Bingo's Mouth Stayed Closed!
But first an update on Cider. She has been flinching just about every step (though more or less trotting “sound”) so when it came time in my budgeting I finally gave in and got her some Back on Track stuff. I bought her exercise boots, for both the fore legs and her hind legs, and a BOT exercise sheet. It is getting hotter so we just use the exercise sheet after we…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on June 1, 2019 at 11:16am — No Comments
A Single Jointed Bradoon Improves Contact
As I lay thinking about my previous week's lesson I decided I had to do SOMETHING about Bingo's bradoon on the double bridle. Since the French-link eggbutt bradoon seemed to be encouraging sucking back, iffy contact except for a few steps, and great resistance to halting and backing up, and I decided that Francis Dwyer might have a good point about…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on May 25, 2019 at 11:58am — No Comments
I Rode Bingo Twice This Week
This was a good week, I got to ride Bingo 30 minutes at a walk twice this week, once for my lesson and then I FINALLY got a “homework” ride in.
Wednesday I was so glad to see that clouds of hair did not come off Bingo when Debbie groomed him! He is still shedding, but a lot of his undercoat and…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on May 4, 2019 at 11:24am — No Comments
We Check Out the Weymouth Curb
One of the advantages of the double bridle is the ability to communicate with the horse at a level of great subtlety. The bradoon give the snaffle effect or course, like the Weymouth curb gives the curb effect, and the subtleness of the double bridle comes from how the rider uses both bits in combination. For most purposes the individual bits are used to indicate…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on April 27, 2019 at 1:28pm — No Comments
Bingo's Selective Memory
Due to Debbie's endless list of tasks to get her stable ready for a show today I had to take my lesson on Thursday. I'm just glad that Debbie was able to fit me in!
When I got to the stable I noticed a sign in the wash stall, to NOT shed the horses out in the wash stall because all the hair had…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 30, 2019 at 10:56am — No Comments
Bingo's Vacation Ends
Bingo had a 8 month long vacation with nobody riding him at all. He's been fed, his hooves trimmed, and blanketed when needed (he lives outside), more than enough time for his body to heal from any little undetectable injuries. Debbie had started grooming out his winter coat the week before my lesson, getting a lot of hair off outside the barn.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 23, 2019 at 10:29am — No Comments
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
Riding in the Drizzle
This week I had a choice, I could ride in the drizzle or take my lesson on frozen footing.
I decided that getting damp was better than risking a wrenched fetlock joint.
Sunday I was really hoping that the precipitation would hold off…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 9, 2019 at 1:44pm — No Comments
At Least I Had a Lesson This Week
I only got to ride on Wednesday this week, at least I got a lesson in!
Cinnabar was my lesson horse again. It was so warm I did not have to use any of my butt blankets. I think I felt a lesser degree of the muscles in his butt moving smoothly because we did not have the BOT butt blanket on.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 2, 2019 at 11:20am — 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
Some Added Security in the Saddle
This week I tried something new.
Several weeks ago, on the COTH Forum, when I asked about hip protection, another rider recommended a new product, rubbery pads that self-stick onto the saddle.
Ever since I started riding…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 2, 2019 at 11:26am — No Comments
A Change Brings Me Back to Start
Debbie called me earlier in the week asking if I could postpone my lesson until 12:30 P.M. as she wanted to be with her grandson as he got ear-tubes Wednesday morning. Since it was going to be cold early in the day, and it was going to be even colder later in the week I agreed. We had never had a lesson where he had been turned out for hours previously so I was…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on January 26, 2019 at 11:19am — 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
Dwyer on Curb Chains
This is probably the last blog I write on Francis Dwyer's book, “On Seats and Saddles, Bits and Bitting,” since I am riding again (YEAH!!!). Since the curb bit, in the past, was named after the curb chain, I will give you what Dwyer wrote about the curb chain so that there are seven blogs I've written about this book. I am sorry if there is some repetition from previous…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on January 12, 2019 at 10:12am — No Comments
Dwyer on Curb Bits—Part II
This week I quote Dwyer on the inside of the horse's mouth and how that can affect the selection of a proper curb bit. All quotes are from “Seats and Saddles, Bits and Bitting” by Francis Dwyer. Everything in parentheses is my additions, and I put really important things in capital letters.
On…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on December 29, 2018 at 11:37am — 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
Coach Did NOT Like His New Bit!
I was SO EAGER to try my new bit when it arrived! It is a Bombers Titanium Happy Tongue non-jointed snaffle. Coach has clearly indicated a preference for titanium bits over stainless steel bits, and he also has firmly “told” me that the more joints the bit has the more the bit irritates him. This bit is “anatomic” in shape, with a generous port and it is Bomber's…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on October 27, 2018 at 1:47pm — No Comments
Coach Adjusts to Big Changes
Debbie's stable changed from night turnout to day turnout Tuesday this week. Coach was NOT pleased by the change in his routine. Debbie's workers had tried to keep Coach in his stall so he would be there and nice and clean for his lesson, but when Coach realized that all his buddies got to go out while he stayed stuck in his stall, well he started protesting with…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on October 20, 2018 at 2:12pm — No Comments
As Michael Approached
I just got to ride on Wednesday this week. There was off and on rain, and a pretty persistent drizzle while we drove to the stable. Debbie had called me to make sure I was still coming out, but when I told her that this would be my only chance to ride this week and I was willing to dodge the raindrops she told me to come on out.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on October 13, 2018 at 3:55pm — No Comments
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