I've found my prince...

I finally reached my goal!

2006-08-22T23:26:46Z

Jules was a prince today.

The weather looked like shit, and our pasture is really wet, so I didn't want to really ride. Instead, I hopped on with a barnmate's bareback pad.

I figured I'd just walk around, loosen him up. Then I thought, enough warmup, I could probably go straight to some reasonably round trotting (I cannot for the life of me ride bareback on his loose trot). We got some really nice trot, and I rode pretty well. I sat everything pretty nicely, and while he was looky at all the wet spots (the entire pasture), he was good.

SO I attempted the canter. That's been my goal for the year I've had him.. to canter bareback. However, we just never had the transitions/collection. It took a few attempts for the transition, but when we got it, did we ever get it. We cantered only twice, but it was as glorious as I had imagined it would be. I was very happy with our mini work session :)

I LOVE my horse...

2006-08-14T00:39:02Z

... and he loves me!

The last few weeks, I've been neglecting the poor guy. He's been getting lunged maybe once a week, and generally just been out to pasture. Of course, he's not upset about that, but I haven't been giving him the one on one attention.

Friday I popped out and rode him, and it was pretty good. Yesterday I gave him a good lunge, alternating side rein positions and whatnot.

Today I went out, and for the first time in a while, just fucked around. For the last month or so, everytime I went out, it was business. I went out to groom, exercise, etc. I hardly said hello. Whenever I pull Jules out, he always turns his head around for a greeting, and wants a minute or two of face time... a "hello" of sorts.

I groomed him, and then painted his feet. Left him groundtied so they could dry, and went about rearranging my stuff. The tack room had been rearranged, and so my stuff was quite disorganized. Not to mention, both my bridles were dirty, and nothing was organized to begin with.

Jules stood there, probably for close to an hour and half, watching me through the tack room door, while I cleaned his stuff and reorganized. Then I hung his bridles on the door to start cleaning them, my back turned to him. Next thing I know, throughout the 20 minutes I spent cleaning both bridles, I'd feel little snuffles on the back of my neck where he was nuzzling me. Or I'd turn around, and he was too far away to reach, so his neck was outstretched and his head cocked to one side like "heeellllllllo!"

And during that whole time, he never moved his feet.

I love how my barnmate, Carol (Echo's owner) won't shut up about how mellow jules is, and how well he stands, etc. Her horse won't stand even on crossties :)

So today I realized just how lucky I am to have Jules (not that I ever forgot), but how much I miss doing the things I used to do. The whole time, he was totally intent on watching me, and curious about me, and wanting to touch me/nuzzle me/snuffle me.

After he'd been standing for over 2 hours (groom time plus my cleaning time), I finally tacked him up.

Same deal as the other day under saddle. Long time to supple up, and not terribly forward. I'm posting on the wrong diagonal tracking right again, as this seems to cause less resistance.

At the end, I did a long sequence of sitting work.. sitting all my trot, the transitions into and out of the canter, more trot, and then more canter. I was quite pleased, as I normally alternate my sitting posting work.

I <3 my pony.

Jules!

2006-08-13T02:15:22Z

I went out and rode last night. A little resistant, but expected

I haven't ridden in like, 2 weeks, aside from hopping on for 10 minutes in a strapless bra and dangly earrings on sunday night. He hasn't had any work.

He took a lot of work and time to get supple, but we made some progress. We got a few really nice canter transitions, and I called it a night.

Tonight I went out and lunged him. Played around with siderein settings. Got some good work, some lameness. As always, nothing new. I'm quite pleased with the little guy :)

He's nice and fat right now. He gained weight, and he's been incredibly sweet.

Lesson..

2006-07-26T21:12:28Z

Also posted over at normandy_shores

We weren't round or forward today. We were, however, more sound than last week. Not nearly as progressive a lesson as last week, but we had a better starting point. I don't feel like we accomplished much, and he was a weenie, especially tracking right. He just would NOT soften.

Grrr.

Oh, and my video camera didn't work, and my bro only took 41 pics -- he did my walk warmup, and the last 10 minutes (which is always the WORST). We actually had maybe 10 minutes of good work in the middle where we had VERY nice trot, and while our canter transitions sucked, Verna was very impressed with his work within the canter.

Update...

2006-07-26T02:10:25Z

not much to update on. Jules is good.

