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Post by cyndi on Feb 1, 2014 14:51:53 GMT -5
It looks like I'm getting right into this riding thing!! Yesterday when I was at the barn, M asked if I'd like to go riding today. The plan was to go out in the fields if all was well. We started out in the arena today, and M wanted to see how Fanny's saddle fit. I am happy to say that even after groundwork, the saddle didn't slip! Fanny must have lost some weight at the old barn. If I can keep her active at this barn, then hopefully we can keep her in shape. I got on and we did some riding in the arena, with the saddle staying put pretty well. That makes me happy! M was on her sweet buckskin - the mare I had been riding for lessons - and she gave me pointers and so on. We never did go out in the fields, but just being on Fanny for at least a half hour was enough to keep me content. M said that she can see that Fanny is green, so her recommendation was that we just practice, practice, practice, which I fully agree with. And M wants me to do a lot of trotting with Fanny. Now that I have my homework set out for me, I can do my own thing and have a goal. We won't go out in the fields until we feel that I am totally comfortable on Fanny, and can control her better. It is hard to keep Fanny trotting, especially when I'm also struggling with 'where' I want her to go, so I think what I'm going to just ask her to walk or trot and not worry about direction for right now. We did that with our Parelli friend and Fanny did well with it. I was very pleased that when I got on Fanny she stood stalk still! Even after I got my other foot in the stirrup she still stood there. I had to ask her to move, which is just what I want. In between walking or trotting (or attempting to) circles, I did some sidepassing, backing up, and turning. M said that although Fanny is green, she is an honest and kind horse, and M can't see Fanny trying anything nasty with me on her. That is a boost to my confidence. M said that she thinks that Fanny and I are a perfect match I rode for about a half hour, until my toes started to go numb
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2014 15:27:22 GMT -5
This is so cool. Thank you for sharing. I love hearing how positive and sweet M is. She will help you so much. And I like living vicariously through those of you who are able to ride right now!
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 1, 2014 19:31:21 GMT -5
I hear you nana! it's icy out here. It rained all morning and into the afternoon and was misting out when I left at 4. I slipped and slid all the way over the ground to the corral a bit ago when I took a bale of alfalfa out and tried to water them. Hose is froze somewhere so I had to put it in the garage. Trough is almost full so no worry. I hate ice. Supposed to have turned to snow this afternoon but so far it's just freezing drizzle.
cyndi that's great news. Is this the treeless or the one you borrowed and may buy? As for direction vs. speed. There was a thread on the old JL board and we noticed that some had a hard time controlling where the horse went because they didn't "look" to where they wanted the horse to go. And it's much like a car, if you look over into the field on the left side of the road your car tends to go off the left shoulder and same with looking right. A horse gets those subtle steering cues as well so when you practice set a goal like the barrel down on the far left side or the exit door down on the other end in the middle etc.. and just watch your goal and don't take your eyes off the goal. See if it works for you.
moved the rest to chicken coop.
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Post by cyndi on Feb 2, 2014 13:27:07 GMT -5
GR, the saddle I'm using is my treeless Gaucho saddle. I'll see if I have a photo of it on Fanny. I need to decide if I want to 'put up' with some slipping with this saddle, or if I want to keep looking for a saddle that slips less, or not at all. By the end of our ride, the saddle had slipped enough that I think it bothered Fanny, because she wasn't interested in moving at all...and I don't think she was just being stubborn. I totally understand about looking where you want to go, because that's something I have to be reminded about often, either by Morrigan or just me thinking about it. lol One of the biggest problems I have with getting Fanny to go where she wants to is when she has decided she doesn't want to go somewhere, so I end up having to 'nag' her. I know I have to be consistent and make it clear to her about where I want her to go, but maybe part of me is nervous that she will 'act up' (whatever that may look like - spooking, for example), but after hearing Morrigan say that Fanny doesn't look like a horse that would give me any problems, I am feeling more confident. The thing Fanny did yesterday is that she decided that she didn't want to walk along the west wall of the arena. That wall has a window, which shouldn't be a problem, considering she was kept in the arena for two days and used to stand near the window all the time, looking outside. I can lunge her close to that wall with no problem, but when I got on her she just wanted to avoid it like the plague. She will drop her shoulder and want to sidepass away from the area. I have to use the reins and leg cues to get her to go along that wall. This is the struggle I have always had - she will get it in her mind that she doesn't want to go somewhere, and I end up "fighting" with her. She is probably just testing me, and M gave me some pointers that helped at the walk, but I still had trouble at the trot. Until we can get to the point where Fanny will go where I direct her, without fighting me, I don't feel ready to be out in the fields. We'll get there Nana, you are welcome to come ride with me One photo is the gaucho saddle without the sheepskin, the other (obviously) is the saddle with the sheepskin.
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Post by luvmymorgan on Feb 2, 2014 18:25:43 GMT -5
I got in a ride today that was just like Risty - short & sweet Only rode for about 30 minutes and didn't attempt the part of the groomed trail that has upset him the last 2 weeks. Just wanted to have a nice quiet day and he hadn't had his lunch yet. They have had a change in staff people doing the feeding and I think the schedule is way off. Nothing wrong with him being fed at different times & he actually handles it pretty well.
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 3, 2014 0:22:17 GMT -5
I like those sweet rides LMM I don't even care that there's nothing to talk about. Although I also love the unexpected as long as I don't come unseated.
