All the hard work has paid off - 2012 is going well!

Before 2011 finished, I had been quietly working on two things with Honey - 1: helping her lose weight & 2: walking her about in order to keep a consistent fitness level going. It's been tough work, trying not to jump ahead and start trotting early like we did last time, but keeping Honey sound is more important than being able to get going normally. With all the extra weight she was carrying made it harder for her to stay sound after we started trot work - it was simply just too much for her. So with a heavily monitored diet and light exercise, we've finally made it into 2012... and can now walk, trot and canter under saddle.

I have felt a little worried that my last two rides have been a bit rough on her, but in actual fact she's been somewhat schooling me. Her fitness is at a level where she can handle what is coming her way, and isn't becoming stiff from her exercise - which was our biggest issue in 2011. I guess I'm just playing the overly paranoid Mother who doesn't want to be back to being out of the saddle again for a period of time. But the last two rides have been truly something amazing, and have put me in a permanent high.

Our first ride consisted of a lot of walking, as usual. It got to the point where I could feel she was ready for a trot - and boy was she ready! She was so excited to have a good amount of trotting, that she blew through a couple of aids - naughty. So I instantly reprimanded her for them, asking her right back to the walk and once she was listening, asking her forward again. After an argument we seemed to get going again, and it was just perfect. I enjoyed her lovely big trot, almost as much as she did. We had a pole out there propped up on some tires for lifting her legs, but Honey cheekily leaped it. So I went over it again, with every hope she'd leap it - I haven't jumped anything on this mare, let alone tried to. It was an amazing feeling, even if it was just a pole off the ground, it was another goal on my list of things to do. To top this ride off, my friend had a sit up on Honey and afterwards I popped up with no helmet on and went for a walk and a trot. It was just so relaxing, god I trust my Honey completely.

Our second ride was even better than the first. Walking and trotting went well. She felt consistent, which was great and not stiff at all, in fact she felt so good she broke into a canter at one point because she was so balanced on that corner. It was only a few strides, but she actually didn't just run. Intrigued by this, I asked myself for the canter on the same corner and she just skipped into it! Man I was so happy! To top it off she then came back down into a solid trot - no wobbles, no pacing!! I busted out in tears at that point, so proud and overwhelmed. Honey seemed to think she was darn special then and stood there quite chuffed with herself. Went around and tried it again and she held her canter longer than the last attempt.

It just goes to show to all those out there that had been thinking so poorly of my management and riding ability/horse ownership that good things take time, and I can now politely shove it in their faces. The nasty words I've received and the so called "support" from some have only been a fuel to my motivation to keep going along, hoping I can prove that me and Honey will meet all our goals and not be held back by limitations.

So my main goal of 2012 is to continue riding, and to continue improving. To personally lose weight, and to help Honey lose some too would be great!

Signing off,

Chelle x

Arguments, Sweat and Satisfaction

There's always been a tarty, argumentative side to Honey. You put too much pressure on her mouth and she sucks back to fight you and tell you that she prefers that you ride on the buckle - for schooling that's a little impossible. And whilst we are far from any form of schooling, the point I'm trying to make here is that, if you hit a nerve, she's honest enough to go "oi, bugger off". She's never usually the explosive type, she's never the horse who will be unreasonable usually either. I guess in a sense, I've been led to believe our arguments are small, like the kind you have with a partner over leaving their dirty clothes around, annoying but never dramatic.

Today I got to experience pissed off Honey for the first time. I know she's been getting sick of her girth lately, because she's so obese, I have to make sure the girth is done up enough before trotting work. She was absolutely beautiful before I did it up an extra hole, working on a loose rein, using our "dressage arena" to its full potential now that it's dry. She was just so pleasant. As soon as the girth was done up though, she changed and showed signs of being girthy. This isn't new behaviour, I've dealt with it for some time, she just doesn't like pressure of any sort. But she was in such a good mood, and I ruined it. I guess my counterattack is that I didn't want the saddle to slip around everywhere. It was in it's usual place, not too tight, not loose, perhaps it pinched a litle, but she is always sensitive in that area. I'm sympathetic to her issue with the girth, I ensure its a gradual process. Anyways, I walked her around until she returned to her proper striding and sneezed before asking her into the trot.

