving, and I'd forgotten to put my stirrups up so after a few km I managed to pull into trot, so we continued on for a while, doing a very elegant weave in amongst various trees which had washed up and thankfully managed to avoid standing on any bluebottles.
Now comes the most exciting bit...
We were heading homeward when a kid on a motorbike came up behind us. He was very polite and slowed right down and went quite a distance around us (which was difficult because there wasn't much beach to work with!) but neither Tally or I heard him until the last minute and jumped so badly. He went past us very slowly before heading off again. Tally then took off after it Shocked. He didn't bolt, he just seemed rather determined to race this kid. I'm certain this was the fastest I've ever been on him and it was rather fun although slightly terrifying. I did eventually manage to pull up, using a very inelegant technique which involved bracing against my stirrups, anchoring one hand into his neck and pulling with the other.
I then took his saddle and bridle off and dragging him into the sea to bathe his feet. He was having a whale of a time splashing around and we went for a bit of a job with the water up to his belly. He was arching his neck and trotting like a Spanish stallion.
All in all? It was great fun!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A long-overdue update...
Yes, I haven't posted on here since...well...April. The reason being winter! Mainly!
Tally usually goes through bad spots during winter, he hates wet weather and become Demon!Horse. I'm not sure if his hocks hurt, or other bits hurt or he just hates rain but he really doesn't like winter. However, it is now supposedly spring, so we're back in action.
Over the winter, we focused mainly on dressage, potentially due to my failing confidence in Tally's ability to do anything except airs above the ground. I also signed up for some dressage lessons with a local instructor, which are brilliant and have put a stop to Tally's more wayward dressage behaviour, such as lolloping off in trot instead of cantering. He's now gained the ability to canter, which is pretty incredible really! I've also come to the conclusion that his dressage saddle really does not fit, so I'm on the hunt for something better...watch this space. The other big news is that Tally is going to go barefoot. His feet grow extremely fast and I'm not happy with how the farrier is dealing with his slowly collapsing heels, so I've got a barefoot trimmer and hopefully his shoes will be whipped off today. We shall also see how that one goes!
Tally hopped over a few fences the other day as he was supposedly going show-jumping on Saturday, which was thwarted by firstly a heavy rain warning, secondly the car refusing to start and thirdly, the day being cancelled. The plan is for pony club on Tuesday/Wednesday (depending on how he copes with shoe removal) then show-jumping at the weekend...depending on shoe removal.
Oh, he also had time off because I went to the Olympics inHong Kong ;)
Dressage lesson!
The one time we competed all winter, he won the test we did at a dressage day.
Tally's new bridle
The only time he competed all winter, he won a test at an unaffiliated dressage day
He jumps!
Tally usually goes through bad spots during winter, he hates wet weather and become Demon!Horse. I'm not sure if his hocks hurt, or other bits hurt or he just hates rain but he really doesn't like winter. However, it is now supposedly spring, so we're back in action.
Over the winter, we focused mainly on dressage, potentially due to my failing confidence in Tally's ability to do anything except airs above the ground. I also signed up for some dressage lessons with a local instructor, which are brilliant and have put a stop to Tally's more wayward dressage behaviour, such as lolloping off in trot instead of cantering. He's now gained the ability to canter, which is pretty incredible really! I've also come to the conclusion that his dressage saddle really does not fit, so I'm on the hunt for something better...watch this space. The other big news is that Tally is going to go barefoot. His feet grow extremely fast and I'm not happy with how the farrier is dealing with his slowly collapsing heels, so I've got a barefoot trimmer and hopefully his shoes will be whipped off today. We shall also see how that one goes!
Tally hopped over a few fences the other day as he was supposedly going show-jumping on Saturday, which was thwarted by firstly a heavy rain warning, secondly the car refusing to start and thirdly, the day being cancelled. The plan is for pony club on Tuesday/Wednesday (depending on how he copes with shoe removal) then show-jumping at the weekend...depending on shoe removal.
Oh, he also had time off because I went to the Olympics in
Dressage lesson!
The one time we competed all winter, he won the test we did at a dressage day.
