Amanda Hoss's Posts - Barnmice Equestrian Social Community2024-03-28T18:13:39ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHosshttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2187981860?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=17dy71il37osg&xn_auth=noZoe's first day of training.tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-11-15:1773158:BlogPost:5530062011-11-15T00:56:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
<div>Zoe is a 5 year old registered quarter horse. I am training her for my best friend.</div>
<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6460883400868624">Another beautiful day. I got to the barn a little before 2pm. Zoe was in her stall and fairly talkative. I put on her rope halter. She didn't lower her head but she didn't raise it or pull it away either. (She will eventually put her head down for haltering and for the bridle.) I borrowed a hoof pick and started picking her hooves. I started…</span></div>
<div>Zoe is a 5 year old registered quarter horse. I am training her for my best friend.</div>
<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6460883400868624">Another beautiful day. I got to the barn a little before 2pm. Zoe was in her stall and fairly talkative. I put on her rope halter. She didn't lower her head but she didn't raise it or pull it away either. (She will eventually put her head down for haltering and for the bridle.) I borrowed a hoof pick and started picking her hooves. I started with the front feet. She was untied and just standing in her stall. She smelled me while I picked her front feet. She was pretty good for those. I went to the back and she looked like she was trying to pedal a bicycle. She didn't try to kick but she was definitely trying to get me to put her feet down. I stayed with her until she relaxed and let me pick her feet.</span><br/><span> </span><br/><span>Off to the indoor arena.</span> <br/><span> </span><br/><span>She walked nicely beside me up the ramp to the upper barn and with me to the arena. This is the first time she has even seen the arena. She quickened her breathing a bit, taking in all the smells but she didn't act the slightest bit spooky. Her biggest concern was getting a taste of the sand at her feet. lol. We walked the entire arena so she could see everything. I then put her in the round pen so I could move her feet and watch her move and etc. She has nice hocks. She moves nicely and looks like she'll feel good under saddle. I did several transitions between walk and trot with her and also worked on stopping and turning. I do notice she pays a lot of attention to me even if she doesn't look like she is paying attention. I also noticed that she isn't quick to canter and quickly transitions back to an extended trot from the canter.</span><br/><span>I worked her until she started to really look to me when I asked her to stop and she finally licked her lips.</span><br/><span> </span><br/><span>We were walking back to the lower barn and Ed was down there putting hay in the stalls. Ed said “Done already?” and I happily replied “she was great!” as we approached the ramp, I no sooner got the words out of my mouth when she slammed on the breaks. I put pressure on...nothing. I swung the rope behind me to tap her on the side/hip....nothing. She just looked over at Red in her stall next to the ramp and tuned me right out. Ed opened up the arena door and I went all the way out and around front and came back into the barn. We went back up the ramp and then backed back down. She was cool with that but would not walk down the ramp. Long story short we couldn't walk straight down the ramp. Ed says he has had horses do that before. I did get to a decent place to end. We stood in the aisle for a little while to get her to stand still, and square and calm before going into her stall. Standing and waiting will help her develop patience. Once in her stall she went right to munching her hay.</span></div>November 13th 2011tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-11-13:1773158:BlogPost:5526032011-11-13T21:13:28.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
<p>Took Amigo on a short trail ride around the farm. I used my western saddle and my split reins on my reining bit. My goal was to round him up and get him using his back. He has a indent behind his shoulder from letting his back sag all summer. (He had beginner riders all summer and took very good care of them.) Ed said that riding him on the bit and rounded will help him get back the muscle he has lost. He also showed me the stretch that makes the horse arch their back. After the loop around…</p>
