Nicht was ich dachte
At the beginning of the week today was booked with four lessons. Then my 7am had a family thing followed by 9am coming down sick, and then it rained last night, but not much. My 10am sent me a text this morning saying he wasn't feeling well so I worked Tru-D and she did quite well. I've only worked her in the roundpen three or four times now and she really is getting it. Especially since the arena is blocked from traffic by the house and the roundpen is about 20' from the road if that. Added that Dave was trimming trees while I was working her she did awesome. After sendinf her around a bit I put one of the bitless bridles on her and worked on bending and then asking her to turn on the forehand and then haunches. She is such a quick study! I just asked for one step each time, but once she figured out what it was I was asking she very willingly moved over. For a filly who thought all people were going to eat her eight months agonahe has become quite the people pleaser!
I need to retrieve my bithanger from Sue so I can start throwing a bitted bridle on her so she can get used to the bit. I don't have any intention of working her in a bit until she has a full mouth because this line of thought just makes sense to me (why put a bit in when they're still losing baby teeth?). I would like to see how far I can take her up the levels in Dressage and see what we can do driving, which will require her working in a bit unless the USDF decides to change things in the next two to three years.
After working Tru-D I pulled Tabbi out because what else was I to do being lessonless, right? Tabbi had a bit of sass to work out, which was fine by me. Last I had her out she was a little tender footed so seeing her spring in the air and run off a bit was good. She really needs to gain some muscle mass. You can tell in her hip especially. Marty's feeding her as much as her other two mares combined so she isn't wanting any groceries. She does tend to eat slowly and for some strange reason prefers the stems of the alfalfa to the leaves. If I can't find the time to lunge her a few times a week I need to see about maybe having a working student or two do it. I think I can trust Susanne and Roxanne both so that would give me two and then I would just need to do once, which is more feasible with my crazy schedule and hopefully the exercise can both jumpstart her appetite and start building more muscle on her.
I also played with bending and turn on the haunches and forehand. She was a bit more resistant than Tru-D, but loads better than where she was when it took a good 10 minutes before she would give on one side.
After working Tabbi I called to check on my away lesson. They got more rain than we did so we threw in the towel until next week. I did have a new potential client come out for a meet and greet and we set up for her daughter to start the first week of November.
Chris, the boys and I went into town and picked up two new pairs of pants for me. I was down to one for the last few months because in the spring I picked up breeches instead since they are about the same cost, (should) wear longer, are more comfortable (particularly riding), and aren't so hot in the summer.
When we got back home roads were flooded, the washes were running, and the places where washes used to be were flooded. Apparently we got absolutely dumped on the hour and a half or so we were out!
This was not a good week for lessons apparently. I had over twenty booked and ended up with only 14 (which is still a good amount). Next week should be better.
Rolo was 14.5 lbs when we had her at the vet for her shot. She has gained six pounds since we brought her home. She is doing really well with her potty training. We did have two accidents the last week, but that was our fault and sometimes it's hard to wrangle two toddlers and a puppy!
Wednesday I had three horses to ride. Royal is getting better now that we have a saddle that fits. He and Debbie are still figuring each other out, but he is doing pretty well for me. Then I met Kathryn and worked Oakley (young Kentucky Mountain Horse who may or may not have a chunk of Paso Finonin him, she does endurance on him and is hoping to get a 50 in this spring) and man is that little guy a pistol! I knew he was zoomy, but I spent almost 40 minutes convincing him that walking was the answer. He did give me some lovely, stretchy walks, but as soon as his head came up he was gaiting. There were a lot of circles. So many circles! When he did give me a consistent walk I actively asked him up and we did a brisk canter, maybe a slow gallop. He doesn't like his right lead. I tried my best, but the left stirrup was also a half hole longer than the right I think and as I tried to set him up he would just pile his weight on that right shoulder. He did swap behind on our last set, which was less than comfortable. I told Kathryn to get him to pick up his right lead we'll need a place to work him where I can do some large circles because straight farm roads that go on for a mile straight aren't helping to convince him that the right lead is a good idea. She also agreed that her left fender may be stretched and not helping. I'll be shortening my stirrups another hole next week on him (I have stubby legs, Kathryn is my height and this will put me three holes shorter than her).
After Oakley I put an hour in on Bud, which included trying to take my two-point time. It might not have been the best idea after working two other horses, but I managed to endure the burn to six minutes, which is about 1:45 better than my base time.
So lined up for next week I moved Debbie to Tuesday so I don't have a stack of four Wednesday morning (three of which I've been riding!), two lessons Monday, four Tuesday, two lessons and two horses to work Wednesday, four Thursday, five Friday, and if everyone shows up five or possibly six on Saturday. Keeping in mind that hours in lessons doesn't include time spent feeding and caring for the herd. I need to muck Monday too because I didn't have my usual muckers Thursday, Friday, OR today!