Tally's new bridle
The only time he competed all winter, he won a test at an unaffiliated dressage day
He jumps!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
An April update
For the past couple of days, Tally's been a snarky little bugger. He started biting when I did up the front of his cover and was just generally all touchy and snarky. The weather cleared a bit today so I decided he needed a proper work out.
I dug out the lunge whip (which is broken because the vet broke it last time he was here :-D ) and decided that Tally would work the buttocks off himself to improve his mood.
He was going so beautifully, he even cantered nicely on the left rein and was doing a beautiful big free trot and was just dancing and bouncing all over the place. I then asked for canter on the right rein and he finally, finally exploded, he galloped about 15 circles bucking before settling to his "I'm an ARAB!!!!!" trot which was actually very impressive, it was all toe flicks and a beautiful headset. He just kept going so I let him until he calmed down a bit.
He roared around again on the left rein and took off which nearly pulled me over before he calmed down again. I got a nice canter on each rein out of him, his canter looks much larger on the ground than it rides, he canters like a show-jumper with this massive shoulder action and quite a bouncy stride. I don't usually long-line in canter as he gets a bit stupid and no one but me has ridden him in a year (unless you count my totally novice friend who rode around in walk before I rescued her when Tally theatened to buck :oops:) so it was interesting to see how he was going.
He was so happy afterwards, I took him for a walk down the road after and he pranced the whole way with his ears forward.
Re his hocks, they're definitely better, he's flexing them properly but he's still not stepping through as much as he was before, so we're going to call the vet about joint injections, he's what I'd term serviceably sound, he can do everything as long as you don't scrutinise it under a microscope.
I dug out the lunge whip (which is broken because the vet broke it last time he was here :-D ) and decided that Tally would work the buttocks off himself to improve his mood.
He was going so beautifully, he even cantered nicely on the left rein and was doing a beautiful big free trot and was just dancing and bouncing all over the place. I then asked for canter on the right rein and he finally, finally exploded, he galloped about 15 circles bucking before settling to his "I'm an ARAB!!!!!" trot which was actually very impressive, it was all toe flicks and a beautiful headset. He just kept going so I let him until he calmed down a bit.
He roared around again on the left rein and took off which nearly pulled me over before he calmed down again. I got a nice canter on each rein out of him, his canter looks much larger on the ground than it rides, he canters like a show-jumper with this massive shoulder action and quite a bouncy stride. I don't usually long-line in canter as he gets a bit stupid and no one but me has ridden him in a year (unless you count my totally novice friend who rode around in walk before I rescued her when Tally theatened to buck :oops:) so it was interesting to see how he was going.
He was so happy afterwards, I took him for a walk down the road after and he pranced the whole way with his ears forward.
Re his hocks, they're definitely better, he's flexing them properly but he's still not stepping through as much as he was before, so we're going to call the vet about joint injections, he's what I'd term serviceably sound, he can do everything as long as you don't scrutinise it under a microscope.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Another update
Inspiring title, I know!
I gave up utterly on saddles and began riding bareback for a bit, Tally's behaviour infinitely improved as a result. We've been battling recurring mud fever which has involved Tally wearing "Santa socks" (white gamgee, red bandages) and sulking like crazy as he hated them. I've been concentrating on keeping his back relaxed and keeping him off my leg. Canter is absolutely atrocious, I bounce and he tanks off with his nose in the air, so thats being neglected until I get a saddle that fits.
Thats about all that is happened, very boring I know! Winter is on its way, so riding time is reduced and Tallymonster needs clipping. We're going to keep it very basic over the winter, hopefully getting some lessons, doing some dressage and working on his canter as well as his manners. I'd also like to teach him to trot up properly inhand and halt square...
I gave up utterly on saddles and began riding bareback for a bit, Tally's behaviour infinitely improved as a result. We've been battling recurring mud fever which has involved Tally wearing "Santa socks" (white gamgee, red bandages) and sulking like crazy as he hated them. I've been concentrating on keeping his back relaxed and keeping him off my leg. Canter is absolutely atrocious, I bounce and he tanks off with his nose in the air, so thats being neglected until I get a saddle that fits.
Thats about all that is happened, very boring I know! Winter is on its way, so riding time is reduced and Tallymonster needs clipping. We're going to keep it very basic over the winter, hopefully getting some lessons, doing some dressage and working on his canter as well as his manners. I'd also like to teach him to trot up properly inhand and halt square...
