Chuffed!!!!

Yesterday it was horrible and foggy and drizzly, but I rode anyway. He was on high alert for him ;) as you could barely see your hand in front of your face but he settled quickly and started to listen. Actually got some nice work out of him bar the 180 degree spin when Smudge jumped into the school straight in front of him :)

Then today, Elizabeth came with me to Ardmedden to use the school for the first time.  He took a minute to load and as usual, Lisa made everything more traumatic by yelling her head off the whole time.  He was sweaty when we got there but he was so much calmer than our trip to Fountain!  I travelled him with his bridle on just in case it was a nightmare to get it on when we were there. I walked him round the school with his headcollar over his bridle and he had a good look at everything.  There were quite a few fillers lying around, a fire hose that was scary and the door was banging like mad in the wind.  The door didn't bother him at all and the fillers were fine once he had a sniff. 

Emily came down and met us there which was great as she kept us busy with bending, softness, roundness etc.  He was just fab!  He was so calm and well behaved and tried his little heart out.  Even when he had a spook, I just smiled as he just such a baby :) Just love him.

The school itself is really nice and the surface has a lovely carpet fibre on it. However, one side of the school had hardly any surface and the other was quite deep so they need to even that up. There's also no mounting block or anywhere to scoop your poop too which is a little annoying.

He loaded after just a minute again and was pretty sweaty when we got back so I turned him out naked while I had my lunch then brought him in and fed him and rugged him.  I'm just so pleased with him. He's such a lovely boy!

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Lizzie Visit.

I was working on monday night but really wanted to ride on tues as it was forcast to be the only decent weather of the week.  Plus, Lizzie was up visiting from down south and wanted to see George :)  As it happened, I had a crap sleep anyway so got up early and Lizzie was here by 2pm.

Just rode him for 15mins or so in walk and trot. He was really good though was calling to Lisa a lot.  Separated them this morning as when I got home from work I went to take their rugs off and Lisa's had a massive hole in it. They were all being amourous with each other and George seemed to have transformed into a stallion so decided he should go back with the boys.  So even though he called a bit he was still a star!  Lizzie thought he was wonderful. Just what I need :) The only worrying thing is when he scratches his arse on the stable wall, it sounds like the lot might come down!

Stupid animals!

Well that was fun! NOT! Decided to move my 2 girls into the other field with more grass as theirs is now mostly mud thanks to the rain. Then thought I'd put George in with them too as he's pretty hungry as well. That went fine. A bit of galloping about then eating. So then what to do with little fat shetland??? Didn't really want to leave her by herself as she likes to have friends but no way she can go in the big field as she'd explode. Text livery friend to ask if she could take George's place in with her boys as she'd have company and still not too much grass. Yep, fine, no worries. HOLY SHIT!!!! The supposedly quiet, 16yr old boy has just chased her round and round the field, flat out like he wanted to kill her! Poor Daffodil was screaming her head off in fear, running as fast as her wee legs would go. He kept getting close and trying to jump on her like he wanted to flatten her!!! Had to get the hell out of the way before I was mown down and wait for a moment when they stopped so I could grab her. Nearly got kicked to death trying to get her out and in the end had to lift the fence posts out of the ground and shooo her under the fence! I'm plastered in mud, all the horses are wound right up, poor Daf is traumatised!!! Fuck sake. Now she'll have to stay in a paddock by herself I suppose it's better than being kicked to death tho. Fucken asshole horse!

Oh and now I can hear squealing and Lisa, slapper mare, has instantly come into season and is squirting and flirting with George Ugh, I get the feeling I may have to take him out of there!

Bluddy horses!

Have just been out to give George some carrots and he's mesmerized by the cows in the field behind the school. They have been there for weeks! We have ridden in the school with them there. It's like he's only just noticed.I hope he wont be a knob tomorrow when hopefully I'll be able to ride! This is now his 3rd day off which is pants but weather has been shit and I'm working tonight and tomorrow night. Hoping to ride when I get up tomorrow tho means getting up early. Probably only having 5 hrs sleep. If I wake up I'll get up. Not going to set my alarm tho.

Horrid weather

The weather is still foul. Windy and wet though not too cold.  Waited til 4.30pm yesterday then lunged George with the draw reins on.  He did start to stretch down a little more but was also a bit tense as it was windy and dark. He spooked at the long grass waving in the wind but it actually helped a little with the forwardness.

Gave him the day off today as went to Inverurie shopping with mum, dad and Jess. Weather still pants so not really bothered about not riding. Hoping it'll be better weather tomorrow.

Learning.

I love how baby horses learn so quickly :)  Rode George this morning. I was dubious as it's windy and dull but did it anyway.