Seemed a little off Monday, and of course, after emailing the trainer with said info in regards to wednesday's lesson, he seemed pretty good today. Granted, it's KILLER hot (it was 80 when the fucking sun came up today), so things aren't going to be great, but he moved better. I guess he needs a few minutes on the lunge more than just 2-3 times a week with this lack of turnout. He really needs to move out way more. I hate limiting his turnout like I am, but I have to.

So, lesson tomorrow at 10:30. I've conned my brother into coming to my lesson and videoing. Will also try and have him take pics with the digital camera. Probably no room on the camera, but might do a short digital camera video clip so I can share. Not likely, but whatever.

Will spend tomorrow night taking pictures of the tv while watching the video. Won't be great quality, but then I can at least share stuff with you guys :)

In regards to Colleen's post about bit rotation: I need more bits. I currently rotate two bridles.. one is the dressage flash bridle with a loose ring snaffle (thin). The other is a plain snaffle bridle with eggbutt snaffle, slightly thicker. Looking for another bit or two to mix it up.. maybe a french link? He's a 5", so if anyone has any extras, or even just suggestions.

Should have pics soon!

in other news..

2006-07-19T17:59:50Z

.. I don't hate my wintec with the same fiery passion as before. Now I only dislike it.

Real update!

2006-07-19T17:58:04Z

I've kind of been doing a whole lot of nothing with Jules lately. His feet have crumbled and fallen apart over the last month, and it's too damn hot. And we hit a serious roadblock in riding, so I just took some time off and lunged him 2 or 3 days a week instead. Plus, he really needs to develop that canter to the right.

Monday he had an acupuncture appointment. He was a total doll, and walked on the trailer, no chain or anything. Just "whoop, there's a trailer, I should get on that". He unloaded, walked into the barn he doesn't normally go into, and stood 100% still while we waited for our turn. Got acupunctured, and not really a whole lot of soreness going on. Yay.

Loaded to go home the same way.

Tuesday was the farrier appointment, FINALLY. Bob tested his feet, and because of the loss of the pads a month ago, both his front feet were slightly sore. Still better than he ever was before pads. After shoeing, he looked fabulous, and Bob even commented that he "stands very nice". Bob even got to working some shoes with the machinery, with sparks flying everywhere (Even at us), and jules just stood there groundtied. He really is incredibly patient.

Today was our lesson. I've been dreading it since it's really hot and I haven't been riding. Still, Jules hoped on the trailer, and we were on our merry way. I was trying to turn the trailer around when they came out and stopped me. Apparently the ground can be soft, so Verna wanted her husband to do it. I felt like a little kid being yelled at.

However, Jules walked of the trailer (nicely), and I immediately tied him and tacked up. No questions asked on his part. Hopped on and did a long walk warmup before our lesson (Verna told me 10 but meant 10:30). lesson began, and I wanted to cry.

Verna has always told me where she wanted my hands, and I've always disagreed. We really worked on them last time. Well, today, she suddenly wants my reins to be like 4 feet shorter and way way up and forward. WTF? Then again, I have to remember that the rest of my position has changed since i lowered my stirrups, I'm sitting up, and my leg is under me instaed of behind me.

At first, it was so frustrating. She wants my thumbs to be able to touch.. if my thumbs are open and sticking out at each other. That wasn't specified at first, and i was like "WTF". Then she told me she wanted me to ride like that, except that no, I can't hold the damn reins without my thumb closed, and i spent years teaching myself to actually close my hands on the damn reins.

After about 10 minutes of fumbling with that, I got jules more up and collected and thoroughly round than ever. And I felt the same way; straight, up, effective. It was nice. No more nit picky with the hands, use the shoulders/elbows. So after we fixed me, we went to do some canter. At first he ignored my aids, so I popped him one, and *boom* nice transition, stepping off the inside hind. Verna was impressed :) The transition wasn't nice the first few times, but the canter itself was. Switched directions, and same thing.. very good.

Then we worked on 4 loop serpentines. We can turn very nicely to the left, but not right. Keep in mind, to the right I don't use that shoulder. I'm retarded, but whatever. We finally got a decent one or two, and quit at 45 minutes. I was happy, Jules worked hard, and it was HOT.

How can I start a lesson wanting to cry, and end up feeling like I rode like a champ? It's not that I mind the criticism, it's that I get frustrated when I'm not sure wtf she wants. Still, all turns out well.. as it always does when you ride with Verna.

ARGH.

2006-07-13T04:05:51Z

Damn, Jules has sucked this week.