Friday, March 14, 2008
The bipolar last little while
It's been so long since I last updated.
Tally and I have been on a bit of a rollercoaster of massive highs then deep depressions again. He did his first Training (3') event with me on Waitangi Day (6/2/2008). His dressage was shit, I forgot the test and Tally sulked the entire test as he thought it was boring. He nearly fell over with shock when he noticed the bright yellow judges car and *gasp* SHEEP. Warming up for cross-country he went absolutely beserk and leapt the practise jump frrom a stride out, then reared before the start box. In my view, biased as it may have been, the XC was huge. Tally absolutely loved it, he went beautifully. The one jump I was terrified of, he cleared by miles. He jumped clear in the show-jumping and came second on his dressage score.
His next event, he did a shit dressage, went absolutely beserk before the XC, rearing and bucking, then leapt the first three fences from two strides out, smacked his knees on the fourth, refused the 5th and had a massive rearing fit, so I retired. This was a massive "back to the drawing board" moment, so I've been working his brain with some clicker training and just doing light schooling. The chiro came out on Wednesday and Tally wasn't walking straight by miles, so he had his back readjusted etc etc and is walking much straighter but is very stiff. I was going to show-jump today but decided that due to his stiffness, this just wasn't fair.
Cross-country at Wanganui, homeward bound!
Being cute in the paddock (22-2-2008)
The two faces of Tally
Tally and I have been on a bit of a rollercoaster of massive highs then deep depressions again. He did his first Training (3') event with me on Waitangi Day (6/2/2008). His dressage was shit, I forgot the test and Tally sulked the entire test as he thought it was boring. He nearly fell over with shock when he noticed the bright yellow judges car and *gasp* SHEEP. Warming up for cross-country he went absolutely beserk and leapt the practise jump frrom a stride out, then reared before the start box. In my view, biased as it may have been, the XC was huge. Tally absolutely loved it, he went beautifully. The one jump I was terrified of, he cleared by miles. He jumped clear in the show-jumping and came second on his dressage score.
His next event, he did a shit dressage, went absolutely beserk before the XC, rearing and bucking, then leapt the first three fences from two strides out, smacked his knees on the fourth, refused the 5th and had a massive rearing fit, so I retired. This was a massive "back to the drawing board" moment, so I've been working his brain with some clicker training and just doing light schooling. The chiro came out on Wednesday and Tally wasn't walking straight by miles, so he had his back readjusted etc etc and is walking much straighter but is very stiff. I was going to show-jump today but decided that due to his stiffness, this just wasn't fair.
Cross-country at Wanganui, homeward bound!
Being cute in the paddock (22-2-2008)
The two faces of Tally
The first jump at Aoukautere
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Beach ride
I got up at sparrows fart this morning to drizzle, which is always appealing. Tally was dragged in from the paddock and "groomed" while he spun around in excitement, then he dragged me onto the float and off we went.
He had his usual "omg is that *gasp* MOVING WATER?" at the beach as I tacked him up, before riding down. His eyes bugged out at holes people had dug, and he attempted to jump into my sisters arms because someone had created a very impressive crocodile out of sand, and Tally thought it was far too realisitic for his liking. I sent him off in trot, so we trotted for a couple of k's, much to the disgust of my thighs, before going for a bit of a canter, then a walk.
He was actually pretty well-behaved for Tally, who usually has a tantrum halfway up the beach and rears. He did get a little overly excited later on, but we kept going at a gentle trot, before cantering again and hopping a few logs (cue eyes on stalks from his lordship). I then sent him off for his first gallop where his half TB certainly comes out and he zoomed off like a nutter and I couldn't stop. After a walk, I convinced him into the waves (finally!) and we splashed our way down the beach getting absolutely drenched. Tally was convinced the waves planned to eat him and occasionally slammed on the brakes to step over them.
Eventually I hit drier sand again and sent him off for another gallop, he basically galloped for a k and a half before I could pull him up again, then he walked back down the beach and did it again. He then shied at the crocodile again and came home. I then spent an hour washing all the sand and salt off and cleaning up his new overreach injuries. Must go clean slightly sodden tack. While re-watching the CSI premiere.