Immediately she kicked her back leg out. I quietly asked her forward again and she did so, working lovely for half a circle. Then she kicked out again. I growled. She got angrier and threw herself sideways to tell me something was up, though she continued to trot out. Before she let me discover what mistake I had made, she then threw herself up off the ground and then kicked out. Needless to say, I can put up with a lot, but rude behaviour even if its to say "hey, I don't like this", is not acceptable. So I growled again. I admit, I was annoyed too. I know she was telling me something, but I heard her loud and clear and was about to act, yet I was a second behind her. The old me, having jolted my leg badly with her stunt, would have gone "that's it, I'm done I can't handle this." Much like Honey though, I can be fiery too. So I halted her, got off, checked her over, checked her expression. She wasn't showing pain or agitation, she was looking at me waiting for my next move. So I made one.

After my ride, my friend Kate was meant to have a lesson. I bought out the lunge lead and a halter just in case because their last ride had ended up with Honey walking off with her. So I got that on her and said "you want to be an idiot, do so then." And she proceeded to be one. Spring is in the air and she is full of it. She ran around like a lunatic, trying to canter and do what she wanted to. And I waited. She eventually looked at me and went "well are you going to ask me something?" and then stopped and turned to look at me. But I just replied with "but I thought you wanted to run, so off you go." By this stage, she was like "oh... but I'd just really like to be doing stuff with you. I'm sweating, and my saddle has moved, and I think it'd be more fun to do something with you." She started to lower her head to the ground, slowed her trot right down, ear on me, eye on me, mouth was twitching, and I knew right then that whatever teenage rebellion I had just faced was settled a bit. I took her saddle off and rearranged it, and hopped back up.

It wouldn't be me, without a bit of nerves. What she had done had unsettled me. I've normally not dealt with her like that, then again I've never ridden her in the beginning of Spring before either. I got up and the first couple of circles at the walk were good. She was waiting to see if I would push past my nerves and try for a trot again. I did, and it was lovely and consistent on her "good rein"... she tried to canter again but I told her no and she listened. She got excited to be trotting again, and by the time I changed onto the other rein, her ego reappeared. She was so excited, and since it was her rein that she was more argumentative on, when I asked her to keep it steady, she blew through my aid and tried to canter. She's just not balanced enough to carry me and her at a canter, and the ground is still firming up from the big rain from the other day.

So I lost it. I'm angry with myself for doing so. But I had had enough. She was so full of it, and I had completely given her the benefit of the doubt, I'm always concerned for soreness, because I know that she has been in the past (though not through her back)... and always assume she's reacting from pain. But because today she was on a different page than me and we just kept clashing, I got angry. It was slightly surreal though, because normally I'm a nervy rider. I don't push boundaries too far in case they end me on the ground. Instead, the swear words arrived and the yelling began. She tried to canter, I told her off for it. She ignored my aids, she got a series of half halts and a "don't want to listen? I'll bloody well see that you do!". She sped up, she got my hands closing down on the reins and holding until she slowed back down. And so on. She argued back, throwing in canter stride after canter stride and then she even paced. It was messy, and looking back on it, a necessary evil that was slightly embarrassing. All I wanted was a nice circle of trot, without her speeding off or trying to canter or trying to avoid. I'm always told to toughen up a little and I certainly did so today. She was tired and sweaty, but still wanted to muck about, and I was short breathed and getting a great workout, but I never gave up. I ended up getting weak through my leg dramatically, and had to resort to sitting trot. Honey went "what the, haven't done this in awhile"... and she listened. She stopped rushing off, and it was the most beautiful trot I've experienced from her in a longgggg time. I only did about 5-6 strides and then reverted back to posting and we got our whole circle. I told her she was a good girl, and she just finally clicked. She got so happy for her praise I got another 2 circles out of her and then cooled her down, patting her for her good effort in the end.