Acupuncture next Monday, new shoes Tuesday. Hopefully, new attitude and better riding late Tuesday. Lesson cancelled this morning due to sloppy ring at trainers. Fuck.

Must ride through this "I'm a not a fucking dressage horse I'm a nag" phase.

big_man_jules @ 2006-07-11T11:11:00

2006-07-11T15:15:46Z

Last night I trailered down to Heatherwood to ride with nadine. Her horse (Zarina, Freisian), has some allergies and alittle cough, so no riding for them.

Jules was ignoring my leg, not forward, etc. Crappy.

However, I'm as proud as I could be.

We parked at the house, and walked around back (the barn is next door), so we just walked in the back way. Jules walks in like a champ, I turn him out (while i go adjust the truck, etc), and he goes straight to grazing. When being tacked, he walks right into the barn, even ground tied while I had to grab something. He was looky in the arena, but not bad. I left him there overnight, turned out.

I get there this morning, only to discover the lawn service has come. He's the only horse outside, and there's mowers everywhere. I sees me, and makes my day with a HUUUUUUGE whinney and comes trotting over to me. he stops short of the fence by a few feet and just stands there like 'oh yea, I'm cool... hi".

I was preparing the trailer when I caught one of the lawn service men ready to move him (his pasture was the last to be mowed). I stepped in and offered to move him, but he stood patiently and behaved while the guy haltered him (Jules would've been 100% fine). He then loaded like a champ, and unloaded like a champ as well (Both yesterday and today.)

of course, I still rode like shit, but he's a good boy, and I'm very pleased with how cool he can be in a new situations. I've really gotta give him credit. If we make it to sound enough and good enough equitation to show, he's going to be very fun, since he's mostly stress free.

big_man_jules @ 2006-07-09T22:04:00

2006-07-10T02:07:11Z

Jules apparently forgot what "forward" "submissive" and "obedient" mean.

He also felt off.

Grrr.

Lesson Wednesday morning if Verna's ring dries up. Also, weather pending, I'm trailering down to Heatherwood to ride with Nadine (and her Friesian)

Oh, it's makes sense!

2006-07-07T04:29:12Z

Trainer things Jules is lame on RH. Fair enough.. he always looks stiff behind, even though he shows no soreness/tightness back there. Also, RH flexed the same (crappy) as the LF, and so it's no surprise it would show up there.

Shoulder-in on the left lead canter has him really utilizing his LH. No problem.

Leg yielding at the trot off the left leg has him really using his RH. That could be the issue.

hmmm...

maybe I'm wrong.

Still.

can't wait to move him!

2006-07-07T04:03:28Z

Less than a week into this shoeing, he lost both pads. Now we're 1.5 weeks away from being due, but he's lost a chunk of hoof and a clincher. Just a little patch on the inside of the LF, so the clincher has nothing to hold to, but it won't come out. It's pulled as far out as possible, and won't rotate (so it won't rotate into the hoof structure) and is hammered over so that it won't get pushed in/pulled out. It's as secure as a useless clincher not attached to anything can be, I guess.

I can't wait to move somewhere with a better horse climate. I can just imagine Jules' feet in 6 months.

This is them now (raggedy, and not the best they've looked, but growth wise, they don't get much better than this here)

Of course, with the pads, his heels are a little more up and supported. Not much, but a touch.

I've really really gotta get my hands on some keratex.

And must reorder his New Xiang Ru San through the vet.

Notes on our ride.

2006-07-07T03:30:37Z

Did a lunge warmup. He looked pretty sound today (especially before the sidereins). He came out, and as always, I let him trot around sans side reins, and he was tracking up first thing. That's a nice improvement.

He was pretty good with the side reins, considering I was operating the camera.

Went back inside to unsurcingle, and to say hello to Rachael and Gregg (they both just showed up). Rachael just bought herself a trailer (who knows why), so I had her give me the "tour".

Got back on Jules. Again, no spurs, wearing my dress boots and breeches, and 2 whips. He was fabulously forward, and my leg only slipped back a few times. This 2 whips thing is really helping with my posture, as well as with Jules' forwardness. I can actually sit his trot now for more than 3 or 4 strides at a time (still not a LONG time, but getting there). We worked on curvy figures of all sorts, and just staying forward and responsive. I did sitting trot, lots of change of direction, canter transitions.. the usual. Started mixing in some leg yeilding and whatnot.

