That's so bad! How did it happen? I was in the Caymans a few years ago doing a touristy swim with the stingray thing, but they just swam around us. Did you step on one?
You make this jumping stuff look so easy and graceful....well graceful it is...no doubt about that.
Today was a special day for Cash and I~~~got out of the arenas and rode around the yard and down the lane a little. I am thrilled! May sound silly to you but it was a big hurdle for me. Did you get the pun on that? Big Hurdle? It wasn't initially intentional. AND I set some very low jumps out for him Friday and we played around with that with me on the ground. I set two poles together for him to go over and a 4 in. high box and then a regular jump that was probably 6 in. At first he just sort of trotted over and then he started actually jumping. That's so pretty even at that low. I set out a couple barrels too on their side but he wanted nothing to do with going over those. I think the highest he's jumped for me is about 15 inches but he'd way over jump that. I wasn't comfortable with how the jumps were held up (they were useing the seats of a couple of chairs) so we didn't do it anymore. But now we can work with some real jumps so I think we'll end up playing around with them a little. Especially as it gets colder.
It was a good horse week-end for us...hope it was for you too.
By the way, I need some translation again. "A smile on your dial?" I suspect this is going to be very cute..
Keep up the good work with your students and horses!
Shirl
You have such inspiring experiences with your horses that are caught with the camera.
I am not sure where my friend is in Australia. I think they had four main destinations on their itinerary. I only remember GBR and Sydney. I don't know where her extented family lives there either. What a nice friend to have that will share the holiday home with you! Our little getaway is a small 'old' log cabin on a small freshwater lake. We have a paddle boat and a pontoon to go out in search for fish, turtles and birds. But of course the fresh water fish can't compare in color to the tropical fish. It is a good retreat if you like to go back to nature.
When I mention 'bored' I'm referring to the attitude that arises when I don't diversify enough. If I attempt to do the same things over and over, Cash will easily distract and let his mind go on to other things which generally means that he's gonna make up his own fun. Much better for me to change it up first and stay the leader.
Keep Jumping Around!
Hey Patrick, I just saw you are on here so thought I'd say good-night since I'm off for bed at 2:a.m. Didn't feel very good today so I mosied around the barnyard with Cash in hand. It's starting to be old hat for him now. We walked up to the fake deer and he sniffed at it and then tried to push it over. It was a good choice to do the hiking around. Felt like the right thing to do. It's time~~~ on a good day we gotta start getting around the grounds with me in saddle. With 13 horses at my barn, no one else is going outside of the arenas either. I sooooo want to do this before we start getting the ice and snow that only complicate the things that can go bad. Right now ~~lots can go right.
Hi Geoffrey!
How are things with you?
Cash and I have been getting along fabulous. When I returned from my 10 day Florida vacation he took his head and rubbed it all over me. First time he's been THAT affectonate! Suppose he got a little dog mixed in there somewhere? LOL! Anyway, I like that about him.
I had a riding lesson yesterday and both of us were in a good mood & relaxed so it went as well as I'd hope for. We are finally back to progressing since leaveing our old barn. Only took a year and a half.
A highschool girlfriend of mine is visiting your country now. Her fathers relatives were from Australia so she wanted to visit before his close relatives passed as they are getting up there in age. She and her husband just went snorkeling at the great barrior reef a couple of days ago. Have you ever done that? I used to be very afraid (there's that darn word again) of water but when we started traveling in the Caribbean Islands, I knew I had to get over that cause I loved seeing all the interesting critters in the ocean. I still like to know I can touch bottom and as long as I think I can touch, I swim fine. If I start to feel I might not be able to touch bottom I become a rock. I'd love to visit the Great Barrior Reef but that is not likely to happen. Just thankful I've been able to do it in the islands.
I went to the Parelli Celebration in Florida for 3 days while on vacation. Got many new ideas of things to do to keep things fresh and fun for Cash and I. That keeps him moving under saddle and gives me a chance to progress with my riding seat. Hard to develope a good seat when they don't keep moving!
