Rode by myself today, which I used to do every day but since getting JJ and having Heather to ride with, I've done very little of. JJ was ever so good though.
I went to catch him and couldn't find him so hiked up the big hill because often they're hiding in the dip on the other side. Rolly and Blackjack were up there, and as I walked along the crest of the hill I noticed JJ's butt down by the combination fence. I called out to him and he swung around and stared at me with his ears pricked. I walked over to where Rolly and Blackjack were, and Blackjack decided that there was no way I was going to catch him, and walked off down the track. I followed simply because that was the way to where JJ was, and as I got down the hill I saw JJ coming along to meet me. However because Blackjack thought he was being pursued, he cantered off up the hill and JJ then saw Rolly coming and something in his brain sent him trotting past me and over to Rolly to check that everything was okay. After a reassuring sniff with Rolly JJ came up to me for carrots and haltering. I hopped on him and rode bareback towards the gate. But Lisa had arrived and was whistling to her horses. Rolly decided that meant him (which it doesn't) and came belting along behind JJ. Because I was bareback in a halter and no helmet, I leapt straight off JJ in case he decided to take off...he didn't, but I was glad to get my feet on the ground. Once everyone had settled again I jumped back on and rode over to the gate, jumping over a log on the way.
He was good as gold to bridle today, just took it really slow but he even put his head down to let me put the reins over, what a good boy :) The headshyness will be there for a long time, but he is very trusting and it flares up less and less often now.
We started out trotting around the park, up to one end, change rein, around the other way. Then we did a couple of cirles, then went up the hill to the arena - had a nice canter up there. Going into the arena at first the handbrake went on (in his head), as he clearly thought "oh god not this again". Then he switched tactics to try and run off around the outside and not have to go into the arena itself to school. But we got control back swiftly and headed into the arena. We picked up a trot and trotted halfway around, then did a 20m circle in the corner. Trotted to the next corner, did a 20m circle there too (starting out on the right rein). Did this all the way around, circling in each corner then changed the rein acros the diagonal and the same thing going the other way. In a 100 x 100m arena that takes a while :) He was great though, going round and relaxing his jaw and flexing nicely at the poll for at least half a circle and half the long side (off and on) which was a big improvement on any previous schooling sessions. So I was well pleased with him!
We then went for a walk up the road and a canter at the subdivision, then back to the park. He was responsive and soft for 90% of the time which was just lovely.
Really he barely put a foot wrong today and I was so proud of him :)
Monday, January 24, 2011
JJ's first show
JJ had his first show at the Waikanae Sports day on Jan 23rd! (Well, his first ridden show.) It was raining and the ground was getting wetter and slipperier as the day went on, but our class wasn't until about midday. We were entered in the 60cm SJ (optimum time), and although he'd been jumping great lately, we'd had a couple of off days recently and he'd never done a full course of jumps, so I was a little nervous.
He was good to bridle though and then I rode him up the hill to the park. Usually it's almost completely empty but there were horses, jumps, trucks, and umbrellas everywhere. JJ had to stop and have a good hard look at it all before he was able to proceed down the hill.
He warmed up nicely and jumped the practice jump well (got in a bit close a couple times though). I think the practice jump was at about 70cm and probably higher than anything he'd jumped before!
Then we did our round, and because we trotted most of the corners (either due to slippery ground or him disuniting after a failed flying change) we didn't place but we did jump clear and that's the main thing. He loved it, flew over everything without hesitating, even the scary wall :) What a star, so proud of him.
He was good to bridle though and then I rode him up the hill to the park. Usually it's almost completely empty but there were horses, jumps, trucks, and umbrellas everywhere. JJ had to stop and have a good hard look at it all before he was able to proceed down the hill.
He warmed up nicely and jumped the practice jump well (got in a bit close a couple times though). I think the practice jump was at about 70cm and probably higher than anything he'd jumped before!
Then we did our round, and because we trotted most of the corners (either due to slippery ground or him disuniting after a failed flying change) we didn't place but we did jump clear and that's the main thing. He loved it, flew over everything without hesitating, even the scary wall :) What a star, so proud of him.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Photos of JJ
Te Arawa Jimmy Jones:
JJ when I first got him...
3 weeks later:
Still stacking on the weight, after 5 weeks with me (ignore the grumpy face, he doens't like having his picture taken!)
Having fun on the beach :)
His stylish/nerdy "hoof boots", an alternative to metal shoes:
Showing off his Mark Todd sheet in the paddock at Mum's:
JJ when I first got him...