Jules' leg yields to the left (off of the right leg) are significantly better than those to the right. To the right, he's super stiff, and fakes it. Also loses all forwardness and impulsion (whereas to the left, he only loses MOST of his forwardness and impulsion). I don't know how much of this is discomfort or underdevelopment/needs work. We attempted a second one after some more work and it went much better.

Our canter to the left is FABULOUS. Transitions, the gait itself, as well as what I can do within the gait. Again, tracking left on the left lead, I got a very nice shoulder-in at the canter, and he responds very nicely to my leg if I ask him to move left or right (yes, we're talking baby baby baby half pass and yielding to my inside leg at the canter). However, right lead.. we've got NOTHING. Our transitions are significantly less improved (both up and down), our gait is more difficult to maintain and the quality is poor, and I have zero horse on the right lead. He won't respond to anything, refuses to maintain forward and is generally really sucky.

Again, not sure if it's discomfort, lack of development, needs work, or all of the above.

At the end, I dropped both my whips. Now I'm sans whips and spurs. And yet, I had a very forward and responsive horse. I did give him a touch more rein (since today and yesterday I've picked up my reins another inch or two), which encouraged forward of course, but I got canter transitions. Yes, it was our first time doing a canter transition successfully without a whip or spurs. Just did a 5 minute trotting and cantering stint, and he was very very good. I'm considering this work with the whips to be a success. Not to mention, even sans whips, my position stayed decent, and my leg didn't revert to going back (except in my right lead canter transitions, I'm still using my heal?)

Somehow though, how does stiffness and difficulty moving off the left leg at the trot relate to difficulty moving of the right leg at the canter? I can't keep my mental images of what's being used during both movements straight to figure it out.

The switch to Ultium is almost complete. 2 more days of 3/4 ultium 1/4 platform. Then he'll be on 3/4 ultium (with no platform) for 3 days, then up to a scoop of ultium. We'll leave him at that for a little while and see how he does with his weight (which is drastically improved in the last week or two).

Also, I can no longer use the lite pads. We used to barely get them damp. Now, they are SOAKED THROUGH. As in, not efficient to use for anything except a short lunge session.

Fan-fucking-tabulous.

I WILL have updated riding pics in the next week or so. And hopefully, a 20-30 second clip of me riding. Should video our trot-sitting trot-canter tracking left, or maybe our issues tracking right?

After those crappy pics from February, i want to prove I can actually ride!

Picture post..

2006-07-07T02:49:57Z

Don't mind my hunter position, or Jules' lack of frame. keep in mind we were in a different place then, not to mention, I'm back in lessons to fix my eq.

Cartin around my novice friend

Good morning!

Despite my hands, I love this pic. It's eventer-y or something.

This is supposedly a transition. Yuck. (I'm definitely hitting up bad_riding later)

2 candids.

Big picture post :)

2006-07-07T02:43:45Z

These are from today...

Not toooo resistant tracking right today...

Except there.

His crappy feet.

His back.. from the withers looking towards the rump.

Rump looking towards withers.

Hip bones :(

big_man_jules @ 2006-07-06T22:36:00

2006-07-07T02:38:35Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EcQLbqkhI

It's like a 10 second trot video, and clucking at him the whole time :( Hard to operate the line, the whip and the camera (as you can see by the steadiness of my camera). :) How lame does he look?

forgot...

2006-07-06T02:17:10Z

I've been desperately searching for my camera (with pics from march on it). Wasn't where I left it. karmen has been listening to me promise pics and then bitch about the missing camera.

I found it, in my brothers room, sans my expensive batteries.

Found batteries, the whole ranting about how if he deleted those pics, I would go through his cell phone and delete every phone number in there.

Luckily the pics are still there (not that they're much to look at). Except my computer won't recognize my camera, and my brother has password locked him computer (all the porn, I'm guessing).

*sigh*

New technique.

2006-07-06T02:12:49Z

Jules got Tuesday (my birthday, the 4th) off, since I slept away the perfect weather. (crap!)

Today, I commited to a good hard ride.

I got there a little later than planned, and spent a good deal of time dicking around with my spurs (I needed a new hole to wear them with my dress boots). I'm making an effort to ride in my dress boots, since i'm significantly less effective in them.

Got on, and had an average ride. Started to get frustrated with my reliance on my heels, so I hopped off and ditched the spurs. And grabbed two whips.