He had his usual "omg is that *gasp* MOVING WATER?" at the beach as I tacked him up, before riding down. His eyes bugged out at holes people had dug, and he attempted to jump into my sisters arms because someone had created a very impressive crocodile out of sand, and Tally thought it was far too realisitic for his liking. I sent him off in trot, so we trotted for a couple of k's, much to the disgust of my thighs, before going for a bit of a canter, then a walk.
He was actually pretty well-behaved for Tally, who usually has a tantrum halfway up the beach and rears. He did get a little overly excited later on, but we kept going at a gentle trot, before cantering again and hopping a few logs (cue eyes on stalks from his lordship). I then sent him off for his first gallop where his half TB certainly comes out and he zoomed off like a nutter and I couldn't stop. After a walk, I convinced him into the waves (finally!) and we splashed our way down the beach getting absolutely drenched. Tally was convinced the waves planned to eat him and occasionally slammed on the brakes to step over them.
Eventually I hit drier sand again and sent him off for another gallop, he basically galloped for a k and a half before I could pull him up again, then he walked back down the beach and did it again. He then shied at the crocodile again and came home. I then spent an hour washing all the sand and salt off and cleaning up his new overreach injuries. Must go clean slightly sodden tack. While re-watching the CSI premiere.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
I attempted to exhaust an eventing fit horse
But I don't think it worked.
I was determined to do some work on his canter today because it's pretty shocking. My sister describes it as "a show-jumping canter", its more of a battle of wills between him and me, he tries to tank off, I try and half-halt him and we sort of roar around the arena with periods of good bits and periods where it feels like I'm riding a rhino. Who's on a homicidal charge.
It started okay, I gave him a big groom so he was all bored and raring to go when I got on, I let him walk around for a bit, before convincing him that walk-halt-walk transitions were fun. The first three went walk-halt-rear-walk-halt-piaffe-buck, but I eventually got an acceptable if not perfect transition. We proceeded on to trot and he seemed determined to show off his lengthened trot almost continuously. I then made my first mistake of the evening (first mistake of the day was having gherkins for breakfast. Then microwave popcorn for lunch) which was to let him trot over a pole. For a normal horse, this would be no big deal, but Tally felt that this pole was a 6ft liverpool and he needed to throw himself over in daring style because it planned to eat him.
I then began work on canter. The first canter was nice. The second canter had the most beautiful transition but then he grabbed the bit in his teeth and tore down the long side and motorbiked around the end before I could convince him to stop. This pattern continued for quite some time, as Tally got progressively more hyped up until I dug out a flash noseband from the depths of my tackroom and tied his mouth shut.
This was fine until I asked him to trot, it resulted in one of his more impressive recent tantrums during which he managed to simultaneously buck sideways while moving forward in a semi-gallop. Looking like a stunt double in a Western movie, I directed him to the corner he'd be least likely to jump and replaced my ass back into the saddle. I eventually convinced a half-decent canter out of him and gave up. Twenty minutes of hillwork then followed, through the whole time, he didn't even break a sweat.
He goes for a big beach gallop on Monday. And I mean big. Horricks Park is on Wednesday and he needs to have blown out the bugs up his ass by then.
"I do not look like a complete arse in this photo"
Playing with his toy. It didn't take him that long to get the swede off, sadly
I was determined to do some work on his canter today because it's pretty shocking. My sister describes it as "a show-jumping canter", its more of a battle of wills between him and me, he tries to tank off, I try and half-halt him and we sort of roar around the arena with periods of good bits and periods where it feels like I'm riding a rhino. Who's on a homicidal charge.
It started okay, I gave him a big groom so he was all bored and raring to go when I got on, I let him walk around for a bit, before convincing him that walk-halt-walk transitions were fun. The first three went walk-halt-rear-walk-halt-piaffe-buck, but I eventually got an acceptable if not perfect transition. We proceeded on to trot and he seemed determined to show off his lengthened trot almost continuously. I then made my first mistake of the evening (first mistake of the day was having gherkins for breakfast. Then microwave popcorn for lunch) which was to let him trot over a pole. For a normal horse, this would be no big deal, but Tally felt that this pole was a 6ft liverpool and he needed to throw himself over in daring style because it planned to eat him.
