Maybe He Felt Bad...?

I think it might have been Milo's gift to me from his poor behavior the day before, but I had a fantastic ride yesterday. The last few weeks, I must admit, I have not been working Milo to the schedule I had been previously. From snow and weather, to sudden unknown swelling, areana flooding, school starting back up again (and now as a full time student and part time worker) and time constraints, its been at least a month since we were in a regular work schedule. In the meantime it's not like I hadnt been seeing Milo or spending time with him, I was mostly going on at least weekly trail rides (which we have really been enjoying. In fact, last week's ride was the first time I really let Milo loose on the trail: he and I loved it!), and when working in the arena mostly just longing. I had ridden bareback a few times, but have lacked enough time to really work him between school and work. I'd hate to get on with only 35 minutes and end up not working him properly.

So anyways, when I have been longing him, I've been using a pole to help get him thinking about using his body properly again, and adding in my wall reins to further aid in that desired posture. After yesterday's ride, I was really happy I had been doing so.

I added the wall reins onto my tack when I went to the arena. I started with a short longing, with the wall reins, then got on. I decided to use the wall reins when riding too because I figured after a few weeks of not asking for the correct posture, Milo would probably need more shoulder control and some aid in lifting at the wither. I used my regular reins as well though as I wanted to be able to have a feel on the bit directly, not just through the indirect wall reins. It turned out to be a good combination.

We started with just getting familiar with the wall reins again, and finding out where we were at as far as circles, shoulder and body control, and lifting his back. Milo worked beautifully, and with the addition of the wall reins an exaggeration of the nuchal flip was present, aiding me to make sure the correct arc in the neck was acquired. From walk to trot, and finally lope, the work was great. Transitions werent beautiful, although ironically the trot to lope transition was much nicer than the walk to trot. Only once did I really need to correct Milo's shoulder with the wall reins at the lope, but for the most part the work was excellent, a little fast our first go, but very nice. As we worked on circles a bit more we finally got a couple of solid ones that were cadenced and with a lifted shoulder. As I sat deep and asked for the Woah, Milo parked his booty beautifully, leaving a somewhat nice pair of elevens (they were more in a triangular shape then real elevens, lol). I dismounted then and there and praised Mr Milo.

Was this an apology for his behavior the day before? Or is Milo trying to tell me he's got the arena work and wants to spend more time on the trail? :)

A Blue Ribbon Ride

Saturday morning I was disappointed to wake up and hear the rain. I was scheduled for late in the afternoon for work and had planned on another lesson with Sarah that morning. I gave her a call to see what the weather was like at her house, about 30 miles away. Unfortunately, the weather was as bleak as it was outside my window, and the forecast for the rest of the day continued to call for rain. While a tough Washington cowgirl might have stuck it out and rode in the pouring rain, I decided against it knowing that I not only wanted to subject my saddle to a downpour, but I also knew my horse wouldnt be happy. He hides in his shelter at the first sign of a sprinkle, and it just would not be fair to expect him to work well in weather conditions he despises.

So we decided to make my next lesson this coming Monday on Wesley, and hopefully squeeze in another one the night before the show a week from now. I knew I wanted to ride my horse anyway, and hoped that the indoor arena at the barn would be relatively empty. I was disappointed by the changed outcome of the day, but ended up having a great ride.

Not only did I have exclusive access to the arena (the facility was nearly dead the entire time I was there, which wasnt all that early in the day). I turned up the radio and mounted up. Knowing that in my last few rides I wasnt allowing my body to really work with Milo and not fight against him, I tried to approach the first few minutes in the saddle with optimism and a greater focus on lightening my seat.

At the last lesson I questioned to Sarah why my saddle was producing dry spots just behind the withers. I had been frustrated that the saddle I spent so much money on was now producing these indicators of a poor fit. But moreso, I knew that the saddle originally was producing perfectly even lines, so the change could only be that I wasnt riding Milo and working him as I should be. In fact, the later held to be true this past week, but also Sarah found Milo's ribs and hips to be out again. After an adjustment, we found much nicer sweat patterns after the lesson. But what about this last week? What was I doing wrong?

As I warmed him up those first few laps I considered what the sweat patterns were showing. They indicated my horse wasnt lifting up into the tack from the wither and just behind it. Truly indicating that he wasnt properly elevating his back. I had also noted that the dry spots were larger on the right side than the left, further telling me that my horse was not working both sides evenly.

How could I fix this? While throughout the week I had been trying to focus on my lighter seat, I had noticed my horse wasnt as responsive to my slightly raised seatbones but rather responded more off of my spur. So as I walked him around (and soon jogged) I emphasized a lighter seat before a spur aid. Soon, I could feel the dramatic lift in my horse's back from just lightening my seat bones. I moved this into the jog and soon the lope.

Next I addressed the dry spot on the right side. This indicated that he was dropping his shoulder away and not lifting that side as well as the left. So as I worked him (all my warm up and about half of my riding has consisted of one rein only) I bumped lightly on the right rein and torso twisted as needed to encourage a greater lift in the right side.

I gotta say, our lope work (trot too, but we worked longer at the lope) was exceptional. And this was all one handed with only slight adjustments. Our departures were solid and with a soft jaw, and my horse stayed up underneath me mostly from the aid of my light seat bones. We loped the rail, circles, one center circle, and my horse stayed consistent and round. I have to add, how tickled I have been to find my horse is capable of feeling so "broke". We might not have a slow lope for a western pleasure class (not a goal I have anyways), but I now feel like my horse is touching on the capabilities that he possesses. It is truly something to feel to connected to him and so light in the aids, but have the work so exceptional and correct. Its almost a shame that no one was there to witness it, but I know the ride I had.

Milo got a break from the lope work on the right lead, and he got a lot of praise. He licked and chewed contently, reminding me how responsive he is to positive feedback, something I need to make sure I do much more often. After a breather, we loped off on the left lead, and while a bit more tired, he still worked very very well. There was a minor spook when a boarder took her horse past the back entrance of the arena, but after only a few moments my horse was back with me. I gave him another break, then worked only a few passes on rollbacks, something I had been touching on earlier in the week at the walk and trot. He did very well on the rollbacks too, receiving all A's as he loped right off after the stop, staying soft and round in the bridle. I made sure that I indicated the lead first from my hip and Milo picked them up easily. So I decided to take it to simple lead changes.

As I had spoke with Sarah on the phone that morning, she asked how the simple changes were since I was having such difficulty finding the flying changes in my body. I admitted that in the last week Milo was getting rushy, anticipatory, and very tense in the center expecting a change. She recommended doing one or two step simple changes on the rail, emphasizing straight, soft, and from my seat. I agreed it would be a good way to work on them where Milo was comfortable and unsuspecting of them.

After the short rollback session, I moved right into the simple changes. At first he was slightly tense, then I allowed my seat to soften and found I was tipping forward. I found my center again and we performed some very fluid one or two step changes on the rail, mostly from just my seat. After some consistent and beautiful changes, I had to stop myself from over doing it, but I was having so much fun! I slowed Milo to a walk and gave him more and more praises - he was being so good.

I threw in some spins at the end (which is a whole 'nother accomplishment - my horse is so much fun to spin on!) and after a cool-down I dismounted and hugged my horse, so proud of what we had accomplished that day. I texted Sarah in enthusiasm so pleased with the ride I had. She replied that things happen for a reason, and that I needed to have that ride on Milo that day. I felt that although I didnt get my lesson physically with Sarah, the excitement and joy I usually have after one was there after my quiet ride alone. I was elated. I even texted her saying I felt I was so ready for the show. Although no matter what happens, I know that I had a blue ribbon ride today. I am so proud of the progress my horse has accomplished.