See, Jules needs spurs. And because he's so big, my whole leg is against his barrel, so it's very easy to cheat and just use my heels. I have zero effectiveness with my calves, and Jules isn't exactly responsive. We're working on having him lurch forward at my touch and to freaking respond, and to get me to ride correctly.

So the whips helped. Having no spurs made using heels very ineffective, so it stopped quickly. Jules got the idea very quickly, and I didn't really have to use the whips. It also helped with my hands, since having the handles of two dressage whips up in front of you and touching keeps you very conscious of your hands and their height/distance from each other, etc.

My eq improved a fair bit today. I really sat back quite a bit, my hands behaved, and my leg didn't slip back nor was I relying on my heel quite so much. I'm very pleased.

We worked on the same stuff... sitting trot, transitions (i'm really sitting back during them, sometimes I get left behind, but better than before), and of course, me. He started getting worn on the canter work (it's too hot), so I started trying some leg yielding. Not so good (never has been). I really feel that leg yielding at the trot is uncomfortable for him (you can tell what things are, I can anticipate what canters are going to be uncomfy, etc), so we really worked on him just being obedient and doing 45 degrees (he either doesn't go side to side, or he overdoes it with no forward, or, he leads or trails the haunches, etc). We made a handful of attempts, and then went back to the canter work. Funny enough, after doing the leg yielding, we were more forward in our trot, and our canters got better. So I shifted, and *boom*, shoulder in at the canter on the left lead. I don't even know how to RIDE a shoulder in. I mean, I guess I do, because it's what I was intending, and it just happened, but holy crap. It was nice. Got just a few beautiful strides (we can't do shoulder in at the trot, I don't think?), and then we quit for the day (we were tired, and he was drenched in sweat, DOUBLE YAY!).

Can anyone think of any reason why this two whip technique might be a bad schooling/training tool? I want to get him to a point where he just responds to my leg, and I don't have the whips for reinforcement. Obviously, I ask nicely, and if no immediate response, I ask not-so-nicely. The only problem is, Jules knows when I'm not wearing spurs or when I'm not carrying a whip.

After our ride, he got a nice hose down and dried while I mixed his liniment and his new fly spray combo. We've got a good concentrate, skin so soft, water, and the regular fly spray. Couldn't get my hands on the permectrin this time. He got thoroughly linimented and cleaned up, and his tail got a nice coat of skin so soft. As he continued to dry, I unloaded my bedding.

Jules pees an excessive amount and all in the same spot. Only when he's inside a lot is it a problem, but it's getting ridiculous. He has a lake. So I bought some pelleted bedding to try and dry it up.

Jules finally dries, so I decide it's time to reassess my saddle fit, since he's seeming a little resistant. He's evened out SO much. His right side was the narrow tree (left is a wide), and was very very very undeveloped all the way through the lumbar. He has a mattes corrective half pad with zero padding on the left and double padding on the right.

Up by his shoulders, he's nearly even. How, I don't know. He still needs a touch of padding , but not much. Throug his lumber you could see a slight disparity at the back of the panels, right under the cantle. I ended up pulling out one layer of padding in the mattes pad. Tomorrows ride will see how it goes. Actually, hoping to see a difference over the next week or so.

After that, threw him in his stall to give him his lunch. Bugger decides that pelleted bedding IS lunch.

Jules: "pellets... food?"
*chew chew chew* *spits out*
Jules: ...."well.. they are pellets?"
*chew chew chew* *spits out*
Chew, spit, repeat. Then he decides that yes, it is pelleted, but no, it's not food.

Good boy, retard.

Then he heartily munched down his new grain and his hay :) He's really filling out muscle wise, and a bit with the weight. I'm very very pleased with his development.

Ok someone slap me. I passed up a $650 Albion Original Comfort (17.5" Wide tree). yea, it was on ebay, no bids. I was going to just let it run out, and then email and make an offer (because come on, you can't pass my perfect saddle). I knew damn well I shouldn't spend money, considering the impending move. Luckily, it didn't work out (someone actually won the saddle, for $650).

The new dover came today, and there was a 17.5" wide tree griffin for $250. I very much prefer the griffin/thorowgood over the wintec. I would trade it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, it was a closeout, and sold already. Damnit.

I could sell my wintec and probably get $200-250 out of it, so I wouldn't even be out the money.

