horse hunters
Nov. 28th, 2006 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
diaryofariderWhat a difference a week makes. I'm behind again on my journal. Last week was full of turkey, baby's first birthday, baby's first high fever, and other strange events. This week, the saddle deal appears to be on again, which makes me happy. The hubby is supposed to be getting a raise, the bank is supposed to give me a loan, and so I'm horse hunting. What a terrifying experience, when I stop to think about it. So I try not to think about it, beyond looking through many many ads, feeling depressed that I can't afford a lot of horses, and exhilarated when I think I've found a great horse I can afford, and sad again if said horse proves unsuitable. So far we've found a lovely but pregnant mare in canada (sort of a problem when board is already really expensive for ONE horse), another mare who's gorgeous in her photos but whose video didn't really impress me, a hanoverian stallion with lovely gaits and an old eye injury, a too young dutch colt, an unknown quantity grey trakehner colt (both these colts are close enough to go see in person) and a couple of pretty-in-their-pictures but video yet-to-be-seen mares whose owner has yet to write me back. Peggy is proving patient, supportive, and quite resourceful. Nadia is also an enthusiastic participant. ^_^
Oh, and I was wrong, Valhalla is NOT a trakehner, she's an oldenburg. But Fontana and Leroy are trakehners.
Last week seems so long ago. I rode Fontana again. On Tuesday she started out cranky as usual, even though I lunged her first to help her warm up. Trotting started out going trot trot canter trot canter trot trot canter. After a while though, we suddenly clicked- I was able to sit well, and she was able to get her back loose, her hindquarters pushing, and her forehand elevated- it was like I was riding up an incline- SO FUN. We alternated doing shoulder in along one long side, and leg yield along the next. She did really well and I was very happy with her.
On Saturday she did not come up as much in front, but she did work hard and we cantered (on purpose) for the first time. To the right she was fine, to the left, shockingly weak. She always seems so athletic that it totally caught me off guard when she was very unbalanced and crooked. Peggy had me stay somewhat off her back and out of her way, and try pushing her shoulders out as the mare was completely counterflexed, yet somehow still managing to spiral the circle smaller and smaller, which threw her more off balance. Things got a bit better as I managed to push her shoulders out some, but I held tight to the bucking strap the whole time. It's intimidating when a 17 hand horse feels like she's careening out of control and falling over. At least she wasn't going very fast. I feel for her- getting your body back in shape after childbirth sucks.
Oh, and I was wrong, Valhalla is NOT a trakehner, she's an oldenburg. But Fontana and Leroy are trakehners.
Last week seems so long ago. I rode Fontana again. On Tuesday she started out cranky as usual, even though I lunged her first to help her warm up. Trotting started out going trot trot canter trot canter trot trot canter. After a while though, we suddenly clicked- I was able to sit well, and she was able to get her back loose, her hindquarters pushing, and her forehand elevated- it was like I was riding up an incline- SO FUN. We alternated doing shoulder in along one long side, and leg yield along the next. She did really well and I was very happy with her.
On Saturday she did not come up as much in front, but she did work hard and we cantered (on purpose) for the first time. To the right she was fine, to the left, shockingly weak. She always seems so athletic that it totally caught me off guard when she was very unbalanced and crooked. Peggy had me stay somewhat off her back and out of her way, and try pushing her shoulders out as the mare was completely counterflexed, yet somehow still managing to spiral the circle smaller and smaller, which threw her more off balance. Things got a bit better as I managed to push her shoulders out some, but I held tight to the bucking strap the whole time. It's intimidating when a 17 hand horse feels like she's careening out of control and falling over. At least she wasn't going very fast. I feel for her- getting your body back in shape after childbirth sucks.