Working With the Wall Reins

I took a sigh of relief as I filled the last water bucket. Standing now, I allowed my heart rate after an hour and a half cleaning workout to return to normal. As I waited for the bucket to fill, Sarah was riding her jumping horse, Rhett Butler. I enjoyed watching her ride him. It's not everyday I get to watch my own trainer riding her horses. I picked up on a few things I would later try and translate over to Milo. She held her spur behind the rear cinch. To those of you who havent seen the About the Horse saddles up close and tacked on, the rear cinch is only an inch or so away from the front, so don't envision her leg being way out behind her - rather it was directly underneath her hip and shoulder, as it should be. But I noticed this slight leg placement as something that could be highly beneficial to me and my ability to get my spurs caught in the rear cinch all too frequently. Secondly, Sarah didnt seem to have any sort of set "plan" as to where she was directing her horse. She just worked him this way and that as needed. It was good to see because I know sometimes I can get in the thinking of "Ok, lets start with a few minutes of serpentines, then move onto figure eights, some lope, spin work, then done". I find myself riding with a sort of routine. Riding just to ride and go where we please I believe would be highly beneficial to Milo and I.

I mulled this over a bit as I drove from her facility to where Milo is boarded. Having kept my tack in the trailer after the lesson for cleaning, I dropped it off at the barn first, then turned the truck down the driveway towards Milo's pasture. A final gulp of my Pink Lemonade, and I went out to catch him. He lead quietly, albeit somewhat slowly. I groomed him and forgot to tell you all that I had trimmed his straggling mane. It is now more even and a few inches shorter. I figured it helped even it up a bit and should allow for more even growth now. Oh, notice the clean bridle path too? I had been letting that go a little long as well.

And a better close-up:

I tacked up Mr Milo, and noticed that he wasnt near as sensitive to his back as he had been only a few rides prior. He also didnt walk forward into the cross-ties with an elevated neck and dropped back as I threw on the saddle. Progress? Staying consistent with the Cashel pad I think could be helping, along with a step back from the body work I was doing with him on the ground, which could have only been causing further soring.

I outfitted Milo and headed down to the arena. In my last post about the lesson I discussed the wall reins that Sarah had me use to help Milo elevate his wither and push from the rear into the lope departure. Later on Saturday Boyfriend and I made our way to Home Depot for starters for our garden, so we went to the rope section as well and that evening I fashioned my own wall reins. Cheap and inexpensive, I constructed 16 feet of climbing rope with four snaps (two with larger rings for easy rein passage), and electrical tape.

Looks like a lot going on here, but you will see that the wall reins attach to the cinch rings outside of the shoulder, emphasizing a "wall" for Milo to help own his shoulders. They do not attach underneath his legs in a more draw rein like fashion, creating more downward tension. Again, the purpose is for Milo to lift at his shoulder and hold his shoulders straight.

As I started the ride, the wall reins where inactive, with the clips attaching to the bit affixed to the d-rings on the front of the saddle. Keeping the wall reins handy if needed, but out of the way. All started well, with a nice warm up at the trot, bending through the body, and remembering to not "set a course" of riding. Milo was engaging from well from the rear and lifting up into the saddle. He seemed a touch speedy, but was engaged so I let him go. With consistency on both outside reins, good walk to trot transitions, and bend through his body, I wanted to try the lope departures first without the wall reins on his "good side". I loaded his outside hock, held my outside rein, remembered to sit on my butt with shoulders back, rotated my hips and into the lope we went. Not beautiful, with a lowered head, but no wither lift and some bracing on the bit. Back to the walk and we tried again. By the third or fourth attempt, Milo loped off nicely with a minimal wither lift but no tension through the bit. I walked him a circle or so and changed directions.

I figured we would certainly need the wall reins for this side, but initially Milo surprised me with a good level of softness on the outside rein and holding the outside shoulder on his own. The first transition I tipped forward, which resulted in a not so well transition. I set him up again, and he was very brace-y on the bit, so I decided to put the wall reins on for this direction. I dont so much like how much the wall reins bring his head in, but it does help with the transition and we need to help Milo build the appropriate muscle and muscle memory to depart correctly.

Theres one terrible transition in there, but we can see it is caused by my rocking forward onto my pelvic bone. Establishing what I thought to be a good transition with the wall reins, I removed them to try again without them. Looking at the video now, it appears he is leaping into the transition more than lifting into it. Still better than without the wall reins on, but good to see that that isnt exactly the feel that I am looking for.

Naturally throughout the ride Milo got periods of rest especially after some time in the wall reins to allow him to stretch out a bit. In this clip Im just letting in trot out and find that engagement in his rear again as well as a nice fluid, lifted back.

Now we tried those departures again without the wall reins. Theres a level of tension and anticipation for the departure, so I brought him back down and emphasized a strong inside bend, then a good outside load of the hock, maintaining some bend on his head to the inside (a leg yield pretty much). Unfortunately, the really nice departure was not caught on film, but the subsequent lope afterwards briefly is. I tried this new camera angle, but clearly it doesnt show as much as my other attempt. Next time I'll put it on the short side of the arena to try and get more on film. If you look close you can see how the wall reins were attached to the d-rings on the front of the saddle when not in use, if you are interested at all. Watching these videos helps emphasize to me what Sarah said at my lesson; "Just ride, dont overthink it" and I believe I was doing that. Thinking bend, then load outside hock, then lope. I need to just set him up but not get so attached to those beginning steps, as I have found it tends to lock down my body.

With that final good departure without the wall reins, I let him walk out and brought him up to the barn where I found that nasty streaming dirty sweat from the rear of the saddle pad. Clearly its hard work for Milo. He got a warm rinse off to clean him off and let his muscles cool down slowly. In the cross-ties, I tried another one of Peggy's exercises, Spine Roll. Basically you "push" the spine from side to side allowing some release of tension. Her book says its a great exercise for horses with tension in their shoulders and wither, so this seems an appropriate exercise for what we are working on.

Milo put away with sun-block and a mostly dry coat, I headed to the college for a much needed study session - final is on Wednesday!

Words Paint a Picture, but Video Shows the Story

Today, you all have a rare chance (although I plan to make on a more routine schedule) to watch as I work Milo. I had the bright idea asking why can't I video myself? I shouldn't have to have someone to video tape for me. So I set up my camera on the fence post rail of the outdoor arena, and after a warm up, turned it on. The angle is off, I'm sorry, and it started to rain, and lastly the battery died and shut itself off. Sadly because the last five minutes after it cuts off we were having the most beautiful lope departures and riding off the outside rein (I know, you probably think I'm saying that just because the camera so conveniently cut off the best part, but really it did!). 

I'd like to try and video more often because there are a lot of good and bad things I see here myself, and I'm sure you all can bring to light too. But it also is a good video documentation on how we are progressing, something that although words can provoke some imagery, they cant always perform as well as real video. Plus, I'm sure some of the terms can be cryptic without seeing it done, so it helps you follow along as I continue to post on how we are doing. I will say that I probably will not always post videos I take of myself, either if I'm too embarrassed for the world to see, or whatever. I know you probably think thats cheating of me to post what I feel are "the best" but I will try and make sure that I post those that show negative things, because recognizing those only helps to learn and grow as well.

So lets move onto the video, shall we? I will address what I like and don't like as we move through it, and please add something you might notice as well in the comments. I will describe in less than "poetic" or detailed then I normally do, because since the video shows what I am describing, instead, I can narrate on what is good/bad in the video. I will try my best to not defend whatever I see wrong, but simply state it and try and learn from it.