Still keeping my eyes peeled. If anybody sees any really good deals on nice saddles, wide tree, keep me posted. 17-17.5" seat, preferrably a deep seat, but really, anything but this fucking wintec.

I was feeling ambitious...

2006-07-03T23:58:32Z

... and rode both boys today.

Started with Nick, and had a great ride. Not terribly long (maybe 35 minutes?) but got some good trot work. Did some cantering (though really, I'm not even going to try to get him round at the canter, nor try to sit it too much). When I sit, he goes ZOOOM. I've tried to not drive, I've tried blocking my seat quietly while sitting, but he just has a funny canter to sit. He also gets weirded out by sitting it too much in a dressage saddle (versus "sitting" in a huntseat saddle). Anyways, so we did some hand galloping and good cantering around the ring, and did a flying change or two (it's been a few weeks). I really enjoyed riding him today.

Went and got to Jules around 1. it was freaking hot, but I figured some exercise was better than none, even if we got little performance. Of course, they'd just been turned out about an hour earlier, so he'd ROLLED in the mud. So I just brushed as much sand off as I could, and tacked up quickly to beat the inevitable weather.

Hopped on, good long walk warmup, with some loose rein forward trotting. Then got down to business. He was pretty good, though the little divets in our riding area are now wet and mushy, so he wants to hop over them. We already had to stop riding in the small pasture and now ride exclusively in the large one (no problem). Jules was pretty good, considering it was REALLY fucking hot. Tracking right however, he's getting more and more resistant and less and less willing. I'd have to really work him on that, and any excuse would do to avoid relaxing. We got a few decent canter transitions, and a few really shitty ones. I'm really really doing well at sitting back through my transitions and at the canter... actually very very well. Didn't do so well on the hands/shoulders today, but improvement none the less. REALLY need to focus on keeping that leg forward and under me, and sitting back at the trot.

Gave him a quick hose, and a nice little lunch. He seems to be gobbling up the new food, even with the stinky sweat supplement added (sometimes he's picky about that). Jules is really starting to look fabulous. His coat is nice, he's starting to really fill out (even if he's still a *touch* ribby), and he's perky and happy.

In other news...

2006-07-03T00:15:07Z

Jules was cute today (the other news refers to my regular journal, normandy_shores). It poured rain as soon as I showed up, so I just stayed in his stall and groomed him. And *gasp*, he looks a hair fatter than yesterday!

I did switch him to Ultium (the purina feed that has everything but the kitchen sink). It's a 12% fat diet, so hopefully that'll help. He's of course being switched over the next week or so, so he's only up to a 1/4 scoop of it at each feeding, but I'm hoping it'll continue the "jules is slightly fatter" trend.

I did ride Nick yesterday.. mediocre. Twenty minutes, then thunder rolled in. I was pinching my right knee, have a slight blister. Damn.

Updates...

2006-07-01T15:07:20Z

My lesson on Wednesday... uh.. decent, I guess. We arrived, only to discover the neighbors were yanking down pine trees. Chainsaws of course, but then they'd tie the tree to the truck, and literally pull it down. It makes a lovely splitting noise on the way down, and then the huge thump of course. Jules was pretty good, except for once when neither me or my trainer realized it was about to happen (whenever one would come down, we'd stop so he could watch, which he was cool with). This particular time the tree came down and I didn't give Jules warning, so it was most certainly going to eat us. Luckily, he saved us with some acrobatics.

Apparently, I just suck at riding. I'm forward, my leg is too far back, my hands are all over. Blah. She wanted me to lengthen my stirrups a bunch, but I simply can't reach them. I literally have to point my toes just to keep my feet in them. It doesn't appear that way looking at my boots because my heel isn't against the bottom of my boot. It's rather frustrating.

We worked largely on keeping my hands right, using my shoulders properly, sitting up, keeping Jules hot on the aids (lazy bastard) and keeping my leg under me instead of way back. Jules behaved pretty well, but with how I was riding, he wasn't performing. With all of my bad eq, I can get Jules to do a bunch better. However, even with proper eq, I'm just not effective (yet).

One good thing though -- I'm learning to sit back through the canter transitions. I suppose that's good.

He got THursday off, but yesterday morning I rode. I felt a big improvement in my riding, and really sat up and back and kept my hands where they were supposed to be. Using my shoulders more effectively, made Jules respond and stay hot, etc. I was getting frustrated now and then, but we got some really nice canter transitions. We're doing a lot of trotting on circles, alternating sitting with rising, and then after a few strides sitting ask for the transition up.

