"A" rode LBR early this morning. Gary met her at the stables at 7:30. After grooming and tacking up, "A" rode LBR in the sand arena.
He was very responsive today. They did a lot of lateral work at the trot and LBR yeilded nicely to leg aids.
"A" worked LBR on slowing down at the canter during their flat work. They ended with some course work.
After rinsing and grooming, Gary took LBR down for some grazing before putting him back in his paddock.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
August 2, 2010
It's Monday and that means it's LBR's day off. Cindy & Gary relaxed this evening at home trying to beat the heat.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
August 1, 2010
Wow...it's already August. Where has this year gone. Gary & Cindy headed to the stables around 8:30 in the morning. The horses had been fed earlier today so LBR had finished his breakfast by the time they arrived. There was one other boarder at the stables when they arrived. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy set out the grooming supplies and tack. As they were tacking up, several other riders arrived at the stables. Cindy rode with the other boarder in the sand arena. She was riding a greenie and she and Cindy did a great job of not interferring or distracting each other's OTTB:-). Cindy did flat work at the walk and trot with focus on flexing and transitions. She followed the flat work with several course and LBR was GREAT. She trotted him into the jumps and let him canter away. He got the correct lead every time today!
Later, additional riders came into the arena and things got more hectic. Cindy wants to post the following at the stables. What do you think?
ARENA RULES AND RIDING ETIQUETTE
1. Always give yourself plenty of space, at least two horse lengths behind the rider in front of you.
2. Horses should always be reversed to the inside (away from the rail), with a quick look over your inside shoulder to make sure the way is clear.
3. When passing another horse in the same direction, always pass to the inside. You may say “passing”. Come away from the rail and pass the horse reasonably quickly, return to the rail only after giving yourself a two horse length in front of the horse you’ve just passed. You should in no way interfere with the horse on the rail.
4. When passing a horse going in the opposite direction you should always be left shoulder to left shoulder. This means you will be going past on the right.
5. Always be aware of your surroundings and the other riders around you.
6. Be considerate and patient of other riders and horses.
7. Do not walk into the arena on foot while others are riding until you have been seen/acknowledged by all riders in the arena.
8. No dogs are allowed in the arena…ever.
9. When entering the arena on your horse, do not impede others who are already riding in the arena.
10. Do not interrupt the instructor giving lessons for anything other than emergencies.
Okay...enough venting by Cindy!
The ride ended well considering that several of those rules were broken. Gary & Cindy detacked, rinsed and groomed LBR before letting him enjoy an extended grazing session. They returned him to his paddock and gave him treats.
Later, additional riders came into the arena and things got more hectic. Cindy wants to post the following at the stables. What do you think?
ARENA RULES AND RIDING ETIQUETTE
1. Always give yourself plenty of space, at least two horse lengths behind the rider in front of you.
2. Horses should always be reversed to the inside (away from the rail), with a quick look over your inside shoulder to make sure the way is clear.
3. When passing another horse in the same direction, always pass to the inside. You may say “passing”. Come away from the rail and pass the horse reasonably quickly, return to the rail only after giving yourself a two horse length in front of the horse you’ve just passed. You should in no way interfere with the horse on the rail.
4. When passing a horse going in the opposite direction you should always be left shoulder to left shoulder. This means you will be going past on the right.
5. Always be aware of your surroundings and the other riders around you.
6. Be considerate and patient of other riders and horses.
7. Do not walk into the arena on foot while others are riding until you have been seen/acknowledged by all riders in the arena.
8. No dogs are allowed in the arena…ever.
9. When entering the arena on your horse, do not impede others who are already riding in the arena.
10. Do not interrupt the instructor giving lessons for anything other than emergencies.
Okay...enough venting by Cindy!
The ride ended well considering that several of those rules were broken. Gary & Cindy detacked, rinsed and groomed LBR before letting him enjoy an extended grazing session. They returned him to his paddock and gave him treats.
July 31, 2010
It is finally getting HOT here in Central Texas. Luckily, it's Saturday so Gary & Cindy headed over to the stables around 9:00 to beat the heat. When they arrived, LBR had just been fed (grrr-this is too late!). Gary headed down to his paddock and while LBR finished his breakfast, he walked his paddock to look for "dangers" (i.e. top caps missing off of poles, water level, hay condition). After LBR finished eating, Gary led him down for a drink of water before bringing him up to the stables around 9:45 (LBR is a very slow eater).
Gary groomed LBR and tacked him up for Cindy's ride. She rode LBR in the sand arena and there were no other horses/riders. It was so peaceful and LBR behaved perfectly. She worked him first at the walk and trot - concentrating on transitions and flexing. She did a lot of stops, walk, trot, stops, etc. LBR was excellent. She then cantered him both directions. LBR missed his leads on the first try but got them on the second try each direction. Cindy and LBR conquered one HUGE fear today....they cantered the line between the rail and the jump where "the fall" occurred a few weeks ago. It was a huge relief to get over that. After the flat work, Cindy did a few courses of cross-rails and brush box jumps. LBR was absolutely amazing today. After Cindy finished her ride, Gary rode LBR in the arena for a while. They focused on walk and trot and did some cross-rails as well.
