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Post by ghostrider on Feb 14, 2014 0:31:17 GMT -5
I had a nice brown Weaver and used it on Frisco if someone rode Buddy otherwise I rode Frisco in Buddy's saddle. It made a great second saddle and was comfy. Don't know why I ever sold it, it fit Buddy too. HMM that's not like me. Although I did have to buy the breast collar and the rear cinch separately.
Come to think of it though the synthetic saddles are not as secure feeling as the leather ones. The fabric allows them to swing much freer and with the leather ones the stiffness kind of holds you in place. I loved the flexibility of the synthetic but prefer the leather.
Cyndi, I absolutely agree with M and with nana. Getting on the horse gives you confidence. If it were my son or my niece I would put them back on the horse and put them in the round pen and start over. From the RP to the arena and then trails. I always started the horses and rider in the round pen, if you don't have a round pen then I'd start out in just 1/4 of the round pen, just get her used to one corner then one half then increase the area she's using to the whole thing. Start small and don't let her feel overwhelmed.
Our arena always had one whole side with those huge banners on it, Budweiser or CocaCola etc.. and Buddy HATED them and if the wind even blew them a little bit he'd spook. They'd move every time someone opened the overhead door to bring a horse in or out. So we started down at the other end and worked our way over a few weeks closer and closer to the banners till he was okay with them blowing off the wall. But he got to see them from the safety of the other end and as he got closer his emotions went up and down till he could handle the spook.
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Post by cyndi on Feb 15, 2014 14:11:29 GMT -5
Made it out to the barn and sat on Fanny for a little over five minutes. Did all the prep work again - it's like a pre-flight checklist - rubbed the rope, pad and saddle all over her. She didn't care in the least. M has a whip with two plastic bags tied to it, so I waved that around and rubbed it all over Fanny. She was more interested in mouthing it than being scared of it. Progressed into the lungeing. M had just been riding her horse, so her horse was still tied in the arena, as was Hooch, the guy in for training. Fanny was doing well and was transitioning nicely from walk to trot and back to walk. Then M and B started filling hay nets, so they could leave for a few hours, and M wanted to put her horse away...and I totally lost Fanny's focus. M came over and asked if she could work with Fanny a bit, and got her trotting and cantering. Fanny is really off balance when it comes to cantering. Her hind legs are often opposite to what her front legs are doing. So M recommended that I work Fanny harder. I agree. In the past, I've only ever had wide open spaces to work Fanny in, so if she got away from me (the faster the gait, the more panicky Fanny becomes, so she wants to pull away and run) it could potentially turn into a lot of work for me!! lol And, of course, at D's barn I wasn't allowed to let my horse run loose, so if Fanny got away from me and D walked in, I would get scolded. But as M said, it's perfectly fine in Fanny gets away from me in the arena. M and B were chatting with friends just inside the door from the arena to the barn, and that's when I got on Fanny. After all the cantering Fanny did with M and I, she was very happy to stand still. Everyone left, and I sat on Fanny for a few more minutes after that, but fear started to rear it's ugly head, so I got off. I normally take Fanny outside for some fresh air when I'm done with her, but I couldn't do that today because she was steaming like a kettle with sweat. So I let her roll in the arena before I brushed her out and put her back in her stall. At least she got some exercise! She is toning down quite nicely
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2014 16:37:42 GMT -5
Woohoo!! Good for you, Cyndi! You are doing great!! Do you think M could put Fanny on the lunge line next time you ride? That would give you some security too.
I didn't ride but my DGD did! I put her up on her other pony, Nia. She walked around a bit. That pony is in love with her. It's adorable!
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 15, 2014 19:23:52 GMT -5
I'm jealous cyndi! I went out to the horses after work and dang near slipped on the mud! I was thinking all the way home that I hoped the ground was good but under the mud is still frost/ice.
I did spend some time with Boomer, didn't have any choice since he kept circling me while I cleaned, tried to stand on my poop fork twice.
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Post by luvmymorgan on Feb 16, 2014 9:37:35 GMT -5
Cyndi, It is so good that you have M to help you. She sounds like a peach! I also would recommend M using a lunge line while you ride. I did that a couple of months ago with Holly while I was learning to feel the trot to post. It was really fun and I plan on doing it again. She had me ride with my eyes shut and not holding the reins to really feel his rhythm. You might not want to try the eyes shut/no hands yet but working on the end of a lunge line might really help. I had a very short ride yesterday after I got home from the vet's with Matti. The barn was so quiet, I guess everyone was either at the gem show or the rodeo. Plus it was getting hot by the time I got there. Heading out there earlier today and need to replenish my sunscreen supply.
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Post by cyndi on Feb 16, 2014 12:50:24 GMT -5
I like the idea of riding on a lunge line. I'll see what M thinks the next time I have a lesson. Maybe she'll want to work on other stuff, first...like Fanny's balance. I'll see what she recommends.
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Post by luvmymorgan on Feb 16, 2014 18:10:48 GMT -5
I got to ride for a bit again today. A few more people at the barn, but most of them got there about the time I was leaving. Risty is so funny. He thinks if he walks up to the mounting block in the arena & stops that I will get off. So I did, led him in about a 6 foot circle, got him back into position at the mounting block & got back on. Rode him around the arena a little more. He did this again so I repeated 3 times. Finally rode him over to the gate, we left the arena and rode around the property a bit. Tried to ride him down the section of the trail he doesn't seem to like & he was a champ at backing and jigging again. Got off and hand walked him down the trail a ways & back. He is fine if at least one other horse is along but sure doesn't like that trail by ourselves. Will get another ride in tomorrow after I have my labs drawn, well after I hit Starbucks since I have to fast for the labs.
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Post by Kirk Martin on Feb 16, 2014 21:34:52 GMT -5
My friend had me riding her Paso with eyes closed and getting the horse to turn just using my body (basically no reins). She is talking about tying a thread to the hackamore and me using that to direct the horse. It's supposed to soften the force I use to turn the horse. If the string breaks, I'm pulling too hard.
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 17, 2014 0:51:19 GMT -5
It seems like a snaffle would be better to attach the string too since a hack is made to work better at stop and go, where as the snaffle is made to work better at right and left turning. Buddy prefers a hack, "I" prefer the snaffle. He just doesn't like the bit. I wish I could get a bitless big enough to fit him without costing a lot, don't know if he'd like it.
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Post by horsespoiler on Feb 17, 2014 0:51:58 GMT -5
I got in a very short ride today, just to the end of the road and back. We had to put Winnie in an area by herself so while we had her out DH saddled her and we both rode. It was one of our few clear days this week. I don't like his saddle. The stirrups are too long for me to use and the seat feels like it has a funny angle and a bit too wide for me.
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 17, 2014 12:48:23 GMT -5
I'd take even a short ride! Off tomorrow and wed but rain should come in for the next 4 days starting this eve. UGH
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Post by Kirk Martin on Feb 17, 2014 12:52:14 GMT -5
No riding for me today, just finishing up getting hay and taking care of the horses (scrub some water troughs and feed etc.)
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Post by ghostrider on Feb 18, 2014 10:57:13 GMT -5
I'm going riding in a bit, looks like the rain won't hit at least till this afternoon. We'll see how good the roads are though, may be a short one.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2014 11:09:57 GMT -5
Me too, Denise! No...wait. I lied. I'm not. Dang it.
Have fun!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2014 11:10:37 GMT -5
HS....I'm so happy you got to ride!! Even a short ride would be heavenly.
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