So That's Where the Eggs Have Been

I have been lax in my blogging duties of late. I rode yesterday, and didn't blog about it. Without further ado, I shall make amends for this transgression. After a very good phone interview(I have another one with the same company tomorrow), I ran outside and tacked Ziggy up. Since I was in such a good mood, I decided that I'd do some jumping. Like I usually do, I set up one jump on a flat approach and another one on an uphill approach.

For a warmup, I took Zigs for a quick walk around the neighborhood. I guess our clearances came through when I wasn't paying attention, because the dogs in the neighborhood were nice enough to allow us to pass by without challenge. The only thing I had trouble with while we were out in the neighborhood is that Zigs always wants to counter-flex, and keep an eye on what's going on on the other side of us. Fortunately, that was pretty easily solved with some half-halts. I'm getting really good at those at the walk. He still blows them off at the trot and canter. I'm not sure how much of that is him, and how much is me. At the canter, I'm almost positive it's my fault. At the trot, I think it's probably a bit 50/50. Once I can afford to take lessons again, that's one of the first things on my list to work on/figure out.

At any rate, after warming up around the neighborhood, I went back into my pasture to start jumping. Before I actually started going over jumps, I trotted around the pasture in two-point, so that Zigs could get a look at everything. Not that I thought he was going to spook or refuse or anything like that, I just always like to give him an idea of what we're about to go do. Of course, I'm not completely sure of the wisdom on that, as some day, when I start doing Horse Trials, he's going to have to jump courses cold. But for now, I'll keep doing it my way. I mis-judged my positioning of the first jump, which made the approach a bit difficult, since it was at a weird angle. It took a lot of doing to come at it straight from one direction. While I was riding, I was cursing my self for that one, but after talking to Saga's mom about it, she informed me that I had inadvertently created a unique training opportunity for improving my approach to jumps! It was very nice of her to salvage my feelings like that. ;) Outside of a tricky approach on one of the jumps, the rest of it actually went pretty well, although Ziggy likes to try to jump fences right of center. Either that or I set him up right of center. I think I had him going in straight. The next time Saga's mom comes over, I'll try to remember to have her look for that. I also don't feel like I was closing my angles enough over the jumps, which I'm pretty sure is due to the fact that I'm not relaxing my hips enough.

That being said, Ziggy was very happy to be jumping, and took to it with great gusto. I am also glad to report that I didn't catch him in the mouth, which is my #1 no no when I'm jumping. I can be out of balance, and look like crap over the fence, but I'd better not catch my horse in the mouth. Anyway, after several good jumps, it was getting pretty hot, so I called it a day and un-tacked. All in all, it was a good ride, and capped the day nicely.

Today was Dressage, and on the docket was canter, and some more work in two-point. I began my warmup by walking on a long rein, getting Zigs to really stretch out and step under himself. After doing that on both reins, I picked him up and started doing an exercise that Duchess' mom taught me. I think I've mentioned it before, but in case I haven't, this is how it works. you walk 10' diagonally, stop, turn on the forehand, and walk the opposite diagonal for 10', and lather, rinse, repeat. Ziggy keeps trying to go behind the bit on my turns on the forehand, and I haven't really been able to figure out why. He does it on both reins, so I'm not sure what's going on. In the meantime, I'll keep working on it, but the next time the Oracle is here, I'll ask her to work with me on it. After walking, I moved to trot in two-point, and did my penance to Epona. I still feel like I'm staying way too upright in two point, but my legs were absorbing the shock like they were supposed to, and I felt pretty in balance, so I guess I was doing it right. After I finished the Dressage test in two-point, I did some cantering in two-point. It went pretty well, at the very least Zigs seemed to rather enjoy himself.