Gary cooled LBR down with a nice trail ride around the outside of the arena. By the time they were finished riding, other boarders were arriving and the stables got quite busy. They rinsed LBR off, groomed him and let him graze for a bit before returning him to his paddock.
Gary groomed LBR and tacked him up for Cindy's ride. She rode LBR in the sand arena and there were no other horses/riders. It was so peaceful and LBR behaved perfectly. She worked him first at the walk and trot - concentrating on transitions and flexing. She did a lot of stops, walk, trot, stops, etc. LBR was excellent. She then cantered him both directions. LBR missed his leads on the first try but got them on the second try each direction. Cindy and LBR conquered one HUGE fear today....they cantered the line between the rail and the jump where "the fall" occurred a few weeks ago. It was a huge relief to get over that. After the flat work, Cindy did a few courses of cross-rails and brush box jumps. LBR was absolutely amazing today. After Cindy finished her ride, Gary rode LBR in the arena for a while. They focused on walk and trot and did some cross-rails as well.
Gary cooled LBR down with a nice trail ride around the outside of the arena. By the time they were finished riding, other boarders were arriving and the stables got quite busy. They rinsed LBR off, groomed him and let him graze for a bit before returning him to his paddock.
July 29, 2010
July 29, 2010
Gary headed over in the morning to meet "A" who rode LBR today.
The ride started off very nicely. LBR was responsive and "A" worked him on transitions and flexing. Then the excitement happened.
The barn owner was loading up some horses to go to the vet. All of the sudden, a mare that was loose grazing in the common area started going "crazy" and galloping around. "A" stopped LBR as he was getting agitated. Gary walked towards him to help calm him down when all of the sudden the mare ran into the arena full speed. LBR was so shocked by it that he didn't react. Next, the mare took off out of the arena, ran around the truck/trailer twice and then loaded into the trailer.
The barn owner was bringing up another horse to take to the vet and missed all of the excitement. Gary helped her and one of the staff unload the "crazy" mare.
Once the correct horses were loaded and headed out, "A" continued her ride. LBR calmed down nicely and they worked on walk/trots/canters and a few courses over cross-rails. After the ride, "A" cooled LBR off with a trail ride around the outside of the arena. She took groomed/rinsed LBR off before Gary returned to him to his paddock for some grazing and lots of treats.
Gary headed over in the morning to meet "A" who rode LBR today.
The ride started off very nicely. LBR was responsive and "A" worked him on transitions and flexing. Then the excitement happened.
The barn owner was loading up some horses to go to the vet. All of the sudden, a mare that was loose grazing in the common area started going "crazy" and galloping around. "A" stopped LBR as he was getting agitated. Gary walked towards him to help calm him down when all of the sudden the mare ran into the arena full speed. LBR was so shocked by it that he didn't react. Next, the mare took off out of the arena, ran around the truck/trailer twice and then loaded into the trailer.
The barn owner was bringing up another horse to take to the vet and missed all of the excitement. Gary helped her and one of the staff unload the "crazy" mare.
Once the correct horses were loaded and headed out, "A" continued her ride. LBR calmed down nicely and they worked on walk/trots/canters and a few courses over cross-rails. After the ride, "A" cooled LBR off with a trail ride around the outside of the arena. She took groomed/rinsed LBR off before Gary returned to him to his paddock for some grazing and lots of treats.
Friday, July 30, 2010
July 28, 2010
Cindy is amazingly proud of LBR. After work, she and Gary headed over to the stables for Cindy's lesson. Gary brought LBR up from his paddock while Cindy brought out the tack and supplies from the tack room. Cindy was expecting it to be a small group lesson, but there were four (4) others tacking up too. "A" was riding a three (3) year old OTTB; "M" was riding a nice lesson gelding; "C2" was riding a lesson gelding being retrained from dressage to hunter/jumper; and "C3" was riding a lesson mare.
After grooming and tacking up, Cindy mounted LBR in the sand arena and went to the middle to watch the last few minutes of the private lesson that preceded the group lesson. LBR was intently watching the horse jump 3'6". He seemed to thinking..."I could do that some day".
The lesson started off with ground work. LBR was a bit distracted by some of the dogs who were misbehaving (entering the edges of the arena, barking, running around). Someone finally put them in their fenced in area and LBR settled. They did walk and trot with the big group and then cantered in a group of 2 with "A" and the OTTB. LBR missed his lead both directions on the first try, but got it on the second try. Cindy was so proud...he was the calmest cantering horse out of the five. This was especially settling as this was Cindy's first canter since the fall two(2) weeks ago.
After the canter work, the group did some ground pole exercises. They then proceeded to course work. LBR was perfect - squaring up to the center of each jump/cross-rail and taking them smoothly.
After the ride, Gary rinsed LBR off (he wasn't too sweaty as it was only 85F degrees). They then took him back towards his paddock for a little grazing and then treats.
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