Showing posts with label Lunging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lunging. Show all posts
Saturday, 21 August 2010
186. Lunging in an outline with no pessoa!
The last two times i've lunged Spice i've noticed that she's started to fall into a 'natural outline'. I have a pessoa which i have used on her a couple of times but i always worry that i might be 'forcing her into an outline' or 'over doing it' so i'm not overly confident using it (although i think if you know how they're a brilliant aid). But i'm beginning to think that i might not even need it because she's starting to come into an outline on her own accord not just in walk or trot but in all 3 gaits... I wasn't sure this was really possible but it seems it is! Must try to take a video of her next time.
185. Suggesting that your horse does something is so much better than having to tell them to do something...
I remember reading somewhere that if you want to get your horse to do something you must first suggest the idea to them, then (if no response) ask them and then (if still no response) tell them (which is sometimes easier said than done.) But having to tell your horse to do something is never quite as fulfilling as merely having to make a suggestion... I realised this whilst lunging Spice in the arena today, when i suggested that she jump over a cross jump and with immediate effect and more impulsion than i even asked her for she did it.
Spice really seems to come into her own when in an arena. It's almost as though she doesn't really need a teacher but merely a director - someone to guide her - she has all the skills needed, she just needs someone to suggest that she use them. I've read in many equine sales adverts the term 'push button horse' or the phrase 'you just need to point them at the jump' and from what i've seen so far i believe Spice is one of these horses and her potential truly excites me. Why she loves jumping so much is beyond me but you can actually see the excitement in her face when she realises a jump is coming up and her natural ability to work out striding, footing and pace truly amaze me. I was actually in awe of Spice today and so proud.
I had such a brilliant schooling session i was actually buzzing with excitement when i put her back in the paddock and i think she was too. I always know when Spice has enjoyed our sessions because i always ask her to 'canter' after i've put her back and often if i feel good about our session and she does too she canters off, tossing her head playfully in the air but if i ask her after what i feel has been a bad training session she often just walks off with her head down!
I think 2011 might be the year for Spice competition wise but for now all this is very good practice and bringing smiles to both of our faces. :)
Spice really seems to come into her own when in an arena. It's almost as though she doesn't really need a teacher but merely a director - someone to guide her - she has all the skills needed, she just needs someone to suggest that she use them. I've read in many equine sales adverts the term 'push button horse' or the phrase 'you just need to point them at the jump' and from what i've seen so far i believe Spice is one of these horses and her potential truly excites me. Why she loves jumping so much is beyond me but you can actually see the excitement in her face when she realises a jump is coming up and her natural ability to work out striding, footing and pace truly amaze me. I was actually in awe of Spice today and so proud.
I had such a brilliant schooling session i was actually buzzing with excitement when i put her back in the paddock and i think she was too. I always know when Spice has enjoyed our sessions because i always ask her to 'canter' after i've put her back and often if i feel good about our session and she does too she canters off, tossing her head playfully in the air but if i ask her after what i feel has been a bad training session she often just walks off with her head down!
I think 2011 might be the year for Spice competition wise but for now all this is very good practice and bringing smiles to both of our faces. :)
Monday, 7 June 2010
149. Having fun with your horse...
Yesterday after being away for two days i couldn't wait to see Spice and do something with her. So i decided to lunge her for a bit and then loose jump her. I'm really liking doing things with Spice that she is naturally good at and enjoys because for one it makes my job far easier and two it's also good for my confidence because i am starting to realise that a lot of what it comes down to is what your horse is naturally good at...I take no credit whatsoever for Spice being a good jumper, it's in her breeding and she just loves it...simple as.
So, i have decided to concentrate on schooling and jumping rather than making her the bold happy hacker that i so wanted her to be - because to be honest although i enjoy hacking out i actually really enjoy jumping her so why not concentrate on what she's good at?
So my plan for the rest of the week is to do some more loose jumping and concentrate on having fun with each other after all isn't that what it's supposed to be about?
So, i have decided to concentrate on schooling and jumping rather than making her the bold happy hacker that i so wanted her to be - because to be honest although i enjoy hacking out i actually really enjoy jumping her so why not concentrate on what she's good at?
So my plan for the rest of the week is to do some more loose jumping and concentrate on having fun with each other after all isn't that what it's supposed to be about?
Sunday, 30 May 2010
144. Lunging...
After 8 weeks of practically doing nothing but small bits of groundwork and long reining i am finally able to start lunging Spice again.:)
I started 3 days ago in 5 minute stints and am just making my way up to a full ten minutes. Interestingly she is reluctant to go anti-clockwise which is probably because she is still a bit stiff and weak in her hind hoof which still has a chunk of sole and wall missing due to the abscess but within 4 weeks that should have grown back and she will be a lot more comfortable.
She's very good at lunging - very energetic in both trot and canter and even jumped over a traffic cone that happened to be in her way - she loves jumping!
When the chiropractor came to see her the other day the first thing she said mentioned was how good her conformation was and what a great eventer she would make which i was quite pleased about as having done next to nothing with her i was worried she'd lost a bit of condition.
My friends daughter has come back from Uni now to start working with her young horse (Mags) which is great because seeing other people do things with their horses really inspires me and Indy is annoyingly confident and capable - even though she doesn't see Mags for weeks you'd think she'd seen her every day the way Mags responds to her - must take tips from Indy.
As Spice is on the mend i am thinking about buying one more jump for the arena since this seems to be her forte but i may have to hold off for a few weeks and re-coop some money first!