<p>Took Amigo on a short trail ride around the farm. I used my western saddle and my split reins on my reining bit. My goal was to round him up and get him using his back. He has a indent behind his shoulder from letting his back sag all summer. (He had beginner riders all summer and took very good care of them.) Ed said that riding him on the bit and rounded will help him get back the muscle he has lost. He also showed me the stretch that makes the horse arch their back. After the loop around the farm we trotted up the road, really focusing on keeping him rounded. He kept drifting to the left a lot, which is also where UP was on Samson. His trot was so nice that I was able to sit it pretty well. I did notice he rounded up better when I was doing a sitting trot than when I was posting. Came back to the farm and cantered in the arena. He did very well but after seeing my riding in a video, I realized that I was riding like a yahoo. My hands were up to high, forward and too wide. Seriously what in the hell was I doing?? While riding, I was thinking that I had to loosen up the reins to encourage forward motion, but I looked stupid and I am pretty sure I could have gotten what I got from Amigo without looking like a fool. I do also look like I am humping the saddle for all its worth. YIKES! Again, encouraging forward motion? Well again, I can do better! I can't wait to practice more. Hopefully tomorrow will work.</p>November 6th 2011tag:www.barnmice.com,2011-11-07:1773158:BlogPost:5478762011-11-07T01:15:53.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
Rode Amigo. Worked on the canter depart again. His canter is better going counter clockwise. I ended work when he did one depart really pushing from behind. Then my bestie rode him at the walk. So proud of my boy!<br />
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My goals for him is to create more impulsion and have a crisp canter depart instead of a bumpy trot going into the canter. He has come along way considering the fact that he used to try to buck me off every time I asked for the canter! There were no bucks and not even the thought of…
Rode Amigo. Worked on the canter depart again. His canter is better going counter clockwise. I ended work when he did one depart really pushing from behind. Then my bestie rode him at the walk. So proud of my boy!<br />
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My goals for him is to create more impulsion and have a crisp canter depart instead of a bumpy trot going into the canter. He has come along way considering the fact that he used to try to buck me off every time I asked for the canter! There were no bucks and not even the thought of a buck. I rode him a few times last week and he did very well each time.What takes an hour to learn, takes 3 rides to forget.tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-12-29:1773158:BlogPost:3156072010-12-29T17:30:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
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<p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">The Monday before last I had a lesson with Madeleine Austin. She is a very talented dressage rider and trainer and the mother of another very talented dressage rider and trainer. In my lesson we worked on my very tight hips and ankles. I did many tours of the arena stretching my legs out and back one after the other. It did help loosen my hips up. I am thankful for the very quiet school horse I was on during this, since…</span></p>
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<p><span xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">The Monday before last I had a lesson with Madeleine Austin. She is a very talented dressage rider and trainer and the mother of another very talented dressage rider and trainer. In my lesson we worked on my very tight hips and ankles. I did many tours of the arena stretching my legs out and back one after the other. It did help loosen my hips up. I am thankful for the very quiet school horse I was on during this, since my balance was also tested during this exercise. We talked about the gradual position change that will occur for my outward pointed toes. This is fixable! Can you believe it?! I have had probably 5 different trainers criticize my toe position. They have all grabbed my foot and twisted it and placed it in a spot that I couldn’t hold it myself. Yikes! Also putting my foot in that position changed my thigh muscle placement and popped me out of the saddle and pushed my knees away from the saddle too! Well Madeleine's stretches and explanation for leg placement has helped my toes a ton. The root cause of my crazy toes is the tightness of my hips. Hip and thigh placement is very important. Having my hips loose and my thigh in the proper spot help my lower leg and toes hold the right position. So very cool! Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this before? I could have been working on that for the last 5 years instead of thinking all this time that I was hopelessly deformed!</span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">We then also worked on the sitting trot, which is another thorn in my side over the years. Well long story short, she had me doing quite well at the sitting trot too during that lesson. She asked me to ride the horse into the walk from the trot and I have never in my life had such wonderful downward transitions! I was amazed and super happy!</span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">The day after my lesson, totally fresh and excited to ride one of my horses. I rode my tb Lazz. Leg position was great. The <a target="_blank" href="http://review.barnmice.com/943/avoid-losing-your-dressage-stirrups/">sitting trot</a> wasn’t as magical as the day before, but I had to blame that on Lazz' bouncy trot.</span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">A couple days after that I rode my other horse Amigo around the farm. Again, leg placement was great. I felt anchored in my saddle and just all around wonderful. I didn’t practice the sitting trot b/c I was on a trail ride.</span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">A couple days after that I took Amigo out again. The leg placement didn't feel as secure. The sitting trot was something between a sitting and posting trot. Like the bouncing out of the saddle was my posting. Yikes! My poor horse!!!</span></p>
