hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647 
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Post by hugs on Feb 1, 2015 10:05:06 GMT
LOL Wide is nice because I find it's easier to balance yourself on a wide horse when they do silly things :) Mind you, your legs/thighs won't really appreciate the "wide" horse in the morning hehe I didn't ride that much but yeah I do feel it. I talked with Stephanie about a plan which truly I know but my mind went blank concentration on the inside of my head instead of the outside of the horse. His embarrassing but again so true. Also got more of Gerald's quilt sown. Learning about that too. Work sure gets in the way doesn't it. I can't wait for the day when I'm not so stresses out and my mind starts working again because thus "lifestyle" stinks. I don't mean what I do but how I think and feel. Problem seems bigger than my ability to deal with it. But you guys help thank you so very much. Hey you know I think I look outside myself for solutions more than is necessary or totally healthy. But gosh a person just gets weary you know? |
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Feb 1, 2015 10:14:00 GMT
So proud of you. You are making a great progress and be riding like a pro in no time. :-)
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 1, 2015 13:42:12 GMT
Thanks to all of you. You help me more than you'll know... or maybe not... whatever, its just so extremely good to find like minded people
x_x
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Feb 1, 2015 15:29:58 GMT
You know, as I was reading your post I just knew you were going to say you got on Peaches too! We are so insanely proud of you what you have accomplished! Keep up the good work and keep us posted on all your great progress.
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Post by carshon on Feb 1, 2015 20:08:12 GMT
Add my Woo Hoo's too! what exciting and wonderful news!
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 1, 2015 20:08:25 GMT
"Insanely" proud, yup, that would be us ??? :-[
I went to the barn this morning of course and got Ms. Peach, tacked her up with her, now de rigueur (required by rules of etiquette) breast collar. We spent an hour getting closer to being bit'd, what a little snot. It was windy today and you know how metal buildings bang around. So rather than chancing getting in over my head, or more accurately on my head, we practiced standing still at the mounting block and getting on and off. She was pretty good with that. She knows to take one step at a time if I'm standing on the block and clicking her to go forward.
She's lost her good leading skills and picked up more belligerent skills. I guess its just how it goes with horses, heck, how it goes with people, right? So I get to practice, "Its all good, nothing wrong, simply ask again and help her get the right answer".
I can't say I've broken through some barrier or you know, some big gain in self confidence, but we're working on it.
Oh I met our trainer at a tack swap in Braham campfire and Stephanie said that she walked Peaches across the bridge LENGTHWISE even though its tippy! I don't even like walking the bridge lengthwise, so this is a big thing. And it made me realize. Sure Steph has more skills than I do but mostly she has more calm confidence than I do.
And one of the things that has me question myself is how my job took a very left turn early on. We're okay now I guess but I really won't know for sure until I'm told one way or another. So I feel pretty unsteady and in the midst of that I'm trying to build and maintain steadiness and confidence. Sometimes I just want to take a nap, you know?
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Post by diamondgirl on Feb 19, 2015 20:26:28 GMT
What have you and Peachie working on now? I know it has been so cold up there.
Maybe you have more confidence than you think. I know I get stiffer, when it gets really cold. I think you will be amazed how much easier things get, once you can peel off enough layers of clothes, so you can actually move, and you don't have to worry about your frozen, dripping nose, making snotcicles. Winter is hard, but even harder where you are. snowman-waving
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 20, 2015 0:33:22 GMT
I think the "hardness" of winter is relative, don't you? But it does get tiresome. The door to my apartment doesn't shut right and I've been trying to weatherstrip it and still be able to lock it, which is apparently mutually exclusive >:(I'll try a different kind this weekend and see how that goes.
But back to what you asked about; Yesterday Peaches was the best I have ever seen EVER! I mean she was calm and was licking and chewing. She stood still at the mounting block as I got on, got off, fell off and even when I was bumping her with my toe as I got on! I was amazed! She was doing this on purpose. She LIKES doing this riding thing with me. In fact, she didn't want me putting her halter on at the end because she knows that's when she's got to go back to the pasture. She also knows that when I go out there I won't let the big, bad buckskin bully bite or kick her, I can tell she appreciates that. And I don't think I'm over analyzing this or being anthropomorphic or some fantasy of mine. I'm very cautious about trying to believe something just because it will make me feel good and give me bragging rights.