The video started after a roughly seven minute warm up, consisting of torso twists in long serpentines at the walk and trot. After Milo was feeling engaged, we moved into what you see below.

Right away on the circles, I am arcing and counter arcing in both directions. What I like, and would like you to note, at the 15-20 second mark, you'll notice he was engaging nicely from the rear. This dissipates as time progresses, mostly I'm sure because I start to loose focus on my hips. But then you'll also see the times when I remember to soften my back and neutralize my pelvis again, there are a few strides you will catch with some engagement.

Lets see, next I notice in myself that Im driving too much in my seat, and pounding a bit, not allowing Milo the light seat by which to come up under. This would be a great time for me to slow my breathing and find our rhythm together again. At 35 seconds, we change direction into an arc on the left circle. The first few steps are a great example, with Milo really emphasizing his curved body and reaching up underneath himself from the hind. You'll notice my hips (and torso most obviously) are quite turned to the inside, asking for his hip to move in the same direction.

I can already see myself in that first left circle cheating with my inside (left hand) rein. This is my dominant one (although as a writer I am right handed) and although I'm trying to ride off of my outside rein, my left one is raised higher, still exerting some feel there and I am still balancing off it it. This is a great thing for me to see myself that although I think I may be on the outside rein, my body is naturally trying to continue riding on the left. We will see this throughout the video, but there are a few moments where I stop and its obvious that Milo finds the outside rein as he should, without me inhibiting from the left rein.

At 52 seconds, I prepare to counter arc him onto the right circle, so I continue to hold my hips to the left, allowing him to continue driving his hips out that direction in the counter arc. The first initial steps are the best ones from that circle, and you'll see as I come about seventy-five percent through the circle, I bring my hips to center and Milo goes straight, then I turn them in (to the right) and prepare to counter arc the left circle.

After pointing out what you are seeing now, just watch the remaining two circles and find for yourself those best arcing and counter arcing strides, in tune with my hips. Because he was working so well I took him off the circle and stopped, then turned (on the inside pivot foot!) to prepare for a lope departure. Here, I notice in myself that I curl my legs a bit a few times, and instead of opening up my hip angle as I should, I'm cheating my just turning my lower leg out, making it easier to curl the legs. Noteworthy for myself...

The remainder of the video is our loping work, and the efforts of trying to find my outside rein, and ride with my hips and not allow myself to lock up. The very first few strides you see in frame of our lope I think where the best, then I start to loose my hips a bit and battle back for them throughout. I also noticed that in the lope although I'm trying to stay on my seat-bones, I tilted my upper body forward a few degrees. This is something I remember doing when riding, but battling with it as well. Remember to fill in the hollow space of my lower back I think should help.

Lets see, as I lope around a bit you will notice some of the deeper spots in the arena. Poor Milo would probably be working more engaged if myself was working as well as I could be, and the uneven footing weren't so. But no arena is perfect. Just give Milo a little lenience for that.

Theres one moment at 2:55 you'll see I did torso twist out, to try and compensate for Milo's drifting shoulder. And by doing his he came back to straight for a few strides, proving it does work, when I perform it, and reminding me as Sarah told me on Wesley, to always ride the horse and always be adjusting ourselves for what our horse needs at the time.

I come around from another torso twist at 3:40, keeping my hips turned to the left to drive him into a counter canter arc, which if I do say so myself, was quite nice for Milo. The last few strides of it on the circle at 3:50 show the bend in his body. He fishtailed a little bit right after, but came back after I brought my hips to center again for the arcing circle.

Our stop at 4:20 was a little strung out, mostly, I believe, from poor timing for it on my part, but I do like that I kept my back soft and back him his face. The second stop afterwards at 4:44 was bad all on my part - tense back, hard hands, poor timing.

There were a few moments to follow where I ride too much on my hands, but at 5:48 you can see I realize this and drop my outside rein to try and find it, and try and get back in tune with my body (although my cheating left hand is still visible). You can see though that I have no problem finding my left, now outside, rein after we change directions, and the lead departure at 6:34 was not too bad.

One thing I want to add that I noticed throughout watching this (and was noticing when riding too, but trying to stop) was the inconsistency of my outside rein. If he isn't getting on it, I try and bump him with it. Totally wrong, and after doing it I always remember Sarah saying to me that he needs to build trust in that outside rein, its a steady contact and I don't get to bump with it. Now I just have to remember her voice before I do it, not after.

I only loped a little while longer after the video cut off, due to time constraints because I was riding on my lunch. He did well though, and we worked on our turnarounds, something I was hoping was caught on camera, but  no matter, we can try again.

I hope you enjoyed watching and reading this, and that it wasn't a total bore, and that you also don't think I'm riding terribly - but I suppose you can think that if you want to. Leave come feedback if you wish on my riding or Milo. I think I can handle it.

Mondays Just Might be My New Favorite Day

Thats right, I said it! The rest of you office dwellers might think Im nuts, but heres why I might just come to love the weekday most people loath:

Remember last week when I said my schedule was changing to accomodate my back-to-school status? Well, yesterday was the first time on that new schedule. That is, if you missed it, my day starting at 6:30 instead of 7:30, allowing for a two hour lunch, ending the day at regular time, 4:30, and making it to school by 5:00. Bet you can guess what that two hour lunch window provides time for? Thats right, Milo time.

I got to take advantage of this new found mid-day freedom, and left the office due back at one. I made it to the barn about thirty minutes later (had to stop at the store quickly). Milo was quietly munching his lunch-time hay, and looked up curiously as my red truck drove past.

"Hello Milo, Milo, Milo, Milo, Milo!" I sang out to him, a spring in my step either from the two cups of coffee I had pounded at work, or the excitement of my afternoon break, probably both.

He poked his head out around the side of the shelter, watching me skip towards him (not really, I bounded from possible dry spot to the other, trying to avoid sinking into mud, I did, afterall, have to go back to work afterwards).

I haltered him snug, then up the driveway we went.

I spent the usual amount of time grooming my shedding horse, knowing it was a little too late into the extended lunch hour to try and plan a ride anyways. So instead of feeling rushed, I just mosied around and enjoyed my time with Milo.

The barn was eerily quiet, not something I experience very often. The lights were out, and the only sounds were not that of jingling saddles being snug onto horse's bellies, but soft whinnies from those horses turned out away from their buddies, and the destinctive sound of steel shoes slapping the concrete aiselway, as the weekday cleaner was rotating horses in turnout.

Milo stood quietly, enjoying his grooming. His shedding and the blanket left large itchy areas that he was have a grand time enjoying the curry to. I diligently groomed down his legs and cleaned the mud out of his fetlock hairs.

With only an hour passed, I brought Milo into the arena for some lunging. His nylon halter snugged down, I had then tried to figure out how to attach a lunge line to the top of his noseband. With no luck, and a 12 foot yacht lead rope being a bit too heavy, I settled for just attaching it in the usual position below the jaw. I would have to figure out some way to come across a softer, longer line, as well as a way to attach it to the top. Buying a used lunge line might just have to be the ticket. Sarah had suggested using a chain on the noseband in an X fashion, just like Peggy attaches her lead lines. So I will have to add a chain to the shopping cart too. The one on my short showmanship line probably wont give much length to lunge with.

I had taken the string off of my Clinton Anderson training stick, trying to mimik it as more of a dressage whip. I kept Milo close with the tension taken lightly out of the line, to keep some feel on his face. I didnt force his head into the circle or anything, just kept light contact. With my body and stick I tried to create forward energy as well as energy to step under himself and out with his hind legs. Things were doing ok, but Milo was lacking in impulsion, and kept wanting to fully disengage his hindquarters to stop.

