Farrier Friday!

The new farrier came to shoe Ink today.  He was really nice and even early to the appointment!  He brought along his dog, who cleaned up most of the hoof trimmings.  Ink’s hooves look fantastic.  When the farrier was trying to do his back hooves however, Ink was having a hard time or just felt like giving the guy a hard time.  The man said that he couldn’t tell if Ink was just stiff or if he was just acting up.  It does sound like something Ink would do, but it’s hard to tell. 

I lunged Ink afterwards in the round pen and he looked great.  He didn’t look lame at all.  I was really excited to see him moving so well.  After lunging I decided to ride and worked on getting Ink to go low and deep.  We also worked on bending his body because he kept pushing to go to the center of the roundpen where Errika was standing.  It was a successful day.

The next thing on the list is to have a Chiropractor/Equine Massage Therapist come and do some body work on the big guy.  I think it would really benefit him.  When I thought more about what the farrier said about him being stiff in the hind end and looking how Ink is moving, I do really think that there might be something causing problems, that a visit from the chiro/masseuse would be helpful and then we can go from there. 

A Rain Storm

I thought about it and thought about it some more.  I spent about, at least, a half an hour explaining to my mom about the day with Ink.  From the annoying beginning, that didn’t have to do with the big guy, to the terrific end.  I talked so much about what happend today and how we are progressing from the ground, building carriage and “Dressage,” training overall.  I was burnt out and didn’t feel like writing over what I explained to my mom, but here it goes. 

The day was cold and gloomy, a little windy.  Perfect conditions for horses to get their buck on ;).  To get straight to the point, there were two mares that were put in a make shift pasture next to the round-pen.  Being the ladies man Ink is, he had to go over and greet them.  Nonetheless it was usual mare behavior and the girls who so eagerly greeted the big guy were doing that striking, loud whinny noise.  When I got the lunge whip I asked Ink to move on, we were getting to work.  Social hour would have to wait.  He was enthusiastic, expressive, a big show off.  No bucking surprisingly.  I wanted to do some more lunging with the stretcher and ground pole work, but before I got to that point I had to make sure Ink’s mind was in the game and not floating around with the flirty mares.  I was strict and demanding in the beginning.  I kept the lunge whip at, my, hip height, driving Ink forward.  When he would wander, or even attempt to stop by the mares I would ask him to focus back on me by raising the whip above my hip, vertical and snapping it towards the ground.  It only took about one time for Ink to realize that it wasn’t the time for play and we had some work to get done.  The rest of session one went smoothly and Ink was very responsive. 

After that, I waited until Ink was showing submission before I asked him to come in and proceed to session two.  The following was working Ink over two ground poles, to help him pick up his feet.  We did that for about 10+ minutes and went to session three.  I tacked up the beast and put the stretcher on.  We did some consistant trotting.  Afterwards I removed the stretcher and decided to take a quick ride in the round pen.  Ink felt good, better than the last ride.  He is becoming more athletic and is able to carry himself more consistantly.  I asked for a little bit of trotting and a nice extended walk.  At the end, it began to rain more and more, so I hesitantly dismounted. 

Everyday Horse Life

Nothing super interesting to report on in my horse life.  I wanted to thank you guys for all the nice comments left on the last post!  I really appreciate the time all of you take out to read and comment :). 

I’ve been doing catch up on reading posts on my fellow equine blogs’.  I’ve really enjoyed the reading lately that I have done and wanted to congratulate once again 20Meter Circle of Lifeand her Arabian horse, Abu’s 3rd Place USEF Horse of the Year award!!  I have to state this line again, but it’s so refreshing and exciting to see various breeds and sizes stepping out of the shadow of the 17hh Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods.  Although I do own one, I am certainly a fan of the little guys throwing their hearts into equestrian sports. 

So what to report on with the horses today..  Well Ink was a tired boy, probably from his work-out yesterday.  I found him nearly asleep in his field.  I thought he’d greet me with his ears pinned saying “mom you are not taking me out today,” as he sometimes does, but alas he was welcoming.  From Thursday to Saturday I wasn’t able to get him out and do the general routine like I do almost everyday and it showed.  It usually shows when that happens, he’s sour and mad at me.  He wants to get out and hates when things don’t go along as a normal day.  Needless to say Ink is settled into his way of things, into our little life.  I’m happy to see him enjoying life and work.  Since the beginning it’s something I’d been hoping for.  Now it’s a goal reached. 

If you’re wondering about the lameness delima, I wanted to report on that as well.  I’m going to call M* to schedule a time for her to come by and look him over.  Now that her reiner is in training with the trainer at the barn, she’s able to get over our way more.  Today, free lunging, Ink looked good.  I notice a little bit of short strided-ness with the right hind, otherwise things look good. 