<p><span xml:lang="EN" lang="EN">So, the magic is gone. I rode today and worked on the sitting trot. I had brief moments of the magic and then "poof" it was gone. More practice is needed obviously and my next lesson with Madeleine is on the 3rd. My horse's poor back, and I can't wait for my next lesson!</span></p>Early Christmas gift of motivation!!tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-11-21:1773158:BlogPost:3048432010-11-21T21:30:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
<p>Last week a few of my family members and I went to the Equine Affair in Massachusetts. One of the booths there was for <a href="http://review.barnmice.com/2750/when-to-take-the-next-step-in-training-your-horse/" target="_blank">Dressage Training</a> Online. My Uncle knows my interest in learning dressage and bought me a month and also received a free month for my Christmas present. I just joined yesterday and have probably watched about 4 hours of videos already. I've watched a bunch of…</p>
<p>Last week a few of my family members and I went to the Equine Affair in Massachusetts. One of the booths there was for <a target="_blank" href="http://review.barnmice.com/2750/when-to-take-the-next-step-in-training-your-horse/">Dressage Training</a> Online. My Uncle knows my interest in learning dressage and bought me a month and also received a free month for my Christmas present. I just joined yesterday and have probably watched about 4 hours of videos already. I've watched a bunch of Courtney King and a few other riders, trainers and judges. I have to say I haven't learned very much yet but it has inspired me to ride. (Not like I need a ton of inspiration to go ride. lol) I have also been more aware of the little tries my horses give me. I am now giving a lot more praise and relaxing more. I am also breaking things down more. I am a little more concerned with building up or starting an actual "green" horse. The "green" horse videos I have seen so far have been of horses showing and 2nd level. Maybe there is another term I should be looking for....what's greener than green? Totally unbroke, I guess. :-)</p>
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<p>I need a dressage trainer, an actual human being that I can ask questions to and hopefully get answers from. In the mean time...it's me and the DTO.</p>
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<p>I rode Lazz, Amigo and Samson yesterday and Lazz and Bentley today. I can say lots of good things about all the horses and only a little negative stuff about each one. Lazz has been listening and trying real hard, but is quite out of shape again, but not his fault. He hung off of my hands a lot. Amigo was much more in front of my leg, and was trying VERY hard. I broke things down even smaller for him and he succeeded every time! YAY for us both! Samson was very stiff and and fought the contact but was great when I rode him with out reins. Bentley wanted to fly away with me on his back but after talking to him and letting him know it was ok to canter but a gallop wasn't needed, he relaxed. Did a couple of flying changes and that was it. (Pretty great since I haven't ridden him in over a month. Where does the time go?)</p>
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<p>Overall a great couple of rides. I am super bummed about a broken zipper on one of my tall boots though. Grrr Not ready to buy another pair, but doubt fixing is worth it.</p>
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<p> </p>A work in progresstag:www.barnmice.com,2010-11-08:1773158:BlogPost:2989142010-11-08T22:47:21.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
<p>Ive been thinking (you can smell the smoke from there can't you) that I need to focus on the things I can change and let go of the crap that I can't. (sounds AA-ish, I am actually 7 and a half years sober.)</p>
<p>I'm not even going to talk about the "crap" I cant change right now and focus on what I CAN change.</p>
<p>**I am tired and unhealthy. I am, what I have recently found out, a "bad" vegetarian. I have been this way for about 3 years. I cut out meat but havent added any vegetables.…</p>
<p>Ive been thinking (you can smell the smoke from there can't you) that I need to focus on the things I can change and let go of the crap that I can't. (sounds AA-ish, I am actually 7 and a half years sober.)</p>
<p>I'm not even going to talk about the "crap" I cant change right now and focus on what I CAN change.</p>
