Took the horses out for a ride tonight....and ponied Dixie all the way. The horses and I went a long ways and we got some really great cantering in!
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
Vet Appt.
17 years ago
Showing posts with label riding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label riding. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Riding in the Dark
Well I didn't get home soon enough to get my butt outside in time to go for a ride in the daylight so the horses and I went out at dusk. I argued my point with mom and dad that it was light when we left and then the moon was bright enough I could see the horses shadows when I was riding. lol I love riding in the dark, it's so peaceful well except for the occasional snowmobiler that goes by now that it is winter.
I went out and visited with the munchkins a bit and fed them the apple I brought home from school for them. Then I tried to take an ax and chip away at some of the ice along the barn so they wouldn't slip. It was warm out last weekend so stuff started to melt and then got froze in its tracks with some more below zero temps that were right around the corner. I got the halters out for them and Cocoa was all perked and excited to go! I nearly froze my fingers just taking my gloves off to tie their halters it was super cold. But none the less we braved it out and I had Cocoa sidle up to the side of the trailer and I hopped on and we were off with Dixie in tow. Finally, both my girls with, I hadn't done that in a while. We went through the backyard and man was the snow Deep! They were arguing over which one should get to walk on the snowmobile track even then they sunk in about 1/2 foot. I said Cocoa should get to since she was not only walking through it but I was riding her and Dixie is young so the end of that! :)
We made it to the backroad and Dixie was trotting along side us so after a bit I let Cocoa trot. They trotted beside each other beautifully, I even let the reins go and Cocoa was responding to my seat when I asked for a fast or slow trot and Dixie would mirror Cocoa. I had Cocoa do some sideways serpentine's down the road. We did a bit of stopping, backing, and then of course cantering too!
When we got up past the farm I let them canter the whole stretch. At first I had Cocoa do a slow collected canter but then by the end I let them have fun running with each other. I started to ask Cocoa to slow slightly and she went into a slower canter and I wiggled the rope for Dixie to slow down but she only slowed a little so I wiggled it a little harder and she slammed on her brakes. Cocoa was down to a trot at this point but I decided to hold on to Dixie's 12 ft. line because I didn't quite realize at that point she was at a dead stop, so when it came to the end of the line I didn't let go but she didn't budge and off I went. She pulled me right off Cocoa! lol I hopped back on and we kept going a little ways farther, Cocoa was getting antsy at this point so I had her do some really nice sideways. That is when I got an idea! I decided I wanted Dixie to go sideways with us. I started on the ground making sure she remembered sideways towards me..which she did of course. Then I hopped back on Cocoa and threw the end of the rope over her back and she came sidling right up next to Cocoa and I. I still can't believe how fast she caught on! So we did some more of that...Cocoa all the while not so pleased Dixie was in her bubble and quite close. By the end of the ride Dixie would come sideways towards us with me just lifting my hand up and starting to motion throwing the rope over her back!
We made it back and I put the blankets on the girls since it was supposed to be really cold that night AGAIN. Gave them their supper and headed in. When I looked in the mirror in the garage I looked like an eskimo, I was all bundled up and had frost all around my winter gear on my face, even some of my air that was out was frosted. By that time I realized my toes were freezing...oh boy. It took me a while to warm up the rest of the night..but it was worth it. I can't wait till in a couple of days the moon will be even fuller and then I can take them out for a real moonlit ride!
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
I went out and visited with the munchkins a bit and fed them the apple I brought home from school for them. Then I tried to take an ax and chip away at some of the ice along the barn so they wouldn't slip. It was warm out last weekend so stuff started to melt and then got froze in its tracks with some more below zero temps that were right around the corner. I got the halters out for them and Cocoa was all perked and excited to go! I nearly froze my fingers just taking my gloves off to tie their halters it was super cold. But none the less we braved it out and I had Cocoa sidle up to the side of the trailer and I hopped on and we were off with Dixie in tow. Finally, both my girls with, I hadn't done that in a while. We went through the backyard and man was the snow Deep! They were arguing over which one should get to walk on the snowmobile track even then they sunk in about 1/2 foot. I said Cocoa should get to since she was not only walking through it but I was riding her and Dixie is young so the end of that! :)
We made it to the backroad and Dixie was trotting along side us so after a bit I let Cocoa trot. They trotted beside each other beautifully, I even let the reins go and Cocoa was responding to my seat when I asked for a fast or slow trot and Dixie would mirror Cocoa. I had Cocoa do some sideways serpentine's down the road. We did a bit of stopping, backing, and then of course cantering too!
