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Post by cyndi on Jul 4, 2014 8:15:10 GMT -5
I guess I can honestly write in here since I was on a horse last night  My friend invited me to get up on her appy (bareback) while I was visiting there yesterday. L is working at becoming a Rider Biomechanics instructor, so she got me up on her horse to show me a couple of things. First thing I noticed was that as soon as the appy started to walk, I instantly tilted to the left! Dang it!! My left hip dropped when the horse's left shoulder dropped to take a step, and my body didn't go back to center after she took the step. L did a couple of exercises with me to help me feel more secure, and it certainly helped. I wasn't on the horse for more than 10 minutes, but at least I was on her |
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Post by luvmymorgan on Jul 4, 2014 13:25:03 GMT -5
Happy July 4th to everyone. Cyndi, Glad you got to ride! I've been kicking my feet out of the stirrups Occasionally to work on my balance. I've done it at a walk & trot, not brave enough to try it at a canter yet. I got in a ride this morning mostly before the clouds broke up & it started getting hot. I hadn’t ridden for 3 weeks. My goal is to ride all three days this weekend. I’m working with Risty on his gate manners. I used to open the arena gate & let him nudge it with his nose & walk on out. Now I left it swing open and make him stand still inside the arena until I say “okay” and let him walk out. He’s ok with that but now I’m working on getting him to turn around & go back in the arena and let me pull the gate shut behind us. He is a champ at backing up instead of walking back into the arena. Like “I’m not going back in there, no way” Little bugger. He’s good about letting me shut the gate from outside the arena so I think it’s just attitude about going back in vs riding around outside. I’ve never let the gate swing & bump against him so I don’t think it could be that. I make sure I praise him when he gets it right, guess I’ll have to think up a good reward to add to the praise. Anyone have any thoughts on this? |
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Post by ghostrider on Jul 4, 2014 22:53:40 GMT -5
Horse candy!
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Post by cyndi on Jul 5, 2014 7:32:29 GMT -5
LMM, how is Risty with moving his hind end? Is he okay with turning to face you when you ask him to? Fanny has learned to turn and face me when she walks past me, by me giving a gentle tug on the lead line. If I lunge her and ask her to whoa, she will turn and face me. That has carried over to going through gates. When we leave the outdoor arena there is some grass there that Fanny is keen on getting at, but just a slight tug on her lead line, when I step back to grab the door, causes her to turn and face me, then she will walk 'with' me if I have to step further into the arena to grab the gate. I ask her to back up as the gate closes, then we turn around and head out.
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Post by luvmymorgan on Jul 5, 2014 12:12:10 GMT -5
GR, I thought about a treat-he loves peppermints, but I don’t like him to eat with his bit in his mouth. I’m funny that way Cyndi, He’s really good about facing me and going in & out gates and stalls (even backing in & out) on a lead. This attitude shows up while I’m riding him. Maybe I should quit starting in the arena since he is really fine on the trail. I just like dong a little warm-up before heading out on the trail, but I think he is bored & just ready to get out of the arena. Today we only worked on leaving & going back in once & he was good-no backing up instead of walking back into the arena so I took him out on the trail without pushing for twice. |
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Post by ghostrider on Jul 5, 2014 18:49:18 GMT -5
I gently take the slack out of the lead and it means turn and face me. Or I can cluck and he'll turn and face me.
The boys love pep-o-mints, butterscotches, gummy worms...any sugar will do.
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