To took some ideas from Kate at A Year With Horses about trying to incorportate more body language to create impulsion. I kept my feet slow at the walk, and with my body at a slight angle forward to him, not looking at him straight on. As I already ask for forward with my hand pointing in the direction of travel, why not incorporate my body into this signal as well? It seemed to help a bit, and at the trot I upped by own body's tempo to match that of Milo, and more when I encouraged increased impulsion.

This was working very well, and it felt like we were working together much more. Normally, to disengage the hind end, I would direct all my energy towards it, and in the opposite direction of travel than forward. I noticed when I was doing this to encourage him stepping under himself, he was doing just as my body suggested, and stopped and turned his hips away.

I thought about how I could change my signal to still mean hips out, but forward. I tried something when angled forward still at a forward walk. Instead of turning and looking directly at the hip, I instead kept my body angled forward, and just looked back at his hip. If no repsonse, he got a little pressure from the stick (not pressure directly on him, but just an approaching stick, if you can invision this). It really seemed to work after a few tries and eventually I was only having to look back at his hip for him to step up and out.

Milo was now traveling in a very correct posture. His head and neck were down, but not drooped, rather, arced, just slightly, as if a bridle were on him. His back was elevated and his stride was sweeping. I had achieved a properly moving horse from the ground, and he was working and focused, rather than sneaking a peak at the horse whinnying tied to the arena wall as he was initially.

I never knew I could get my horse to travel like this on the ground. This is definitely something I wanted to continue utilizing in our work.

I brought Milo back into the barn and did our usual stretches, then brushed him out again and put him away.

If all I can get from my two hour lunches is a little horse time and lunging, then Im totally game. If it only allows just enough time for that, I think it will still be hugely beneficial for the both of us, to get some riderless fitness on the ground.

I continue to look forward to Mondays!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now, for great news! Drumroll please............my saddle sold! FINALLY! After seven months of listing on every available site including Craigslist, TackTrader, Horse Forums, eBay, Facebook, Blogs, and Flyers and word of mouth locally, it is finally gone. But not through eBay, 'course not. Six weeks of paying eBay fees didnt pay off! No, it sold on Craigslist, from someone in Wisconsin of all places. We e-mailed back and forth for more details and she sent payment via PayPal. Verified, it is not ready to be shipped after work today.

I did, however, have to take a financial blow on the saddle. I sold it for $100 less than what I bought it for. Couple that with the off billet I needed to buy for it when I first purchased, along with the eBay, TackTrader and PayPal fees (ya, what the heck, PayPal?!), it has made this little "investment" one that lost me money. But I'm not complaining too bad, as it did sell for just the remaining amount needed for my About the Horse saddle. So theres a stroke of good luck. I suppose I could have held out for the $900 that I paid for it, but knowing that I could still cover my costs of the new saddle with the reduced price, as well as the peace of mind that its sold and off my mind now and stress load, I think it is well worth it.

I have to say though, I sure will miss that saddle. I have grown fond of it, even when just sitting in my spare room. Granted, it didnt fit Milo and I really only rode in it just over a dozen times, it sure was exactly what I wanted. Beautiful dark color, rawhide accenting, basketweave tooling, and all the little details...sigh. Such a pretty saddle. But now I can look forward to my new custom one! Should only be a few weeks left before finished!

GOOD Monday!

Sunshine, Fridays, and a Good Ride

Not only are Fridays the best day of the work week, but Fridays I get to spend extra time at the barn. While it might be because of cleaning pastures, I still appreciate the extra horse time. Yesterday, the sun was shining again, and I was eager all day long waiting for the clock to strike the end of the workday. I raced to the barn, wanting to strip off Milo's blanket and let him take in some sun rays. And I did just that, then flipped the blanket inside out over the fence rail to let the sun bake on the underside as well, after a long winter of darkness. Milo certainly appreciated his bare self.

I set to work cleaning the pastures, as the BO drove up with her trailer and loaded up Dusty for a trip to the vet for an ultrasound. Her pasture mate (although on the other side of the fence), Gracie, was not at all pleased about this catastrophic event, flipping her world entirely upside down. She raced up and down the pastures, showing off some acrobatic moves and whinnying all along the way.

Milo was disinterested in the world's new positioning, and instead gave Mom a mild heart attack as I feared what could happen...

He replaced the mild fear though with some laughs as I tended to cleaning his water trough.

GASP! Its coming towards me!!! 

Im still keeping an eye on you, runaway water. 

Chores done, I could now halter up Milo and prepare for a ride in the outdoor arena.

Although lessons were done in the indoor arena, I wanted to enjoy the sunshine while I could, and the nice footing in the outdoor. Although that meant the three riders hauling in would be using it, not only do I enjoy riding with them, but the arena is far large enough to comfortably fit the four of us.

I had been thinking about Milo working off the outside rein since our last ride on Thursday. I had discovered a few things about him and how much work would really be needed on both sides, and ended up deciding that I felt teaching him to balance off the outside rein might be better achieved by working in the snaffle. While I like the Turbo Lifter very much, I was not enjoying the amount of contact I was having to put on it, and when I started noticing a gaping mouth, decided that a much "milder" and flexible bit was necessary to gain his trust on the support of the outside rein.

I had scored a deal for a nice quick change western headstall on craigslist that I originally bought for back up in my trailer. But borrowed it from that location for the purpose to hold my snaffle and 5/8" reins. I was somewhat leery on how Milo would respond to the snaffle now that he has been out of it for a few months, because form previous experience, Milo would blow through the snaffle when brought back from a "bigger" bit.

But Milo pleasantly proved me wrong, and worked nicely in the snaffle. I think its safe to conclude that my "training" practices and methods that I were previously employing were the root of the problem when coming back to the snaffle. Yesterday, he quietly and willingly worked off it it, never trying to blow through it, but instead respecting it as I know Milo is capable of.

I was better able to work on training myself to hold steady on the outside rein, and bump with the inside as necessary, incorporating my leg aids when needed as well, especially traveling to the right. Trying to maintain a correct position and looking over my inside shoulder to displace my locked hip, Milo was traveling nicely and holding up the outside shoulder, balancing off the outside rein. We moved into arcing and counter arcing, first at the walk, then up to the trot in both directions. There were a few times when my timing was off and he instead tried to either"crab walk" or lock the shoulder and just move the hip. But with more concentration on the correct timing for the aid, things came together.

Up into the lope, and Milo was still working off the outside rein, and I was getting much more comfortable with maintaining a steady contact with it. Milo was moving nicely, but still requiring quite a bit of reminder to stay fluid through his body without locking up his shoulder and barrel as he most commonly likes to do. I would like to work more on arcing and counter arcing at the lope and have been touching on it a bit since my lesson, but I feel my timing is a big issue for us right now, as Sarah didnt tell me specifically the opportune moment to cue. Nonetheless, Milo worked nicely and even gave a small slide to my seat and Woah command. Good boy! He sure does like the outdoor arena footing over that in the indoor arena.

He did well the other direction as well, and I was really happy for working him in the snaffle, giving him a good opportunity to trust the outside rein. He wasnt noodley, or disconnected through his body as he previously was in the snaffle, but instead was utilizing his whole body nicely.

I was able to work on our halt and into the rollback. I broke it down easily and slowly to really make sure that he was balancing over the right leg, just like in a turnaround, as well as maintaining a steady turn with no anticipation to blow off into the new lead. Eventually, I did ask for a lope right off, but still kept the three part process in a slower and steady manner. It was highly beneficial for both myself and Milo, who was able to execute a solid, slower, rollback both directions.

I also worked on positioning his hip to the inside to begin our turnarounds, to which Milo was responding very well. Still only a few solid and correct steps with his inside leg brought up underneath him, but beautiful nonetheless, and as known he needs nothing but time to strengthen those hocks for a stronger, faster spin.

