Does Bingo Actually LIKE His New Bit?
I have spent this month experimenting with the Fager bits. On Cider I have been using the Fager “Lilly” single jointed bar relief bit with and actual improvement with contact. On Bingo I tried the Fager “Fanny” single jointed tongue relief bit (“uh, no, I don't think so”) and the Fager “Frida” double jointed tongue relief bit.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on December 7, 2019 at 11:01am — No Comments
Coach is a Thoroughbred
Coach is my new lesson horse for right now. He is an OTTB gelding, Chestnut, around 15.3+ hands, with very good substance for a TB, and very high withers that stretch way back (no “pockets”.) To prepare my tack for Coach I took out the doubled bridging shims from my Contender II saddle pad, found my 48” string girth, got my 5” Wellep single jointed snaffle, and I…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on July 28, 2018 at 11:03am — No Comments
We Should Have Waited Longer for the Bute to Work
Last Sunday Shannon gave Cider a gram of Bute before she came to pick me up. When we arrived, Shannon immediately went to tack Cider up since I ride Cider in my saddle, saddle pad and bridle. Cider still looked stiff when Shannon led her to the mounting block so I started off slow and easy, trying to make my seat lighter in the saddle while not…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on July 21, 2018 at 1:31pm — No Comments
I Finally Get Back to North Fork School of Equitation!!!
It had been almost four and a half years, between my appendectomy, several exacerbations of my MS, and problems with doctors and insurance I could not get up there, but I FINALLY felt well enough to make the very long trip up to North Fork. When I called Karen Fenwick to set up my lesson she sounded glad that I was returning, and I…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on May 5, 2018 at 10:29am — 1 Comment
Trying to Bring it All Together
The past few months have been a time of discovery for me, discovering just how badly my multiple handicaps affect my position, seat and aids when I ride horses. Between my Pegasus Butterfly saddle, the “rider's push-ups”, the Equicube getting my shoulders right, the Rainbow reins, and the old type Wellep snaffle bit, I discovered how abysmal my riding was and,…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on April 21, 2018 at 1:16pm — 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
I Did Not Have to Warm Up My Bit
It got up to 80ºF a few times this week. I wore my summer riding clothes, the horses were not buried under exercise sheets, and all the horses are shedding out rapidly.
My…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 24, 2018 at 2:26pm — No Comments
Even at 31 Years Old Mia Still Improves
Mia is old. Mia is ancient. Mia has arthritis problems in her hocks. Mia has the most sensitive mouth of any horse I've ridden in the past 47 years.
I have been riding Mia for 8 years, accepting the fact that she will never, ever become completely sound. All this time I have been…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on November 25, 2017 at 3:21pm — No Comments
Both Bingo and I Were Under Par on Wednesday
When I arrived at the barn on Wednesday I was already tired. On Monday we had driven a long distance to see my son and grandson up in Asheboro, NC for dinner. Then on Tuesday I had to go a long distance to see the periodontist, go by the tack store, then to Charlotte for several hours. I told Debbie I would not be able to do much. Well, guess what,…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on June 10, 2017 at 12:33pm — No Comments
You Would Think That Spring Was Here
Between nights in the 20s F and days and nights of rain, it has been difficult for me to ride, therefore last week I seized the chance to ride twice, on Mia, two days in a row.
Wednesday morning came in at 23 F so I did not get to ride. Fortunately Debbie did not have a lesson already scheduled for Thursday morning so I got to ride then. When Debbie curried Mia gobs and gobs of Mia’s sub-coat came off, and when I got after her…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on January 9, 2016 at 12:32pm — 1 Comment
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