It was entirely messy. I probably went about things in the wrong manner. Our frustrations were taken out on each other, but we finally got what we wanted from each other. If it had of been a soreness issue, I knew she would have shown me again and again, but it was just freshness and all that Spring fever that's already coming through. I feel accomplished even so with all the messiness, because I didn't give up. I didn't allow my fears to step in and stop me... and I didn't allow her little antics to scare me off. I hope the next time, if something similar occurs, that I handle it in a better manner, and don't resort to yelling at her to listen, but I don't think I was extremely cruel either.

The plus side to it all, was I was riding for at least 4omins... and that means she would have burned off some of that fat! And hell, I think I did too!

Chelle x

The New Lease of Life in Spring

I've always had a love/hate for spring. My love is for the magic of life that is created or re-bloomed in spring, and the growth that occurs. However I hate it from a horse perspective - especially when you own a horse who gains kgs just by the smell of grass! Needless to say, every year I get excited for the arrival of spring, signalling the end of a cold winter and moving into the warmer months. For most horse riders in the NZ climate, it means more riding - our paddocks begin to dry up and are no longer muddy, and the weather is more comfortable. Although September is classed the "rainy month"... you can still get a lot more done than in winter time.

For me, I spent the winter preparing for the return of spring, which would allow me more riding time. I got a few things that I was needing riding wise, and I got Honey's teeth done also. Minus vaccinations and a saddle fitter (which would be pointless as Honey is so obese, no bloody saddle minus a treeless is going to sit perfectly on her atm) her list is fully ticked off and she is more than ready to commence ridden work.

And apart from financially, I've also been preparing her via lunging which was going well. I am very careful not to overdo it, making sure my circles are large and not impacting on her shoulder.

I had a ride before her teeth were done and it was terrible to put it bluntly. She was in obvious discomfort in her mouth and so I was so thrilled to have the dentist so quickly. He was absolutely AMAZING and helped Honey tremendously! The proof was in the pudding today, when I rode her for the first time since the appointment. All of her head shaking and irritation ceased and she was rather calm with her head. However I do think she's girthy or cold backed like my old mare April, as she's doing similiar reactions.... she's stopping and kicking out in her first 10ish minutes of work still and acted up as soon as I did the girth up an extra hole. I understand with her being obese not the most pleasant experience... but she is a bloater and not to mention with the saddle slipping forward the girth does loosen off. I feel like I'm an evil person with the way she reacts. But then she calms down when she's warm and works beautifully, much like she did today. I was very impressed, her straight lines are improving and I focussed a lot on making her do large serpentines and changes of rein just to keep the walk interesting since the ground was too wet to trot!

And for me, I just recently bought some flexi irons, new jodphur boots and jodphurs, and felt extremely comfortable up in the saddle today, and the general ache I usually feel in the saddle wasn't present so I'm guessing the flexi irons have done the trick and if its not them, its the jodphur boots!

Well this is a short blog, to reopen the story towards the growth or if I can be incredibly cliche, the re-blooming of Honey and I in our training towards great partnership and new adventures!

Chelle x

It's interesting to see how one day can motivate you to do something you wanted to do, but after the first try ending poorly, you had kind of avoided any further attempts. For me, riding Honey out the back where I fell off is VITAL for us to announce we're back on track. I tried to get out there before, albeit on a lunge and when she was sore, and it was the beginning of her rearing episodes. Furthermore, she eyeballed the spot where I fell off more than once, and at first I was confused at what she was looking at and then I remembered and realised she was nervous because of it. And thanks to my easily set off nerves - let's just say that was a ride that went the wrong way right from the beginning. So the back was left for when "I had mastered going fast again".