<p>**I am tired and unhealthy. I am, what I have recently found out, a "bad" vegetarian. I have been this way for about 3 years. I cut out meat but havent added any vegetables. So, my current mission is to eat more whole foods and cut out a bit of the junk. (I am not going to fool myself into thinking that I will give it ALL up comepletely.) I am also giving up soda. I was drinking about 4 cans of diet pepsi a day. Yikes! It's been 2 days, btw and Im craving a soda in the worst way! ;-)</p>
<p>**I want a gymkhana horse and a show horse and to do well at both next summer....well, I own 4 horses, I need to work on those 4 first before my personal goals of winning anything get met. I do believe those things will happen with 3 out of 4 of my horses eventually, I just need to take the time they need to get them there. It will be so much more meaningful in the long run, b/c I will have done it.</p>
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<p>I want to be happy and healthy and my horses to be the same. We'll get there. My attitude and focus just needed a change.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2108385413?profile=original"/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">This is Amigo after yesterday's ride. He was very very good. Its amazing how much they progress when you work them consistantly. (duh, I know!)</p>October 24th 2010 Recovery, Recovery, Recoverytag:www.barnmice.com,2010-10-25:1773158:BlogPost:2938662010-10-25T03:22:30.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
<p>Recovery...thats the word of the day. My hand that I cut open 10 days ago is healing very well. It still hurts to hold a hair brush, use a squirt bottle or use a body brush using downward strokes. Up until 10 minutes ago I couldnt take the cap off of my water bottle.</p>
<p>Part of my healing has been just getting back out to the barn to interact with my horses. Im a little nervous around them, since I am so protective of my hand right now, but thats fading away each time I go down…</p>
<p>Recovery...thats the word of the day. My hand that I cut open 10 days ago is healing very well. It still hurts to hold a hair brush, use a squirt bottle or use a body brush using downward strokes. Up until 10 minutes ago I couldnt take the cap off of my water bottle.</p>
<p>Part of my healing has been just getting back out to the barn to interact with my horses. Im a little nervous around them, since I am so protective of my hand right now, but thats fading away each time I go down there.</p>
<p>Since I haven't been going down to the barn as mush, my young horses have become a little naughtier than I would like. Of course no two people are the same and my family members who handle my horses do great but its just different than I would do it. After a week away from them, I think they are happy to get my attention again. Lazz apparently wanted LOTS of attention b/c I brought him in Thursday night to discover a flap of skin opened up on his elbow. Once I cleaned the dirt and sand out of it it didnt look too bad and opted not to call my vet. I have cleaned it out thoroughly with water and betadine twice a day, checked his temp 3 times a day and give him all the hay and water he can eat and drink. He even has his own special grass paddock so he has plenty to eat and can get out and stretch his legs a bit. Im also blanketing him when he's inside to keep him as comfortable as possible. He seems totally fine, you wouldnt even notice there was something wrong unles you saw the cut. Even though he's healing I worry about if I did the right thing. What if something unforseen goes wrong and it ends up being worse? What if I did have the vet out? They would probably tell me to do what Im already doing, Right?</p>
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<p>He doesnt have a temperature. No lameness. No change in diet or behavior. The swelling went down the next day. Still I worry. I always worry. After losing two horses to colic (in three years) and one mini to god knows what while I was on vacation (this summer). I feel almost like I am the angel of death or something. I dont think I am a bad horse person. I feel like I have really bad luck, but what would people think if something bad happeneed to another one of my horses? I would think its time to give them up or something.</p>
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<p>I love Lazz very much and I hope I am doing the right thing by him. I am going to re-evaluate his situation again in the morning when I treat him. If it doesnt start looking better then I will have the vet come out.</p>
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<p>On top of the stuff with my hand and Lazz' cut, I noticed today when I brought Fergie in to work with her that she has rain rot. Jeeze Great! Another thing. I am now treating that too. Tomorrow I hope to give her a full bath to take care of it. How fun. Im sure we'll both just LOVE a bath when its 40 something degrees out.</p>
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<p>The joys of horses right? Right!</p>
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<p>On the bright side...since my hand is doing better I got to work Fergie and Amigo two days in a row! At least that stuff lifts my spirits!</p>
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Feeling pretty good today. I got two nice comments from fellow barnmice. Those kind of comments help put things into perspective without being discouraging. Thanks ladies!<br />