3 weeks later:
Still stacking on the weight, after 5 weeks with me (ignore the grumpy face, he doens't like having his picture taken!)
Having fun on the beach :)
His stylish/nerdy "hoof boots", an alternative to metal shoes:
Showing off his Mark Todd sheet in the paddock at Mum's:
Thursday, November 25, 2010
25.Nov - Pony Club shenanigans
It was Pony Club at the park today, so I went and caught all the horses and put them into the yards. Then txted Lisa to tell her that I had done so. And she replied saying that the XC was closed for the upcoming ODE so I needn't have bothered. Bugger. Oh well. The horses enjoyed the nice grass in the yards while I spit and polished JJ and got him tacked up. Speaking of which...
Presents arrived in the mail today! New breastplate/martingale (taken the rings off though) for him. And a new bit (sweet iron D ring snaffle). And new stirrup irons! And a new helmet for me (that doesn't fit and will have to be sent back. Sigh.) Also yesterday tendon boots that are the right size arrived.
So we got all geared up with our new stuff and headed into the park to say hello to the other ponies. After chatting to a pony mother and almost being flattened by her daughter's pony who trotted by EXTREMELY CLOSELY, lucky for Baggins that JJ isn't a kicker, we went to tell Mick that she can have her stirrup irons back now. And kinda got stuck there...
We ended up sort of joining the lesson, as standing around watching the kids do a bending race led to us being invited to have a go. We did it from a trot, having not done it before, but he was very good and responsive. (I like the new bit a lot.)
Then we went jumping, which in our case involved standing and watching. Despite Harry (Mick's horse) attempting to front-foot JJ when they were first introduced, JJ seemed to think that Harry was his new BFF. (It's possible that the fact that Harry is a chestnut gelding has something to do with that...) So when Harry went to do the jumps, JJ watched him with great intensity and nickered to him when he returned. Cute. Kinda sad, but cute. He actually really enjoyed watching the other ponies, although hopefully he wasn't watching Gemma's pony too hard - we don't want any mimicking of those shenanigans!
When the kids were done jumping through the 2 stride double - xrail onto an oxer - Melda very kindly put the oxer down to an X for me so I could jump. We trotted over the jumps, our first time through knocking the first jump down but jumping the second. Then we went over the first (which was never rebuilt, so was now just one pole on a slant with two ground poles) and ran off the second, or tried to. But then JJ seemed to catch on and we did a couple of times through nicely with actually picking up his feet. :) Also - we had the most lovely walk to canter transition!! On the right rein too, he was super, I wasn't even asking for it. I was thinking it, but I wasn't expecting him to do it. We'd come off the jump, back to walk and been patted, then I sat up and clicked him forward and we were straight into a lovely canter. Very proud. Did all the jumps from a trot of course as we can't canter in a straight line sans jumps, let alone with them! He was napping back to the other ponies, but not to the XC, which is progress of a sort I suppose. As we were jumping, the other fences were being removed by helpful parents, so there were people walking around carrying poles and jump stands, but JJ didn't care, he seemed to regard that all as normal, or at least untroubling. Good for him.
Afterwards we walked back up to the paddock, untacked and called Roly into the yard to get rugged. (Lisa had put the horses back out.) He came willingly when he realised I had food, and I let him into the yard where JJ was eating his dinner. Instead of backing away from his own bucket as he would've when he first arrived, he flattened his ears at Roly! Who naturally didn't even ask to share JJ's feed, he's not that rude or that stupid. Anyway he got another handful when he was rugged and then thrown back out.
The upside of lots of carrots - a horse that comes up to you in the paddock and enjoys your attention.
The downside of lots of carrots - constant nibbling. But he's smart enough to know when No means NO! Stop trying to eat my watch. And he hasn't nipped at all, just nibbling with the lips. But we may have to ease off on the carrots - from now on they are for catching and going into feed only, not for snacktime during grooming!
Presents arrived in the mail today! New breastplate/martingale (taken the rings off though) for him. And a new bit (sweet iron D ring snaffle). And new stirrup irons! And a new helmet for me (that doesn't fit and will have to be sent back. Sigh.) Also yesterday tendon boots that are the right size arrived.
