I rode Abner on Thanksgiving, a little while before we ate. He was really speedy, but overall he was great. I lunged him after I rode because he kept trying to take off into the canter (although, I admit that I wasn't feeling good and wasn't riding my best), and he was great on the lunge line as always.
I taught Julia, Debra's niece, to lunge Aby. He was a very good guy, and incredibly gentle. I stood in the center with her and held the lunge whip.
Abner is starting to get back in shape, and I think he's going to look great when winter is over. We have been working on getting a nice extended trot, and we've had to work especially hard at getting a working walk. Abner prefers to walk like he's taking a Sunday morning stroll after church, so if I let him pick the pace we don't get anywhere at all.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Funny Fact
Yesterday, I found out that Abner would rather jump a small puddle (seriously, I can jump across it!) than step in it.
He also pretty much refuses to step outside when it is extra muddy, or raining. I don't mind, and he is used to being loose in the aisle while I do stalls. If I put up a stall guard, he attempts to crawl under it.
I love the looks he gives me when I ask him to do something he doesn't want to do- he's such a princess. (For Christmas, I'm asking for a bling browband and hoof glitter. I'm pretty much turning him into a my little pony- he loves it!)
He also pretty much refuses to step outside when it is extra muddy, or raining. I don't mind, and he is used to being loose in the aisle while I do stalls. If I put up a stall guard, he attempts to crawl under it.
I love the looks he gives me when I ask him to do something he doesn't want to do- he's such a princess. (For Christmas, I'm asking for a bling browband and hoof glitter. I'm pretty much turning him into a my little pony- he loves it!)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
11/22/09
I have been teaching my dad to lunge, because he has dreams of getting his old horse, Lady, back in shape. She's actually only about 17, but she has had soundness issues and has never been worked consistently. She is FINALLY sound, and my dad wanted to watch me lunge her today. I didn't tack her up, because I wasn't sure how far we would get with the lunging.
She started out like a maniac- rearing, bucking, striking out. I kept her working until she wanted to stop, and then I worked her some more. We finished when she was able to walk and trot in a nice circle like a good citizen. Hopefully she will stay sound enough to continue to get in shape! Here are a few pictures I have of Lady. As you can tell from the pictures, she loves to roll in the mud- no matter how hard we try, she is always dirty.
Abner was his usual wonderful self today. I rode him around for a few minutes bridleless, and he was great. I let my dad lunge him for a while, and they both learned a lot. I lunged Abner once my dad was done, and he was relaxed and calm. Dad is going to lunge him for me once a week, that way he can continue to get in shape.
She started out like a maniac- rearing, bucking, striking out. I kept her working until she wanted to stop, and then I worked her some more. We finished when she was able to walk and trot in a nice circle like a good citizen. Hopefully she will stay sound enough to continue to get in shape! Here are a few pictures I have of Lady. As you can tell from the pictures, she loves to roll in the mud- no matter how hard we try, she is always dirty.
Abner was his usual wonderful self today. I rode him around for a few minutes bridleless, and he was great. I let my dad lunge him for a while, and they both learned a lot. I lunged Abner once my dad was done, and he was relaxed and calm. Dad is going to lunge him for me once a week, that way he can continue to get in shape.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
11/21/09
Abner and I had a really good workout today! This morning, I went out and free lunged him around the field- he moves around me in a perfect circle, as if he is attached to a lunge line! It's really interesting, and I got some really beautiful pictures of him. As much as I love seeing pictures of him all cleaned up, I cannot resist him when he is natural and fluffy like a big teddy bear.
This evening, my dad asked me to teach him to lunge. I brought out Abner, who is the only horse we have who lunges well. We did a lunging lesson, and then I decided to see if Abner would trot through the puddle in our field. He jumped it! He's not a bad jumper at all, and he was SO SO proud of himself. I could feel him prancing around when I was walking and trotting around after. Here's a picture that I took of him when I was trying to get him to come in for dinner- he didn't want to walk through the mud, but was finally coaxed inside with a couple of treats.
This evening, my dad asked me to teach him to lunge. I brought out Abner, who is the only horse we have who lunges well. We did a lunging lesson, and then I decided to see if Abner would trot through the puddle in our field. He jumped it! He's not a bad jumper at all, and he was SO SO proud of himself. I could feel him prancing around when I was walking and trotting around after. Here's a picture that I took of him when I was trying to get him to come in for dinner- he didn't want to walk through the mud, but was finally coaxed inside with a couple of treats.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
How Do You Warm Up?
When I start out riding, especially after a long break, I like to make sure that I warm myself and Abner up properly.
I start out with some long, low walking. I do my stretches (to his ears, tail, and both of my feet), and then I start to ask him for some lengthening in the walk. After a little while of doing that, I ask for a trot. I always start the trot off on a loose rein, on the buckle, and let Abner get out his coughs. (He always coughs 3 or 4 times when we first start working.) I do circles, changes of direction, and transitions.