Chris has another interview on Monday (yay!). Never heard back from the other one. Chris suspects they were looking for another woman. The HR lady that set up the interview was really excited, but the women who actually interviewed him were much less so. Onward to more opportunities!
I need to retrieve my bithanger from Sue so I can start throwing a bitted bridle on her so she can get used to the bit. I don't have any intention of working her in a bit until she has a full mouth because this line of thought just makes sense to me (why put a bit in when they're still losing baby teeth?). I would like to see how far I can take her up the levels in Dressage and see what we can do driving, which will require her working in a bit unless the USDF decides to change things in the next two to three years.
After working Tru-D I pulled Tabbi out because what else was I to do being lessonless, right? Tabbi had a bit of sass to work out, which was fine by me. Last I had her out she was a little tender footed so seeing her spring in the air and run off a bit was good. She really needs to gain some muscle mass. You can tell in her hip especially. Marty's feeding her as much as her other two mares combined so she isn't wanting any groceries. She does tend to eat slowly and for some strange reason prefers the stems of the alfalfa to the leaves. If I can't find the time to lunge her a few times a week I need to see about maybe having a working student or two do it. I think I can trust Susanne and Roxanne both so that would give me two and then I would just need to do once, which is more feasible with my crazy schedule and hopefully the exercise can both jumpstart her appetite and start building more muscle on her.
I also played with bending and turn on the haunches and forehand. She was a bit more resistant than Tru-D, but loads better than where she was when it took a good 10 minutes before she would give on one side.
After working Tabbi I called to check on my away lesson. They got more rain than we did so we threw in the towel until next week. I did have a new potential client come out for a meet and greet and we set up for her daughter to start the first week of November.
Chris, the boys and I went into town and picked up two new pairs of pants for me. I was down to one for the last few months because in the spring I picked up breeches instead since they are about the same cost, (should) wear longer, are more comfortable (particularly riding), and aren't so hot in the summer.
When we got back home roads were flooded, the washes were running, and the places where washes used to be were flooded. Apparently we got absolutely dumped on the hour and a half or so we were out!
This was not a good week for lessons apparently. I had over twenty booked and ended up with only 14 (which is still a good amount). Next week should be better.
Rolo was 14.5 lbs when we had her at the vet for her shot. She has gained six pounds since we brought her home. She is doing really well with her potty training. We did have two accidents the last week, but that was our fault and sometimes it's hard to wrangle two toddlers and a puppy!
Wednesday I had three horses to ride. Royal is getting better now that we have a saddle that fits. He and Debbie are still figuring each other out, but he is doing pretty well for me. Then I met Kathryn and worked Oakley (young Kentucky Mountain Horse who may or may not have a chunk of Paso Finonin him, she does endurance on him and is hoping to get a 50 in this spring) and man is that little guy a pistol! I knew he was zoomy, but I spent almost 40 minutes convincing him that walking was the answer. He did give me some lovely, stretchy walks, but as soon as his head came up he was gaiting. There were a lot of circles. So many circles! When he did give me a consistent walk I actively asked him up and we did a brisk canter, maybe a slow gallop. He doesn't like his right lead. I tried my best, but the left stirrup was also a half hole longer than the right I think and as I tried to set him up he would just pile his weight on that right shoulder. He did swap behind on our last set, which was less than comfortable. I told Kathryn to get him to pick up his right lead we'll need a place to work him where I can do some large circles because straight farm roads that go on for a mile straight aren't helping to convince him that the right lead is a good idea. She also agreed that her left fender may be stretched and not helping. I'll be shortening my stirrups another hole next week on him (I have stubby legs, Kathryn is my height and this will put me three holes shorter than her).
After Oakley I put an hour in on Bud, which included trying to take my two-point time. It might not have been the best idea after working two other horses, but I managed to endure the burn to six minutes, which is about 1:45 better than my base time.
So lined up for next week I moved Debbie to Tuesday so I don't have a stack of four Wednesday morning (three of which I've been riding!), two lessons Monday, four Tuesday, two lessons and two horses to work Wednesday, four Thursday, five Friday, and if everyone shows up five or possibly six on Saturday. Keeping in mind that hours in lessons doesn't include time spent feeding and caring for the herd. I need to muck Monday too because I didn't have my usual muckers Thursday, Friday, OR today!
Chris has another interview on Monday (yay!). Never heard back from the other one. Chris suspects they were looking for another woman. The HR lady that set up the interview was really excited, but the women who actually interviewed him were much less so. Onward to more opportunities!