I started 3 days ago in 5 minute stints and am just making my way up to a full ten minutes. Interestingly she is reluctant to go anti-clockwise which is probably because she is still a bit stiff and weak in her hind hoof which still has a chunk of sole and wall missing due to the abscess but within 4 weeks that should have grown back and she will be a lot more comfortable.
She's very good at lunging - very energetic in both trot and canter and even jumped over a traffic cone that happened to be in her way - she loves jumping!
When the chiropractor came to see her the other day the first thing she said mentioned was how good her conformation was and what a great eventer she would make which i was quite pleased about as having done next to nothing with her i was worried she'd lost a bit of condition.
My friends daughter has come back from Uni now to start working with her young horse (Mags) which is great because seeing other people do things with their horses really inspires me and Indy is annoyingly confident and capable - even though she doesn't see Mags for weeks you'd think she'd seen her every day the way Mags responds to her - must take tips from Indy.
As Spice is on the mend i am thinking about buying one more jump for the arena since this seems to be her forte but i may have to hold off for a few weeks and re-coop some money first!
Monday, 19 April 2010
108. The power of Garlic
Today i decided to give Spice a day off since we had done quite a bit yesterday and her hoof is still repairing itself. I've been cleaning the exit point of the abscess up and applying some pure garlic paste to it to fend off any infection which i think has really helped, i decided to do this after speaking to my partners sister about it and then reading up more about it on the net...
Garlic has anti-septic, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effects, reducing blood pressure, improving respiratory problems in horses and acting as a fly repellent -
Garlic is used by many horse and pony owners as a regular equine feed supplement. It contains substances with benefits of pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and reduce swelling.
It is believed that garlic is one of the most effective natural healing substances in the world. It is popularly used, in conjunction with anti-biotics to treat equine respiratory diseases and infections in the horse's lungs.
Garlic is rich in Selenium and Sulphur. Sulphur is recognised as having blood cleansing properties that are useful in treating and preventing equine disease. It is also believed to contain over 25 germ-killing compounds.
Many horse owners feed an equine garlic supplement for its insect repelling qualities - the sweat produced by a horse fed on garlic gives out an odour that keeps flies, ticks and midges away - making it a natural fly repellant.
Horse owners also find feeding garlic useful as part of their equine worming program. Regular feeding of Garlic is effective in deterring tapeworms, pinworms and roundworms - but this should not exclude the use of regular wormers.
Garlic can be used used to give relief from the symptons of coughs - it contains a substance that helps to clear mucus in the airways. This cleansing action, together with its ability to reduce inflammation, also benefits the urinary tract.
The recommended amount to feed is half an ounce to 2 ounces per day depending on the horse or pony's size. It comes in several forms for equine use - powder, freeze dried granules and some herbalists claim freshly grown garlic is the best way to feed it.
The benefits of garlic are many and if you do decide to feed a garlic supplement just be careful not to overdo it.
Spice is booked in for another trim in just under 2 weeks time so i will hopefully be able to do more with her then.
I really want to focus on building up her topline as she has definitely lost some muscle tone over the winter period so i was thinking i could lunge her twice a week with side reins and start schooling her twice a week in the arena.
On the other days i think i will do ground work and jumping at liberty and if all these things go well actually start hacking her out again for 30 mins or so but i don't want to do any of these things until i have the all clear from the barefoot trimmer as the last thing i want to do is risk getting another abscess so i am happy to wait 3 more weeks after all i've already waited 3 months.
Garlic has anti-septic, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effects, reducing blood pressure, improving respiratory problems in horses and acting as a fly repellent -
Garlic is used by many horse and pony owners as a regular equine feed supplement. It contains substances with benefits of pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and reduce swelling.
It is believed that garlic is one of the most effective natural healing substances in the world. It is popularly used, in conjunction with anti-biotics to treat equine respiratory diseases and infections in the horse's lungs.
Garlic is rich in Selenium and Sulphur. Sulphur is recognised as having blood cleansing properties that are useful in treating and preventing equine disease. It is also believed to contain over 25 germ-killing compounds.
Many horse owners feed an equine garlic supplement for its insect repelling qualities - the sweat produced by a horse fed on garlic gives out an odour that keeps flies, ticks and midges away - making it a natural fly repellant.
Horse owners also find feeding garlic useful as part of their equine worming program. Regular feeding of Garlic is effective in deterring tapeworms, pinworms and roundworms - but this should not exclude the use of regular wormers.
Garlic can be used used to give relief from the symptons of coughs - it contains a substance that helps to clear mucus in the airways. This cleansing action, together with its ability to reduce inflammation, also benefits the urinary tract.
The recommended amount to feed is half an ounce to 2 ounces per day depending on the horse or pony's size. It comes in several forms for equine use - powder, freeze dried granules and some herbalists claim freshly grown garlic is the best way to feed it.
The benefits of garlic are many and if you do decide to feed a garlic supplement just be careful not to overdo it.
Spice is booked in for another trim in just under 2 weeks time so i will hopefully be able to do more with her then.
I really want to focus on building up her topline as she has definitely lost some muscle tone over the winter period so i was thinking i could lunge her twice a week with side reins and start schooling her twice a week in the arena.
On the other days i think i will do ground work and jumping at liberty and if all these things go well actually start hacking her out again for 30 mins or so but i don't want to do any of these things until i have the all clear from the barefoot trimmer as the last thing i want to do is risk getting another abscess so i am happy to wait 3 more weeks after all i've already waited 3 months.
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