After a cool-down with walking fencing, I slid off and gave Milo huge pats. He was such a good boy, working so connected and well. There were minor moments where there was some disconnect, but he always came back and performed well. But that is expected when we are learning something new. It was a great ride, all in all.

Now, as promised, I got some better conformation photos for documentation for Milo's seventh birthday.

March 25, 2011 Kinda sweaty...

He looks so downhill!
Really, Milo? Thats the face for posterity?

Raining On A Thursday

Not just any Thursday, but Milo's Birthday Thursday. The weather teased me throughout the day, promising a beautiful sunny day in the morning, then as the clock ticked closer to the end of the work day, the rains came in and drowned out my plans for Milo.

Mom, its my birthday and its raining. Can we postpone the celebration so I can continue to hide in my shelter?

Not that the plans were elaborate by any means, all my extra cash is going towards the saddle. But I at least was going to bring him to the outdoor arena and get current conformation shots. Instead, I got stuck with these:



Hmm, turn on arena lights? Yes?



Mom, I hate to tell you but this birthday party was pretty lame...

I did give Milo a thorough grooming. Curry, curry, curry, scrape, scrape, scrape (Milo's shedding), brush, brush, brush. I even spent extra time on the hair on the underside of his fetlocks. Of course I check them over every grooming, but yesterday I really got all the dirt and mud out. I scratched all of his itchies, and stretched him all out. Milo seemed content with the extra attention.

And I couldnt help it. Lessons had just ended which left the arena open! I know, what a mean Mom to ride Milo on his birthday. But I did. I wanted to take advantage of a good riding opportunity and not save it for Friday where I know there are at least 3 lessons starting when I get there.

Two cones were left out so I was able to work on the same exercises I learned at my last lesson: arcing, and counter arcing at the walk and trot. Milo was moving nicely, and I continued to work on balacing him on the outside rein. It sure is hard for me to not creep up more with the left rein, and slack out on the right, as the left rein is the one I most dominantly want to ride off of. Milo was arcing and counter arcing nicely on the figure eight around the cones, I think in large part because Ive really been trying to stay centered with my cues, time them according to his footfalls, and bring my leg back straight, not curled.

I noticed something very important in that ride. I always thought that Milo tracking to the left was hardest, because that means he has to lean off of the right rein, not the left as he and I prefer. But in fact, as I worked him to the right, I discovered that it is easier for me to hold onto the left (outside) rein, but Milo is not bent through his body properly, and in fact has a very, very hard time traveling correctly this direction. As I would pick up the left rein, then remind him to balance off the outside with the right rein, he just did not want to actually balance off of the outside. He would hold the rein taught, but was not balancing off of it as I have felt him do nicely the other direction. I also found I still have little control over that shoulder (probably due to my position again, where I need to displace my hip by looking over my inside shoulder).

This became apparent when I was loping him this direction, then counter cantering on the same lead. He wanted to toss his head up and flail and fight against the outside rein, trying to blow his shoulder right through it. I eventually was able to get myself into a better body position which allowed him to keep his shoulder upright through the  counter canter. He definitely could not hold the counter canter for more than a half circle (correctly, at least) but what effort he could I would lope him off straight. He seemed to be a bit better on our last attempt at it, but I definitely see that this needs much more work at the slower levels and really get nit picking about him on the outside rein that direction. He did, however, lope nicely the other direction and counter cantered nicely that way as well.

Now you might notice that Milo is in his nylon halter in the last few photos. I hung up my rope halter, for however long, and have gone back to the nylon. I have always noticed when leading him the instability of the rope halter. The weight of the bull snap in conjunction with his movement, causes a somewhat pendulum swing of the lead rope, which in turn moves the halter from side to side. This had always irritated me, but after the Peggy clinic and having the halter demonstration done on myself from Sarah, I could really see the disconnect that the rope halter was creating.

So I put the nylon on, and at first was nervous on how snug it is. This was the first piece of horse tack I every bought, and I had bought it for Koalt, whose head is much smaller then Milo's. So the halter fits on Milo on the last hole. But it does fit more snug around his nose, and not tight around the poll area. It doesnt move from side to side and stays much more secure on his face. I also took my old lead rope and attached it to the right side and have even tried Peggy's "combing the line" exercise on it when leading Milo. I have honestly come to find that Milo doesnt drag behind me like usual when Im putting him back away, nor does he try and walk forward past me when I first lead him up to the barn. He tends to stay right at my shoulder with me. So for now, I will continue to use the nylon halter.

The Big Seven! And a Trail Ride

The Pacific Northwest enjoyed a beautiful day yesterday with temperatures reaching 61 degrees. It was warm and beautiful with the sunshine out. I had been itching to get on the trail the last few weeks, but every scheduled trail ride got canceled due to rain. Curse you rain! Normally, I wouldnt trail ride on a weekday as I dont get off work until 4:30, however after daylight savings time, the days have been long well into six, even seven o'clock.

Not wanting to miss a rare opporunity to jump out on the trail, I texted a friend who keeps her horse only a few short miles down the road from the barn. She was eager to trail ride too and hauled out to meet me. In the spirit of bareback riding, she joined me with her bareback pad. Helmeted, and "saddled up" we hit the trails, anticipating about an hour long trail ride. Just enough to get the horses out, and enough time to soak up some rays.

The walk to the trail head is usually met with a few hurdles: at least two "packs" of dogs, known to chase after people and horses, a cross over a quiet road, two curly horses (the horses always have to gawk at them), two goats, more dogs, and yesterday, a pogo stick.

Yes, we passed a boy bouncing on his pogo stick. Sproing, sproing, sproing. Milo had since passed all the previous death traps, as well as two oncoming bicyclists, but this pogo stick was bouncing up and down, taking the small child for a ride, and belching a rusty, creaking noise along the way. Milo stopped dead still and eyeballed (stared down) the evil bouncing torture device. We walked forward tow more steps, where he then stopped and pivoted around to stare at it some more. Naturally, the kid didnt realize what he was doing to my horse, and merrily kept bouncing along in his driveway. Milo was wound tighter then the coiled springs in that pogo stick. He was prancing in place as I tried to walk him forward from the terror, his every step poised and ready to explode forward if the pogo threat were to become too unbearable.

We did, finally, reach the trail head, but after the pogo incident it took a few minutes to get Milo back "under control" as now every rustle, dog walker, or even corner put him on high alert.

We wound our way through the first small trail, reaching the logging roads thereafter. An inviting slope encourged us to set to work, and I easily trotted Milo up it, still pushing him into using his body correctly to work up the hill, and even working on reaching into the balance of the outside rein. Milo was trotting well on the straight-of-ways, but an impeding corner would cause him to creen his head up and around, anticipating a monster around the corner.

Milo was working well, however, and throughout the ride I encouraged him to work off my outside rein (this being the right rein, as my terrible habit is to ride off the left rein). He was doing very well, and was really lifting up his back and engaging his core. I even worked on some arcing, and at one point where my friend needed to adjust her pad, worked on stepping him up nicely for a turnaround. Milo did very well. This is far different then the typical trail rides we embark on, where its mostly meandering at a walk and chatting with friends. But I had a purpose today in that I wanted him to really stretch out his legs and work up those hills.

Something felt different from the start of the ride and throughout. Nothing felt "off", or "not right" but something was definitely different. Milo's back felt odd. Now, we all know I ride in this bareback pad during every ride (unless its a lesson or horse show, to which I can borrow Sarah's saddle), and have grown very acustom to how my horse feels under it. His back felt, almost, taller, and more strong, to put it into words. He felt like he was really supporting my weight, and simply felt stronger.