<div>Today, I rode Harley and Lazz. I basically worked on the same thing with both of them but was a little easier on Lazz. Harley is more used to what I was asking. I got a few nice roll backs with Harley and also some good transitions. He is still quite lazy but that isnt going to change in just a couple rides. He didnt get…</div>
Feeling pretty good today. I got two nice comments from fellow barnmice. Those kind of comments help put things into perspective without being discouraging. Thanks ladies!<br />
<div>Today, I rode Harley and Lazz. I basically worked on the same thing with both of them but was a little easier on Lazz. Harley is more used to what I was asking. I got a few nice roll backs with Harley and also some good transitions. He is still quite lazy but that isnt going to change in just a couple rides. He didnt get upset at all though but did work up a decent sweat.</div>
<div>I helped another friend bit her horse a little in our round pen. He is a super pretty horse and looks absolutely beautiful when hes working. She rode with me for awhile. I tried giving her pointers since she will be getting lessons with my <a target="_blank" href="http://review.barnmice.com/2364/five-quick-horse-training-tips-from-clinton-anderson/">western trainer</a>, and she commented on how much there was to remember so I stopped suggesting things. If I ever want to be a trainer I will need to remember to keep lessons small and not to expect everything all at once. I have to break it all down and only concentrate on a few small things at a time.</div>
<div>I do want my friend to do well, so I hope what I am telling her helps.</div>October 11th 2010tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-10-12:1773158:BlogPost:2856582010-10-12T03:34:03.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
I was asked once, where I wanted to go with horses and what I wanted to learn. My reply was that I wanted to be able to work with horses and pay my bills that way. I dont care about getting rich, all I want to do is get by while doing what I love.<div><br></br></div>
<div>I think my answer was amusing b/c this person repeated it to another person like I told her the funniest joke and she just had to share it. I must say that that made me feel about an inch tall but I refuse to let that get me down…</div>
I was asked once, where I wanted to go with horses and what I wanted to learn. My reply was that I wanted to be able to work with horses and pay my bills that way. I dont care about getting rich, all I want to do is get by while doing what I love.<div><br/></div>
<div>I think my answer was amusing b/c this person repeated it to another person like I told her the funniest joke and she just had to share it. I must say that that made me feel about an inch tall but I refuse to let that get me down or stop me from following my dream.</div>
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<div>I know that I have soooo much to learn but I dont know another person who works as hard as I do. (in this knowledge hungry way I am anyway.)</div>
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<div>All that said...I think I am on the road to my dream. I get paid to groom and tack up horses and take care of them. Also recently I have taken a little side project exercising a neighbors horse.</div>
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<div>Today I took that horse, Rosie, on a 2 hour trail ride. She was great. She didnt spook once! She is a really nice mare and her owners just dont have enough time to put the miles on her. Im not a huge fan of trail riding (I get nervous) but they want to use her for that so thats what we did today. : )</div>
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<div>I also went to a friends place and did some bitting with her horse. She has a very nice paint mare that she has been riding for two years. She started showing her this past summer. Her horse doesnt break at the pole very much. So after working her for a few minutes she started dropping in and looking good. I was very proud of her. I cant wait to see her progress.</div>
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<div>I had a very good day. Oh, and my little mare got her teeth done for the first time and also had her wolf teeth pulled. In one week I can start bitting her. I am so excited.</div>October 10th 2010tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-10-11:1773158:BlogPost:2851032010-10-11T01:51:33.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
Today I worked with Fergie a bit. She was kinda being a poop. She threatened to kick me. I then put her on a rope and worked on her "leg" yielding. She took a little bit to figure it out but when she did she did well. Im really happy with her progress.<div><br></br></div>
<div>I rode Bentley for a little while. I tried the saddle my uncle uses on him. He had never been ridden in it before but it seemed to fit him nicely. I wanted to cry when I thought about handing away his reins. I had my uncle…</div>
Today I worked with Fergie a bit. She was kinda being a poop. She threatened to kick me. I then put her on a rope and worked on her "leg" yielding. She took a little bit to figure it out but when she did she did well. Im really happy with her progress.<div><br/></div>
