Back to basics

Even though it was my day off I was quite tired today.  But regardless I drug myself out to the barn since the weather was amazing.  It was slightly chilly, sunny, and just perfect for riding.
The one flaw was the fact it has rained for almost two days straight here in East TN.  So the paddock I am now riding in was quite wet still.
So I decided it was a day to work on the walk to avoid slipping and sliding around in the mud I knew was lurking under the grass.

Thankfully Gracie was in a good mood today and went right into work.  None of her usual stopping and throwing fits that can occur at the beginning of a ride.  Maybe we are getting to the point she once again has a work ethic...maybe.  Not holding my breath or anything.
But she was all about the cows, or lack of cows, in the field across the street.  So we spent a fair amount of time working on going past those points without having to be all "looky" at the cows way at the bottom of the field.

Mainly we worked on lots of bending and changing direction with a constant contact.  Added in lots of walk/halt/walk transitions to get her through and listening to me.  Then I started with some lateral work.  Did leg yield away and to the fence line so she was moving evenly and respectfully off both legs.  Next I worked on shoulder-in and haunches-in.  I swear she is getting alot better at both of those.  When she was actually in the zone and listening to me they were good today.  When she was off in cow land they were just okay.
Poor mare she is just a bit ADD.

So overall even with the limitation of gaits it was a productive day.  And some days it is just good to go down to the basics and work on nothing else.  Today was one of those days.
It was so nice to feel her so light in my hands and listening to my aids.  :)

                                                          Gracie posing for the camera.

All ready for a good workout.

Back in the saddle

It has been a few months since I had been on here updating the life of Gracie and I.  Not that we are by any means that exciting.  But it is a way for me to follow what happens in our day to day training.

This summer has been kinda a bust for us.  In the middle of June Gracie fell on the lunge line.  She splatted right onto her side and in the process hit her right stifle it seems on her front feet.  Her shoes left a pretty icky gash on the inside of the stifle and for a few days all seemed ok.  Thankfully she was never lame on it.
BUT a few days later the largest seroma formed at that location.  It was huge.  Probably about the size of a cantaloupe.  And like I said she wasnt lame, but I do feel it inhibited her way of moving and didnt want to push the matter.
It was also during this time I moved her across the street to a friend's barn where she was to be on 24/7 turnout. Add in that and the miserable heat we had here in east Tn this year and I gave her some time off.

Two months later the evil seroma was gone and the heat had settled somewhat.  So about 2 weeks ago I started us both back into work.
I am TOTALLY out of shape.  It is ridiculous how much you lose with such a short time off.  But I will get it back I am sure.
Gracie though was living on this intense hill she is now going up and down multiple times a day.
Sure she gained a bit of weight with the nice lush grass, but she also got stronger.  The last remnants of the EPM was just she had not fully gotten back her muscle strength in that right hind.  Now though with all that hillwork she has done it on her own.  Why didnt I do this sooner I ask myself!!!???

Basicly the mare is now WANTING to do nothing but canter.  I have a small grassy paddock I am riding her in with a very small incline down to one side.  So as you make a 20meter circle you are going slightly down and up a hill all in the same rotation.  It has done wonders for her balance and tempo.  But as we head up the hill she sees it as a perfect time to canter.  And will pick one up if I allow her every time.
This is the same mare I had to fight to get to canter.  Even after the EPM was treated.  So it is amazing what good muscling will do.
She also had maintained a pretty good topline in spite of her time off.  And the more we have been working the more of that extra 100 pounds she loses.  Soon I will need to get her back onto her grain daily again.  Right now she doesnt need it at all.

So I will just keep doing what I am doing.  Probably as the sun sets earlier I will go back over to Merry Hour Farm to use the indoor so I can continue to ride through the fall and winter.
My goal is to go to the Halloween schooling show held there on October 30th.  If all goes well I will do Training Level Tests 1 & 2.  For us that is a huge thing.  And all I want from it is to finish the test...a good score is just a bonus.

So I am happy to be back.  I needed the small break from riding, but it is in my blood and I cant stay away too long.  :)