I then began work on canter. The first canter was nice. The second canter had the most beautiful transition but then he grabbed the bit in his teeth and tore down the long side and motorbiked around the end before I could convince him to stop. This pattern continued for quite some time, as Tally got progressively more hyped up until I dug out a flash noseband from the depths of my tackroom and tied his mouth shut.
This was fine until I asked him to trot, it resulted in one of his more impressive recent tantrums during which he managed to simultaneously buck sideways while moving forward in a semi-gallop. Looking like a stunt double in a Western movie, I directed him to the corner he'd be least likely to jump and replaced my ass back into the saddle. I eventually convinced a half-decent canter out of him and gave up. Twenty minutes of hillwork then followed, through the whole time, he didn't even break a sweat.
He goes for a big beach gallop on Monday. And I mean big. Horricks Park is on Wednesday and he needs to have blown out the bugs up his ass by then.
"I do not look like a complete arse in this photo"
Playing with his toy. It didn't take him that long to get the swede off, sadly
Thursday, January 31, 2008
He waz boreeddd
I decided to be a masochist yesterday and took the stirrups off my dressage saddle to have a schooling session without stirrups to improve my position. We started by trying to achieve the perfect walk-halt-walk transition, we did 16 in a row until we finally got a nice one, then continued on in trot, actually achieving a nice working trot, although not an overly active one, but it was nice and regular and rhythmic. We then started canter, he did a very nice circle in canter, quite balanced and sane without threatening to perform his "head down and tank" or his "zoom into the corner bucking" tricks, I turned to go down the long side and....
Tally carried me over a 3' triple bar I still had jumps set up and he spied it, by the time I realised he was three strides out and I had no brakes. He cleared it beautifully with me going "eep", then took off around the arena. He was impossible to schooling after that as he was too busy prancing, arching his neck and trying to sidle towards other jumps, so I took him hacking.
Tally carried me over a 3' triple bar I still had jumps set up and he spied it, by the time I realised he was three strides out and I had no brakes. He cleared it beautifully with me going "eep", then took off around the arena. He was impossible to schooling after that as he was too busy prancing, arching his neck and trying to sidle towards other jumps, so I took him hacking.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Annoyance
I think Tally instinctively knows when I'm at my most annoyed. I had no caffeine the other day, and therefore was both exhausted and crabby because I had a headache. However, Tally needed excercise because then he doesn't feel the urge to break out of his paddock, so I put on his long-lining gear, because if I rode, I'd fall off.
I took him into the hill paddock to work his weak weeny little hiney. He started by biting me when my back was turned, then proceeded on to perform some very impressive airs above the ground when I asked him to do anything. He also managed to canter on the spot before leaping in the air and rodeo-bucking. Eventually I managed to get a sensible walk (ie without snatching at the reins and trying to tank off) so I gave up and put him back in his yard. He needed his overreach injuries cleaned, and he "assisted" in this procedure by licking my back and chewing my t-shirt. He then did his stretches, and "assisted" again, with a little more force. I left him alone in the yard while I went to get his rug and came back to see him with half a manuka bush in his mouth. I resisted the urge to hit him with it and dumped him in the paddock.
I worked the pants off him the next day (I'd had caffeine = I could function) and although he had a few tantrums, as he always does, he was much better. While I was walking him out, I began planning his fitness regime. I also put my entry in for Horricks Park. Doing Training. Oh god.
He's going to do a weekly gallop on the beach, as well as some serious trot work as the sands are soft enough to help his hocks and I can get some good interval training in. He's going to do one day of pole work and canter work without spurs, then one dressage session with spurs to get him working well in trot and keeping him ahead of my leg and lateral work, one day of long-lining, one day of hillwork in walk and slow trot then a final day where I work on my position, alternating dressage and jumping.
I took him into the hill paddock to work his weak weeny little hiney. He started by biting me when my back was turned, then proceeded on to perform some very impressive airs above the ground when I asked him to do anything. He also managed to canter on the spot before leaping in the air and rodeo-bucking. Eventually I managed to get a sensible walk (ie without snatching at the reins and trying to tank off) so I gave up and put him back in his yard. He needed his overreach injuries cleaned, and he "assisted" in this procedure by licking my back and chewing my t-shirt. He then did his stretches, and "assisted" again, with a little more force. I left him alone in the yard while I went to get his rug and came back to see him with half a manuka bush in his mouth. I resisted the urge to hit him with it and dumped him in the paddock.