Today I went out to ride, but it was shit. I wore my dress boots instead of my paddock boots/half chaps, and without the big chunky heel on my dress boots, the stirrup length was easily 1" longer. I was reaching like a motherfucker. Of course, it's actually a good length, if my thighs weren't so fucking big and I had any security. I got a few good things, but mostly was just frustrated. I'm getting to the point where I'm just too depressed to be happy even out at the barn.

Hell, I can't even accomplish riding. I haven't ridden Nick in 10 days.

facepalm

2006-06-28T03:25:03Z

Today was one of Jules' and I's worst days.

Yuck.

First, I discovered he'd pulled both pads. Well motherfucker, it's frustrating, because that might put his foot soundness in question, not to mention, I spend $140 for those fuckers. He's not due again until July 18th, and since we're way out of the way, I doubt Bob would just drop by to redo him. That, and they probably won't stay on (based on weather), and I really don't want to spend a shitton of money to replace them, only to have them fall off. I'll call Bob, feel him out.. but I'm betting he'll stay padless until late July, at which point I'll see if he responds to the hooftesters.

I put him on the lunge, and same bullshit as lately. Not willing to take line, and very resistant tracking right. Fuck it, I'm going to tack up and ride, because he does it fine under saddle.

I go to try and mount, and he refuses to get in the ditch. Yea, sure there's a bit of water, but we schooled through knee deep water just fucking fine the other day. We're not even mounted, and I'm already kicking him in the gut (NO, he can't run me over).

Finally got on using the fence (yes, I gave up, and no I'm not going to ruin another pair of boots). And the fucker refuses to go FORWARD. So I dig both my spurs in, hard and deep, and hold it until he's listening. Yea, we got up and forward, but whatever. Then he was a total dickhole because the cows were mooing back and forth, and I won't tolerate that. Also, he's totally able, but was just being a ninny. All I wanted was a nice relaxed trot where he wasn't sucking back and was moving forward. Apparently, that was difficult, so we did a ton of canter stuff. He was kind of all over the place, which I expect, but I wasn't taking all the mental issues with that.

We worked pretty hard. He took a lot of spur today (which he deserved). However, I was eternally thankful that I know better than to ride with a whip or gloves. Then again, my hands were RED because he was ripping on me and I ripped back. He requires a fairbit of hand anyhow, but not like this. He had zero whoa on him today, and was totally ignoring my aids. My SHOULDER hurts like a motherfucker. Granted, my shoulder's been off all week, but riding should not kill my upper body and arms.

Yea, so lots of aggrevation, lots of spur, and too much hand. My equitation (spurring and hands aside) was horrible.. It's like Jules and I fed off of each other's horribleness. It's like.. him being a dick lead to some of my poor eq (not all of it!), and yet, my bad eq must've made it impossible for him to perform. I gave him a quick break, offered him water, and back to a short work session. Just wanted a good canter transition (eq wise and from him) each direction. I rode them well, and he did them reasonably well, but refused forward. I drove with my seat, reapplied my aids, and yet he'd still break. Got a few good steps, and hopped off.

Little fucker is lucky that I feel too guilty to ever get rid of him.

The only plus side: he sweat like a BEAST. I mean, head to toe. He normally sweats under the saddle, right at his hips, and along his butt. ANd sometimes a little bit just in front of the shoulder.

Today, he was covered in sweat from nearly the top of his neck, all the way down to his ass. He was even sweaty most of the way by his hips and whatnot. It was FABULOUS. It wasn't even killer hot today (We rode after 7pm). I must've worked him pretty hard, and this time off may have helped.

I hope he's good tomorrow. We're trailering to our lesson (which I'm regretting) and riding at 10:45. We were going to do a lunge lesson, but with how he's going on the lunge, I don't want to bother. I think we're going to lay off the lunging for a while (i can't let it get in his head that he can be resistant, even though he's fully capable under saddle). Hopefully the weather won't be killer hot, and we'll get some clouds. Hopefully jules won't suck, an dhopefully I wont' suck. And hopefully, my trainer wont' be a bitch and overly critical (I want her to be critical of me.. not my horse.. she already doesn't like Jules), and I won't have to fire her.

sigh

2006-06-25T23:17:23Z

Jules looked pretty good today. Except, as soon as we tracked right with the sidereins, he did that resistant bullshit. I tightened the sidereins and really asked, no cigar.