Deep down though, this didn't sit well with me. I'm mean yeah I was thrilled that we were riding in a bigger space again because the fence was finally moved out, but it was still a "safe zone". I was riding in a paddock she lived in, was in every day, knew well and was relaxed in. Of course she'd be alright to ride in there - if anything a little too cocky cos she knew where her tie up area was and enjoys stopping right by it. But overall, the bigger space wasn't really testing us. All the gates were shut, we had the same routine with every ride - it was becoming predictable.

In the weekend, I went to Oxford ODE with my good friend Sophie. It's always great to get out and watch the competitions around, and I enjoy being a spectator. However as I was watching, I began to feel a yearning. It's no secret I want to jump one day, and eventing at ridiculous, tiny heights is something I want to do way later down the track. But watching everyone riding around, in big open spaces, I became envious. I ride in enclosed areas because I have boundaries and I feel safe in them. I think its another reason why I like competition dressage - there is an arena, and it has a boundary fence all around. Sure a horse could leap out, but the reality is they generally stay within the markers. I felt the urge on Saturday to break free.

Now don't think I instantly went out into the big paddock to ride. I'm not that confident! But I tacked Honey up by my shed, and had all the gates open. After hopping up, I rode her from the shed, through her paddock, through the paddock resting beside hers, out the back gate to my back paddocks and into the side I fell off on. The walk there was interesting - Honey got confused as to where we were going, and then really excited as we went towards the back gate. I don't think I've ever had my heels down so far in my life, but I made SURE I was breathing evenly to allow for none of my nerves to come up.

We walked around for a bit and she calmed down, before doing the girth up another hole. This sadly made her a grumpy moo, and I know she gets worried things are going to hurt and pinch, but we checked to make sure she wasn't pinching and then walked around some more, but she decided she didn't want to be ridden anymore and dug her toes in a couple of times. Got her back to swinging through her back again and then asked her to trot and it was all forgotten about! She pretty much was racing around, she seemed really excited, even though she looked like a grumpy moo because she took me by surprise with how fast and fresh in the trot she was, and I took up my rein. Her downward transitions were TOTALLY bogus, so despite not really meant to be trotting for more than 5mins, I think we did a little more trying to sort out a decent transition down. In the end I got it, and by that stage the saddle had slipped, my leg was dead and we were both grinning from ear to ear! We walked back to the shed and was thrilled with our successful ride! I even got kisses from my never too openly affectionate pony!

I can't wait to ride again on Wednesday! I will be doing it out there again, but this time I'm bringing a walk & trot dressage test with me, its Training Level Test 0:1 so it's easy peasy but will it be for me and Honey? Haha, all I know is that we need to start doing things like this to prepare if we ever WANT to go places. I know she's not fit enough to even think of competition, I don't even see us going anywhere until next year, but the variety will mature her! And now that I've been out in places where there was opportunity for things to go wrong and it didn't, yeah my confidence has boosted a bit. Now to just sort some bad habits of mine and get out into bigger spaces, that are unfamiliar! Even at a walk ^_^

And to finish this off, here's some pics from the last two rides. I didn't post about our last ride before the recent one, but it went well, with some prepared trotting :) And the saddle is getting back further with each ride now, woohoo!

Exceeding Expectations

I wasn't expecting yesterday's ride to be anything special. Whilst we've been plodding along in our fitness scheme (no pun intended), we've not had any rides that have made me go "OH MY GOODNESS". Honey's been awesome, I've been working hard, we've been steady from starting out. Her sourness to her tie up area is disappearing and her tempo is improving. But apart from me having little breakthroughs in my own position/riding, nothing has made me grin so much as yesterday did.