<div>I rode Bentley for a little while. I tried the saddle my uncle uses on him. He had never been ridden in it before but it seemed to fit him nicely. I wanted to cry when I thought about handing away his reins. I had my uncle ride him and I talked with my uncle about how little he will actually have to use the reins to steer. Bentley is amazingly responsive to weight and legs. God am I torn up about not using him next year. My aunt, cousin and my uncle's cousin, all rode him too. It was even hard seeing them riding him. No one else has ridden him in months!</div>
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<div>Anyway...sigh....I also rode Harley. Did lots of trotting. Will be just working on conditioning for a while.</div>
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I had a <a href="http://review.barnmice.com/horse-sports/western-riding/" target="_blank">western riding lesson</a> today. I guess it wasnt exactly a riding lesson as much as it was tips and help with getting the most out of Harley. My plan is to use him next year as my gymkhana horse. I had wanted to use Bentley but my western trainer thinks that his conformation will cause him problems when I really start to push him for speed. Im bummed about this. I dont want to do anything to Bentley that…
I had a <a target="_blank" href="http://review.barnmice.com/horse-sports/western-riding/">western riding lesson</a> today. I guess it wasnt exactly a riding lesson as much as it was tips and help with getting the most out of Harley. My plan is to use him next year as my gymkhana horse. I had wanted to use Bentley but my western trainer thinks that his conformation will cause him problems when I really start to push him for speed. Im bummed about this. I dont want to do anything to Bentley that will or could hurt him, but Bentley enjoys gaming. He loves to run and we have a pretty good bond.<br />
<div>Anyway, Im told that Harley will be able to take the training and pressure. So the training offically started today. we worked on me keeping my reins low and consistant, only using my pinkies to communicate through the reins. This is a very good thing for me to work on since I could easily get caught up into over using the rein. My homework is to ride him up into the bridle and work on backing without reins. When I am using the reins, I need to concentrate on when he comes off the bit.</div>
<div>I hope I can find the time to ride Harley and Lazz and work with Fergie and Amigo. At some point this weekend I also have to ride Rosie for an hour.</div>
<div>After tonights barn therapy I'm feeling a lot better about things. I hope that feeling carries over to tomorrow.</div>October 5, 2010tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-10-07:1773158:BlogPost:2841032010-10-07T02:00:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
Im a little bummed today. It was raining here today and I didnt get to ride or work with any of my horses. There was a small window mid afternoon that the weather broke and I could have taken advantage of it but didnt. I feel really guilty when I waste an oppurtunity to ride and play with my babies.<br></br>
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Yesterday though, I did ride two horses and worked with Fergie.<br></br>
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I rode Harley…
Im a little bummed today. It was raining here today and I didnt get to ride or work with any of my horses. There was a small window mid afternoon that the weather broke and I could have taken advantage of it but didnt. I feel really guilty when I waste an oppurtunity to ride and play with my babies.<br/>
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Yesterday though, I did ride two horses and worked with Fergie.<br/>
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I rode Harley <a target="_blank" href="http://review.barnmice.com/horse-sports/western-riding/western-riding-videos/">western</a>. We did lots of trotting and turning square. He was very good and I was happy with him. I think he'll be fine as a gymkhana horse for me but I'm scared of putting all the work in and then having my uncle say I cant use him next year. I also already miss Bentley and worry about what all this will mean for him. I just want him to be safe and happy. I dont want to push him beyond his abilities and get him hurt. That horse would turn himself inside out if I asked him to.<br/>
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I rode Lazz hunt seat. He was pretty good but was hanging on the bit more than usual. I use a french link snaffle on him most of the time since its milder than the kimberwick that I was using on him. He seems to be moving well enough.<br/>
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I also worked with Fergie a little bit. I lunged her in the arena and she was doing very well, UNTIL...I told my cousin that was watching us work that Fergie's circles have never been so round. Then god help me, I couldnt get another full circle around to save my life! lol. Thats horse training for you. I also had my cousin lead Fergie while I laid across her back on the saddle. She didnt care at all. Yay! Here teeth will be floated on Monday for the first time. Then the bitting can begin. Im pretty excited.Sept 18-20 2010tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-09-20:1773158:BlogPost:2771072010-09-20T20:30:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