I worked the pants off him the next day (I'd had caffeine = I could function) and although he had a few tantrums, as he always does, he was much better. While I was walking him out, I began planning his fitness regime. I also put my entry in for Horricks Park. Doing Training. Oh god.
He's going to do a weekly gallop on the beach, as well as some serious trot work as the sands are soft enough to help his hocks and I can get some good interval training in. He's going to do one day of pole work and canter work without spurs, then one dressage session with spurs to get him working well in trot and keeping him ahead of my leg and lateral work, one day of long-lining, one day of hillwork in walk and slow trot then a final day where I work on my position, alternating dressage and jumping.
Friday, January 25, 2008
The Beginning
Yes, like a normal person, I'm beginning from the beginning.
After outgrowing my 13.3hh, slightly neurotic 25+ mare, I was on the hunt for something a little larger and hopefully something who didn't look like that the lifeguard left that gene pool too early. I still own Sparks, and I love her dearly, but she is strangely shaped. Anywhoo, I was told by a friend of a friend of an acquaintance, that someone had a 15hh "Welshy-kinda-thing" for sale. He had evented to Open and show-jumped to 1.10m, but was "insane, I have a video where you can see him rearing in the background". Of course, now my interest was spiked.
I met said crazy horse. His name was Tally, which was short for Retaliate, and he definitely had some kind of Arab blood. He also looked like he was carrying twins, and he had a very impressive clunk in trot as his shoes were so loose, they sounded like church bells. I rather liked him actually, he wasn't overly well behaved and was incredibly unfit, and I was offered him on loan to get him fit so I could try him over fences.
I got him fit, and tried him over fences and I nearly got jumped out the saddle. I decided on a "first outing", which was a local PC show. I planned to have a hop around the 50cm, just to see what happened. He ended up 3rd in the 1m, and jumped clear, I forgot the course in the jump-off though. I took him to another show and he jumped around clear in the 1m again.
Levin Sports, early 2006.
After that, it all went downhill. One day, he came from the paddock lame. He was definitely lame in front and seemed quite saw. I called his owner, then she called the vet and after ages of flexion tests, and nerve blocks and trotting in circles and straight lines, he diagnosed navicular. In much tears and torment, I sent Tally back to his owner, as I wanted something sound.
A year on, so late 2006, early 2007, I had been having success with my pony (who I was rather outgrown by then....no really) at Training. I had kept in contact with Tally's owner and he'd gone on loan to someone but he'd bucked them off and got sent back. Whoops. Anyway, I'd tried out a whole lot of horses and after trying a few and having some "interesting" rides, most of which were rather fun really, I hadn't found anything I liked. I phoned his owner up, and we talked, and I came over to ride, and I fell in love again.
I had him vet checked, and he had arthritic hocks. He's 13. Yes, I'm an absolute idiot and I was not thinking with my brain, but I bought him. I let him go once before and I couldn't do it again.
I bought him home on February 16th, 2007, and didn't ride for three days before I was too scared that he'd be lame. I then didn't trot for two weeks for the same reason. Eventually we got going and I slowly gained in confidence and Tally slowly lost weight.
Our first show, second time around was Manakau Sports. We had a hop around the 80cm and the 90cm and he got overly excited and tried to buck me off. I enjoyed myself immensely.
We tried some dressage, which was although not brilliant, not qite the quality of disaster that Sparks and I could produce together. Our free walk was at least a walk and not a sideways canter. We actually managed to stop at the end, rather than me wondering how much the insurance people would pay if Sparks left imprints on the judges car.
After outgrowing my 13.3hh, slightly neurotic 25+ mare, I was on the hunt for something a little larger and hopefully something who didn't look like that the lifeguard left that gene pool too early. I still own Sparks, and I love her dearly, but she is strangely shaped. Anywhoo, I was told by a friend of a friend of an acquaintance, that someone had a 15hh "Welshy-kinda-thing" for sale. He had evented to Open and show-jumped to 1.10m, but was "insane, I have a video where you can see him rearing in the background". Of course, now my interest was spiked.