 On Sunday I was delighted to see Ink and Errika’s blankets off before I got there.  M* took them off for me when she came by in the morning to feed.  It was a nice gesture.  I laughed at Matt and said, “no one has ever done that for me!”  He was quick to remind me that he has done so many times before, but he missed my point.  I know M* really cares about horses, not just as “uses” but as animals and she was the first horse person who has ever taken the time out to do something nice for them like that.  You’re probably laughing thinking, ”wow is it that big of deal, a frigging blanket taken off?”  lol. 

Ink did get another free lunging session with the stretcher again, he did very well this time and looked so nice.  I’m hoping this will help build his top-line.  Is there any other benefits and exercises to do while uses the stretcher to help his muscle development? 

Clipped Coat Changes

 

I gave Ink a bath today.  It was a little bit windy, but in the sun it wasn’t bad and luckily we are sheltered from whatever wind there is with the barn. 

After the bath I put him on the hot walker for about 10-15mins.  I didn’t have it on because I didn’t want him stirring up dust and defying the point of a bath lol :p.  Next door the old man has two new pigs and Ink hasn’t seen them yet.  He saw the last two from last year, but now there are new little pigs and he was scared of them.  Probably because he couldn’t see them very well from where we were.  So I put him on the side of the hot walker where he could look and observe.  And he did just that the whole time.  A little spooky in the beginning but he soon just stood looking with curiosity. 

Matt and I sat with him during his stay on the hot walker.  I ate my snack and then was able to get some shots.  The camera was getting low on battery and I had a full memory card and after compromising with deleting some photos, I had four spaces left. 

I’ve been curious as to see how Ink’s coat might change or what would happen after he was clipped.  Someone said that they don’t get their color back for two years.  Now I don’t know if that is true or not, but in the last week Ink’s regular coat color is coming back.  I think it should be back in full by at least the end of April, if it continues to go at this rate.  But right now it’s, interesting..  I recently read the blog of The Eventing Percheron at http://eventing-draft.blogspot.com/ talk about her boy’s coat color.  I’m having weird things happen with Ink’s coat.  His neck is really light, probably because it’s been exposed to the sun, when he’s been blanketed most of the time.  It was so noticeable and looked really funny, but it’s kind of blending in now.  And his head is shedding out now, but his ears are probably going to be last, they are soo fuzzy! 

Ink didn’t just get to be pampered all day, he had to do some work, since I’ve been light with him the past week.  I put the stretcher on and free lunged him in the round pen.  He didn’t like it at first, some times bucking and striking out, but then settled down fine and remembered about the release when giving to pressure.  He looked great going around.  Errika joined us and then my mom took her out for a little trail ride around the property and into their field. 

Coming Along

 

 

The progress Ink has made in this last month has been exciting and pleasing.  He pick’s up on things quickly and always tries to get it right.  I can only remember really riding him in the beginning and thinking, “oh this is going to be a long haul.”  Ink is such a tank and getting him on the bit eventually, was just way far out there.  I’m in love with how he feels now when he goes along soft in my hands and on the bit. 

Yeah, yesterday we did some more jumping again.  It was good practice for mom in the picture taking department.  Although she only got one of us actually going over the jump, I still give her props for the ones that did come out!  She’s getting ready to enter the contest =).

After the jumping, I just worked around the whole arena getting him to bend into the corners.  It was fun.

My mom rode Errika bareback and they did their own thing in between my mom taking shots.  Just the kind of day Errika likes.

Handsome Horse

Alas!  Some pictures to share with you guys!  Isn’t he looking great?

Errika had the day off.  She enjoyed a nice long grooming/pampering session from mom.  After I tacked Ink up, mom and Errika joined us out in the arena.  Errika nearly fell over because she was trying to nap.  I didn’t see it but my mom did.  The warm air, generous sun and grooming made Errika relax into high heaven and apparently she left her mind drift so far she forgot that she had four legs to keep on the ground.  My little sweet pea =D. 

Ink too, wanted to relax.  But he had to do some work.  In the beginning we walked and then trotted over a ground pole, did some circles and set up a small cross-rail to work over.  I must say he is getting jumping down pretty well.  He comes in deep sometimes, but he feels good other than that.  Mom said he looked nice over the jumps. 

For now we’re just working at the trot.  I figure that since we keep jumping light, it’s not an everyday thing, sometimes he gets weeks off for flat work and the jumps are small, we can work on a lot of jumping things in detail.  Like his confidence and mine.  (He’s come in deep sometimes and tripped over the jumps and it makes me a little jittery.)  He also can get a little rushy towards the jump, so I take my time and bring him back down if he gets a little too antsy.  Wee jumps are good just to help get things down, solid.  I know he doesn’t have a problem working over higher things, but it’s better we work our way up as well as properly developing muscles and strength. 