When we got up past the farm I let them canter the whole stretch. At first I had Cocoa do a slow collected canter but then by the end I let them have fun running with each other. I started to ask Cocoa to slow slightly and she went into a slower canter and I wiggled the rope for Dixie to slow down but she only slowed a little so I wiggled it a little harder and she slammed on her brakes. Cocoa was down to a trot at this point but I decided to hold on to Dixie's 12 ft. line because I didn't quite realize at that point she was at a dead stop, so when it came to the end of the line I didn't let go but she didn't budge and off I went. She pulled me right off Cocoa! lol I hopped back on and we kept going a little ways farther, Cocoa was getting antsy at this point so I had her do some really nice sideways. That is when I got an idea! I decided I wanted Dixie to go sideways with us. I started on the ground making sure she remembered sideways towards me..which she did of course. Then I hopped back on Cocoa and threw the end of the rope over her back and she came sidling right up next to Cocoa and I. I still can't believe how fast she caught on! So we did some more of that...Cocoa all the while not so pleased Dixie was in her bubble and quite close. By the end of the ride Dixie would come sideways towards us with me just lifting my hand up and starting to motion throwing the rope over her back!
We made it back and I put the blankets on the girls since it was supposed to be really cold that night AGAIN. Gave them their supper and headed in. When I looked in the mirror in the garage I looked like an eskimo, I was all bundled up and had frost all around my winter gear on my face, even some of my air that was out was frosted. By that time I realized my toes were freezing...oh boy. It took me a while to warm up the rest of the night..but it was worth it. I can't wait till in a couple of days the moon will be even fuller and then I can take them out for a real moonlit ride!
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
Sunday, February 1, 2009
More Riding
Got home from church and saddled ( I know amazing..I actually rode in a saddle!) Cocoa up to go out riding with Michelle and Ace. Amanda stopped by just as Cocoa and I were walking over to Michelle's so Cocoa and I talked with her a bit! That was a fun surprise! :)
Cocoa wasn't feeling it on the ride. She was really pokey and didn't feel energized at all, she didn't even want to race Ace. Hmm...we took the trails and did some trotting and a little cantering. Finally in the end Cocoa got a little more spiced up and wanted to go.
After Michelle and I were done with our ride I had Cocoa cut through the open field by our fence and was going to cut through to get to the backroad. I was having her do some soft feel through the deep snow and then just let her walk. She started nosing the snow as she was walking so I was thinking maybe she's thirsty because surely she wouldn't think of laying down with me on her. In the next second Cocoa and I were on the ground. She laid down! She's never done that before so I was kinda shocked. I quickly hopped off and she got right back up...I hopped back on and we continued on our way..
I took her on the backroad after we got back and cantered on it a bit. She was being kind of tempermental so we did some sideways, serpentines, and spins. Then on the way home she did a nice collected slow trot until we got in the deep snow in the yard then I let her barrel the rest of the way up.
I had a 4-H meeting so I went to that with Jess and then it was Superbowl time.
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
Cocoa wasn't feeling it on the ride. She was really pokey and didn't feel energized at all, she didn't even want to race Ace. Hmm...we took the trails and did some trotting and a little cantering. Finally in the end Cocoa got a little more spiced up and wanted to go.
After Michelle and I were done with our ride I had Cocoa cut through the open field by our fence and was going to cut through to get to the backroad. I was having her do some soft feel through the deep snow and then just let her walk. She started nosing the snow as she was walking so I was thinking maybe she's thirsty because surely she wouldn't think of laying down with me on her. In the next second Cocoa and I were on the ground. She laid down! She's never done that before so I was kinda shocked. I quickly hopped off and she got right back up...I hopped back on and we continued on our way..
I took her on the backroad after we got back and cantered on it a bit. She was being kind of tempermental so we did some sideways, serpentines, and spins. Then on the way home she did a nice collected slow trot until we got in the deep snow in the yard then I let her barrel the rest of the way up.
I had a 4-H meeting so I went to that with Jess and then it was Superbowl time.