I took a walk break and then proceeded to canter, which still needs a lot of work. I still need to fix my transition, I have a habit of trying to lean back like I'm in a recliner. I did manage to get one up transition without doing canter by Laz-E-Boy, so that's progress, I guess. The other big problem I keep having with canter is that I lose my stirrups. Fortunately, I spend a lot of time riding without stirrups, so when I lose them, it's not a total disaster. Although, I suppose that sort of also works to my detriment, since because I can keep my balance at the canter without stirrups, I'm not terribly worried about keeping them when I go in to canter. This is probably also something I should fix before I show. The only problem is, I can't really figure out why I lose my stirrups. Maybe I'm not keeping my heels down? The next time I ride, I might have Zhi watch me and see if she can see something that I'm missing. After cantering on both reins, I decided to call it a night.

I have another interview tomorrow, and I'll probably go ride after that. Although, it'll be 15:00 by the time I'm done with it, so that might be a little hot. I probably won't ride very long. I might wake up early enough to ride in the morning, but let's be realistic. I'm on vacation. Riding tomorrow night won't work, as Zhi and I are headed over to her trainer's place for a lesson for Zhi. More about that, later!

I Hope You Like Rhymed Couplets

Tonight I embarked on a ride of relaxation,
In an attempt to forget yesterdays vexation.

To work on Two Point and transitions was my objective,
In hopes it would not involve use of invective.

So off to the pasture I went with excitement,
With carrot in hand as enticement.

It was merrily accepted, and grooming proceeded,
Although continued pleas for a second went unheeded.

Grooming finished, and saddle installed,
I mounted and cued "Forward!", leaving Ziggy quite appalled.

"Jog on, you nonce! I'm on vacation!", he objected,
a grievous assumption, which was quickly corrected.

Today would be forward, I would not accept no,
for he is a Thoroughbred, and bred to go.

Our tempo agreed, and walking quite quite sorted,
Up in Two-Point I went, and with trot I courted.

Happy to oblige, my Thoroughbred complied,
Lightly and roundly, in the rhythm I implied.

Onward we trotted, left rein and right,
quite happy he'd of been trot into the night.

But enough was enough, back to walk we must go,
For there's much more than trotting if we are to show.

A walk on a loose rein is what was required,
So that both horse and rider were not over tired.

For the next task was much more demanding,
To canter, in balance would be quite outstanding.

As twilight approached, and light grew dim,
I asked Zigs to canter and left the speed up to him.

Perhaps not the wisest, it must be confess't
As when I asked for a walk, there was protest.

Thoroughbreds have run, since time immemorial,
to have to slow down, Ziggy thought, "Dictatorial!"

His objection was noted, though I made it quite clear,
Exactly who the master was here.

A walk break followed and a rein change ensued,
and what could be on my horse's mind, but food?

By his stall he took me, and it was quite clever,
he stuck his nose in his bucket to make his point for good measure.

A cooling out, and a bath soon transpired,
and I admit now that it was truly inspired.

He got both his run and nightly grain,
Knowing tomorrow he would get both again.

Sleep tight buddy, and think you most kindly,
For a ride so good, and in harmony so slightly.

Problem Exists Between Saddle and Reins

Yesterday, for the first time in a week, I was able to ride. My intention was to work on sitting trot without stirrups, however, Ziggy seemed to have other plans. First, I couldn't get him to walk out at above a meander, and then, I couldn't get him to listen to my half halts. So, I gave up on my original plan, and just rode him around, not really working on anything outside of trying to get him to put his head down at the trot, and just sort of getting the wiggles out. To be fair to Zigs, he's essentially been on vacation for two weeks, and I was probably expecting a little much from him. I'll be riding him again tonight, and this time, I'm going to just work on getting transitions precisely when I want them. I realize this is a pretty short entry, but I really don't have too much to say about yesterday's ride. Hopefully tonight's will find me more chatty.

Fatigue

Sadly, I have not yet managed to ride this week, yet. I've been heads down in release hell for a Big Giant Project™ that mercifully was released today. What follows is an accounting of my ride on Sunday. I had to work Sunday morning, and I finally left the office around 1700 or so. I almost didn't ride, because I was thoroughly spent, but I looked out in the pasture, and Zigs popped his head up over the round bale and pricked his ears. I rolled my save versus cute, failed, changed and went to tack him up.

