Standing Still
I just got my lesson on Wednesday this week.
MJ looked all right when Debbie led him up to the wash stall. He was not completely settled down but he did not cause us any problems, even when I groomed his head while Debbie brushed elsewhere. Previously that had not been acceptable since there was just too much…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on April 10, 2021 at 11:34am — No Comments
More Trotting
When I talked to Debbie Friday morning as we prepared MJ to ride she told me that MJ had been ridden by one of the girls in the college riding group. Apparently she had not only been super diligent about cleaning out MJ's right front hoof under the bar shoe, she had then cantered MJ a lot. MJ was not visibly lame when led in, but Debbie felt some hesitation when that hoof landed.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on April 3, 2021 at 11:15am — No Comments
An Aid From Long Ago
Over forty years ago I was bored, bored, bored riding my beloved first horse Hat Tricks. He had gotten really responsive to my rather rough aids and I was looking for a new challenge. It occurred to me that my aids could be MUCH lighter, both hand and leg, so I started working on that.
First I lightened…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 27, 2021 at 11:30am — No Comments
No Spurs, No Sweat
During this week my right ankle was bothering me, to the point of random pains in muscles and tendons and my leg “threatening” to collapse under me. This may be a long term effect of the Covid-19 case I had early 2020, and it is very irritating to me. When I was getting ready to ride on Wednesday I decided that it would be better for my ankle if I did not put my spurs on,…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 20, 2021 at 10:50am — No Comments
Making the Sitting Trot Enjoyable
For both the horse and the rider.
I got to ride three times this week! On Wednesday I got my lesson, I was still sort of off from less riding so it was not a “perfect” lesson. MJ is ridden by other people in lessons, and as time goes on Debbie discovers his preferences and how his body ends…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 13, 2021 at 11:08am — No Comments
Yet Another Turning Aid
MJ was a little bit less sensitive this week. I had learned my lesson and curried his back with my gentlest curry comb, the Zoom Groom Cat grooming tool, with soft and flexible inch long prongs that feel rubbery, this is the tool that I use on his head. He did not flinch at all when I used it on his back, but when I used my wooden massage roller on his back he flinched…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on March 6, 2021 at 1:56pm — No Comments
My Third Lesson in a Row
Yes, I lucked out again, and I got a riding lesson.
I got to the stable a little early on Wednesday, MJ was in the wash stall and Debbie was busy in the back of the barn so I started grooming him. Due to the pandemic I have not gotten to groom MJ much at all so I was not familiar with all his…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 27, 2021 at 1:55pm — No Comments
A Hope Now for Weekly Lessons
The good, great and wonderful news is that I got another lesson this week!
But, on the other hand I really need to ride more.
When I was young I would have been THRILLED to get a riding lesson a week. I think I had a grand…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 20, 2021 at 11:28am — No Comments
My Second Lesson This Year
Over 5 weeks into this year, and all the riding I've gotten in has been 2 lessons.
It could have been worse, at least I did get some lessons!
Debbie was pretty pleased with my riding. I used the Fager Alexander Sweet Iron with…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on February 13, 2021 at 1:25pm — No Comments
Alas, My Hopes Were in Vain
This January I will have ridden only once, my lesson last week.
Last Sunday it was too cold and the ground was too frozen.
Debbie called me on Wednesday just as I was starting to get ready to ride. It had rained a lot the night…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on January 30, 2021 at 11:04am — No Comments
I Hope I am Back to Riding Again
I had not had a lesson for two whole months. I had not ridden for over 5 weeks. Such is my life in the times of winter and the Covid-19 super-spreader events and resulting surges of cases. The holiday period has passed, the insurrection at the US Capitol ended, we have a new President in the USA (YEAH!!!) and maybe, just maybe, effective action now will be taken…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on January 23, 2021 at 11:52am — No Comments
Christmas Books
I did not get to ride this week. Part of the reason is that I am being super cautious about the Covid-19 pandemic, and the other reason is that, for once, winter came to NC just after the Winter Solstice. It is 20º F here right now at 9:30 AM. No snow, just bitter cold.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on December 26, 2020 at 11:13am — No Comments
A “Second Opinion”?
Winter has arrived, at least for now.
Horses tend to get a little friskier when the winter comes, even if the temperature at that day is not terribly cold. With the changing daylight hormones change, and the shorter daylight hours may bring up instinctive ancestral memories of cold weather=increased…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on December 19, 2020 at 11:35am — 2 Comments
Finally, a Lesson
When Thanksgiving, with all the travel and massing of people happened, I realized that it would be best for me to keep away from Debbie's rather large boarding/lesson stable for two weeks. This did not please me at all, Debbie gives me really effective physical therapy, telling me when I start losing track of my limbs and making sure that I keep my base of support on…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on December 12, 2020 at 1:06pm — No Comments
I'm Grateful I Got to Ride at All
I called Debbie last Tuesday to tell her I would not be riding at her stable this week. I am paranoid about her boarders/lesson students not being careful with Covid-19 preventive measures, a valid concern since I am usually the only person wearing a mask at the stable. I told Debbie I was following the news, and if her clients had been Liberal Democrats I…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on December 5, 2020 at 10:56am — No Comments
Then Cider Changes Her Mind
It is getting into the odd season down here. I was just starting to get ready for my lesson on Wednesday when Debbie called, she had a sinus infection and she told me that one of her boarders had tested positive to Covid-19. With Thanksgiving being the next day and all the people coming into the barn I decided it was best for me to stop riding at my lesson barn for a…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on November 28, 2020 at 10:38am — No Comments
Cider Finally Gives Me What I Want
For the last few years Cider has had problems going down-slope. This was very obvious on one side of the ring next to the fence, she would increase her flinching, slow down and pick her way carefully down the slope. She was not happy about it but she is a good mare and did her best to obey my aids even when her front leg joints protested.…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on November 21, 2020 at 12:34pm — No Comments
Nothing Much Happening
Except for a good bit of rain and being sort of sick.
I did get a few rides in, fortunately, though I did not have much endurance because of whatever it was that I had. I even got two lessons with Debbie!
The first lesson, on MJ of…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on November 14, 2020 at 10:25am — No Comments
Sogginess and Wind Gusts
This week we had to deal with the outlying rain bands of Tropical Storm Zeta, and then the storm itself came through. The river is full, the creeks are full, and the earth goes squish when we walk on it.
I got Debbie for my teacher this week. She has been busy the last few weeks getting herself and…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on October 31, 2020 at 11:08am — No Comments
Cider Said “Yes”!
When I called Shannon last Saturday night to see if I could ride on Sunday I excitedly told her that I finally had a double bridle made up for Cider. I asked if I could introduce Cider to it, and Shannon said yes! She told me she had never used a double bridle herself, and had not used one on a horse, and she was eager to see how it all worked. I warned her we would probably…
ContinueAdded by Jackie Cochran on October 24, 2020 at 10:26am — No Comments
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