Keep up the good work with your horses and students! What a great life!! Enjoy!!!
Shirley
Hi Geoffrey, I'm desparately looking for a new "trainer".... #1 the other person hasn't called me back since bailing on Ben, #2 even if she had called me back I was going to bail on her.... Anyway, we're getting late in the season and we've already had some snow so everyone is telling me to lay off until the Spring (about 5 - 6 months!). I don't want to wait that long, so I'm continuing my search. I have one more lady to call who is Chris Irwin Gold Certified but I think she's really busy doing clinics and such. Chris Irwin aside (although he's supposed to be great), she's apparently very very good - she works with unconfident and nervous adult riders (me) as well. I wonder where my nerves went, I remember jumping the 4ft fences and galloping across the fields - ho hum. Anyway, thanks for asking and get on with your fencing!!!!
At 8:54am on September 27, 2009, Claire Gibbs said…
hey geoff
just wondering with all the rain we've had over the past week if we will still be able to jump course work at c grade height?? as we need intensive training for states this weekend!!
Hi again. I am a firm believer in groundwork, throughout a horse's career. We do practice the basics every time that I am with my horse (on the lead and on the lunge)... walk, stop, park (even if I walk away from him), turn, trot. We work on him responding to voice commands as well as our body language, and on him respecting personal space. I now have my 'new to horses' boyfriend also working with him. We entered my horse in halter classes at a show recently (our first time) and all of our work paid off, as he was a very good boy. :) We would like to soon progress to long lines in preparation for backing him (and possibly driving him some day). Dressage is my passion, but I would also like to do some low level eventing. I hope that my wee lad will become a good all-rounder... Canadian Horses are known for their versatility. My friends may even convince me to try a bit of western some time. ;)
Hi Geoffrey! I just came across your discussion regarding ground manners (in the 'Coaches Corner' group). I also find that there is not enough (or any) focus on ground manners in trained horses. I have actually searched for a coach who would work with me on groundwork as well as riding... but it is a very difficult thing to find. I would love to have a coach who would spend time guiding me in proper long-lining and lungeing. I asked one dressage coach about it and she told me that she never does ground work with her horses! At the moment I am working with someone who drives so that I can ground-drive my young horse. I plan to always spend time practicing ground skills with my horse... even when he is well trained under saddle. A lot of useful things can be learned (and refreshed) from the ground, and a well mannered horse is not only safer, but also more fun! ;)
Well, one's got to start the season somewhere and you can only go up from last! lol congrats on the fantastic stadium round though.
I did a showcase in the spring, May, exhibiting some of the horses and got to judge some classes there. I went to our club's arabian breed show this year with two of my 3-year-olds. They were fantastic! both are now started under saddle so I'm looking forward to moving up and showing them in something other than halter for once! I might just have to find a babysitter or steal another show mom... I'm actually going to be showing my filly in western next year. I don't know what happened, but her lovely swingy trot disappeared and she's very rolley now... no dressage for her! It'll be fun though, a new experience.
I haven't gotten to show my big guy this year, he injured himself two days before I sent in entries for a recognized dressage show where we were shooting for 3rd level. He's perfectly fine now, just a wea scar, and I've got him listed for sale. Sooooo, that's about my summer. I hope you have a fantastic season, when's your next event?
Hi there!
I'm back in the tack as much as I can be, it's not so easy with the baby. she's 5 months old already! I did get to a couple of shows this year though and am teaching a fair amount.
How has your season been?
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your horses are really beautifull. how long have yo done showjumping and crosscountry for? im just starting it and love it[=]
(:
Today was a special day for Cash and I~~~got out of the arenas and rode around the yard and down the lane a little. I am thrilled! May sound silly to you but it was a big hurdle for me. Did you get the pun on that? Big Hurdle? It wasn't initially intentional. AND I set some very low jumps out for him Friday and we played around with that with me on the ground. I set two poles together for him to go over and a 4 in. high box and then a regular jump that was probably 6 in. At first he just sort of trotted over and then he started actually jumping. That's so pretty even at that low. I set out a couple barrels too on their side but he wanted nothing to do with going over those. I think the highest he's jumped for me is about 15 inches but he'd way over jump that. I wasn't comfortable with how the jumps were held up (they were useing the seats of a couple of chairs) so we didn't do it anymore. But now we can work with some real jumps so I think we'll end up playing around with them a little. Especially as it gets colder.
