riding log

[kirkcudbright]

My first lesson since leaving Four Fillies at the end of November, with your host lyonesse, and a surprise (at least to me) guest appearance by celebmith. My first lesson in a while, and it was all ground work (at my request), starting with Petting the Pony (light massage to find and alleviate tension areas (and to find where I hadn't brushed thoroughly enough)). What I found (what I knew, but hadn't consciously articulated) is that he carries a lot of tension in his neck and shoulders. lyonesse had me walk-and-whoa for a bit on a loose lead, then try to get him to back up and side-step. celebmith pointed out that his hindquarters are rather under-muscled, which forces him to carry more of the load on his forehand (thus the tension); these exercises force him to use his hindquarters more, and should thus firm up his big horsey butt (in addition to teaching him to do odd things on cue).

Then I showed celebmith a few of the hundred or so miles of trails in the state forest. Cheyenne was perfectly calm going out, but started in with the head-tossing on the way back (after he'd had a chance to run, but I wouldn't let him run all the way back). I think his teeth are in reasonable shape, we've got him on the gentlest bit he's had in a long time, and I certainly wasn't tugging on his mouth; it's just pissiness and general bad manners.

Afterwards, I was petting Woody and Blackjack, a couple of older horses in the lower paddock, and noticed that they were shedding terribly. I ended up taking a shedding comb to them, and removing a pile of fur the size of a large racoon. It's funny, there I was in the middle of the herd, horses left, right, and behind, working on a horse who didn't know me from Adam, and it was all fine. I was watching their faces as I was working on them (sensitized by the earlier work on Cheyenne), and they are either the mellowist horses in the herd, or they were just glad for the human contact. Their owner comes to the barn several times a week to watch them, but she has (I think) medical and (I suspect) psychological reasons for not riding them. But she could at least brush them once in a while.

Home, tea, and leftovers, and I'm sorry I didn't get to see the pictures of Iceland, being too busy with the tea and leftovers.

Comments

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I should try to hook up with one of y'all so I can come brush horses for a bit. It's good for my shoulders and I like making horses happier... Laine has met me, but I wouldn't just show up without someone she knows better.