Abner is not in good enough shape to do a lot of canter work yet, so we'll usually do maybe 2 circles of cantering. I don't like to canter too much in this mud, so lately we've been doing a lot of trot work.
How do you warm up your horse(s)?
I start out with some long, low walking. I do my stretches (to his ears, tail, and both of my feet), and then I start to ask him for some lengthening in the walk. After a little while of doing that, I ask for a trot. I always start the trot off on a loose rein, on the buckle, and let Abner get out his coughs. (He always coughs 3 or 4 times when we first start working.) I do circles, changes of direction, and transitions.
Abner is not in good enough shape to do a lot of canter work yet, so we'll usually do maybe 2 circles of cantering. I don't like to canter too much in this mud, so lately we've been doing a lot of trot work.
How do you warm up your horse(s)?
My ride on 11/14
It has been insanely muddy at our house, so I haven't been able to do much "serious" riding. I brought Abner in and groomed him, it took about an hour to clean him off. He was a little impatient, because he didn't want to stand still for grooming.
I rode him bareback, because I knew I wasn't going to be able to do too much with Abner. We did a little bit of trot work, and he was very good! I like to ride bareback because it helps my muscles too.
After our ride, we went for a short walk up the driveway next door. We haven't been up there for a couple weeks, so Abner was a little bit spooky and looky. But, in the long run, he was a very good boy. I don't have any pictures, but I'm going to get some this weekend!
I rode him bareback, because I knew I wasn't going to be able to do too much with Abner. We did a little bit of trot work, and he was very good! I like to ride bareback because it helps my muscles too.
After our ride, we went for a short walk up the driveway next door. We haven't been up there for a couple weeks, so Abner was a little bit spooky and looky. But, in the long run, he was a very good boy. I don't have any pictures, but I'm going to get some this weekend!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Days Like These
I finally found the cord for my camera, so I am able to upload all sorts of new pictures.
This was taken on one of the last beautiful days this past month. Days like these are Abner's favorites, because he can stay in the sun all day and sunbathe. I love the look of him in both of these pictures- I snapped them while he was taking a nap in the sunshine, right before he spotted me.
Unfortunately, this horse is not around anymore. In his place, I have a huge, furry wooly mammoth. Who stole my horse and replaced him with this fuzzy creature? I have to get some pictures of him tomorrow- he's insanely fluffy!
This was taken on one of the last beautiful days this past month. Days like these are Abner's favorites, because he can stay in the sun all day and sunbathe. I love the look of him in both of these pictures- I snapped them while he was taking a nap in the sunshine, right before he spotted me.
Unfortunately, this horse is not around anymore. In his place, I have a huge, furry wooly mammoth. Who stole my horse and replaced him with this fuzzy creature? I have to get some pictures of him tomorrow- he's insanely fluffy!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The beginning of Abner and I
Abner is an 11 year old TB/Hanoverian cross, and he has been owned for most of his life by an awesome lady named Cindy. I had met Abner when I was about 8, and Cindy taught me how to lunge him. A little while back, she contacted me about coming out to ride Abner. I came out and met him, and fell in love immediately. Abner's manners are impeccable, which came from being owned by Cindy and being such a high level dressage horse.
I started taking lessons with Cindy's trainer, Meghan, and Abner and I got along famously. I have many pictures of our first few months together, and the slow process of getting us both back in shape. Here are just a couple pictures of that time.
I went to Montana for a couple months this summer, and when I came home I was pleasantly surprised when I found Abner in our barn at home! Cindy had generously given him to us being she sold her farm after she had her first-born, Benjamin.
Abner is enjoying his new life at our farm, although we both miss being able to ride in Cindy's indoor arena. :) We're working on getting back in shape, as well as learning new things. I love going out to the field and riding Abner bridleless and bareback- I have never trusted a horse that much to do that. Abner truly takes care of me- he is my new best friend. Here are some pictures of us at home.
Thanks for coming to my blog, and continue to check back in for updates and more pictures. As a novice horse owner, I appreciate any advice you guys can give me!
I started taking lessons with Cindy's trainer, Meghan, and Abner and I got along famously. I have many pictures of our first few months together, and the slow process of getting us both back in shape. Here are just a couple pictures of that time.
I went to Montana for a couple months this summer, and when I came home I was pleasantly surprised when I found Abner in our barn at home! Cindy had generously given him to us being she sold her farm after she had her first-born, Benjamin.
Abner is enjoying his new life at our farm, although we both miss being able to ride in Cindy's indoor arena. :) We're working on getting back in shape, as well as learning new things. I love going out to the field and riding Abner bridleless and bareback- I have never trusted a horse that much to do that. Abner truly takes care of me- he is my new best friend. Here are some pictures of us at home.
Thanks for coming to my blog, and continue to check back in for updates and more pictures. As a novice horse owner, I appreciate any advice you guys can give me!
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