Two Gross Ponies

My trainer came out on Sat which is great cuz shes supposed to be out this morning as I write this but alas .. pouring. Though riding in the rain is certainly an option especially when the weather is warm like it is today (WTF weather gods is the 2nd day of winter and its 70 in Maryland!) The drainage in the all sand ring can be dicey when newly wet and sloppy. We elected to push the day to another.

So back to yesterdays training session. Both horses got ridden, both horses improved, both horses were bad. Story of my life, bad horses. Jez was up first and she was doing rather nicely not really throwing her shoulder out or in for that matter. Took her a while to warm up but when she did she was really beautiful and supple at the trot. Yay Jezebel! I love watching her being ridden and I had remembered to bring my actual real camera to the barn for some shots. When it came time to canter Jez had some kind of  PSTD flashback to Vietnam or something and she decided it was too hard. She’s been going into the canter really well but today she needed extra encouragement. I’m not sure what she thought was going to happen and she of course decided bucking was the best response.

They weren’t epic bucks more protests and after she realized that cantering was fun, the bucking stopped and she was happy compliant Jez again. Goof ball horse. Shes learning but shes stubborn. She likes to test you and shes got opinions, lots of them. Which is of course why i love her so much. Shes her own person err… horse.

Number two started out great with a really nice forward trot. Head tossing was still there but at a minimum. Woot! Todays problem was her getting behind the bit. Which is a habit I don’t want to encourage. She was doing that the other day when I was ridding her as well. So Michelle worked on reminding her to bring her pol up with the outside rein when she would tuck and get behind the bit. It worked but it was also a constant thing. I think eventually she will understand where to keep her head and move into the bit. Shes pretty green and shes not as naturally balanced as big bossy so i’ll cut her some slack.

I’m not sure how much real training she had before i got her I’m guessing it was at a minimum. Circe was moving really nicely off Michelle’s leg. Shes super sensitive so just a slight amount of leg pressure at the trot and shes way over. Sensitive in the mouth sensitive on the leg, shes sensitive to all aids really. When it was time to canter Circe response to leg pressure was to bolt. Yep, bolt. Watching that i was glad i wast the one on her. Michelle decided to use all that extra energy and really make her work. Up until this point when asking Circe to canter she hasn’t been asked to do much but give a nice calm canter. Just to get her balance. Today she was asked to hold her body straight, or bend or to get into a frame. Circe was displeased and let it be known. Her antics as not as epic and big as Jez’s but they are much faster. Eventually she got it and gave Michelle what she was asking for.

Both girls got sweaty and gross, well they’d been gross before Michelle showed up because the weathers been strangely warm and blankets were off but mud? That was everywhere, so after their lessons they both got baths and both were great for them. I was especially impressed with little miss “I hate the wash stall” Jezebel who was great for her bath and only tried to sneak under the stall guard once. Shes so much happier at this farm the wash stall is just one small part of that. She hated the other one at the old farm with a passion.

I have a lot of things to work on with them both. They each have their own special needs. I’m excited to get to it, i hope the weather complies with my riding needs. (I know a girl can dream) winter is hard when you’re trying to keep to a schedule so I’m investing in some rain gear next.  My philosophy this winter is “if the footing is good I will ride” I need all kinds of weather riding gear to make that a reality. It’s all being collected piece by piece by piece by piece.I’m pretty proud of how great my two girls are doing even with their little temper tantrum whats the fun of having perfect ponies, its their imperfections that endure them to me, its not the destination its the journey that i’m interested in. Sure the destination of having two rock solid OTTBs that i can event, show, trail ride do just about anything with is a great thing but getting there and being the one (with some professional help, im not crazy) to get them there, knowing i made them… well thats is truly why im in this with them.. my two awesome ponies.