Miscellaneous
I rode Panda for the first time at the property. Roxanne and I went over to do her lesson and she warmed up Gypsy as I set the letters up. They are in by no means perfect position as I have them jammed in the cinder blocks, whichever one was closest to the measurement. I need to take some tape over and get them properly positioned (or acquire some stand alone letters).
I bridled up Panda and led her in before replacing the pole (nice thing about the set up: enter "gate" can be anywhere!).
I started Roxanne literally walking through Intro test A to get the pattern down before introducing the trot bits one at a time. Panda was a bit tight and a little worried, but since I was teaching I didn't really put her to work to move her through her anxiety. As it was she wasn't wanting to stand still well half the time and she felt like she was looking for excuses to jump out of her skin. She hasn't been off property since the New Mexico fiasco trip.
A landscaping truck went through the intersection and hit one of the bumps making a loud CLANG, which sent Panda scooting forward. I hyper-focused on the arena fence and had a slight panic myself before properly engaging my turning aids and swung her around 3/4s of a circle before bringing her back down. I admit for my part I was a bit up too so we had a bit of a negative feedback loop going. I went ahead and dismounted, standing with Panda out of the way as I taught the rest of the lesson. Wouldn't you know she stood stock still the whole time. Goober.
I finished the lesson with Roxanne and climbed on again as she was cooling out. Panda and I were both a bit up still and I could feel myself getting sucked forward and in her face. The moments I sat back and released more she did much better. I think I should throw the Western saddle on next time as I am more mentally secure in it (was Was in my dressage saddle, which is a little big on me too, doesn't help). She just needs to get out more again. It's been too long since she has REALLY been anywhere. It has also been a while since she has been honestly challenged in her work.
First of February I call Christa. Perhaps fate is conspiring in her favor to get Panda back.
Today was day one of the driving clinic! Mostly it was harnessing and unharnessing and hooking up to the carts and wagons. Dan had brought a White Horse forecart and man it was NICE. The axel adjusts forward and back to balance the cart according to your horse and load and the assembly for the pole or shafts just has a good sturdy pin keeping it in place, no wrench required! I would probably lean towards a nice two wheel pleasure/marathon cart, but the White Horse forecart is tempting! Bill bought the cart off of Dan before the day was out.
Dan had a new draft pony freshly shipped from the Midwest. Poor thing was a good 400lbs overweight. She came in on a scale at 1700lbs! They put a 27" collar on her and I bet if she lost weight she would drop down to a 23" her crest was so big. Her back had a noticable gutter and her tailhead was a mere dimple on top of her butt. She was also a bit downhill and in need of a farrier, but adorable in a clunky, awkward way. I'll have to post a picture.
Not a whole lot of new information, but you get different stories each time and the social aspect is fun along with getting to work with the horses. I drove the plow once and had a hand on each of the horses except for the grey Percherons (will have to drive them tomorrow). Tomorrow they should pull out the cultervator and the fresno.
I did poorly taking pictures, but being Not Pregnant this time I was busy doing!
We're thinking of asking Bill and Lori about doing a feed lease on Dick and Doc in the comming Fall. There was vauge thoughts last year, but we didn't quite have a place to put them. Once things across the way are more set up we'll certainly have the space and being down to five of our own we may just have some fun working them over the winter so they don't sit for three or four months before the clinic. Contemplations. Of course it will be good to get Ruby and Charm-N driving as a team too, but having one ready to go on loan might be nice!
To bed for another long day tomorrow!
I bridled up Panda and led her in before replacing the pole (nice thing about the set up: enter "gate" can be anywhere!).
I started Roxanne literally walking through Intro test A to get the pattern down before introducing the trot bits one at a time. Panda was a bit tight and a little worried, but since I was teaching I didn't really put her to work to move her through her anxiety. As it was she wasn't wanting to stand still well half the time and she felt like she was looking for excuses to jump out of her skin. She hasn't been off property since the New Mexico fiasco trip.
A landscaping truck went through the intersection and hit one of the bumps making a loud CLANG, which sent Panda scooting forward. I hyper-focused on the arena fence and had a slight panic myself before properly engaging my turning aids and swung her around 3/4s of a circle before bringing her back down. I admit for my part I was a bit up too so we had a bit of a negative feedback loop going. I went ahead and dismounted, standing with Panda out of the way as I taught the rest of the lesson. Wouldn't you know she stood stock still the whole time. Goober.
I finished the lesson with Roxanne and climbed on again as she was cooling out. Panda and I were both a bit up still and I could feel myself getting sucked forward and in her face. The moments I sat back and released more she did much better. I think I should throw the Western saddle on next time as I am more mentally secure in it (was Was in my dressage saddle, which is a little big on me too, doesn't help). She just needs to get out more again. It's been too long since she has REALLY been anywhere. It has also been a while since she has been honestly challenged in her work.
First of February I call Christa. Perhaps fate is conspiring in her favor to get Panda back.
Today was day one of the driving clinic! Mostly it was harnessing and unharnessing and hooking up to the carts and wagons. Dan had brought a White Horse forecart and man it was NICE. The axel adjusts forward and back to balance the cart according to your horse and load and the assembly for the pole or shafts just has a good sturdy pin keeping it in place, no wrench required! I would probably lean towards a nice two wheel pleasure/marathon cart, but the White Horse forecart is tempting! Bill bought the cart off of Dan before the day was out.
Dan had a new draft pony freshly shipped from the Midwest. Poor thing was a good 400lbs overweight. She came in on a scale at 1700lbs! They put a 27" collar on her and I bet if she lost weight she would drop down to a 23" her crest was so big. Her back had a noticable gutter and her tailhead was a mere dimple on top of her butt. She was also a bit downhill and in need of a farrier, but adorable in a clunky, awkward way. I'll have to post a picture.
Not a whole lot of new information, but you get different stories each time and the social aspect is fun along with getting to work with the horses. I drove the plow once and had a hand on each of the horses except for the grey Percherons (will have to drive them tomorrow). Tomorrow they should pull out the cultervator and the fresno.
I did poorly taking pictures, but being Not Pregnant this time I was busy doing!
We're thinking of asking Bill and Lori about doing a feed lease on Dick and Doc in the comming Fall. There was vauge thoughts last year, but we didn't quite have a place to put them. Once things across the way are more set up we'll certainly have the space and being down to five of our own we may just have some fun working them over the winter so they don't sit for three or four months before the clinic. Contemplations. Of course it will be good to get Ruby and Charm-N driving as a team too, but having one ready to go on loan might be nice!
To bed for another long day tomorrow!