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snowballing
Dec. 4th, 2006 10:57 amNice ride with Fontana on Saturday- she started out really making me think she was going to buck- she had her ears back as usual, but her back just felt like she was itching to throw a buck or two. But she was a good girl and she didn't buck, though I nearly got myself dumped when I was adjusting my stirrups (from on her back) and she decided to start rubbing her face on her leg- I popped her with the whip and made her jump, then thought about what a stupid move it was on my part as I nearly left the saddle.
Fontana seems to be getting rounder, and we're working on getting her straighter too. Peggy is getting after me more about my position, which I actually love, because I think it's helping me and the horse. I've been working on keeping my belly pulled in, not, as Peggy said (sparing my ego) because I have a big gut hanging out, but because it helps straighten my back. Hey, if I look skinnier AND develop good posture, it's win-win. Fontana and I were working to the left on a 20 meter circle, when once again, we clicked. I tried pushing her shoulder over and asking her to bend through her body, and all at once she gave it up and got so soft and yet through. We finished up after a couple more times around, and her poor legs felt trembly and her face had an expression like "Dang, that burns!" I was really proud of her for working honestly even though it was hard for her. In spite of her balking and pinned back ears she actually does have a good attitude- she works in spite of herself, like she can't help it. "I don't WANT to do it...but by golly I'm GOING to!"
In shopping news, there are a LOT of horses out there. More than I thought there would be. At the same time, I'm pickier than I thought. So far most of the ones that are big enough are not pretty enough movers, and vice versa. But the ads are still coming in so that's encouranging. I go from feeling excited and hopeful to depressed and tired, but it's a continuing cycle so hopefully things will end up fine.
Sue got her lovely new trakehner stallion, Rubinesque. He is massive, and fat, and shiny. A rich bay with no white, he's a summer horse to warm our Colorado winter. He has a neck which my husband would describe as "Equus Prime". Peggy lunged him and he looks quite powerful- as Sue (the other Sue, not his owner Sue ^_^) noted, his front and hind match really beautifully, and it's so elegant. He was soon huffing and puffing in the cold, thin air, and I'm sure he was wondering how the heck he got here. It will be so wonderful to see a young dressage stallion in his prime being worked at the upper levels. Sue is thrilled and would probably be happy just looking at him, judging from her colorful language "He's f***ing beautiful!". It is really cool to enjoy looking at your horse and not just riding it.
Fontana seems to be getting rounder, and we're working on getting her straighter too. Peggy is getting after me more about my position, which I actually love, because I think it's helping me and the horse. I've been working on keeping my belly pulled in, not, as Peggy said (sparing my ego) because I have a big gut hanging out, but because it helps straighten my back. Hey, if I look skinnier AND develop good posture, it's win-win. Fontana and I were working to the left on a 20 meter circle, when once again, we clicked. I tried pushing her shoulder over and asking her to bend through her body, and all at once she gave it up and got so soft and yet through. We finished up after a couple more times around, and her poor legs felt trembly and her face had an expression like "Dang, that burns!" I was really proud of her for working honestly even though it was hard for her. In spite of her balking and pinned back ears she actually does have a good attitude- she works in spite of herself, like she can't help it. "I don't WANT to do it...but by golly I'm GOING to!"
In shopping news, there are a LOT of horses out there. More than I thought there would be. At the same time, I'm pickier than I thought. So far most of the ones that are big enough are not pretty enough movers, and vice versa. But the ads are still coming in so that's encouranging. I go from feeling excited and hopeful to depressed and tired, but it's a continuing cycle so hopefully things will end up fine.
Sue got her lovely new trakehner stallion, Rubinesque. He is massive, and fat, and shiny. A rich bay with no white, he's a summer horse to warm our Colorado winter. He has a neck which my husband would describe as "Equus Prime". Peggy lunged him and he looks quite powerful- as Sue (the other Sue, not his owner Sue ^_^) noted, his front and hind match really beautifully, and it's so elegant. He was soon huffing and puffing in the cold, thin air, and I'm sure he was wondering how the heck he got here. It will be so wonderful to see a young dressage stallion in his prime being worked at the upper levels. Sue is thrilled and would probably be happy just looking at him, judging from her colorful language "He's f***ing beautiful!". It is really cool to enjoy looking at your horse and not just riding it.
