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The 3rd time
Mar. 28th, 2007 07:45 amSo Nadia came out Monday night and played ground person for us again. Trudi is getting the hang of going, and stopping (somewhat). Turning kind of blows her mind. Nadia, fresh from green-brokeville, reminded me to use a more open rein to help show her where to go. We need a LOT more practice with turning. Trudi was good but a little more frustrated than on Sunday. I think it was because I was asking more of her instead of having my ground person do most of the work. I'm hoping a few more rides with the lungeline as a security blanket and then maybe we'll be ok wandering loose in the little indoor- 20m x 25m is coming in really handy right now. Once we've got that down it's off to the great wide world in the big arena outside.
I had Nadia help me with the boots so that I was sure I was putting them on right, and picked up some velcro fastening bell boots at stateline tack for $4. Yay, I love a deal. I have so much more gear (crap) than I used to though. It takes me 2 trips from the tackroom. Saddle, bridle, bag o brushes, bell boots, sport boots, lunge line, side reins, halter, leadrope... and I'm always forgetting something.
I just lunged her last night- free lunged first, shortened the side reins some, more free lunging. They're short enough now that she is testing the length and bumping herself a little from time to time. After I knew she was ok with them I attached the lunge line to the bit ring and noseband (another tip from the Klimke book) and she was perfect- I was able to keep contact on the line and influence the bit and she didn't charge off and hit herself in the mouth. I even halted her several times and she did not turn to face me. Probably the shorter side reins are helping, but I think she's also learning.
It was a very windy night, so after I untacked her I decided this would be a good time to take her outside and walk around. I stopped every few feet to let her graze on the grass that had sprouted up after all the rain on Saturday and it ended up being a mostly non event. She thought about spooking a couple of times, but overall was well behaved.
Final note- I found it odd that the Klimke book (The New Basic Training of the Young Horse) has several pages about lunging gear and information about backing a horse for the first time, and about the first few rides, but they completely neglect to mention turning. I would have thought there would be a few sentences at least, but there's nothing. I would have thought basic training would inclued stop, go, and turn...
I had Nadia help me with the boots so that I was sure I was putting them on right, and picked up some velcro fastening bell boots at stateline tack for $4. Yay, I love a deal. I have so much more gear (crap) than I used to though. It takes me 2 trips from the tackroom. Saddle, bridle, bag o brushes, bell boots, sport boots, lunge line, side reins, halter, leadrope... and I'm always forgetting something.
I just lunged her last night- free lunged first, shortened the side reins some, more free lunging. They're short enough now that she is testing the length and bumping herself a little from time to time. After I knew she was ok with them I attached the lunge line to the bit ring and noseband (another tip from the Klimke book) and she was perfect- I was able to keep contact on the line and influence the bit and she didn't charge off and hit herself in the mouth. I even halted her several times and she did not turn to face me. Probably the shorter side reins are helping, but I think she's also learning.
It was a very windy night, so after I untacked her I decided this would be a good time to take her outside and walk around. I stopped every few feet to let her graze on the grass that had sprouted up after all the rain on Saturday and it ended up being a mostly non event. She thought about spooking a couple of times, but overall was well behaved.
Final note- I found it odd that the Klimke book (The New Basic Training of the Young Horse) has several pages about lunging gear and information about backing a horse for the first time, and about the first few rides, but they completely neglect to mention turning. I would have thought there would be a few sentences at least, but there's nothing. I would have thought basic training would inclued stop, go, and turn...