We did enjoy a few more trot strides up hills and on straight of ways, then found a winding trail to weave our way back to the head. I had a general trail route in mind from the get-go, knowing these trails would offer hills, turns, and the perfect amount of time for riding. We zig zagged through this connecting trail at an even jog. Milo was working and engaged, breathing in and out steadily. I heard my friend's horse behind me, a bit more out of breath. Asking if she wanted to walk, she said no, and we continued jogging along. Reaching another logging trail and steeper hill, I asked if we could lope, to which my riding partner agreed. We loped easily up the hill, Milo still working nicely. It was only for a few strides until we reached the top and came down to a walk. Milo was puffing a little more now, and we put them on the last trail back to home.

The tree cover was blocking the falling light, and the sunglasses I had on darkened everything as well. We weaved through the trail and reached the large puddle. This is more like a small pond then a puddle, really, as it stays (but drains slightly) year-round. Knowing it would only be just above the fetlocks, we bagan wading through. In fact, after the rain the last two weeks, it was now definitely to the horse's knees. But they soldiered through nicely, I was proud of Milo who only snorted at it at the beginning.

Out of the puddle now and back on the way home, I patted Milo and told him what a good boy he was, allowing the rest of the walk home for cooldown. We walked back home chatting, and still enjoying the warm weather, even with the disappearing sun. I thanked my friend for coming out with me, and thought to myself that I should really try and incorporate a ride such as this one more often, to even once a week as allowed by the weather.

I didnt even break a sweat, Mom!

Now, on to the most important topic of the day, Milo is now 7 years old. Yep, its my little boy's birthday. He's grown up so fast! In honor of this, I have been posting segments of our early days together, I hope you have enjoyed reading the first installments as much as I have enjoyed revisiting those memories.

Happy Birthday, Justa Cool Milo.

Official birthday boy photos to come, as I visit with him after work this evening.

It Always Stems from Me

Last night I had another lesson with the fabulous Sarah. She was due to have a lesson at 4:00 and I would need to retrieve her truck and trailer from her and go get Milo myself to save on time. I was fine with the idea of hauling myself, I've driven Boyfriend's monser F350 many times:

My only concern was the fact that I would be driving someone else's truck and trailer, and if something happened my head (and wallet) was on the chopping board. I drove her Dodge dually and three horse trailer carefully, and was fortunte to have nearly completely clear roads. Milo loaded right up, I grabbed Sarah's bridle with the elevator bit, a brush, and my saddle pad and hit the road arriving back at Diamond Hill Ranch at about 5:10. The earlier lesson called saying they would be running behind and would arrive at about 5:30, just about the same time I would be due to get on. But I didnt really mind sharing my lesson time, so long as I was still getting one.

Sarah poked at Milo, and he showed some great displeasure in the usual area - his first ribs were out again. This just makes me feel awful every time we see Sarah and she finds his ribs are out again. Not only does it make me upset that for however long they have been out Milo has been uncomfortable, but it also makes me feel a bit incompetant to keeping it in place. I do the exercises Sarah shows me to do for him, and Im trying to work him as listed and over his back as possible, not to mention I dont have a saddle to be riding him in, so is my bareback seat really that bad to throw his ribs out again?

Ribs back in place however, we saddled up and off to the arena we went. I climbed back into the familiar About the Horse saddle, and Sarah looked at my position. She was pleased with my newly found seat, but then demonstrated that my hips were still locked. She pushed my knee from the ground and my leg wouldnt move. She then rolled my legs out a bit, as she said "like a frog on a ball". This rotated my hips wider and brought my knee away from the saddle and my calf on Milo's sides. She pushed on my knee again, this time it allowed my femur to move away from the pressure, thereby showing my hip was out of locked position. This would help me gain more control over my seat and work with my whole body and not just my leg.

It was interesting as I warmed Milo up and held my legs on him like a frog on a ball, because just the night before when I rode there were periods of our trot work that I had rotated my legs into this position and felt that it openend my seat better. But being as my knee was away from the saddle and always being taught that that is a big no-no for equitation, I put them back to their locked position. Even warming up Milo now, I mentioned to Sarah how I actually found this position more comfortable for my hips then that of before. While by the ride's end my legs, back, and core were totally and completely tired, I did feel that I was riding more communicative.

The other lesson arrrived and came into the arena. I immedietly recognized the horse and the rider's name from 4H shows and competitions. A very accomplished rider, this girl and her mother had hauled from an hour away across the Hood Canal Bridge to come here. We said Hi, and as Sarah worked on her saddle fitting, I warmed up Milo. He was feeling a bit goosey like usual, with his neck being as Sarah describes "a noodle". Which is expressed as Im written here by his bulging shoulder, his overdeveloped left side, and the fact that he may move his neck, but not his barrel or hip (hence the noodle term for his wiggly neck, or goosey for me). I was having a bit of frustrations with him getting off my left leg (and both cinches were a joined X mohair so my spurs kept getting caught, which Sarah apologized for), and lifting his back. We were working at the end of the arena where the cows are housed and he was a bit distracted.

Sarah turned to me and asked to see a lope departure. Thinking about straightess (but not being effective) I laid my leg back and smooched. Milo pinned his ears and hollowed out, scrambling into a lope. "Outside rein, Nina, outside rein" cascaded the all too familiar words from Sarah. I tried to explain how I was feeling on him: lifitng my outside rein (right side) only seemed to dump him even further into the circle on that overdeveloped and bulging left side. The more I applied outside rein, the more his neck bent (or noodled) to the inside with his nose poked out. With him being so heavy on that left leg all the bumping and spurring in the world wasnt getting him off of traveling inward. Sarah had me try again (outside rein, more outside rein...) but this time had be set him up perfectly straight before the departure. I picked up with my outside rein, pushed him barrel out with my inside leg (difficultly) displacing his weight to the outside for a lope departure from the rear, half halt briefly, then lope depart. It was a much better departure, but apparely I still was supporting with my outside rein. "Pick up your outside rein, Nina. More...more...more...keep picking it up until I tell you to stop" as I grabbed rein centimeter by centimeter, never wanting to have too much feel on his mouth Sarah finally made it clear again saying "He needs something to lean on. Right now you are just messing with him but not communicating effectively." When I picked up what felt like miles of rein and pushing his barrel out, we finally got a nice lope departure. "There, good job, now do that 500 more times." Woah, I said after a few lope strides, bringing him to a stop, then a back up.

"He's backing crooked," Sarah said. He was. He was pushing his hip to the left in the back. She had me push his hip out both ways then ask again for straighness, which he gave a very nice straight back then. She let me mull this over again and work on some transitions again on my own (with more outside rein), trying to get the feel of that last departure I needed to repeat 500 more times now. He was getting better, after after a few minutes she wanted me to work on serpentines with him to unlock his shoulder while she worked the other lesson.

The serpentines...did not go so well. Even though I had a lot more rein and was utilizing my outside rein, Milo still was really resistant to it diving into the new direction change shoulder first, bulging out. He wouldnt get off my left leg or rein and just as I was starting to feel like I couldnt ask any "harder" Sarah had me bring him over to her. She ran her hand down the muscle just in front of his left shoulder, a technique Peggy Cummings does (although I dont remember the name now). Milo braced against her hand, raising his head up and "turtling back" as Sarah says he does. "Right now, his shoulders are locked. We need him to lift his wither but he can't with these locked shoulders." As Milo walked away from he hand pressure, he finally stopped and relaxed, letting her help him release the tension in that shoulder. She then ran he hand down the front of his shoulder, grasping a muscle down in the front and lifting up. Milo backed away from that, as those muscles have been "taught" to do (turtling back) but finally stopped and lifted his wither up, dropping his head. "Good Boy" Sarah said, all the while explaining to me how this was beneficial and how he needed to unlock those shoulders and allow his wither to lift. She went to the other side and did the same on that shoulder. Milo walked out of the pressure, but this time was not bracing against it. She said sometimes the horse has to walk to release the tension, "Your so smart Milo," she said, "knowing you have to walk, good boy." He released nicely, and lifted his wither and her hand in the front.