So we got all geared up with our new stuff and headed into the park to say hello to the other ponies. After chatting to a pony mother and almost being flattened by her daughter's pony who trotted by EXTREMELY CLOSELY, lucky for Baggins that JJ isn't a kicker, we went to tell Mick that she can have her stirrup irons back now. And kinda got stuck there...
We ended up sort of joining the lesson, as standing around watching the kids do a bending race led to us being invited to have a go. We did it from a trot, having not done it before, but he was very good and responsive. (I like the new bit a lot.)
Then we went jumping, which in our case involved standing and watching. Despite Harry (Mick's horse) attempting to front-foot JJ when they were first introduced, JJ seemed to think that Harry was his new BFF. (It's possible that the fact that Harry is a chestnut gelding has something to do with that...) So when Harry went to do the jumps, JJ watched him with great intensity and nickered to him when he returned. Cute. Kinda sad, but cute. He actually really enjoyed watching the other ponies, although hopefully he wasn't watching Gemma's pony too hard - we don't want any mimicking of those shenanigans!
When the kids were done jumping through the 2 stride double - xrail onto an oxer - Melda very kindly put the oxer down to an X for me so I could jump. We trotted over the jumps, our first time through knocking the first jump down but jumping the second. Then we went over the first (which was never rebuilt, so was now just one pole on a slant with two ground poles) and ran off the second, or tried to. But then JJ seemed to catch on and we did a couple of times through nicely with actually picking up his feet. :) Also - we had the most lovely walk to canter transition!! On the right rein too, he was super, I wasn't even asking for it. I was thinking it, but I wasn't expecting him to do it. We'd come off the jump, back to walk and been patted, then I sat up and clicked him forward and we were straight into a lovely canter. Very proud. Did all the jumps from a trot of course as we can't canter in a straight line sans jumps, let alone with them! He was napping back to the other ponies, but not to the XC, which is progress of a sort I suppose. As we were jumping, the other fences were being removed by helpful parents, so there were people walking around carrying poles and jump stands, but JJ didn't care, he seemed to regard that all as normal, or at least untroubling. Good for him.
Afterwards we walked back up to the paddock, untacked and called Roly into the yard to get rugged. (Lisa had put the horses back out.) He came willingly when he realised I had food, and I let him into the yard where JJ was eating his dinner. Instead of backing away from his own bucket as he would've when he first arrived, he flattened his ears at Roly! Who naturally didn't even ask to share JJ's feed, he's not that rude or that stupid. Anyway he got another handful when he was rugged and then thrown back out.
The upside of lots of carrots - a horse that comes up to you in the paddock and enjoys your attention.
The downside of lots of carrots - constant nibbling. But he's smart enough to know when No means NO! Stop trying to eat my watch. And he hasn't nipped at all, just nibbling with the lips. But we may have to ease off on the carrots - from now on they are for catching and going into feed only, not for snacktime during grooming!
JJ...JT...J.Ro....
Today (Nov 23) Heather, Chelsea and I went for a long walking ride up the Waikanae River. The gravel made my boy a bit ouchy :( but at least he didn't pull any of JT's shenanigans. In fact he was by far the better behaved 6 year old. No bucking or rearing or plunging for us, oh no. We did however have a bit of an oopsy when attempting to jump a wooden barrier about 50cm high. Somehow it escaped JJ's notice that the barrier was there so instead of trot trot jump it went trot trot thunk! Silly boy. He was quite embarrassed.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
21st Nov - Schooling in pointless circles
Not really pointless, but probably in JJ's eyes it is. He was waiting for me at the gate when I got to the paddock :) and very relaxed to tack up etc. Then I hopped on and he headed off up the track without any napping, I thought "wow a nap-free ride!" How wrong I was.
Anyway we went down into the 100 x 100m arena and did some work in walk-trot. He was good, he's definitely improved since I had his teeth done, he's taking the contact much better now and not chewing on the bit all the time. He is still nappy, especially on the right rein because my left leg is weaker than my right and that's apparently evident to him. So our right rein circles bulged way more than our left ones. Curse my crooked self.
Most of the steering problems however went away as I rode better - I'd been having trouble when he was napping with him drifting away and just turning his head back the direction I wanted to go. This came from using too much inside rein to steer and not enough outside leg. Also once I sat up and looked around where I wanted to go, which is riding 101, he was heaps better. Same goes for trying to trot straight lines - unless I'm looking up and far ahead of myself, the line goes incredibly wonky. Eyes up, line straight. (Well, straighter.)