I don't ride her for more than a half of a minute before I get off, walk a bit and then get back on again, but I'll do that several times. I need all of those times to get it through to me that she is behaving, she is being patient and calm and she is in control of her emotions. The trainer has never experience a Peaches losing her cool so she doesn't really get why I'm so nervous but even that I'm nervous Peaches is okay. In fact, after one session I was hugging her and thanking her for being so good for me and I could feel her relax. She even though she really was tense, she didn't act tense! Now that is someone who has mental control over their emotions!
Yesterday did help me have more confidence even though I took a tumble but it was because Peaches was so calm through all of it.
Tomorrow is supposed to be above zero, I hope and pray the wind is down so we all can actually feel warmer but I'm going to the barn again and ride Peaches. Lois suggested I get a wither strap for Suzie's breast collar and I don't have one yet so I'm not sure if that means she doesn't want me to ride her without a strap or not. I sure don't want to rub any hair off of Suzie or hurt her in any way but then I don't ride her that much either. And its all in the arena so no ups or downs.
So there you go, my update. Thank you for asking. I think about this stuff all the time. Its so hard to be at work and not leave to go to the barn but I do daydream from time and time (shhhhhhh).
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Feb 20, 2015 13:28:19 GMT
Sounds like both you and Peaches are doing much better at remaining calm. Keep trying to push yourself just a little more each time. Good job!
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 20, 2015 15:32:30 GMT
Thank you. I try. I'm not as strict as I used to be that everything had to be just so. I consider that a big deal because it made things more difficult and frustrating. I try.
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Feb 20, 2015 16:40:14 GMT
I am really glad you are breaking that barrier of yours... It is just all in your head  , Peaches is good and calm as much as she can be, use that. She is making a effort for you. Again don't go to fast, you don't want that something happens that will shattered your new gain confidance. We would say "nema kruha bez motike" or no success without work. Keep up the good work. |
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 21, 2015 22:43:50 GMT
Peachie crossed the bridge 4 times! She has no problem standing with her front feet on it. I should have taken a video because she stamps that thang like she's really getting medieval on it LOL  Another selfie, I guess I need a selfie stick.  I rode the Peaches in three sessions for about 45 minutes so that means I rode longer and therefore further. She was tossing her head when I asked her to turn, more leg less head tossing, I guess it was her day to be belligerent. So we did more "long distance" riding the length of the arena which is something like 100 ft? I don't know, but I do know it was better. I need to shorten the right stirrup because I wasn't able to get my foot in there readily. Tomorrow. When I went to put her back she didn't want to go, so we took a walk around the place. Stood in the driveway and watched cars go by, that was fun. She didn't quite like it but she stood fairly well, lots better than before. Very happy with her progress. Then Lois came out at noon and since Peaches wasn't ready to go back we went with Lois and her horse Ruby. That's when we did the bridge thing. I was going to ride Suzie after I went to the tack shop to finish getting all the pieces for her breast collar but it was 2PM by then and I have a quilt to sew and a couple hats to crochet so here I am playing on the computer LOL |
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Post by horselady on Feb 22, 2015 1:05:30 GMT
She looks wonderful and you look so happy. a little progress every day is so rewarding and Peachies learns and listens and respects. remember she is smart and all you do she is allowing you to do cause she knows it makes you happy.  |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Feb 22, 2015 1:06:15 GMT
Great job! And when she gave you a little problem, you didn't give up.
Just a quick observation - you need to slide her brow band further up her head. It should be just below her ears. It almost looks like it may be too big for her. I like your saddle pad - it's pretty!
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 22, 2015 1:31:28 GMT
Yeah MM that headstall is too big. I don't know if shortening the sides will keep the brow band up. Hmmm. maybe I can tie a string or rawhide something under the loop on the brow band so it doesn't slide down? Or I suppose I could make/get a shorter brow band, would that do it?!