Sarah then said that she felt Milo needed the "lifter bit" now. He needs something more fixed in his mouth, not joined like the elevator. She directed me to its location in the trailer and I found it, looking at the strange bit I had in my hands:

This bit concept, but stainless steel and without the showy dots.

Always concered about what is being put in my horse's mouth, I asked the mechanices of this bit. She said it works just like the elevator, but is fixed so it will help him stay straight (less noodle effect) and lift at his wither. She said he might be a bit fussy with it at first but he should pick it up fine. She was right. At first, he very dramatically bent his head to the right pushing his neck and shoulder out to the left (basically overexaggerating what he was already doing before). But he didnt mouth it or fight it so much as he did when the elevator bit first got put in (maybe he likes the tongue relief of the port more, or maybe it feels much like the elevator, Im not sure). Said had me hold on the outside rein, then pick up a bit on the left and push his barrel over just as we did before. More outside rein, was the usual command, she stated very clearly again that I have to support him with the outside rein especially in this bit. Its a shank bit and does not have the flexibility of a snaffle. Sarah said this bit was not only going to help Milo achieve more straightness and lift, but it was also going to make me use my whole body more, not just my hands. I thought, gee I dont use my hands that much anymore, I never want to get on my horse's face. But Sarah saw differently very quickly and adressed that I was riding with my right hip forward.

She said that when your horse is drifting out with that shoulder, first thing you need to adress is yourself. Milo is used to you riding with that hip forward. He moves easily to the right because that is the direction of my hip, but moving to the left is harder because my hip isnt allowing him to travel correctly that way. To combat this, she told me that when I feel that shoulder moving out, I need to literally look over my inside shoulder. This displaces my hip to the outside and allows him to follow suit with his shoulder. I did, and she asked if I saw the difference in my horse. Yes, I did, he stopped bulging the shoulder out. But I then said that I didnt feel anything differnt in my body. She said I wouldnt now, its very slight, but eventually I will. She had me work on his, and give Milo a chance to figure out the bit as she turned back to the other side of the arena for the other lesson.

This really was working. I was supporting with my outside rein, and it was allowing Milo to travel straight, even with lift at the wither. We worked on a large circle, then serpentines, then straight lines, all the while focusing on straightness and an outside rein (and my hip). I picked him up to a trot and he moved easily in that gait as well. After a few transitions and one final nice halt and back, Sarah's other lesson was over, and my body was spent. I dismounted and gave Milo a pat. Sarah showed me how to relax Milo's shoulder muscles on the ground as she had done before, and the differences in Milo's posture and neck were amazing.

Absolutely exhausted and tired in every muscle of my body (as Im sure Milo was too) we untacked and loaded up. Sarah said she would leave a headstall out at her place this afternoon (she leaves for a horseshow today) with the bit on it and I could take that and use on Milo now, replacing the elevator. Im excited to ride more in it, as Sarah had said last night, Milo is coming along so much better then the first time she met me, which made me feel great.

ETA: I as thinking back on this lesson again after posting, and realized I missed another key point (so much knowledge coming its hard to remember every imporant detail), and that was that I can be WAY to easy or "nice" to my horse. I feel that I always want to give Milo the benefit of th doubt, a release for even the slightest effort. An example of this was right after we put the new bit on, and I asked Milo to lift up then walk forward. He lifted, but after a leg cue for forward moved his head side to side, hollowed, out, pinned ears, and swished his tail basically saying "no way I dont want to lift and go forward too diificult, I dont wanna." I asked for lift again, and forward this time I got forward but no lift, I somewhat unconsciously gave him back some face after he moved forward. Sarah pushed saying I am NOT to give him his head when he didnt give me his back. I basically told him "Oh Milo, its ok if you didnt lift up, Im just happy you walked forward." This makes a lot of sense, I do that a lot and its always at the halt to walk transition, its basically Milo giving me the finger and me saying tha I appreciate the thought. I was glad for Sarah to sharply address this saying I CANNOT do that.

She also had to remind me to keep some contact on the bit. She said she liked that I want to let him stretch down and she likes that I have softer hands, but he needs to work off of the bit or else the purpose of this bit is not going to be achieved. Its easier said then done, the reins just seem to slip out of my hands on their own. I guess Im just used to giving Milo some rein when he stretches down, which is great, but he still needs to be flexed at the poll with his head stretched too. She reminded me that it is ok for me to pick up on the bit, I just have to keep reminding myself of that when I ride him without the Hawk Eyes of Sarah.

Straight on Circles

I had taken an interest in the book, Equine Fitness: A Program of Exercises and Routines for Your Horse when fellow blogger, in2paints made a post about the book she had purchased on her blog, R Lil Bit of Cash. Interested, I followed the link, and took a peek inside the book, not really expecting anything. But as I got to reading, I discovered that I was really liking what my eyes were presenting to me, and was actually learning a fair amount as well. I scrolled to the end where it shows some of the difference excersises and how you can apply them to a personal fitness routine for your horse. I thought that the book definitely would be worth the $13.98, and I placed an order for one myself.

But even what I had read online had gotten me thinking. I have been much more interested about learning more about a symmetrical horse, and how I can work with Milo to help with weaker side. I learned a valuable lesson from the one read so far, and that is to not over work the weaker side to try and compensate for it's deficiencies. This only fatigues the weaker side, but doesnt build strength. Insead, it suggested flexing the muscles themselves. For instance, Milo is stronger and bulges out to his left side. When traveling on what should be a straight line, the larger side extends, and his weaker side contracts, and I am always working on bending him around my inside leg. I was formerly trying to work him a lot on that side, trying to loosen it up. I should be tracking that direction, but not focusing so much on that side, but rather have him working the weaker, or outside side. Does this make sense?

So when riding Milo last night I was focusing on quite a few things. I was trying to maintain a correct body position (which I now only need to remind myself of about every minute, not every ten seconds!), and work Milo straightly. Its hard to describe in words, Ive always been much better on just visualizing it in my head and feeling what it is, so forgive me if my explaination is hard to follow,  or doesnt make any sense at all.

Tracking Milo to the left, I have more on my outside rein to support him. Milo naturally would want to bulge himself into the inside, not round up towards the outside. So holding with my outside rein, I would bump lightly with the inside rein and hold with my inside leg to encourage him to wrap himself around that leg. He was starting to do really well about fifteen minutes into our work (all at a walk still). Then I would try and maintain his shoulder control by stepping outside of the circle, but maintaining the inside arc. When Milo would do it correctly, he would have a beautifully lifted left shoulder( (not becoming the outside shoulder) and track around to the right.

Once loosened up, I walked him into a circle on the right track. Now this would normally be "easy" for Milo to appear bent to the inside as he would bulge himself to the left outside. But Milo needed to maintain straightness through his body, while even on the circle, to build up muscle on the inside and quit bulging to the outside. So I would hold with my outside rein as usual for support, but bump that same side when he would bulge out, causing him to lift up into straightness and travel around the circle correctly. It was great how straight Milo was working now, just through some conscious effort on my part. I let him walk out for a few strides for a reward, then uped the anti to a straight circle (doesnt that sound contradictory? LOL) then move out onto the inside track of the ring, then back into a circle. It was great work.

