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Monty's owner did end up breaking her arm. She should be better in about a month though, so that's cool.
Also, shippers in Canada have taken my horse from Langley to Calgary. Now they're saying someone else doesn't have their shit together so the horse may be delayed ANOTHER 5 days. I don't get how they can do this- they ought to just ship my horse and charge the other people more for the extra trip. But, what can I do besides wait? This is why you should buy American, I guess (note- I don't mean to say the breeder has done anything wrong- they were great, it's the shippers making me insane).
Had a lesson on Gig on Friday. It harkened back to the days of my youth, sitting on a fat welsh pony, kicking away, trying to make him go. Gig walked around happily enough when we got started-- he had even pranced a bit while adjusting my stirrups. After a few times around he just up and decided to show me who's boss. He stopped at the barn end of the indoor every time we came by. I squeezed, I bumped, I kicked, I used the whip. To no avail. I hit him harder. He swished his tail and raised a hind leg threateningly, tossed his head, and stayed where he was. Peggy told me not to hit him harder, but just to relax (not so easy when you feel like an idiot- 18 years since I started riding and I can't make a horse walk past the barn?) and keep tapping him with the whip- basically annoying him into compliance. My arm actually got TIRED from hitting him (and I was really annoyed- rage typically gives me extra energy) and STILL he did not move. I switch hands, and Peggy tells me not to tighten the rein (which I'm inadvertantly doing because the whip is not a really long one). I give rein and keep tapping and feeling stupid. Eventually Gig walks off out of sheer boredom.
He was definitely stiffer than the last time I rode him. He's been out of regular work and Peggy warmed him up the last time, so there was a huge difference. She took pity on me and got the lunge whip to give him some added encouragement, and we just worked walk, trot, and canter on a circle- no fancy stuff except for a step or two of unintentional piaffe. It seemed like my position was ok for the most part, except for constant reminders to put my legs back, and we worked on getting me to be more subtle and sensitive, and getting the horse's hind legs to really step under. He felt pretty round to me but overall it was a humbling experience and about the best I could take from it was to remember that sometimes you just have to sit there and wait it out- persistance is a force and patience is a virtue... at least I learned how to put a double bridle on.
Also, shippers in Canada have taken my horse from Langley to Calgary. Now they're saying someone else doesn't have their shit together so the horse may be delayed ANOTHER 5 days. I don't get how they can do this- they ought to just ship my horse and charge the other people more for the extra trip. But, what can I do besides wait? This is why you should buy American, I guess (note- I don't mean to say the breeder has done anything wrong- they were great, it's the shippers making me insane).
Had a lesson on Gig on Friday. It harkened back to the days of my youth, sitting on a fat welsh pony, kicking away, trying to make him go. Gig walked around happily enough when we got started-- he had even pranced a bit while adjusting my stirrups. After a few times around he just up and decided to show me who's boss. He stopped at the barn end of the indoor every time we came by. I squeezed, I bumped, I kicked, I used the whip. To no avail. I hit him harder. He swished his tail and raised a hind leg threateningly, tossed his head, and stayed where he was. Peggy told me not to hit him harder, but just to relax (not so easy when you feel like an idiot- 18 years since I started riding and I can't make a horse walk past the barn?) and keep tapping him with the whip- basically annoying him into compliance. My arm actually got TIRED from hitting him (and I was really annoyed- rage typically gives me extra energy) and STILL he did not move. I switch hands, and Peggy tells me not to tighten the rein (which I'm inadvertantly doing because the whip is not a really long one). I give rein and keep tapping and feeling stupid. Eventually Gig walks off out of sheer boredom.
He was definitely stiffer than the last time I rode him. He's been out of regular work and Peggy warmed him up the last time, so there was a huge difference. She took pity on me and got the lunge whip to give him some added encouragement, and we just worked walk, trot, and canter on a circle- no fancy stuff except for a step or two of unintentional piaffe. It seemed like my position was ok for the most part, except for constant reminders to put my legs back, and we worked on getting me to be more subtle and sensitive, and getting the horse's hind legs to really step under. He felt pretty round to me but overall it was a humbling experience and about the best I could take from it was to remember that sometimes you just have to sit there and wait it out- persistance is a force and patience is a virtue... at least I learned how to put a double bridle on.