I met said crazy horse. His name was Tally, which was short for Retaliate, and he definitely had some kind of Arab blood. He also looked like he was carrying twins, and he had a very impressive clunk in trot as his shoes were so loose, they sounded like church bells. I rather liked him actually, he wasn't overly well behaved and was incredibly unfit, and I was offered him on loan to get him fit so I could try him over fences.
I got him fit, and tried him over fences and I nearly got jumped out the saddle. I decided on a "first outing", which was a local PC show. I planned to have a hop around the 50cm, just to see what happened. He ended up 3rd in the 1m, and jumped clear, I forgot the course in the jump-off though. I took him to another show and he jumped around clear in the 1m again.
Levin Sports, early 2006.
After that, it all went downhill. One day, he came from the paddock lame. He was definitely lame in front and seemed quite saw. I called his owner, then she called the vet and after ages of flexion tests, and nerve blocks and trotting in circles and straight lines, he diagnosed navicular. In much tears and torment, I sent Tally back to his owner, as I wanted something sound.
A year on, so late 2006, early 2007, I had been having success with my pony (who I was rather outgrown by then....no really) at Training. I had kept in contact with Tally's owner and he'd gone on loan to someone but he'd bucked them off and got sent back. Whoops. Anyway, I'd tried out a whole lot of horses and after trying a few and having some "interesting" rides, most of which were rather fun really, I hadn't found anything I liked. I phoned his owner up, and we talked, and I came over to ride, and I fell in love again.
I had him vet checked, and he had arthritic hocks. He's 13. Yes, I'm an absolute idiot and I was not thinking with my brain, but I bought him. I let him go once before and I couldn't do it again.
I bought him home on February 16th, 2007, and didn't ride for three days before I was too scared that he'd be lame. I then didn't trot for two weeks for the same reason. Eventually we got going and I slowly gained in confidence and Tally slowly lost weight.
Our first show, second time around was Manakau Sports. We had a hop around the 80cm and the 90cm and he got overly excited and tried to buck me off. I enjoyed myself immensely.
We tried some dressage, which was although not brilliant, not qite the quality of disaster that Sparks and I could produce together. Our free walk was at least a walk and not a sideways canter. We actually managed to stop at the end, rather than me wondering how much the insurance people would pay if Sparks left imprints on the judges car.
Our first ODE was at Waikanae, which is a really nice basic course. However, I have a huge fear of the corner there as once before, I jumped it without the assitance of my horse, and it left a lasting impression on my face. We did an "okay" dressage test (yay! we stayed in the arena!), jumped clear show-jumping and had one stop on the cross-country.....taking the option at the corner. He ended up 6th, and got a beautiful pink ribbon to go with his purple headcollar and lead.
Not long after this, he started bucking. He'd always been a bit of a bucker, but now it was every stride in canter, every transition. I stopped riding and long-lined him for months. It was really quite fun, and he began going rather nicely, but I still couldn't ride him, as it resulted in uncontrolled bucking. I called an equine chiropractor (we shall refer to her as my angel) and she said because of his hocks, he'd been compensating through his back and neck and was sore practically everywhere. He began moving better almost as soon as she'd done some manipulations.
Long-lining during the winter, 2007
I eventually started riding again, after a saddle adjustment due to the extra podge Tally had put on over the winter.
Our first show back was a bit of a disaster. Tally got mucho-excited and put on a very impressive bucking and rearing display for the judge. Apparently giggling and calling your horse a wanker is "not" the proper way to deal with things. Anyway, we eventually got going and had a hop/leap over some jumpies.
We headed towards Area Dressage, which like all dressage things that involve me, was not exactly perfect. It was a Novice test and we were...shockingly bad. It wasn't exactly fun, but I didn't die and Tally didn't jump out, which is always nice.
We proceeded on, and tried another ODE at Aoukautere. It was 29 degrees and humid. He behaved in the dressage because he had no urge to function, he had a stop in the show-jumping because he had no urge to function. He tanked off cross-country because YAHOOO it was fun!
And now it's the 25 of January, 2008 and I'm slowly getting him fit for his first Training ODE on Waitangi Day, the 6th of Feb.Part of the getting fit regime, 6/1/2008
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