Was just warming up, and planning on hopping on anyways. Keeping in mind that we got 6 inches of rain up at the barn last night, our fields were under water. Our drainage ditches were full, and other areas were up to an inch under water as well. On the way back to the barn to switch to the saddle and ditch the surcingle, he refused to cross a puddle. Nearly ran me over.

Hell no, fucker. So back on the lunge to assert domination. Back over the puddle. Made him walk all through it, around it, splash, the whole deal. Then made him walk through ditches. He started getting more brave, and would walk through without me, turn around, and come back. Then we lunged trotting through these water filled ditches. Then we got to the point where he wouldn't trot thru and back, but along them. Goooood boy.

He spent over an hour either on the lunge, or working on going through puddles. Then we switched to tack. Of course, by this time, I'm wet, he's wet, and he's super sweaty. Ah, well, just 15 minutes to make him round up and move well to the right.

I got on, and he was a pro. He rounded up and came through beautifully to the right. I don't understand him sometimes. Either way, I know he can, so he's gonna. It was fun to ride him all through the water though. Hock action out the wazzooo.. and he was up! It was like riding a whole different horse.

I felt like were eventing... except.. no jumps (and round and pretty). See, Jules is PETRIFIED of water, and here we are trotting and splashing through water that was up to knee deep :)

I just hope he gets and stays sound enough for Wednesday's lesson.

improvement... i think.

2006-06-24T20:53:08Z

Jules has his massage this morning. I love how you can visibly see a serious attitude change. He was irritable to begin with, and the bugs were a BITCH. He was tight up front in the shoulders and neck, and sore in his back.

By the end, his range of motion through his neck had improved probably 30-40%. When we were done, he was no longer flicking his ears around and stomping at the flies, he just stood there sleepy and calm. It was NICE :)

When she did the cat scratch stretch, he gave a much more violent reaction (violent is the best word). You really want a nice soft lift through the back, and he didn't quite have that. That indicates some soreness and tightness, so we'll how that improves over the next few days. Tomorrow I'll pop him on the lunge and see how he's moving (he'll likely be picking up those back feet a bit better).

regression/setback.

2006-06-24T00:25:37Z

Yup, back to unsound. Or at least "off".

Except, it's the same offness that he had months ago.

His "bad" legs are the LF and RH... the diagonal pair, which accentuates any tenderness. His recent injury is to the LH. My logic (and my vet's) would be that if this was related to his injury, he'd be off in a different way then before.

So basically, I went out today and popped him on the lunge (with the SMBs that came in, tried them on for fit before returning them!). He came out strutting his stuff, moving BEAUTIFULLY. Naturally forward (he was moving before I could ask). Let him really warm up, let him canter several laps (we rarely canter more than a circle before asking for transition.. working on the muscle for transitions and quality of gait), and he looked gorgeous. I wish I had my camera. Then I put on the side reins, nice and loose, and at first, he looked nice. Then he regressed to that offness. We switched directions, and it got bad. He got super tense and resistant, refused to stretch down and relax. And started looking pretty off.

Had to call the vet to update him anyways (we'd planned to talk today to address the meds and jules' progress). We're taking him down to one bute a day through monday, when we'll re-evaluate again. Some of the soreness can be attributed to having 6 shots stabbed in his rump daily, which is a very real possibility. Shots are done today, so by Monday, we'll have a better feel on things. Also, perhaps the inactivity and stiffness associated with this injury has contributed to the muscle tightening. *sigh*

So I cold hosed like a motherfucker, and got on the phone with the massage lady. She's coming out tomorrow morning, pronto. Yay :)

Of course, BEFORE all this, Verna and I spoke, and scheduled a lesson for Wednesday morning. I'll trailer to her place (if she emails me directions?) and while we're scheduled for a half hour, we have time to do a full hour depending on how he's doing (It won't be a full hour of work, it'll likely be half work, half discussing stuff).

*sigh*

Jules has been so good, and today while lunging, looked fabulous. I know at some point he deteriorated on the lunge, but he had a small trip behind (i forgot to mention he's slightly dragging his back feet, typical when he gets sore, and also indicative of the shot soreness). His whole expression just changed, and I got really sad. I think he was too. I know it sounds nuts, but he just suddenly had this worried/sad look on his face. He's an incredibly expressive horse in a subtle way, largely with his eyes. It made me stop for a minute and think about what was most important.

I love the little man :)