For the most part, at this point, I’m OK at jumping.  I’ve gotten rusty without having regular lessons.  I really miss jumping like I used to during weekly lessons.  I’d say Ink is better at jumping than I am.  Having days like this, I truly remember how much I loved jumping and dreamed of going big in stadium. 

I forgot to add this ealier but Ink is getting lighter and lighter in my hand all the time.  After jumping, he was so light.  Barely any movement from my hand made him bend on the bit.

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A Quiet Ride

This week has been so nice!  The weather, you cannot pass it up for riding.  Yesterday Matt and I went over to visit and ride the horses.  Everyone was gone at a horse show, so it was just us four; Matt, Errika, Ink and I.  It was lovely and quiet.  I haven’t had a day like that for a while.  Matt rode Ink and worked on posting at the trot.  He started to get the rhythm down well and I was happy to see him making progress.  Ink was a gentlemen the whole time, he seems to handle beginners well, haha.  Matt’s hands were this-a-way and that-a-way, but Ink kept trucking forward at a nice pace for Matt to work off of. 

I rode Ink afterwards and did some trotting and collection. 

Today I wish I had a trailer because I reeeealllly want to take the horses to the recreational park for some trail riding.  But no trailer :(. 

Instead I’m taking Matt and Klint hiking up on those trails.  A “strenuous” hike I told them and “no complaining!”  I’ll try to get some pictures.  Hope you all are enjoying your Sunday!!!

The Orange Vested Mutt

 

The highlight of the day was watching little Sophie, jump, hop, romp and play in the water, mud, and dirt of a very wet Tuesday afternoon.  My mom recently found Sophie’s orange vest, one that we bought in the summer in PetSmart’s clearance doggy clothing bin.  I’m not one to dress up my dog, really.  But I find it useful to keep her warm and a little dry.  Sophie was just shaved in August and doesn’t really have that fluffly warm winter coat, it would just be wrong to send her out without something warm on!

( That picture above, I really have no idea what she is jumping.  There is that big puddle but it appears that she is beyond that.  Silly dog. [=  )

Then Sophie found the cows….  They came trotting up to the fence, in their herd, and Sophie would purposely try to scare them. 

The day was pretty relaxing.  I actually decided to ride Ink but we did light trotting. 

Cool Day

This morning it was raining so riding looked like it just wasn’t going to happen.  By any means I won’t melt, but it wasn’t a ‘come out not completely drentched’ rain.  Plus I wouldn’t want my ponay to get chilly. 

Matt and I went to the JC today and then over to the barn.  It was cold and gloomy, grey.  But it wasn’t raining anymore.  I had Matt go to the back to get Ink while I prepared Errika’s grain and got the arena ready for us (poles and lunging standards.) 

New Instructor!

Ok, he doesn’t have credentials, doesn’t ride and complains of pains (in places I will not mention) when he does, and lacks the ability to focus 100% on his own instruction. 

Sounds like an awesome instructor eigh?  Matthew S. J. isn’t what we’d call “the best.”  But we could call him helpful and learning as he is teaching!  Until I inquire a new instructor, one with proper credentials, I am proud to announce Matthew, or Mr. J, as my unofficial, for-the-time-being, coach!  To be honest I am looking for a new trainer/instructor, but money became increasingly tight, and I had to find an alternative.  For the most part the riding I am doing is to my ability, and I ask Matt to keep an eye out for habits that may arise, and to end what habits I already have. 

Matthew (instructor/lunge trainer) working Ink

I am training Ink and I am training myself, which I am happily calling my “therapy” because riding Ink really brings joy and bounce to my step, not to mention an improvement in my riding.  He isn’t off, unsound or otherwise.  I am very very pleased to see how well he has been doing and we are back on track in the under saddle training department.  If things go as planned I will be riding/training him all through the winter and hopefully in the spring we might be ready for some little dressage shows.  Not sure about jumping yet, as I still, for precautions, want the vet to check him out to OK that. 

For fun, exercise, mobility, flexibility, discipline (and many more things..) I am working him over ground poles set in patterns.  We usually start with just one pole, working on staying straight before, over, and after.  Then adding in numerous poles as we go and then changing their positions to varying difficulty to add to the challenge.  I can say Ink is doing incredibly well.  Super smart and very trainable, focused, and generally willing (only to say he’s not when he starts getting tired.) 

I have also started doing something else on him.  After we warm up and while Matt is setting the ground poles up, I’m working him without reins.  I ask Ink to pick up the trot, place my hands on my legs, and ask him to walk, trot, walk, trot, and then eventually we work on halting from the walk then trot.  Wow he catches on fast!

I have soo many pictures to upload and it will take some time for me to organize everything, but stay tuned.