Sunday was a day for Cindy to relax. Although she initially woke up around 6:30 a.m., she went back to sleep and and crawled out of bed around 10:30 a.m. Gary fixed a wonderful breakfast and they chilled around the house until around 2:00 p.m. before heading to the stables.
Gary led LBR up from his paddock as Cindy chatted with a potential boarder. She commented on how handsome LBR is as Gary led him by.
Gary & Cindy groomed/tacked LBR and they headed to the lunge pen for a breif warm-up. Gary lunged LBR for about 10 minutes and he seemed relaxed and loose. Cindy rode LBR in the sand arena and he was GREAT! He traveled on the rail nicely and yielded to leg queues. The gnats weren't out yet so LBR didn't do any of his head tossing.
After flat work, Cindy did several trot cross-rail patterns on LBR. The last two patterns included the brush-box and LBR jumped it both times and cantered away calmly. The first time, Cindy brought him back to the trot, but the second time she cantered him around the arena. Gary was very proud and LBR & Cindy felt like she and LBR are the perfect team. Cindy worked with LBR's ground manners leading back to the stable after the ride. LBR has gotten a bit pushy and forward so they stopped several times until LBR was behaved leading on a loose rein.
After the ride and grooming, Gary led LBR to graze a bit and back into his paddock. Gary also worked on walking slowly and in the right position. LBR grazed for a bit before we returned him to his paddock. It was dinner time and he was very happy.
Monday, April 5, 2010
April 3, 2010
It's Easter weekend so lessons were moved from Sunday to Saturday. Cindy & Gary headed to the stables around 9:00 a.m. for Cindy's 10:00 a.m. lesson on Brother. Gary brought Brother up from his paddock and they groomed
and tacked him.
Cindy had a very good lesson on Brother. She was calm and confident as she rode the flatwork and patterns. Today
she cantered her first jump (since starting lessons)....WOO HOO!
After the lesson, Gary rode LBR in the grass arena (due to other lessons continuing in the sand arena). LBR did very well though he was a bit "iffy" in staying on the rail. Gary took LBR outside the arena and trotted him several times against the rail....guess LBR is used to being a race horse and having the inside instead of outside rail as he was perfect. After Gary's ride, he groomed LBR and gave him a rinse (it was 80F degrees today).
and tacked him.
Cindy had a very good lesson on Brother. She was calm and confident as she rode the flatwork and patterns. Today
she cantered her first jump (since starting lessons)....WOO HOO!
After the lesson, Gary rode LBR in the grass arena (due to other lessons continuing in the sand arena). LBR did very well though he was a bit "iffy" in staying on the rail. Gary took LBR outside the arena and trotted him several times against the rail....guess LBR is used to being a race horse and having the inside instead of outside rail as he was perfect. After Gary's ride, he groomed LBR and gave him a rinse (it was 80F degrees today).
April 2, 2010
TGIF...how many times have we said this, but this week it's true.
Cindy met Gary at the stables after work. As it's Friday nights, there was no one else riding.
Gary had groomed LBR by the time Cindy arrived and they finished tacking him up. No lunging today as LBR was very calm.
Cindy rode first in the sand arena and LBR was a bit distracted and stiff (maybe from side rein lunging on Thursday). Rather than push the issue, Cindy just did some flat work and ignored the stiffness. It was a good mental ride for she and LBR.
Gary then rode for a bit and took LBR on their trail ride route. LBR was calm and cool as usual. After the ride, they groomed LBR and then let him graze for a bit before giving him his treats in his paddock and calling it a night.
Cindy met Gary at the stables after work. As it's Friday nights, there was no one else riding.
Gary had groomed LBR by the time Cindy arrived and they finished tacking him up. No lunging today as LBR was very calm.
Cindy rode first in the sand arena and LBR was a bit distracted and stiff (maybe from side rein lunging on Thursday). Rather than push the issue, Cindy just did some flat work and ignored the stiffness. It was a good mental ride for she and LBR.
Gary then rode for a bit and took LBR on their trail ride route. LBR was calm and cool as usual. After the ride, they groomed LBR and then let him graze for a bit before giving him his treats in his paddock and calling it a night.
Friday, April 2, 2010
April 1, 2010
It's been an insane week for Cindy at work, but she was determined not to take the chaos/stress to the stables today.
Cindy met Gary around 6:30 and Gary had already groomed, tacked and lunged LBR with side reins in the round pen.
LBR was very mellow (almost tired) despite winds of 20 mph and a lot of activity at the stables.
Gary was riding LBR when she arrived and he was doing well, but not wanting to go consistently at the trot. This makes working on posting diagonals very difficult for Gary. After riding for about 15 minutes, Cindy took over.
LBR was still having trouble with staying consistent in the trot. It took about 20 minutes to get him to flex, relax and move forward. Once this was accomplished, they cantered for a bit (in the grass arena due to lessons in the sand arena).
LBR did well at the canter, they trotted for a bit more and then walked on a loose rein until LBR cooled down.
After the ride, Gary detacked and groomed LBR. Cindy, Gary & LBR headed back to the paddock for some grazing and treats.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
March 31, 2010
Gary stopped by to visit LBR in his paddock and let him graze in the common area for a while.
Tomorrow - back to riding:-)
March 30, 2010
LBR is getting a couple of days break from riding. Gary headed over to the stables in the morning to have the farrier check his shoes (he's at the 5 week mark, but his hooves are growing faster now).
Gary groomed LBR and the farrier suggested 1 more week before re-shoeing. After this, Gary let LBR graze for a while before returning him to his paddock for treats.
March 29, 2010
It's Monday and that means back to work for Cindy.
She met Gary at the stables after work for a ride. Gary had brought LBR up from his paddock and tacked him up by the time Cindy arrived.
They skipped lunging and started out in the sand arena. LBR was hesitant and didn't really want to move forward. Additionally, the spring weather has brought out gnats that were flying into Cindy & LBR's face and were very irritating.
Due to dealing with work issues - Cindy was not very patient and decided to cut her ride short. Gary rode LBR for a bit and LBR behaved a little bit better.
The plan going forward will be lunge first until LBR get's focused. Also, we're giving him a couple of days break because he's been ridden 5 days straight.
After the ride, they led LBR down towards his paddock for some grazing and then treats.
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