For the past couple of Sundays, I've been working on jumping. I rather like this arrangement, and plan to continue it, however this past Sunday, I didn't feel up to jumping so I decided that I'd work on Two-Point instead. after warming up, I got up in two-point, and rode the entire Intro A dressage test. Yes, that includes transitions. As an entirely random side note, I have decided to call the preceding exercise "Penance to Epona". Anyway, it felt like I did a pretty good job of keeping my heels down and my shoulders back, but I think I wasn't relaxing my hip enough, because I didn't really feel my hip angle closing. My knees were definitely working properly though. Transition-wise, I actually had more trouble with trot/Canter than I did Canter/Trot. I'm guessing that's probably because Zigs is used to having my seat bones as a cue. He doesn't really know the word, which is something that I should work on. Or, at least, I'm pretty sure he doesn't know "Canter". The handful of times I've tried longing him, whenever I've told him to canter, that apparently meant, "stop what you're doing and turn around to look at me". Silly Thoroughbred.

After Penance to Epona, I cantered around in two-point, which Ziggy thought was fantastic fun. I must say, for this segment, I really wasn't paying attention to my form. After the week I'd had, I just wanted to feel the wind in my hair, and not think about anything. I am happy to report that the desired effect was achieved. I only wish that my pasture was slightly bigger so that I had more room to run Zigs before having to turn him. But, it's more room than I had at the place I boarded him. I finished up the ride by doing an exercise that Duchess' mom taught me. you start out pointed at an angle, walk 10 meters, turn on the forehand, walk the opposite 10 meters, and repeat until you reach the opposite end of the arena.

It went pretty well for the first few turns on the forehand, but as time went on, Zigs started going way behind the bit, and nothing I did seemed to put him back on it. I thought at first I may have been using too much rein, so I let it out until I had loops, and he was still going behind the bit, so I tried pushing him more forward, which didn't help either. The only way I could get him to take his chin out of his chest was to put him on the buckle. I'm guessing it was because his lesson timer went off, but I'll try it again on my next ride when he's fresh and see if I get the same results.

My plan is to ride tomorrow. I'm feeling pretty puny, so it will probably be a more relaxed ride. The weeks of stress have caught up with me, and I think I might be fighting off a little bug. I suppose it would also help if I stopped writing this, and went to bed, so I think that's what I'll do.

Zebra Oscar Golf Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Bravo Bravo Quebec

So, shortly after I wrote the last entry, I took a quick nap and went out to tack up Zigs for a hack around the neighborhood. My intention was to have a nice relaxing ride, but apparently, the dogs in the neighborhood didn't get the memo. Ordinarily, one or two of them will look up from their bone, and toss a few lazy barks our direction. Today, we were apparently storming the gates of their respective strongholds, and were to be told, in no uncertain terms, to back. the. fuck. off. To his credit, Zigs was a very good boy about it. But I wouldn't exactly call the hack relaxing. I spent most of my time half halting, and reminding him that he needed to listen to me, and not the canine aggressors.

After walking around the neighborhood for a while, I came back to the pasture to do some canter work, and by canter work, I mean bucking and full gallop. In Zigs' defense, he hasn't been ridden in over a week, and he is a Thoroughbred. He wasn't trying to get me to come off, he was just excited to be ridden again. I have to work tomorrow (Yay!), but I'm planning on doing some trot pole and two-point work before I go in, or after I get home. I still owe Epona her penance. All in all, I call it a good ride. I felt a lot better when I dismounted, at any rate. Tomorrow, I plan on doing some trot pole and two point work., before I have to go into the office.

Yes, I'm working on a Sunday. I am not happy about this, but it was either that, or start strangling my co-workers on a Friday night. I figured working on a Sunday was a better alternative to homicide. ;) (Note to self: Blogging after several shots of rum: probably not a good idea.) I will definitely let you know how tomorrow's ride goes.

The Best Laid Plans

First of all, I'd like to make a request.  Can 2009 be over? Like right now? I'm just throwing that out there. Not that I think a new year would necessarily make anything better, but it would at least be a new year. And that counts for something, I guess. Anyway, as you have likely surmised, it's been a rough couple of weeks. The long story short is that events have occurred (as I suppose events are wont to do), and these events have simultaneously brought to my attention several personal shortcomings, as well as precluding my participation at the October Horse Trial. On top of that, work has been a particularly tasty pile of suck for the past few weeks.