The reason? My friend Sophie. She came to me over her upcoming dressage test that she couldn't figure a couple of moves out. So I wrote it out, and when I went to ride Honey, I was asked by my friend Leslie who takes my photos, what a certain move was as I mentioned I'm going to help Soph with it. So, I went, let me show you what I remember from the test. I'd only looked at it once and remembered 80% of it, so that wasn't so bad. We did it all at the walk and it was Honey's first dressage test ever. Bless her she got a little confused, but I exaggerated everything so it wouldn't impact her shoulder on the circle work. We got from the start to the end with no troubles and I was so pleased! Honey seemed quite happy with herself too, she seemed to have a bounce in her step after all the praise I gave her.

Tomorrow I'm riding again and will hopefully be able to get a video of the dressage test. I'm going to take it out with us and do it correctly this time haha!

And to finish this blog off, here's some pics - all work was done on a loose rein and me using my legs - woohoo!

Riding; my all time addiction!

It's like a new chapter, or beginning.

Honey had her chiropractor visit and has the new saddle. Riding her now is like a new thing. It's addicting, more so than I thought it was before. And all we're doing right now is walking!

Our first ride on Tuesday didn't go incredibly well in the beginning. Honey, as expected was very difficult to convince that the pain she had been feeling under saddle was no longer there. It took a lot of convincing, but when we got there, I was so thrilled! She felt lovely and even, and I was able to concentrate on myself more than I have been able to lately.

And then today, WOW. I know walking is beneficial, but my goodness I enjoyed it so much today. We had a huge space because I moved the fence out of our way... and she just powered on out! Granted she wanted to trot, and I had to try everything - trying to think walk and ignore jogging and sit deep, let her break into it (only once) for a few strides to get it out of her system, and then even shut her down and say "no, Honey I want you to walk." I was a little hesitant to really go "NO!" with her, my ride on Tuesday taught me that forward is better than nothing at all, and I didn't want to suck her back. We got there in the end, and we only had one nappy moment, which one is more than enough. She's napping towards her tie up post, and being quite arrogant about it. But I made a point of ignoring the pole and riding her forward and we got passed that issue well.

I'm really loving riding on a loose rein as well. I'm having to trust in myself a lot to do this, not so much that I'm scared of something happening, but I rely on my hands a lot for balance and don't want to just make a grab at them, which will frighten Honey. I feel the saddle fixes this notion within me a little and offers more support for me to correctly build my balance. I've done a lot of work in the past on using my legs on this mare for turning etc, so she knows her aids well. I slackened off with my hands and just guided her with my legs for a bit today. It felt really awesome to be back at that, because in the Wintec 500 dressage saddle and before she was "fixed", obviously me using a lot of leg made Honey go "UGH!" Now I feel the freedom to use my legs correctly, in the manner they're meant to, and retrain my arms/hands. It's great!

But the thing that I really enjoyed about today's ride was being able to feel that I'm actually breathing up on my horse. Of course I always have, but I know I have a habit of forgetting to breathe too. The Isabel has helped me realise my core a lot more, and I've realised I've been collapsing with my upper body a little before. Now I can really feel my ribcage expanding, and with the exercise I learnt from the Sally Swift book, breathing has become a new thing that I'm fully aware of in the saddle now. I felt like a lot of my nerves that could have played up were toned down because of my breathing. Honey of course, picking up on my breathing seemed to relax from the trotting urge and just walk out lovely. It was really rewarding for me, to notice so many things in about 10-15mins.

To be honest, I didn't want to get off. She's become an instant delight and I'm looking forward to doing more and more with her, once she's ready to of course! Sticking to the plan in place for sure!

On Sunday I have another ride, and my friend Megan is popping out. I wonder if she turns up when I'm riding, whether she'll notice the change in Honey or not. A shame only one of us can ride her at the moment, or I'd let her ride her to feel the changes!

Anyways, to end this blog, I'll just put up a few photos ^_^

Doubt; that hindering bastard!

Instant results.

It's something we don't see much in life. I can put myself on a diet... and won't see any changes... I can use whitening toothpaste, and again it takes awhile. But one thing I have noticed in the past is how quickly a horse becomes brighter - to the point you wonder what crack you were on before to think they were "alright" - after they've seen a chiropractor.

