So, no pictures, but Andi was ridden again this week, and tackled some cavaletti at the W and T, with no issues whatsoever. I know, I know. He was ridden Novice previously! Why would cavaletti bother him?? But let's just remember he's had a couple months off, and... it's winter. Sherwood was flipping out over cavaletti, so I kind of expected him to say SOMETHING about it. Nope. Not even a look. Also, he is so smooth. I putted around on him without stirrups and just... am amazed at how smooth his gaits are. He's really quite cool.

Sher, on the other hand, also had a lesson with a new trainer today- Ann Bowie from Horsepower Farm. I'd ehard good things, and Jess is in Aiken. So.. I made a lesson and went for it. And, we came out with some very good things to work on! She was a superstar, of course, so we didn't work on any of the things that would be most helpful, but I did get some pointers on relaxing my left arm, and also that my hands/ forearms are just too stiff in general, which may be why Sher has a hard time relaxing into the contact with me. Also, she is almost completely stiff going to the right. It was.. intense to ride. So, another thing to work on.

Second ride in the books!

Shelby and Jess came over Saturday, with the idea that I'd have backup in case Andi decided to launch me on his second time back under saddle since... October? November? Either way, rocketing me to the rafters was a definite possibility. And... Here. Let's take a peek. 

I have to say. Every time I deal with this horse, I am reminded of what a solid citizen he is. And... Lovely. I was riding incredibly defensively when we started, hence Shelby in the middle yelling at me to RELAX!!!, GIVE!! He will give if you do!! You don't ride SHERWOOD LIKE THIS!! And me laughing because.. well.. He was really frieking awesome. I can't wait for his next ride, and how we do when we start working on stuff like cavaletti (we'll have to keep upping the numbers, because we're still stuck at 2 before he leaps them on the lunge! LoL). But he is so flipping smooth, and he's so chill but so attentive, it's pretty awesome. 

Can I just say how I really hope Logan decides he likes him?? haha 

Also.. Let's hear it for the "crazy Thoroughbreds" everyone is talking about. For those who don't know us, my SO's Christmas present this year was a 9mm pistol. We got our carry permits (CT is an all or nothing state- to own a pistol, you need to get a carry permit) earlier this year because we live in the middle of nowhere- it would take 45+ minutes for ANY police to get to us if we had an emergency- and it seemed like a prudent thought just for home defense. Nevermind that I walk the dogs in the woods by myself more often than not, and.. well, there are crazy people out there. So, anyway. Logan has now had his gun for what.. 3 weeks? He set up a home range, and after acclimating the ponies to my little .22 rifle far away, then closer and closer, then going through it again with the 9mm, shoots a couple times a week in his range. Which, mind you, is about 50 yards from the horse paddock. And this is what you get. Oh, those crazy TBs. 

Mind you, I have been threatening to do mounted cowboy shooting on Sher for.. 2+ years as a winter activity. I kind of scoff it off because.. well.. she is pretty reactive. But watching these two (three? Sam makes a cameo!) after 2 weeks of this? I may actually do it!!

So, the goals for today were met. Mostly. I got a little interrupted, so Sher never cantered to the left, but we got the right in and done without any bucking and minimal head shaking. I also got to watch a video of her going and.. we need more forward. It felt a little.. sluggish to me, but sometimes, I get "Good jobs!" from JH when it feels sluggish to me. Gah. I will figure it out, I guess.

Anyway, I don't think Sher is going Skijoring, as previously dreamt of. First, we have no snow to practice with, and second, she is going to need a bunch of practice. Can we say "reactive"?? We almost had an "incident" when I long-lined her around the house. Thank God I ingrained a solid WHOA in her that works when she's nervous.. And that's about the only time she listens to it, actually.. LoL

Andi did really well. We did all of our goals, and although there were some questioning moments, he is, as ever, a gent. One thing I do notice is how he is less fluid to the left, which does coincide with his atrophied right shoulder blade muscles, and which we have been working on. He also worked on some half passing in hand down the long side of the arena, working on getting footfalls correct and correct and full crossing of front and hind legs. He works using his back most of the time, only hollowing out when something makes him nervous. We also lunged over some cavaletti without side reins, thank GOD!, because he... jumped them. Four cavaletti, and he trotted into them, jumped the first two, landed super neatly between 3 and 4, and jumped out again. Never touched a single one. So we walked through.. No issues. Trot again? Yup. Same effect. So.. we took it down to 2 cavaletti, and restarted. No problems. We'll continue working up to numbers on those. Oy. LoL

Begin the New Year!

So, I whipped out my working in-hand books to learn more about double-lungeing/long-lining and... Yeah. WE might have skipped a few chapters with Miss Bonnie, but.. Okay. Moving on, right? All's well that ends well? I'll just keep an eye on issues that may come up and be prepared to step back a bit. *Shrugs* Ehh..

I also pulled out some cavalettii books and arena exercise books and.. I do not have enough time in an arena to work on all this, so we're going to have to some some in hand and some riding work every day that we can.

So, today's goals:

Andi:
- Work on long-lining with figure eights and serpentines at W and T.
- Start working on cavaletti on the lunge (So, according to reiner klimke, lunging in side reins over low (6-8" high) cavaletti is encouraged.. *Eyes wide* AND the way I've attached my lunge line is super severe. No wonder why Sher gets so cranky with me. We shall go back to the rope halter over bridle method. Whoops!) with 3-4 cavaletti in both directions, working on getting him to use himself and see if we can't get his back woken up a bit.

Sher:
- Same as above but for shorter times, and then see if we can hop on a work on some transitions and maybe some canter work, ending with some work over cavaletti while ridden.

Yeah. I see a 4-hour barn day in my future. These things never go as planned. haha

I will update later with how it went. Wish me luck!