That is my favorite blanket for sure, I'll take a better picture of it, its wool and gorgeous. Oh and no problems tightening the cinch today either. Funny, huh? Must have been one of those things.
I wore my mukluks which have a less grippy sole and that worked a LOT better for dismounting. Didn't fall off this time. Its no good when half of you stays in the saddle while the other half is getting off. OH and here's something. Mostly I hoist my leg up and over but a couple times I misjudged and kind of ooched my foot across her bottom, I dunno, old hip syndrome or something. Anyway, she was just fine! Isn't that great?!
Tomorrow when I go ride and if she tosses her head I won't be so worried. Gerald suggested asking her to go R then L and serpentine to get her thinking and less reactive. Is that what you guys would do?
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Feb 22, 2015 7:43:34 GMT
Oh God , she is so pretty. What a face. And you booth look great. Glad you rode longer :-) keep us updated.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 22, 2015 13:31:13 GMT
Thank you Lipizzan, I think she's a cutie pie, Gerald likes those more refined babydoll quarterhorses so he can't see her appeal at all, but that's okay. She's my horse. You know, that still tickles me to say and to think? She's MY horse. Actually so are Penny and Ziggy, I bought Ziggy on my own but I've spent the most time, trouble and learning with Peaches.
Hey, is that breast collar on right? I'm thinking that since I have to attach it to the cinch it isn't fitted around the chest properly. I also think this because the wither straps are all too short for the breast collar that has to fit that low. What do you think? I hate to have to buy a new saddle to fit a breast collar, especially when Peaches and our riding doesn't really need it, I only got into them because I'm riding Suzie, Lois' horse.
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Post by diamondgirl on Feb 22, 2015 14:39:09 GMT
It sounds like you had a great day with Peach. I am really happy for you.
It looks like the bottom boards in your bridge are narrower on the end than they are in the middle. Right? So it is meant to rock like a teeter totter right? I like that design. Mine is just a long straight ramp, that has a pole under the middle, so it will rock.
I am really glad you are riding Peach longer, and I love your selfie picture of the two of you.
About your stirrup issue, and having trouble getting your foot into it. I have a lot of trouble getting my right foot into the stirrup, when I get on. Sometimes I have to lean down and turn it so I can get my foot in. What has helped make this easier for me is, when I put my saddle up, I turn my stirrups, so they are hanging what would be the correct way to be able to easily insert my foot, then stick a broom stick in there to hold them that way. Then when I put my saddle on my horse, the leather remembers the way it has been hanging, so rather than just hanging straight, it holds my stirrup at enough of an angle, it is a lot easier to get my foot in.
Of coarse I don't ride in mukluks. I think you are a very brave lady, to even be out riding in temperatures that would require mukluks. snowman-wavingBurrrrrr. |
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Feb 22, 2015 16:09:46 GMT
Thanks Diamond, I like the encouragement. Gerald told me to do that for the stirrup too but I didn't think to bring my broom, I mean its not like I actually use it or anything  This apartment is mostly carpet anyway. Its another mukluk day today too, colder than yesterday, but warmer tomorrow. Doesn't God know that its the weekends that need to be warm?! Sheesh, talk about not paying attention to detail  And I'm still at home, lower level of this townhouse apartment is so drafty its unreal. Gotta go to Menards and pick up some caulk and weatherstripping and HOPE to get this under control. Otherwise I'll have to hang a blanket over the doorway, which is so poor college student, but what can you do? I've asked the landlord twice since last November and nothing. Oh well. I live central MN so spring comes in April, which isn't all that far away, right?! Right??? |
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Post by diamondgirl on Feb 22, 2015 17:39:53 GMT
While you are at Menards pick up a dowel rod, or a stick of some sort, so you can turn your stirrups. Anything straight and about 2 to 2.5 feet long will do. Curtain rod, shower rod, a piece of quarter round that fell off the wall. I use whatever is at hand.
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, Peaches is good and calm as much as she can be, use that. She is making a effort for you. Again don't go to fast, you don't want that something happens that will shattered your new gain confidance. We would say "nema kruha bez motike" or no success without work. Keep up the good work. 
This apartment is mostly carpet anyway.