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Bareback and Bridleless Ride with Cocoa
After taking Dixie out and about it was Cocoa's turn. I grabbed my savvy string and carrot stick and Cocoa and I were off - "like a dirty shirt" as my Grandpa would always say. I had Cocoa sidepass too the bed of the truck so I could hop on and then we ambled around the yard for a while plowing through the snow drifts and then headed on the backroad. We cantered up the hill right away but then we had a stretch there on the road where we had to have a conversation and do some serpentines because she was set on trying to take a shortcut trail. After we got that ironed out that we were going straight ahead she responded beautifully and perfectly the rest of the ride. We cantered another long stretch and she was responding just off of my seat! We did some stopping, sideways, and backing up every now and then too. We continued trotting and she was mirroring me at what speed of a trot I wanted...I trot slow and she would then I would bring my energy up and so would she and trot faster. It was just perfect. When we got back to the lakes I asked her to canter again and then we did some canter...trot..canter..trot transitions till I finally asked her for a gallop. We were cruising along the convoluted backroad and I was surprised we hadn't run into any snowmobilers yet....haha Well we came running around the corner and there was a snowmobiler with some little kids parked in one of the parking spaces drinking hot cocoa. Cocoa skids down to a jarring trot for two strides while we both catch our breath from being taken by surprise and then I urged her into a fast canter again and we went on our way! I bet they were just as surprised to see US out there as we were to see THEM! We continued our canter and trotting till we got to the trails. Cocoa cruised down the trail and we got a bunch more trotting and cantering in...and her responding right off my seat...didn't have to use the carrot stick at all...and the savvy string was only of minimal use. We continued along and went to check out the BIG sledding hill..ran into a couple more snowmobilers..with kids mouths gaping wide open and pointing and saying "look it's a pony!" lol That just makes my day....nobody expects horses to be out on the trails in the winter with all the snowmobiling..and Cocoa and I always are. Element of surprise. :)
The rest of the ride went just as well...and we made really good time on the way back too. She wasn't even sweating much at all and we went at a pretty good clip through deep snow at times too. The back road thankfully was beautiful to ride on because it wasn't slippery like earlier and had a nice cushiony layer of snow on top. We were cantering along on the way home when we ran into Michelle walking Bundy so we talked and I hopped off and walked the rest of the way home with them. Overall an ah-mazing ride! Cocoa and I haven't done much bb and b riding lately but she sure didn't show that! She did great.
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
The rest of the ride went just as well...and we made really good time on the way back too. She wasn't even sweating much at all and we went at a pretty good clip through deep snow at times too. The back road thankfully was beautiful to ride on because it wasn't slippery like earlier and had a nice cushiony layer of snow on top. We were cantering along on the way home when we ran into Michelle walking Bundy so we talked and I hopped off and walked the rest of the way home with them. Overall an ah-mazing ride! Cocoa and I haven't done much bb and b riding lately but she sure didn't show that! She did great.
Savvy Out,
Olivia, Cocoa, and Dixie
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Surprise Ride!
It rained yesterday morning but after I showed Michelle and Jerry how to take care of the horses while we're gone this weekend the sun finally started to shine! And boy was it hot and muggy then.
The little piglets got to eat in the grass the whole time so I put them in and let there bellies rest a little before I proceeded to take Dixie out. I brought her out in the the big pasture and I just had her on the 12 ft. line. We did a little bit of the Traveling Circling game. Then went on to the one obstacle other than trees out there right now, the barrel. So she jumped it and pawed it and all that good stuff. I tried a while back to get Dixie to go sideways over it and she has been slowly but SURELY getting better at it. Well today went great! I barely had to go to Phase 2 and she just was like "You mean do this?!" and sidways'ed herself over it with no hesitation! So I was like "Ok..that's great!! Now let's try the other side!" And Walhla! She did that with no problem either! I was so proud. Then we went on to the trees...which she loves to rub her head on then paw and paw and paw. It's so cute to watch her. Finally we just did some sideways with out a fence, some really fast sideways towards (She absolutely LOVES this!) and then just running around like lunies! :) Dixie got a kick out of this. At first we just did when I trot you trot, when I canter you canter beside me...but then we ran all up and down the hill and through all the tall weeds. She was bucking and kicking and having a good 'ole time!
Finally after some playtime we headed out down the gravel road for a walk. Cocoa wasn't necessarily pleased to be left behind but I told her it was Dixie's turn. Not much...just some Zone 3 driving...along the way. Found a goofy looking stump which Dixie pawed the crap out of and then to my surprise put one foot up and then the second!! She was standing up on it and it was like a 1 and 1/2 tall! She wasn't as graceful getting down...
