Bingo Slowly Improves
The shedding season is in full force and the bug season is just about to start down here. Bingo hair is all over my saddle pad, my girth, my riding clothes, and tracked into my mini-van and house, Bingo hair is taking over my universe (with some help from Cider.) You'd think after weeks of weekly thorough groomings that the quantity would decrease, that his coat would look…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on April 13, 2019 at 10:29am — 1 Comment
I Will Be Changing My Lesson Horse
My lesson on Wednesday was the usual. Cinnabar, came in with his usual “you again” sour expression, he did not particularly enjoy the grooming (mostly Debbie), and the overall impression I got from him was that he thinks he is overworked and “underpaid” (he gets fed plenty and has lots of turn-out with his buddies.)…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 16, 2019 at 11:07am — No Comments
Two Creaky Old Ladies
Yesterday I got to ride Mia. When I got to the stable the stable hands told me the Mia had hung around the barn UNTIL someone asked if I, Jackie, was coming. Mia immediately headed out to the furthest part of the pen she was in, out to the other side of the riding ring. Then they told me she had done the same thing earlier, hanging around the barn until someone mentions my…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 16, 2019 at 11:39am — 1 Comment
I Feel Secure While Trotting
I know that this is an unusual new event for a rider with 45 years of riding. When I learned to post the trot at age 6 I had no problems and until my MS ruined my balance, proprioceptive sense, coordination, etc., I always felt secure trotting. However, for the last 5 years or so I started to feel like my breeches had a surface of slick glass as I started shifting…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 9, 2019 at 11:33am — No Comments
Finally I am Riding Again
And it is SO GOOD to get back into the saddle!
I have just been walking because I got so weak while my cracked ribs healed. My entire body has to be brought back “on line” so I can ride safely and without irritating the horses. Right now walking the horse is the best thing I can do to get my body…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on January 19, 2019 at 11:30am — No Comments
Both Mares Like My Bombers Bit More Than Coach Does
This week I got to try my new Bombers Titanium Happy Tongue bit on Cider and Mia. After Coach's reactions I was not very hopeful, particularly with Mia. When I asked Shannon if I could switch Cider's bit from the titanium coated rainbow Kimberwick to the Bombers bit she was quite interested.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on November 3, 2018 at 10:59am — No Comments
All Three Horses Point to my Right Hand
Last Sunday I rode a still sore Cider. When I went to buy the supplement that worked somewhat on Cider's arthritis the feed store was out, so I got the “Stop the Pain” supplement after consulting with Shannon. By Sunday Cider had been on the new supplement (AND a feed that included some supplements that help arthritis) for a week. Shannon was happy that…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on October 6, 2018 at 11:23am — No Comments
Finally, an Acceptable Bit
This week, after the promised three weeks in the 23mm egg-butt stainless steel snaffle, I went back to experimenting with my new collection of titanium coated snaffle bits with Coach. Debbie and I both decided that, due to Coach's extreme fussiness with bits off contact, we should next try the titanium coated Mullen mouth snaffle. This bit addresses two of Coach's…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on September 29, 2018 at 11:03am — No Comments
We Survived Florence
Tropical storm Florence messed up my riding last week. While I got my lesson in, I did not ride Mia that Friday because I was afraid that the lowering air pressure would aggravate her arthritic joints and Sunday I did not ride because of the storm. But my power stayed on throughout the storm, I had the internet, and I did not have to go outside to take care of animals, so…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on September 22, 2018 at 12:30pm — No Comments
More Adventures in Trying Bits
I spent this week trying out my new bits on all three horses, Cider, Coach and Mia.
Last Sunday I rode Cider. She was still quite stiff from her arthritis though Shannon thinks that she has improved some on the arthritis supplement. I figured that a different bit would give her something new to…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on September 8, 2018 at 1:21pm — No Comments
Could It Be the Center Joint?
I used my new Ovation titanium coated D-ring single jointed anatomic mouth bit on Coach for the second time during my lesson on Wednesday. The grinding of the bit between his teeth was greatly reduced this time, he ground the bit some at tacking up and being led to the ring, but it was not as “furious” as before. When I started my ride he ground the bit a few…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on August 25, 2018 at 11:30am — No Comments
We Try a Titanium Coated Bit
Since I started riding Coach three weeks ago I have been trying to think of a solution for him grinding the bit between his premolar teeth. To recap, Coach's normal bit is stainless steel and is 23mm thick, I think.
Coach ground the 13mm thick stainless steel Wellep bit between his teeth the most…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on August 18, 2018 at 11:18am — 1 Comment
This Summer Starts off Hot and Muggy
We are not getting a break from these conditions, the lows are in the mid-upper 70'sF and when the sun rises it rapidly gets worse. I am so very grateful that the ladies I ride with are OK with me starting at 8:00 AM, the humidity is high but at least the sun has yet to heat the ground up.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on June 30, 2018 at 2:00pm — No Comments
Working on Tiny Details
This was a good week, I got to ride all three horses.
It has gotten into meteorological summer down here. Shannon now picks me up at 8:00 AM in an attempt to spare me (and her horse) the icky sweaty super humid weather that gets the sweat pouring down into my eyes. I am still riding at 9:00 AM at…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on June 16, 2018 at 11:37am — No Comments
I Try Out My “Old Type” Wellep Lever Cheek Snaffle
Lat Sunday was a good day. The weather was nice, Shannon's ring was dry, my grandson was visiting, and I got to try out my new bit on Cider! This bit, the “old” type Wellep Lever Cheek Snaffle has some differences from the “new” type Wellep Lever Cheek Snaffle that I had used a little bit several years ago. The cable that goes through the…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on April 7, 2018 at 11:31am — No Comments
Working on My Knees
When I got to the stable on Friday to ride Mia it was already warm, I even took off my hoodie before I walked into the barn. Mia is still shedding, though not as bad as last last week, so grooming was quicker. Since she still has a good bit of her winter coat still covering her body I decided that it might be a good idea to leave her BOT butt blanket off. She was definitely…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 31, 2018 at 11:22am — No Comments
A Frustrating Ride on Magic
Last Sunday my grandson, who was visiting me, got his desire to go riding again after six months of not getting up on a horse. We rode at Shannon's, and I gave up my ride on Cider so my grandson could have a less frustrating ride, so I got the opportunity to ride Magic and get frustrated! Shannon did not mind me switching horses, she knows that Cider is much more…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 24, 2018 at 11:31am — No Comments
My New Wellep Bit Signals How My Hands Need to Improve...
And it is the “zing” of the cable through the mouthpiece that shows me how I have failed through the decades to truly follow the horses' mouths.
From the first day I tried the Wellep bit I have marveled at how I finally found a bit that ameliorates the bad effects of…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 10, 2018 at 2:30pm — No Comments
Further Progress
My hands continue to improve, they are steadier and and more acceptable to the horses.
When I got up on Cider last Sunday I was prepared for her to decide that, on second thought, she did not appreciate me changing to the JP Dr. Bristol snaffle. Hey, she is a mare, the weather is spring like, her coat is…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 3, 2018 at 11:37am — No Comments
The Cold Wind Just Drained All of My Energy
Our extremely persistent moderate drought is easing. The ponds are filling up again, our local river has stopped looking like an easily fordable creek and we are seeing persistent mud again. This is good in many ways, at least the soil will have enough moisture to grow the first Spring hay crop! So I do not complain too much about the rain. Of course…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 10, 2018 at 2:02pm — No Comments
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