He had a few snorts at the blowy bushes and the long grass, one leap sideways and that was it.  Took the schooling whip again and he was so much more forward. Hardly had to remind him to react at all.  Plus, he was beginning to really understand and move away from my inside leg in walk. Trot needs work but he was trying. Managed to get him much rounder for longer too.  Very pleased.

Have turned him out in the strip with the long grass for a bit as a reward :) Off out to poo pick the girls now.

A bit of cheekiness!

So, I schooled on Sunday and he was so lazy! I ended up really kicking and nagging just to keep him going.  My position was awful and I felt really ineffective. Lee took some photos and they all looked really rubbish. I felt so deflated. I don't want him to get dead to my leg but I had to kick to get him moving!

The next day, I picked up the schooling whip before going into the school.  He was much more forward already and I only had to give him a light tap once or twice when he didn't listen to a quiet leg aid to get him forward.  He was much much better and it even help the falling in and bend as I could lay it down his neck to help push him out.  Felt much less useless :)

Day off yesterday as I was working then lunged today. Put the side reins much lower down and although he wasn't really stretching, he did offer to lower his head and neck and was much more consistently forward and obedient. Made me laugh when he spooked at Rosie in the long grass. He charged off for half a circle and then just trotted slightly faster and more elevated for a circuit or 2 before chilling out again. Such a good boy :)

Flippin Cows!

Surrounded by the buggers!  Set off for a hack yesterday down the usual way til G spotted the baby cows cantering across the field.  Picture mini heart failure!  Decided that we'd go down past the girls and turn left towards the farm instead.  Did that and G coped well with passing the naughty girls and Ricco galloping about.  Spooked at a few little things but marched on well.  Got a few hundred yards down the road to be met by more cows.  This time big ones.  I bottled it at this point and we turned around, passed the end of my road and continued on a little bit til we neared the calves again.  Turned again and went home.  Again coped with prancing horses being idiots.  Went in the school for a 5 min walk round.  Good as gold and much much rounder :)

Today just more of the same really.  Did the same route.  Sneaked up level with the cows til I felt G might have a meltdown. Elizabeth parked Paddy in front of him so he felt protected and he stood and had a good look.  Turned for home and he was off like a bullet but quickly came back to me and walked nicely.  Everything was much scarier today as it was very windy. Even the long grass blowing had monsters in it.

At home, Paddy was parked outside the arena and I went in and did a bit with G.  Spooky but not scarily so and did some nice stuff in walk.  Had a little trot too which was lovely and he was really independent of Paddy which was great.  Tired boy after, bless.

He'll have tomorrow off now then a lesson on sunday.  Love that baby boy!

The Dentist Has Been.

George had the dentist this morning and did me proud

He was an absolute star. Stood like a rock and took it all in his stride. I was wondering how he'd cope with the power tools she uses but he was great! Utter dude!!

Rode him yesterday in the school. I just wanted to check that he was going to behave after the napping incident on monday. I needn't of worried of course. He was fine.

Pic of the denist
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The Halo Has Slipped.

Took George to a local indoor school today. He loaded there and back like an absolute star so much love for the boy. However, he was a right git in the school! Absolutely wired to the moon, he seemed to think his reflection was another horse and he was determined that he wasn't going to leave it!

I tried some in hand work with him but he was so obsessed with his reflection that he was oblivious to me. So I got on and the trouble began. He hauled me right up to the top of the school and refused to leave the mirrors! I was really scared to begin with as he was doing mini rears and pulling me about. I ended up getting off, crying yelling at husband and then growing a pair and getting back on which I was impressed about as I'm not the most confident. A small battle ensued and I came out the victor!!!

He really was just lacking confidence. There was nothing malicious in him but I really needed to make sure I got the upper hand as I didn't want him to think I could be pushed around.

I rode for a good half and hour which mostly consisted of shouting, kicking and swearing, but the more I did, the more confident I became and the less he resisted.  In the end, I was able to do a couple of circles away from the mirrors wihout too much of a fight but he still wasn't a happy boy.

I emailed the videos to Emily and she thought I handled it well. Said perhaps carry a stick and try to keep my hands lower next time but I was quick to praise him when he was forward which was good. She's said she'll come with us next time we go and we'll take a lunge whip to chase him with if he messes about!

Janet also commented and thought there was a bit of stallion behaviour there but I'm not sure. Rather than being confrontational to the mirrors, he seemed to get comfort from them when he was next to his reflection so I'm more inclined to think it was a confidence thing.
Anyway, it actually gave me a bit of confidence to know that I can cope with him if he's naughty. After the initial tears and fear, I was a different person! Determined and positive so I KNOW I can do it.  He was going to have a day off today but not now.  Going to ride him in the school this morning, just to make sure he's not going to play up at home. He's getting his teeth done tomorrow so he'll get the day off then.

