Bridle-less and Random Fun

Hello Everyone!

Today I paid my sister to take a bunch (438) pictures of Ollie and I.  Lots of snow was in the round pen and he didn't want to do a lot of running in it (which I understand) so our ride wasn't very long. However, he was perfect and was so good that I ended up taking his bridle off and riding him without it.

Of course, I also did some quick collection and bending work. For Ollie, he needs lots of flex repetition for him to get soft. He learns fast, but for him to be where I want him takes longer. I am looking for him to be really, really soft.

Collection at the walk

Lateral Flexion

Bending the Ribs

Collection at the trot. 

Then I let him loose. I didn't want to do too much bending in the snow so I mostly left him alone with that.

Then I decided to take his bridle off......

...and ask for the walk, trot and canter. 

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!

He did great!!! As soon as I asked for him to stop he would, he would turn, backup, and stay to the outside of the circle when I asked him. I love my boy. :)

I hope this weather holds out so that the snow can melt and I can ride him even more. He is going to be a great show horse someday!

~Alyssa

Cheyenne Day 11

I didn't get any pictures for days 1-9 of groundwork (days 1-5) and riding (days 6-10) but today I did get a few photographs.

When I first got her: 

Hated water
Hated Plastic
Was very fast at the trot and canter
Wouldn't let you touch her nose
Wouldn't let you touch her ears
Disrespectful
Pushy

Now just so you all know, I knew Cheyenne had these problems when I bought her, and I got her as a partial project to work with my new Clinton Anderson Methods.  After her being here for a week I started doing groundwork. I did just groundwork for one week, and during that time her pushiness, disrespectfulness, and head-shy attitude all dissipated (for the most part).


 Then I got to riding.

The first Clinton Anderson Cruising Lesson I did with Cheyenne was pretty easy. She was very, very fast at the trot, so much so that I didn't even bother to canter her, and decided that I would have to work on the trot until the trot slowed down. After day 3 of riding (so, the 9th day of the training), it was pretty slow, and on the 4th day I cantered her (the 10th day of training). She was also quite fast at the canter (duh, she was a barrel horse) but I just sat on her back while she went tearing around the round pen for about 6 minutes. Then, she started to slow down and over time, got slower and slower. Today she is light years ahead of where she was and although she is by no means a "slow horse" yet, she is getting better day by day.

Trotting nicely on a loose rein. 

Then I tried something. 

Cheyenne had hated water, so I had worked with her on the ground in the water a couple times. But after I finished riding her I decided to see how she would do under saddle. 

Walking.......

.and trotting!

Cheyenne went right into the water without any resistance and did great! I was so happy. 

Cheyenne is doing very well, and I feel that it won't tale her long to slow down her canter. She has got a great mind on her (she is one of the smartest horses I have ever met and picks up new things quickly), and I cannot wait to use it to it's full potential!

~CBL

P.S. I got her a cute Weatherbeeta blanket because the mosquito's were bad and were biting her pretty good on her stomach. So, I got her a basic pony 600 denier turnout sheet. Here is a picture:

My Lesson With Mrs. Tia/Canter Transitions

Happy Sunday, everybody!!

Mrs. Tia came over Friday afternoon. She showed me some awesome stuff that I needed to do, plus she tweaked some things that I was doing wrong. Sadly I didn't get any pictures of the groundwork part (it was a two hour lesson) but my mom got back home just in time to get some pictures of the riding half. Mrs.Tia thought that Ollie might have a bit problem so he went bridle-less and we just used the halter and lead rope. I didn't think he would be very respectful without his bit because he can have a VERY. HARD. MOUTH, but with the halter he was so soft and never gave me any trouble, so it makes me think that the bit really was the problem. We also used Mrs.Tia's endurance saddle because it would fit her better than my saddle. Mrs. Tia is 5'10" and the saddle I have is meant for short, small people like me....I am 5'3".

At first he tested her and was a little resistant....

..but then he realized that he wasn't about to get away with anything and straightened out quickly. 

Then I got on and Mrs. Tia instructed me from the ground. YAY!! I really wanted to get into the saddle again after being off of it for about two months except, for that one time he bucked me off a month ago. 

We worked on a lot of walk, trot, canter, halt, and back up transitions. 

 A normal transition was 7 walk steps, 15 trot steps, 3 canter steps, 15 trot steps, 7 walk steps, halt, back up, etc.

Pretty Boy

Ollie and me with my horse helmet hair. ;)

I was sooo happy after the lesson with Mrs Tia!! He was SO respectful and soft. I also got him to move his back-end (hip), and front end (shoulder) from the saddle which he has never done with me without resistance. I was overjoyed! I still am. :D 

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I set out to ride Ollie again. With a halter,which in the horse world, is a big deal, plus LOTS of trot/canter, canter/halt transitions (just because I like the canter a lot).

I did a lot of groundwork first to see where his mind was at, then hopped on (literally). I did a lot of walking, and trotting transitions before these photos..but eventually it all became trot/canter, canter/walk transitions. 

What? ME?

Portrait Shot 

He was still pretty soft, and much more respectful. I am sure the groundwork helped out a lot with that. Our relationship has improved drastically and we have bonded so much in the past month. I am so thankful I have Ollie as my horsey partner and friend and that he isn't push button. I have (and will continue) to learn from him and become a better overall horse-person.

~CBL