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<p><font size="5">September 18th</font> Was the NWRDC Gymkhana. I took <font size="5">Bentley</font>, my Uncle's Morgan gelding. We did pretty well. 1st place in the stake race. Two 3rd place, and a 4th and 5th place (I dont remember what I got what in.) I DQ'd in the…</p>
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<p><font size="5">September 18th</font> Was the NWRDC Gymkhana. I took <font size="5">Bentley</font>, my Uncle's Morgan gelding. We did pretty well. 1st place in the stake race. Two 3rd place, and a 4th and 5th place (I dont remember what I got what in.) I DQ'd in the barrel race. Normally we do ok in it. We went around the first barrel, which was good, and were heading towards the second barrel. Usually all I have to do is look at the second barrel and Bentley just goes.....this time he took my lack of contact to mean that he can just head back to the gate. LOL. We broke the timing light before I could correct him. JEEZE! Now I need to maybe pay a bit more attention and not be so relaxed about where he is going. It was a really fun day anyway. Two of my friends came home Champion and Reserve Champ for our division. Yay Girls!</p>
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<p>After we got home from the gymkhana I gave my cousins from out of town "pony rides" on <font size="5">Harley</font>. That horse is a SAINT! (When he wants to be. haha)</p>
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<p><font size="5">September 19th</font> Vermont's Mounted Responce Unit, came to our place, LOG CABIN STABLES to do some bomb-proofing in our arena. They had hula hoops, a mt bike, a garbage bag filled with soda cans on the end of a rope, some pool noodles, a bridge, some flags and more. I thought it would be a good chance to work with <font size="5">Amigo</font> with these things. I brought him out all saddled and ready to go. I walked him around in hand for a minute and I thought he would be fine so I got on. We walked about 20 feet and I walked him over to a hula hoop. He walked up to it and then let me have one hell of a buck! I scraped my lower back on the back of the saddle, I think b/c I didnt have any dirt in my pants this time. It was over before I had a chance to do anything. I think this little gelding will be the death of me!</p>
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<p>On a really good note. I walked <font size="5">Fergie</font> around all over in the arena, over the bridge and etc and she was great. Nothing upset her. I even pulled the bag with cans around and she never ran from it but crouched way down and snorted at it several times. It was really funny. Ive never seen anything like it. She was crouching, snorting, sidepassing and following me around with the bag at the same time. Shes such a cool little mare!</p>
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<p><font size="5">Sept 20th</font></p>
<p>I lunged <font size="5">Amigo</font> and he was awesome. Very round circles for the first time. He didnt pull on the rope or fight with me at all. Usually he fights, bucks and makes wierd shapes that dont look anything like a circle.</p>
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<p>I lunged <font size="5">Fergie</font> and she did those strange shapes that Amigo didnt make today. I concentrated on her just going forward and stopping and turning when I asked. Some times she cantered, but most of the time she trotted. She has a beautiful extended trot just like her mother had. I cant wait to start riding her....but I will wait b/c I have my hands already full with Amigo and I dont want to rush anything.</p>
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<p>I rode <font size="5">Lazz</font> today too. He was very good, but I was so sore, I had a hard time getting my motion to go with him. I kept our work pretty simple and concentrated on a nice forward trot and pushing him into the bridle.</p>
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<p></p>September 17 2010tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-09-18:1773158:BlogPost:2754002010-09-18T01:30:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
<p>Today was a beautiful day. I tried to work all my horses but only got a few done. Its all good though.</p>
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<p>I did ground work with <font size="5">Fergie</font>, (Painted Beauty), (my newest baby a 3 yo paint. The filly from my late paint mare, B (My Bayou Beauty). I got her completely green. So I am starting from scratch.)</p>
<p>I lunged Fergie in the arena with a <a href="http://review.barnmice.com/3396/julie-goodnight-how-to-saddle-a-western-horse/" target="_blank">western…</a></p>
<p>Today was a beautiful day. I tried to work all my horses but only got a few done. Its all good though.</p>