Fortunately, things are on the horizon that can improve the situation, if they come to fruition. Cross your fingers for me, would you?

Now that that personal stuff is out of the way, let's get to horses, shall we? There's not really much to report on the horse front, as I really haven't been able to ride all week. I will be fixing that this evening once it cools down. I think tonight, we'll go for a hack around the neighborhood, and I might do some cantering around the yard. I'm not going to work on anything in particular, I just need some relaxing time with my horse... More later.

Texas Warmbloods and Korean Overlords

If I'm honest, things did not go quite the way I planned. My plan was to wake up around 07:00, ride Ziggy for the first time this week, run out to the barn, ride Saga, and then drive down to Houston and check out a horse for Zhizhu. Well, I made it home at 0200 from work Friday, and more or less just collapsed into bed. I regained consciousness at 10:00, at which point Zigs was going, "DUDE. W.T.F. WHERE IS MY BREAKFAST!" I shambled outside and fed him, came in and changed clothes to go ride Saga, deciding to ride Ziggy this evening.

That was the plan anyway. I made it to the barn and pulled Saga out of his stall and he was like, "Who are you?", until he realized that I bore carrots, then he wouldn't leave me alone, which reminds me a lot of Zigs. I had to remind him that was stay still when we are groomed once or twice, but other than that I groomed him without incident. Putting the saddle on took a bit, however. His saddle has these little panels the come forward of the pommel, which made it a bit difficult for me to tell when I had the saddle in the right position. I wound up taking it off and putting it back on several times before I was satisfied that it was in the right place. To his credit, Saga was very patient with me, although I could tell he was thinking, "Are you sure you know how to ride horses? Because you certainly can't put on a saddle!". That sounded like a challenge, so I got his bridle on him, and off we went into the arena.

When JJ asked me if I could ride him this weekend, she recommended that I just do walk/trot, and work on forward. I started out walking him around to get a feel for him, and two things were readily apparent: 1) He is a big boy. 2) He has a lot of action in his walk. A lot more than Zigs does. Once I'd walked him around the arena for a bit, I decided to ride around the property at the barn. As I expected, he was very well behaved. After walking him for a while, I was satisfied that I was well in control of him, and started trotting. Now, when JJ asked me to ride him while she was out of town this weekend, she told me two things:

• His canter is sub-optimal, don't bother.


• Work on forward.

Now, allow me to preface the following by saying, any time I ride a horse that I'm unfamiliar with, I take really light rein contact, and I give cues like I'm riding a stick of dynamite with a lit fuse. That said, when I asked for trot, forward wasn't an issue. I immediately got a very forward, rhythmic trot when I asked. He was a bit hollow, but he's still getting used to this whole Dressage thing, so I didn't worry too much about it. I did ask him to come round, and much to my surprise, I actually got it for a few strides. To be clear, I was surprised I was able to give him the right cues to get the desired result. Not that he was capable of going round. As I told him, "You're JJ's horse. I know that you can come round."

After doing a few trot/walk transitions and taking a walk break, I decided to see if I could sit his trot. I started off by posting to make sure I got a good rhythm, and once I liked what I had, I sat down. Remember when I said that JJ told me not to bother with the canter? I don't think Saga got that particular memo. pretty much as soon as I sat down, he cantered. From where I was sitting, it actually felt like a pretty nice canter, but since JJ told me to stick to walk/trot, I put him back down into trot. Ever since JJ came over that one weekend to help me with my brakes, I feel like my down transitions have improved leaps and bounds, and all it took was to just keep my shoulders back. I tried sitting trot again, and this time, we stayed at trot, and I was actually able to sit it pretty well. There's really not too much more to report about the rest of the ride outside of that it was a lot of fun, and very relaxing. I'll be riding my horse tomorrow, and I think I'll do a trail ride, and maybe a tiny bit of two-point work and jumping. More tomorrow!