Moving into the jog, Milo did just as well as he was working at the walk. And I was making emphasis to use my leg for speed or direction, and only my spur for lift. There was some confusion (by both parties - me reverting back to old ways) at first, but by the end Milo was starting to get the feel for it.

We finally (correction, I finally) started working on our downward transitions through my seat and really trying to release my lower back for a rolled hip stop. Milo was sensitive to my weight changes and stopped hollow the first few tries. But my back wasnt soft, just sitting harder. I really tried to focus on my lower back and have independancy from the rest of my back. Finally, I was starting to touch on some better control over it and we were getting some nicer stops.

By about five minutes more of try, I finally was able to roll my seat and Milo executed a beautiful lifted stop and went directly into a back. I slid off his back almost before his feet stopped moving. That was what I was wanting to end on. Good Milo. Good Mom too, for finally getting some body control!

So Im excited to get the book and start reading it, learning more about the muscular structure of the horse and how they all work together and independantly, and how to develop a sound "program" for my horse. I will definitely be giving a review once I complete the book.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Milo raced my truck down the driveway as I pulled in off the highway. He bucked, leaped and reared an galloped alongside the fenceline coming to a screeching halt at the gate. He threw his head over the gate and blew out hard, tail flagging. Well, at least he's definitely feeling better, I thought to myself.

I haltered him up and lead him up the driveway. Milo marched alongside me, eager to make it to the barn. When in the crossties, I ran my hands down his legs and hooves and all was still cold from the day before. I probably dont need to be checking anymore, but Im scared that something will come up without my searching!

I groomed him quickly, then threw the old familiar pink bareback pad on his back. Milo danced a little in the crossties, excited for this sign of work to come. He calmed down and I led him out to the roundpen, to watch him move and really make sure he was sound before swinging my leg over.

He flagged his tail a bit on the longeline and looked around at the happenings around him (which was none, but Milo needed an excuse to feel spunky). Satisfied at the walk, I sent him into a trot and pushed his body away from mine to see if he would reach up underneath and out on that left hind leg. Milo obliged willingly and showed no signs of ouchy on the hoof. I loped him and continued to scrutinize his gait, but still did not see anything. I made him rollback off to the other direction and he swung around on that leg easily, loping off into the new direction. A few more rotations and I was satisfied.

Leading him into the arena, Milo put his head up into the air and took a deep breath in. We walked into the covered arena and I replaced his halter with the bridle. Positioning him next to the mounting block, I easily slid onto his back. Milo was very hollowed out with a head up looking at the two other horses in a lesson. I bumped my legs on his sides and he dropped his head a millameter. Pushing him up and into the bridle I walked him off loosely. The first lap around the arena Milo was distracted and looking around.

Milo's posture had definitely changed after the two weeks off, and it was taking a lot of effort on my part to get him back into the swing of things. Then I remembered I was needing to work on my position still. So I lifted my sternum and blew out the birthday candles. I had to continue telling myself to do these things every few minutes as I would relapse back to my old posture. This mustve been exactly what Milo had to do as we would have a few nice strides and he would hollow out again.

I walked Milo in circles each direction, guiding him with the outside rein and pushing him into the arc with my inside leg. He was bulging his left shoulder out, and when turning to the left, was stiff to bend inside. Things we were needing to work on before the two week layup, but quite apparent that night. After a bit of work however, and constant reminder on my part to position myself correctly, he finally started to get back where he should be and lifted up and sighed, ready for some work. We worked on keeping our backs mirrored of each others, shoulders up and straight, and for Milo especially, moving off my outside leg. But after a while, we both had some successful circles each direction.

I pushed Milo into a straight line and worked on staying balanced and centered and keeping his shoulders up and straight - no bulging. It took a few tries, but Milo got it. I tried to roll my hips down for a halt. The first few attemps Milo stopped hollow. I knew it was because I wasnt actually rolling my hips, more, dropping my seat and not riding.

After a few more tries, I finally got my hips to move independantly, and Milo stopped nicely. By the third attempt with a correct rolled hip, Milo stopped beautifully with his hip down and his back up. Good Milo, I said, and slid off of his back, patting his neck. Milo sighed, closed his eyes, and licked his lips.

A New Kind of "Training"

Heres a little background before I continue: As a teenager, I got enthralled in the "Natural Horsemanship" techniques. I approved of the ideas of a horse being respectful (aka, human in dominance), submissive (that may be caused by fear or pain), and obedient (I always liked to believe it was willing on the horse's part, but through a lot of self analysis by what I actually believe should be correct, I have come to find my previous "training" methods were in coercive attempts to "make" the horse do what I wanted).

I was a good follower of Clinton Anderson methods, and believed in his statements like "Whoever moves their feet first loses" with the idea that we need to constantly keep our horse's feet moving to ensure "respect" or dominance from the animal. It seemed like a correct idea to me at the time, and thats what I did in working with horses. I also followed the progression of pressure in his methods whereby you ask first with say a raised (or pointed) hand, cluck, lift the stick, and spank with said stick it needed.

Now, my thoughts on this method are changing. I no longer agree with "needing to move my horse's feet first" or a series of pressure progression through the idea that at the end there will be pain to force the horse into submission of what the handler wants. My idea, or what I would like to see and change towards, is a horse of willing compliance, or a better term as a willing partner. I want to work with my horse where we are both willing to work together as a partnership. I believe this cannot be successfully accomplished through the threat of a reprimand, mind games of dominance, or any other method whereby the human or handler makes the horse comply through force or aggression.

Im evaluating my own work with Milo (or any other horse) I would use that threat of reprimand, or pain, to say make him stay forward on a longeline. I would use these mind games of dominance, respect, and submission to consistently tell my horse that I am in charge and you must do as I say. I dont like this idea of a forced partner, because that isnt a true partner. While I may agree that the horse should see you as a leader, it is in a different definition. I want my horse to look to me for guidance, security, and direction. But not because Ive forced him too, but because he wants to and sees me as that safe protector.

These new ideas for me have become more apparent since my last lesson with Sarah. Where she noted that I was overriding and pumping with my seat, and my response was that I felt as though I was constantly telling him to go, go, go. And once she had me ride in a quietly secured and soft seat, my horse very willingly stayed forward - it didnt require me constantly telling him to keep going. This is where Ive made a connection to how Milo mustve been thinking through all of my riding like this: it's like when your a teenager (or even an adult) and someone tells you to do something, so you do it, but they continue to keep telling you long after you are already doing said thing. Clearly, you are going to get frustrated, or aggrivated because you are doing what they are saying but the nagging continues. This is what I believe was going on with Milo and I. Simply because I kept telling him to do it, he wanted to "rebel" against it and not do it (and trust me, this is the type of thing Milo would most certainly be capable of, as it is evident that he was). But when I finally just asked for forward and once he did, I quit asking, he very willingly kept going forward. Milo mustve had the biggest relief when I finally stopped repeating myself.

So back to the topic, I want to change my riding habits. In my mind, I already know that I no longer agree with these ideas from "Natural Horsemanship" training that force, coerce, or inflict any demands from the horse. I want a willing partner to work with me, not for me, or against me. And I believe that this can not only be accomplished under saddle as referenced, but I want to see to it that my groundwork methods are altered to accommodate these new ideals. I will just have to learn now, how to longe or perform groundwork in ways that I dont know, as my only knowledge of groundwork are through methods that I no longer agree with. Hopefully Sarah can shed some guidance on this, and I am very interested in reading Peggy Cummins book on Connected Groundwork and placed an order for it. I cant wait until it comes, but it releases February 11.