The professional I used was absolutely brilliant... I came away with a good explanation of why my horse was sore, how to treat it and how to assist her on her riding road of recovery. She answered all my questions and provided some great tips. She was a pleasure and to see instant results in Honey - to see her stand underneath herself properly... to see her tracking up, her ears and eyes going from back and dull to forward, inquisitive and bright, and to just overall see a horse holding itself together, letting out a deep sigh and just relaxing - it made Honey look more like a horse than she has in a while!


So with the pain addressed, the new saddle sitting in my house was taken out today to sit up on her back, and see if there was any way it can be used on her. I was dubious on the fit - I've never seen a saddle sit so high on a horse before and be told - that's a "good" fit. But after watching a series of clips by this particular saddle fitter > http://youtu.be/U2mKz0uP_K8 I became aware that the modern concept of saddle fitting is sadly mistaken by what I was always taught as a kid. His explanation really helped me come to understand how different horse shapes mean saddles do need to be positioned differently. And made me relax a little with how high my saddle is sitting - since Honey is built with a little wither (what he describes a "mutton wither"). So not only is she obese, but she's also harder to fit a saddle to.

Here's what we're facing atm...

Fat horse with lack of wither +

Saddle that is unable to sit a little lower - but is on the horse's back =

Me sitting in my saddle like a boss on the upper half, but my short legs cannot mold to said obese pony because her belly is stopping the effectiveness as well as my stumpy legs! Haha but it doesn't appear to be a really *bad* fit. I did doubt it - to the point I rushed to facebook to my best mate/instructor and went "looook how do I fix this" and yet I already had come to the conclusion earlier that it was her fat under the saddle preventing it from sitting right and the only way I could think of getting it gone was by riding her anyways.

So the main theme for this blog was to set out and be all 'woohoo Honey's back in business!' and explain my saddle situation, but its actually turned into something eye opening and rewarding. Because I went and asked for help, I was pointed out by my good friend to realise, I'm not as stupid as I feel. That I need to believe in myself a little more. That just because I don't ride as exceptionally well as others - I can see mistakes those riders make, and make good ground support and advice. That I can direct others well with what I see. But when it comes to me, I'm blind. It's like I stuck the training wheels back on. I've had two years out of the saddle... out of what? Thirteen or so years? It's hardly anything to feel like I don't know a thing. I need to trust myself a lot more. And my ability to listen to my horse - I'm always listening, but I'm not regarding what she's saying as something I can come to a conclusion on my own about.... yet who was the one to back and start her - apart from a couple of sessions with my good friend, it has been all me, so who else is in this relationship that I need to consult other than myself and my horse?!

And reading through this blog, I realised its a number one theme. I doubt myself - whether its my ability, or how to discover what was wrong with my horse, or to eliminate problems - I'm so used to rushing for advice, that I'm forgetting the one voice who I don't have to wait to answer on a forum, or facebook. My inner voice. Who knows how to respond well. It's common sense. It's something that's always there and I over look because I feel inadequate to my friends who aren't held back by whatever. I have a lot of limiting problems in my riding - but the number one factor is doubt. That sly bastard, I really wish it could be something easier to fix, like having piano hands and needing to go "thumbs on top" every time I ride (uh... I do have to do that anyways but you get my point!). Doubt will be a hard thing to overcome, but I think I'm ready to do so. I gained confidence in getting my prognosis to the chiro correct, and I have a saddle well equipped to put me in a secure position up on my mare. I've become the type of person who is interested in educating myself - so I need to trust that judgement and stop hindering everything with "what if I hurt Honey?" "what if this happens" "what if that occurs, what will i do?" "What if" needs to be removed from my equine vocabulary.

So with that, the blogs should become more frequent again. I ride Honey for 10mins on Tuesday at a walk, and I'm sure I'll have things to say about that! So I'll leave this here.

Chelle x