It was a good horse week-end for us...hope it was for you too.
By the way, I need some translation again. "A smile on your dial?" I suspect this is going to be very cute..
Keep up the good work with your students and horses!
Shirl
I'm such a ditz!!
Well, as you can see I made it back in!!
Now I'm away to view vid clips!!
~ Barb
I am not sure where my friend is in Australia. I think they had four main destinations on their itinerary. I only remember GBR and Sydney. I don't know where her extented family lives there either. What a nice friend to have that will share the holiday home with you! Our little getaway is a small 'old' log cabin on a small freshwater lake. We have a paddle boat and a pontoon to go out in search for fish, turtles and birds. But of course the fresh water fish can't compare in color to the tropical fish. It is a good retreat if you like to go back to nature.
When I mention 'bored' I'm referring to the attitude that arises when I don't diversify enough. If I attempt to do the same things over and over, Cash will easily distract and let his mind go on to other things which generally means that he's gonna make up his own fun. Much better for me to change it up first and stay the leader.
Keep Jumping Around!
How are things with you?
Cash and I have been getting along fabulous. When I returned from my 10 day Florida vacation he took his head and rubbed it all over me. First time he's been THAT affectonate! Suppose he got a little dog mixed in there somewhere? LOL! Anyway, I like that about him.
I had a riding lesson yesterday and both of us were in a good mood & relaxed so it went as well as I'd hope for. We are finally back to progressing since leaveing our old barn. Only took a year and a half.
A highschool girlfriend of mine is visiting your country now. Her fathers relatives were from Australia so she wanted to visit before his close relatives passed as they are getting up there in age. She and her husband just went snorkeling at the great barrior reef a couple of days ago. Have you ever done that? I used to be very afraid (there's that darn word again) of water but when we started traveling in the Caribbean Islands, I knew I had to get over that cause I loved seeing all the interesting critters in the ocean. I still like to know I can touch bottom and as long as I think I can touch, I swim fine. If I start to feel I might not be able to touch bottom I become a rock. I'd love to visit the Great Barrior Reef but that is not likely to happen. Just thankful I've been able to do it in the islands.
I went to the Parelli Celebration in Florida for 3 days while on vacation. Got many new ideas of things to do to keep things fresh and fun for Cash and I. That keeps him moving under saddle and gives me a chance to progress with my riding seat. Hard to develope a good seat when they don't keep moving!
Keep up the good work with your horses and students! What a great life!! Enjoy!!!
Shirley
just wondering with all the rain we've had over the past week if we will still be able to jump course work at c grade height?? as we need intensive training for states this weekend!!
I did a showcase in the spring, May, exhibiting some of the horses and got to judge some classes there. I went to our club's arabian breed show this year with two of my 3-year-olds. They were fantastic! both are now started under saddle so I'm looking forward to moving up and showing them in something other than halter for once! I might just have to find a babysitter or steal another show mom... I'm actually going to be showing my filly in western next year. I don't know what happened, but her lovely swingy trot disappeared and she's very rolley now... no dressage for her! It'll be fun though, a new experience.
I haven't gotten to show my big guy this year, he injured himself two days before I sent in entries for a recognized dressage show where we were shooting for 3rd level. He's perfectly fine now, just a wea scar, and I've got him listed for sale. Sooooo, that's about my summer. I hope you have a fantastic season, when's your next event?
I'm back in the tack as much as I can be, it's not so easy with the baby. she's 5 months old already! I did get to a couple of shows this year though and am teaching a fair amount.
How has your season been?
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