Then we went down into the park and jumped the creek a few times before going for a canter. The first canter up to the far end by the showjumps was very crooked, as JJ just wanted to go back to the XC and his whole body was bent in that direction the whole time. But we made it to the far end and settled down and had a lovely canter back down the park. Then we did a couple of circles on each rein which were very bulgy but when I remembered to watch my line and keep my outside hand down and give-release the inside rein instead of being suckered into holding it against him...it improved.
I need lessons.
All in all though he's a snugglebunny and I do love him dearly, he's such a good boy :)
Anyway we went down into the 100 x 100m arena and did some work in walk-trot. He was good, he's definitely improved since I had his teeth done, he's taking the contact much better now and not chewing on the bit all the time. He is still nappy, especially on the right rein because my left leg is weaker than my right and that's apparently evident to him. So our right rein circles bulged way more than our left ones. Curse my crooked self.
Most of the steering problems however went away as I rode better - I'd been having trouble when he was napping with him drifting away and just turning his head back the direction I wanted to go. This came from using too much inside rein to steer and not enough outside leg. Also once I sat up and looked around where I wanted to go, which is riding 101, he was heaps better. Same goes for trying to trot straight lines - unless I'm looking up and far ahead of myself, the line goes incredibly wonky. Eyes up, line straight. (Well, straighter.)
Then we went down into the park and jumped the creek a few times before going for a canter. The first canter up to the far end by the showjumps was very crooked, as JJ just wanted to go back to the XC and his whole body was bent in that direction the whole time. But we made it to the far end and settled down and had a lovely canter back down the park. Then we did a couple of circles on each rein which were very bulgy but when I remembered to watch my line and keep my outside hand down and give-release the inside rein instead of being suckered into holding it against him...it improved.
I need lessons.
All in all though he's a snugglebunny and I do love him dearly, he's such a good boy :)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Nov 20th - Cross Country! (sort of)
JJ's owner came today and trimmed his feet, she said he's looking well :) So that's good, we have passed the first inspection so to speak!
When I went to catch him he was lying flat on his side, so when he got up he was a bit soggy and muddy! But that soon brushed off.
Today we were riding in the rope halter again, to give him another day to recover from the pulled wolf tooth. We started out just hacking around the paddock, he was good as gold doing that. Then we did a wee cross-country course, jumping up a tiny bank, then doing a 180 curve and over a tiny ditch, then trotting into the water jump and jumping up the bank. Which is the biggest part of the water jump and we hadn't attempted it before, but as most things with JJ, it was no fuss, no muss. It's probably about 70cm (2'6") high, the biggest we've attempted :)
Then we went out into the park and down the road, weaving between the street trees with Heather and Roly :) We always enjoy doing that. Then back into the park, through the creek and went for a race up the hill. I let him go as fast as he wanted this time, but when I started urging him on he put his head down and twisted his back slightly, having a "yee ha" combined with "this is really hard!" moment. So we steadied up. BUT we made it to the top of the hill with some gas left in the tank! Progress.
Then we jumped on and off the box a couple of times, went back into the paddock and walked around for a while. Heather's friend was riding Roly at this point and she went off for a walk and trot around the cross country while JJ and I stood and dozed and waited for her to come back. Very patient for a baby horse.
When I went to catch him he was lying flat on his side, so when he got up he was a bit soggy and muddy! But that soon brushed off.
Today we were riding in the rope halter again, to give him another day to recover from the pulled wolf tooth. We started out just hacking around the paddock, he was good as gold doing that. Then we did a wee cross-country course, jumping up a tiny bank, then doing a 180 curve and over a tiny ditch, then trotting into the water jump and jumping up the bank. Which is the biggest part of the water jump and we hadn't attempted it before, but as most things with JJ, it was no fuss, no muss. It's probably about 70cm (2'6") high, the biggest we've attempted :)
Then we went out into the park and down the road, weaving between the street trees with Heather and Roly :) We always enjoy doing that. Then back into the park, through the creek and went for a race up the hill. I let him go as fast as he wanted this time, but when I started urging him on he put his head down and twisted his back slightly, having a "yee ha" combined with "this is really hard!" moment. So we steadied up. BUT we made it to the top of the hill with some gas left in the tank! Progress.
Then we jumped on and off the box a couple of times, went back into the paddock and walked around for a while. Heather's friend was riding Roly at this point and she went off for a walk and trot around the cross country while JJ and I stood and dozed and waited for her to come back. Very patient for a baby horse.
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