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<p>I did ground work with <font size="5">Fergie</font>, (Painted Beauty), (my newest baby a 3 yo paint. The filly from my late paint mare, B (My Bayou Beauty). I got her completely green. So I am starting from scratch.)</p>
<p>I lunged Fergie in the arena with a <a target="_blank" href="http://review.barnmice.com/3396/julie-goodnight-how-to-saddle-a-western-horse/">western saddle</a> on her for the first time. She was really good. Just a couple bucks but she was more concerned with what I was asking her to do. She's such a good girl.</p>
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<p>I rode <font size="5">Lazz</font> to music. Big Band Jazz music actually. It was awesome. We did lots and lots of trotting. I think things have changed between us since our ride the other day. I feel much more connected to him. I think I am getting the idea of getting him to use his hind end more. I tried what I watched from Jane Savoie, "the connecting half halt" and it worked! I think its so cool to see things, try it and have it actually work! SUPER!!</p>
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<p><font size="3">We had a gymkhana practice here for tomorrow's gymkhana. I brought in and tacked up <font size="5">Harley</font> and <font size="5">Bentley</font>. I rode both of them. They were both a bit punky. Bentley was very forward and Harley just didnt want to listen at all about anything except for standing with the group of other horses. Harley and I will get through that I think as we work together this fall/winter. As for Bentley, as long as he is stearing ok, he can go as fast as he wants to.</font></p>September 15, 2010tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-09-16:1773158:BlogPost:2749832010-09-16T01:30:00.000ZAmanda Hosshttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/AmandaHoss
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<p>Today I worked <font size="5">Lazz</font>. (14 yo OTTB that I free lease. that came to me June 20th 2010 in really rough shape. He had no muscle and was quite thin.) We worked on things I read in Centered Riding the night before. I worked at calming my self and FEELING my horse. I also worked on my contact on the reins which is a big problem for me. I feel like Im being kinder with loopy reins but I know now that Im not doing him any favors. I had…</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img width="721" alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2203032279?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></p>
<p>Today I worked <font size="5">Lazz</font>. (14 yo OTTB that I free lease. that came to me June 20th 2010 in really rough shape. He had no muscle and was quite thin.) We worked on things I read in Centered Riding the night before. I worked at calming my self and FEELING my horse. I also worked on my contact on the reins which is a big problem for me. I feel like Im being kinder with loopy reins but I know now that Im not doing him any favors. I had some moments of being very connected to Lazz during our ride. I was actually able to have a very nice sitting trot on him, which I found impossible up until yesterday. The connection we had for those several minutes was amazing. I didnt come out of the saddle, I didnt hurt or have to fight to stay with him. I have to say though that it didnt last. I started to think about other stuff, taking our new found connection for granted. He got rougher, and more tense and I started bouncing and getting frustrated. At least now I know what is possible between us, and how trully wonderful it feels. We also worked on trotting squares, and tranistions through all the gaits. Overall I think it was a very good ride.</p>
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<p>I also worked with <font size="5">Amigo</font>. (my 4 yo mustang/qtr horse cross. He was a rescue from a woman who had no idea how to handle a horse with some spunk.) I worked on leading him around and getting him out of my space. He has been running into people as they lead him in and out of the barn. He doesnt have a ton of respect for people, so we are working on that all the time. Sometimes he's great though. So after working on leading, I did some ground work with him in the round pen. He had some excess energy to burn off so he did that and then was very calm and responsive. I rode him bareback with his halter and lead for awhile and worked on listening to my legs and weight and backing.</p>
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<p>In the evening a friend came over and we rode in the arena. I was riding my Uncle's qtr horse, <font size="5">Harley</font>. He's the horse I am going to use next year for gymkhana, so I have to get him listening to my aids and building up muscle. (he knows a lot but has gotten away with a ton from my Uncle, who just lets the horse run the show.) I did a lot of trotting squares and changing direction. He wasnt quite as good as when I rode him last week but it was almost feeding time and hes not used to being told what to do. We dont have the same bond that I have with some of the other horses I work with, but I think that will change as we work together. The idea of working with him only came about last week. I had been riding him once in awhile but maybe 2 or 3 times a month tops. That will change!</p>