Cyndi, that is such a weird looking saddle. Does not look like it would stay on either of my horses either. Just doesn't look like it has any GRIP to it, kind of like a bareback pad. Just curious have you or anyone else ever put a western saddle with back cinch and breast collar on her? What did they ride her in before you got her?
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Post by cyndi on Feb 3, 2014 7:59:54 GMT -5
LMM, sounds like you had a nice uncomplicated ride GR, the Gaucho saddle does have structure to it. There are suede wool-filled 'gums' (panels) on the bottom of the saddle. They are just a bit narrow for Fanny's back, that's all. You may call it "weird" all you like, but I like it and I like things that are unique Fanny was saddle trained with an English saddle. Weight-wise, she was different back then than she is now. Yes, we have tried Western saddles on her, and they slipped too. When she went for training in 2009 they used a western saddle on her. It slipped, but it worked for the most part, because the people who rode her obviously have better balance than I do.
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 4, 2014 0:29:49 GMT -5
Hope I didn't offend, by WEIRD I mean I've never seen a saddle like it...weird like odd. It almost reminds me of something from the middle east. My western saddle comes so far down on the boy's side it looks more like it's wrapped around part of their tummy's but your's looks like it sits on top of her which is why I say it doesn't look like it grips. With the western saddle there is just so much more material. I don't know about balance, that works good unless the horse spooks then balance or not you should hope the saddle fits right cause that saddle can still roll right around. Ya know? I've heard people say their trainers had them riding a horse in a saddle with no cinch for balance. EEK after all these years I'd probably still flunk that one.
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Post by luvmymorgan on Feb 4, 2014 7:42:41 GMT -5
Gr, I hadn't heard about riding without a cinch for balance, but when I used to ride Risty with a bareback pad I sure learned about balance. HATE the BB pads with stirrups & wouldn't use them even if mine had them. I still have the BB pad, should get it out & try it again in the arena one of these days. It was kind of fun once I got used to no stirrups
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Post by cyndi on Feb 4, 2014 7:49:49 GMT -5
There is a Western 'trainer' around here who offers lessons, and he uses no cinch to teach balance as well. I use the term 'trainer' loosely, as I've met him and have heard things about his methods that aren't exactly the best for the horses LMM, I am hoping to use my bareback pad more, too. There are times when I'm in a saddle that I'd like to just kick my feet out of the stirrups anyway! lol
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 4, 2014 11:12:29 GMT -5
On long trail rides when I start getting stiff I do take my legs out of the stirrups and let them dangle down just to stretch out the muscles. There was a very heavyset 18-19 year old girl who used to run barrels at the BLM festivals (adult class) on a little white mustang. It was surprising to see her run the barrels in a western saddle without using the stirrups. She won every year too. LMM it was a few of the english riders on the JL board. There were 2 or 3 of them who's instructors had them ride without a cinch. I can't imagine it being safe but then some took lessons on how to bail off a horse and I can't imagine that being safe either. I'll stay on thank you. LOL I got up early went out to put the heater in the drain hole and fill it up but ran into some trouble. It said to take the nut off the outside but the bubble-like part on the inside is molded to the shell? so the heater won't work, it leaks. I'll have to take it back and get the cage to go over my floating one and buy a new plug or look inside my tack shed to see if I can find it. URGH wanted to get it done this week but it's just starting to snow so I think it's going to be a to do thing for next days off. Mom wanted to see the new Versa Zoom stove so I pulled the info up a couple days ago and she ordered it on-line. It's pretty cool and she's going to put it in the garage. It's kind of like a pot belly stove that they use in the 3rd world countries. It takes very little fuel to burn a long time. The sides don't get hot just the top which has two round cast iron "burners" for better lack of word. They're going to install it in the garage to keep the cats warm without having to waste all the propane out there. And if the country takes a turn for the worse and we can't get propane or electric etc.. we've got a second type of heat/cooking we can install inside the home. I have the Zoom Versa which is the portable cooker, takes three charcoal briquettes to cook a 90 min casserole or you can use a few 1/4" sticks or cow/horse apples.
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Post by cyndi on Feb 4, 2014 11:34:28 GMT -5
AWESOME beadwork, GR!!
That stove sounds like a good idea, and it's not all that expensive, either! I'm always on the lookout for cost-effective and eco-friendly ways for daily living.
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Post by horsespoiler on Feb 4, 2014 23:34:06 GMT -5
I did hear about a rider once who had to compete in jumping without a girth because someone put a caustic chemical on her horse so she wouldn't be able to compete. Her saddle fit so well and she was so balanced she did fine. I think I would need to be super-glued just to stay on with a girth!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 10:44:37 GMT -5
When DD was competing in hunters and also jumpers she did complete a few courses with a loose girth. It's all about balance at that point! I also remember another rider that i always admired coming out of the ring and telling her mom that she completely forgot to tighten the girth. We got looking and you could stick your head between the girth and the horse! You never would have known. She was such a beautiful, balanced rider. If it were me...I would be lying on the ground. LOL. I have to say, though...if a saddle fits really well, you can almost mount without a girth.
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 5, 2014 14:21:45 GMT -5
Problem with a western saddle is there is always more weight on one side if the girth isn't centered. If you use the breast collar and back cinch that is.
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