We got to a car parking spot and I thought..."Mmm..perfect for mounting." Dixie lined her self up beside it and I hopped on. :) She didn't do anything so we proceeded to walk on and then after a little bit turned towards home. Now...it's such a good feeling to ride her! She has so much muscle and a really nice topline compared to Cocoa! I can't wait to see what she looks like when she's all grown up. Dixie has a long stride even though she toes out which is kinda a goofy feeling at the walk. So we just headed down the gravel road and Dixie acting like a seasoned trail horse not a 2 year old that has just been ridden a couple times. She turned great and we even had pickups passing us. She kept checking in and wanted to do lateral flexion and we did a lot of stop and backups. Then I got ambitious and was like I wonder how she would do if I asked her to trot...I've only trotted her once when my friend Katie hopped on Cocoa when we were coming back from the river and then I hopped on Dixie...and Dixie trotted to catch up. Well Dixie listens like a dream and immediately breaks into a trot. We trotted for about 10 strides and then I asked her to stop and she broke into a walk and then stopped and we backed up! Her trot was Ah-mazing, very controlled and smooth. Which surprised me the first time she trotted because she toes out...so I thought her trot would be rough but it was wonderful! So much easier to sit than Cocoa's, that's for sure. At that point I got off and then let her eat grass from the ditch! I was so proud of my baby! Walked the rest of the way home and she got a nice juicy apple I picked from the tree.
The little piglets got to eat in the grass the whole time so I put them in and let there bellies rest a little before I proceeded to take Dixie out. I brought her out in the the big pasture and I just had her on the 12 ft. line. We did a little bit of the Traveling Circling game. Then went on to the one obstacle other than trees out there right now, the barrel. So she jumped it and pawed it and all that good stuff. I tried a while back to get Dixie to go sideways over it and she has been slowly but SURELY getting better at it. Well today went great! I barely had to go to Phase 2 and she just was like "You mean do this?!" and sidways'ed herself over it with no hesitation! So I was like "Ok..that's great!! Now let's try the other side!" And Walhla! She did that with no problem either! I was so proud. Then we went on to the trees...which she loves to rub her head on then paw and paw and paw. It's so cute to watch her. Finally we just did some sideways with out a fence, some really fast sideways towards (She absolutely LOVES this!) and then just running around like lunies! :) Dixie got a kick out of this. At first we just did when I trot you trot, when I canter you canter beside me...but then we ran all up and down the hill and through all the tall weeds. She was bucking and kicking and having a good 'ole time!
Finally after some playtime we headed out down the gravel road for a walk. Cocoa wasn't necessarily pleased to be left behind but I told her it was Dixie's turn. Not much...just some Zone 3 driving...along the way. Found a goofy looking stump which Dixie pawed the crap out of and then to my surprise put one foot up and then the second!! She was standing up on it and it was like a 1 and 1/2 tall! She wasn't as graceful getting down...
We got to a car parking spot and I thought..."Mmm..perfect for mounting." Dixie lined her self up beside it and I hopped on. :) She didn't do anything so we proceeded to walk on and then after a little bit turned towards home. Now...it's such a good feeling to ride her! She has so much muscle and a really nice topline compared to Cocoa! I can't wait to see what she looks like when she's all grown up. Dixie has a long stride even though she toes out which is kinda a goofy feeling at the walk. So we just headed down the gravel road and Dixie acting like a seasoned trail horse not a 2 year old that has just been ridden a couple times. She turned great and we even had pickups passing us. She kept checking in and wanted to do lateral flexion and we did a lot of stop and backups. Then I got ambitious and was like I wonder how she would do if I asked her to trot...I've only trotted her once when my friend Katie hopped on Cocoa when we were coming back from the river and then I hopped on Dixie...and Dixie trotted to catch up. Well Dixie listens like a dream and immediately breaks into a trot. We trotted for about 10 strides and then I asked her to stop and she broke into a walk and then stopped and we backed up! Her trot was Ah-mazing, very controlled and smooth. Which surprised me the first time she trotted because she toes out...so I thought her trot would be rough but it was wonderful! So much easier to sit than Cocoa's, that's for sure. At that point I got off and then let her eat grass from the ditch! I was so proud of my baby! Walked the rest of the way home and she got a nice juicy apple I picked from the tree.
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