Video link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAfKQDjDXPc

Fab lesson and stupid dog!

Had a great lesson with Emily today. We decided I needed to be a lot more determined in regard to what I want instead of giving him mixed signals and being a bit wishy washy. For example, making sure transitions are immediate instead of wandering, insisting on forwardness, asking for more roundness etc. It worked a treat and George was fab!! He's just such a good boy, such a trier and a real pleasure to ride. I find myself laughing and smiling the whole time. Love him!

The only downside to today was that he kicked my collie right in the face! To be fair to him, she's a right pain in the arse. Always has been. She has a terrible habit of nipping at the horses heels but they generally put up with her as she only ever does it when we're not keeping an eye on her and she thinks she can get away with it. Well today, we were standing yapping to the liveries and completely missed Molly sneaking into the field. Next thing there was a loud smack noise and turned to see the dog fly thru the air and land on her side She lay there for a second and quickly jumped up and ran over, blood pouring from her mouth. I thought for sure that she'd broken her jaw. However, close inspection shows a split gum and a tooth gone thru her lip. All teeth are still present and correct and she was running about with a massive stick 5 mins later so I'm presuming all is fine. Silly bluddy dog. I hope she's learned her lesson! I sure have!!

Anyway, pics of G man!
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Lots of rain :(

Was meant to have a lesson yesterday but the weather was so awful in the morning I decided to cancel it.  However, by lunchtime the rain had stopped so I got George in, tacked up and rode.  Tried to be really strict with him, so if I asked for trot it was immediate, same with halt to walk transitions etc.  Got a little bit more roundness today too.  He was really good :)

Took all their rugs off for a few hours so they could get a good scratch. Unfortunately more rain forcast for today but I think he deserves a day off anyway. I'll just bring him in for a feed. Have asked Em for a lesson tomorrow instead so she's going to let me know what time.  Working tonight and had a rubbish sleep last night so just going to poo pick the girls and that'll be it.

Moody cow bag!

Woke up in a bad mood :(  I'm so tired all the time, feel like I could sleep all day and have had a flaming twitchy eye lid for weeks. It's getting me down.

Decided to lunge George with the side reins on. Not a particular fan but decided not to go for my draw rein arrangement as he has been lunged in side reins at Janets and would be used to them.  I'm obviously totally useless at fitting them as he went like a camel and wouldn't go forward :( Should have stuck to what I know. Poor boy, not his fault I'm useless!  Hopefully lesson tomorrow is the rain isn't too torrential.

Have moved the girls into the other half of the boys field, poo picked the winter field and been to Norvite for Pasture Blocks. All are rugged up with neck covers as the rain is forcast all night :(

Still can't get used to how quiet George is.  He's quite happy to stand in his stable and sleep.  I was actually worrying a bit today that there might be something wrong with him. I think it's just his way though. Also discovered that he likes a really good face scratch and scratch behind the lugs. :)

Farrier has been.

Rode George yesterday first thing in the morning. Weather was meant to be bad so had ridden by 0845! Just walked today. Concentrating on forwardness and bend and a bit of roundness.  Got on him without lunging first too which I was chuffed about.

Lisa is mega in season and totally in love with G.  She neighed the whole time and began to really puthim off.  He was distracted and calling back and even had a mini strop when I made him head away from her, stamping his foot and throwing his head!  I growled and kicked him on and he did as he was told, bless him. He then did some really nice softening and went a bit rounder so very pleased.

Ron came today to shoe him. He said he's got great feet, no issues that concern him. Had to shoe him inside as it was peeing down but G didn't mind. He was as good as gold and just munched his hay :) In fact, he was nearly sleeping by the time Ron finished!

Felt awful turning him back ou in the rain but he seemed unconcerned and was much more interested in the calves that the farmer had moved into the field along the road :)  Love this boy!

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Started MFP.

Started doing My Fitness Pal on friday. Been finding it surprisingly easy to stick to my 1250 calorie limit. Even being on nights.

Got up at lunch time today so I could ride George before moving Vegas in the afternoon.  Lunged him first again as he'd had 2 days off and he had a little spook at Julian loading up the car and emptying a bag of feed into the empty feed bin.  Good as gold once on though and just did 10 mins walk and trot, just asking for a bit of softness and a bit of bend.  Nothing too taxing :)

Moved Vegas to Hogholm. She looked really withdrawn and quiet in her new stable. Hope she settles ok. Lisa is missing her and has been shouting for her every now and then. Worried about Lisa being a bit sore actually as since she's been out 24/7 she hasn't been having her painkiller so I'm going to start taking her in and feeding her every day to make sure she gets her tablet.

Working a day shift tomorrow and then 4 days off so will hopefully get another lesson from Emily :)